Schmidt v. Washington Newspaper Publishing Company, LLC

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
JOSEPH SCHMIDT,
Plaintiff,
Vv,
THE WASHINGTON C.A. No. N19C-03-262 CLS
NEWSPAPER PUBLISHING
COMPANY, LLC d/b/a
WASHINGTON EXAMINER, a
Delaware entity
Defendant.
Date Submitted: June 14, 2019
Date Decided: September 30, 2019
Upon Defendant's Motion to Dismiss
Granted.
Bartholomew J. Dalton, Esquire, Dalton & Associates, PA, Wilmington, DE,
Attorney for Plaintiff.
Andrea L. Lewis, Searcey, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley, PA, West Palm
Beach, FL, Attorney for Plaintiff.
Joseph J. Bellew, Esquire, White and Williams LLP, Wilmington, DE, Attorney
for Defendant.
Todd R. Ehrenreich, Esquire, Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith, Miami, FL,
Attorney for Defendant.
David L. Luck, Esquire, Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith, Miami, FL, Attorney
for Defendant.
SCOTT, J.
Before the Court is Defendant Washington Examiner’s Motion to Dismiss,
arguing expiration of the statute of limitations and forum non conveniens. For the
following reasons, Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED.
Background
On April 21, 2017, Defendant Washington Examiner (“Defendant”) published
an article about a Navy Seal who was charged with making child pornography
(“Article”). The Article was picked up by other news sources and soon became
national news. Accompanying the Article was a photo of Plaintiff, who was not the
subject of the Article but who was also a Navy Seal.
In response to the Article, Plaintiff filed a complaint against Defendant in
Florida state court on April 4, 2018. On May 11, 2018, Defendant removed the case
to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. A federal magistrate
judge dismissed the case for lack of personal jurisdiction on October 3, 2018.
Plaintiff then filed a motion for reconsideration and sought to have the case
transferred to Washington, D.C.; the federal judge denied this motion on December
6, 2018.
On March 25, 2019, Plaintiff filed a Complaint with this Court. Plaintiff
alleges defamation, defamation by implication, and intentional infliction of
emotional distress against Defendant. On April 30, 2019, Defendant filed this
Motion to Dismiss.
Parties’ Assertions
In its Motion to Dismiss, Defendant argues that this Court should dismiss this
case as time-barred. Defendant argues that, under Delaware’s choice-of-law rules,
California law applies to Plaintiff's claims because Plaintiff resided in California
when the Article was published. Defendant further argues that the Delaware
Borrowing Statute mandates using California’s one-year statute of limitations
instead of Delaware’s two-year statute of limitations for defamation claims.
Defendant also argues that Plaintiffs intentional infliction of emotional distress
claim is dependent upon the defamation claim. Because the intentional infliction of
emotional distress claim is tied to the defamation claim, under California law, the
defamation claim’s statute of limitations applies. Because Plaintiff filed this
Complaint more than one-year after his claim accrued, Defendant urges the Court to
dismiss the action as time-barred.
In the alternative, Defendant argues that this Court should dismiss this case
for forum non conveniens. Defendant points out that the Delaware action is later-
filed and argues that the hybrid forum non conveniens test laid out by the Delaware
Supreme Court in Gramercy Emerging Markets Fund vy. Allied Irish Banks, P.L.C.
applies in this case. The Defendant asks the Court to find that these factors weigh
in Defendant’s favor.
In response, Plaintiff argues that his claim is not time-barred. Plaintiff argues
that Delaware’s Borrowing Statute does not apply because he was not forum
shopping. Plaintiff also argues that Delaware has the “most significant relationship”
to this action and that Delaware’s two-year statute of limitations applies to Plaintiff's
claims. Alternatively, Plaintiff argues that California’s Savings Statute, which is
identical to Delaware’s Savings Statute, extends the applicable statute of limitations
by one year.
Plaintiff also argues that California’s equitable tolling doctrine applies to this
case, and that this doctrine tolled the statute of limitations during the Florida
proceedings. Additionally, Plaintiff argues that Defendant waived its right to assert
a statute of limitations defense because it did not raise this defense during the Florida
proceedings. Finally, Plaintiff argues that the forum non conveniens factors weigh
in his favor.
Standard of Review
This Court’s standard of review on a motion to dismiss is well-settled. The
Court must accept all well-pleaded facts as true and draw all reasonable inferences
in favor of the nonmoving party.! The motion will be denied when the plaintiff can
prove any facts entitling him to relief.
' Ramunno y. Cawley, 705 A.2d 1029, 1034 (Del. 1998).
2 Spence v. Funk, 396 A.2d 967, 968 (Del. 1978); Suit v. American Sleep Medicine,
Inc., 2011 WL 4688730, at *1 (Del. Super. Sept. 28, 2011).
4
Discussion
I. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
In its Motion to Dismiss, Defendant argues: 1) California law applies to
Plaintiff's claims; 2) Delaware’s Borrowing Statute mandates application of
California’s statute of limitations; and 3) California’s one-year statute of limitations
for defamation bars Plaintiff's claims.
A. Choice-of-Law Analysis
When conducting a choice of law analysis, this Court follows the “most
significant relationship” test from the Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws
(“Restatement”).> When determining which state’s law applies to a tort involving
multistate defamation, Restatement § 150 applies. Under the pertinent parts of
§ 150:
(1) The rights and liabilities that arise from defamatory matter
in... [an] aggregate communication are determined by the local law of
the state which, with respect to the particular issue, has the most
significant relationship to the occurrence and the parties under the
principles stated in [Restatement] § 6.
(2) When a natural person claims that he has been defamed by an
aggregate communication, the state of most significant relationship will
usually be the state where the person was domiciled at the time, if the
matter complained of was published in that state.°
3 Smith v. Delaware State Univ., 47 A.3d 472, 480 (Del. 2012); State Farm Mut.
Auto. Ins. Co. v. Patterson, 7 A.3d 454, 457 (Del. 2010).
4 4oki v. Benihana, Inc., 839 F. Supp. 2d 759, 765 (D. Del. 2012); Restatement
(Second) of Conflict of Laws § 150 (Am. Law Inst. 1971).
5 Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 150.
5
Aggregate communications are communications published simultaneously in two or
more states, such as Internet publications.® Thus, a defamation claim arising from
an Internet publication is governed by the law of the state with the “most significant
relationship” to the claim.’ At issue here is an article published to the Defendant’s
website; accordingly, § 150 governs.
When choosing the applicable law for a claim arising from an Internet
publication, the state with the most significant relationship will usually be the state
where the person is domiciled at the time of publication.* This is because
“defamation produces a special kind of injury that has its principal effect among
one’s friends, acquaintances, neighbors and business associates in the place of one’s
residence.” It is undisputed that Plaintiff was a resident of and domiciled in
California at the time the Article was published.'? Therefore, the local law of
California should apply unless another state has a “more significant relationship to
the occurrence and the parties."
© Aoki, 839 F. Supp. 2d at 765.
7 Stephen G. Perlman, Rearden LLC v. Vox Media, Inc., 2015 WL 5724838, at *10
(Del. Ch. Sept. 30, 2015); Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 150.
8 Aoki, 839 F. Supp. 2d at 765; Stephen G. Perlman, Rearden LLC, 2015 WL
5724838, at *11; Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 150.
° Stephen G. Perlman, Rearden LLC, 2015 WL 5724838, at *11 (quoting Aoki, 839
F. Supp. 2d at 765).
!° Compl. 2 n.1.
1! Stephen G. Perlman, Rearden LLC, 2015 WL 5724838, at *11 (quoting
Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 150 cmt. e).
6
Restatement § 150(2) creates a presumption that the law of the state where a
plaintiff resides applies unless there are “significantly sufficient considerations”
under Restatement §§ 6 and 145 to overcome this presumption.'* Restatement § 6(2)
provides the following seven factors for the Court to evaluate during a choice of law
analysis: (a) needs of interstate and international systems; (b) relevant policies of
the forum; (c) relevant policies of other interested states and the relative interests of
those states in the determination of the particular issue; (d) protection of justified
expectations; e) basic policies underlying the particular field of law; (f) certainty,
predictability, and uniformity of result, and (g) ease in the determination and
application of the law to be applied.'> Restatement § 145(2) instructs that when
applying the § 6 factors, the Court should take into account the following contacts:
(a) the place where the injury occurred; (b) the place where the conduct causing the
injury occurred; (c) the domicile, residence, nationality, place of incorporation, and
place of business of the parties; and (d) the place where the relationship, if any,
between the parties is centered.'*
12 Aoki, 839 F. Supp. 2d at 766.
'3 Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 6(2) (Am. Law Inst. 1971).
\4 Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 145(2) (Am. Law Inst. 1971).
7
Based on the considerations in § 145, the relevant contacts are California,!>
Delaware,'® Texas,!’ and the District of Columbia.'* The parties’ briefings focus
only on California and Delaware. Accordingly, the Court will narrow its discussion
to California and Delaware only.
Plaintiff argues that Delaware law should apply because Defendant is
incorporated in Delaware, Defendant’s parent company is incorporated in Delaware,
and Delaware has an interest in deterring tortious conduct and compensating
victims.'? Defendant argues that California law should apply because Plaintiff's
15 Plaintiff's Complaint demonstrates the manner in which he was injured by the
Article; the majority of these injuries occurred in California, where Plaintiff lived
when the Article was published. Compl. {f 21, 24-25; see Restatement (Second)
of Conflict of Laws § 145(a), (c). Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that: multiple
media outlets in his community ran the story with his photo attached; his reputation
in his community was damaged; he and his family were approached by neighbors
about the story; he and his family were approached by people from his son’s
middle school about the story; he and his family were terrified to leave their home
because of death threats they had received; he bought a security system for his
home and refused to leave home without a gun; he and his family were forced to
move away from their California home; and he and his family lived in fear.
Compl. ff 21, 24-25.
16 Defendant is incorporated in Delaware. Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss Ex. A; see
Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 145(c).
'7 Plaintiff currently resides in Texas. Compl. { 5; see Restatement (Second) of
Conflict of Laws § 145(c).
'8 Defendant’s principal place of business is Washington D.C. and the conduct
where the injury occurred took place in Washington D.C. Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss
Ex. A; see Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 145(b), (¢).
19 P].’s Opp’n to Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss 13-15 (citing Pena v. Cooper Tire &
Rubber Co., 2010 WL 1511709, at *3 (Del. Super. Jan. 27, 2010); Marks v.
Messick & Gray Const. Inc., 2000 WL 703657, at *2 (Del. Super. Apr. 18, 2000);
8
injury occurred in California.” For the reasons that follow, the Court finds that
California law should apply.
The Delaware Supreme Court has previously applied Delaware law where the
plaintiff was injured in a different state.“' However, both of those cases were
personal injury actions with plaintiffs who were Delaware residents.” In Travelers
Indemnity Co. v. Lake, the Supreme Court found that Delaware “clearly” had the
most significant relationship to the issues presented even though the accident
occurred in Quebec.”?? In Lake, the plaintiff was a resident of Delaware, the
defendant conducted significant business in Delaware, and the plaintiff's motorist
coverage provision was a product of Delaware law that involved “issues of vital
importance to all Delaware citizens.”** In State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance
Co v. Patterson, the Supreme Court found that Delaware had the most significant
interest in the issues presented even though the accident occurred in New J ersey.”°
In Patterson, the Supreme Court found it determinative that the plaintiff would
Judge Trucking Co. v. Estate of Cooper, 1994 WL 680029, at *5 (Del. Super. Sept.
19, 1994)).
20 Def.’s Br. in Supp. of its Mot. to Dismiss 9.
21 Patterson, 7 A.3d at 457-59; Travelers Indem. Co. v. Lake, 594 A.2d 38, 48
(Del. 1991).
22 Patterson, 7 A.3d at 459; Lake, 594 A.2d at 48.
23 Lake, 594 A.2d at 48.
24 Te.
25 Patterson, 7 A.3d at 459.
suffer the consequences of the car accident in Delaware, where she resided.26 The
Court reasoned “Delaware has the most significant interest in applying its law where
what is at stake is the right of the injured Delaware citizen to recover the full amount
of his or her actual damages.”*’ Unlike Lake and Patterson, Plaintiff is not a resident
of Delaware; accordingly, Delaware does not have the same interest here in applying
its law.”8
In Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. v. Arteaga, the Supreme Court applied
Mexican law even though the defendant was incorporated in Delaware when a
helicopter crashed in Mexico and killed everyone on board.*? The Supreme Court
found that Mexico had the most significant relationship to the “liability, damages,
and remedies” at issue because the plaintiffs were Mexican citizens and the injury
occurred in Mexico.” Similar to the instant case, in Arteaga, the relevant
Restatement provisions mandated a rebuttable presumption that the place with the
26 Jd. (“[W]hat is critical is that the consequences of that tortfeasor’s conduct are
suffered in Delaware... .”).
27 Td.
28 In Lake, if the Court did not apply Delaware law then the plaintiff would have
had to proceed under Quebec’s “no-fault” system of tort law which limits the
amount of damages a plaintiff can recover. Lake, 594 A.2d at 48. Similarly, in
Patterson, if the Court did not apply Delaware law then the plaintiff would have
had to proceed under New Jersey law, which imposes a cap on tort damages.
Patterson, 7 A.3d at 459.
29 Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. v. Arteaga, 113 A.3d 1045, 1060 (Del. 2015).
39 Td. at 1055-60.
10
“most significant relationship” to the case would be the place of injury.*! Also
similar to the instant case, in Arteaga, the defendant was incorporated in Delaware
but Delaware was neither the place where the conduct that caused the injury occurred
nor the place of injury.°?
The instant case is more similar to Arteaga than to Lake and Patterson.
Plaintiff is a California resident, the injury occurred in California, and the conduct
causing the injury occurred in Washington D.C. The only connection between
Plaintiff's claims and Delaware is the fact that Defendant is incorporated here.
Additionally, Delaware was not Plaintiffs first choice of forum.*? Therefore, the
Court finds that California law applies to Plaintiffs claims.**
B. Delaware’s Borrowing Statute
As a general rule, the law of the forum governs in matters relating to the statute
of limitations.*> However, Delaware’s Borrowing Statute modifies this general rule:
31 fd at 1053. In Arteaga, the Supreme Court discussed personal injury and
wrongful death suits. /d.; see Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws $$ 146,
175 (Am. Law Inst. 1971).
32 Arteaga, 113 A.3d at 1054-55. The harmful condition was manufactured in
Texas and the injury occurred in Mexico. /d.
33 See id. at 1060 (considering the fact that the Mexican plaintiffs first filed their
claim in Delaware during the Court’s evaluation of the last Restatement § 6 factor).
34 See Johnson v. Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., 2017 WL 588714, at *4 (D.
Del. Feb. 14, 2017) (finding that plaintiff failed to rebut the presumption that
Pennsylvania had the most significant relationship to his defamation claim because
plaintiff was a Pennsylvania resident at the time of publication).
33 Machala v. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2017 WL 2814728, at
*3 (Del. Super. June 29, 2017).
11
Where a cause of action arises outside of this state, an action cannot be
brought in a court of this State to enforce such cause of action after the
expiration of whichever is shorter, the time limited by the law of this
State, or the time limited by the law of the state or country where the
cause of action arose, for bringing an action upon such cause of action.*®
Under the Borrowing Statute, Delaware courts will apply the Delaware statute of
limitations if it is shorter than the limitations period of the state in which the cause
of action arose.*’? Here, the Court must decide whether to apply California’s or
Delaware’s statute of limitations.
Delaware has a two-year statute of limitation for defamation claims.*® Under,
Delaware’s Savings Statute, a plaintiff has “one year to file a second cause of action
following a final judgment adverse to his position, if such judgment was not upon
the merits of the cause of action.”’’ If Delaware’s statute of limitations were to apply
here, then Plaintiff would have an additional year to file his defamation claim
because he lost on procedural grounds in Florida. Thus, Plaintiff had a total of three
years in which to file his cause of action under Delaware’s statute of limitations.*°
36 10 Del. C. § 8121.
37 Machala, 2017 WL 2814728, at *3. The “state in which the cause of action
arose” is the place which has the most significant relationship to the claims and the
parties. Johnson, 2017 WL 588714, at *3. As discussed, the cause of action arose
in California.
38 10 Del. C. § 8119.
39 Gosnell v. Whetsel, 198 A.2d 924, 926 (Del. 1964); see 10 Del. C. § 8118(a)
(Delaware’s Savings Statute).
40 See Hatcher v. Hobbs, 1990 WL 18335, at *2 (Del. Super. Jan. 24, 1990)
(finding that the two-year statute of limitations period became three years because
Delaware’s Savings Statute applied to plaintiff's claim).
12
In California, a cause of action for a defamatory statement accrues at the time
of the first general publication or broadcast of a tortious statement.*! California has
a one-year statute of limitation for defamation claims.*” California’s one-year statute
of limitations is shorter than Delaware’s two-year statute of limitations. Thus, under
Delaware’s Borrowing Statute, California’s statute of limitations applies.
Under Delaware’s Borrowing Statute, however, the Court must look to the
Savings Statute of the state whose law the Court is borrowing.*? “The theory is that
the borrowed statute is accepted with all its accoutrements.”“* Thus, this Court must
look to California’s Savings Statute to see if Plaintiff's claim is time-barred. Under
California’s Savings Statute, if a plaintiff's action fails for a reason “other than on
the merits,” then the plaintiff has one additional year in which to file the action.*°
Plaintiff lost on procedural grounds in Florida.*° Therefore, California’s Savings
Statute applies to Plaintiffs action; Plaintiff has one additional year from the end of
the proceedings in Florida in which to file his action. Because the Borrowing Statute
| Traditional Cat Ass’n v. Gilbreath, 13 Cal. Rptr. 3d 353, 354-55 (Cal. Ct. App.
2004). This rule is known as the “single-publication rule.” /d.
42 Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 340(c) (West 2003).
43 Frombach v. Gilbert Assoc., Inc., 236 A.2d 363, 366 (“Decisions elsewhere have
held under various types of Borrowing statutes that, in determining whether an
action is barred in the state where the cause arose, the Court looks not to its own
Savings act, but to that of the situs.” (emphasis added)).
4 Id.45 Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 355 (West 1992); Schneider v. Schimmels, 64 Cal. Rptr.
273, 275 (Cal. Ct. App. 1967).
46 Def.’s Br. in Supp. of its Mot. to Dismiss 2-3.
13
mandates application of the statute of limitations with all of its “accoutrements”,
California’s Savings Statute saves Plaintiff's claims.
Plaintiff's claim is not time-barred.
C. Equitable Tolling
The Court declines to address Plaintiff's argument that California’s “equitable
tolling” doctrine applies to this case. Defendant calculated—and Plaintiff did not
oppose—the relevant time periods in this litigation. If the time period is not tolled
for the duration of the Florida proceedings, then Plaintiff filed this action 1-year-11-
months-and-four-days after the accrual date.*’ If the time period is tolled for the
duration of the Florida proceedings, then Plaintiff filed this action 421 days after the
accrual date.** Under either calculation, Plaintiff's claim survives because he has
filed the instant action within one year of the dismissal of the Florida action, in
accordance with California’s Savings Statute. Accordingly, there is no need for the
Court to reach the issue of “equitable tolling.”
D. Waiver of Statute of Limitations Defense
Plaintiff argues that Defendant waived its ability to argue that California’s
one-year statute of limitations expired because it did not raise this argument in the
Florida proceedings.” As Defendant correctly points out, it could not make this
47 Def.’s Br. in Supp. of its Mot. to Dismiss 14.
48 Def.’s Br. in Supp. of its Mot. to Dismiss 15.
49 P].’s Opp’n to Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss 21.
14
argument in the Florida proceedings.*° Plaintiff filed his action in Florida prior to
the expiration of the California statute of limitations; thus, Defendant could not raise
the timeliness issue in the Florida proceeding. As required by Delaware law,
Defendant raised the timeliness issue in its first response to Plaintiff's Complaint.*!
Accordingly, Defendant has not waived its right to assert a timeliness argument.
TI, FORUM NON CONVENIENS
As this Court has previously discussed, forum non conveniens is a judicially
created doctrine that allows the Court to exert some control over a non-resident
plaintiff's access to our forum.°* When determining whether a suit should be
dismissed for forum non conveniens, Delaware courts apply different standards
depending on the circumstances. The Supreme Court outlined the three options in
Gramercy Emerging Markets Fund vy. Allied Irish Banks, P.L.C.:
When a case is first-filed, Delaware courts award dismissal only when
the defendant has established overwhelming hardship, thus tilting the
[Cyro-Maid] analysis in the plaintiff's favor. When a case is later-filed,
and its predecessors remain pending, McWane’s “strong preference for
the litigation of a dispute in the forum in which the first action relating
to such dispute is filed” applies and the analysis is tilted in favor of the
defendant. But when a case is later-filed and its predecessors are no
longer pending, the analysis is not tilted in favor of the plaintiff or the
defendant. In that situation, Delaware trial judges exercise their
50 Def.’s Reply Br. in Supp. of its Mot. to Dismiss 6.
>! Super. Ct. Civ. R. 12(a), (b).
52 Ethica Corporate Finance S.r.L v. Dana Incorporated, 2018 WL 3954205 (Del.
Super. Aug. 16, 2018).
53 Gramercy Emerging Mkts. Fund y. Allied Irish Banks, P.L.C., 173 A.3d 1033,
1043-44 (Del. 2017).
15
discretion and award dismissal when the Cyro-Maid factors weigh in
favor of that outcome.
This case is similar to the third (hybrid) option. Plaintiff first filed his case in
Florida. Those proceedings ended on December 6, 2018. Plaintiff filed this action
on March 25, 2019. Accordingly, this Court shall apply the Cyro-Maid factors
without the heightened “overwhelming hardship” standard of proof.
The Cryo-Maid factors “form the core of Delaware’s traditional forum non
conveniens analysis.”°° The six factors are: (1) the relative ease of access to proof;
(2) the availability of compulsory process for witnesses, (3) the possibility of
viewing the premises; (4) all other practical problems that would make the trial of
the case easy, expeditious and inexpensive; (5) whether or not the controversy is
dependent upon the application of Delaware law which the courts of this State more
properly should decide than those of another jurisdiction; and (6) the pendency or
4 Td. at 1044.
55 The Delaware Supreme Court clarified the existence of the third (hybrid) option
in Gramercy Emerging Markets Fund y. Allied Irish Banks, P.L.C., 173 A.3d 1033.
Similar to the instant case, the plaintiff in Gramercy first filed its action in another
state, where it was dismissed on procedural grounds. The Supreme Court found
that the Cryo-Maid analysis was not tilted in the plaintiff's favor under the
overwhelming hardship standard because the Delaware action was later-filed. The
Supreme Court further found that McWane’s standard was inapplicable because the
first-filed action was dismissed procedurally. /d. at 1042.
°° Td. at 1037.
16
nonpendency of a similar action in another jurisdiction.°’ The Court will discuss
each factor individually.
A. Relative Ease of Access to Proof
Defendant argues that many of the significant witnesses and much of the
central evidence in the instant case are in California. Defendant argues that the
subject of the Article relates to California and that Plaintiff sustained his injuries in
California. Plaintiff argues that documentary evidence can be made available
electronically and that present day modes of transportation should lower the Court’s
concern about witness travel.°?
Plaintiff's Complaint alleges injuries that he suffered only in California,
namely: his fear to leave his California home; the need for protection at his home,
including calling the NCIS, the FBI, and the local police and installing security
cameras on his home; and being approached by people from his California
neighborhood and his son’s California middle school. Further, Plaintiff has
identified necessary witnesses who reside in California. Plaintiffs Form 30
Interrogatories listed seven California residents as “having knowledge” of the facts
57 Id. (citing Gen. Foods Corp. v. Cryo-Maid, Inc., 198 A.2d 681, 684 (Del. 1964)).
58 Def.’s Br. in Supp. of its Mot. to Dismiss 19-20.
59 B].’s Opp’n to Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss 25 (citing Barrera v. Monsanto Company,
2016 WL 4938876, at *6 (Del. Super. Sept. 13, 2016)).
6 Compl. 9] 24-25.
17
of the case.®! Although Plaintiff lists a number of non-California residents as also
“having knowledge” of the facts of the instant case, almost all of the California
residents are directly involved in the harm Plaintiff suffered. Plaintiff alleges that
he suffered “mental anguish” and the “expense of medical care” as damages from
Defendant’s alleged defamation. However, Plaintiff identified only California
medical providers as professionals who “have treated” Plaintiff since the Article.°
These medical providers are necessary to prove the amount of damages Plaintiff
suffered.
Plaintiff has not identified any Delaware citizens or entities, except
Defendant, as “having knowledge” of the facts of this case. Further, Defendant has
shown that its offices are in Washington D.C. and that no reporters were sent to or
in Delaware in connection with the Article.“ An overwhelming majority of
evidence in this case is located in California and none is located in Delaware.
This factor weighs in favor of Defendant.
6! Form 30 Interrogs. 2.
62 Tq. The majority of the non-California residents are either 1) individuals who
were Plaintiff’s former supervisors or 2) individuals who “saw the article” and
“contacted” or “spoke” with Plaintiff about it. The majority of the California
residents either “confronted” Plaintiff about the Article or treated Plaintiff for his
physical and mental injuries after the Article was published.
63 Form 30 Interrogs. § 7.
64 Def.’s Br. in Supp. of its Mot. to Dismiss Ex. A.
65 Cf Abrahamsen v. ConocoPhillips Co., 2014 WL 2884870, at *2 (Del. Super.
May 31, 2014).
18
B. Availability of Compulsory Process for Witnesses
Defendant argues that all of the witnesses Plaintiff has identified are outside
this Court’s subpoena power. First, Defendant notes that Plaintiff identified central,
non-party witnesses who reside in California. Second, Defendant points out that
none of the witnesses identified in Plaintiff's interrogatory answers are located in
Delaware. Last, Defendant identifies its burden as “only specifically identifying the
witnesses not subject to compulsory process.”
In response, Plaintiff argues that Defendant failed to identify the substance of
the testimony of these allegedly unavailable witnesses. Plaintiff further argues that
video depositions will sufficiently allow the fact-finder to weigh the credibility and
candor of the witnesses who are unable to attend the trial.°” In its reply, Defendant
argues that Plaintiff has already identified the substance of the witnesses’ testimony
in his answer to the Form 30 Interrogatories and that the areas are self-explanatory
based on the witnesses’ identities.”
Plaintiff cites Ward v. Tishman Hotel & Realty, L.P. for the proposition that
Defendant needed to identify the substance of the allegedly unavailable witnesses’
66 Def.’s Br. in Supp. of its Mot. to Dismiss 21-22 (citing Ward v. Tishman Hotel
& Realty, L.P., 2010 WL 5313549, at *3 (Del. Super. Nov. 30, 2010)).
67 P|.’s Opp’n to Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss 25-26 (citing Ward, 2010 WL 5313549, at
#3),
68 Def.’s Reply Br. in Supp. of its Mot. to Dismiss 10.
19
testimony.” In Ward, however, this Court was discussing the evidence that
defendant would need to produce to show it had an “overwhelming hardship.”’° As
Gramercy established, the “overwhelming hardship” standard does not apply here.”!
Therefore, it is not necessary for Defendant to identify the specific witnesses who
are not subject to compulsory process or the substance of their testimony. Despite
not having to do so, Defendant has identified specific witnesses not subject to
compulsory process and the substance of their testimony.”
Plaintiff alleges that he suffered severe mental and emotional distress, anxiety,
mental anguish, and aggravation of a preexisting medical condition as a result of
Defendant’s conduct.” To prove causation and the extent of harm suffered, Plaintiff
will need medical experts to testify in court on his behalf.” Plaintiff has identified
only California medical personnel as having knowledge of Plaintiffs injuries.”
Such witnesses will be key to showing the extent and cause of Plaintiffs injuries.
6? P],’s Opp’n to Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss 25—26 (citing Ward, 2010 WL 5313549, at
*3).
7 Ward, 2010 WL 5313549, at *3 (“It is difficult—but not impossible—for a
defendant to show an overwhelming hardship under [the second] factor.
Defendants first must identify specifically the witnesses not subject to compulsory
process and the specific substance of their testimony.”).
71 Gramercy Emerging Mkts. Fund, 173 A.3d at 1044.
72 Def.’s Br. in Supp. of its Mot. to Dismiss 20-22 (referring to Plaintiff's answers
to the Form 30 Interrogatories).
73 Compl. §{{ 39-40.
74 Del, R. Evid. 702(a); Dayton v. Collison, 2019 WL 4668157, at *9 (Del. Super.
Sept. 24, 2019).
7 Form 30 Interrogs. 7.
20
As the case currently stands, Delaware cannot compel testimony from any of
the identified witnesses.”° While there will be difficulties with service of process no
matter where this litigation is pursued—Plaintiff’s identified witnesses reside in
Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Texas, Virginia, and Washington—California will at least have compulsory process
over a good portion of Plaintiff's identified witnesses.””
This factor weighs in favor of Defendant.
C. View of the Premises
This factor does not apply to Plaintiff's claims.
D. Practical Problems that Would Make the Trial of the Case Easy,
Expeditious, and Inexpensive
Defendant argues that this factor weighs in its favor because there is no
connection between Plaintiff's claims and Delaware.” In response, Plaintiff argues
that Delaware has an interest in regulating the conduct of entities incorporated under
its laws.”
6 Cf Ward, 2010 WL 5313549, at *3 (finding that the Court lacked the power to
compel testimony from witnesses residing in Pennsylvania).
77 Form 30 Interrogs. {ff 2, 7; see Ward, 2010 WL 5313549, at *3 (“[W]hen
conducting analysis under [factor two], the court must evaluate whether another
forum would provide a substantial improvement as to the number of witnesses who
would be subject to compulsory process.” (internal quotations omitted)).
78 Def.’s Br. in Supp. of its Mot. to Dismiss 23-24.
79 Pl.’s Opp’n to Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss 26-27.
21
This Court has previously found that the fact that the case’s only connection
to Delaware is the defendant’s status as a Delaware entity “tilts in favor of
Defendant.”®° It is true that the Delaware courts have an interest in regulating
Delaware entities.2! However, in Hall v. Maritek Corporation, this Court identified
a distinction between the forum non conveniens analysis in tort cases and
commercial or corporate cases.®* Plaintiff's tort claim brings forth issues of
California law relating to injuries that took place in California by a company
operating out of the District of Columbia. Based on Delaware’s limited connection
to the case, litigation in this forum would unnecessarily strain this Court’s
resources.*?
The availability of an alternate forum is also a relevant consideration in the
Court’s evaluation of this factor.84 Because Plaintiff's claims are not time-barred
under California law, California remains an available, alternate forum for Plaintiff.
80 Barrera, 2016 WL 4938876, at *8. In Barrera, the Court found that this fact
was insufficient to meet defendant’s burden of showing an “overwhelming
hardship.” /d.
8! Td.
82 Hall vy. Maritek Corp., 170 A.3d 149, 165 (Del. Super. 2017); see Martinez v. ET
DuPont De Nemours and Co., 82 A.3d 1, 38-39 (“These are non-commercial and
non-corporate garden-variety toxic tort disputes between Argentine employees and
their Argentine employers for which the Delaware courts should not be
automatically available to anyone who has ever sustained harm anywhere across
the globe.”).
83 See Aranda v. Philip Morris USA Inc., 183 A.3d 1245, 1253 (Del. 2018).
84 Td. at 1252-54.
22
This factor weighs in Defendant’s favor.
E. Application of Delaware Law
As discussed, California law applies to this action. Defendant argues that this
factor weighs in its favor because California substantive law applies. Plaintiff
argues that, even if California law applies, that this Court is equipped to handle this
case because the Court applies the laws of other states regularly.*° Plaintiff is
correct.8? Delaware is competent to decide questions of law of its sister states.**
This factor weighs in favor of Plaintiff.
F. Pendency or Nonpendency of a Similar Action in Another Jurisdiction
It is undisputed that this action is not pending in any other jurisdiction.
Plaintiff's Florida action ended on December 6, 2018 and has not been renewed.
Defendant argues that this factor plays no role in the Court’s analysis.*’ Plaintiff
argues that judicial discretion should be exercised sparingly and that dismissal would
subject him to delay, expense, and inconvenience.”
85 Def.’s Br. in Supp. of its Mot. to Dismiss 24.
86 P].’s Opp’n to Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss 27—28.
87 See Barrera, 2016 WL 4938876, at *7 (“Even if there is a determination that
Delaware law does not apply, this finding alone would be insufficient for dismissal
on the ground of FNC.” (internal quotations omitted)).
88 Tq. But see Martinez, 82 A.3d at 33 (finding that this factor did not weigh in
plaintiffs favor because the dispute involved foreign law, in a foreign language,
and the parties and conduct were centered in a foreign jurisdiction).
89 Def.’s Br. in Supp. of its Mot. to Dismiss 25.
90 P].’s Opp’n to Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss 28.
23
According to the Court of Chancery of Delaware, “[if] a judge in one forum
has invested actual, substantive effort in a case, a competing forum should consider
carefully whether one of its judges should make a similar case-specific
investment.””! The Florida federal magistrate judge held a hearing on Defendant’s
motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, issued an order granting
Defendant’s motion to dismiss, and subsequently denied Plaintiffs motion for
reconsideration and transfer of venue.”* Although this Court has cautioned against
using judicial discretion to dismiss a case when there is no prior action pending
elsewhere, that monition was given in the context of a first-filed Delaware action.”°
Here, the Delaware action is later-filed. Such cautionary tidings are inapposite here,
where Delaware is Plaintiff’s third choice of forum.
This factor is neutral.
G. Conclusion
Based on an analysis of the forgoing factors, the Court finds that the Cyro-
Maid factors weigh in favor of dismissal.
Il. COuNT LI: INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS
Plaintiff's intentional infliction of emotional distress claim is not an
independent claim. “Where the Complaint is based on an offensive statement that
1 Hamilton Partners, L.P. v. Englard, 11 A.3d 1180, 1217 (Del. Ch. 2010).
22 Def.’s Br. in Supp. of its Mot. to Dismiss Ex. C (Docket).
% Barrera, 2016 WL 4938876, at *8.
24
is defamatory, plaintiffs have not been allowed to circumvent the statutory limitation
by proceeding on a theory other than defamation.”** Although the Court is not
dismissing the case based on the statute of limitations, Plaintiffs intentional
infliction of emotional distress claim is also dismissed for forum non conveniens.
Conclusion
For the forgoing reasons, Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
zh. tf)
Judge Calvin LAcott, Jr.
% Fellows v. Nat’l Enquirer, Inc., 721 P.2d 97, 101 (Cal. 1986); see also Barker v.
Huang, 610 A.2d 1341, 1351 (Del. 1992) (“[W]e hold with the great weight of
foreign precedent that an independent action for intentional infliction of emotional
distress does not lie where, as here, the gravamen of the complaint sounds in
defamation.”).
25