Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-02196/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-02196-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 450
Nature of Suit: Interstate Commerce
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

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1 08cv2196 BTM (RBB)

 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GARY SMALLWOOD,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 08cv2196 BTM (RBB)

ORDER (1) DENYING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTION TO REMAND; (2)

GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING

IN PART DEFENDANT ALLIED

PICKFORDS’S MOTION TO

DISMISS; (3) GRANTING IN PART

AND DENYING IN PART

DEFENDANTS ALLIED VAN AND

SIRVA’S MOTION TO DISMISS; (4)

GRANTING DEFENDANT ATLAS’S

MOTION TO EXTEND TIME TO

RESPOND; AND (5) GRANTING

PLAINTIFF AND DEFENDANTS’

MOTIONS TO EXCEED PAGE

LIMITS

vs.

ALLIED PICKFORDS, LLC, et al.,

Defendant.

The Court has before it four motions filed in this case. First, Plaintiff Gary Smallwood

(“Smallwood” or “Plaintiff”) moves to remand the case to California Superior Court. Second,

Defendant Atlas Transfer and Storage Co. (“Atlas”) moves for an extension of time to

respond to Plaintiff’s Complaint. Third, Defendants Allied Van Lines, Inc. (“Allied Van”) and

SIRVA, Inc. (“SIRVA”) move to dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint. Fourth, Allied Pickfords, LLC,

(“Allied Pickfords”) also separately moves to dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint. For the reasons

explained below, the Court DENIES Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand and GRANTS Defendant

Atlas’s Motion to Extend Time to Respond. The Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part

Defendant Allied Pickfords’s Motion to Dismiss and GRANTS in part and DENIES in part

Defendants Allied Van’s and SIRVA’s Motion to Dismiss.

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1 Throughout his Complaint, Plaintiff refers to Defendants collectively as “Allied

International.” Defendants dispute that they act as agents of one another or that they

constitute a collective entity known as “Allied International.” Because Plaintiff does not

differentiate Defendants throughout his Complaint, however, the Court will refer to

Defendants as “Allied International” solely to describe the factual background of this case

based on the allegations in Plaintiff’s Complaint.

2 08cv2196 BTM (RBB)

I. BACKGROUND

A. Factual Background

The following facts are taken from Plaintiff’s Complaint and other documents of which

the Court has taken judicial notice. The Court makes no finding as to the truthfulness of the

allegations of the Complaint.

Plaintiff Gary Smallwood is a citizen of the United States. (Compl. ¶ 11.) Plaintiff

resided in San Diego, California until September 2007, when he accepted a teaching position

with Mosaica Education Abu Dhabi, LLC (“Mosaica”). (Id.) The position required Smallwood

to relocate to Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (the “UAE”). (Id.) 

Mosaica allegedly referred Plaintiff to Defendant Allied Pickfords to handle the

shipment and storage of his belongings in connection with his move. (Compl. ¶ 12.) Plaintiff

intended to store some of his items in San Diego and to ship other items to the UAE.

(Compl. ¶ 14.) On September 17, 2007, an Allied Pickfords representative contacted Plaintiff

via email to arrange for the storage and shipment of his goods. (Compl. ¶ 13.) Plaintiff

claims that he believed that Allied Pickfords was associated with an “Allied Movers” company

in the United States. (Smallwood Decl. ¶ 9.) Allied Pickfords initially quoted Plaintiff a price

of $2,000 to ship approximately 800 lbs. of his belongings to the UAE via air freight and an

additional $5,000–$6,000 to ship his car. (Compl.¶ 15.)

On September 25, 2007, an agent for “Allied International”1

 visited Smallwood’s home

and took notes regarding which belongings Smallwood wished for the company to store and

which items he wanted to ship to the UAE. (Compl. ¶ 17.)

On September 26, 2007, Allied International representatives returned to pack and

remove Smallwood’s possessions from his apartment. (Compl. ¶ 19.) The representatives

allegedly created two lists of his possessions: (1) the “Local Household Goods Descriptive

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Inventory,” which included Plaintiff’s items to be stored, and (2) the “Descriptive Inventory,”

which listed the items Plaintiff wanted to ship to the UAE. (Compl. ¶ 20.) Plaintiff owned

several weapons that he allegedly intended to store and which he claims were listed with

along with the other storage items. (Compl. ¶ 22.) The weapons were packed in a large box

labeled “Firearms.” (Compl. ¶ 23.)

Sometime in or around late September to early October, Smallwood traveled to Abu

Dhabi and assumed his teaching position with Mosaica. (Compl. ¶ 29.) Plaintiff then

communicated with Allied International several times during the months of October and

November, 2007. (Compl. ¶¶ 32–25.) Once Plaintiff was living in the UAE, Allied

International allegedly used “bait and switch” tactics, providing Plaintiff with more expensive

quotes and informing him that they needed to ship his items via sea in a larger, more

expensive container. (Id.) When told he would have to pay for the larger container, Plaintiff

instructed Allied International to ship additional items from storage, namely, boxes labeled

“books” and “study materials.” (Compl. ¶ 36.)

On February 12, 2008, an Allied International representative contacted Plaintiff to

inform him that his shipment had arrived in Abu Dhabi. (Compl. ¶ 39.) Plaintiff subsequently

paid Allied International invoices totaling $11,874.31 for shipping costs and $5,062.84 for

insurance. (Compl. ¶ 38, 40.) 

On February 25, 2008, an Allied International representative allegedly called Plaintiff

and informed him that UAE customs officials had discovered a pistol in his car. Plaintiff

claims that the Allied International representative told him that he should come to the port to

“straighten things out.” (Compl. ¶ 41.) When Plaintiff arrived at the port, boxes containing

his belongings, including the box labeled “Firearms,” were strewn about the pier. (Compl.

¶ 42.) Although an Allied International representative was present at the pier when Plaintiff

arrived, the representative soon left. (Compl. ¶¶ 42–43.) Plaintiff alleges that the

representative told UAE customs officials that Smallwood directed Allied International to ship

the weapons to the UAE. (Compl. ¶ 43.)

UAE customs officials held Plaintiff for questioning for approximately one to two hours.

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(Compl. ¶ 44.) Officials then transferred Plaintiff to the Abu Dhabi Police Station where

officers interrogated him for an additional five to six hours. (Compl. ¶ 45.) Later that

evening, officials transferred Plaintiff again to the New Khalidiya Police Station where officers

questioned him for nine to ten more hours. (Compl. ¶ 46.) 

On February 26, 2008, Plaintiff allegedly signed a statement, written in Arabic, based

on the promise that he would be released the next day. (Compl. ¶ 49.)

On February 27, 2008, police transferred Plaintiff to the Al Wathba prison, where he

was held for eleven days. (Compl. ¶ 50.) Plaintiff claims that he suffered taunts from other

prisoners and became very ill during his incarceration. (Compl. ¶¶ 52–53.)

On Sunday, March 9, 2008, Smallwood went to court and met with a criminal attorney

retained by Mosaica. The judge fined Plaintiff and he returned to jail, although a colleague

later secured his release on the same day. (Compl. ¶¶ 55, 59.) Plaintiff alleges that legal

counsel for Allied International, Eric Baker, may have faxed a letter to the Abu Dahbi Public

Prosecutor’s Office on March 9, 2008. (Compl. ¶ 56.) Plaintiff claims that the letter admitted,

“Our organisation [sic] in the United States, through its agents, was responsible for the

shipment. We confirm that the guns and weapons that were found in the consignment were

sent to Abu Dhabi in error.” (Compl. ¶ 57.)

Smallwood later learned that he had been convicted of importing firearms and

ammunition without a permit. (Compl. ¶ 60.) Consequently, Plaintiff claims that the UAE

authorities subsequently withheld his passport, forcing him to miss his sons’ graduations in

the United States. (Compl. ¶ 63.) Smallwood also alleges that he now faces deportation

from the UAE as a result of his conviction. (Compl. ¶ 62.)

B. Procedural Background

On October 9, 2008, Plaintiff filed a Complaint against Defendants SIRVA, Allied Van,

Allied Pickfords, and Atlas in San Diego County Superior Court. Plaintiff alleged six causes

of action including: (1) negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress, (2) intentional

infliction of emotional distress, (3) defamation, (4) breach of fiduciary duty, (5) fraudulent

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deceit, and (6) breach of contract.

On October 31, 2008, Plaintiff served SIRVA. On November 3, 2008, service was

accomplished on Allied Van. Plaintiff and Allied Pickfords dispute whether or not Plaintiff

accomplished service on Allied Pickfords on November 10, 2008. On November 12, 2008,

Plaintiff served Atlas. 

On November 26, 2008, Defendants Allied Van and SIRVA filed a Notice of Removal

in this Court [Docket No. 1]. 

On December 2, 2008, Defendants Allied Van and SIRVA filed a Motion to Dismiss

or Compel Arbitration [Docket No. 2]. On December 22, 2008, Plaintiff filed a Motion to

Remand [Docket No. 5]. 

On December 30, 2008, Atlas filed a Motion to Extend Time to Respond to Plaintiff’s

Complaint [Docket No. 6].

On January 16, 2009, Allied Pickfords filed its own Notice of Removal [Docket No. 13].

Allied Van, SIRVA, and Atlas joined in Allied Pickfords’s Notice of Removal on the same day

[Docket Nos. 12, 14].

On January 23, 2009, Allied Pickfords filed a Motion to Dismiss or Compel Arbitration

[Docket No. 18]. 

II. DISCUSSION

The Court first considers Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand. Next, the Court evaluates

Atlas’s Motion to Extend Time to Respond to Plaintiff’s Complaint. Finally, the Court

considers together the two Motions to Dismiss filed by Allied Pickfords and Allied Van and

SIRVA.

A. Motion to Remand

Plaintiff makes two alternative arguments for remand. First, Plaintiff contends that

removal was improper because the removing Defendants failed to timely remove or obtain

consent of all served Defendants prior to filing their notice of removal. Second, Plaintiff

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argues that even if removal was procedurally proper, the removing Defendants have not

established federal question jurisdiction.

1. Procedural Requirements for Removal

Plaintiff initially contends that the Court should remand this case because both

removal notices filed by Defendants failed to meet the procedural requirements of 28 U.S.C.

§ 1446(b). First, Plaintiff argues that the Notice of Removal filed by Allied Van and SIRVA

(“Removal Notice I”) was procedurally defective under the “unanimity rule.” Second, Plaintiff

alleges that the Notice of Removal filed by Allied Pickfords (“Removal Notice II”) was

untimely. The Court agrees with Plaintiff that Removal Notice I was procedurally defective

for failure to meet the unanimity requirement. Because the Court adopts the “last served

defendant rule,” however, Removal Notice II timely met the procedural requirements

necessary under Section 1446(b).

a. Removal Notice I

Any notice of removal to federal court must be filed within thirty days of service of the

initial pleading on the defendant. 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b). In a multi-defendant case, all

defendants other than nominal parties must join in a removal petition or file written consent

to removal within the same thirty day period following service of the initial pleading. See

Hewitt v. City of Stanton, 798 F.2d 1230, 1232 (9th Cir. 1986). Courts refer to the statutory

mandate that all defendants timely consent to removal as the “unanimity rule.” See Prize

Frize, Inc. v. Matrix (U.S.), Inc., 167 F.3d 1261, 1266 (9th Cir. 1999), superseded by statute

on other grounds, Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-2, 119 Stat. 4, as

recognized in Abrego Abrego v. The Dow Chemical Co., 443 F.3d 676 (9th Cir. 2006).

Because courts construe the removal statute strictly, the removing defendant has the burden

of affirmatively explaining the absence of any co-defendants in a notice of removal. Id. It is

not necessary for the removing defendant to obtain the written consent of another defendant

who has not yet been served with process in the state action. Community Bldg. Co. v.

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2 The Court concludes below that Plaintiff had not yet validly served Allied

Pickfords at the time Allied Van and SIRVA filed Removal Notice I. Thus, Allied Pickfords

was not required to consent to removal pursuant to Section 1446(b). See Community Bldg.

Co., 8 F.2d at 678–679.

7 08cv2196 BTM (RBB)

Maryland Cas. Co., 8 F.2d 678, 678–679 (9th Cir. 1926), cert. denied, 270 U.S. 652 (1926).

A court may remand a case to state court upon a plaintiff’s timely motion if a defendant’s

removal notice fails to satisfy the procedural mandates of Section 1446(b). See 28 U.S.C.

§ 1447(c). 

Although SIRVA and Allied Van filed Removal Notice I on November 26, 2008, within

thirty days of service of the initial pleading, Atlas did not file written joinder within the

statutorily prescribed period.2

 SIRVA and Allied Vans attempt to affirmatively explain Atlas’s

absence by claiming that Plaintiff had not yet validly served Atlas. (Removal Notice I ¶ 12.)

In fact, Plaintiff served Atlas on November 12, 2008. (Mazella Decl. ¶ 7.) Courts strictly

construe the removal statute against removal jurisdiction. Gaus v. Miles, Inc., 980 F.2d 564,

566 (9th Cir. 1992). Although a defendant need not sign the notice of removal, he must show

affirmative written consent. Myer v. Nitetrain Coach Co., Inc., 459 F. Supp. 2d 1074, 1078

(W.D. Wash. 2006). Therefore, because Atlas did not timely join in or provide written

consent to Removal Notice I, it failed to meet the procedural requirements of Section

1446(b).

b. Removal Notice II

Although Removal Notice I was procedurally defective, this case should remain in

federal court if the subsequent notice filed by Allied Pickfords on January 16, 2009 (“Removal

Notice II”) properly effectuated removal. To determine whether Removal Notice II satisfied

the procedural requirements of Section 1446(b), the Court first must ascertain whether

Plaintiff succeeded in his initial attempt to serve Allied Pickfords on October 31, 2008. If

Plaintiff’s first service attempt succeeded, then Allied Pickfords certainly filed Removal Notice

II outside the thirty day time limit prescribed by Section 1446(b). For the reasons explained

below, however, the Court concludes that Plaintiff did not properly serve Allied Pickfords on

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October 31, 2008. The Court next evaluates whether to apply the “first-served” or “lastserved” defendant rule. Because the Court finds that the “last-served” rule should apply,

Removal Notice II properly removed this case to federal court.

i. Plaintiff’s Service On Allied Pickfords

Plaintiff twice attempted to serve Allied Pickfords. First, Plaintiff mailed the summons

and complaint pursuant to California Civil Procedure Code § 415.40 to Allied Pickfords on

October 31, 2008. Section 415.40 permits service on an out-of-state defendant by sending

a copy of the summons and complaint to the person to be served by first-class mail, postage

prepaid, requiring a return receipt. 

Where the defendant is a corporate entity, however, the serving party must also

comply with California Civil Procedure Code § 416.10. Cruz v. Fagor America, Inc., 146 Cal.

App. 4th 488, 496 (2007). Section 416.10 requires that the summons and complaint be

delivered to “the person designated as agent for service of process . . .[or] the president or

other head of the corporation, a vice president, a secretary or assistant secretary, a treasurer

or assistant treasurer, a general manager, or a person authorized by the corporation to

receive service of process.” Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 416.10(a)–(b). Furthermore, when

serving a nonresident pursuant to Section 415.40, the plaintiff must provide proof of service

including evidence satisfactory to the court establishing actual delivery to the person served,

by a signed return receipt or other evidence. Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 417.20(a). 

Here, Plaintiff provides no evidence that his initial service on Allied Pickfords was

proper. Plaintiff only states that he mailed the summons and complaint via first class mail,

return receipt requested, to an address identified on Allied Pickfords’s website as one of two

offices in the UAE. (Pl.’s Mem. of P. & A. in Opp. to Def. Allied Pickfords’s Mot. to Dismiss

4.) Plaintiff does not contend that he served Allied Pickfords’s designated agent or any other

individual authorized to receive service under Section 416.10. Moreover, Plaintiff admits that

the summons and Complaint were returned “undeliverable” to him in early December. (Id.

at 5.) Thus, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has not provided evidence sufficient to establish

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actual delivery to Allied Pickfords. Plaintiff’s initial service attempt on Allied Pickfords was,

therefore, unsuccessful.

ii. “First-Served” and “Last-Served” Defendant Rules

Plaintiff’s second attempt at service on Allied Pickfords occurred on December 22,

2008. Allied Pickfords filed Removal Notice II within thirty days of this service, on January

16, 2009. All other Defendants consented to removal on the same day. Thus, removal was

proper if the Court applies the “last-served” defendant rule. The last-served rule allows each

defendant an opportunity to remove within thirty days after that particular defendant receives

the complaint. See McAnally Enterprises, Inc. v. McAnally, 107 F. Supp. 2d 1223, 1226

(C.D. Cal. 2000). The unanimity rule still applies, and all other defendants must consent to

removal within the same thirty day period. 

The “first-served” rule, however, holds that the thirty day period for removal begins to

run from the date of service on the first defendant. See United Computer Systems, Inc. v.

AT&T Corp., 298 F.3d 756, 762 (9th Cir. 2002). Therefore, if the Court applies the firstserved rule, Allied Pickfords did not properly remove, since the removal period ran only from

service on the first defendant in this case, SIRVA, on October 31, 2008. 

The Ninth Circuit has not yet adopted either the first-served or the last-served rule,

and other Circuits are split as to which rule should apply. United Computer Systems, Inc.,

298 F.3d at 763 n.4 (recognizing split of authority among Circuits applying first-served and

last-served rules and declining to express opinion on the propriety of either rule). Similarly,

district courts within the Ninth Circuit disagree on which rule should control. Bonner v. Fuji

Photo Film, 461 F. Supp. 2d 1112, 1117 (N.D. Cal. 2006) (listing Ninth Circuit district court

cases applying both first-served and last-served rules). While some courts characterize the

first-served rule as the “majority” approach, others note a more recent trend toward applying

the last-served rule. Id. Having considered the reasoning of courts adopting both rules, this

Court concludes that the last-served rule constitutes the better approach.

Other courts have articulated persuasive statutory and policy considerations

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3 Section 1446(b) reads: “[t]he notice of removal of a civil action or proceeding

shall be filed within thirty days after the receipt by the defendant . . . of a copy of the initial

pleading . . . .” Adopting the first served rule would require the Court to interpret the statute

as mandating that the notice of removal be filed “within thirty days after the receipt by the

[first] defendant . . . .”

10 08cv2196 BTM (RBB)

supporting adoption of the last-served rule. First, the plain language of Section 1446(b)

indicates that each defendant should be permitted thirty days following service to exercise

the right to removal. Holding otherwise, that the time for removal commences for all

purposes upon service of the first defendant, “would require [courts] to insert ‘first’ before

‘defendant’ in the language of the statute.” Brierly v. Alusuisse Flexible Packaging, Inc. 184

F.3d 527, 533 (6th Cir. 1999).3 

Second, Congress intended the removal process to protect defendants. Allowing

plaintiffs to avoid removal by serving defendants less likely to remove earlier would

eviscerate that protection. See McKinney v. Board of Trustees of Maryland Community

College, 955 F.2d 924, 928 (4th Cir. 1992) (agreeing with the district court’s opinion that

“[Congress] did not extend such protection with one hand, and with the other give plaintiffs

a bag of tricks to overcome it.”). Moreover, requiring a later-served defendant to hurriedly

join in an improper petition for removal could subject him to Rule 11 sanctions under Section

1446(a). Id.

Third, as other courts have noted, the first-served rule does not follow logically from

the unanimity rule, as the Fifth Circuit reasoned in its decision adopting the first-served rule.

See Brown v. Demco, Inc., 792 F.2d 478, 482 (5th Cir. 1986). Rather, a first-served

defendant who simply chooses not to affirmatively exercise his right to remove the case may

nevertheless willingly consent to removal by a later-served defendant. See Bonner, 461 F.

Supp. 2d at 1118; see also Lear v. Louisville Ladder, Inc., No. 07-CV-1404 DMS (POR),

2007 WL 2947430, at *3 (S.D. Cal. Oct. 9, 2007). On other hand, if an earlier-served

defendant prefers the state forum, he may simply refuse to consent to the later-served

defendant’s notice of removal. See Marano Enterprises of Kansas v. Z-Teca Restaurants,

L.P., 254 F.3d 753, 756 n. 6 (8th Cir. 2001) (noting that adoption of the last-served rule “in

no way affects the rule of unanimity. Later-served defendants seeking removal are required

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to have the consent of all defendants.”). “A newly added defendant should at least be

afforded the opportunity to try to persuade other defendants to join in a removal petition, and

the remaining defendants should not be precluded from consenting to removal.” Smith v.

Mailboxes, Etc., 191 F. Supp. 2d 1155, 1161 (E.D. Cal. 2002). 

Fourth, the last-served defendant rule does not hinder early resolution of forum

disputes. As the Fourth Circuit recognized, a plaintiff wishing to promptly determine in which

forum his case will proceed needs only to ensure that he serves all defendants at about the

same time. See McKinney, 955 F.2d at 927. In fact, the last-served rule may encourage

plaintiffs to serve all defendants promptly and “minimize the uncertainties that may arise from

later adding defendants.” Smith, 191 F. Supp. 2d at 1161.

Finally, the facts of this case warrant application of the last-served defendant rule. All

Defendants here clearly prefer the federal forum, as demonstrated by Removal Notice I and

the prompt filing of all Defendants’ consent to Removal Notice II. Furthermore, Plaintiff has

not been prejudiced by any uncertainty concerning which forum the case would proceed in.

Since Allied Van and SIRVA filed Removal Notice I, Plaintiff has been aware of the possibility

that this case would proceed in federal court. Additionally, contrary to Plaintiff’s assertions,

this case is not unlike others adopting the last-served defendant rule. The Sixth Circuit

adopted the last-served rule in a case involving similar facts, where an earlier-served

defendant filed a defective notice of removal but consented to a later-served defendant’s

removal notice. See Brierly, 184 F.3d 527 (6th Cir. 1999). In concluding that a first-served

defendant could consent to a later-served defendant’s removal petition, despite its own

failure to properly remove, the Sixth Circuit explained, “[g]iven the rule of unanimity, holding

otherwise would vitiate the removal application of the later-served defendants and thereby

nullify our holding that later-served defendants are entitled to 30 days to remove the case to

district court.” Id. at 533 n. 3. 

For all of the reasons discussed above, the Court finds that Removal Notice II properly

removed this case to federal court. 

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2. Federal Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Plaintiff next argues that Removal Notice II fails to establish federal question

jurisdiction, necessitating remand to state court. Because courts construe the removal

statute strictly, Defendants have the burden of demonstrating federal subject matter

jurisdiction. See Gaus, 980 F.2d at 566. 

Federal courts have jurisdiction to hear “only those cases in which a well-pleaded

complaint establishes either that federal law creates the cause of action or that the plaintiff’s

right to relief necessarily depends on resolution of a substantial question of federal law.”

Franchise Tax Bd v. Construction Laborers Vacation Trust, 463 U.S. 1, 27–28 (1983).

Plaintiff brings all six causes of action in his Complaint under state law.

Despite the absence of a federal claim in Plaintiff’s well-pleaded complaint,

Defendants nonetheless argue that federal question jurisdiction exists based on the complete

preemptive effect of either the Carmack Amendment, 49 U.S.C. §14706 and/or the Carriage

of Goods by Sea Act (“COGSA”), 46 U.S.C. § 30701, et seq. Defendants raise the

preemptive effect of the Carmack Amendment as a defense to Plaintiff’s state law claims.

Ordinarily, “a case may not be removed to federal court on the basis of a federal defense,

including the defense of pre-emption [sic], even if the defense is anticipated in the plaintiff’s

complaint, and even if both parties concede that the federal defense is the only question truly

at issue.” Caterpillar Inc. v. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 392 (1987) (emphasis in original).

Although courts usually defer to the plaintiff’s pleading decisions because he is “master of

his complaint,” “there exist a handful of extraordinary situations where even a well-pleaded

state law complaint will be deemed to arise under federal law for jurisdictional purposes.”

Hall v. North American Van Lines, 476 F.3d 683, 687 (9th Cir. 2007) (internal quotations

omitted). Accordingly, the “artful pleading” doctrine holds that a well-pleaded state law claim

presents a federal question for removal purposes when a federal statute completely

preempts that area of law. Id.

Defendants contend that the Carmack Amendment completely preempts Plaintiff’s

state law causes of action because it provides a “uniform national liability policy for interstate

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carriers.” Id. (quoting Hughes Aircraft Co. v. North American Van Lines., Inc., 970 F.2d 609,

613 (9th Cir. 1992)). In fact, the Ninth Circuit has conclusively held that the Carmack

Amendment completely preempts contract claims alleging loss of or damage to property by

an interstate carrier. Id.

Nonetheless, Plaintiff disputes that the Carmack Amendment completely preempts his

claims based on three grounds. First, Plaintiff alleges that his contract with Defendants was

an intrastate storage contract, rendering the Carmack Amendment inapplicable. Second,

Plaintiff argues that even if the Carmack Amendment governs his contractual claims, the

amount in controversy is insufficient to satisfy the federal jurisdictional requirement. Third,

Plaintiff contends that his state law claims are “separate and independent harms” of his

contract with Defendant, warranting remand to state court. The Court addresses each of

Plaintiff’s arguments in turn.

a. Essential Interstate Character of Plaintiff’s Contract

The Court disagrees that Plaintiff’s contract with Defendants was purely intrastate. 

Whether transportation is interstate or intrastate under the Interstate Commerce Act “is

determined by the essential character of the commerce, manifested by the shipper’s fixed

and persisting transportation intent at the time of the shipment, and is ascertained from all

of the facts and circumstances surrounding the transportation.” Southern Pac. Transp. Co.

v. I.C.C., 565 F.2d 615, 617 (9th Cir. 1983) (quoting the Interstate Commerce Commission).

The fact that a segment of the transportation performed by Defendants was intrastate does

not alter the essential interstate character of the contract. See New York, N. H. & H.R. Co.

v. Nothnagle, 346 U.S. 128, 130 (1953) (“[n]either continuity of interstate movement nor

isolated segments of the trip can be decisive” in determining whether a transaction falls within

the ambit of the Interstate Commerce Act); Chubb Group of Ins. Companies v. H.A. Transp.,

243 F. Supp. 2d 1064, 1068 n. 3 (C.D. Cal. 2002) (holding that the Carmack Amendment

applied to the intrastate inland portion of a shipment even though a separate bill of lading

was issued for that portion of the trip); Greenwald v. Pan American World Airways, Inc., 547

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F. Supp. 159, 162 (S.D.N.Y. 1982) (finding that “character of commerce” was interstate, even

though defendant’s liability stemmed from intrastate leg of transport). S m a llwood

contracted with Defendants for the storage of some of his household goods and the interstate

shipment of other belongings to the UAE. (Compl. ¶ 14.) Plaintiff clearly intended to ship

some of his possessions in interstate commerce. Despite Plaintiff’s averments in his Motion

to Remand, it appears on the face of the Complaint that only one contract existed. (See

Compl. ¶ 8 (“this lawsuit arises from a contract for moving, storage, and shipping services

. . . “ (emphasis added)).) Plaintiff alleges that Defendants’ negligence in both its storage

and interstate shipping obligations led to injury. Therefore, the Court concludes that the

essential character of Plaintiff’s contract with Defendants was interstate.

b. Amount in Controversy

The Ninth Circuit has conclusively held that the Carmack Amendment completely

preempts state law claims for breach of contract and negligent performance of an interstate

shipping contract. Hughes Aircraft Co., 970 F.2d at 613; Hall, 476 F.3d at 688. Plaintiff

nonetheless argues that the Carmack Amendment does not preempt his breach of contract

and negligence claims (first and sixth causes of action) because they allege damage to his

property of less than $10,000. Because 28 U.S.C. § 1337(a) only gives federal district courts

original jurisdiction over Carmack Amendment claims of over $10,000, Plaintiff correctly

contends that the Court may not exercise removal jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a) if

his claims do not meet the jurisdictional amount in controversy. 

In a removed case, however, the amount of damages claimed by the plaintiff in his

complaint controls. See Singer v. State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co., 116 F.3d 373, 375 (9th Cir.

1997). “There is a strong presumption that the plaintiff has not claimed a large amount in

order to confer jurisdiction on a federal court or that the parties have colluded to that end.”

Id. (quoting St. Paul Mercury Indem. Co. v. Red Cab Co., 303 U.S. 283, 288–290 (1938)).

In his Complaint, Plaintiff seeks $10,000,000 in special and general damages on each of his

negligence and breach of contract causes of action, well above the jurisdictional minimum

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4 Roberts went on to hold that the plaintiff’s state law claims were subject to field

preemption, in part because they were expressly predicated on violations of federal law. 394

F. Supp. 2d at 1184.

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required for the Court to exercise original jurisdiction. The Carmack Amendment permits the

recovery of special or consequential damages if they were foreseeable as ordinary, natural

consequences of a breach when the contract was made. See Hall, 476 F.3d at 689 n. 6.

Plaintiff himself argues that criminal liability under UAE law, out of which his damages arise,

was a foreseeable consequence of Defendants’ negligence and breach of contract in

shipping, rather than storing, his firearms. (See Compl. ¶¶ 71–73, 125.) Thus, Plaintiff’s

Complaint clearly alleges above $10,000 in both general and special damages recoverable

under the Carmack Amendment. 

c. Separate and Independent Harms

Plaintiff finally argues that the Carmack Amendment does not preempt his claims

because they are “separate and independent harms” distinct from the loss of or damage to

his goods. Plaintiff relies on a Northern District of California case, Roberts v. North American

Van Lines, 394 F. Supp. 2d 1174 (N.D. Cal. 2004) to support his argument, but misconstrues

the court’s reasoning there. In Roberts, the court found that the Carmack Amendment did

not completely preempt the plaintiffs’ state law claims because they were based on conduct

separate and distinct from the delivery, loss of, or damage to goods. Id. at 1182. The

plaintiffs did not allege any misdelivery, loss of, or damage to their goods. Rather, they

brought claims for beach of contract, violation of the California Consumers Legal Remedies

Act, and violation of the California Unfair Business Practices Act. The plaintiffs predicated

their state law claims entirely on the defendant’s failure to comply with federal regulations

governing interstate moves.4

 

In contrast, Plaintiff’s negligence and breach of contract claims are based on conduct

related to the interstate misdelivery of goods. In his first cause of action for negligence,

Plaintiff argues that Defendants “fail[ed] to exercise reasonable care in the storage and

shipping of Smallwood’s possessions” by negligently shipping and delivering items meant for

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5 The Court addresses the preemptive effect of the Carmack Amendment on

Plaintiff’s other claims below in Part C.3.

6

 Because the Carmack Amendment completely preempts Plaintiff’s negligence

and breach of contract claims, the Court does not need to reach the issue of whether

COGSA applies to completely preempt Plaintiff’s claims for removal jurisdiction purposes.

Nonetheless, the Court finds that COGSA does not relate to Plaintiff’s claims. COGSA only

applies within the “tackle-to-tackle” period. 46 U.S.C. § 30701, Notes, Sec. 7; see also

Continental Insurance Co. v. Kawasaki Kisen Kasha, Ltd., 542 F. Supp. 2d 1031, 1034 (N.D.

Cal. 2008); Regal-Beloit Corp. v. Kawasaki Kisen Kasha, Ltd.,557 F.3d 985, 991 (9th Cir.

2009) (“By its terms, COGSA covers transport between a foreign and American port ‘from

the time when the goods are loaded on to the time when they are discharged from the ship’ -

commonly referred to as ‘tackle-to-tackle.’”) (quoting 46 U.S.C. § 30701, Notes, Sec. 1(e)).

Plaintiff contends, and it appears from the face of his Complaint, that none of his claims

relate to wrongful actions or damages occurring at sea. Moreover, in their Opposition to

Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand, Defendants do not refute Plaintiff’s argument that COGSA is

irrelevant. Therefore, the Court concludes that Defendants have not met their burden of

establishing federal subject matter jurisdiction based on COGSA.

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storage. In his sixth cause of action, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants breached their contract

by failing to properly store his weapons and failing to ensure that only his possessions

designated for shipment were, in fact, shipped. Thus, Plaintiff’s negligence and breach of

contract claims clearly relate to the delivery of his goods. Therefore, the Carmack

Amendment completely preempts Plaintiff’s first and sixth causes of action. 

Even if the Carmack Amendment does not preempt Plaintiff’s other state law causes

of action,5

 the Court would still have had original jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s breach of contract

and negligence claims under 28 U.S.C. § 1337(a). Accordingly, removal jurisdiction is proper

under 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a) and the Court may exercise supplemental jurisdiction over

Plaintiff’s other state law claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a).6

For the reasons explained above, the Court finds that Removal Notice II satisfied the

procedural requirements for removal and the Carmack Amendment completely preempts

Plaintiff’s negligence and breach of contract claims. Consequently, removal jurisdiction is

proper. The Court, therefore, DENIES Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand.

B. Motion to Extend Time

Atlas moves to extend time to respond to Plaintiff’s Complaint. Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 81 prescribes the time limits for responsive pleading in removed actions. A

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defendant who did not answer before removal must answer or present other defenses or

objections within the longest of three periods: (1) 20 days after receiving—through service

or otherwise—a copy of the initial pleading stating the claim for relief; (2) 20 days after being

served with the summons for an initial pleading on file at the time of service; or (3) 5 days

after the notice of removal is filed. Fed. R. Civ. P. 81(c)(2)(A)–(C). 

Plaintiff served its initial pleading on Atlas on November 12, 2008. Plaintiff allegedly

allowed Atlas an extension of time, until December 19, 2008, to respond to his Complaint in

state court. (Mazzella Decl. ¶ 7.) Although Allied Van and SIRVA filed Removal Notice I on

November 26, 2008, Atlas claims that it first learned that the case had been removed on

December 16, 2008. Thereafter, on December 30, 2008, Atlas filed the instant Motion to

Extend Time to Respond together with an Ex Parte Motion for an Order Shortening Time for

Hearing on the Motion to Extend Time. On January 6, 2009, the Court granted Atlas’s

application to shorten time. However, because Atlas’s Motion to Extend Time was

inextricably intertwined with Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand, the Court continued Atlas’s Motion

in order to hear it together with Plaintiff’s Motion. 

Atlas argues that good cause exists under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 6(b)(1)(B)

for an extension of time because its failure to respond constituted excusable neglect.

Specifically, Atlas contends that its neglect in responding was excusable because it did not

know that the case had been removed to federal court, Plaintiff had agreed to an extension

of time to respond in state court, and Atlas’s counsel was ill during the weeks immediately

following Allied Van and SIRVA’s initial attempt at removal.

Plaintiff opposes Atlas’s Motion solely on the basis that Atlas failed to timely join in

removal. Consequently, Plaintiff argues, Rule 81 is irrelevant. As the Court determined

above in its order on Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand, however, Removal Notice II properly

removed this case to federal court. Atlas timely joined in Removal Notice II, at which point

it had not yet answered Plaintiff’s Complaint in state court. Thus, Rule 81 applies. Atlas is

now outside all three response time periods set forth in Rule 81(c)(2), so its motion for an

extension of time pursuant to Rule 6(b)(1)(B) is appropriate.

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The Court finds good cause to extend Atlas’s time to respond to Plaintiff’s Complaint.

Generally, a party requesting an enlargement of time must demonstrate good faith and a

reasonable basis for not complying with the specified time limit. See Arthur Anderson & Co.

v. Bank of America (In re Four Seasons Sec. Laws Litigation), 493 F.2d 1288, 1290 (10th Cir.

1974). Atlas’s belief that this action remained pending in state court and its counsel’s illness

constitute reasonable bases for its failure to comply with the Rule 81 time limits.

Furthermore, Atlas acted in good faith by promptly moving for an extension of time and

joining in Allied Pickfords’s Notice of Removal. Thus, Atlas’s failure to act was excusable

neglect within Rule 6(b)(1)(B) and good cause exists to allow Atlas an enlargement of time

to respond to Plaintiff’s complaint. The Court GRANTS Atlas’s Motion to Extend Time to

Respond to Plaintiff’s Complaint and ORDERS Atlas to file a responsive pleading within 20

days of the filing of an amended complaint.

C. Motions to Dismiss

The Court also has before it two Motions to Dismiss, one filed by Allied Pickfords and

the other filed by SIRVA and Allied Van. First, Allied Pickfords argues that this Court may

not exercise personal jurisdiction over it because Plaintiff failed to properly serve it with

process. Second, both Motions allege that the Court lacks general or specific personal

jurisdiction over all three Defendants. Third, the Motions contend that the Carmack

Amendment preempts all of Plaintiff’s claims, subjecting them to dismissal. Fourth, both

Motions urge the Court to apply the doctrine of forum non conveniens. Finally, the three

Defendants argue that the Court should compel arbitration in the UAE if it denies the Motions

to Dismiss.

1. Service of Process on Allied Pickfords

Allied Pickfords first moves to dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint for insufficient service of

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7 The Court rejects Plaintiff’s contention that Allied Pickfords waived its right to

contest the validity of service because it also argues other grounds for dismissal in its Motion

to Dismiss. As Defendant correctly points out, “[n]o defense or objection is waived by joining

it with one or more other defenses or objections in a responsive pleasing or in a motion.”

Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b).

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process under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(5).7 Before a federal court may

exercise personal jurisdiction over a defendant, service of process must be proper. Omni

Capital Int’l., Ltd. v. Rudolf Wolff & Co., Ltd., 484 U.S. 97, 104 (1987). If a defendant

challenges the method of service of process, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving its

sufficiency under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4. Brockmeyer v. May, 383 F.3d 798, 801

(9th Cir. 2004). The Court concludes that Plaintiff has failed to meet this burden.

As the Court determined above, Plaintiff’s initial attempt to serve Allied Pickfords on

October 31, 2008 was ineffective. Following removal, Plaintiff alleges that he attempted to

serve Allied Pickfords pursuant to Rule 4(h)(2) and Rule 4(f)(2)(A). Rule 4(h)(2) permits

service on a foreign corporation in any manner prescribed by Rule 4(f) for serving an

individual, except personal delivery. Rule 4(f)(2)(A) allows a foreign defendant to be served:

[I]f there is no internationally agreed means, or if an international

agreement allows but does not specify other means, by a method that

is calculated to give notice . . . as prescribed by the foreign country’s

law for service in that country in an action in its courts of general

jurisdiction.

The UAE is not a party to the Hague Convention and the parties agree that no other

internationally agreed upon means of service exist between the United States and the UAE.

Accordingly, Rule 4(f)(2)(A) encompassed two requirements for proper service on Allied

Pickfords by Plaintiff: (1) the method of service must have been reasonably calculated to give

notice, and (2) the method must have been one prescribed by UAE law for service in the

UAE in an action in the UAE courts of general jurisdiction. 

Plaintiff alleges that his method of service was both reasonably calculated to give

notice and acceptable pursuant to the laws of the UAE. Plaintiff claims that he delivered, via

private courier, his state court complaint, summons, and other documents to the Allied

Pickfords office in Abu Dhabi on December 22, 2008. Plaintiff’s signed process receipt

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shows that the documents were addressed to the “manager,” but received by an Allied

Pickfords employee who indicated that he would forward the documents to the manager.

(Douglas Aff., Ex. A.) 

Allied Pickfords argues that Plaintiff’s service was improper on several grounds. First,

Allied Pickfords claims that Plaintiff’s service was not reasonably calculated to provide notice

of the action because it did not include a federal summons and lacked exhibits cited in the

Complaint. Second, Allied Pickfords alleges that the service was defective under UAE law

because it was not delivered through the proper diplomatic channels, it was given to a lowerlevel employee, and it was not translated into Arabic. Allied Pickfords does not contend that

it lacked actual notice of Plaintiff’s action, nor that the service of process deficiencies caused

it to suffer prejudice. 

First, the Court agrees with Allied Pickfords that Plaintiff’s service of the state court

summons and Complaint was not reasonably calculated to give Defendant notice of the case.

Although Plaintiff’s failure to attach referenced exhibits to the complaint was harmless, see

Chan v. Society Expeditions, 39 F.3d 1398, 1404 (9th Cir. 1994) (“[t]echnical defects in a

summons do not justify dismissal unless a party is able to demonstrate actual prejudice”),

his inclusion of a state, rather than federal, summons rendered the service ineffective.

Where a plaintiff has not served a defendant prior to removal by a co-defendant, the federal

court must issue new process. Beecher v. Wallace, 381 F.2d 372, 373 (9th Cir. 1967).

Following removal, service of process is technically ineffective if a plaintiff serves a defendant

with a state court summons instead of a federal court summons. Dean Marketing, Inc. v.

AOC Intern. (U.S.A.) Ltd., 610 F. Supp. 149, 152 (E.D. Mich. 1985). Here, Allied Van and

SIRVA filed a Notice of Removal on November 26, 2008. Plaintiff did not attempt to serve

Allied Pickfords until approximately one month later, on December 22, 2008. Therefore,

Plaintiff should have served a federal, rather than state, summons on Allied Pickfords.

Plaintiff’s failure to provide a federal summons rendered his service not reasonably

calculated to give Allied Pickfords notice of the action. 

Second, the Court concludes that Plaintiff’s method of service did not comply with

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UAE law. Article 5 of the UAE Civil Procedure Law, as cited by Allied Pickfords, requires that

service of process be effected by either (1) a “summoner” (court bailiff), or (2) a private

company appointed by the Ministry of Justice. (Jones Aff. ¶¶ 13, 15.) According to Allied

Pickfords, the Ministry of Justice has appointed only one private company, ARAMEX, to

serve process in the UAE. 

Plaintiff does not dispute Article 5's requirement, nor does he contend that he used

a summoner, ARAMEX, or any other company appointed by the Ministry of Justice to serve

process. Rather, Plaintiff only argues that he followed the “general practice”of using nonappointed private couriers to serve. The Court rejects Plaintiff’s contention that he need not

have followed Article 5 as written. Rule 4(f)(2)(A) specifically requires that a foreign

defendant be served “as prescribed by the foreign country’s law for service in that country

in an action in its courts of general jurisdiction.” However service may operate in practice in

the UAE, Rule 4(f)(2)(A) specifically requires that plaintiffs follow the written, prescribed law

of the foreign jurisdiction. Thus, Plaintiff failed to comply with Article 5 of the UAE Civil

Procedure Law when he used a non-appointed private courier to serve Allied Pickfords.

Article 9(2) of the UAE Civil Procedure Law, as cited by Defendant, also compels

plaintiffs to deliver notice of suit to the “legal representative” of a corporation, to his agent,

or, if these individuals are absent, to the legal representative’s office staff. (Jones Aff. ¶ 18.)

Allied Pickfords claims that its legal representative is its “general manager.” Plaintiff does

not argue that he attempted service on the “general manager” of Allied Pickfords. Rather,

Plaintiff only addressed his summons and complaint to the “manager” of the Abu Dhabi

office. Thus, Plaintiff likewise failed to comply with the “legal representative” requirement set

forth in Article 9(2).

The Court rejects Allied Pickford’s contention that Article 9(7) of the UAE Civil

Procedure Law necessarily requires a foreign plaintiff to give his summons to the

undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice to convey to a UAE defendant through the proper

“diplomatic channels.” (See Jones Aff. ¶¶ 11–13.) Article 9(7) appears to require that a UAE

plaintiff convey his summons to the undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice to serve on nonCase 3:08-cv-02196-BTM-WVG Document 35 Filed 09/29/09 Page 21 of 36
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UAE defendants through the proper diplomatic channels. It is not clear that Article 9(7)

would, therefore, require a non-UAE plaintiff to give his summons to the undersecretary of

the Ministry of Justice for service on a UAE defendant. Because of this lack of clarity, the

Court declines to find Plaintiff’s service of process improper on that ground.

The Court also disagrees with Allied Pickfords that Article 4 of the UAE Civil

Procedure Law necessarily obligates a foreign plaintiff to serve a translated version of his

summons and complaint. (See Jones Aff. ¶ 10.) Based solely on Article 4 as cited by Allied

Pickfords, the Court finds it unclear whether documents served by a foreign party on a UAE

defendant through a private appointed process server must be translated into Arabic.

Although Article 4 declares Arabic the official language of the UAE courts, this Court cannot

decisively determine that a foreign complaint must be translated into Arabic prior to service

on a UAE defendant.

Therefore, the Court declines to find that service of process was ineffective because

of the lack of exhibits attached to the Complaint, or based on Article 4 or Article 9(7) of the

UAE Civil Procedure Law. Nonetheless, Plaintiff’s failure to attach a federal summons to the

Complaint, and his failure to follow Articles 5 and 9(2) of the UAE Civil Procedure Law

rendered his service of process on Allied Pickfords ineffective pursuant to Rule 4(f)(2)(A).

Where service of process is insufficient, however, courts have broad discretion to

dismiss the action or retain the case and quash the service that has been made on the

defendant. Cranford v. United States, 359 F. Supp. 2d 981, 984 (E.D. Cal. 2005) (citing

Montalbano v. Easco Hand Tools, Inc., 766 F.2d 737, 740 (2d Cir. 1985)). Typically, if a

reasonable prospect exists that the plaintiff may ultimately be able to serve the defendant

properly, the court will quash the service. Montalbano, 766 F.2d at 740. 

The Court finds it appropriate to quash service on Allied Pickfords rather than dismiss

the action. Allied Pickfords does not allege any prejudice arising out of Plaintiff’s failure to

properly serve it. Given the pendency of this Motion to Dismiss, the Court finds good cause

under Rule 4(m) to extend Plaintiff’s time to serve Allied Pickfords. Moreover, Rule 4(f)(2)(A)

is only one of several ways to serve a foreign defendant. A reasonable prospect exists that

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Plaintiff may still serve Allied Pickfords properly. Thus, the Court QUASHES service on

Allied Pickfords and ORDERS Plaintiff to effect service on Allied Pickfords by any proper

method of service within 60 days of entry of this order. If Plaintiff fails to properly effect

service on Allied Pickfords within 60 days, Allied Pickfords may renew its motion to dismiss

for improper service under Rule 12(b)(5).

2. Personal Jurisdiction over Allied Pickfords, Allied Van and SIRVA

Allied Pickfords, Allied Van, and SIRVA all argue that the Court lacks personal

jurisdiction over them, necessitating dismissal of Plaintiff’s complaint pursuant to Rule

12(b)(2). Although Plaintiff has not yet properly served Allied Pickfords, the Court

nevertheless considers its personal jurisdiction over this Defendant. Both Allied Pickfords

and Plaintiff have briefed the issue, and, if Plaintiff effectively serves process in the future,

the Court will still need to determine whether it can exercise personal jurisdiction over Allied

Pickfords before proceeding with the case. Thus, the Court evaluates its personal jurisdiction

over Allied Pickfords, Allied Van and SIRVA. 

a. Standard

The plaintiff bears the burden of proving the facts necessary to establish personal

jurisdiction over a defendant. Rio Properties, Inc. v. Rio Intern. Interlink, 284 F.3d 1007,

1019 (9th Cir. 2002) (citations omitted). The Court applies a two-step test to determine

whether it may exercise in personam jurisdiction over a defendant. Taubler v. Giraud, 655

F.2d 991, 993 (9th Cir. 1981). First, the Court considers the California long-arm statute. Id.

(citation omitted). Second, the Court evaluates whether application of the statute is

consistent with due process. Id. (citation omitted). Because the California long-arm statute

allows for personal jurisdiction over defendants to the full extent permitted by due process,

the Court may directly consider whether personal jurisdiction over Defendants comports with

due process. Id.

The Court may exercise either “general” or “specific” personal jurisdiction over a

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defendant. In order for a court to exercise general personal jurisdiction over a defendant,

due process requires that the defendant have “certain minimum contacts with the forum state

such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend traditional notions of fair play and

substantial justice.” Int’l Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 316 (1945). Minimum

contacts exist where a defendant has “substantial” or “continuous and systematic” contacts

with the forum state, even if the case is unrelated to those contacts. Tuazon v. R.J.

Reynolds Tobacco Co., 433 F.3d 1163, 1171 (9th Cir. 2006) (citation omitted). In evaluating

whether a corporation has sufficient minimum contacts with a forum, courts consider such

factors as “whether the defendant makes sales, solicits or engages in business in the state,

serves the state’s markets, designates an agent for service of process, holds a license, or

is incorporated there.” Id. at 1172 (quoting Bancroft & Masters, Inc. v. Augusta Nat. Inc., 223

F.3d 1082, 1086 (9th Cir. 2000)).

“A court may exercise specific jurisdiction where the suit ‘arises out of’ or is related to

the defendant’s contacts with the forum and the defendant ‘purposefully avails itself of the

privilege of conducting activities within the forum State, thus invoking the benefits and

protections of its laws.’” Tuazon, 433 F.3d at 1169 (emphasis added) (quoting Burger King

Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 475 (1985)). Additionally, the exercise of specific

personal jurisdiction in any particular case must be “reasonable.” Data Disc, Inc. v. Systems

Tech. Assoc., Inc., 557 F.2d 1280, 1287 (9th Cir. 1977). 

On a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, a defendant may in part

challenge the plaintiff’s theory of jurisdiction and in part challenge the facts supporting the

jurisdictional theory. See Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA), Inc. v. Alcantara, 183 F.3d 151,

153 (2d Cir. 1999). A district court may receive only written submissions to determine

personal jurisdiction over a defendant. See Data Disc, Inc., 557 F.2d at 1285. Where the

district court receives solely limited written materials, the plaintiff need only make a prima

facie showing of jurisdictional facts to defeat a defendant’s motion to dismiss. Id. “Although

the plaintiff cannot simply rest on the bare allegations of its complaint, uncontroverted

allegations in the complaint must be taken as true.” Dole Food Co., Inc. v. Watts, 303 F.3d

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1104, 1108 (9th Cir. 2002) (quotations omitted). Any conflicts in the parties’ affidavits must

be resolved in the plaintiff’s favor. Id.

b. Allied Pickfords

The Court initially finds that it cannot exercise general personal jurisdiction over Allied

Pickfords. Allied Pickfords lacks sufficient minimum contacts with California to establish

general personal jurisdiction here. The corporation is a citizen of the UAE, with its principal

place of business there. Additionally, it does not own any real or personal property in

California, nor is it licensed or registered to do business in this state. (Garlick Aff. ¶¶ 3–4.)

Finally, Allied Pickfords does not have any bank accounts in California and does not conduct

any direct advertising or business solicitation here. (Id. at ¶¶ 5–6.) Plaintiff’s bare assertion

that Allied Pickfords, together with the other Defendants, represents that it maintains offices

and agents “in every part of the globe,” cannot alone establish substantial or continuous and

systematic contacts with California. 

Plaintiff argues, however, that the Court may exercise specific personal jurisdiction

over Allied Pickfords because it purposely availed itself of the privilege of doing business in

California. Plaintiff contends that he communicated with Allied Pickfords’s representatives

throughout the process of scheduling the storage and shipment of his goods from California

to the UAE. Thus, Plaintiff argues, even if an agent of Allied Pickfords (and not Allied

Pickfords itself) performed the actual storage and shipment functions in California, the

corporation nevertheless acted to purposefully avail itself of the privileges and benefits of the

forum out of which his claim arises.

Allied Pickfords counters that it neither purposefully directed any activity towards

California nor purposefully availed itself of the benefits and privileges of the laws of this state.

Allied Pickfords contends that it performed no acts or transactions in California. Furthermore,

Allied Pickfords argues that all of Plaintiff’s claims relate to activities which occurred in the

UAE and resulted in alleged damages there.

The Court finds that Allied Pickfords purposefully availed itself of the privileges and

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8 Defendants object to Smallwood’s affidavit, claiming that the Court may not

consider an affidavit on a 12(b) motion. However, on a Rule 12(b)(2) motion to dismiss for

lack of personal jurisdiction, the Court may consider affidavits. See Data Disc, 557 F.2d at

1285. The Court considers uncontroverted allegations in the complaint as true, and any

conflicts in the affidavits are resolved in Plaintiff’s favor. Dole Food Co., Inc., 303 F.3d at

1108.

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benefits of the California forum. The “purposeful availment requirement ensures that a

defendant will not be haled into a jurisdiction as a result of random, fortuitous, or attenuated

contacts, or of the unilateral activity of another party or a third person.” Burger King Corp.,

471 U.S. at 475 (quotations omitted). Here, however, “the contacts proximately result from

actions by the defendant himself that create[d] a substantial connection with the forum state.”

Id. (emphasis in original). 

An Allied Pickfords representative, Danita D’Mello, allegedly initially contacted Plaintiff

via email to arrange his move from California to the UAE. (Smallwood Decl. ¶ 7.)8 Plaintiff

also claims, and Allied Pickfords does not dispute, that he had several subsequent email and

phone discussions with D’Mello regarding both shipping some of his items to Abu Dhabi and

storing some of his items in California. (Smallwood Decl. ¶ 8.) D’Mello arranged for movers

to visit Plaintiff’s home in order to pack up and deliver his belongings for storage or shipping.

(Smallwood Decl. ¶ 9–10; Garlick Aff., Ex. B.) Thus, Allied Pickfords’s contacts with the

forum resulted from its own affirmative actions to secure a storage and shipping contract,

part of which was performed in California, with Plaintiff. 

The Court also rejects Allied Pickfords’s contention that Plaintiff’s claims do not relate

to or arise out of its contacts with California. Plaintiff alleges that Defendants’ negligent

segregation of his shipping and storage items, in California, led, in part, to the injuries he

suffered. Therefore, Plaintiff’s suit, at least in part, arises out of or is related to Allied

Pickfords’s contacts with California.

Allied Pickfords could reasonably expect to be hailed into California over any disputes

arising out of negligent performance of its contract with Plaintiff. The Court finds that Plaintiff

has made a prima facie showing of jurisdictional facts sufficient to defeat Allied Pickfords’s

Motion to Dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction.

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c. Allied Van and SIRVA

As with Allied Pickfords, the Court finds that it cannot exercise general personal

jurisdiction over Allied Van and SIRVA. As Plaintiff’s complaint recognizes, both Allied Van

and SIRVA are citizens of the state of Delaware with their principal places of business in

Illinois. (Compl. ¶¶ 4–5.) Furthermore, Defendants have submitted affidavits indicating that

both SIRVA and Allied Vans (1) are not licensed or registered to do business in California;

(2) do not own any real or personal property in California; (3) do not have any bank accounts

in California; and (4) do not conduct any direct advertising or solicit any business in

California. (Coolidge Aff. ¶¶ 3–6; Baker Aff. ¶¶ 3–6.) 

The Court disagrees with Plaintiff that Defendants’ websites alone establish general

personal jurisdiction. Although both websites promise an extensive network of agents and

employees performing relocations nationally and internationally, these generalized assertions

do not show that Defendants had substantial or continuous and systematic contacts with

California. “[M]ere web presence is insufficient to establish personal jurisdiction.” Holland

America Line, Inc. v. Wartsila North America, Inc., 485 F. 3d 450, 460 (9th Cir. 2006). The

Court cannot conclude, solely on the basis of Defendants’ websites, that they have

substantial or continuous and systematic contacts with California.

Alternatively, Plaintiff argues that bases for specific personal jurisdiction over

Defendants exist. Plaintiff alleges that SIRVA is the parent company to Allied Van and Allied

Pickfords. Plaintiff further claims that Allied Van and SIRVA collectively do business with

Allied Pickfords under the trade name “Allied International,” acting as agents of one another

to conduct international relocation, moving, and shipping services together. (Compl. ¶ 6.)

Additionally, Plaintiff argues that Defendants utilize local agents in California to perform

contracts originating or concluding in this state. Plaintiff also alleges that all four Defendants

worked together, in this case, to perform Smallwood’s storage and shipping contract.

(Compl. ¶ 8.) Plaintiff admits that it is presently unclear to him which Defendants performed

the various services required by his contract. He contends, however, that Defendants’

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9 An inventory list submitted by Defendants indicates that Atlas may have

performed the actual packing, storing, and shipping functions in San Diego. (See Garlick

Aff., Ex. D at 2.) The inventory list also designates Atlas as an “Agent for Allied Van Lines.”

(Id.) If Atlas did, in fact, perform these services in California for Plaintiff as a general agent

of Allied Van or SIRVA, that agency relationship could also serve as grounds upon which the

Court could exercise specific personal jurisdiction over Defendants.

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relationship as agents of one another suffices to show that each corporation purposely

availed itself of the privileges and benefits of doing business in California such that the Court

may reasonably exercise personal jurisdiction over them.

 Allied Van and SIRVA do not dispute Plaintiff’s contentions that they act as agents of

one another or that Allied Pickfords and Atlas are also their agents. Rather, they only

generally assert that they “performed no acts or transactions in the state of California” and

that Plaintiff’s claims do not relate to this forum. (Defs.’ Mot. to Dismiss at 10.) 

Plaintiff need only demonstrate facts that, if true, would support jurisdiction over Allied

Van and SIRVA. Harris Rutsky & Co. Ins. Services, Inc. v. Bell & Clements, Ltd., 328 F.3d

1122, 1129 (9th Cir. 2003). A corporate principal may be subject to long-arm jurisdiction

based on the acts of its corporate agent. See Wells Fargo & Co. v. Wells Fargo Exp. Co.,

556 F.2d 406, 423–424 (1977). Thus, if Plaintiff has demonstrated facts showing that the

corporate agents of Allied Van and SIRVA committed acts purposefully availing themselves

of the privileges and benefits of the forum out of which Plaintiff’s claims arise, then they too

may be subject to personal jurisdiction here. 

Taking Plaintiff’s uncontroverted allegations as true, as the Court must for the

purposes of this Motion, Plaintiff has presented sufficient jurisdictional facts to defeat Allied

Van and SIRVA’s Motion to Dismiss. The Court determined above that Allied Pickfords

purposefully availed itself of the benefits and privileges of the California forum when it

contracted with Plaintiff to pack and store some of his items in San Diego and ship his other

possessions from California to the UAE. If, as Plaintiff alleges, Allied Pickfords is a general

agent of Allied Van or SIRVA, then the latter Defendants are also subject to specific personal

jurisdiction in this forum.9

At this stage, therefore, Plaintiff has made a prima facie showing of jurisdictional facts

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sufficient to defeat Allied Van and SIRVA’s Motion to Dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction.

The Court recognizes, however, that further discovery may reveal that Plaintiff’s allegations

of general agency are false or inaccurate. Thus, the Court DENIES Allied Pickford’s, Allied

Van’s, and SIRVA’s motion to dismiss on the basis of a lack of personal jurisdiction without

prejudice to Defendants raising the issue again on a motion to dismiss after discovery. 

3. Preemptive Effect of the Carmack Amendment

Defendants also argue that the Court should dismiss this case because the complete

preemptive effect of the Carmack Amendment precludes all of Plaintiff’s claims. As the Court

held above, the Carmack Amendment completely preempts at least Plaintiff’s breach of

contract and negligent shipping claims. See Hughes Aircraft Co., 970 F.2d at 613; Hall, 476

F.3d at 688. Thus, the Court DISMISSES without prejudice Plaintiff’s breach of contract and

negligent shipping claims. The Court grants Plaintiff leave to amend his Complaint to restate

his breach of contract and negligent shipping claims under the Carmack Amendment.

Defendants also claim, however, that the Carmack Amendment completely preempts

Plaintiff’s remaining state law claims for negligent infliction of emotional distress, intentional

infliction of emotional distress, defamation, breach of fiduciary duty, and fraudulent deceit.

As Defendants correctly note, “the Carmack Amendment is ‘comprehensive enough

to embrace responsibility for all losses resulting from any failure to discharge a carrier’s duty

as to any part of the agreed transportation.” Coughlin v. United Van Lines, LLC, 362 F. Supp.

2d 1166, 1168 (C.D. Cal. 2005) (quoting Georgia, Florida, and Alabama Ry. Co. v. Blish

Milling Co., 241 U.S. 190, 196 (1916)) (emphasis in original). “[O]nly claims based on

conduct separate and distinct from the delivery, loss of, or damage to goods escape

preemption.” Smith v. United Parcel Service, 296 F.3d 1244, 1248–1249 (11th Cir. 2002).

The Court partly agrees with Defendants that the Carmack Amendment also preempts

Plaintiff’s breach of fiduciary duty and negligent infliction of emotional distress claims

because they are not based on conduct separate and distinct from the delivery. Plaintiff

claims that Defendants breached their fiduciary duty to him when they (i) failed to transfer

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his weapons into storage as agreed; (ii) failed to properly segregate the storage items from

the shipping items; (iii) erroneously shipped some of the storage items to the UAE; (iv) lured

Plaintiff to the port under false pretenses; and (v) abandoned Smallwood to the mercy of

UAE customs officials and police without admitting their mistakes. (Compl. ¶ 107.)

Smallwood’s breach of fiduciary duty cause of action arises, at least in part, out of

Defendants’ conduct in failing to properly deliver certain of his possessions to storage and

other of his belongings to the UAE. Thus, the Carmack Amendment preempts Plaintiff’s

breach of fiduciary duty claim to the extent that it is based on the erroneous storage and

shipment of his goods. Accordingly, the Court DISMISSES Plaintiff’s breach of fiduciary duty

cause of action without prejudice insofar as it is based on the conduct described in Plaintiff’s

Complaint ¶ 107(i)–(iii).

The Ninth Circuit has held that “the Carmack Amendment preempts a claim for

intentional infliction of emotional distress to the extent that it arises from the same conduct

as the claims for delay, loss or damage to shipped property.” White v. Mayflower Transit,

L.L.C., 543 F.3d 581, 586 (9th Cir. 2008). Plaintiff’s negligent infliction of emotional distress

claim alleges that Defendants’ failure to exercise reasonable care in the storage and shipping

of his possessions, caused him “fear, anxiety, worry, mortification, shock, humiliation, and

indignity.” (Compl. ¶¶ 77–78.) This claim arises out of the same conduct as the misdelivery

of his shipped property and the Carmack Amendment preempts it. The Court DISMISSES

Plaintiff’s negligent infliction of emotional distress claim without prejudice.

Plaintiff’s intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, and fraudulent deceit

causes of action, however, are based on conduct separate and distinct from the delivery, loss

of, and damage to his goods. Plaintiff’s intentional infliction of emotional distress claim

asserts that Defendants’ conduct in “deliberately and intentionally using [him] as a cover” for

[Defendants’] own negligence and illegal actions” resulted in Plaintiff suffering “tremendous

stress, fear, humiliation, indignity, and potentially physical harm.” (Compl. ¶¶ 82–83.)

Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants caused him emotional harm by deceptively

luring him to the port and blaming him for their own illegal conduct. (Compl. ¶ 83.) Plaintiff

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further bases his emotional harm claim on Defendants’ refusal to assist him in the court

process resulting in his conviction. These actions on the part of Defendants, while perhaps

prompted by and a response to their misdelivery of Plaintiff’s goods, are nevertheless

separate and distinct from that misdelivery.

Plaintiff’s defamation claim is likewise based on conduct separate and distinct from

the misdelivery of and damage to his goods. Plaintiff’s defamation claim arises solely out of

the Allied International representative’s alleged statements to UAE customs officials that

“Smallwood requested the weapons be shipped to the UAE, effectively accusing Smallwood

of violating UAE law as well as the laws of the United States and international law relating

to weapons trafficking.” (Compl. ¶ 92.) Similarly, Plaintiff’s fraudulent deceit cause of action

claims that Defendants deceptively lured him to the port intending that he would take custody

of the weapons and suffer the blame for illegally importing them. Defendants’ alleged actions

in luring Plaintiff to the port and their purported statements to UAE officials constitute conduct

distinct from any negligence in delivering Plaintiff’s possessions. Therefore, the Carmack

Amendment does not preempt Plaintiff’s intentional infliction of emotional distress,

defamation, and fraudulent deceit claims. The Court DENIES Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss

with respect to Plaintiff’s intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, and

fraudulent deceit claims, as well as his breach of fiduciary duty claim insofar as it is based

on Defendants’ conduct described at Plaintiff’s Complaint ¶ 107(iv)–(v).

4. Forum Non Conveniens

Defendants alternatively argue that the Court should dismiss this case entirely based

on the doctrine of forum non conveniens. Defendants allege that the United Arab Emirates

is a more appropriate forum for this action. The doctrine of forum non conveniens “involves

the dismissal of a case because the forum chosen by the plaintiff is so completely

inappropriate and inconvenient that it is better to stop the litigation in the place where brought

and let it start all over again somewhere else.” Norwood v. Kirkpatrick, 349 U.S. 29, 31

(1955). The doctrine requires the Court to assess the availability of an adequate alternative

forum, as well as whether private and public interest factors favor dismissal. Leetsch v.

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Freedman, 260 F.3d 1100, 1103 (9th Cir. 2001). The party moving for dismissal has the

burden of proving that the doctrine of forum non conveniens should apply. Id. 

Defendants initially claim that the United Arab Emirates is an adequate alternative

forum. The key determination is whether “the remedy provided by the alternative forum is

so clearly inadequate or unsatisfactory that it is no remedy at all.” Piper Aircraft Co. V.

Reyno, 454 U.S. 235, 254 (1981). Typically, “a foreign forum will be deemed adequate

unless it offers no practical remedy for the plaintiff’s complained of wrong.” Lueck v.

Sundstrand Corp., 236 F.3d 1137, 1144 (9th Cir. 2001). An alternative forum generally

qualifies as adequate if the defendant is subject to service of process there. Leetsch, 260

F.3d at 1103. Courts also consider the alternative forum’s jurisdiction over the case and

competency to decide the legal issues involved. Id. Defendants have stipulated to accept

service of process in the UAE. (Baker Aff. ¶ 7; Coolidge Aff. ¶ 7.) 

Plaintiff raises several concerns with respect to the adequacy of any UAE forum in

which to adjudicate his claims. First, Plaintiff claims that although Defendants have agreed

to submit to service of process in the UAE, they have not stipulated to the foreign forum

exercising personal jurisdiction over them or subject matter jurisdiction over the case.

Plaintiff also points out that Defendants have not addressed Atlas’s and Allied Pickfords’s

amenability to service of process. The Court notes, however, that Allied Pickfords has

stipulated to service of process in the UAE upon dismissal of this action. (Garlick Aff. ¶ 7.)

Plaintiff also expresses concern that a UAE court would not fairly consider his claims

because of his criminal conviction and potential deportation.

Although the Court cannot say with certainty that the UAE forum would be inadequate,

it finds that Defendants have not met their burden to show that the California forum is so

completely inappropriate and inadequate that it would be better to stop the litigation here.

The private and public interest factors also weigh in favor of preserving Plaintiff’s choice of

forum. Private interest factors include:(1) the ease of access to sources of proof, (2)

compulsory process to obtain the attendance of hostile witnesses, (3) the cost of transporting

friendly witnesses, and (4) problems that may interfere with an expeditious trial. Leetsch, 260

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F.3d at 1104 (quotation omitted). Although Defendants correctly point out that witnesses and

evidence in this case will be located in the UAE, it is equally true that some witnesses and

evidence will be located in California. Thus, the parties are likely to suffer some problems

accessing sources of proof whether the litigation proceeds in California or in the UAE. 

Similarly, the parties will incur costs of transporting friendly witnesses if the case goes

forward in either forum. Defendants do not address the UAE process for obtaining the

presence of American witnesses there. Because Defendants have the burden of proving that

the doctrine of forum non conveniens should apply, this factor weighs against them.

Moreover, Plaintiff may be deported from the UAE as a result of his criminal conviction.

(Ahammadi Decl. ¶ 5.) If Plaintiff is deported, it will be exceedingly difficult for him to pursue

his case in the UAE and it will very likely interfere with an expeditious trial. Thus, the private

interest factors weigh in favor of maintaining the litigation here.

Public interest factors also do not support application of the forum non conveniens

doctrine in this case. Public interest factors include: (1) administrative difficulties flowing from

court congestion, (2) imposition of jury duty on the people of a community that has no relation

to the litigation, (3) local interest in having localized controversies decided at home, (4) the

interest in having a diversity case tried in a forum familiar with the law that governs the

action, and (5) the avoidance of unnecessary problems in conflicts of law. Leetsch, 260 F.3d

at 1105. The issue of court congestion does not weigh in favor of either party. The second

and third factors weigh equally in favor of either California or the UAE, since part of the

controversy took place in each forum. On the fourth and fifth factors, Defendants argue that

California has no interest in trying this case because UAE law will apply. Plaintiff, however,

contends that California law will govern the case. Because the Court cannot determine which

jurisdiction’s law will apply at this stage of this litigation, it finds that this factor also weighs

no more in favor of the UAE than California.

Defendants have not shown that the forum chosen by Plaintiff, California, is so

completely inappropriate and inconvenient that it is better to stop the litigation here and let

it begin again in the UAE. Therefore, the Court declines to dismiss this case on grounds of

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forum non conveniens.

5. Arbitration Clause

Allied Pickfords, Allied Van, and SIRVA alternatively argue that the Court should

compel arbitration in accordance with the “Contract Conditions” set forth in the “Acceptance

of Quotation” Plaintiff signed to authorize the shipment of his goods from California to Abu

Dhabi. (See Hession Decl., Ex. A). Under “Settling Disputes,” the Contract Conditions state:

Any disputes in relation to the conclusion, implementation, interpretation,

cancellation, dissolution, or invalidity of the contract or stemming therefrom or

connected thereto in any form shall be referred to arbitration in accordance

with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry Commercial Conciliation

and Arbitration Regulation. (Defs.’ Mot. to Dismiss at 18.)

Defendants argue forcefully in their Motions to Dismiss, and the Court agrees, that the

Carmack Amendment applies to preempt Plaintiff’s breach of contract, negligence, negligent

infliction of emotional distress and breach of fiduciary duty claims. Accordingly, the Court has

dismissed these claims and granted Plaintiff leave to amend his Complaint to restate these

claims under the Carmack Amendment.

Because the Carmack Amendment applies to this case, however, the arbitration

clause included in the bill of lading is unenforceable. Although the Ninth Circuit itself has not

yet addressed this issue, at least two other circuits have held that the Carmack Amendment

prohibits enforcement of forum selection clauses included in bills of lading. See Aacon Auto

Transport, Inc. v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., 537 F.2d 648, 654 (2d Cir.

1976); Aluminum Products Distributors, Inc. v. Aacon Auto Transport, Inc., 549 F.2d 1381,

1385 (6th Cir. 1977); see also Kyodo U.S.A., Inc. v. Cosco N. A.M., Inc., 2001 WL 1835158,

at *3 (C.D. Cal. 2001). In State Farm, the carrier included an arbitration clause in the bill of

lading requiring that any claims against the carrier be settled by arbitration in New York City.

Similarly, the bill of lading in this case purports to require that any claims arising from the bill

of lading be subject to arbitration in the UAE. The Carmack Amendment specifically directs

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that a shipper may bring an action against a delivering carrier in any judicial district or state

through which the carrier operates. 49 U.S.C. § 14706(d)(1). A shipper may also bring an

action against a carrier responsible for loss or damage to his goods in any judicial district in

which the loss or damage is alleged to have occurred. 49 U.S.C. § 14706(d)(2). As the

Second Circuit explained in State Farm, a carrier could not, consist with the Carmack

Amendment, contract with a shipper to limit its liability to suit in a particular jurisdiction. State

Farm, 537 F.2d at 655. Likewise, a carrier may not contract with a shipper to limit its liability

to arbitration in a specific forum. Id. The Court, therefore, does not reach Plaintiff’s other

arguments against application of the arbitration clause. The arbitration clause is an

impermissible limitation of liability under the Carmack Amendment and this Court will not

enforce it.

III. CONCLUSION

For the reasons explained above, the Court DENIES Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand

[Docket No. 5]. Defendant Atlas’s Motion to Extend Time to Respond to Plaintiff’s Complaint

[Docket No. 6] is GRANTED. Atlas must file a responsive pleading to Plaintiff’s amended

complaint within 20 days of the filing of the amended complaint.

The Court GRANTS Defendant Allied Pickford’s Motion to Dismiss [Docket No. 18]

and Defendants Allied Van’s and SIRVA’s Motion to Dismiss [Docket No. 2] insofar as they

seek dismissal of Plaintiff’s negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress claim

(first cause of action), breach of contract claim (sixth cause of action), and breach of fiduciary

duty claim (fourth cause of action) insofar as it is based on the conduct described at Plaintiff’s

Complaint ¶ 107(i)–(iii). The Court DISMISSES these causes of action without prejudice and

grants Plaintiff leave to reassert his claims as possible under the Carmack Amendment. The

Court GRANTS Plaintiff leave to file an amended complaint within 20 days of the entry of this

Order. The Court otherwise DENIES Defendant Allied Pickford’s Motion to Dismiss or

Compel Arbitration [Docket No. 18] and Defendants Allied Van’s and SIRVA’s Motion to

Dismiss or Compel Arbitration [Docket No. 2]. 

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The Court QUASHES service on Allied Pickfords and ORDERS Plaintiff to effect

service on Allied Pickfords by any proper method within 60 days of entry of this order. If

Plaintiff fails to properly effect service on Allied Pickfords within 60 days, Allied Pickfords may

renew its motion to dismiss for improper service under Rule 12(b)(5).

The Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File Excess Pages [Docket No. 23]

and GRANTS Allied Van and SIRVA’s Motion for Leave to File Excess Pages [Docket No.

29].

The Court hereby sets trial in this matter to begin on Monday, May 10, 2010, at

9:00am. The parties are to appear for an in-person Early Neutral Evaluation (“ENE”)

Conference before Magistrate Judge Brooks on November 6, 2009 at 10:00am. Magistrate

Judge Brooks will issue a Case Management Conference Order setting forth other pretrial

dates. The Court hereby sets a Pretrial Conference for Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 3:30pm.

Except as set forth herein, no further motions to dismiss shall be filed except by leave of the

Court after a status conference.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: September 29, 2009

Honorable Barry Ted Moskowitz

United States District Judge

Case 3:08-cv-02196-BTM-WVG Document 35 Filed 09/29/09 Page 36 of 36