Cadorath Aerospace Lafayette, LLC v. Colleen Ricks, as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Brandon Seth Ricks ( 2019 )


Menu:
  •                                                                             FILED
    Oct 17 2019, 10:03 am
    CLERK
    Indiana Supreme Court
    Court of Appeals
    and Tax Court
    ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS                                   ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES
    CADORATH AEROSPACE                                         Frederick R. Hovde
    LAFAYETTE, LLC, AND CADORATH                               Nicholas C. Deets
    AEROSPACE, INC.                                            William F. Eckhart
    Douglas B. Bates                                           Hovde Dassow & Deets, LLC
    Chelsea R. Stanley                                         Indianapolis, Indiana
    Stites & Harbison PLLC
    Jeffersonville, Indiana
    ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT
    H-S TOOL & PARTS, INC.
    Pfenne P. Cantrell
    Jennifer M. Van Dame
    Indianapolis, Indiana
    IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
    Cadorath Aerospace Lafayette,                              October 17, 2019
    LLC, Cadorath Aerospace, Inc.,                             Court of Appeals Case No.
    and H-S Tool & Parts, Inc.,                                18A-CT-2953
    Appellants-Defendants,                                   Appeal from the Marion Superior
    Court
    Rolls-Royce Corporation, Inc.,                             The Honorable Patrick J. Dietrick,
    Defendant,                                               Judge
    Trial Court Cause No.
    v.                                                 49D12-1703-CT-9915
    Colleen Ricks, as the Personal
    Representative of the Estate of
    Brandon Seth Ricks; Cynthia
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-CT-2953 | October 17, 2019                            Page 1 of 17
    Cobb, as Executrix of the Estate
    of Steven Wallace Cobb; and
    Brendan Mullen,
    Appellees-Plaintiffs
    Baker, Judge.
    [1]   Following a helicopter crash in 2015, Colleen Ricks, Cynthia Cobb, and
    Brendan Mullen (the Accident Victims) sued Cadorath Aerospace Lafayette,
    LLC and Cadorath Aerospace, Inc. (the Cadorath Defendants), along with H-S
    Tool & Parts, Inc. (H-S Tool), and the Rolls-Royce Corporation, Inc. (Rolls-
    Royce), in Indiana. The Accident Victims alleged that the collective Appellants
    negligently repaired the helicopter engine, causing the crash. The Cadorath
    Defendants and H-S Tool moved to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction,
    arguing that they did not have sufficient minimum contacts with the state of
    Indiana. The trial court summarily denied their motions.
    [2]   In this consolidated interlocutory appeal, the Cadorath Defendants and H-S
    Tool contend that the trial court erred when it denied their motions to dismiss
    for lack of personal jurisdiction, arguing that (1) the Cadorath Defendants and
    H-S Tool did not automatically consent to jurisdiction in Indiana simply
    because there is a forum-selection clause or an indemnity provision in an
    unrelated contract; (2) there are insufficient minimum contacts between the
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-CT-2953 | October 17, 2019    Page 2 of 17
    Cadorath Defendants, H-S Tool, and the state of Indiana to establish specific
    personal jurisdiction; and (3) even if there are sufficient minimum contacts,
    Indiana’s jurisdiction over this case would be unreasonable and would offend
    traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice. Finding that there are
    insufficient minimum contacts to establish personal jurisdiction, we reverse.
    Facts       1
    The Parties and the Accident
    [3]   The Cadorath Defendants—Cadorath Aerospace Lafayette, LLC (Cadorath
    LLC) and Cadorath Aerospace, Inc. (Cadorath, Inc.)—are entities that fix and
    repair helicopter engine parts. Cadorath LLC conducts its services at a repair
    facility in Louisiana and is organized under the laws of Louisiana.
    Additionally, its principal place of business is in Louisiana. Its sole member is a
    Canadian corporation. Cadorath, Inc., conducts its services at a repair facility
    in Winnipeg, Canada, and its principal place of business is also in Winnipeg.
    Neither organization provides repair or maintenance services in Indiana. They
    have no agents or employees in Indiana, they have no facilities or property in
    Indiana, they do not advertise services in Indiana, they are not registered to do
    business in Indiana, and less than one percent of their revenue comes from
    services provided to entities located in Indiana.
    1
    We held oral argument in this case on September 17, 2019, in Indianapolis. We thank both parties for their
    stimulating discussion and excellent oral advocacy.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-CT-2953 | October 17, 2019                             Page 3 of 17
    [4]   H-S Tool is a Canadian corporation—established under the laws of British
    Columbia—that repairs and services helicopter engine components. Its sole
    place of business is in British Columbia, and it is not registered to do business in
    Indiana. H-S Tool does not have a mailing address, office, or any employee that
    resides in Indiana, and it does not have any property in or fiduciary tie to
    Indiana aside from the infrequent transaction with an Indiana business entity.
    Also, there are no H-S Tool distributors, agents, or warehouses in Indiana.
    [5]   Rolls-Royce2 is an Indiana corporation that predominantly manufactures luxury
    automobiles. However, in the context of this appeal, Rolls-Royce writes and
    publishes manuals and other technical documents concerning helicopter
    engines—including the one pertinent to this case. It also manufactures
    helicopter engines. Its principal place of business is in Indianapolis.
    [6]   The Accident Victims include Colleen Ricks, as personal representative of
    Brandon Ricks, who died in the helicopter accident; Cynthia Cobb, as executrix
    of the estate of Steven Cobb, who also died in the helicopter accident; and
    Brendan Mullen, who was severely injured in the accident. Brandon and
    Colleen Ricks were residents of Oklahoma, Steven and Cynthia Cobb were
    residents of Mississippi, and Brendan Mullen is a resident of Montana.
    2
    Rolls-Royce did not move to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction and is, therefore, not a party to this
    interlocutory appeal. However, its involvement with this case is crucial to our legal analysis.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-CT-2953 | October 17, 2019                                 Page 4 of 17
    [7]   The accident occurred on March 30, 2015, in Saucier, Mississippi, after the
    Rolls-Royce Model 250 helicopter engine allegedly failed. The Accident
    Victims claim that the Cadorath Defendants and H-S Tool performed negligent
    repair work on the outer combustion case (OCC) of the Rolls-Royce engine
    sometime after an OCC overhaul in 2003.
    The Cadorath Defendants and Rolls-Royce
    [8]   On March 15, 2004, Cadorath, Inc., entered into an Authorized Repair Facility
    agreement (ARF) with Rolls-Royce. Cadorath LLC did the same with Rolls-
    Royce on March 31, 2005. These ARFs contemplated that the two entities
    would work together in the future to develop repair processes and to complete
    off-manual repairs at these facilities. Included in these ARFs was an indemnity
    provision that states, in pertinent part, as follows:
    The Repair Facility agrees to indemnify and hold ROLLS-
    ROYCE harmless from any and all claims, demands, suits,
    judgment or causes of action for or on account of injury to or
    death of persons or loss or damage to property arising from the
    performance by the Repair Facility of the Repair Process except to
    the extent caused by the negligence or other wrongful act of
    ROLLS-ROYCE.
    Appellants’ Joint App. Vol. IV p. 151 (emphases in original). These ARFs were
    in effect at the time the Accident Victims allege the negligent repairs took place.
    There is no evidence showing that Cadorath, Inc., ever worked on OCC
    repairs, and the evidence shows that Cadorath LLC only ever worked on OCC
    repairs in 2006 and 2008 in Lafayette, Louisiana. Additionally, Rolls-Royce has
    not asserted an indemnity claim against the Cadorath Defendants. Cadorath
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-CT-2953 | October 17, 2019      Page 5 of 17
    LLC utilized a repair process instruction sheet (RPIS) that followed Rolls-
    Royce’s overhaul manual and utilized Parts Repair Procedures Letters (PRPL)
    for recommended repairs. Cadorath LLC accessed these Rolls-Royce materials
    through an online search in Louisiana. The Cadorath Defendants did not create
    these RPIS, PRPLs, or manuals, nor did they work in tandem with Rolls-Royce
    to develop them. Rather, Cadorath LLC followed these procedures when
    making repairs, as it was obligated to do under federal law.
    [9]    In February 2010, the Cadorath Defendants entered into new ARFs with Rolls-
    Royce, which both included a forum-selection clause. That clause reads as
    follows:
    The parties hereby agree that all suits, actions, proceedings,
    litigation, disputes or claims relating to or arising out of this
    Agreement shall be brought and tried in the Superior or Circuit
    Court of Marion County, Indiana or the United States District
    Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division.
    In this regard, the parties hereby . . . (b) irrevocably consent to service
    of process and to the jurisdiction and venue of any of such courts, and (c)
    irrevocably waive any claim of inconvenient forum if any such
    suit, claim, proceeding, litigation, dispute or claim has been filed,
    brought or made in either of such courts.
    Id. at 207 (emphasis added).
    H-S Tool and Rolls-Royce
    [10]   In 2000, H-S Tool entered into an ARF, Technical Assistance, and Non-
    Disclosure Agreement with Rolls-Royce. This agreement stipulated that H-S
    Tool would pay “Technical Assistance Fees” to Rolls-Royce for certain repairs
    of Rolls-Royce components by H-S Tool. The agreement was finalized on
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-CT-2953 | October 17, 2019             Page 6 of 17
    December 8, 2000, by representatives for H-S Tool and Rolls-Royce in British
    Columbia and Indianapolis, respectively.
    [11]   The 2000 agreement also stipulated that Rolls-Royce would provide proprietary
    business information to H-S Tool so that H-S Tool could properly repair Rolls-
    Royce engines. H-S Tool agreed to share similar proprietary information along
    with the Technical Assistance Fees. H-S Tool’s repair facility would submit
    quarterly reports to Rolls-Royce to account for all expenses, and the ARF
    obligated H-S Tool to use only “Qualified Repair Processes” and repair parts
    approved by Rolls-Royce. However, the actual repair procedure was developed
    by H-S Tool “and was submitted to the [Federal Aviation Administration
    (FAA)] for approval,” H-S Tool appellant’s br. p. 30, similar to the procedure
    for the Cadorath Defendants.
    [12]   Another section of this agreement spelled out the relationship between Rolls-
    Royce and H-S Tool. It reads, in pertinent part, as follows:
    The relationship between ROLLS-ROYCE and the Repair Facility
    created by this Agreement shall be that of Independent
    Contractors and not that of principal and agent.
    Appellants’ Joint App. Vol. IV p. 18 (emphasis in original). Also, similar to the
    ARFs signed between Rolls-Royce and the Cadorath Defendants, this ARF
    contained a forum-selection clause and an indemnity provision. They are nearly
    identical in language. The first is the indemnity provision, and it reads as
    follows:
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-CT-2953 | October 17, 2019      Page 7 of 17
    The Repair Facility agrees to indemnify and hold ROLLS-
    ROYCE harmless from any and all claims, demands, suits,
    judgments or causes of action for or on account of injury to or
    death of persons . . . arising from the performance by the Repair
    Facility of the Repair Process except to the extent caused by the
    negligence or other wrongful act of ROLLS-ROYCE.
    Id. at 17 (emphases in original). Rolls-Royce has not asserted an indemnity
    claim against H-S Tool. The second is the forum-selection clause, and it reads
    as follows:
    . . . The parties agree that the courts of the State of Indiana or the
    United States Federal Courts located in the State of Indiana, as the
    case may be, shall [sic] exclusive jurisdiction over all disputes
    which may arise under this Agreement and each of the parties
    irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive
    jurisdiction of such courts.
    Id. at 18-19.
    [13]   This ARF between H-S Tool and Rolls-Royce remained in effect until 2009,
    nearly six years after the 2003 OCC overhaul. An H-S Tool representative
    signed the new ARF on December 1, 2009, in British Columbia, and a Rolls-
    Royce representative signed the new ARF on December 18, 2009, in Indiana.
    The new ARF contained the same clauses about sharing proprietary
    information, the relationship between the two entities as independent
    contractors, the indemnity provision, and the forum-selection clause.
    The Litigation
    [14]   On December 10, 2015, Colleen filed a negligent repair suit against the
    Cadorath Defendants, Rolls-Royce, and H-S Tool in the United States District
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-CT-2953 | October 17, 2019        Page 8 of 17
    Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Rolls-Royce filed a motion to
    dismiss on the grounds that the Louisiana district court lacked personal
    jurisdiction to hear the case. The district court granted Rolls-Royce’s motion
    and transferred the case to the Southern District of Indiana. Colleen then
    voluntarily dismissed her claims against the Cadorath Defendants and H-S Tool
    in Louisiana and Rolls-Royce in the Southern District. Colleen then filed the
    same suit against the same defendants on March 17, 2017, in the Marion
    County Superior Court. Shortly thereafter, Brendan and Cynthia joined the
    litigation as co-plaintiffs.
    [15]   H-S Tool and the Cadorath Defendants moved to dismiss the case for lack of
    personal jurisdiction on June 2, 2017, and on June 16, 2017, respectively. Both
    plaintiffs and defendants were granted leave to amend and refile their
    complaints and defenses. The trial court also granted the Accident Victims
    leave to conduct jurisdictional discovery. After briefing and a hearing, on
    September 14, 2018, the trial court summarily denied both the Cadorath
    Defendants’ and H-S Tool’s motions to dismiss. The Cadorath Defendants and
    H-S Tool now bring this consolidated interlocutory appeal.
    Discussion and Decision
    [16]   The Cadorath Defendants and H-S Tool raise three main arguments on appeal,
    which we consolidate and restate as follows: did the Cadorath Defendants or H-
    S Tool have sufficient minimum contacts with Indiana—either through their
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-CT-2953 | October 17, 2019     Page 9 of 17
    actions pertinent to the Accident Victims’ claim or through their contracts with
    Rolls-Royce—to establish specific jurisdiction?3
    [17]   “[W]e review a trial court’s determination regarding personal jurisdiction de
    novo.” Munster v. Groce, 
    829 N.E.2d 52
    , 57 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). If the trial
    court has made findings of jurisdictional facts, those findings are reviewed for
    clear error if based on in-court testimony. 
    Id.
     However, because the trial court
    here did not make findings of fact or conclusions of law, “our review of the trial
    court’s personal jurisdiction ruling is entirely de novo.” 
    Id.
    Minimum Contacts
    [18]   Our understanding of specific jurisdiction is well established:
    “Specific jurisdiction exists when a lawsuit arises from or is closely
    related to a defendant’s minimum contacts with or substantial
    connection to the forum state.” Boyer [v. Smith, 
    42 N.E.3d 505
    , 510
    (Ind. 2015)]. In other words, specific jurisdiction requires
    purposeful availment. 
    Id.
     A single contact with the forum state
    may be sufficient to establish specific jurisdiction over a defendant,
    if it creates a “substantial connection” with the forum state and the
    suit is related to that connection. McGee v. Int’l Life Ins. Co., 
    355 U.S. 220
    , 223, 
    78 S.Ct. 199
    , 
    2 L.E.2d 223
     (1957).
    Simek v. Nolan, 
    64 N.E.3d 1237
    , 1242-43 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016); see generally Int’l
    Shoe Co. v. State of Wash., Office of Unempl’t and Placement, 
    326 U.S. 310
    , 316
    (1945). In other words, for a state court to exercise specific jurisdiction over an
    3
    We need only conduct a specific jurisdiction analysis because all parties have conceded that Indiana does
    not have general jurisdiction over the Cadorath Defendants or H-S Tool.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-CT-2953 | October 17, 2019                           Page 10 of 17
    action, “there must be an ‘affiliation between the forum and the underlying
    controversy, principally, [an] activity or an occurrence that takes place in the
    forum State.” Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. v. Super. Ct. of Cal., S.F. Cty., 
    137 S.Ct. 1773
    , 1781 (2017) (quoting Goodyear Dunlop Tire Operations, S.A. v. Brown, 
    564 U.S. 915
    , 919 (2011)) (brackets in original).
    [19]   In this case, there was no relevant activity or occurrence that took place in
    Indiana. This is a negligent repair action, and the record plainly shows that no
    repairs occurred here. Cadorath LLC conducts its services at a repair facility in
    Louisiana and is organized under the laws of Louisiana. Its principal place of
    business is in Louisiana. As for Cadorath, Inc., it conducts services at a repair
    facility in Winnipeg, Canada, and its principal place of business is also in
    Winnipeg. Neither organization has provided repair or maintenance services in
    Indiana, and neither organization has agents, employees, facilities, properties,
    services, or advertisements in Indiana.
    [20]   There is nearly identical evidence showing that H-S Tool had no such contacts
    with Indiana. H-S Tool, a Canadian corporation established under the laws of
    British Columbia, has its principal place of business in British Columbia. H-S
    Tool is not registered to do business in Indiana, and it has no mailing address,
    office, or any employee associated with Indiana. The record reveals that H-S
    Tool did not conduct any repairs in Indiana or deliberately ship parts to Indiana
    companies.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-CT-2953 | October 17, 2019        Page 11 of 17
    [21]   We find that there are no minimum contacts between the Appellants and the
    state of Indiana related to the allegedly negligent repairs. Therefore, no specific
    jurisdiction exists on this basis.
    Relationships with Rolls-Royce
    [22]   The Accident Victims also contend that the forum-selection clauses and the
    indemnity provisions contained in the ARFs established the requisite
    connection between the Appellants and Indiana. Stated another way, the
    Accident Victims argue that because the Cadorath Defendants and H-S Tool
    agreed to certain contract provisions that would require them to litigate disputes
    arising out of those contracts in Indiana, the Appellants were effectively on
    notice that Indiana was a potential venue for any type of litigation and waived
    any claim to the contrary. According to the Accident Victims:
    . . . H-S Tool and Cadorath took purposeful action to establish a
    decades-long contractual relationship with Rolls-Royce in Indiana,
    and in doing so they consented to Indiana jurisdiction for suits
    arising from that relationship. These personal injury claims arise
    from that relationship. H-S Tool and Cadorath should have
    reasonably anticipated being haled into Indiana court to answer
    claims related to work performed under those contracts.
    Appellees’ Br. p. 28.
    [23]   This argument is unavailing for two reasons. First, the Accident Victims are not
    parties to these agreements nor are they in privity with the parties to these
    agreements. See OEC-Diasonics, Inc. v. Major, 
    674 N.E.2d 1312
    , 1314-15 (Ind.
    1996) (holding that only parties to a contract or those in privity with the parties
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-CT-2953 | October 17, 2019     Page 12 of 17
    have rights unless a third party can show that an overriding purpose of the
    contract was to impose an obligation on one of the contracting parties in favor
    of a third party). “Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended
    to confer upon any person, other than the parties hereto[] . . . any rights,
    remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.”
    Appellants’ Joint App. Vol. IV at 206. As such, the Accident Victims may not
    enforce the forum-selection clauses.4
    [24]   Second, in Bristol-Myers Squibb, the United States Supreme Court explicitly
    rejected this jurisdictional approach:
    Under the California approach, the strength of the requisite
    connection between the forum and the specific claims at issue is
    relaxed if the defendant has extensive forum contacts that are
    unrelated to those claims. Our cases provide no support for this
    approach, which resembles a loose and spurious form of general
    jurisdiction. For specific jurisdiction, a defendant’s general
    connections with the forum are not enough. As we have said, “[a]
    corporation’s continuous activity of some sorts within a state . . . is
    not enough to support the demand that the corporation be
    amendable to suits unrelated to that activity.”
    Bristol-Myers Squibb, 137 S.Ct. at 1781 (quoting Goodyear, 
    564 U.S. at 927
    )
    (internal citation omitted). The Accident Victims would have us employ this
    same “sliding scale,” 
    id.,
     approach, which we may not do. The fact that two
    4
    The Accident Victims also argue that the indemnity provisions of the ARFs automatically force the
    Cadorath Defendants and H-S Tool to consent to litigation in Indiana. However, the record reveals that
    Rolls-Royce has not asserted an indemnity claim against the Cadorath Defendants or H-S Tool in this action,
    and we will not find personal jurisdiction based on prospective minimum contacts that do not yet exist.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-CT-2953 | October 17, 2019                          Page 13 of 17
    different organizations contract with an Indiana-based corporation does not, in
    and of itself, establish the requisite minimum contacts necessary for specific
    jurisdiction. See, e.g., RAR, Inc. v. Turner Diesel, Ltd., 
    107 F.3d 1272
    , 1278 (7th
    Cir. 1997) (holding that more than just an ongoing relationship with a business
    entity must exist to establish specific personal jurisdiction because “the action
    must directly arise out of the specific contacts between the defendant and the
    forum state”).
    [25]   The contacts between the Cadorath Defendants, H-S Tool, and Rolls-Royce
    represent, at most, a watered-down version of general jurisdiction that is not
    present in this case. Pursuant to Bristol-Myers Squibb, we hold that the forum-
    selection clauses and the indemnity provisions in the ARFs do not create the
    minimum contacts to establish specific jurisdiction.
    [26]   In sum, Indiana does not have personal jurisdiction over this matter. We
    recognize the financial and pragmatic strain that this decision places on all
    parties involved. However, we will not find personal jurisdiction when it is
    plainly not present. Additionally, we have neither the necessary information
    nor the judicial authority to decree exactly where the parties should litigate this
    matter. We only find that the evidence and legal arguments proffered by all
    parties lead us to one singular conclusion: the trial court erred.
    [27]   The judgment of the trial court is reversed.
    Crone, J., concurs.
    Kirsch, J., dissents with a separate opinion.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-CT-2953 | October 17, 2019       Page 14 of 17
    IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
    Cadorath Aerospace Lafayette,                              Court of Appeals Case No.
    LLC, Cadorath Aerospace, Inc.,                             18A-CT-2953
    and H-S Tool & Parts, Inc.,
    Appellants-Defendants,
    Rolls-Royce Corporation, Inc.,
    Defendant,
    v.
    Colleen Ricks, as the Personal
    Representative of the Estate of
    Brandon Seth Ricks; Cynthia
    Cobb, as Executrix of the Estate
    of Steven Wallace Cobb; and
    Brendan Mullen,
    Appellees-Plaintiffs.
    Kirsch, Judge, dissenting.
    [28]   I respectfully dissent.
    [29]   Rolls-Royce Corporation, Inc. (Rolls-Royce) is a Delaware corporation with
    offices in Indianapolis. The defendants H-S Tool & Parts, Inc. (H-S Tool),
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-CT-2953 | October 17, 2019                   Page 15 of 17
    Cadorath Aerospace, LLC, and Cadorath Aerospace, Inc. (collectively, the
    Cadorath Defendants) are Rolls-Royce Authorized Repair Facilities. The
    tragedy which gave rise to this lawsuit relates to a helicopter engine
    manufactured by Rolls-Royce and repaired by H-S Tool and the Cadorath
    Defendants.
    [30]   The Cadorath Defendants and H-S Tool contend that they did not consent to
    jurisdiction. From my perspective, they could not be more wrong. The
    Cadorath Defendants and H-S Tool are Rolls-Royce Authorized Repair
    Facilities because of their agreements with Rolls-Royce. Those agreements
    stated that all suits relating to the agreements shall be brought and tried in
    Marion County, Indiana.
    [31]   As noted by Judge Baker in the majority opinion, H-S Tool entered into an
    Authorized Repair Facility Agreement with Rolls-Royce in 2000. Cadorath
    Aerospace, Inc. did the same in March of 2004, and Cadorath Aerospace
    Lafayette, LLC followed in March of 2005. At the time of the tragic accident in
    2015 giving rise to these proceedings, each of the three companies had been an
    Authorized Repair Facility for Rolls-Royce for more than a decade. During
    this time period, representatives of the three companies travelled to the Rolls-
    Royce facility in Indiana on multiple occasions.
    [32]   While their day-to-day business is conducted outside the state of Indiana, H-S
    Tool and the Cadorath Defendants have extensive contacts with Rolls-Royce in
    Indiana, and each of the three entities has consented to jurisdiction in Indiana
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-CT-2953 | October 17, 2019      Page 16 of 17
    for matters relating to their agreement. Paragraph (9) of the agreements
    provides:
    The parties hereby agree that all suits, actions, proceedings,
    litigation, disputes or claims relating to or arising out of this
    Agreement shall be brought and tried in the Superior or Circuit Court of
    Marion County, Indiana or the United States District Court for the
    Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. In this
    regard, the parties hereby (a) agree that venue shall be in any of
    such courts, (b) irrevocably consent to service of process and to the
    jurisdiction and venue of any of such courts, and (c) irrevocably
    waive any claim of inconvenient forum if any such suit, claim,
    proceeding, litigation, dispute or claim has been filed, brought or
    made in either of such courts.
    Appellants’ Joint App. Vol. IV p. 207 (emphasis added). Of particular
    significance are the provisions in which the parties consent to jurisdiction and
    waive any claim of inconvenient forum.
    [33]   The Cadorath Defendants and H-S Tool contend that the language set out
    above is in an “unrelated contract.” They could not be more wrong. Indeed,
    what they deem an “unrelated contract” sets out the essential terms of their
    relationship to Rolls-Royce and made them Authorized Rolls-Royce Repair
    Facilities. But for what they deem to be an “unrelated contract,” they would
    not have been Authorized Rolls-Royce Repair Facilities, nor would they have
    been hired to repair the helicopter engine here at issue.
    [34]   I would affirm the trial court’s order and remand for trial.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 18A-CT-2953 | October 17, 2019          Page 17 of 17