Mabey v. Crystalite Bohemia, S.R.O. ( 2018 )


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  •              IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
    WARREN K. MABEY, JR. and Krystal               )
    Mabey, husband and wife,                       )
    )
    Plaintiffs,                 )
    )   C.A. No.: N16C-12-015 EMD
    v.                               )
    )
    CRYSTALITE BOHEMIA, S.R.O.,                    )
    CRYSTALITE BOHEMIA, INC. d/b/a                 )
    CRYSTALITE BOHEMIA USA, a New                  )
    York Corporation, HOMEGOODS, INC.,             )
    a Delaware Corporation, THE TJX                )
    COMPANIES, INC., a Delaware                    )
    Corporation,                                   )
    )
    Defendants.                 )
    )
    Submitted: October 31, 2017
    Decided: February 6, 2018
    Upon Defendant Crystalite Bohemia, S.R.O.’s Motion to Dismiss,
    Conditionally Granted Pending Jurisdictional Discovery
    DAVIS, J.
    I. INTRODUCTION
    Krystal Mabey purchased a set of Crystalite Bohemia “Barbara” style wine glasses (the
    “Glasses”) at a HomeGoods store in Delaware. Ms. Mabey took the glasses home where one
    shattered while in the possession of Warren Mabey. As a result, Mr. Mabey suffered injuries
    requiring medical treatment.
    On December 1, 2016, Ms. Mabey and Mr. Mabey (collectively “The Mabeys”) filed a
    complaint (the “Complaint”) against Crystalite Bohemia, S.R.O. (“Bohemia SRO”); Crystalite
    Bohemia, Inc. d/b/a Crystalite Bohemia USA (“Bohemia USA”); HomeGoods, Inc.,
    (“HomeGoods”); and The TJX Companies, Inc. (“TJX”). In the Complaint, the Mabeys allege
    that Bohemia SRO or Bohemia USA manufactured and distributed the Glasses.
    Bohemia SRO filed a Motion to Dismiss (the “Motion”) for lack of personal jurisdiction
    and failure to state a claim. Bohemia SRO is a foreign corporation based in the Czech Republic.
    Plaintiffs filed an Answering Brief in Partial Opposition to Defendant Crystalite Bohemia,
    S.R.O.’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Complaint Pursuant to Rules 12(b)(2) and 12(b)(6) (the
    “Opposition”). Plaintiffs oppose the Motion claiming Delaware has constitutional jurisdiction
    over Bohemia SRO. In the alternative, Plaintiffs request jurisdiction discovery (the “Request”).
    For the following reasons, the Court will conditionally GRANT the Motion, pending
    limited jurisdictional discovery by the Mabeys of Bohemia SRO.
    II. RELEVANT FACTS
    Defendant Bohemia SRO “owns and operates glass factories in Czech Republic and
    designs, manufactures, sells, markets, ships, exports, and distributes” Crystalite Bohemia
    “Barbara” style wine glasses all over the world.1 Bohemia Inc. d/b/a Bohemia USA operates the
    United States branch office of Bohemia SRO.2 Bohemia SRO is the parent company of Bohemia
    Inc. and Bohemia USA.3
    In February 2012, Mrs. Mabey purchased the Glasses at a HomeGoods retail store
    located at the Midway Shopping Center, 4607 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, Delaware
    19808 (“Midway HomeGoods”).4 TJX is the parent company of HomeGoods.5 On December 2,
    2014, one of the Glasses spontaneously shattered and injured Mr. Mabey while he used the glass
    1
    Compl. ¶ 13.
    2
    
    Id. at ¶
    14.
    3
    
    Id. at ¶
    15.
    4
    
    Id. at ¶
    10.
    5
    
    Id. at ¶
    9.
    2
    as “intended and in a manner reasonably foreseeable by Defendants.”6 The broken glass cut Mr.
    Mabey’s right wrist and forearm.7 Mr. Mabey required “medical treatment, was caused pain and
    suffering, was prevented from pursuing usual activities, has incurred economic loss, and has
    permanent disabilities that will affect plaintiff.”8
    In the Complaint, the Mabeys assert eleven counts: (i) Negligence against Bohemia SRO;
    (ii) Breach of Warranty against Bohemia SRO; (iii) Negligence against Bohemia Inc. d/b/a
    Bohemia USA; (iv) Breach of Warranty against Bohemia Inc. d/b/a Bohemia USA; (v)
    Negligence against Homegoods, Inc.; (vi) Breach of Warranty against Homegoods, Inc.; (vii)
    Negligence against TJX; (viii) Breach of Warranty against TJX; (ix) Vicarious Liability against
    Bohemia SRO; (x) Vicarious Liability against TJX; and, (xi) Loss of Consortium against
    Defendants.9 The Mabeys seek general damages, special damages, punitive damages relating to
    any reckless conduct, pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interest, costs, and any other just and
    equitable relief.
    On July 26, 2017, Bohemia SRO filed the Motion. Lubor Cerva provided an affidavit
    (the “Affidavit”) in support of the Motion.10 On August 18, 2017, the Mabeys filed the
    Opposition. On October 23, 2017, the Court held a hearing on the Motion (the “Hearing”). At
    the Hearing, Bohemia SRO argued that: (1) Bohemia SRO is a foreign corporation; and (2)
    Bohemia SRO transferred the glasses in a foreign country without any intention to target
    Delaware. The Court ordered Bohemia SRO to file an additional affidavit to support the
    statements made by Bohemia SRO’s counsel at the Hearing.
    6
    
    Id. at ¶
    17-18.
    7
    
    Id. at ¶
    17.
    8
    
    Id. at ¶
    19.
    9
    
    Id. at ¶
    22-96.
    10
    Mot., Ex. A
    3
    On October 31, 2017, Bohemia SRO filed the Affidavit of Lubor Cerva (“Cerva
    Affidavit”). Mr. Cerva is the owner of Bohemia SRO. Mr. Cerva attests that only one factory in
    the Czech Republic produced the “Barbara” glasses. A HomeGoods agent contacted Mr. Cerva
    in the Czech Republic “to inquire whether it would be possible for HomeGoods to purchase
    Crystalite glassware, including the Barbara glasses.”11 HomeGoods purchased glasses from the
    factory in the Czech Republic, not FOB. Bohemia shipped the glasses to HomeGoods
    warehouse distribution centers. No designated distribution center is located in Delaware.
    Finally, Mr. Cerva states that Bohemia SRO “had no marketing plan or effort aimed at either
    Delaware specifically or the United States more generally.”12
    III. PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS
    A.       MOTION TO DISMISS
    Bohemia SRO seeks to dismiss the entire action against Bohemia SRO based on lack of
    personal jurisdiction. Bohemia SRO argues that they do not fall within one of the categories of
    Delaware’s long-arm statute, 
    10 Del. C
    . § 3104 (“Section 3104”). Bohemia SRO further states
    that Delaware’s exercise of personal jurisdiction over Bohemia SRO would violate Due Process.
    If the Court does find that Delaware may exercise personal jurisdiction over Bohemia
    SRO then Bohemia SRO challenges the Mabeys’ claims for negligence, breach of warranty,
    vicarious liability, and loss of consortium. Bohemia SRO argue that the Mabeys failed to plead a
    direct injury. Further, Bohemia SRO argue that the breach of warranty claim is time-barred and
    fails to state a claim. Next, Bohemia SRO argue that the Mabeys agreed to “discontinue with
    prejudice their claims against [Bohemia Inc.], any attempt to hold [Bohemia SRO] vicariously
    11
    Cerva Aff. ¶ 4.
    12
    
    Id. ¶ 8,
    4
    liable for the alleged conduct of [Bohemia Inc.] . . . must be dismissed as moot.”13 Finally,
    Bohemia SRO argues that the Mabeys were not married at the time of the injury; therefore, there
    is no cause of action for loss of consortium.
    In support of the Motion, Bohemia SRO attached the Affidavit.14 In the Affidavit, Mr.
    Cerva states that Bohemia SRO is a foreign company, does not have contacts with Delaware, and
    that one of their two factories “never produce the ‘Barbara’ glasses.”15 After the Hearing,
    Bohemia SRO submitted the Cerva Affidavit. The Cerva Affidavit states that Bohemia SRO did
    not target Delaware and that title of the glasses passed in the Czech Republic.16
    B.    OPPOSITION
    The Mabeys argue that Delaware does have personal jurisdiction over Bohemia SRO
    under dual jurisdiction. The Mabeys concede that the Court does not have general or specific
    jurisdiction. In the alternative, the Mabeys ask the Court to grant jurisdictional discovery.
    The Mabeys concede that their breach of warranty and loss of consortium claims should
    be dismissed. However, the Mabeys argue that their negligence claim is well-pleaded. Next, the
    Mabeys argue that the parties agreed to not pursue vicarious liability unless discovery reveals a
    potential claim against Bohemia SRO.
    IV. STANDARD OF REVIEW
    A. RULE 12(B)(2)—LACK OF PERSONAL JURISDICTION
    Upon a motion to dismiss under Superior Court Civil Rule 12(b)(2) for lack of personal
    jurisdiction, the plaintiff “bear[s] the burden to articulate a non-frivolous basis for this court’s
    13
    Mot. ¶ 17.
    14
    
    Id., Ex. A.
    15
    
    Id. 16 Cerva
    Aff. ¶ 33.
    5
    assertion of jurisdiction.”17 The plaintiff can satisfy this burden “by making a prima facie
    showing that jurisdiction is conferred by statute.”18 Although the factual record is read in the
    light most favorable to the plaintiff in ruling on the motion, “the plaintiff must plead specific
    facts and cannot rely on mere conclusory assertions.”19 Additionally, the Court must answer two
    legal questions. “First, it must determine whether jurisdiction is appropriate under Delaware’s
    long arm statute. And, second, it must evaluate whether asserting such jurisdiction would offend
    the Due Process Clause of the Constitution.”20
    B. 12(B)(6) FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM UPON WHICH RELIEF CAN BE GRANTED
    Upon a motion to dismiss, the Court (i) accepts all well-pleaded factual allegations as
    true, (ii) accepts even vague allegations as well-pleaded if they give the opposing party notice of
    the claim, (iii) draws all reasonable inferences in favor of the non-moving party, and (iv) only
    dismisses a case where the plaintiff would not be entitled to recover under any reasonably
    conceivable set of circumstances.21 However, the court must “ignore conclusory allegations that
    lack specific supporting factual allegations.”22
    As set forth below, the Court finds that the Mabeys fail to allege facts that support the
    exercise of personal jurisdiction over Bohemia SRO. As such, the Court will not, at this time,
    address whether the Mabeys have failed to state claims for negligence, breach of warranty,
    17
    IM2 Merch. & Mfg., Inc. v. Tirex Corp., 
    2000 WL 1664168
    , at *4 (Del. Ch. Nov. 2, 2000) (citing Hart Holding
    Co. Inc. v. Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc., 
    593 A.2d 535
    , 539 (Del. Ch. 1991)). See also In re Asbestos Litig.
    (Anderson), 
    2015 WL 556434
    , at *3 (Del. Super. Jan. 30, 2015); Boone v. Oy Partek Ab, 
    724 A.2d 1150
    , 1154 (Del.
    Super. 1997), aff'd, 
    707 A.2d 765
    (Del. 1998); Greenly v. Davis, 
    486 A.2d 669
    , 670 (Del. 1984); Harmon v. Eudaily,
    
    407 A.2d 232
    , 233 (Del. Super. 1979), aff'd, 
    420 A.2d 1175
    (Del. 1980).
    18
    McKamey v. Vander Houten, 
    744 A.2d 529
    , 531 (Del. Super. 1999).
    19
    Mobile Diagnostic Grp. Holdings, LLC v. Suer, 
    972 A.2d 799
    , 802 (Del. Ch. 2009).
    20
    
    Boone, 724 A.2d at 1154
    –55. Sample v. Morgan, 
    935 A.2d 1046
    (Del. Ch. 2007) (citing AeroGlobal Capital
    Mgmt., LLC v. Cirrus Indus., Inc., 
    871 A.2d 428
    , 438 (Del. 2005).
    21
    See Central Mortg. Co. v. Morgan Stanley Mortg. Capital Holdings LLC, 
    227 A.3d 531
    , 536 (Del. 2011); Doe v.
    Cedars Academy, No. 09C-09-136, 
    2010 WL 5825343
    , at *3 (Del. Super. Oct. 27, 2010).
    22
    Ramunno v. Crawley, 
    705 A.2d 1029
    , 1034 (Del. 1998).
    6
    vicarious liability, and loss of consortium. In the event the Mabeys develop facts during
    jurisdictional discovery that support personal jurisdiction, the Court will then address whether
    Bohemia SRO is entitled to relief under Civil Rule 12(b)(6).
    V. DISCUSSION
    To establish jurisdiction, the Court must first determine whether Bohemia SRO’s actions
    fall within one of the categories in Section 3104.23 Then, the Court must decide whether
    asserting personal jurisdiction over Bohemia SRO would offend Due Process.
    A. Sufficient Facts Exist to Suggest Dual Jurisdiction
    Delaware’s long-arm statute, Section 3104, allows the Court to exercise personal
    jurisdiction over a non-resident when that person:
    (1) Transacts any business or performs any character of work or service in the
    State; (2) Contracts to supply services or things in this State; (3) Causes tortious
    injury in the State by an act or omission in this State; (4) Causes tortious injury in
    the State or outside of the State by an act or omission outside the State if the
    person regularly does or solicits business, engages in any other persistent course
    of conduct in the State or derives substantial revenue from services, or things used
    or consumed in the State. . . .24
    Dual jurisdiction exists out of contacts with Delaware arising from Section 3104(c)(1)
    and (c)(4). “However, one must take great care not to overemphasize §§ 3104(c)(1) or (c)(4)
    under this analysis. It is not important that the indicia of activity under § 3104(c)(4) rise to a
    level of ‘general presence’ as usually required.”25 Rather, the Court should analyze the activities
    “to determine whether there is an intent or purpose on the part of the manufacturer to serve the
    Delaware market with its product.”26 Similarly, “when analyzing § 3104(c)(1) it is not important
    that the manufacturer itself act in Delaware. Instead, if the intent or purpose on behalf of the
    23
    Plaintiffs concede that Delaware does not have general or specific jurisdiction over Bohemia SRO. See Opp. at 6.
    24
    
    10 Del. C
    . § 3104(c)(1)-(4).
    25
    
    Boone, 724 A.2d at 1158
    .
    26
    
    Id. 7 manufacturer
    to serve the Delaware market results in the introduction of the product to this State
    and plaintiff’s cause of action arises from injuries caused by that product, this section is
    satisfied.”27
    In Hedger v. Medline Industries, Inc., plaintiffs filed suit against a manufacturer and
    distributor of tracheostomy care kits.28 Plaintiffs were injured by one of the kits in Dover,
    Delaware.29 The manufacturer filed a declaration that set forth that the manufacturer was a Hong
    Kong corporation with its principle place of business in China.30 Additionally, the declaration
    provided that the manufacturer did not have any significant ties to Delaware and that the
    distributor was independent of the manufacturer.31 Further, the declaration stated that the
    manufacturer made the kits in China, title passed in China, and the distributor arranged shipment
    of the product from China to the United States.32
    The Hedger Court found that there was a possibility of dual jurisdiction drawing every
    reasonable inference in favor of the plaintiffs.33 In applying Section 3104, the Hedger Court
    provided that “[t]he district court has consistently held, at least for purposes of the long-arm
    statute, that ‘[a] non-resident firm’s intent to serve the United States market is sufficient to
    establish an intent to serve the Delaware market, unless there is evidence that the firm intended
    to exclude from its marketing and distribution efforts some portion of the country that includes
    Delaware.’”34 However, the Court also noted a conflict between these decisions and J. McIntyre
    27
    
    Id. 28 2017
    WL 396770, at *1.
    29
    
    Id. 30 Id.
    31
    
    Id. 32 Id.
    33
    
    Id. 34 Hedger
    v. Medline Industries, Inc., 
    2017 WL 396770
    , at *7 (Del. Super. Jan. 27, 2017) (quoting DNA Genotek
    Inc. v. Spectrum DNA, 
    159 F. Supp. 3d 477
    , 481 (D. Del. 2016); Power Integrations, Inc. v. BCD Semiconductor,
    
    547 F. Supp. 2d 365
    , 373 (D. Del. 2008)). But see 
    Nicastro, 564 U.S. at 886
    ; Delaware Intellecutal Ventures I LLC
    v. Ricoh Co., 
    67 F. Supp. 3d 656
    , 661 (D. Del. 2014) (finding that Delaware lacked dual jurisdiction over a foreign
    8
    Machinery, Ltd. v. Nicastro, 
    564 U.S. 873
    (2011)35—the relevance of which is discussed in the
    next section dealing with whether exercising dual jurisdiction would be constitutional in this
    situation.
    In this case, the Mabeys do not allege a direct connection between Bohemia SRO and the
    Midway HomeGoods. The Mabeys, they assert that Bohemia SRO placed the Glasses in the
    stream of commerce. The Cerva Affidavit indicates that Bohemia SRO manufactured the
    Glasses in the Czech Republic, sold the Glasses in the Czech Republic, and did not target
    Delaware.36 In fact, Mr. Cerva states that a “Polish ‘agent’ of defendant HomeGoods . . .
    contacted [Mr. Cerva] in the Czech Republic to inquire whether it would be possible for
    HomeGoods to purchase Crystalite glassware. . . .”37 However, when drawing every reasonable
    inference in favor of the Mabeys at this early stage, it is possible that Bohemia SRO targeted the
    United States market in general.
    B. The Exercise of Dual Jurisdiction Could be Constitutional In This Case
    The next question is whether exercising personal jurisdiction over Bohemia SRO would
    offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.38 To determine if a forum court
    meets this standard, the United States Supreme Court created fairness factors. They include: (1)
    the burden on the defendant, (2) the forum state’s interest in adjudicating the dispute, (3) the
    plaintiff’s interest in convenient and effective relief, (4) interstate or international judicial
    system’s interest in most efficient resolution of controversies, and (5) shared interest of the
    several states of countries in furthering fundamental substantive social policies.39
    corporation because there was no evidence that the foreign corporation had the requisite intent to sell its products in
    Delaware and the products could not be directly purchased online).
    35
    See id at *5 n.26.
    36
    See Cerva Aff’d.
    37
    
    Id. 38 See
    Intl. Shoe 
    Co., 326 U.S. at 316
    .
    39
    See World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, 
    444 U.S. 286
    , 292 (1980).
    9
    The United States Supreme Court further examined the constitutional limits of personal
    jurisdiction based on stream of commerce in J. McIntyre Machinery, Ltd. v. Nicastro.40 In
    Nicastro, the Court found, in a plurality decision, that a state cannot exercise personal
    jurisdiction over a foreign defendant
    where the only contacts between the defendant and the forum were (1) an
    independent company’s agreement to sell the defendant’s products in the United
    States, (2) attendance by some of the defendant’s employees, alongside employees
    for the distributor, at annual conventions in various states outside the forum, and
    (3) the sale of no more than four machines that ended up within the forum.41
    Justice Kennedy’s plurality opinion focused on the defendant’s actions rather than the
    defendant’s expectations.42 The “analysis must focus on whether a defendant has followed a
    course of conduct directed at the society or economy existing within the jurisdiction of a given
    sovereign, so that the sovereign has the power to subject the defendant to judgment concerning
    that conduct.”43 Secondly, “because the United States is a distinct sovereign, a defendant may in
    principle be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States but not of any particular
    state.”44
    Justice Breyer’s concurring opinion focused on the Court’s analysis in Asahi Metal
    Industry Co. v. Superior Court of Cal., Solano Cty, 
    480 U.S. 102
    (1987).45 Justice Breyer looked
    at the three possible implications of the stream of commerce:
    (1) something more than simply placing a product into the stream of commerce,
    even if the defendant is awar[e] that the stream may or will sweep the product into
    the forum state, (2) a sale that occurs as part of the regular and anticipated flow of
    commerce into the State, . . . or (3) a regular course of dealing as shown by the
    volume, the value, and the hazardous character of a good.46
    40
    
    564 U.S. 873
    (2011).
    41
    Hedger, 
    2017 WL 396770
    at *7 (citing Nicastro 
    564 U.S. 873
    ).
    42
    
    Id. 43 Id.
    44
    
    Id. 45 Id.
    46
    
    Id. 10 Applying
    the plurality opinion’s holding, the Court finds that the Mabeys have not shown that
    Bohemia SRO purposely availed itself to Delaware although the Mabeys did show that Bohemia
    SRO targeted the United States market. Targeting the broader United States market is
    insufficient under the plurality holding of Nicastro.
    In Hedger, this Court conducted a constitutional analysis of dual jurisdiction regarding
    similar facts.47 The Court analyzed the plurality and concurring opinions in Nicastro.48 The
    Hedger Court then turned to its facts49 and found that the plaintiff did not meet the plurality or
    concurring opinions in Nicastro to establish the constitutionality of applying dual jurisdiction.50
    However, the Court determined it was proper for the plaintiff to conduct jurisdictional
    discovery.51
    In this case, the Mabeys’ allegations fail to demonstrate that exercising personal
    jurisdiction over Bohemia SRO would be constitutional. Although the Mabeys showed that the
    wine glasses ended up in Delaware, the Mabeys must allege that there is a regular and
    anticipated flow of Bohemia SRO products in the Delaware market. Instead, the Complaint
    connects either Bohemia SRO or Bohemia SRO’s subsidiary to the Delaware market. After the
    Hearing, Bohemia SRO submitted the Cerva Affidavit. Although the Cerva Affidavit appears to
    dispense of the Mabeys’ assertion of personal jurisdiction over Bohemia SRO, the connection
    47
    
    Id. at *7-8.
    48
    
    Id. at *7.
    49
    See Part V.A.i.
    50
    Hedger, 
    2017 WL 396770
    at *8. But see Crane v. Home Depot, Inc., 
    2008 WL 2231472
    (Del. Super. May 30,
    2008) (finding that Delaware could exercise personal jurisdiction over a foreign company where foreign company’s
    CEO visited stores in the United State to promote the sale of his product, was aware that Home Depot is a national
    retailer, most of the foreign company’s witnesses are located in Illinois, and the State of Delaware has a significant
    interest in litigating a case involving injury to a Delaware resident from product purchased at a local store); see also
    Boone v. Oy Partek Ab, 
    724 A.2d 1150
    , 1157-62 (Del. Super 1997) aff’d Oy Partek AB v. Boone, 
    1998 WL 138690
    (Del. 1998) (stating that Delaware properly exercised dual jurisdiction over a foreign manufacturer who passed title
    of goods outside of Delaware, but had an intent and purpose to serve the Delaware market and the foreign company
    solicited business in Delaware).
    51
    Hedger, 
    2017 WL 396770
    at *8-9.
    11
    between Bohemia SRO and the Midway HomeGoods is sufficient to survive the Motion subject
    to jurisdiction discovery discussed in Part V.A.iii. But, the jurisdiction dispute depends on
    whether the Mabeys can find adduce facts to support their position.
    C. Jurisdiction Discovery is Warranted in This Case
    The Court finds that the Mabeys are entitled to jurisdiction discovery if the assertion of
    personal jurisdiction is minimally plausible. “It is relatively rare but not unheard of that a court
    will require a plaintiff to attempt to make out its prima facie factual showing of defendant’s
    amenability to suit without the benefit of discovery.”52 A plaintiff “may not ordinarily be
    precluded from reasonable discovery in aid of their attempt to prove that a defendant is subject to
    the jurisdiction of the Court,” but “plaintiffs are not entitled to jurisdictional discovery where
    their assertion of personal jurisdiction lacks the minimal level of plausibility needed to permit
    discovery to go forward.”53
    The Mabeys have not established that Bohemia SRO is subject to Delaware’s long-arm
    statute and that exercising jurisdiction over Bohemia SRO comports with Due Process.
    However, the Mabeys at least created a plausible argument that could support constitutional
    exercise of dual jurisdiction in the Complaint. Therefore, the Court will allow the Mabeys to
    conduct limited discovery regarding the exercise of dual jurisdiction over Bohemia SRO in
    Delaware.
    VI. CONCLUSION
    For the reasons stated above, the Motion is conditionally GRANTED as follows:
    52
    Hart Hldg. Co. v. Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc., 
    593 A.2d 535
    , 539 (Del. Ch. 1991).
    53
    Hedger, 
    2017 WL 396770
    at *8 (quoting In re Asbestos Litig., 
    2016 WL 7404547
    , at *2 (Del. Super. Oct. 17,
    2016)) (internal quotations omitted); see also Hart 
    Hldg., 593 A.2d at 539
    (citing Wyatt v. Kaplan, 
    686 F.2d 276
    (5th Cir. 1982) (stating that “[w]hen a defendant challenges personal jurisdiction, courts generally permit
    depositions confined to the issues raised in the motion to dismiss. . . . In appropriate cases [the Court] will not
    hesitate to reverse a dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction, on the ground that plaintiff was improperly denied
    discovery. . . .”).
    12
    1.    The Mabeys must provide written notice to the Court within five (5) business
    days as to whether they want to conduct limited jurisdictional discovery of Bohemia SRO;
    2.    If the Mabeys choose not to conduct limited jurisdictional discovery of Bohemia
    SRO, then Bohemia SRO is DISMISSED from this civil proceeding without further Order of the
    Court;
    3.    If the Mabeys choose to conduct limited jurisdictional discovery of Bohemia, then
    the Mabeys must complete that discovery no later than the end of the day on April 20, 2018
    AND submit a brief in support of personal jurisdiction (the “Supporting Brief”) no later than 4
    p.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. If the Mabeys file the Supporting Brief, Bohemia SRO
    shall have ten (10) days from the date the Supporting Brief is filed to file a reply brief (the
    “Reply Brief”). The Supporting Brief and the Reply Brief shall not exceed 1500 words.
    IT IS SO ORDERED.
    Dated: February 6, 2018
    Wilmington, Delaware
    /s/ Eric M. Davis
    Eric M. Davis, Judge
    13