Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-01516/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-01516-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1330 Breach of Contract

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

THE RICE CORPORATION, d/b/a )

THE RICE COMPANY, a Delaware )

corporation, ) 

) 2:06-cv-1516-GEB-DAD

Plaintiff, )

)

v. ) ORDER

)

GRAIN BOARD OF IRAQ, an Iraqi )

state company; IRAQI MINISTRY OF )

TRADE, an Iraqi state agency; )

REPUBLIC OF IRAQ; and DOES 1 ) 

through 50, inclusive, )

)

Defendants. )

)

Plaintiff requests authorization to substitute service of

process on Defendants Grain Board of Iraq (“GBI”) and Iraqi Ministry

of Trade (“MOT”) under Rule 4(j)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure and 28 U.S.C. § 1608(b)(3)(C); specifically, Plaintiff

requests it be authorized to serve these Defendants by mail at a post

office box and by email. For the following reasons, Plaintiff’s

request is granted.

Rule 4(j)(1) and § 1608(b) govern service on agencies or

instrumentalities of foreign states. Plaintiff asserts in its request

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To qualify as an “agency or instrumentality,” an entity must 1

be “a separate legal person, corporate or otherwise . . . .” 28 U.S.C.

§ 1603(b)(1). An entity is subject to suit under this section if it is

“capable of . . . contracting in its own name . . . .” Unidyne Corp. v.

Aerolineas Argentinas, 590 F. Supp. 398, 400 (E.D. Va. 1984) (citations

omitted). Although Plaintiff’s Original Request and Supplemental

Memorandum fail to address this issue, it is assumed that both GBI and

MOT are capable of contracting in their own names since Plaintiff’s

Complaint alleges a contract dispute between Plaintiff and GBI, and that

“[GBI] is operated under Defendant MOT . . . .” (Compl. ¶ 2.)

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filed November 10, 2006, (“Original Request”) that “[GBI] is an agency

or instrumentality of a Foreign State within the meaning of the

statute.” (Original Request at 3.) On December 14, 2006, an Order

issued (“December 14 Order”) requiring Plaintiff to explain, inter

alia, “why GBI and MOT each qualify as an agency or instrumentality

within the meaning of Rule 4(j)(1) and § 1608(b) . . . .” 

(December 14 Order at 3.) On December 21, 2006, Plaintiff filed a

“Supplemental Memorandum in Further Support of Motion to Authorize

Substitute Service of Process” (“Supplemental Memorandum”) in which

Plaintiff further explains its request for substituted service on GBI

and MOT, and states it does not seek such service on Defendant

Republic of Iraq.

Plaintiff’s Original Request and Supplemental Memorandum

sufficiently demonstrate that GBI and MOT are “agencies or

instrumentalities” under Rule 4(j)(1) and § 1608(b). 

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Section 1608(b) provides:

(b) Service in the courts of the United States and

of the States shall be made upon an agency or

instrumentality of a foreign state:

(1) by delivery of a copy of the summons

and complaint in accordance with any

special arrangement for service between

the plaintiff and the agency or

instrumentality; or

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(2) if no special arrangement exists, by

delivery of a copy of the summons and

complaint either to an officer, a

managing or general agent, or to any

other agent authorized by appointment or

by law to receive service of process in

the United States; or in accordance with

an applicable international convention

on service of judicial documents; or

(3) if service cannot be made under

paragraphs (1) or (2), and if reasonably

calculated to give actual notice, by

delivery of a copy of the summons and

complaint, together with a translation

of each into the official language of

the foreign state–

(A) as directed by an

authority of the foreign state

or political subdivision in

response to a letter rogatory

or request or

(B) by any form of mail

requiring a signed receipt, to

be addressed and dispatched by

the clerk of the court to the

agency or instrumentality to

be served, or 

(C) as directed by order of

the court consistent with the

law of the place where service

is to be made.

Plaintiff’s Original Request and Supplemental Memorandum

sufficiently demonstrate that Plaintiff has not been able to effect

service of process under § 1608(b)(1), (2), (3)(a) or (b), and that

Plaintiff’s requested means of substituted service on GBI and MOT are

“reasonably calculated to give actual notice.” 28 U.S.C.

§ 1608(b)(3). Accordingly, Plaintiff’s request is granted.

Therefore, Plaintiff is authorized to serve GBI as follows:

1. Mailing a copy of the summons and complaint,

together with a translation of each into the

official language of Iraq, to the post office

boxes identified in Plaintiff’s Original

Request; and

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2. by emailing a copy of the summons and

complaint, together with a translation of

each into the official language of Iraq, to

the email addresses identified in Plaintiff’s

Original Request.

Plaintiff is authorized to serve MOT as follows:

1. Mailing a copy of the summons and complaint,

together with a translation of each into the

official language of Iraq, to the post office

boxes identified in Plaintiff’s Original

Request; and

2. by emailing a copy of the summons and

complaint, together with a translation of

each into the official language of Iraq, to

the email addresses identified in Plaintiff’s

Original Request and in Plaintiff’s

Supplemental Memorandum.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 29, 2006

 

GARLAND E. BURRELL, JR.

United States District Judge

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