DocketNumber: 22SA108
Citation Numbers: 2022 CO 46
Filed Date: 9/26/2022
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 7/29/2024
<div data-spec-version="0.0.3dev" data-generated-on="2024-05-19"> <div class="generated-from-iceberg vlex-toc"> <link href="https://doc-stylesheets.vlex.com/ldml-xml.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"></link> <div class="ldml-decision"><div class="ldml-decision"><div href="/vid/928731144" data-vids="928731144" class="ldml-header header ldml-header content__heading content__heading--depth1" data-content-heading-label="Header"><p class="ldml-metadata"><span class="ldml-cite"><b class="ldml-bold">2022 CO 46
</b></span></p><p class="ldml-metadata"><b class="ldml-bold"> <span class="ldml-party">In Re <span class="ldml-name">State of Colorado</span></span>, ex rel. <span class="ldml-party"><span class="ldml-name">Philip J. Weiser</span>, <span class="ldml-role">Attorney General</span>, <span class="ldml-role">Plaintiff</span></span> </b><b class="ldml-bold"> v. </b><b class="ldml-bold"> <span class="ldml-party"><span class="ldml-name">JUUL Labs, Inc.</span></span>; <span class="ldml-party"><span class="ldml-name">Adam Bowen</span></span>; <span class="ldml-party"><span class="ldml-name">James Monsees</span></span>; <span class="ldml-party"><span class="ldml-name">Nicholas Pritzker</span></span>; and <span class="ldml-party"><span class="ldml-name">Riaz Valani</span>, <span class="ldml-role">Defendants</span></span> </b></p><p class="ldml-metadata"><b class="ldml-bold"><span class="ldml-cite">Nos. 22SA108</span>, <span class="ldml-cite">22SA111</span></b></p><p class="ldml-metadata"><span class="ldml-court"><b class="ldml-bold">Supreme Court of Colorado</b></span></p><p class="ldml-metadata"><span class="ldml-date"><b class="ldml-bold">September 26, 2022</b></span></p></div> <div class="ldml-syllabus"><section class="ldml-heading content__heading content__heading--depth1" data-parsed="true" data-content-heading-label=" ADVANCE SHEET HEADNOTE " data-id="heading_251" data-value="ADVANCE SHEET HEADNOTE" data-specifier="" data-format="upper_case_lacks_specifier" id="heading_251"><span data-paragraph-id="251" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="251" data-sentence-id="262" class="ldml-sentence">ADVANCE SHEET HEADNOTE</span> </span></section><p data-paragraph-id="286" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="286" data-sentence-id="297" class="ldml-sentence">In <span class="ldml-entity">this case</span>, <span class="ldml-entity">the supreme court</span> reviews <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span>'s order denying <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> <span class="ldml-entity">Adam Bo</span> wen, <span class="ldml-entity">James Monsees</span>, <span class="ldml-entity">Nicholas Pritzker</span>, and <span class="ldml-entity">Riaz Valani</span>'s <span class="ldml-entity">motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction</span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="286" data-sentence-id="506" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Defendants</span> are California residents who served in various capacities as officers or directors of <span class="ldml-entity">JUUL Labs, Inc.</span>, an e-cigarette manufacturer, or its predecessor companies.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="682" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="682" data-sentence-id="693" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The court</span> now concludes that that because <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(1)</span> <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span> based its determination on allegations directed against JUUL and the group of <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> as a whole, rather than on an individualized assessment of each <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span>'s actions, and <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span> <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> did not allege sufficient facts to establish either that <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> were primary participants in wrongful conduct that <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> purposefully directed at Colorado, or that the injuries alleged in the amended complaint arose out of or related to <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>' Colorado-directed activities, <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span> erred <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="1" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_1269" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> in finding that <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> had made a prima facie showing of personal jurisdiction in this matter.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="1370" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="1370" data-sentence-id="1381" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The court</span> thus makes the rule to show cause absolute, and remands <span class="ldml-entity">this case</span> for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.</span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="2" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_1514" data-page_type="bare_number"></span></p><div class="ldml-section"><section class="ldml-heading content__heading content__heading--depth1" data-parsed="true" data-content-heading-label=" Original Proceedings Pursuant to C.A.R. 21 District Court, City and County of Denver, Case No. 20CV32283 Honorable J. Eric Elliff, Judge " data-id="heading_1514" data-value="Original Proceedings Pursuant to C.A.R. 21 District Court, City and County of Denver, Case No. 20CV32283 Honorable J. Eric Elliff, Judge" data-specifier="" data-format="title_case_lacks_specifier" id="heading_1514"><span data-paragraph-id="1514" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="1514" data-sentence-id="1527" class="ldml-sentence">Original Proceedings Pursuant to <span class="ldml-entity"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">C.A.R. 21</span></a></span> District Court</span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_1527"><span class="ldml-refname">City and County of Denver</span>, <span class="ldml-cite">Case No. 20CV32283</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-entity">Honorable J. Eric Elliff</span>, Judge</span> </span></section><p data-paragraph-id="1666" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="1666" data-sentence-id="1679" class="ldml-sentence">Attorneys for <span class="ldml-entity">Plaintiff</span>:</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="1704" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="1704" data-sentence-id="1716" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Philip J. Weiser</span>, <span class="ldml-entity">Attorney General</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="1752" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="1752" data-sentence-id="1764" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Eric R. Olson</span>, Solicitor General</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="1798" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="1798" data-sentence-id="1811" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Abigail M. Hinchcliff</span>, First Assistant <span class="ldml-entity">Attorney General</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="1867" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="1867" data-sentence-id="1879" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Megan Paris Rundlet</span>, Senior Assistant Solicitor General</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="1936" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="1936" data-sentence-id="1948" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Bianca E. Miyata</span>, Assistant Solicitor General</span> </p></div><div class="ldml-section"><section class="ldml-heading content__heading content__heading--depth1" data-parsed="true" data-content-heading-label=" Jeffrey M. Leake, Senior Assistant Attorney General " data-id="heading_1995" data-value="Jeffrey M. Leake, Senior Assistant Attorney General" data-specifier="" data-format="title_case_lacks_specifier" id="heading_1995"><span data-paragraph-id="1995" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="1995" data-sentence-id="2008" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Jeffrey M. Leake</span>, Senior Assistant <span class="ldml-entity">Attorney General</span></span> </span></section><p data-paragraph-id="2060" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2060" data-sentence-id="2072" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Brady J. Grassmeyer</span>, Assistant <span class="ldml-entity">Attorney General</span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="1" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_2121" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> Attorneys for <span class="ldml-entity">Defendants</span> <span class="ldml-entity">Adam Bowen</span>, <span class="ldml-entity">James Monsees</span>, <span class="ldml-entity">Nicholas Pritzker</span>, and <span class="ldml-entity">Riaz Valani</span>:</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2223" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2223" data-sentence-id="2236" class="ldml-sentence">Stinson LLP</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2248" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2248" data-sentence-id="2260" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Zane A. Gilmer</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2276" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2276" data-sentence-id="2288" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Perry L. Glantz</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2305" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2305" data-sentence-id="2318" class="ldml-sentence">Attorneys for <span class="ldml-entity">Defendant</span> <span class="ldml-entity">Adam Bowen</span>:</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2354" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2354" data-sentence-id="2367" class="ldml-sentence">Boersch & Illovsky LLP</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2390" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2390" data-sentence-id="2402" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Eugene Illovsky</span> <span class="ldml-entity">Sharon Frase</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2432" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2432" data-sentence-id="2445" class="ldml-sentence">Attorneys for <span class="ldml-entity">Defendant</span> <span class="ldml-entity">James Monsees</span>:</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2484" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2484" data-sentence-id="2497" class="ldml-sentence">Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2532" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2532" data-sentence-id="2544" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">James N. Kramer</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2561" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2561" data-sentence-id="2573" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Lauren B. Seaton</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2591" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2591" data-sentence-id="2604" class="ldml-sentence">Attorneys for <span class="ldml-entity">Defendant</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2628" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2628" data-sentence-id="2641" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Nicholas Pritzker</span> and <span class="ldml-entity">Riaz Valani</span>:</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2676" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2676" data-sentence-id="2689" class="ldml-sentence">Kellogg Hansen Todd Figel & Frederick, P.L.L.C.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2737" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2737" data-sentence-id="2749" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Mark C. Hansen</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2765" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2765" data-sentence-id="2778" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Michael J. Guzman</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2796" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2796" data-sentence-id="2808" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">David L. Schwarz</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2826" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2826" data-sentence-id="2839" class="ldml-sentence">Attorneys for <span class="ldml-entity">Amicus Curiae Colorado Trial Lawyers Association</span>:</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2904" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2904" data-sentence-id="2917" class="ldml-sentence">Wahlberg, <span class="ldml-entity">Woodruff, Nimmo & Sloane LLP</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2956" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2956" data-sentence-id="2968" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Megan K. Matthews</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="2987" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="2987" data-sentence-id="3000" class="ldml-sentence">Balaban Law, LLC</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="3017" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="3017" data-sentence-id="3029" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Olga Y. Steinreich</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="3049" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="3049" data-sentence-id="3061" class="ldml-sentence">No appearance on behalf of <span class="ldml-entity">JUUL Labs, Inc.</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="3105" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="3105" data-sentence-id="3116" class="ldml-sentence"><b class="ldml-bold">Rule Made Absolute</b> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="2" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_3136" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> <span class="ldml-entity">JUSTICE <span class="ldml-entity">GABRIEL</span> delivered <span class="ldml-entity">the Opinion of <span class="ldml-entity">the Court</span></span>, in which CHIEF JUSTICE <span class="ldml-entity">BOATRIGHT</span>, JUSTICE <span class="ldml-entity">MÁRQUEZ</span>, JUSTICE <span class="ldml-entity">HOOD</span>, JUSTICE <span class="ldml-entity">HART</span>, and JUSTICE <span class="ldml-entity">SAMOUR</span> joined</span>.</span> <span class="ldml-nonparticipation"><span data-paragraph-id="3105" data-sentence-id="3309" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">JUSTICE <span class="ldml-entity">BERKENKOTTER</span></span> did not participate.</span></span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="3" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_3352" data-page_type="bare_number"></span></p></div></div><div class="ldml-opinion"><p data-paragraph-id="3352" class="ldml-paragraph no-indent mt-4"> <span class="ldml-opinionauthor content__heading content__heading--depth1" data-content-heading-label="Opinion (GABRIEL)"><span data-paragraph-id="3352" data-sentence-id="3365" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><span class="ldml-entity"><span class="ldml-judge">GABRIEL</span></span>, JUSTICE</span></span> </span></p><p data-paragraph-id="3382" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="3382" data-sentence-id="3393" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_3393"><span class="ldml-cite">¶1</span></a></span> In these original proceedings pursuant to <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">C.A.R. 21</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> review <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span>'s order denying <span class="ldml-entity">Adam Bowen</span>, <span class="ldml-entity">James Monsees</span>, <span class="ldml-entity">Nicholas Pritzker</span>, and <span class="ldml-entity">Riaz Valani</span>'s <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(collectively, <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"<span class="ldml-localname"><span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>'</span>"</span>)</span> <span class="ldml-entity">motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction</span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="3382" data-sentence-id="3647" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Defendants</span> are California residents who served in various capacities as officers or directors of <span class="ldml-entity">JUUL Labs, Inc.</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-quotation quote">"<span class="ldml-localname">JUUL</span>"</span>)</span>, an e-cigarette manufacturer, or its predecessor companies.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="3382" data-sentence-id="3832" class="ldml-sentence">The <span class="ldml-entity">State of Colorado</span>, through <span class="ldml-entity">Attorney General</span> <span class="ldml-entity">Philip J. Weiser</span>, has filed an amended complaint alleging that <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> in their individual capacities, along with JUUL as a corporation, violated several provisions of the <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_3832"><span class="ldml-cite">Colorado Consumer Protection Act <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-quotation quote">"CCPA"</span>)</span></span></a></span> and are subject to personal jurisdiction in Colorado.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="3382" data-sentence-id="4156" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Defendants</span> contend that <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span>'s exercise of personal jurisdiction over them is improper because <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> lack the requisite minimum contacts with Colorado and the exercise of personal jurisdiction over them is unreasonable in <span class="ldml-entity">the present circumstances</span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="3382" data-sentence-id="4423" class="ldml-sentence">JUUL does not argue that <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span> lacks personal jurisdiction over it.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="4505" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="4505" data-sentence-id="4516" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_4516"><span class="ldml-cite">¶2</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-entity">We</span> issued a rule to show cause and now conclude that because <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(1)</span> <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span> based its determination on allegations directed against JUUL and the group of <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> as a whole, rather than on an individualized assessment of each <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span>'s actions, and <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span> <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> did not allege sufficient facts to establish either that <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> were primary participants in wrongful conduct that <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="4" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_4925" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> purposefully directed at Colorado, or that the injuries alleged in the amended complaint arose out of or related to <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>' Colorado-directed activities, <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span> erred in finding that <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> had made a prima facie showing of personal jurisdiction in this matter.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="5212" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="5212" data-sentence-id="5223" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_5223"><span class="ldml-cite">¶3</span></a></span> Accordingly, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> make the rule to show cause absolute and remand <span class="ldml-entity">this case</span> for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.</span> </p><div class="ldml-section"><section class="ldml-heading content__heading content__heading--depth1" data-parsed="true" data-value="I. Facts and Procedural History" data-content-heading-label=" I. Facts and Procedural History " data-id="heading_5357" data-types="background" data-confidences="very_high" data-ordinal_start="1" data-specifier="I" data-format="upper_case_roman_numeral" id="heading_5357" data-ordinal_end="1"><span data-paragraph-id="5357" class="ldml-paragraph "> <b class="ldml-bold"><span data-paragraph-id="5357" data-sentence-id="5368" class="ldml-sentence">I.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="5357" data-sentence-id="5371" class="ldml-sentence">Facts and Procedural History</span></b> </span></section><p data-paragraph-id="5400" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="5400" data-sentence-id="5411" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_5411"><span class="ldml-cite">¶4</span></a></span> Because <span class="ldml-entity">this case</span> comes to <span class="ldml-entity">us</span> in the context of a <span class="ldml-entity">motion to dismiss</span> that <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span> resolved based on the allegations of the amended complaint alone, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> take the facts principally from the amended complaint.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="5634" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="5634" data-sentence-id="5645" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_5645"><span class="ldml-cite">¶5</span></a></span> JUUL produces and markets under the JUUL name an electronic nicotine delivery system commonly referred to as an e-cigarette or vaporizer.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="5634" data-sentence-id="5789" class="ldml-sentence">The JUUL e-cigarette delivers nicotine in self-contained pods that are used in conjunction with a rechargeable handheld device that resembles a USB flash drive.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="5634" data-sentence-id="5953" class="ldml-sentence">It appears undisputed that JUUL's e-cigarettes and pods are available for purchase online and in retail locations throughout the United States.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="6099" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="6099" data-sentence-id="6110" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_6110"><span class="ldml-cite">¶6</span></a></span> JUUL traces its origins back to <span class="ldml-entity">2007</span>, when Bowen and Monsees founded <span class="ldml-entity">Ploom, Inc.</span>, a company that developed and sold pod-based tobacco vaporizers.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="6099" data-sentence-id="6262" class="ldml-sentence">Bowen served as Ploom's Chief Technology Officer, and Monsees served as its <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="5" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_6341" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> Chief Executive Officer <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-quotation quote">"CEO"</span>)</span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="6099" data-sentence-id="6376" class="ldml-sentence">In <span class="ldml-entity">2015</span>, Bowen and Monsees sold Ploom and started <span class="ldml-entity">Pax Labs, Inc.</span>, where <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> first launched the JUUL product.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="6488" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="6488" data-sentence-id="6499" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_6499"><span class="ldml-cite">¶7</span></a></span> In October of <span class="ldml-entity">2015</span>, Monsees, who was then Pax's CEO, stepped down and transferred into the role of Chief Product Officer.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="6488" data-sentence-id="6627" class="ldml-sentence">For the next ten months, three board members, including Pritzker and Valani, served on an executive committee that effectively ran the company's operations until the board named a new CEO.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="6819" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="6819" data-sentence-id="6830" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_6830"><span class="ldml-cite">¶8</span></a></span> Thereafter, in <span class="ldml-entity">2017</span>, JUUL was spun off as a separate company in order to allow it to focus solely on e-cigarettes.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="6950" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="6950" data-sentence-id="6961" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_6961"><span class="ldml-cite">¶9</span></a></span> JUUL has publicly stated that its mission is to transition the world's adult smokers away from combustible cigarettes, to eliminate the use of such cigarettes, and to combat underage usage of JUUL products.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="6950" data-sentence-id="7175" class="ldml-sentence">In <span class="ldml-entity">2018</span>, however, 27% of high school students in Colorado reported that <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> had vaped within the last thirty days-a rate almost double that of the national rate.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="6950" data-sentence-id="7341" class="ldml-sentence">And that same year, the commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-quotation quote">"FDA"</span>)</span> declared that the United States faced an <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"epidemic of youth-cigarette use."</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="7506" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="7506" data-sentence-id="7517" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_7517"><span class="ldml-cite">¶10</span></a></span> Against this backdrop, in <span class="ldml-entity">July 2020</span>, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> filed a complaint against JUUL setting forth two theories of liability.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="7506" data-sentence-id="7643" class="ldml-sentence">First, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> alleged that JUUL had <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"created a public nuisance of youth and adult addiction that substantially, significantly and unreasonably interferes with the well-being of the Colorado public and its health, safety and welfare."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="7506" data-sentence-id="7884" class="ldml-sentence">Second, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> asserted that JUUL <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="6" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_7924" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> has engaged in numerous deceptive trade practices, each of which constitutes a violation of <span class="ldml-entity">section</span> <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">6-1-105<span class="ldml-parenthetical">(1)</span>, C.R.S.</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-date">2022</span>)</span></a></span>, of the <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_7884"><span class="ldml-cite">CCPA</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="7506" data-sentence-id="8067" class="ldml-sentence">In particular, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> alleged, among other things, that JUUL had <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(1)</span> knowingly and recklessly advertised the sale of an addictive nicotine product to youth; <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span> failed to disclose that its product contained nicotine and that nicotine is an addictive chemical; <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(3)</span> knowingly, recklessly, and falsely represented the concentration and quantity of nicotine in JUUL's e-cigarettes; and <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(4)</span> falsely implied that the primary ingredients in JUUL's e-cigarettes were approved for inhalation by the FDA.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="8574" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="8574" data-sentence-id="8585" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_8585"><span class="ldml-cite">¶11</span></a></span> Notably, the bulk of <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span>'s complaint focused on JUUL's nationwide actions and advertising campaigns, including, among other allegations, that JUUL posted misleading information on its website regarding the ingredients of its products, engaged social media influencers and celebrities to market its products to underage consumers, and used a private company masquerading as a non-profit smoking-cessation organization to generate referrals for JUUL products.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="8574" data-sentence-id="9062" class="ldml-sentence">With regard to Colorado, the complaint alleged little more than that in <span class="ldml-entity">September 2015</span>, JUUL held over sixty promotional events at convenience and tobacco store parking lots in this state.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="9254" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="9254" data-sentence-id="9265" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_9265"><span class="ldml-cite">¶12</span></a></span> JUUL moved to dismiss the complaint in part, arguing that <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(1)</span> <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span>'s public nuisance claim failed under Colorado law and <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span> certain of <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span>'s <span class="ldml-entity"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_9265"><span class="ldml-cite">CCPA</span></a></span> claims</span> were preempted by federal law.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="9254" data-sentence-id="9468" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The district court</span> granted JUUL's <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="7" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_9505" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> <span class="ldml-entity">motion to dismiss</span> as to the public nuisance claim but denied the motion to the extent that it was premised on JUUL's preemption arguments.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="9647" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="9647" data-sentence-id="9658" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_9658"><span class="ldml-cite">¶13</span></a></span> Thereafter, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> amended its complaint to add <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>, in their individual capacities, as <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> in the suit.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="9647" data-sentence-id="9787" class="ldml-sentence">The amended complaint summarizes the relationships between each individual <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span> and JUUL as follows:</span> </p><div class="ldml-embeddeddocument"><blockquote data-paragraph-id="b_9894" class="ldml-blockquote"> <span data-sentence-id="9895" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Defendant</span> <span class="ldml-entity">Adam Bowen</span> co-founded the company that became JUUL with <span class="ldml-entity">Defendant</span> <span class="ldml-entity">James Monsees</span> in <span class="ldml-entity">2007</span>.</span> <span data-sentence-id="9995" class="ldml-sentence">At all relevant times and up until the present date, Bowen served as the Chief Technology Officer and as a member of the <span class="ldml-entity">Board of Directors of JUUL</span> or its predecessors . . . .</span> </blockquote><blockquote data-paragraph-id="b_10174" class="ldml-blockquote"> <span data-sentence-id="10175" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Defendant</span> <span class="ldml-entity">James Monsees</span> co-founded the company that became JUUL with <span class="ldml-entity">Defendant</span> <span class="ldml-entity">Adam Bowen</span> in <span class="ldml-entity">2007</span>.</span> <span data-sentence-id="10275" class="ldml-sentence">Monsees served as Chief Executive Officer of JUUL until <span class="ldml-entity">October 2015</span> when <span class="ldml-entity">he</span> transferred into the position of Chief Product Officer of JUUL, until <span class="ldml-entity">he</span> stepped down from that position in approximately <span class="ldml-entity">March 2020</span>.</span> <span data-sentence-id="10490" class="ldml-sentence">At all relevant times Monsees was a member of the <span class="ldml-entity">Board of Directors of JUUL</span> or its predecessors, until <span class="ldml-entity">he</span> stepped down in approximately <span class="ldml-entity">March 2020</span> . . . .</span> </blockquote><blockquote data-paragraph-id="b_10648" class="ldml-blockquote"> <span data-sentence-id="10649" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Defendant</span> <span class="ldml-entity">Nicholas Pritzker</span> invested in JUUL's predecessor as early as <span class="ldml-entity">2007</span>, and has served on the Pax <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(JUUL's predecessor)</span> or <span class="ldml-entity">JUUL Board of Directors</span> since at least <span class="ldml-entity">June 2014</span> to the present date.</span> <span data-sentence-id="10849" class="ldml-sentence">From at least <span class="ldml-entity">October 2015</span> through <span class="ldml-entity">August 2016</span> Pritzker was on the three-member <span class="ldml-entity">Executive Committee of the Board of Directors</span> that took managerial control over the company . . . .</span> </blockquote><blockquote data-paragraph-id="b_11032" class="ldml-blockquote"> <span data-sentence-id="11033" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Defendant</span> <span class="ldml-entity">Riaz Valani</span> has been on the Pax <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(JUUL's predecessor)</span> or <span class="ldml-entity">JUUL Board of Directors</span> since at least <span class="ldml-entity">May 2011</span> and from at least <span class="ldml-entity">October 2015</span> through <span class="ldml-entity">August 2016</span>, Valani was on the three-member <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="8" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_11235" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> <span class="ldml-entity">Executive Committee of the Board of Directors</span> that took managerial control over the company.</span> </blockquote></div><p data-paragraph-id="11330" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="11330" data-sentence-id="11341" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_11341"><span class="ldml-cite">¶14</span></a></span> In addition to adding the above information about each individual <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span>, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> changed over fifty references to <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"JUUL"</span> in the original complaint to <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"JUUL and the Management <span class="ldml-entity">Defendants</span>"</span> in the amended complaint.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="11568" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="11568" data-sentence-id="11579" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_11579"><span class="ldml-cite">¶15</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-entity">The State</span> further added <span class="ldml-entity">a section</span> to the amended complaint entitled, <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"Involvement of the Management <span class="ldml-entity">Defendants</span>,"</span> in which <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> alleges that <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"fully participated in JUUL's deceptive trade practices"</span> and approved JUUL's <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"unconscionable and unfair marketing to youth,"</span> <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"deceptive messaging about the health, safety and testing of its product,"</span> and <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"deceptive cessation and modified risk marketing."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="11568" data-sentence-id="12001" class="ldml-sentence">To support these assertions, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> included a <span class="ldml-entity">2015</span> email in which JUUL's former Chief Operating Officer stated, among other things, <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"Our board members are more involved than most, and likely crazier than most, given the depth of experience <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> have in this industry."</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="12279" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="12279" data-sentence-id="12290" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_12290"><span class="ldml-cite">¶16</span></a></span> With regard to <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>' personal involvement in JUUL's marketing, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> alleges that on <span class="ldml-entity">March 23, 2015</span>, <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> attended a board meeting at which <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> viewed and then discussed examples of JUUL's proposed initial marketing, including a slide that announced, <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"Influencer Marketing has begun."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="12279" data-sentence-id="12602" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The State</span> further asserts that in response to materials like these, Pritzker commented that JUUL's branding <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"feels too young."</span></span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="9" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_12732" data-page_type="bare_number"></span></p><p data-paragraph-id="12732" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="12732" data-sentence-id="12743" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_12743"><span class="ldml-cite">¶17</span></a></span> Notwithstanding this relative dearth of specific allegations regarding <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>' activities, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> contends that <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> personally promoted JUUL's strategy of engaging social influencers who were <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"especially persuasive to a younger audience."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="12732" data-sentence-id="13005" class="ldml-sentence">Specifically, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> asserts that when <em class="ldml-emphasis">Vanity Fair</em> published a photo of an adult celebrity carrying a JUUL device at an awards ceremony, Valani asked Bowen how <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> could make the image <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"go viral"</span> and offered a connection to the celebrity's publicist.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="12732" data-sentence-id="13265" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The State</span> further contends that Pritzker emailed Monsees to request that JUUL send free products to a member of a popular band, whom JUUL's Marketing Director described as <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"an <span class="ldml-quotation quote">'influencer'</span> and one of JUUL's greatest <span class="ldml-quotation quote">'champions.'</span>"</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="13499" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="13499" data-sentence-id="13510" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_13510"><span class="ldml-cite">¶18</span></a></span> With regard to JUUL's allegedly deceptive messaging concerning its products' safety, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> contends that <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> attended a board meeting at which JUUL's Head of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs made clear that JUUL was putting off certain toxicology testing.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="13499" data-sentence-id="13787" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The State</span> asserts that in spite of <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>' awareness that JUUL had not fully tested its products for harmful and potentially harmful constituents, Bowen provided deceptive assurances about JUUL's safety to a JUUL sales representative who had been working to allay concerns expressed by Kroger, a national grocery chain.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="13499" data-sentence-id="14117" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The State</span> alleges that, in reliance on these assurances, Kroger sold JUUL products in its Colorado stores from <span class="ldml-entity">2016</span> until <span class="ldml-entity">2019</span>.</span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="10" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_14247" data-page_type="bare_number"></span></p><p data-paragraph-id="14247" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="14247" data-sentence-id="14258" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_14258"><span class="ldml-cite">¶19</span></a></span> Lastly, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> alleges that <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>' communications showed a focus on <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"debunking studies, and responding to negative press, rather than engaging in substantive changes or youth prevention in a timely fashion."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="14247" data-sentence-id="14482" class="ldml-sentence">The amended complaint thus quotes an email from Valani to JUUL's board and CEO, in which <span class="ldml-entity">he</span> requested weekly progress updates on, among other things, JUUL's efforts to <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"<span class="ldml-parenthetical">[d]</span>ebunk the studies . . ., ideally in coordination with independent researchers"</span>; <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"<span class="ldml-parenthetical">[a]</span>nnounce that <span class="ldml-parenthetical">[JUUL]</span> agree<span class="ldml-parenthetical">[s]</span> that youth should not use <span class="ldml-parenthetical">[tobacco products]</span>"</span>; and hire a <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"credible head"</span> of youth policy.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="14247" data-sentence-id="14865" class="ldml-sentence">The amended complaint further details how Valani emailed a <em class="ldml-emphasis">New York Times</em> <span class="ldml-entity">article</span> entitled, <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"The Formaldehyde in Your E-Cigs,"</span> to JUUL's CEO and <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>, prompting the CEO to ask the group about the level of formaldehyde in JUUL's products.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="14247" data-sentence-id="15114" class="ldml-sentence">Monsees responded that the level of formaldehyde in JUUL's e-cigarettes was <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"<span class="ldml-parenthetical">[m]</span>uch lower in e-cigs in general compared to cigs"</span> and <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"<span class="ldml-parenthetical">[n]</span>early undetectable in JUUL."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="14247" data-sentence-id="15283" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The State</span> also alleges that in a letter to the editor published by the <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_15283"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Denver Post</em></span></a></span>, JUUL's CEO wrote, <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"<span class="ldml-parenthetical">[T]</span>he fact that <span class="ldml-parenthetical">[JUUL]</span> has taken off with youth is as appalling to <span class="ldml-entity">us</span> as it is to you."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="14247" data-sentence-id="15478" class="ldml-sentence">Commenting on this letter in an internal email, Valani responded, <span class="ldml-quotation quote"><span class="ldml-embeddedsentence">"Thanks.</span> <span class="ldml-embeddedsentence">Great to see."</span></span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="15569" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="15569" data-sentence-id="15580" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_15580"><span class="ldml-cite">¶20</span></a></span> Notably, none of the foregoing allegations show any direct connection between <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> and the <span class="ldml-entity">state of Colorado</span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="15569" data-sentence-id="15702" class="ldml-sentence">Nor do any of these allegations suggest that any of <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> purposefully aimed their activities at Colorado, as <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="11" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_15821" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> opposed to engaging in nationwide marketing activities.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="15569" data-sentence-id="15879" class="ldml-sentence">Indeed, despite the fact that the amended complaint is 141 pages long, its only allegations specifically concerning Colorado <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(i.e., allegations beyond those related to nationwide advertising)</span> were that <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(1)</span> JUUL held sampling events and sold JUUL products in Colorado stores <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(none of the Management <span class="ldml-entity">Defendants</span> were alleged to have attended any of these sampling events, which were part of a broader campaign and not unique to Colorado)</span>; <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span> <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"youthful images"</span> from JUUL's board-approved marketing plan were shown in marketing displays in Colorado convenience stores, and brand ambassadors who attended the sampling events were instructed to direct consumers to JUUL's website if <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> had any health- or safety-related questions <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(these, too, were not unique to Colorado)</span>; and <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(3)</span> JUUL's CEO <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(not any of <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>)</span> authored a letter to the editor that was published in the <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_15879"><em class="ldml-emphasis"><span class="ldml-refname">Denver</span> <span class="ldml-cite">Post</span></em></a></span>.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="16777" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="16777" data-sentence-id="16788" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_16788"><span class="ldml-cite">¶21</span></a></span> In response to <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span>'s new allegations, Bowen and Monsees <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(separately)</span> and Pritzker and Valani <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(together)</span> filed <span class="ldml-entity">motions to dismiss the amended complaint</span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="16777" data-sentence-id="16953" class="ldml-sentence">All <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>, who as noted above are California residents, asserted that <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span> did not have personal jurisdiction over them.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="16777" data-sentence-id="17095" class="ldml-sentence">To support this assertion, each <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span> contended that <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> failed to plead facts sufficient to make a prima facie showing that <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> had established <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"minimum contacts"</span> with Colorado, as required under <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/885651765" data-vids="885651765" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_17095"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">International Shoe Co. v. Washington</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">326 U.S. 310
, 316</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-date">1945</span>)</span></a></span>, and <span class="ldml-entity">its progeny</span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="16777" data-sentence-id="17395" class="ldml-sentence">Specifically, <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="12" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_17420" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> argued that under <span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/888783866" data-vids="888783866" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_17395"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Calder v. Jones</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">465 U.S. 783
, 789-90</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-date">1984</span>)</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-referenceseparator">and</span> <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_17395" data-refglobal="case:romevreyes,2017coa84"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Rome v. Reyes</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">2017 COA 84
</span></a></span></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_17395"><span class="ldml-cite">¶ 32</span></a></span></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/895736934" data-vids="895736934" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_17395"><span class="ldml-cite">401 P.3d 75
, 83</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity">a court</span> may exercise personal jurisdiction over the directors of a corporation only when those directors were <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"primary participants"</span> in the alleged corporate wrongdoing and <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"expressly aimed"</span> their activities at the forum state.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="16777" data-sentence-id="17775" class="ldml-sentence">Here, however, <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> contended that the amended complaint did not allege that any of them was a primary participant in any acts directed at Colorado.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="16777" data-sentence-id="17933" class="ldml-sentence">Specifically, <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> asserted that the amended complaint did not allege that any of them spoke directly with any Colorado residents, signed agreements for work to be performed in Colorado, or otherwise personally participated in any Colorado-based projects or transactions.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="16777" data-sentence-id="18215" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Defendants</span> thus argued that the amended complaint did not show that <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> had expressly aimed any activity at Colorado.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="16777" data-sentence-id="18335" class="ldml-sentence">To the contrary, <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> said that, at best, the amended complaint described <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"undirected, national conduct,"</span> which was insufficient to establish personal jurisdiction over them.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="18513" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="18513" data-sentence-id="18524" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_18524"><span class="ldml-cite">¶22</span></a></span> Pritzker and Valani further took issue with <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span>'s referring to them as <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"Management Directors,"</span> arguing that <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> had never held management positions at JUUL.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="18513" data-sentence-id="18696" class="ldml-sentence">Accordingly, throughout their briefing, Pritzker and Valani referred to themselves as <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"Non-Management Directors"</span> and asserted that the allegations in the amended complaint were impermissibly <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"conclusory and group-pled."</span></span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="13" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_18920" data-page_type="bare_number"></span></p><p data-paragraph-id="18920" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="18920" data-sentence-id="18931" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_18931"><span class="ldml-cite">¶23</span></a></span> Finally, all <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> contended that even if <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> could somehow show that <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> had minimum contacts with Colorado, <span class="ldml-entity">the court</span>'s exercise of personal jurisdiction over them as California residents would be unreasonable and thus unconstitutional in <span class="ldml-entity">the present circumstances</span>.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="19220" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="19220" data-sentence-id="19231" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_19231"><span class="ldml-cite">¶24</span></a></span> Without holding an evidentiary hearing, <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span> issued an order denying <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>' <span class="ldml-entity">motions to dismiss</span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="19220" data-sentence-id="19352" class="ldml-sentence">In this order, <span class="ldml-entity">the court</span> acknowledged that <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"<em class="ldml-emphasis">in its 145</em> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">[sic]</span> <em class="ldml-emphasis">pages, nowhere does the <span class="ldml-parenthetical">[amended complaint]</span> attempt to describe the individual <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>' connections to Colorado</em>."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="19220" data-sentence-id="19533" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-referencenote">Emphasis added</span>.)</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="19220" data-sentence-id="19551" class="ldml-sentence">Nevertheless, <span class="ldml-entity">the court</span> reasoned that although the amended complaint <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"is short on specifics regarding the action of any one of the individual <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>, it is quite specific regarding the actions of the group of them."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="19220" data-sentence-id="19774" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The court</span> thus rejected <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>' arguments that <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> had failed to make a prima facie showing of personal jurisdiction, explaining, <span class="ldml-quotation quote"><span class="ldml-embeddedsentence">"The individuals are alleged to have conceived, sanctioned, or approved <span class="ldml-parenthetical">[JUUL's]</span> course of conduct in the commission of the alleged actions.</span> <span class="ldml-embeddedsentence">As such, <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> are potentially liable as individuals.</span> <span class="ldml-embeddedsentence">And having potentially committed torts in Colorado, <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> are subject to <span class="ldml-entity">the state</span>'s long arm <span class="ldml-entity">statute</span>."</span></span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="19220" data-sentence-id="20218" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-referencenote">Citation omitted</span>.)</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="19220" data-sentence-id="20239" class="ldml-sentence">For the same reasons, <span class="ldml-entity">the court</span> rejected <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>' arguments that it would be unreasonable to subject them to personal jurisdiction in Colorado.</span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="14" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_20388" data-page_type="bare_number"></span></p><p data-paragraph-id="20388" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="20388" data-sentence-id="20399" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_20399"><span class="ldml-cite">¶25</span></a></span> Bowen and Monsees <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(separately)</span> and Pritzker and Valani <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(together)</span> then moved to certify an interlocutory appeal to <span class="ldml-entity">the court of appeals</span> pursuant to <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">C.A.R. 4.2</span></a></span>, but <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span> denied those motions.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="20612" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="20612" data-sentence-id="20623" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_20623"><span class="ldml-cite">¶26</span></a></span> Thereafter, Bowen and Monsees <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(this time together)</span> and Pritzker and Valani <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(again together)</span> filed <span class="ldml-entity">petitions under <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">C.A.R. 21</span></a></span> seeking immediate relief from <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span>'s order</span> denying their <span class="ldml-entity">motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction</span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="20612" data-sentence-id="20881" class="ldml-sentence">In these petitions, <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> argued that <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span> had erred in concluding that it could properly assert personal jurisdiction over them because <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(1)</span> <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> had failed to allege that <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> were primary participants in any wrongdoing expressly aimed at Colorado, <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span> <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> lacked minimum contacts with Colorado, and <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(3)</span> the exercise of jurisdiction over them would therefore be unreasonable.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="20612" data-sentence-id="21302" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">We</span> issued rules to show cause in each case.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="20612" data-sentence-id="21347" class="ldml-sentence">Because <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> raise substantively overlapping issues and arguments, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> now resolve the two <span class="ldml-entity">cases</span> together.</span> </p></div><div class="ldml-section"><section class="ldml-heading content__heading content__heading--depth1" data-parsed="true" data-value="II. Analysis" data-content-heading-label=" II. Analysis " data-id="heading_21461" data-types="analysis" data-confidences="very_high" data-ordinal_start="2" data-specifier="II" data-format="upper_case_roman_numeral" id="heading_21461" data-ordinal_end="2"><span data-paragraph-id="21461" class="ldml-paragraph "> <b class="ldml-bold"><span data-paragraph-id="21461" data-sentence-id="21472" class="ldml-sentence">II.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="21461" data-sentence-id="21476" class="ldml-sentence">Analysis</span></b> </span></section><p data-paragraph-id="21485" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="21485" data-sentence-id="21496" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_21496"><span class="ldml-cite">¶27</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-entity">We</span> begin by discussing our jurisdiction to hear this matter pursuant to <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">C.A.R. 21</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="21485" data-sentence-id="21584" class="ldml-sentence">Next, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> lay out the pertinent principles of law, including the procedure for addressing <span class="ldml-entity"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">C.R.C.P. 12<span class="ldml-parenthetical">(b)</span><span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span></span></a></span> motions</span>, the applicable standard of review, and controlling precedent regarding personal jurisdiction.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="21485" data-sentence-id="21797" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">We</span> then apply these principles to <span class="ldml-entity">the facts before <span class="ldml-entity">us</span></span> and conclude that the allegations in the <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="15" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_21896" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> amended complaint are insufficient to establish a prima facie showing of personal jurisdiction over the individual <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> here.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="21485" data-sentence-id="22032" class="ldml-sentence">Accordingly, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> need not consider whether <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span>'s exercise of jurisdiction over <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> would be unreasonable.</span> </p><div class="ldml-section"><section class="ldml-heading content__heading content__heading--depth2" data-ordinal_start="1" data-content-heading-label=" A. Original Jurisdiction " data-id="heading_22161" data-parsed="true" data-value="A. Original Jurisdiction" data-specifier="A" data-format="upper_case_letters" id="heading_22161" data-ordinal_end="1"><span data-paragraph-id="22161" class="ldml-paragraph "> <b class="ldml-bold"><span data-paragraph-id="22161" data-sentence-id="22172" class="ldml-sentence">A.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="22161" data-sentence-id="22175" class="ldml-sentence">Original Jurisdiction</span></b> </span></section><p data-paragraph-id="22197" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="22197" data-sentence-id="22208" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_22208"><span class="ldml-cite">¶28</span></a></span> Whether to exercise original jurisdiction under <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">C.A.R. 21</span></a></span> is a matter within our sole discretion.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="22197" data-sentence-id="22312" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_22208" data-refglobal="case:inrethepeopleofthestateofcoloradovtafoyacaseno18sa224434p3d1193february19,2019"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">People v. Tafoya</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">2019 CO 13
</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_22208"><span class="ldml-cite">¶ 13</span></a></span></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-refglobal="case:inrethepeopleofthestateofcoloradovtafoyacaseno18sa224434p3d1193february19,2019"><span class="ldml-cite">434 P.3d 1193
, 1195</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="22197" data-sentence-id="22370" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-quotation quote">"An original proceeding under <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">C.A.R. 21</span></a></span> is an extraordinary remedy that is limited both in its purpose and availability."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="22197" data-sentence-id="22494" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_22370" data-refglobal="case:inrethepeopleofthestateofcoloradovtafoyacaseno18sa224434p3d1193february19,2019"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em></span></a></span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="22197" data-sentence-id="22498" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">We</span> generally choose to exercise our discretion under <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">C.A.R. 21</span></a></span> in <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"<span class="ldml-entity">cases</span> that raise issues of first impression and that are of significant public importance."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="22197" data-sentence-id="22660" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_22498" data-refglobal="case:inresmithvmichaeldjeppsen,defendantandstatefarmmutualautomobileinsuranceno11sa51277p3d224,2012co32april30,2012"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Smith v. Jeppsen</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">2012 CO 32
</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_22498"><span class="ldml-cite">¶ 6</span></a></span></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-refglobal="case:inresmithvmichaeldjeppsen,defendantandstatefarmmutualautomobileinsuranceno11sa51277p3d224,2012co32april30,2012"><span class="ldml-cite">277 P.3d 224
, 226</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="22197" data-sentence-id="22715" class="ldml-sentence">Further, as pertinent here, <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"<span class="ldml-entity">We</span> often elect to hear challenges to <span class="ldml-quotation quote">'the exercise of personal jurisdiction by <span class="ldml-entity">district courts</span> over out-of-state <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>'</span> because <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> <span class="ldml-quotation quote">'raise<span class="ldml-parenthetical">[ ]</span> the question whether it is unfair to force such <span class="ldml-entity">a party</span> to defend here at all.'</span>"</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="22197" data-sentence-id="22978" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889038563" data-vids="889038563" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_22715"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Magill v. Ford Motor Co.</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">2016 CO 57
</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_22715"><span class="ldml-cite">¶ 9</span></a></span></span>, <span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889038563" data-vids="889038563" class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">379 P.3d 1033
, 1036</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-referencenote">alteration in original</span>)</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-cert">quoting</span> <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/893945333" data-vids="893945333" class="ldml-reference"><em class="ldml-emphasis"><span class="ldml-refname">Keefe v. Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum, P.C.</span>,</em> <span class="ldml-cite">40 P.3d 1267
, 1270</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-court">Colo.</span> <span class="ldml-date">2002</span>)</span></a></span>)</span></span>.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="23155" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="23155" data-sentence-id="23166" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_23166"><span class="ldml-cite">¶29</span></a></span> For three principal reasons <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> deem it appropriate to exercise our discretion under <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">C.A.R. 21</span></a></span> to hear this matter.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="23155" data-sentence-id="23287" class="ldml-sentence">First, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> have not yet opined on the degree of participation corporate directors must have in a corporation's alleged <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="16" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_23408" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> wrongdoing to subject those directors in their individual capacities to personal jurisdiction in Colorado.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="23155" data-sentence-id="23518" class="ldml-sentence">Second, <span class="ldml-entity"><span class="ldml-entity">we</span> view</span> this issue as one of significant public importance because it not only concerns the rights of <span class="ldml-entity">the parties</span> in <span class="ldml-entity">this case</span> but also affects whether non-resident directors of any entity may be haled into <span class="ldml-entity">court</span> in Colorado.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="23155" data-sentence-id="23756" class="ldml-sentence">And third, were <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> to decline to hear this matter pursuant to <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">C.A.R. 21</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> would be forced to litigate their case in Colorado and would be able to seek relief only after <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> have shouldered the very burden that <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> now challenge as improper.</span> </p></div><div class="ldml-section"><section class="ldml-heading content__heading content__heading--depth2" data-parsed="true" data-value="B. C.R.C.P. 12(b)(2) Motions and Standard of Review" data-content-heading-label=" B. C.R.C.P. 12(b)(2) Motions and Standard of Review " data-id="heading_24014" data-types="standardofreview" data-confidences="medium" data-ordinal_start="2" data-specifier="B" data-format="upper_case_letters" id="heading_24014" data-ordinal_end="2"><span data-paragraph-id="24014" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="24014" data-sentence-id="24025" class="ldml-sentence"><b class="ldml-bold">B. <span class="ldml-entity"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">C.R.C.P. 12<span class="ldml-parenthetical">(b)</span><span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span></span></a></span> Motions</span> and Standard of Review</b></span> </span></section><p data-paragraph-id="24078" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="24078" data-sentence-id="24089" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_24089"><span class="ldml-cite">¶30</span></a></span> Courts</span> have the discretion to address <span class="ldml-entity">pre-trial motions</span> filed pursuant to <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">C.R.C.P. 12<span class="ldml-parenthetical">(b)</span><span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span></span></a></span> either by considering only the documentary evidence in <span class="ldml-entity">the case</span> or by holding a hearing.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="24078" data-sentence-id="24277" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/895073948" data-vids="895073948" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_24089"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Archangel Diamond Corp. v. Lukoil</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">123 P.3d 1187
, 1192</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-court">Colo.</span> <span class="ldml-date">2005</span>)</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="24078" data-sentence-id="24347" class="ldml-sentence">The documentary evidence consists of the allegations made in the complaint and any affidavits and other evidence submitted by <span class="ldml-entity">the parties</span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="24078" data-sentence-id="24488" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/895073948" data-vids="895073948" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_24347"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em></span></a></span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="24078" data-sentence-id="24492" class="ldml-sentence">When, as here, <span class="ldml-entity">the trial court</span> addresses <span class="ldml-entity">a <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">C.R.C.P. 12<span class="ldml-parenthetical">(b)</span><span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span></span></a></span> motion</span> based on the documentary evidence alone, <span class="ldml-entity">the trial court</span> must accept as true allegations in the complaint that are not contradicted by <span class="ldml-entity">the defendants</span>' competent evidence and must resolve any conflicting facts in <span class="ldml-entity">the plaintiff</span>'s favor.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="24078" data-sentence-id="24801" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/895073948" data-vids="895073948" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_24492"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em></span></a></span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="24805" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="24805" data-sentence-id="24816" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_24816"><span class="ldml-cite">¶31</span></a></span> Further, when <span class="ldml-entity">a court</span> chooses to decide <span class="ldml-entity">a <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">C.R.C.P. 12<span class="ldml-parenthetical">(b)</span><span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span></span></a></span> motion</span> based solely on the documentary evidence, <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"the <span class="ldml-entity">plaintiff</span> need only demonstrate a prima <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="17" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_24979" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> facie showing of personal jurisdiction to defeat the motion."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="24805" data-sentence-id="25044" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_24816"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em></span></a></span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="24805" data-sentence-id="25048" class="ldml-sentence">This burden is not high-a prima facie showing exists <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"when <span class="ldml-entity">the plaintiff</span> raises a reasonable inference that <span class="ldml-entity">the court</span> has jurisdiction over <span class="ldml-entity">the defendant</span>."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="24805" data-sentence-id="25207" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_25048" data-refglobal="case:romevreyes,2017coa84"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Rome</em></span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_25048"><span class="ldml-cite">¶ 10</span></a></span></span>, <span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/895736934" data-vids="895736934" class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">401 P.3d at
79-80</span></a></span><span class="ldml-referenceseparator">;</span> <em class="ldml-emphasis"><span class="ldml-signal">see also</span> </em><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/895073948" data-vids="895073948" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="embeddedsentence_25276"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Archangel</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">123 P.3d at
1192</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-embeddedsentence">describing as <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"light"</span> the burden of making a prima facie showing</span>)</span></span>.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="25345" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="25345" data-sentence-id="25356" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_25356"><span class="ldml-cite">¶32</span></a></span> Whether <span class="ldml-entity">a plaintiff</span> has made a prima facie showing of personal jurisdiction is a question of law that <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> review de novo.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="25345" data-sentence-id="25484" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889038563" data-vids="889038563" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_25356"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Magill</em></span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_25356"><span class="ldml-cite">¶ 11</span></a></span></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889038563" data-vids="889038563" class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">379 P.3d at
1036</span></a></span>.</span> </p></div><div class="ldml-section"><section class="ldml-heading content__heading content__heading--depth2" data-ordinal_start="3" data-content-heading-label=" C. Personal Jurisdiction " data-id="heading_25516" data-parsed="true" data-value="C. Personal Jurisdiction" data-specifier="C" data-format="upper_case_letters" id="heading_25516" data-ordinal_end="3"><span data-paragraph-id="25516" class="ldml-paragraph "> <b class="ldml-bold"><span data-paragraph-id="25516" data-sentence-id="25527" class="ldml-sentence">C.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="25516" data-sentence-id="25530" class="ldml-sentence">Personal Jurisdiction</span></b> </span></section><p data-paragraph-id="25552" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="25552" data-sentence-id="25563" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_25563"><span class="ldml-cite">¶33</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"For a <span class="ldml-entity">Colorado court</span> to exercise jurisdiction over a non-resident <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span>, <span class="ldml-entity">the court</span> must comply with Colorado's long-arm <span class="ldml-entity">statute</span> and constitutional due process."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="25552" data-sentence-id="25736" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_25563" data-refglobal="case:aligncorpltdvboustred,2017co103"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Align Corp. v. Boustred</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">2017 CO 103
</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_25563"><span class="ldml-cite">¶ 9</span></a></span></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889059556" data-vids="889059556" class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">421 P.3d 163
, 167</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="25552" data-sentence-id="25799" class="ldml-sentence">Because Colorado's long-arm <span class="ldml-entity">statute</span> confers on <span class="ldml-entity">courts</span> <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"the maximum jurisdiction permitted by the due process clauses of the United States and Colorado constitutions,"</span> <span class="ldml-entity">a plaintiff</span>'s ability to establish jurisdiction over a non-resident <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span> necessarily depends on whether a <span class="ldml-entity">Colorado court</span>'s exercise of that jurisdiction comports with due process.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="25552" data-sentence-id="26157" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889059556" data-vids="889059556" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_25799"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em></span></a></span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-cert">quoting</span> <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/895073948" data-vids="895073948" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_25799"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Archangel</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">123 P.3d at
1193</span></a></span>)</span></span>.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="26200" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="26200" data-sentence-id="26211" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_26211"><span class="ldml-cite">¶34</span></a></span> In determining whether <span class="ldml-entity">a court</span> may exercise personal jurisdiction over <span class="ldml-entity">the defendants</span> in a multi-<span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span> case, <span class="ldml-entity">courts</span> must consider each <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span> individually.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="26200" data-sentence-id="26381" class="ldml-sentence">Thus, in <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/891803793" data-vids="891803793" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_26381"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Rush v. Savchuk</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">444 U.S. 320
, 331-32</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-date">1980</span>)</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity">the Supreme Court</span> concluded that <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"considering the <span class="ldml-quotation quote">'defending <span class="ldml-entity">parties</span>'</span> together and <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="18" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_26524" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> aggregating their forum contacts in determining whether <span class="ldml-parenthetical">[the <span class="ldml-entity">district court</span>]</span> had jurisdiction . . . is plainly unconstitutional."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="26200" data-sentence-id="26658" class="ldml-sentence">Likewise, in <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/888783866" data-vids="888783866" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_26658"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Calder</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">465 U.S. at
790</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity">the Court</span> opined that employees' contacts with the forum state <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"are not to be judged according to their employer's activities there,"</span> but rather <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"<span class="ldml-parenthetical">[e]</span>ach <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span>'s contacts with the forum State must be assessed individually."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="26200" data-sentence-id="26928" class="ldml-sentence">And in <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/895287174" data-vids="895287174" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_26928"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">471 U.S. 462
, 475</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-date">1985</span>)</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity">the Court</span> emphasized that personal jurisdiction is proper only when <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"actions by <span class="ldml-entity">the defendant</span> <em class="ldml-emphasis">himself</em> . . . create a <span class="ldml-quotation quote">'substantial connection'</span> with the forum State."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="26200" data-sentence-id="27163" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-cert">Quoting</span> <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/888956375" data-vids="888956375" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_26928"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">McGee v. Int'l Life Ins. Co.</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">355 U.S. 220
, 223</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-date">1957</span>)</span></a></span></span>.)</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="27230" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="27230" data-sentence-id="27241" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_27241"><span class="ldml-cite">¶35</span></a></span> In <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/885651765" data-vids="885651765" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_27241"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">International Shoe</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">326 U.S. at
316</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity">the Supreme Court</span> concluded that a state may exercise personal jurisdiction over a non-resident <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span> only when that <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span> has <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"certain minimum contacts with <span class="ldml-parenthetical">[the forum state]</span> such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend <span class="ldml-quotation quote">'traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.'</span>"</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="27230" data-sentence-id="27591" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-cert">Quoting</span> <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/895364924" data-vids="895364924" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_27241"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Milliken v. Meyer</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">311 U.S. 457
, 463</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-date">1940</span>)</span></a></span></span>.)</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="27230" data-sentence-id="27647" class="ldml-sentence">In assessing whether <span class="ldml-entity">a defendant</span> has minimum contacts with the forum state, <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"a <span class="ldml-entity">court</span> properly focuses on <span class="ldml-quotation quote">'the relationship among <span class="ldml-entity">the defendant</span>, the forum, and the litigation.'</span>"</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="27230" data-sentence-id="27827" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/888783866" data-vids="888783866" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_27647"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Calder</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">465 U.S. at
788</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-cert">quoting</span> <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/885029086" data-vids="885029086" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_27647"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Shaffer v. Heitner</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">433 U.S. 186
, 204</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-date">1977</span>)</span></a></span>)</span></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="27230" data-sentence-id="27909" class="ldml-sentence">Thus, <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"<span class="ldml-parenthetical">[f]</span>or a State to exercise jurisdiction consistent with due process, <span class="ldml-entity">the defendant</span>'s suit-related conduct must create a substantial connection with the forum State."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="27230" data-sentence-id="28084" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/893972090" data-vids="893972090" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_27909"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Walden v. Fiore</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">571 U.S. 277
, 284</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-date">2014</span>)</span></a></span>.</span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="19" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_28128" data-page_type="bare_number"></span></p><p data-paragraph-id="28128" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="28128" data-sentence-id="28139" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_28139"><span class="ldml-cite">¶36</span></a></span> This relationship-based approach to questions of personal jurisdiction has given rise to two distinct categories of jurisdiction, namely, general jurisdiction and specific jurisdiction.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="28128" data-sentence-id="28333" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889038563" data-vids="889038563" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_28139"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Magill</em></span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_28139"><span class="ldml-cite">¶ 15</span></a></span></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889038563" data-vids="889038563" class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">379 P.3d at
1037</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="28128" data-sentence-id="28365" class="ldml-sentence">Here, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> does not allege that general jurisdiction exists with respect to the directors at issue.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="28128" data-sentence-id="28471" class="ldml-sentence">Accordingly, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> turn to the applicable law governing the exercise of specific jurisdiction.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="28565" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="28565" data-sentence-id="28576" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_28576"><span class="ldml-cite">¶37</span></a></span> For purposes of specific jurisdiction, <span class="ldml-entity">the Supreme Court</span> has instructed that to meet the minimum contacts standard, a non-resident <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span> must have <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"purposefully directed"</span> its activities at residents of the forum state and <span class="ldml-entity">the plaintiff</span>'s injuries must <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"arise out of or relate to"</span> <span class="ldml-entity">the defendant</span>'s forum-related activities.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="28565" data-sentence-id="28912" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/895287174" data-vids="895287174" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="embeddedsentence_28942,sentence_28576"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Burger King</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">471 U.S. at
472</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-embeddedsentence">first quoting <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/893594962" data-vids="893594962" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_28576"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Keeton v. Hustler Mag., Inc.</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">465 U.S. 770
, 774</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-date">1984</span>)</span></a></span><span class="ldml-referenceseparator">;</span> and then quoting <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/888030999" data-vids="888030999" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_28576"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia, S.A. v. Hall</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">466 U.S. 408
, 414</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-date">1984</span>)</span></a></span></span>)</span><span class="ldml-referenceseparator">;</span> <em class="ldml-emphasis"><span class="ldml-signal">accord</span> </em><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/907215553" data-vids="907215553" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_28576"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Eighteen Seventy, LP v. Jayson</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">32 F.4th 956
, 966</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-court">10th Cir.</span> <span class="ldml-date">2022</span>)</span></a></span></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="28565" data-sentence-id="29185" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Courts</span> have applied a variety of tests to determine whether <span class="ldml-entity">a defendant</span>'s actions satisfy the above-referenced <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"purposeful direction"</span> standard.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="28565" data-sentence-id="29331" class="ldml-sentence">For example, in <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/888288950" data-vids="888288950" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_29331"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Old Republic Insurance Co. v. Continental Motors, Inc.</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">877 F.3d 895
, 905</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-court">10th Cir.</span> <span class="ldml-date">2017</span>)</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity">the court</span> discussed the <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"continuing relationships,"</span> <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"market exploitation,"</span> and <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"harmful effects"</span> frameworks for determining whether a non-resident <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span>'s activities satisfy the purposeful <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="20" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_29639" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> direction requirement.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="28565" data-sentence-id="29664" class="ldml-sentence">Here, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> argues that <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>' actions reflect <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"purposeful direction"</span> under both the effects and market exploitation tests.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="29800" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="29800" data-sentence-id="29811" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_29811"><span class="ldml-cite">¶38</span></a></span> The effects test derives from <span class="ldml-entity"><span class="ldml-entity">the Supreme Court</span>'s opinion in <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/888783866" data-vids="888783866" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_29811"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Calder</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">465 U.S. at
785-90</span></a></span></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="29800" data-sentence-id="29906" class="ldml-sentence">There, a celebrity who resided in California brought a libel suit in a <span class="ldml-entity">California court</span> against the president of the <em class="ldml-emphasis">National Enquirer</em> and a reporter who worked for that publication, both of whom resided in Florida.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="29800" data-sentence-id="30126" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/888783866" data-vids="888783866" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_29906"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em> at 785-86</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="29800" data-sentence-id="30141" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The Court</span> ultimately concluded that jurisdiction in California was proper because <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> were <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"primary participants"</span> in wrongful conduct that <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"expressly aimed"</span> at California.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="29800" data-sentence-id="30328" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/888783866" data-vids="888783866" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_30141"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em> at 789-90</span></a></span>.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="30344" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="30344" data-sentence-id="30355" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_30355"><span class="ldml-cite">¶39</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-entity">We</span> subsequently employed a <em class="ldml-emphasis"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/888783866" data-vids="888783866" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_30355"><span class="ldml-refname">Calder</span></a></span>-</em>derived <span class="ldml-entity">analysis in <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/895073948" data-vids="895073948" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_30355"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Archangel</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">123 P.3d at
1199-1200</span></a></span></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="30344" data-sentence-id="30448" class="ldml-sentence">Specifically, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> applied the articulation of the effects test that the Tenth Circuit had adopted in <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/894979853" data-vids="894979853" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_30448"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Far West Capital, Inc. v. Towne</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">46 F.3d 1071
, 1079</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-court">10th Cir.</span> <span class="ldml-date">1995</span>)</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="30344" data-sentence-id="30621" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><em class="ldml-emphasis"><span class="ldml-signal">See</span> </em><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/895073948" data-vids="895073948" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_30448"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Archangel</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">123 P.3d at
1199-1200</span></a></span></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="30344" data-sentence-id="30659" class="ldml-sentence">In <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/894979853" data-vids="894979853" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_30659"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Far West Capital</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">46 F.3d at
1079</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity">the court</span> required <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"a particularized inquiry as to the extent to which <span class="ldml-entity">the defendant</span> has purposefully availed itself of the benefits of the forum's laws."</span></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="30856" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="30856" data-sentence-id="30867" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_30867"><span class="ldml-cite">¶40</span></a></span> In the time since <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> decided <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/895073948" data-vids="895073948" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_30867"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Archangel</em></span></a></span>, the Tenth Circuit has further distilled the effects test into three elements: <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"<span class="ldml-parenthetical">(1)</span> an intentional action; <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span> expressly aimed at the forum state; and <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(3)</span> . . . knowledge that the brunt of the injury would be felt in the forum state."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="30856" data-sentence-id="31150" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/907215553" data-vids="907215553" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_30867"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Eighteen Seventy</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">32 F.4th at 967</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-cert">quoting</span> <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/890820544" data-vids="890820544" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_30867"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Dental Dynamics, LLC v. Jolly Dental Grp., LLC</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">946 F.3d 1223
, 1231</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-court">10th Cir.</span> <span class="ldml-date">2020</span>)</span></a></span>)</span></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="30856" data-sentence-id="31281" class="ldml-sentence">Under <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="21" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_31289" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> this version of the test, <span class="ldml-entity">the party</span> asserting jurisdiction <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(here, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span>)</span> must establish each of the three elements to demonstrate purposeful direction.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="30856" data-sentence-id="31449" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/907215553" data-vids="907215553" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_31281"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em></span></a></span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="30856" data-sentence-id="31453" class="ldml-sentence">Because <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(1)</span> the Tenth Circuit's recitation of the effects test in <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/907215553" data-vids="907215553" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_31453"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Eighteen Seventy</em></span></a></span> is consistent with our understanding of <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/888783866" data-vids="888783866" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_31453"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Calder</em></span></a></span> and general due process requirements and <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span> all of <span class="ldml-entity">the parties</span> before <span class="ldml-entity">us</span> appear to rely on this version of the test, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> likewise will apply this version of the effects test to <span class="ldml-entity">the facts before <span class="ldml-entity">us</span></span>.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="31787" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="31787" data-sentence-id="31798" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_31798"><span class="ldml-cite">¶41</span></a></span> The market exploitation test, in turn, derives from <span class="ldml-entity"><span class="ldml-entity">the Supreme Court</span>'s decision in <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/893594962" data-vids="893594962" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_31798"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Keeton</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">465 U.S. at 774
, 781</span></a></span></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="31787" data-sentence-id="31919" class="ldml-sentence">There, <span class="ldml-entity">the Supreme Court</span> concluded that a non-resident publisher's <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"regular monthly sales of thousands of magazines"</span> in New Hampshire satisfied the purposeful direction requirement of the minimum contacts analysis.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="31787" data-sentence-id="32138" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/893594962" data-vids="893594962" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_31919"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em> at 774</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="31787" data-sentence-id="32150" class="ldml-sentence">In so concluding, <span class="ldml-entity">the Court</span> explained that when <span class="ldml-entity">a defendant</span> <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"has continuously and deliberately exploited the New Hampshire market, it must reasonably anticipate being haled into <span class="ldml-entity">court</span> there in a libel action based on the contents of its magazine."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="31787" data-sentence-id="32402" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/893594962" data-vids="893594962" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_32150"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em> at 781</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="31787" data-sentence-id="32414" class="ldml-sentence">Accordingly, under the market exploitation test, <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"a <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span> purposefully directs activities into the forum State if it continuously and deliberately exploits the forum State's market."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="31787" data-sentence-id="32604" class="ldml-sentence"><em class="ldml-emphasis"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/892994293" data-vids="892994293" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_32414"><span class="ldml-refname">XMission</span></a></span>, </em><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/892994293" data-vids="892994293" class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">L.C</em>. <em class="ldml-emphasis">v. Fluent LLC</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">955 F.3d 833
, 849</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-court">10th Cir.</span> <span class="ldml-date">2020</span>)</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="31787" data-sentence-id="32671" class="ldml-sentence">Factors suggesting purposeful direction based on forum state market exploitation include <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"high sales volume and large customer base and revenues"</span> and <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"extensive nationwide advertising or ads targeting the forum state."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="31787" data-sentence-id="32894" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/888288950" data-vids="888288950" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_32671"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Old Republic</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">877 F.3d at
915</span></a></span>.</span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="22" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_32925" data-page_type="bare_number"></span></p><p data-paragraph-id="32925" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="32925" data-sentence-id="32936" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_32936"><span class="ldml-cite">¶42</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-entity">The parties</span> here dispute whether the market exploitation framework is available to <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> as a means of demonstrating that <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(as opposed to JUUL)</span> satisfy the <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"purposeful direction"</span> component of the minimum contacts analysis.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="32925" data-sentence-id="33181" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The State</span> contends that <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"if an individual is directly involved in unlawful acts that <span class="ldml-entity">he</span> knows will reach the forum state through his company's continuous and deliberate exploitation of the forum market, <span class="ldml-entity">he</span> can expect to answer for his acts in the forum state."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="32925" data-sentence-id="33447" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">Defendants</span>, in contrast, argue that the market exploitation test does not apply to individual corporate directors but rather to the corporate entity, which is the true market participant.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="32925" data-sentence-id="33638" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">We</span> agree with <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="33664" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="33664" data-sentence-id="33675" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_33675"><span class="ldml-cite">¶43</span></a></span> In <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/888288950" data-vids="888288950" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_33675"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Old Republic</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">877 F.3d at
907 n.14</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity">the court</span> observed, <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"In <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/888783866" data-vids="888783866" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_33675"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Calder</em></span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity">the Court</span> could not rely on the market exploitation basis for personal jurisdiction because, unlike in <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/893594962" data-vids="893594962" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_33675"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Keeton</em></span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity">the plaintiff</span> sued the reporter and the editor who worked on the allegedly defamatory <span class="ldml-entity">article</span> rather than their corporate employer."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="33664" data-sentence-id="34001" class="ldml-sentence">Such a ruling suggests that the market exploitation test does not apply to corporate employees but only to the corporate entity itself.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="33664" data-sentence-id="34139" class="ldml-sentence">Indeed, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> does not cite, and <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> have not found, a published decision in which <span class="ldml-entity">a court</span> subjected a corporate director, rather than the corporation itself, to jurisdiction under the market exploitation framework.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="33664" data-sentence-id="34362" class="ldml-sentence">And this is unsurprising.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="33664" data-sentence-id="34388" class="ldml-sentence">Although <span class="ldml-entity">courts</span> can readily attribute factors such as sales volume, a customer base, and revenues to corporate entities, these factors are not readily attributable to individual directors.</span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="23" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_34580" data-page_type="bare_number"></span></p><p data-paragraph-id="34580" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="34580" data-sentence-id="34591" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_34591"><span class="ldml-cite">¶44</span></a></span> Even were <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> to conclude that the market exploitation test could theoretically apply to directors in their individual capacities, however, at no point does <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> allege that any of <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> here had the continuous contacts with Colorado necessary to succeed under that framework.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="34580" data-sentence-id="34886" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><em class="ldml-emphasis"><span class="ldml-signal">See</span> </em><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/892994293" data-vids="892994293" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_34591"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">XMission</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">955 F.3d at 849</span></a></span></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="34580" data-sentence-id="34917" class="ldml-sentence">Accordingly, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> will apply the <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"effects test"</span> rather than the <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"market exploitation test"</span> to determine whether <span class="ldml-entity">Colorado courts</span> may exercise personal jurisdiction over <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> here.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="35103" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="35103" data-sentence-id="35114" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_35114"><span class="ldml-cite">¶45</span></a></span> Finally, if <span class="ldml-entity">a court</span> determines that a non-resident <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span> has the requisite minimum contacts with the forum state, then <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"these contacts may be considered in light of other factors to determine whether the assertion of personal jurisdiction would comport with <span class="ldml-quotation quote">'fair play and substantial justice.'</span>"</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="35103" data-sentence-id="35424" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_35114" data-refglobal="case:aligncorpltdvboustred,2017co103"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Align</em></span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_35114"><span class="ldml-cite">¶ 13</span></a></span></span>, <span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889059556" data-vids="889059556" class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite">421 P.3d at
168</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-cert">quoting</span> <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/893945333" data-vids="893945333" class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Keefe</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">40 P.3d at
1271</span></a></span>)</span></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="35103" data-sentence-id="35488" class="ldml-sentence">In making this determination, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> may consider <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"the burden on <span class="ldml-entity">the defendant</span>, the forum state's interest in resolving the controversy, and <span class="ldml-entity">the plaintiff</span>'s interest in attaining effective and convenient relief."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="35103" data-sentence-id="35701" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/895073948" data-vids="895073948" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_35488"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Archangel</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">123 P.3d at
1195</span></a></span>.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="35730" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="35730" data-sentence-id="35741" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_35741"><span class="ldml-cite">¶46</span></a></span> Having thus set forth the applicable law, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> now turn to the specific issues presented in <span class="ldml-entity">this case</span>.</span> </p></div><div class="ldml-section"><section class="ldml-heading content__heading content__heading--depth2" data-ordinal_start="4" data-content-heading-label=" D. Application " data-id="heading_35848" data-parsed="true" data-value="D. Application" data-specifier="D" data-format="upper_case_letters" id="heading_35848" data-ordinal_end="4"><span data-paragraph-id="35848" class="ldml-paragraph "> <b class="ldml-bold"><span data-paragraph-id="35848" data-sentence-id="35859" class="ldml-sentence">D.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="35848" data-sentence-id="35862" class="ldml-sentence">Application</span></b> </span></section><p data-paragraph-id="35874" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="35874" data-sentence-id="35885" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_35885"><span class="ldml-cite">¶47</span></a></span> As noted above, to establish personal jurisdiction under the effects test, <span class="ldml-entity">the party</span> asserting jurisdiction must show <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"<span class="ldml-parenthetical">(1)</span> an intentional action; <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span> expressly <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="24" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_36054" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> aimed at the forum state; and <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(3)</span> . . . knowledge that the brunt of the injury would be felt in the forum state."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="35874" data-sentence-id="36171" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/907215553" data-vids="907215553" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_35885"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Eighteen Seventy</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">32 F.4th at 967</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-cert">quoting</span> <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/890820544" data-vids="890820544" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_35885"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Dental Dynamics</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">946 F.3d at 1231</span></a></span>)</span></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="35874" data-sentence-id="36250" class="ldml-sentence">For several reasons, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> conclude that <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> has not carried this burden here.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="36334" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="36334" data-sentence-id="36345" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_36345"><span class="ldml-cite">¶48</span></a></span> First, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> seeks to establish personal jurisdiction by aggregating forum contacts.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="36334" data-sentence-id="36440" class="ldml-sentence">This, however, is directly contrary to <span class="ldml-entity"><span class="ldml-entity">Supreme Court</span> precedent</span> forbidding precisely this type of pleading to establish personal jurisdiction.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="36334" data-sentence-id="36584" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><em class="ldml-emphasis"><span class="ldml-signal">See</span> </em><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/891803793" data-vids="891803793" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_36440"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Rush</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">444 U.S. at
331-32</span></a></span></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="36334" data-sentence-id="36614" class="ldml-sentence">Indeed, <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span> essentially conceded that it was relying on such aggregated contacts.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="36713" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="36713" data-sentence-id="36724" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_36724"><span class="ldml-cite">¶49</span></a></span> Specifically, <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span> framed the issue before it as <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"whether <span class="ldml-parenthetical">[JUUL's]</span> actions, as alleged, are sufficient to assert long arm jurisdiction over the individual <span class="ldml-entity">movants</span>, all of whom are or were officers and/or directors of <span class="ldml-parenthetical">[JUUL]</span> during the relevant time."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="36713" data-sentence-id="36998" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The court</span> then reviewed the allegations in the amended complaint and noted, <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"While the <span class="ldml-parenthetical">[amended complaint]</span> is short on specifics regarding the action of any one of the individual <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>, it is quite specific regarding the actions of the group of them."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="36713" data-sentence-id="37260" class="ldml-sentence">After considering allegations related to <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"group action,"</span> citing to <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/893729149" data-vids="893729149" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_37260"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Hoang v. Arbess</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">80 P.3d 863
</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-court">Colo.App.</span> <span class="ldml-date">2003</span>)</span></a></span>, and observing that <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"separating out the individual <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>"</span> may not be <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"practical or possible for pleading purposes,"</span> <span class="ldml-entity">the court</span> concluded that the alleged <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"group action"</span> conferred personal jurisdiction over each individual <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span>.</span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="25" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_37616" data-page_type="bare_number"></span></p><p data-paragraph-id="37616" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="37616" data-sentence-id="37627" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_37627"><span class="ldml-cite">¶50</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/893729149" data-vids="893729149" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_37627"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Hoang</em></span></a></span>, however, does not support <span class="ldml-entity"><span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span>'s conclusion</span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="37616" data-sentence-id="37698" class="ldml-sentence">There, a division of <span class="ldml-entity">the court of appeals</span> explained:</span> </p><blockquote data-paragraph-id="b_37752" class="ldml-blockquote"> <span data-sentence-id="37753" class="ldml-sentence">While an officer of a corporation cannot be held personally liable for a corporation's tort <em class="ldml-emphasis">solely by reason of his or her official capacity</em>, an officer may be held personally liable for his or her individual acts of negligence even though committed on behalf of the corporation, which is also held liable.</span> </blockquote><p data-paragraph-id="38065" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="38065" data-sentence-id="38066" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/893729149" data-vids="893729149" class="ldml-reference"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em> at 867</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-referencenote">emphasis added</span>)</span></span>.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="38095" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="38095" data-sentence-id="38106" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_38106"><span class="ldml-cite">¶51</span></a></span> As an initial matter, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> note that the division in <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/893729149" data-vids="893729149" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_38106"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Hoang</em></span></a></span> was addressing whether a corporate officer's actions subjected him to liability, not personal jurisdiction.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="38095" data-sentence-id="38279" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/893729149" data-vids="893729149" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_38106"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em> at 866</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="38095" data-sentence-id="38291" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The district court</span> then appears to have done the same, apparently conflating the issues of director liability and personal jurisdiction over a director.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="38095" data-sentence-id="38447" class="ldml-sentence">Regardless, <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span> appears to have engaged in the very reasoning that <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/893729149" data-vids="893729149" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_38447"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Hoang</em></span></a></span> prohibits, namely, subjecting <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> to liability for JUUL's alleged torts based solely on <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>' official capacities.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="38095" data-sentence-id="38667" class="ldml-sentence">Thus, <span class="ldml-entity">the court</span> explained that as <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"founders, board members, and/or <span class="ldml-entity">Executive Committee</span> members who essentially directed <span class="ldml-parenthetical">[JUUL]</span> activities,"</span> each individual <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span> was <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"potentially liable"</span> for JUUL's course of conduct<b class="ldml-bold">.</b></span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="38893" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="38893" data-sentence-id="38904" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_38904"><span class="ldml-cite">¶52</span></a></span> For the same reason, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> are unpersuaded by <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span>'s reliance on an email in which JUUL's former Chief Operating Officer claimed that, collectively, JUUL's board members were <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"more involved than most, and likely crazier than most."</span></span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="26" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_39147" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> <span data-paragraph-id="38893" data-sentence-id="39148" class="ldml-sentence">This comment discloses nothing about any individual's conduct or how any such conduct was directed toward Colorado.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="39265" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="39265" data-sentence-id="39276" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_39276"><span class="ldml-cite">¶53</span></a></span> And <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> are not persuaded by <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span>'s assertion that <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"separating out the individual <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">[may]</span> not <span class="ldml-parenthetical">[be]</span> practical or possible for pleading purposes."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="39265" data-sentence-id="39450" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The district court</span> offers no explanation as to why this is so, particularly given that <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> appears to have received discovery in its case against JUUL before it filed its amended complaint.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="39265" data-sentence-id="39649" class="ldml-sentence">Regardless, due process does not permit <span class="ldml-entity">us</span> to curtail <span class="ldml-entity">a defendant</span>'s constitutional protections simply because compliance with settled principles of law may be difficult.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="39822" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="39822" data-sentence-id="39833" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_39833"><span class="ldml-cite">¶54</span></a></span> Second, at least as to Pritzker and Valani, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> does not allege the requisite intentional action to satisfy the first prong of the effects test.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="39822" data-sentence-id="39991" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><em class="ldml-emphasis"><span class="ldml-signal">See</span> </em><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/907215553" data-vids="907215553" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_39833"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Eighteen Seventy</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">32 F.4th at 967</span></a></span></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="39822" data-sentence-id="40031" class="ldml-sentence">The effects test applies only to <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"the <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span>'s suit-related conduct."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="39822" data-sentence-id="40105" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/893972090" data-vids="893972090" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_40031"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Walden</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">571 U.S. at
284</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="39822" data-sentence-id="40130" class="ldml-sentence">Here, many of <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span>'s allegations against Pritzker and Valani, including its contentions that <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> had viewed presentations announcing that <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"Influencer Marketing has begun"</span> and describing JUUL's toxicology testing, do not describe <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"conduct"</span> at all, much less Colorado-directed conduct.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="39822" data-sentence-id="40426" class="ldml-sentence">Instead, these allegations paint Pritzker and Valani as passive recipients of information.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="39822" data-sentence-id="40518" class="ldml-sentence">The remainder of <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span>'s allegations against Pritzker and Valani describe only conduct that is highly attenuated from JUUL's alleged wrongdoing.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="39822" data-sentence-id="40670" class="ldml-sentence">For example, in an attempt to demonstrate that Pritzker and <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="27" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_40733" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> Valani participated in youth marketing, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> points to <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(1)</span> Pritzker's request that JUUL send free products to an <em class="ldml-emphasis">adult</em> member of a popular band and <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span> Valani's question regarding how to make a photo of an <em class="ldml-emphasis">adult</em> celebrity holding a JUUL device <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"go viral."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="39822" data-sentence-id="41000" class="ldml-sentence">Lastly, in an attempt to establish that Valani participated in the allegedly deceptive messaging, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> claims that Valani forwarded a <em class="ldml-emphasis">New York Times</em> <span class="ldml-entity">article</span> entitled, <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"The Formaldehyde in Your E-Cigs."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="39822" data-sentence-id="41211" class="ldml-sentence">The simple acts of sending products to an adult consumer, commenting on a photo, or forwarding an email do not, however, indicate that Pritzker or Valani engaged in JUUL's alleged wrongdoing, much less that <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> engaged in wrongdoing directed at Colorado.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="41472" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="41472" data-sentence-id="41483" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_41483"><span class="ldml-cite">¶55</span></a></span> Indeed, many of the facts alleged by <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> belie its assertions that Pritzker and Valani <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"approved of, directed, actively participated in, or cooperated in . . . deceptive and unconscionable marketing."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="41472" data-sentence-id="41698" class="ldml-sentence">For example, Pritzker expressed his concern that JUUL's branding felt <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"too young,"</span> and Valani favorably commented on a letter to the editor of the <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_41698"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Denver Post</em></span></a></span> in which JUUL's CEO stated that the company was <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"appalled"</span> that JUUL had taken off with youth.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="41472" data-sentence-id="41957" class="ldml-sentence">Valani further requested updates on JUUL's efforts to hire a <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"credible head"</span> of youth policy.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="41472" data-sentence-id="42052" class="ldml-sentence">Collectively, these comments tend to show that Pritzker and Valani <em class="ldml-emphasis">dis</em>approved of <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(or at least had concerns about)</span> JUUL's alleged attempts to target youth and sought to engage <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"credible"</span> sources of information rather than <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="28" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_42280" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> deceptive ones, thereby undermining <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span>'s effort to premise personal jurisdiction on these directors' purported approval of, direction, active participation in, or cooperation in deceptive marketing.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="42491" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="42491" data-sentence-id="42502" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_42502"><span class="ldml-cite">¶56</span></a></span> Third, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> alleges no facts supporting a conclusion that any of <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> expressly aimed their conduct at Colorado, as required under the second prong of the effects test.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="42491" data-sentence-id="42690" class="ldml-sentence">Indeed, it appears that the only Colorado-specific contacts alleged by <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> were that <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(1)</span> JUUL held sampling events and sold JUUL products in Colorado stores; <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span> <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"youthful images"</span> from JUUL's board-approved marketing plan were shown in marketing displays in Colorado convenience stores, and brand ambassadors who attended the sampling events were instructed to direct consumers to JUUL's website if <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> had any health- or safety-related questions; and <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(3)</span> JUUL's CEO authored a letter to the editor that was published in the <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_42690"><em class="ldml-emphasis"><span class="ldml-refname">Denver</span> <span class="ldml-cite">Post</span></em></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="42491" data-sentence-id="43245" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The State</span> does not allege, however, that any of <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> planned or attended the sampling events.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="42491" data-sentence-id="43347" class="ldml-sentence">Nor does <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> allege that any of <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> drafted the letter <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(or, for that matter, that the letter misrepresented JUUL's products)</span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="42491" data-sentence-id="43488" class="ldml-sentence">As a result, <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span> itself acknowledged that <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"in its 145 <span class="ldml-parenthetical">[sic]</span> pages, nowhere does the <span class="ldml-parenthetical">[amended complaint]</span> attempt to describe the individual <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>' connections to Colorado."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="42491" data-sentence-id="43684" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">We</span> agree, and <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> therefore conclude that the allegations in the amended complaint do not satisfy the express aiming requirement of the effects test.</span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="29" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_43835" data-page_type="bare_number"></span></p><p data-paragraph-id="43835" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="43835" data-sentence-id="43846" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_43846"><span class="ldml-cite">¶57</span></a></span> Perhaps recognizing the absence of individualized conduct expressly aimed at Colorado, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> contends that an individual corporate director's participation in their company's nationwide actions satisfies the express aiming requirement, at least when the individual knows that the company's actions will reach the forum state through the company's continuous and deliberate exploitation of the forum state's market.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="43835" data-sentence-id="44277" class="ldml-sentence">Although <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> have not previously addressed this issue directly, a division of our <span class="ldml-entity">court of appeals</span> has done so, and its reasoning is instructive.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="44424" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="44424" data-sentence-id="44435" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_44435"><span class="ldml-cite">¶58</span></a></span> In <span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889521982" data-vids="889521982" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_44435"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Giduck v. Niblett</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">2014 COA 86
</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_44435"><span class="ldml-cite">¶ 20</span></a></span></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889521982" data-vids="889521982" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_44435"><span class="ldml-cite">408 P.3d 856
, 864</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity">the plaintiff</span>, a Colorado attorney, alleged that a group of non-resident <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> had posted defamatory statements about him on a website and that these statements were subsequently published on other websites, including Amazon and Facebook.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="44424" data-sentence-id="44749" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889521982" data-vids="889521982" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_44435"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em></span></a></span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="44424" data-sentence-id="44753" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The plaintiff</span> asserted that <span class="ldml-entity">the defendants</span> knew that <span class="ldml-entity">he</span> was a Colorado resident and member of the Colorado bar and that <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> agreed to, and did, publish false statements about him to harm his reputation as a Colorado attorney.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="44424" data-sentence-id="44984" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889521982" data-vids="889521982" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_44753"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em></span></a></span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="44424" data-sentence-id="44988" class="ldml-sentence">Although <span class="ldml-entity">the plaintiff</span> argued that these actions supported jurisdiction over <span class="ldml-entity">the defendants</span>, the division disagreed.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="44424" data-sentence-id="45107" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889521982" data-vids="889521982" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_45107"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em></span></a></span> at <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_45107"><span class="ldml-cite">¶¶ 20-21</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889521982" data-vids="889521982" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_45107"><span class="ldml-cite">408 P.3d at
864</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="44424" data-sentence-id="45142" class="ldml-sentence">Relying on <span class="ldml-entity"><span class="ldml-entity">the Supreme Court</span>'s conclusion in <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/893972090" data-vids="893972090" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_45142"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Walden</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">571 U.S. at
290</span></a></span></span>, that <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"<span class="ldml-parenthetical">[r]</span>egardless of where <span class="ldml-entity">a plaintiff</span> lives or works, an injury is jurisdictionally relevant only insofar as it shows that <span class="ldml-entity">the defendant</span> has formed a contact with the forum State,"</span> the division determined <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="30" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_45426" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> that <span class="ldml-entity">the defendants</span>' widely distributed statements did <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"not focus on Colorado"</span> and therefore did <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"not provide sufficient minimum contacts to subject <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> to personal jurisdiction"</span> here.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="44424" data-sentence-id="45623" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889521982" data-vids="889521982" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_45623"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Giduck</em></span></a></span>, at <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_45623"><span class="ldml-cite">¶¶ 23-24</span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-referencechain"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889521982" data-vids="889521982" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_45623"><span class="ldml-cite">408 P.3d at
865</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-cert">quoting</span> <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/893972090" data-vids="893972090" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_45623"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Walden</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">571 U.S. at
290</span></a></span>)</span></span>.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="45697" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="45697" data-sentence-id="45708" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_45708"><span class="ldml-cite">¶59</span></a></span> This analysis is consistent with recent <span class="ldml-entity">case law</span> from the Tenth Circuit.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="45697" data-sentence-id="45787" class="ldml-sentence">In <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/907215553" data-vids="907215553" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_45787"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Eighteen Seventy</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">32 F.4th at 959-61</span></a></span>, for example, two Wyoming entities alleged that Jayson, a resident of the United Kingdom, had, through misrepresentations and omissions, induced their investments in a foreign company of which Jayson was a director and chief financial officer.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="45697" data-sentence-id="46076" class="ldml-sentence">Noting that Jayson had never visited Wyoming and that there was <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"nothing unique about <span class="ldml-parenthetical">[the <span class="ldml-entity">plaintiff</span> entities]</span>, much less Wyoming, that led Mr. Jayson to prepare fraudulent materials,"</span> <span class="ldml-entity">the court</span> concluded that <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"the focal point of Mr. Jayson's allegedly tortious acts clearly was not Wyoming and, relatedly, that any contacts by Mr. Jayson with Wyoming were too attenuated to allow <span class="ldml-entity">a court</span> to exercise jurisdiction over him."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="45697" data-sentence-id="46508" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/907215553" data-vids="907215553" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_46076"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em> at 975</span></a></span>.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="46520" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="46520" data-sentence-id="46531" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_46531"><span class="ldml-cite">¶60</span></a></span> The same is true here.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="46520" data-sentence-id="46559" class="ldml-sentence">Any actions that <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> took in relation to JUUL's nationwide marketing campaign were not <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"expressly aimed"</span> at Colorado.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="46520" data-sentence-id="46686" class="ldml-sentence">Similar to the allegedly defamatory statements in <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/889521982" data-vids="889521982" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_46686"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Giduck</em></span></a></span> and the fraudulent materials in <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/907215553" data-vids="907215553" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_46686"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Eighteen Seventy</em></span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> did not direct JUUL's alleged messaging and materials at any particular geographic location.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="46520" data-sentence-id="46901" class="ldml-sentence">Nor does anything in the amended complaint suggest that <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> targeted influencers in Colorado, <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="31" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_47006" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> prioritized launching JUUL's products in Colorado over other states, or tailored any of its materials to appeal to Colorado consumers.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="46520" data-sentence-id="47145" class="ldml-sentence">And although <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> alleges that Monsees communicated with a JUUL sales representative who in turn spoke with a representative of Kroger, which then sold JUUL products in its Colorado stores, this interaction exemplifies the kind of attenuated contacts that <span class="ldml-entity">the court in <span class="ldml-entity"><a href="/vid/907215553" data-vids="907215553" class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_47145"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Eighteen Seventy</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">32 F.4th at 975</span></a></span></span>, concluded did not satisfy the express aiming requirement.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="47518" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="47518" data-sentence-id="47529" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_47529"><span class="ldml-cite">¶61</span></a></span> Because <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> cannot satisfy the first or second prongs of the effects test <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(i.e., intentional action expressly aimed at Colorado)</span>, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> conclude that <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> has not established personal jurisdiction over <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> in <span class="ldml-entity">this case</span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="47518" data-sentence-id="47772" class="ldml-sentence">Accordingly, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> need not reach the third prong of the effects test.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="47841" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="47841" data-sentence-id="47852" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_47852"><span class="ldml-cite">¶62</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-entity">We</span> are not persuaded otherwise by the out-of-state <span class="ldml-entity">cases</span> on which <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> relies.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="47841" data-sentence-id="47941" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The State</span> particularly urges <span class="ldml-entity">us</span> to consider two decisions in which the <span class="ldml-entity">federal district court</span> for the <span class="ldml-entity">Northern District of California</span> concluded that five states involved in a multi-district litigation action could properly exercise personal jurisdiction over <span class="ldml-entity">the defendants</span>, including the four individual <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> who are now before <span class="ldml-entity">this court</span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="47841" data-sentence-id="48294" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-referencechain"><em class="ldml-emphasis"><span class="ldml-signal">See</span> </em><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="embeddedsentence_48373,sentence_47941" data-refglobal="case:inrejuullabs,inc,marketing,salespractices,andproductsliabilitylitigationcaseno19-md-02913-who533fsupp3d858april13,2021"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">In re JUUL Labs, Inc.</em> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<em class="ldml-emphasis">JUUL II</em>)</span></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">533 F.Supp.3d 858
, 879</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-court">N.D. Cal.</span> <span class="ldml-date">2021</span>)</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-embeddedsentence">concluding that personal jurisdiction existed over Pritzker and Valani</span>)</span><span class="ldml-referenceseparator">;</span> <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="embeddedsentence_48524,sentence_47941" data-refglobal="case:inrejuullabs,inc,marketing,salespractices,andproductsliabilitylitigationcaseno19-md-02913-who497fsupp3d552october23,2020"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">In re JUUL Labs, Inc.</em> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<em class="ldml-emphasis">JUUL I</em>)</span></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">497 F.Supp.3d 552
, 675-77</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-court">N.D. Cal.</span> <span class="ldml-date">2020</span>)</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-embeddedsentence">denying Bowen and Monsees' <span class="ldml-entity">motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction</span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="32" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_48605" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> based on their <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"involvement in the development and implementation of the challenged nationwide marketing campaign and its intended effects in the forum states"</span></span>)</span></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="47841" data-sentence-id="48771" class="ldml-sentence">Obviously, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> are not bound by <span class="ldml-entity"><span class="ldml-entity">these district court</span> decisions</span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="47841" data-sentence-id="48835" class="ldml-sentence">And in any event, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> are not convinced by their limited analyses.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="47841" data-sentence-id="48902" class="ldml-sentence">For example, in <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_48902" data-refglobal="case:inrejuullabs,inc,marketing,salespractices,andproductsliabilitylitigationcaseno19-md-02913-who497fsupp3d552october23,2020"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">JUUL I</em></span></a></span>, <span class="ldml-entity">the court</span> acknowledged the express aiming requirement but then glossed over it entirely, focusing instead on JUUL's nationwide conduct.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="47841" data-sentence-id="49065" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_48902" data-refglobal="case:inrejuullabs,inc,marketing,salespractices,andproductsliabilitylitigationcaseno19-md-02913-who497fsupp3d552october23,2020"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">JUUL I</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">497 F.Supp.3d at 675-77</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="47841" data-sentence-id="49098" class="ldml-sentence">As set forth above, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> do not agree that personal jurisdiction over corporate directors can be predicated on a corporation's nationwide contacts alone.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="49253" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="49253" data-sentence-id="49264" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_49264"><span class="ldml-cite">¶63</span></a></span> In our view, <span class="ldml-entity">the <span class="ldml-entity">New York Supreme Court</span>'s decision in <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_49264" data-refglobal="case:proposedconsentorderandjudgment,peoplevjuullabsinc,indexno452168"><span class="ldml-refname"><em class="ldml-emphasis">People ex rel. James v. JUUL Labs, Inc.</em></span>, <span class="ldml-cite">No. 452168</span></a></span></span>/<span class="ldml-entity">2019</span>, <span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_49264" data-refglobal="case:2022wl2757512,at3-6nysupctjuly14,2022"><span class="ldml-cite">2022 WL 2757512
, at *3-6</span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(<span class="ldml-court">N.Y. Sup. Ct.</span> <span class="ldml-date">July 14, 2022</span>)</span></a></span>, which involved the same <span class="ldml-entity">parties</span> and jurisdictional questions as are now before <span class="ldml-entity">us</span>, is analytically more sound.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="49253" data-sentence-id="49552" class="ldml-sentence">There, <span class="ldml-entity">the court</span> summarized the alleged contacts between <span class="ldml-entity">the defendants</span> and New York, noting <span class="ldml-entity">the People</span>'s allegations that <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(1)</span> Monsees and Bowen were part of a public relations strategy that was aimed at New York, and both were scheduled to meet with the press and with investors while in New York for JUUL's launch; <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span> Bowen had sent an email to a member of the JUUL marketing team commenting on how to increase the number of New Yorkers trying JUUL e-cigarettes; <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(3)</span> while in New York, Valani had sent comments to JUUL senior management regarding defaced marketing materials; <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="33" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_50142" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(4)</span> Valani had worked with JUUL's marketing team to ensure that JUUL products were available at a Met Gala afterparty in Manhattan; <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(5)</span> Monsees, Bowen, Pritzker, and Valani had attended board meetings at which New York was identified as a focus of the launch campaign; <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(6)</span> <span class="ldml-entity">these defendants</span> were provided information regarding the success of the New York launch; <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(7)</span> Valani had been involved in meetings to discuss a strategy for responding to <span class="ldml-entity">New York City</span> anti-tobacco <span class="ldml-entity">legislation</span>; and <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(8)</span> Monsees, Pritzker, and Valani had met and communicated with New York investors in New York, and this meeting had resulted in an investment by a New York-based investment firm.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="49253" data-sentence-id="50821" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_49552" data-refglobal="case:2022wl2757512,at3-6nysupctjuly14,2022"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em> at *3-4</span></a></span>.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="50834" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="50834" data-sentence-id="50845" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_50845"><span class="ldml-cite">¶64</span></a></span> The <span class="ldml-entity">New York court</span> found that the amended complaint in <span class="ldml-entity">that case</span> contained sufficient allegations to establish personal jurisdiction over Monsees and Bowen, in part because the two men had actively participated in the deceptive marketing aimed at teens in New York, including attending the New York launch campaign, and thus <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> had personally transacted business in New York.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="50834" data-sentence-id="51234" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_50845" data-refglobal="case:2022wl2757512,at3-6nysupctjuly14,2022"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em> at *5</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="50834" data-sentence-id="51245" class="ldml-sentence">With regard to Pritzker and Valani, however, <span class="ldml-entity">the court</span> came to the opposite conclusion, explaining that although these two <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"knew of and approved the marketing of JUUL's product, JUUL marketed the product throughout the country and not just in New York."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="50834" data-sentence-id="51514" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_51245" data-refglobal="case:2022wl2757512,at3-6nysupctjuly14,2022"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em> at *6</span></a></span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="50834" data-sentence-id="51525" class="ldml-sentence">This, <span class="ldml-entity">the court</span> opined, was insufficient to establish that <span class="ldml-entity">these defendants</span> personally transacted business in New York.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="50834" data-sentence-id="51647" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_51647"><span class="ldml-cite"><em class="ldml-emphasis">Id.</em></span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="34" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_51651" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> <span class="ldml-cite">¶65</span></a></span> The factual allegations in the New York case stand in sharp contrast to those now before <span class="ldml-entity">us</span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="50834" data-sentence-id="51761" class="ldml-sentence">Here, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> never alleges that JUUL identified Colorado as a priority or that <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> visited Colorado for business purposes.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="50834" data-sentence-id="51896" class="ldml-sentence">Nor does it contend that <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> engaged in communications regarding the number of Coloradans who have tried JUUL.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="50834" data-sentence-id="52016" class="ldml-sentence">Instead, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> contends only that <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> participated to some extent in JUUL's nationwide efforts to market its product.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="52147" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="52147" data-sentence-id="52158" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_52158"><span class="ldml-cite">¶66</span></a></span> <span class="ldml-entity">We</span> likewise are unpersuaded by <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span>'s and amicus curiae's public policy concerns.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="52147" data-sentence-id="52250" class="ldml-sentence">Specifically, <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> and its amicus curiae respectively contend that <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(1)</span> denying the existence of personal jurisdiction over <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> here would mean <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"that <span class="ldml-entity">a defendant</span> does not target Colorado if, at the same time, it also targets other states,"</span> and <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span> our decision today will permit non-resident <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> to <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"claim immunity from suit because <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> have not physically set foot in <span class="ldml-entity">the state</span>."</span></span> <span data-paragraph-id="52147" data-sentence-id="52657" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">We</span> disagree with both of these contentions.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="52147" data-sentence-id="52702" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">A defendant</span> can certainly target multiple states simultaneously, and had the record shown that <span class="ldml-entity">these defendants</span> individually targeted Colorado, among other states, then our conclusion might have been different.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="52147" data-sentence-id="52916" class="ldml-sentence">Moreover, nothing in our decision today suggests that non-resident <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> can claim immunity merely because <span class="ldml-quotation quote">"<span class="ldml-entity">they</span> have not physically set foot"</span> in Colorado.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="52147" data-sentence-id="53079" class="ldml-sentence">As discussed above, the proper inquiry is whether <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> expressly aimed any conduct here, and this requirement can, in certain circumstances, be satisfied absent any physical presence in this state.</span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="35" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_53287" data-page_type="bare_number"></span> <span data-paragraph-id="52147" data-sentence-id="53288" class="ldml-sentence">And <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> perceive nothing in our analysis that can reasonably be read to immunize <span class="ldml-entity">these defendants</span> from their alleged actions.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="52147" data-sentence-id="53415" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">The State</span> is free to bring suit where <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> are subject to personal jurisdiction.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="52147" data-sentence-id="53503" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">We</span> merely conclude that <span class="ldml-entity">these defendants</span> are not subject to personal jurisdiction here.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="53593" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="53593" data-sentence-id="53604" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_53604"><span class="ldml-cite">¶67</span></a></span> In contrast to <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span>'s policy arguments, <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> contend that, were <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> to accept <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span>'s assertion that conduct need not be specially directed at the forum state to satisfy the express aiming requirements, directors of a corporation that does business nationwide would potentially be subject to personal jurisdiction in every state, regardless of their lack of connection to a particular forum.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="53593" data-sentence-id="54022" class="ldml-sentence">As <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> assert, this is simply not the law, and adopting such a principle would impose significant costs on board service and could dramatically drive up the costs of doing business in Colorado <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(by, for example, substantially increasing the premiums for directors and officers liability insurance)</span>.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="53593" data-sentence-id="54332" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity">We</span> cannot perceive how such a result would advance any sound public policy of this state.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="54423" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="54423" data-sentence-id="54434" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_54434"><span class="ldml-cite">¶68</span></a></span> For these reasons, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> conclude that <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> did not plead facts sufficient to establish that the individual <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> now before <span class="ldml-entity">us</span> purposefully directed wrongful conduct at Colorado or that the injuries alleged in the amended complaint arose out of or related to <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>' Colorado-directed activities.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="54423" data-sentence-id="54753" class="ldml-sentence">Accordingly, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> further conclude that <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> did not make the requisite prima facie showing of personal jurisdiction over <span class="ldml-entity">these defendants</span>.</span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="36" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_54898" data-page_type="bare_number"></span></p><p data-paragraph-id="54898" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="54898" data-sentence-id="54909" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_54909"><span class="ldml-cite">¶69</span></a></span> In light of this determination, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> need not address the question of whether exercising personal jurisdiction over <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> here would be unreasonable.</span> </p></div></div><div class="ldml-section"><section class="ldml-heading content__heading content__heading--depth1" data-parsed="true" data-value="III. Conclusion" data-content-heading-label=" III. Conclusion " data-id="heading_55069" data-types="conclusion" data-confidences="very_high" data-ordinal_start="3" data-specifier="III" data-format="upper_case_roman_numeral" id="heading_55069" data-ordinal_end="3"><span data-paragraph-id="55069" class="ldml-paragraph "> <b class="ldml-bold"><span data-paragraph-id="55069" data-sentence-id="55080" class="ldml-sentence">III.</span> <span data-paragraph-id="55069" data-sentence-id="55085" class="ldml-sentence">Conclusion</span></b> </span></section><p data-paragraph-id="55096" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="55096" data-sentence-id="55107" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_55107"><span class="ldml-cite">¶70</span></a></span> Because <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(1)</span> <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span> based its determination on allegations directed against JUUL and the group of <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> as a whole, rather than on an individualized assessment of each <span class="ldml-entity">defendant</span>'s actions, and <span class="ldml-parenthetical">(2)</span> <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> did not allege sufficient facts to establish either that <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span> were primary participants in wrongful conduct that <span class="ldml-entity">they</span> purposefully directed at Colorado, or that the injuries alleged in the amended complaint arose out of or related to <span class="ldml-entity">defendants</span>' Colorado-directed activities, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> conclude that <span class="ldml-entity">the district court</span> erred in finding that <span class="ldml-entity">the State</span> had made a prima facie showing of personal jurisdiction in this matter.</span> </p><p data-paragraph-id="55768" class="ldml-paragraph "> <span data-paragraph-id="55768" data-sentence-id="55779" class="ldml-sentence"><span class="ldml-entity"><a class="ldml-reference" data-prop-ids="sentence_55779"><span class="ldml-cite">¶71</span></a></span> Accordingly, <span class="ldml-entity">we</span> make our rule to show cause absolute and remand <span class="ldml-entity">this case</span> for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.</span> <span class="ldml-pagenumber" data-val="37" data-confidence="low" data-id="pagenumber_55914" data-page_type="bare_number"></span></p></div></div></div></div> </div> </div>