Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-3_19-cv-00361/USCOURTS-ared-3_19-cv-00361-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1446 Petition for Removal-Breach of Contract

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

NORTHERN DIVISION 

ELITE AUTOS LLC PLAINTIFF

v. Case No. 3:19-cv-00361-LPR 

SPARKS MOTORS LLC DEFENDANT

ORDER 

 This dispute centers around a transaction for a custom 2019 Ford-F550 Lariat 6x6 truck. 

Plaintiff Elite Autos alleges a number of claims against Defendant Sparks Motors regarding this 

truck. But before the Court can address any of those claims, the Court must first determine whether 

it has personal jurisdiction over Sparks Motors. Sparks Motors says no and seeks dismissal on 

that ground. (Doc. 18) To help with the jurisdictional determination, the Court directs the parties 

to address the following questions: 

1. How did the truck get to Arkansas in the first place? Did the Defendant or its agent 

transport the truck to Arkansas? Did the Defendant or its agent arrange for a third-party transport 

to Arkansas? Did the Plaintiff or its agent travel to Utah to get the truck? Did the Plaintiff or its 

agent arrange for a third-party transport to Arkansas? Does the written invoice, being referred to 

as the Contract, say when delivery is deemed to have occurred – was it upon the truck leaving 

Sparks Motors or upon the truck arriving at Elite Autos? 

2. How did Shelby Smith come to understand that “Sparks Motors would at Elite’s option 

either (1) repair all nonconformities to Elite’s satisfaction and return the Truck to Elite in Arkansas; 

or (2) fully refund Elite’s purchase money and related expense?” (Doc. 17-1 ¶ 24) Was Shelby 

Smith told this by Sparks Motors or its agent? If so, was this conversation with Mr. Sparks over 

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the phone, with someone else in Utah over the phone, or with Budy Austin1 when he was picking 

up the truck in Arkansas? 

 If the parties can stipulate to the facts that answer these questions, they should provide 

a joint stipulation on or before June 12, 2020. If the parties cannot stipulate to the facts that answer 

these questions, the Court directs each party to provide a supplemental affidavit or declaration 

from a fact witness that can provide these factual answers. 

IT IS SO ORDERED this 29th day of May 2020. 

_______________________________ 

LEE P. RUDOFSKY 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

1

 The Shelby Smith declaration refers to this person as Budy Austin. (Doc 17-1) The Court is not sure if the person’s 

first name is actually spelled “Budy,” or if it is “Buddy.” 

Case 3:19-cv-00361-LPR Document 20 Filed 05/29/20 Page 2 of 2