In re Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (\MTBE\") Products Liability Litigation"
In re Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (\MTBE\") Products Liability Litigation"
Opinion of the Court
OPINION AND ORDER
I. INTRODUCTION
This is a consolidated multi-district litigation (“MDL”) relating to contamination — actual or threatened — of groundwater from various defendants’ use of the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (“MTBE”) and/or tertiary butyl alcohol, a product formed by the breakdown of MTBE in water. In this case, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (“the Commonwealth”) alleges that defendants’ use and handling of MTBE has contaminated, or threatened to contaminate, groundwater within its jurisdiction. Familiarity with the underlying facts is presumed for the purposes of this Order.
Currently before the Court are four motions to dismiss brought by Total, S.A. (“Total Umbrella”),
II. BACKGROUND
A. Facts Common to All Moving Defendants
On June 12, 2007, the Commonwealth filed its initial complaint against gasoline suppliers for supplying or trading in gasoline products containing MTBE.
B. Facts Regarding Total Umbrella 1. Undisputed Facts
Total Umbrella is a publicly held company organized under the laws of France as a société anonyme, similar to a U.S. corporation, with its corporate headquarters and principal place of business at 2, Place Jean Miller, La Défense 6, 92400 Courbevoie, France.
In 2004, TPPRC, a gasoline service station network incorporated and operating in Puerto Rico,
2. Disputed Facts
a. Total Umbrella Is a Holding Company
The Commonwealth offers three documents in support of its allegation that Total Umbrella is not a holding company but rather an “integrated company.”
Total Umbrella denies that it is anything except a holding company. Total Umbrella’s general counsel has testified that Total Umbrella is a holding company, not an operating company.
b. Total Umbrella Was Involved in the Puerto Rico MTBE Market
The Commonwealth alleges that Total Umbrella has sufficient contacts with Puerto Rico because it “participates in the Puerto Rico MTBE market.”
i. E-mails
In support of its jurisdictional contention, the Commonwealth points to several emails that mention or involve Total Umbrella. First, a Total Umbrella employee confirmed in an email that TPPRC is a subsidiary of the Total Group in response to a request by Peerless, a potential supplier to TPPRC, for confirmation that TPPRC is a subsidiary of the Total Group:
Further to our conversation, please note that the shares of the company GPR ... renamed (or to be renamed) [TPPRC] have recently been acquired by Total Outre Mer (a 100% subsidiary of the Total group) ... [TPPRC] is engaged in the wholesale and retail distribution of petroleum products in Puerto Rico. I understand that the company Peerless Oil & Chemicals, Inc. have [sic] been approached to be one of the suppliers of [TPPRC]. Peerless are [sic] seeking, on request of BNP Paribas in New York ... confirmation that [TPPRC] ... is a subsidiary of the Total Group.23
The email concludes:
For the avoidance of doubt, this e-mail may under no circumstances be construed as a commitment, liability, agreement, or guarantee on the part of Total SA (or any of its affiliates) in respect of any obligations of GPR/Total Petroleum Puerto Rico and neither Total SA nor any of its affiliates shall be obliged under this e-mail to make any payment in respect of any amounts that would become due by GPR/TPPR.24
Second, a contract between Peerless and TPPRC that references “Total” — -as well as the above email and others — “reveal that [Total Umbrella] had a direct role in the [2004] acquisition of [TPPRC] and actively directed TPPRC to change station signage as quickly as possible to the Total brand.”
ii. Financial Statements
The Commonwealth has produced financial statements that allegedly support its argument. First, a 2005 report from Total Umbrella’s annual shareholder meeting stated: “Total also acquired a service station network [TPPRC] in Puerto Rico that has about a six percent market share.”
iii. Total Umbrella and TPPRC
Total Umbrella denies that it has ever directly owned TPPRC.
c. Total Umbrella’s Other Contacts with Puerto Rico
In support of its motion, Total Umbrella maintains that it lacks sufficient contacts and presence in Puerto Rico for this Court to exercise personal jurisdiction over it.
C. Facts Regarding TOM
1. Undisputed Facts
Like Total Umbrella, TOM is a société anonyme and a distributor of petroleum based fuels, with its principal place of business at 21 Cours Michelet 92800 Puteaux Tour Total, France.
TPPRC is a corporation created under the laws of Puerto Rico actively doing
2. Disputed Facts
a. TOM Was Actively Involved in the Puerto Rico Gasoline Market
On October 21, 2004, TOM acquired TPPRC’s stock through an agreement.
The PSA specifically notes that, “[n]otwithstanding anything in this Agreement that could be construed to the contrary, [TOM] shall never take title to the Assets (as defined herein) to be conveyed to [TPPRC] by [Sunshine].”
TOM, in turn, claims that it “conducts no business in Puerto Rico ... and that TOM’s only alleged ‘contact’ with Puerto Rico is that [TOM] was involved in pre
b. TOM and TPPRC Share Employees
The Commonwealth claims that TOM and TPPRC share employees. Specifically, it asserts that four members — Christian Chammas, Alain Champeaux, Francois De Lingniville, and Pierre Fart — of TPPRC’s board of directors were also employees of TOM.
TOM notes that the Commonwealth has not provided “evidence to support its assertion that these individuals were TOM employees.”
c. TOM’s Other Contacts
In support of its motion, TOM maintains that it lacks sufficient contacts and presence in Puerto Rico for this Court to exercise personal jurisdiction over it.
1. Undisputed Facts
On November 15, 2012, the Commonwealth notified Peerless of its intention to file an action against it for alleged damage caused by MTBE.
Peerless is a “Delaware corporation headquartered in Puerto Rico with a principal place of business at Road 127 KM 17.1, Punta Guayamlla, Penuelas, Puerto Rico 00624.”
E. Facts Regarding Trammo Operating and Trammo Parent
1. Undisputed Facts
a. Trammo Operating
The Trammo Defendants were added to this action five and a half years after it commenced.
Trammo Operating had a contractual relationship with Peerless in Puerto Rico for the storage and sale of gasoline. On January 31, 2005, that contract was assigned to Colonial Caribbean, Inc. (“Colonial”).
b. Trammo Parent
On January 24, 2002, Trammo Parent was incorporated in Delaware.
III. LEGAL STANDARD
A. Rule 12(b)(2) Motion to Dismiss
1. Standard of Proof
A plaintiff has the burden of proving personal jurisdiction by a preponderance of the evidence.
Puerto Rico’s long-arm statute allows courts to exercise jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant if the action arises because that person: (1) transacted business in Puerto Rico personally or through an agent; (2) participated in tortious acts within Puerto Rico personally or through his agent ... or (5) owns, uses or possesses, personally or through his agent, real property in Puerto Rico.
3. Due Process
The Supreme Court set forth the requirements of Due Process in International Shoe v. Washington: that a defendant “not present within the territory of the forum” have “certain minimum contacts with it such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.”
First, to satisfy minimum contacts for due process, the plaintiff must demonstrate that “the defendant purposely availed itself of the privilege of doing business in the forum and could foresee being haled into court there” and that “the claim arises out of, or relates to, the defendant’s contacts with the forum.”
[Courts] consider five factors [in] determining whether an exercise of jurisdiction is reasonable: ... “(1) the burden on the defendant, (2) the interests of the forum State, (3) the plaintiffs interest in obtaining relief, (4) the interstate judicial system’s interest in obtaining the most efficient resolution of the controversies, [and] (5) the shared interest of the several States in furthering fundamental substantive social policies.”100
a. Jurisdictional Veil Piercing
In the First Circuit, the inquiry into piercing the veil separating two corporations in the liability context also informs the jurisdictional inquiry.
Where courts in the First Circuit have exercised personal jurisdiction over the parent corporation, there is a “plus factor” beyond the “subsidiary’s mere presence within the bosom of the corporate family.”
When a subsidiary enters the forum state as an agent of the parent, acts as a mere department of the parent, or is a shell for the parent company, “the parent has plainly made a choice to avail itself of the forum’s benefices.”
B. Failure to State a Claim
1. Standard of Proof
When reviewing a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, the court must “accept as true all of the factual allegations contained in the complaint”
2. Factual Record and Statute of Limitations Defense on a Rule 12(b)(6) Motion
“The lapse of a limitations period is an affirmative defense that a defendant must plead and prove.”
3. Statute of Limitations for Tort Claims in Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico, Article 1802 of the Civil Code, L.P.R.A.
4. Judge-Made Tolling in Puerto Rico
In 1992, the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico held that plaintiffs could add jointly and severally liable defendants to a complaint that was timely filed.
[W]e decided [in Arroyo ] that timely filing of a complaint by an injured party against a joint and several co-tortfeasor automatically tolls the statute of limitations against all of the other co-tortfeasors. We stated that the alleged joint and several co-tortfeasors can be incorporated into the litigation through an amendment to the complaint or a third-party complaint, and that claimant merely must allege well and sufficiently that the new defendant is jointly and severally liable for the harm.130
In 2008, the Supreme Court expanded the reach of the Arroyo rule, holding that it allowed a plaintiff to add a joint and severally liable defendant who would otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations even though the “plaintiff knew beforehand the identity and elements necessary to exercise his cause of action against [that defendant].”
In 2012, the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico abrogated Arroyo and its progeny, holding that “timely filing of a complaint against a supposed co-tortfeasor does not toll the statute of limitations against the rest of the alleged co-tortfeasors.”
The foregoing [decision that Fraguada should have prospective effect] is based on the fact that the rule is a new rule and so applying it to this case would have substantially unfair results for the respondents, who relied on the prior rule that has been set aside by the new rule that we are establishing today. Public policy and social considerations have made us decide that this rule shall have prospective effects, since the purpose sought is to award fair and equitable relief resulting in a better social coexistence.134
The court concluded by stating that, “[A]ll causes of action filed according to Art. 1802 of the Civil Code [ ] shall be adjudicated in accordance with the rules established herein.”
IY. DISCUSSION
A. Puerto Rico Lacks Personal Jurisdiction over Total Umbrella
Because Total Umbrella is a holding company that has never operated in Puerto Rico or participated directly in the MTBE market, Puerto Rico lacks personal
1. Total Umbrella Is a Holding Company
The Commonwealth strains to contest that Total Umbrella is a holding company. A 2011 SEC Form 20-F defines Total Umbrella as a holding company.
The Commonwealth’s use of the name “Total” — as well as the term “corporate parent” — throughout its Opposition will not establish personal jurisdiction.
Because the Commonwealth has not established a prima facie case that Total Umbrella was “directly involved in the Puerto Rico MTBE market,” there are no contacts with the forum sufficient for exercising personal jurisdiction.
On the basis of a document that does not mention Total Umbrella, the Commonwealth assumes that subsidiary TPPRC and Total Umbrella shared officers and
The Maumont email,
B. Puerto Rico Lacks Personal Jurisdiction over TOM
1. The 2004 PSA Does Not Confer Jurisdiction over TOM
The Commonwealth argues that the 2004 PSA that TOM entered into with local oil companies evidences TOM’s direct jurisdictional contacts with Puerto Rico.
2. TOM’s Sharing an Officer with TPPRC Does Not Support the Exercise of Personal Jurisdiction
Because sharing employees is within the bounds of normal corporate structure, the fact that TOM and TPPRC share an officer is insufficient to confer personal jurisdiction over TOM. While the Commonwealth contends that TOM shares four of
C. The Commonwealth’s Claims Against Peerless Are Barred by the Statute of Limitations
Puerto Rico’s one year statute of limitations bars the Commonwe'alth’s action because: (1) judicial notice can be taken of Peerless’ permits and licenses in order to establish that the Commonwealth had constructive knowledge of Peerless’ operations; (2) the Commonwealth added Peerless to this action after the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico changed its tolling rule for jointly and severally liable defendants in Fraguada, which eliminated the Commonwealth’s ability to add Peerless as a defendant; and (3) the Commonwealth has not properly alleged a continuous tort that could trigger a new claim.
1. There Is No Need to Convert the Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to One Under Rule 56
The Court may take judicial notice of Peerless’ permits and license issued by the government of Puerto Rico, without converting this motion into one for summary judgment. The Federal Rules of Evidence allow the court to “take judicial notice on its own” of “a fact that is not subject to reasonable dispute because it ... [ ] can be accurately and readily determined from sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned.”
2. The Fraguada Decision Bars the Commonwealth’s Use of Its 2007 Filing Date Against Peerless
The new tolling rule announced by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico in Fraguada mandates that the Commonwealth’s claims against Peerless be dismissed as untimely. The rule of Fraguada applies prospectively “to all causes of action filed according to Article] 1802 of the Civil Code.”
3. Continuous Harmful Effect Does Not Justify Tolling
Because Puerto Rico’s continuous tort doctrine requires showing ongoing unlawful conduct, not ongoing harm, the Commonwealth’s assertion that MTBE allegedly continues to damage the waters of Puerto Rico cannot save its claim. In Puerto Rico, a defendant’s last act is used for the purposes of the statute of limitations.
*498 MTBE continues to threaten, migrate into and enter the waters of the Commonwealth. Until the nuisance is abated and the waters of the Commonwealth are returned to their pre-injury quality, the Defendants are liable for the creation and continued maintenance of a public nuisance in contravention of the public’s right to clean water and an unspoiled environment.189
There is no allegation that Peerless has engaged in continuous tortious conduct.
D. The Commonwealth’s Claims Against the Trammo Defendants Are Barred by the Statute of Limitations
In support of their motion to dismiss, the Trammo Defendants offer two documents issued by the Puerto Rico Department of State:
V. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons all of these motions are GRANTED: (1) Total Umbrella’s motion is GRANTED; (2) TOM’s motion is GRANTED; (3) Peerless’ motion is GRANTED; and (4) the Trammo Defendants’ motions are GRANTED. The Clerk of the Court is directed to close these motions (Doc. Nos. 207, 215, 224, 231).
SO ORDERED.
. I use "Total Umbrella” to refer to Total, S.A. because it is the corporate parent of
. See Affirmation of Mark Katz, counsel for Trammo Petroleum, Inc. and Trammo Caribbean, Inc., in Support of Trammo Petroleum, Inc. and Trammo Caribbean, Inc.’s Motion to Dismiss ("Katz Aff.”) ¶ 3.
. See id. ¶ 4.
. See id. ¶¶ 45. See TAC ¶ 21.
. TAC ¶ 21.
. See id. ¶¶ 96-156.
. See 4/16/13 Declaration of Peter Herbel, Total Umbrella’s counsel, in Support of Total Umbrella’s Motion to Dismiss the TAC ("Herbel Decl.”) ¶ 3.
. Id. ¶ 4.
. 2012 SEC Filing Form 20-F, Ex. A to 5/22/13 Reply Declaration of Peter Herbel in Support of Total Umbrella’s Motion to Dismiss ("Herbel Rep. Decl.”), at 81.
. See 2011 SEC Filing Form 20-F, Ex. B at 1011. See also Notice of Total Umbrella Shareholder Meeting ("Shareholder Notice”), Ex. G to Herbel Decl., at 24.
. See Herbel Decl. ¶¶ 14, 16; Shareholder Notice at 26.
. TPPRC was previously named Gasolinas de Puerto Rico Corporation ("GPR”) before acquisition by TOM. See Herbel Decl. ¶¶ 1617. I use TPPRC to refer to both entities.
. See Herbel Decl. ¶ 15. The prior name of Raffinage Marketing was “Total France.” See id. ¶ 21(b).
. Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Total Umbrella’s Motion to Dismiss the TAC ("Opp. Mem. Total Umbrella”) at 7.
. 2011 SEC Filing Form 20-F at 10.
. Id.
. Press Announcement Affixed to 2004 SEC Filing Form 6-K, Ex. 4 to 5/8/13 Declaration of Daniel Boone, counsel for the Commonwealth, in Support of Commonwealth’s Opposition to Total Umbrella (“Total Umbrella Boone Decl.”).
. 2004 SEC Filing Form 6-K. "The Group” is defined as Total Umbrella and its subsidiaries and affiliates. See 2011 Form 20-F at iv.
. Total Umbrella Website (total.com), Ex. 2 to Total Umbrella Boone Decl.
. Herbel Rep. Decl. ¶ 6.
. 2011 Form 20-F at iv.
. 3/28/13 Letter from Michael Axline, Commonwealth's counsel, to the Court, Ex. A to Herbel Deck, at 2.
. Email from Julien Maumont, a Total Umbrella employee, to "Florence” ("Maumont Email”), Ex. B to Herbel Deck
. Id.
. Total Umbrella Opp. Mem at 9. See also Peerless Contract, Ex. 11 to Boone Decl. See also Maumont Email.
. Philippe Corsaletti, copied on the emails, was never an employee of Total Umbrella. See Herbel Decl. ¶ 21(b).
. Shareholder Notice, at 26.
. See Total Umbrella Mem. at 9.
. See Opp. Mem. Total Umbrella at 8-9. "Total France” was the previous name of "Total Raffinage Marketing, S.A.,” which changed its name in 2008. See Herbel Rep. Decl. ¶ 20.
. Opp. Mem. Total Umbrella at 9. See Report of Independent Auditors for TPPRC, Ex. 9 to Total Umbrella Boone Deck The Commonwealth offers another audit report for TPPRC that references the "Parent Company” of TPPRC. See 2006 Report of Independent Auditors, Ex. 6 to Boone Decl. The “Parent
. Opp. Mem. Total Umbrella at 8. See Excerpts from TPPRC’s 2004 Corporate Annual Report, Ex. 7 to Total Umbrella Boone Decl. The document, however, does not reference Total Umbrella or any employees of Total Umbrella. See Herbel Rep. Decl. ¶ 19.
. See Herbel Decl. ¶¶ 14, 16.
. See id. ¶ 14; Total Umbrella Mem. at 5.
. See Herbel Decl. ¶ 15.
. TOM changed the name of the Gasolinas de Puerto Rico Corporation to TPPRC. See id. ¶¶ 1617.
. Id. ¶¶ 18, 20.
. See id. ¶ 18.
. See Total Umbrella Mem. at 4-5.
. See Herbel Decl. ¶¶ 8-13.
. Id. ¶ 6.
. See 4/17/13 Declaration of Christophe Jacquet, formerly the General Manager of TPPRC ("Jacquet Decl."), ¶ 5.
. Id. ¶¶ 78.
. See id. ¶¶ 9-10.
. See id. ¶ 13.
. Id. ¶ 27.
. See id. ¶ 11. At the time of the purchase TPPRC was known as Gasolinas de Puerto Rico Corporation. See id. ¶ 12.
. Commonwealth’s Opposition to TOM's Motion to Dismiss ("Opp. Mem. TOM”) at 6. See also 9/14/04 Letter from Maximo Alvaraez to Christian Chammas, Ex. 2 to 5/10/13 Declaration of Daniel Boone in Support of the Commonwealth's Opposition to TOM's Motion to Dismiss ("TOM Boone Decl.”).
. See Opp. Mem. TOM at 7-8.
. PSA Cover Page, Ex. 3 to TOM Boone Decl.
. See PSA at 1.
. See id.
. See id. TPPRC replaced GPR, which was used in the PSA.
. See id.
. See Notes to Audited Financial Statements, Ex. 13 to TOM Boone Decl., at 5.
. PSA at 1.
. See id. at 3. TOM claims the place of "execution” was Paris. See Memorandum of Law in Support of TOM's Motion to Dismiss ("TOM Mem.”) at 2.
. See PSA at 57.
. TOM Mem. at 6.
. See id. at 67. See also PSA at 1.
. See Opp. Mem. TOM at 12.
. See Statement attached to TPPRC’s 2004 Corporate Annual Report (“2004 Statement”), Ex. 12 to Boone Decl.
. See id.
. Id.
. Id.
. TOM’s Memorandum of Law in Reply to Commonwealth’s Opposition to TOM’s Motion to Dismiss at 8.
. Id.
. See Total Umbrella Mem. at 4-5.
. See Jacquet Decl. ¶¶ 14-26.
. See Peerless' Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Dismiss ("Peerless Mem.”) at 2.
. See id.
. TAC ¶ 57. See also Certificates of Incorporation, Exs. 1-2 to Declaration of Luiz R. Vázquez, General Manager of Peerless, in Support of Peerless' Motion to Dismiss ("Vázquez Decl.”).
. See Permit Letter, Ex. 3 to Vázquez Decl. Peerless also applied for a similar permit in 1999. See Permit Letter, Ex. 4 to Vázquez Decl.
. See License, Ex. 5 to Vázquez Decl.
. Vázquez Decl. ¶ 9.
. See Memorandum of Law in Support of Trammo Petroleum, Inc. and Trammo Caribbean, Inc.’s Motion to Dismiss ("Trammo Mem.”) at 1.
. See 4/12/13 Declaration of William E. Markstein, Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Trammo Operating from 2003-2007 and Assistant Secretary of Trammo Parent from 2003, in Support of Trammo Petroleum, Inc. and Trammo Caribbean, Inc.’s Motion to Dismiss ("Markstein Decl.”) ¶ 6; Certificate of Incorporation, Ex. 2 to Markstein Decl.
. Trammo Mem. at 3.
. Markstein Decl. ¶ 7; Certificate of Authorization, Ex. 3 to Markstein Decl.
. See Markstein Decl. ¶ 8.
. Id. ¶9.
. Id. ¶ 11. See also Certificate of Dissolution, Ex. 5 to Markstein Decl.
. See Markstein Decl. ¶¶ 12-13.
. Id. ¶ 14. See also Letter from Municipality, Ex. 6 to Markstein Decl.
. See Markstein Decl. ¶ 2; Certification of Incorporation, Ex. 1 to Markstein Decl.
. See Markstein Decl. ¶ 5.
. Id. ¶ 3.
. See id. ¶ 4.
. See Koehler v. Bank of Bermuda Ltd., 101 F.3d 863, 865 (2d Cir. 1996).
. Dorchester Fin. Sec., Inc. v. Banco BRJ, S.A., 722 F.3d 81 (2d Cir. 2013) (alteration in original) (quotation marks and citations omitted).
. Penguin Grp. (USA) Inc. v. American Buddha, 609 F.3d 30, 35 (2d Cir. 2010) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
. See A.I. Trade Fin., Inc. v. Petra Bank, 989 F.2d 76, 79-80 (2d Cir. 1993). See also In re Magnetic Audiotape Antitrust Litig., 334 F.3d 204, 206 (2d Cir. 2003) (citation omitted).
. Doe v. Delaware State Police, No. 10 Civ. 3003, 939 F.Supp.2d 313, 321, 2013 WL 1431526, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 4, 2013) (quotation marks omitted) (citing Jazini v. Nissan Motor Co., 148 F.3d 181, 185 (2d Cir. 1998)).
. In re Stillwater Capital Partners Inc. Litig., 851 F.Supp.2d 556, 567 (S.D.N.Y. 2012) (quoting Schenker v. Assicurazioni Genereali S.p.A., Consol., No. 98 Civ. 9186, 2002 WL 1560788, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. July 15, 2002)).
. See Negron-Torres v. Verizon Commc’ns, Inc., 478 F.3d 19, 24 (1st Cir. 2007) (quoting L.P.R.A., Tit. 32, App. III, Rule 4.7(a)(1)).
. Id. (quotation marks and citations omitted). Accord Pritzker v. Yari, 42 F.3d 53, 60 (1st Cir. 1994) (citations omitted) (stating that Rule 4.7 "extends personal jurisdiction as far as the Federal Constitution permits”).
. Gonzalez-Diaz v. Up Stage Inc., No. 11 Civ. 1689, 2012 WL 2579307, at *1 (D.P.R. July 3, 2012).
. 326 U.S. 310, 316, 66 S.Ct. 154, 90 L.Ed. 95 (1945) (quotation marks and citations omitted).
. Bank Brussels Lambert v. Fiddler Gonzalez & Rodriguez, 305 F.3d 120, 127 (2d Cir. 2002) (quotation marks and citations omitted).
. Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 477, 105 S.Ct. 2174, 85 L.Ed.2d 528 (1985). Accord Chloe v. Queen Bee of Beverly Hills, LLC, 616 F.3d 158, 173 (2d Cir. 2010).
. MacDermid, Inc. v. Deiter, 702 F.3d 725, 730 (2d Cir. 2012) (quoting Asahi Metal Indus. Co. v. Superior Court, 480 U.S. 102, 113-14, 107 S.Ct. 1026, 94 L.Ed.2d 92 (1987)).
. See United Elec., Radio & Mach. Workers of America v. 163 Pleasant St. Corp., 960 F.2d 1080, 1091 (1st Cir. 1992) (citation omitted).
. See Donatelli v. National Hockey League, 893 F.2d 459, 465 (1st Cir. 1990) (citations omitted).
. Negron-Torres, 478 F.3d at 27 (quoting Escude Cruz v. Ortho Pharm. Corp., 619 F.2d 902, 905 (1st Cir. 1980) (citing Blount v. Peerless Chemicals (P.R.) Inc., 316 F.2d 695 (2d Cir. 1963))).
. Donatelli, 893 F.2d at 465-66.
. See id. at 466 (citations omitted).
. Escude Cruz, 619 F.2d at 905 (citations omitted). Accord Donatelli, 893 F.2d at 466 (quotation marks and citations omitted) (noting that "the exercise of control by the parent [must be] greater than that normally associated with common ownership and directorship,” and not the level of control "innately inherent in the family relationship”).
. Escude Cruz, 619 F.2d at 905 (quoting Blount, 316 F.2d at 699).
. See de Walker v. Pueblo Int'l, Inc., 569 F.2d 1169, 1173 (1st Cir. 1978).
. See Escude Cruz, 619 F.2d at 905.
. Donatelli, 893 F.2d at 466.
. Id. The Asahi factors are referred to as "Gestalt factors” in the First Circuit.
. Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 572, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). Accord Rescuecom Corp. v. Google Inc., 562 F.3d 123, 127 (2d Cir. 2009).
. Simms v. City of New York, 480 Fed.Appx. 627, 629 (2d Cir. 2012) (citation omitted).
. In re NYSE Specialists Sec. Litig., 503 F.3d 89, 95 (2d Cir. 2007) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 564, 127 S.Ct. 1955.
. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (citation omitted).
. Id. (citations omitted).
. Staehr v. Hartford Fin. Servs. Grp., Inc., 547 F.3d 406, 425 (2d Cir. 2008) (citing Fed R. Civ. P. 8(c)(1)).
. Id.
. DiFolco v. MSNBC Cable LLC, 622 F.3d 104, 111 (2d Cir. 2010) (citation omitted).
. Staehr, 547 F.3d at 425 (quotation marks and citation omitted).
. See Global Network Commc’ns, Inc. v. City of N.Y., 458 F.3d 150, 156 (2d Cir. 2006).
. I use the L.P.R.A. because it is readily available in translation.
. Fraguada Bonilla v. Hospital Auxilio Mutuo, 186 D.P.R. 365, 2012 WL 3655336 (Aug. 13, 2012) (cert. translation by Juan E. Segarra, USCII/translator), Ex. 2 to 5/28/13 Declaration of Daniel Boone, attorney for the Commonwealth, in Support of the Commonwealth's Opposition, Doc. No. 277 ("Peerless Boone Decl.”), at 3 n. 7. The Commonwealth has supplied a stipulated certified translation of Fraguada that I cite as: “Fraguada at [page in certified translation].”
. Id.
. Rodriguez-Suris v. Montesinos, 123 F.3d 10, 13 (1st Cir. 1997) (quotation marks and citations omitted).
. Lopez-Flores v. Cruz-Santiago, 526 F.Supp.2d 188, 190 (D.P.R. 2007) (citing Rodriguez-Suris, 123 F.3d at 14-17) (citations omitted).
. De Leon Otero v. Rubero, 820 F.2d 18, 19-20 (1st Cir. 1987) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
. See Fraguada at 4 (citing Arroyo v. Hospital La Concepcion, 130 D.P.R. 596, 605 (1992)).
. Id.
. Id. at 4-5 (citing Garcia Perez v. Corporation Service Mujer, 174 D.P.R. 138, 155 (2008)).
. Id.
. See id. at 11.
. Id.
. Id. at 12.
. See 2011 SEC Filing 20-F at iv (emphasis added) (stating that “[w]hen we refer to the parent holding company alone, we use the term [Total Umbrella]”). The Commonwealth's exhibit of the same 2011 SEC Filing Form 20-F conspicuously lacks the relevant term definition pages. Compare Ex. 5 to Total Umbrella Boone Decl., with Ex. B to Herbel Rep. Decl.
. 2011 SEC Filing Form 20-F at 81 (emphasis added).
. Id. at 10. See also Total, S.A. Website, Ex. 2 to Total Umbrella Boone Decl.
. Opp. Mem. Total Umbrella at 7.
. See 2011 SEC Filing Form 20-F at 10-11. Cf. Gallelli v. Crown Imports, LLC, 701 F.Supp.2d 263, 268 (E.D.N.Y. 2010) (emphasis added) (noting that the business of a holding company — comprised of companies "engaged in all aspects of the beer brewing and distribution businesses” — is best described as the holding of stock in other companies, and it is therefore "not directly engaged in any aspect of the beer brewing or distribution businesses”).
. I take judicial notice of the portions of the filing not included as exhibits. See Kramer v. Time Warner Inc., 937 F.2d 767, 774 (2d Cir. 1991) (quotation marks and citation omitted) (holding that a district court may take judicial notice of the contents of public disclosure documents filed with the SEC as facts whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned, satisfying FRE 201(b)(2)).
. See Total, S.A., Annual and Transition Report of Foreign Private Issuers (Form 20-F) at 3-14, 81-83 (Mar. 28, 2013). See Gurvey v. Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman, PC, No. 06 Civ. 1202, 2009 WL 691056, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 17, 2009) (quotation marks and citations omitted) (stating that when a holding company is an investment mechanism for diversifying risk through corporate acquisitions, the subsidiaries conduct business as investments, not agents).
. See Negron-Torres, 478 F.3d at 26 (quotation marks omitted) (noting that a shared name between a parent and a subsidiary cannot serve as jurisdictional shortcut for parties who "play fast and loose” with the name).
. See 2011 SEC Form 20-F at iii.
. See Total Umbrella Website (total. com), Ex. 2 to Total Umbrella Boone Decl.
. See Special Indus. Inc. v. Zamil Grp. Holding Co., No. 11 Civ. 3207, 2013 WL 1345612, at *5 (S.D.Tex. Mar. 29, 2013) (noting that a holding company’s references to its
. The Commonwealth does not argue that the contacts of Total Umbrella’s subsidiaries should be imputed to the parent holding company. Even if such an argument was presented, there is no reason to disregard the separate corporate forms of Total Umbrella and its subsidiaries because there are no exhibits that establish a First Circuit “plus factor,” such as agency, extraordinary control, or shell. See Donatelli, 893 F.2d at 465-66 (citations omitted).
. See 2006/2007 Audit Report of TTPRC, Ex. 8 to Total Umbrella Boone Decl. See also 2007/2008 Audit Report of TPPRC, Ex. 9 to Total Umbrella Boone Decl.
. See 2004 Emails between Peerless and TPPRC, Ex. 10 to Total Umbrella Boone Decl.
. See 2004 Negotiation Documents, Ex. 11 to Total Umbrella Boone Decl. See also Press Announcement Affixed to SEC Filing Form 6-K, Ex. 4 to Total Umbrella Boone Decl.
. See Minutes from Total France Shareholders Meeting, Ex. C to Herbel Rep. Decl.
. Cf. Eon Corp. v. AT & T Mobility, LLC, 879 F.Supp.2d 194, 213 (D.P.R. 2012) (quotation marks and citations omitted) (noting that merger negotiations can constitute actions directed towards a forum state for the purposes of personal jurisdiction, especially where the merger agreement affected the forum state).
. TOTAL PETROCHEMICALS, Registration No. 85528831.
. Donatelli, 893 F.2d at 466. See also Special Indus. Inc., 2013 WL 1345612, at *5 (applying the "greater than normal control” standard adopted in the First Circuit, and finding that a holding company’s "complete control over the entire production process” failed to evince more than a normal corporate familial relationship).
. Cf. Gonzalez v. Walgreens Co., 878 F.2d 560, 561-62 (1st Cir. 1989) (noting that use of the name "Walgreens” was insufficient to obtain jurisdiction over the out-of-state franchisor in an action against the franchisee).
. See 2004 Audit Report of TTPRC, Ex. 7 to Total Umbrella Boone Decl.
. See Vitin Garment Mfg. Corp. v. Schreck Wholesale, Inc., 827 F.Supp. 847, 850 (D.P.R. 1993) (citation omitted) (noting that asserting jurisdiction over a parent company must be supported by more than assumption and suspicion).
. See Escude Cruz, 619 F.2d at 905 (noting that allegations of interlocking directorates will not suffice to show that the activities of the subsidiary should be attributed to the parent); In re Lupron Mktg. & Sales Practices Litig., 245 F.Supp.2d 280, 292 (D.Mass. 2003) (holding that customary incidents of a parent-subsidiary relationship — ownership, common personnel, profits, and managerial oversight — are not suspect and are insufficient for vicarious jurisdiction).
. See Maumont Email, Ex. B to Herbel Decl. Because Total Group employees receive "total.com” email addresses, the fact that the Maumont email was forwarded from a "total.com” email address is irrelevant. See Herbel Rep. Decl. ¶ 26.
. See supra note 151.
. See Negron-Torres, 478 F.3d at 27 (holding that the court would not pierce the corporate veil of a subsidiary to find jurisdiction over the parent, reasoning that plaintiff's evidence merely supported the conclusion that the parent had indirect ownership in a subsidiary and did not direct its activities).
. See Platten v. HG Bermuda Exempted Ltd., 437 F.3d 118, 135-36 (1st Cir. 2006) (finding that a holding company that exercised only limited control over a fourth-tier subsidiary could not be subjected to personal jurisdiction in the subsidiary’s forum).
. See Rivera v. Bank One, 145 F.R.D. 614, 619 (D.P.R. 1993) (finding a holding company organized under Ohio law that never had offices, employees, representatives or agents in Puerto Rico, nor owned, used, leased, by itself or through an agent, any movable or immovable property in Puerto Rico, nor had any directors or officers in Puerto Rico, and holding that [the holding company] had not engaged in any conduct that could qualify under 4.7(a)(1) of the Puerto Rico long arm statute).
. Nothing before the Court indicates that TPPRC was entirely controlled by TOM such as to warrant ignoring corporate separateness. See In re Lupron, 245 F.Supp.2d at 293 (noting that jurisdiction has been found over two parent holding companies that were mere umbrella corporations that carried out the entirety of their business through "captive subsidiaries”).
. See TOM Opp. Mem. at 6-11.
. See Jacquet Decl. ¶ 20.
. See PSA at 1 ("[n]otwithstanding anything in this Agreement that could be construed to the contrary, [TOM] shall never take title to the Assets (as defined herein) to be conveyed to [TPPRC] by [Sunshine]”).
. See Santini Rivera v. Santon, 118 F.Supp.2d 159, 164-65 (D.P.R. 2000) (holding that the court lacked personal jurisdiction over a co-defendant corporation that had never owned, leased, used or possessed, personally or through an agent, real properly in Puerto Rico).
. See PSA at 1. Accord TTPRC v. Colon, Ex. 9 to TOM Boone. Decl., at 11 (“On November 18, 2004, Total sent a notice to all retailers ... announcing that all of [TPPRC’s] stock had been acquired by [TOM], a wholly owned subsidiary of Total Group”).
. See Donatelli, 893 F.2d at 465-66. Accord Jazini, 148 F.3d at 184 (citation omitted) (stating “the presence of the subsidiary alone does not establish the parent’s presence in the state”).
. Cf. In re Lupron, 245 F.Supp.2d at 292 (noting policy concerns over asserting jurisdiction liberally over foreign parents of United States subsidiaries because of "the probability of claims of reciprocal jurisdiction by countries in which American corporations do business through subsidiaries of their own”).
. See Tom’s of Maine v. Acme-Hardesty Co., 565 F.Supp.2d 171, 179 (D.Me. 2008) (citation omitted). There, employing a corporate structure similar to the Total Group, Akzo Nobel NV was the parent company of Akzo Nobel Chemicals, a holding company that owned subsidiary operating companies. See id. Because the only relation of the holding companies to the action was limited to the fact that its subsidiaries manufactured and sold the goods in the product liability action, the court did not exercise jurisdiction over either the parent or mid-level holding companies as such contact was too attenuated and indirect and did not satisfy the relatedness and purposeful availment requirements for specific personal jurisdiction. See id.
. See Alpine View Co. Ltd. v. Atlas Copco AB, 205 F.3d 208, 219 (5th Cir. 2000) (citation omitted) (noting that the existence of interest-bearing intercorporate loans does not prove the dominance of the parent over the subsidiary but rather supports finding corporate separateness).
. See Opp. Mem. TOM at 12.
. Chammas is the President of TPPRC and hi? address is listed as "Total Outre-Mer Paris, France.” See 2004 Statement.
. See supra note 158. See also J.L.B. Equities, Inc. v. Ocwen Fin. Corp., 131 F.Supp.2d 544, 550 (S.D.N.Y. 2001) (stating that "overlapping officers and directors are intrinsic to the parent-subsidiary relationship”).
. Fed.R.Evid. 201(b)(2), (c)(1).
. I consider only Peerless' exhibits, which were not included or incorporated in the TAC. See Sandy Hollow Assocs. LLC v. Incorporated Vill. Port Washington North, No. 09 Civ. 2629, 2012 WL 273143, at *7 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 30, 2012) (quotation marks and citations omitted) (finding unpersuasive plaintiff's objection that twenty-one documents defendant submitted with its Rule 12(b)(6) motion "were not attached to the complaint as exhibits or incorporated by reference therein,” and taking judicial notice of the exhibits that were "matters of public record,” but not taking judicial notice of affidavits, which would be error on a 12(b)(6) motion).
. See Permit Letter, Ex. 3 to Vázquez Decl.
. See Permit Application, Ex. 4 to Vázquez Decl.
. See License, Ex. 5 to Vázquez Decl.
. See Torrens v. Lockheed Martin Servs. Grp., Inc., 396 F.3d 468, 472 (1st Cir. 2005) (taking judicial notice of a letter not in the official district court record, reasoning that the "copy supplied to us bears a date, the stamped signature of a retained file copy[,j ... and an obscured file stamp”); V.E.C. Corp. of Delaware v. Hilliard, No. 10 Civ. 2542, 2011 WL 7101236, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 13, 2011) (taking judicial notice of a corporation's certificate of renewal filed with the state secretary in considering the statute of
. The Commonwealth does not contest this finding, which was initially raised in Peerless’ Memorandum in Support. See Peerless Mem. at 14-15.
. See St. John's Univ. v. Bolton, 757 F.Supp.2d 144, 191-92 (E.D.N.Y. 2010) (citations omitted) (citing Wanlass v. General Elec. Co., 148 F.3d 1334, 1338-39 (Fed.Cir. 1998) (citations omitted) (stating that "[t]he Supreme Court has consistently imputed to parties who failed to examine readily available information the knowledge contained in it and the results of inquiries that the knowledge would have motivated a reasonable man to conduct,” and summarizing and collecting Supreme Court cases on imputed knowledge)).
. Because the Commonwealth had constructive knowledge of Peerless’ operations, I need not decide whether the Commonwealth arguably had actual knowledge because it issued the permit and license itself.
. Fraguada at 11-12.
. See Bonilla v. Trebol Motors Corp., 913 F.Supp. 655, 659-60 (D.P.R. 1995) (citation omitted) (holding that the defendants seeking to assert an untimely counterclaim could not use the continuous tort doctrine because the plaintiff's “last allegedly unlawful act” that could support a claim of malicious prosecution was outside the one year statute of limitations).
. M.R. (Vega Alta), Inc. v. Caribe Gen. Elec. Prods., Inc., 31 F.Supp.2d 226, 240 (D.P.R. 1998) (emphasis added) (citing Arcelay v. Sanchez, 77 D.P.R. 824, 838 (1955) (quotation marks omitted)).
. TAC ¶ 113.
. See Torres v. Hospital San Cristobal, 831 F.Supp.2d 540, 544 (D.P.R. 2011) (citations omitted) (finding that plaintiffs could not avail themselves of the continuous tort doctrine to circumvent the one year statute of limitations for their untimely filed medical malpractice suit because they did not set forth any allegations in their complaint that constituted the elements of a continuous tort); M.R. (Vega Alta), 31 F.Supp.2d at 240 (finding that defendants were not' continuously acting when pollutants entered land without any further impetus on the part of defendants, and noting that "pollutants themselves are not [djefendants [and] their constant action (reentry) is not a continuous action on the part of the [defendants”); De Leon Otero v. Rubero, 820 F.2d 18, 19-20 (1st Cir. 1987) (quotation marks and citation omitted) (noting that "continuing consequences” cannot be equated with "continuing acts” for the purposes of establishing a continuous tort).
. This action has been pending for over five years, and there is no indication that permitting a fourth amendment would be anything but futile. Accordingly, I deny further leave to amend. See Okoi v. El Al Israel Airlines, 378 Fed.Appx. 9, 12 (2d Cir. 2010) (citing Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182, 83 S.Ct. 227, 9 L.Ed.2d 222 (1962)). See also Schoenberg v. Shapolsky Publishers, Inc., 916 F.Supp. 333, 336 (S.D.N.Y. 1996) (citations omitted) (denying leave to amend because plaintiff sought to include a new claim in an action that "has lingered in the courts already for more than five years, partly because of bitter discovery disputes”).
. As with Peerless, there is no need to convert this motion into one for summary judgment. See supra notes 177-178, 182. Because the statute of limitations bars this action, I do not reach the issue of whether personal jurisdiction may be asserted over the Trammo Defendants.
. I take judicial notice of these documents. See supra notes 177-178, 182.
. See Certificate of Authorization, Ex. 3 to Markstein Decl.
. See Certificate of Withdrawal, Ex. 4 to Markstein Decl.
. See id.
. See supra notes 184-185.
. Id.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re METHYL TERTIARY BUTYL ETHER (\MTBE\") PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION"
- Cited By
- 12 cases
- Status
- Published