THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and M C FA DDEN, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s /

Jul y 8, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 58 1

. AM ERICAN COLLEGE CONNECTION, INC. v

. BERKOW ITZ.

D I LLA R D , J u dg e.

In t h i s ci v i l act i o n , Jes s i ca Berk o wi t z, a G e o r g i a res i d en t

, fi led s ui t ag ai n s t

Am eri can Co l l eg e Co n n e c t i o n , In c. (“ ACC”), a co m p an y b as ed p ri m ari l y in

Neb ras ka, s eek i n g, i nt er a l i a , a d e c l a rat o ry ju d g m en t an d d am ag es fo r b reach o f

co n tract

. On i n terl o cu t o ry ap peal

, ACC co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g

i t s m ot i o n t o d i s m i s s Berk o wi t z’ s co m p lai n t fo r l ack of p ers o n al ju ri s d i ct i o n

. Fo r t h e

reas on s s et fo rt h i nf

r a , we affi rm

.

At t h e o u t s et

, w e no t e t h at a d efen d an t wh o fi l es a m o t io n t o d i s m i s s fo r l ack

o f p ers o n al ju ri s d i ct i on h as t h e b u rd en of pro v i ng l ack o f ju ri s d i ct i on

. 1 Fu rt h erm o re,

1 S ee Ea s t er l i n g v. Ea s t er l i n g , 2 3 1 G a. 9 0

, 9 0 (1 ) (2 00 SE2 d 2 6 7) (1 9 7 3 );

Ca t ho l i c S t ewa r d

sh i p Co ns u l t an t

s , In c. v. Ru o t o l o As s o cs ., In c. , 2 7 0 Ga. Ap p . 7 5 1,wh en t h e m o t i o n i s d eci d ed wi t h o u t an ev id en t i ary h eari n g an d b as ed s o l el y u p o n t h e

wri t ten s u b m i s s i o n s o f t h e p a r t i es , as i t was h ere, “ an y di s p u t es o f fact m u s t b e

res o l ved i n t h e l i g h t m os t fav o rab l e t o t h e p art y as s ert i ng t h e ex i s t en ce o f p ers o n al

ju ri s d i ct i o n , an d we rev iew t h e d eci s i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt d e n o v o .” 2

Vi ewed i n t h e l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o Berk o wi t z, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at ACC

i s a co m p an y i n co rp o rat ed i n Neb ras k a t h at was creat ed a n d i s s o l el y o wn ed by

fo rm er Un i v ers i ty

o f Neb ras k a s wi m

m i n g co ach Ri ch ard Pai n e. Rel y i n g o n Pai n e’ s

ex t en s i v e ex p eri en ce an d co n t act s wi t h s wi m m i ng co ach es acro s s t h e co u nt ry , ACC

en g ag es i n t h e b u s i n es s o f as s i s t i ng s t u d en t-at h l et es i n gai n i n g en t ran ce t o co l l eg e

a n d u n iv ers i ty at h let i c p ro g ram s an d i n o b tai n i n g fi n an ci al ai d t o s u p p o rt t h e i r

ed u cat i o n al g o al s

. Gen eral l y , ACC o b tai n s cl i en t s fro m refer r a l s b y p aren t s o f

s t ud en t -at h l et es , wh o h a v e p rev i o u s l y u s ed t he co m pan y ’ s s erv i ces

. Pro s p ect i v e

s t ud en t -at h l et e cl i en t s can t h en u s e ACC’ s web si t e t o creat e a p ro fi l e o f t h ei r at h l et i c

an d ac ad em ic ach i ev em en t s

. Th ereaft er, Pai n e an d h i s st aff u se t h i s i nfo rm at i o n to

7 5 2 (6 0 8 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 04 ) (p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); Sco vi l l Fa st ner s v. S u r e-S n a p Co rp

. , 2 0 7 Ga. Ap p . 5 3 9 , 5 3 9 (4 2 8 SE2 d 4 3 5 ) (1 9 93 ).

2 Pa xt o n v. Ci t iz en s Ba n k & Tr u s t o f W

. Ga

. , 3 0 7 Ga. A pp

. 1 1 2

, 1 1 3 (7 0 4 SE2 d

2 1 5 ) (2 0 1 0 ); a cco r d Ho me Dep o t S u p pl y v. Hu n t e r M

g mt

. , 2 8 9 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 6

, 2 8 6 (6 5 6 SE2 d 8 9 8 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

2creat e an ad m i s s i o n s p ack ag e th at i s th en s u bm i t t ed o n b eh al f o f t he s t u d en t -at h l et e

cl i en t t o co l l eg es an d u n i vers i t i es t h ro ug h o u t t h e co un t ry

. Ad d i t io n al l y , d u ri n g t h e

en t i ret y o f t h e recru i t m e n t p r o c e s s , ACC co n t i n ues ad v ocat i n g o n t h ei r cl i en t s ’

b eh al f.

In 2 0 0 7

, B erk owi t z, a res i d en t o f Geo rg i a, was co ach i ng s wi m m i n g i n t h e

At l an t a area an d o p erat i n g a b us i n es s t h at was si m i lar t o ACC’ s b u s i n es s , as s i s t i n g

s t ud en t -at h l et es

. Th at s u m m er, Berk o w i t z an d ACC b eg an d is cu s s i n g co l l ab o rat i o n

an d l at er b eg an n eg o t i at i n g an ag reem en t, u n d er wh i ch Berk o wi t z w o u l d recei v e

co m m i s s io n s fo r s u cces s fu l l y referri n g s t u d en t -at hl et es t o AC C. Ul t i m at el y , o n

A u g u s t 9

, 2 0 0 7

, B e r k o w i t z a n d A C C e n t ered i n t o an i n d e p e n d e n t

co n su l t an t / co n t ract o r ag reem en t

, wh i ch p ro v i d ed t h at Berk o w i t z wo u l d p ro cu re

referral s o f p ro s p ect iv e s t u d en t -at h l et e cl i en t s ex cl u si vel y fo r ACC an d t h at s h e

wo u l d b e co m

p en s at e d f

o r s uch referral s

. On t h at s am e d ay , Berk owi t z al s o s i g n ed

an ag reem en t p l ed g i n g t h at sh e wo u l d n o t co m p et e wi t h ACC o r p ro v i d e s erv i ces fo r

an y o f it s co m

p et i t o rs fo r a p eri o d o f t h ree y ears i n t h e ev en t h er co n t ract o r ag reem en t

was t erm i n at ed

.

Ov er t h e co u rs e o f t h e nex t s ix y ears , Berk o wi t z wo rk ed wi t h ACC, recru i t i n g

s t ud en t -at h l et es i n Geo rg i a an d as si s t i n g i n t h e d ev el o p m en t o f cl ien t s’ ad m i s s i o n

3p ack ag es

. H o w e v e r , i n lat e 2 0 13

, Berk o wi t z, wh i l e s t i l l u n d er co n t ract wi t h ACC,

al l eg ed l y creat ed a co m

p et i n g bu s i nes s

. Co n s eq uen t l y , o n Decem ber 2 2

, 2 0 1 3

, ACC

d i s a b l e d Berk o wi t z’ s acces s t o h er ACC em ai l acco u n t as w el l as t h e co m p an y ’ s

web si t e. Sh o rt l y t h ereaft er, o n Decem b er 3 1

, 2 0 13

, ACC co nt act e d B e rk o w i t z, v i a

em ai l

, in fo rm ed h er t h a t s h e was i n v i o l at i o n o f t h e n o n -co m p et e ag reem en t

, an d

d em an d ed t h at s he ceas e al l co n t act wi t h ACC cl i en t s an d a l l w o r k i n d i rect

co m p et i t i o n wi t h ACC.

On J an u ary 6

, 2 0 1 4

, Berk o wi t z fi led s ui t ag ai n s t ACC in t h e Su p eri o r Co u rt o f

Fu l t o n Co u n t y

. In h er co m p l ai n t

, s h e s o u g h t a d e c l a rat o ry ju d g m en t t h at t h e n o n

co m p et e ag reem en t was un en fo rceab l e u n d er Geo rg i a l aw an d d am ag es (i n t h e fo rm

o f u n p ai d co m

m is s i o n s) fo r A CC’ s al l eg ed b reach o f t h e i n d ep e n d e n t

co n su l t an t / co n t ract o r ag reem en t

. Su b seq u en t l y, ACC fi l ed an an s w er an d a m o t i o n

t o d is m i s s , arg u i n g t h at th e t ri al co u rt l ack ed p ers o nal ju ri s d ict i o n b ecau s e A CC h ad

n o t t ran s act ed b us i nes s i n t h e St at e as co n t em p l at ed b y Geo rg ia’ s Lo ng Arm St at u t e. 3

Berk o wi t z fi l ed a res p o ns e, an d t h e t ri al co u rt hel d a n o n-ev i d en ti ary h eari n g o n t h e

i s su e, aft er wh i ch i t d en i ed ACC’ s m o t i o n b ut g ran t ed a cert i fi cat e o f i m m ed i at e

rev i ew. W e t h en g ran t ed ACC’ s i n t erl o cu t o ry ap p l i cat i o n , an d t h is ap p eal fo l l o ws

.

3 S ee OCGA § 9 -1 0 -9 0 et

s eq

.

4In i t s s o l e en u m e r a t io n o f erro r, ACC co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

d en y i n g i t s m ot i o n t o d i s m i s s Berk o wi t z’ s co m p lai n t fo r l ack o f pers o n al ju ri s d i ct i o n.

Sp eci fi cal l y , i t arg u es th at ju ri s d i ct i o n i s l ack i ng b ecau s e i t d i d n o t t ran s act b u s i n es s

i n t he St at e as co n t em

p l at ed b y Geo rg i a’ s Lo n g Arm

St at u t e. W e d i s ag ree.

Geo rg i a’ s Lo n g Arm St at u e al l o ws t h e co u rt s o f t h i s St at e t o ex erci se p ers o n al

ju ri s d i ct i o n o v er a n o n res id en t d efen d an t “ i f in p ers o n o r th ro u gh an ag en t

, h e o r s h e

. . . [t ] ran s act s an y b u s i n es s wi t h t h is [S] tat e.” 4 An d n earl y t en y ears ag o , in

I nn o va ti ve Cl i ni ca l & Co n s u lt i ng S er vs

. v. Fi r

s t Na ti o n a l Ba n k o

f Ames

, 5 t h e Su p rem e

Co u rt o f Geo rg i a ex p l ai n ed th a t “ O CGA § 9 -1 0 -9 1 (1 ) g ran t s Geo rg ia co u rt s t h e

u n l i m i t ed au t h o ri t y t o e x e rci se p ers o n al ju ri s d i ct i o n o v er an y n o nres i den t wh o

t ran s act s an y bu s i n es s i n t h i s St at e

. . . t o t h e m ax i m u m ex t en t p erm i t t ed by

p ro ced ural d u e p ro ces s.” 6 In d o i n g s o , t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o v erru l ed al l pri o r cas es

t h at fai l ed t o “ acco rd t h e ap p ro p ri at e b read t h t o t he co n st ru ct i o n o f t h e ‘ t ran s act i n g

an y b u s i n es s ’ l an g u ag e o f OCGA § 9 -1 0 -9 1 (1 ).” 7

4 OCGA § 9 -1 0 -9 1 (1 ).

5 2 7 9 Ga. 6 7 2 (6 2 0 SE2 d 3 5 2 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

6 Id

. at 6 7 5 (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ); s ee a l s o

7 Id

. at 6 7 6

.

5In d et erm i n i n g t h e l i m i t s o f p ro ced ural d u e p ro ces s , t h i s Co u rt ap pl i es a t h reep art t es t :

J u ri s d i ct i o n ex i s t s o n t h e b as i s o f t ran s act i n g b u si n es s i n t h i s [S] tat e i f

(1 ) t h e n o nres id en t d efen d an t h as p u rp o sefu l ly do n e s o m e act o r

co n s u m m at ed s o m e t r a n s act i on i n t h i s St at e, (2 ) i f t h e cau s e o f act i o n

ari s es fro m o r i s co n nect ed wi t h s u ch ac t o r t ran s act i o n , an d (3 ) i f th e

ex erci s e o f ju ri sd i ct io n b y t h e co u rt s o f t h i s St at e d o es n o t o ffen d

t rad i t i o n al n o t i o n s o f fai rn es s an d s u bs t an ti al ju s t i ce. 8

W e an al y ze t he fi rs t t wo p ro n g s o f t h i s t e s t t o d e t erm i n e wh et her “ a d efen d an t h as

es t ab l i s h ed t he m i n im

u m co n t act s wi th t h e fo ru m st at e n eces s ary fo r t h e ex erci s e o f

ju ri s d i ct i o n .” 9 An d i f s u ch m i n i m u m co n t act s are fo u nd

, we t h en a n al y ze t h e t h i rd

p ro n g o f th e t es t to co n s i d er wh et h er “ t h e ex erci s e o f ju ri s d ict i o n i s

‘ reas o n ab l e’

— t h at i s , t o en s u re t h a t i t d o es n o t res u l t s ol el y fro m ‘ ran d om ,’

‘ fo rt u i t o u s ’ o r ‘ at t en u at ed ’ co n tact s .” 1 0 Im po rt an t l y , th e ap pl i cat io n o f t he m i n i m u m

8 Pa xt o n , 3 07 Ga. A p p

. at 1 1 5 -1 6 (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco rd A er o To y S t o r e v. Gr i eves , 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p . 5 15 , 5 1 7 -1 8 (1 ) (6 31 SE2 d 7 3 4) (2 00 6 ).

9 Pa xt o n , 3 07 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 1 6 (p u n ct uat i on o m it t ed ); a cco r d ATCO S i g n &

Li g h ti n g Co

., LLC v. S t a mm M f g

., In c. , 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. 5 2 8

, 5 3 4 ( 1 ) ( 6 8 0 SE2 d 5 7 1 ) (2 0 0 9).

1 0 Pa xt o n , 3 0 7 Ga. A p p. at 1 1 6 (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco rd A TCO S i g n &

Li g h ti n g , 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p . at 5 3 4 (1 ).

6co n tact s ru l e wi l l “ v ary w i t h t h e q u al i t y an d nat u re o f t he d e f e n d a n t ’ s act i v i t y [.] ” 1 1

Nev ert h el es s , i t is es s en t i al i n each cas e t h at t h ere b e “ s o m e act b y wh i ch t h e

d efen d an t p u rp o s efu ll y a va ils itsel f o f th e p ri v i l eg e o f co n d u ct i n g act i v i t i es w i t h i n t h e

fo ru m St at e, t hu s i n v o k in g t he b en efi t s an d p ro t ect i on s o f i t s l aws .” 1 2

In t h e cas e s u b j u d i ce , th ro u g h t h e affi dav it s o f i t s o wn er Ri ch ard Pai n e, ACC

av ers t h at i t i s no t reg i s t ered t o d o b us i nes s i n Geo rg i a an d d o es n o t o wn pro p ert y o r

m ai n t ai n a b an k acco u n t wi t h in th e St at e. Bu t t h i s b y n o m ean s en d s o u r i n q u i ry

.

In d eed

, as o u r Su p rem e Co urt h as ex p l ai n ed

, “ no t h i n g i n s u b s ect i o n (1 ) [o f OCGA

§ 9 -1 0 -9 1 ] req u i res t h e p h y s i cal p res en ce o f t he n o n res i d en t i n Geo rg ia o r m i n i m i zes

t h e i m p o rt o f a no n res id en t ’ s i n t an g i b l e co n tact s wi t h t h e St at e.” 1 3 To t h e co n t r a r y,

Geo rg i a al l o ws t h e as sert i o n o f l o n g -arm ju ri s d i ct i o n o v e r n o n res i den t d efen d an t s

b as ed o n “ b us in es s co n du ct ed t h r o u g h p o s t al

, t el ep h o n ic, an d In t er net co n t a ct s .” 1 4

1 1 Aer o To y St o r e , 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 1 8 (1 ) (p u n ct uat i o n om i t t ed ); a cco r d S t u a r t v. Peyka n , In c. , 2 61 Ga. Ap p . 4 6 , 4 9 (1 ) (5 8 1 SE2 d 6 0 9 ) (2 0 0 3 ).

1 2 A er o To

y St o r e , 2 79 Ga. Ap p

. at 51 8 (1 ) (p un ct u a t i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d

S t u a r t , 2 6 1 Ga. Ap p . at 4 9 (1 ).

1 3 In n o va ti ve Cl i n i ca l

, 2 7 9 Ga. at 6 7 5; a cco r d Amer i r ea ch .co m

, LLC v. W a l ker

, 2 9 0 Ga. 2 6 1

, 2 7 0 (2 ) (7 1 9 SE2 d 4 8 9 ) (2 0 1 1 ); Pa xt o n , 3 0 7 Ga. Ap p . at 1 16 (1 ).

1 4 Pa xt on , 3 0 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 1 6 (1 ) (p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ) (em p h as i s su p p l i ed );

a cco rd A TCO Si

gn & Li g ht in g , 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 3 4 (1 ); s ee a l s o Ho me Dep ot

7An d a “ s i n g l e ev en t ” m ay be a s u f f i c i en t b as i s i f “ i t s effect s wi t h in t h e fo ru m are

s u b s t an t i al en o u g h .” 1 5

As p rev i o us l y n ot ed

, ACC o p erat es a web s i t e t h ro u g h wh i ch s t u d en t -at h l et es

acro s s t h e co u n t ry (i n cl u di n g t h o s e res i d i n g i n Geo rg ia) can a n d d o r e g i s t er to

b eco m e cl i en t s

. A n d i n Aer o To y S t o r e, LLC v. Gr i eves , 1 6 t h i s Co u rt n o t ed t h at

d eci s i o n s i n o t h e r j uri sd i ct io n s h av e “ d ev el o p ed reco gn i zi n g t h e t ech n o l o g i cal

rev o l u t i on u s h ere d i n b y t h e In t ern et an d u t i l i zi n g a sl i d i n g s cal e fo r d et erm i n i n g

wh et h er a n o n res i d en t h as s u b m i t t ed t o a s t at e’ s l o n g arm ju ri sd i ct i o n b y es t ab l i s h i n g

t h e req u i s i t e m i ni m

u m co n t act s t hro u g h In t e r n et -b as ed act i v i t y .” 1 7 Ad o p t i n g t h at

s l id i n g-s cal e m o d e o f an al y s is , we ex p l ai n ed t h at

S u p p l y

, I n c

. v. Hu n t er Ma n a g emen t LLC

, 28 9 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 6

, 2 8 9 (6 5 6 SE2 d 8 9 8 ) (2 0 0 8) (h o l d i n g t h at “ ev en wh ere a n o n res i d en t h as n o p h y si cal p res en ce i n G eo rg i a, i n t an g i b l e co n t act s, s u ch as t el ep h o n e co m m u n i cat i o n s , can b e s uffi ci en t t o es t ab l i s h

‘ m i n i m u m co nt act s ’ wh i ch m eet t he co n s t i t u ti o n al s t an d a r d fo r t h e ex erci s e o f

p ers o n al ju ri s d i ct io n .”).

1 5 Cr o s s i n g Pa r

k Pr o p s

., LLC v. JDI Fo r t La u der d a l e, LLC

, 3 1 6 Ga. A p p

. 4 7 1,

4 7 6 (7 29 SE2 d 6 0 5 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Ro b er t s o n v. CRI, In c. , 26 7 Ga. Ap p . 7 5 7 , 7 6 0 (6 0 1 SE2 d 1 6 3 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

1 6 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p . 5 1 5.

1 7 Id

. at 52 2 (1 ).

8[a] t o n e en d o f t h e s p e c t r u m are s i t u at i o n s wh ere a defen d an t cl earl y

d o es b u s i n es s o v er t h e In t ern et

. If t h e d efen d an t en t ers in t o co n t ract s

wi t h res i d en t s o f a fo rei g n ju ri s d i ct i on t h at i n v o l ve t h e k n o w i n g an d

rep eat ed t ran s m i s s i o n o f co m p ut e r fi l es o v er t h e In tern et

, p ers o nal

ju ri s di ct i o n i s pro per. A t t h e o p p os i t e en d are s i t uat i o n s wh ere a

d efen d an t h as s i m

p ly p o s t ed i n fo rm at io n o n an In t ern et W eb s i t e wh ich

i s acces s i bl e t o u sers i n fo rei g n ju ri sd i ct i o n s

. A p as s i v e W eb s i t e t hat

d o es l i t t l e m o re t h an m ak e i n fo rm at i o n a v a i l ab l e t o t h o s e wh o are

i n t e r e s t ed i n i t i s n ot g ro u n ds fo r t h e ex erci s e o f p ers o n al ju ri s d ict i o n

. Th e m i d d l e g ro un d i s o ccu p i e d b y i n t eract i ve W eb s i t es wh ere a us er

can ex ch an g e i n fo r m a t i o n wi t h t h e h os t co m p u t er. In t h es e cas es , th e

ex erci s e o f ju ri s d i ct i on i s d e t e r m i n ed b y ex am i n i n g t h e l ev el o f

i n t eract i v i t y an d co m

m erci al n at u re o f t h e ex ch an ge o f i nfo rm at i o n t hat

o ccu rs o n t h e W eb s i t e. 1 8

Here, ACC’ s web s i t e i s, at t h e v ery leas t, cert ai n l y i n teract i v e i n t h at i t al l o ws

p ro s p ect i v e, as wel l as cu rren t

, st u d en t -at hl et e cl i en t s t o s et u p an o n l i n e acco u n t an d

i n p u t t h ei r acad em i c, at h l et ic, an d fi n a n c i a l i n fo rm at i o n, s o t h at ACC can , i n t u rn ,

creat e ad m i s s i on s p a c k a g e s t o b e s ub m i t ted to u ni v ers i t i es an d co l l eg es acro s s t h e

co u nt ry

. In deed

, as ACC ack n o wl ed g es , s o m e o f i t s s t u d en t -at h l et e cl i en t s are, i n fact

,

res i den t s o f Geo rg i a. Fu rt h erm o re, A CC h ir e d Berk o wi t z, a Geo rg i a res i d en t, t o as s i s t

1 8 Id

. (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); acco rd Zi p p o Mf g. C o

. v

. Zi

p p o Do t Co m, In c. , 9 5 2 FSu pp 1 11 9 , 1 1 2 4 (III) (A) (2 ) (W

. D. Pa. 1 9 9 7 ).

9t h e co m

p an y in o b t ai n i n g ad d i t i o n al cl i en t s fro m Geo rg i a, wh i ch s he di d

, a n d,

i m p o rt an t l y, Berk o wi tz’ s cau se o f act i o n s t em s fro m a d i s pu t e reg ard i n g t h e

p ro cu rem en t o f t h os e v ery cl i en t s

. 1 9

Nev ert h el es s , ACC arg u es at g reat l en g t h t h at Berk o wi t z was an i n d ep en d en t

co n tract or, rat h er t h an i t s ag en t

, an d t h erefo re, h er wo rk i n Geo rg i a can n o t b e i m p u t ed

t o ACC s o as t o s u p p o r t t h e co n t en t i o n t h at t h e co m p an y h ad s u ffi ci en t m i n i m u m

co n tact s wi t h t h e S t a t e. Ho wev er, wi t h reg ard t o t h e t erm “ ag en t ” in t h e m i n i m u m

co n tact s co n t ex t u n d er O CGA § 9 -1 0 -9 1

, we are “ n o t d e a l i n g w i t h t he t rad i t i o n al

‘ pri n ci p al -ag en cy ’ t h eo ry o f res p o n d eat s u peri o r.” 2 0 Rat h er we are co n cern ed wi th

wh et h er a fo ru m st at e m ay “ ex erci se p ers o nal ju r i s d i c t i o n o v er a n o n res i d en t

d efen d an t b as ed u p o n t h e ‘ m in i m u m co n t act ’ t h eo ry [.] ” 2 1 A n d wi t h t h e rel ax at i o n o f

1 9 S ee Pa xt on , 30 7 Ga. Ap p. at 1 1 5 -1 6 (n o t i n g t h at t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s cau s e o f

act i on m u s t a r i s e fro m o r b e co n n ect ed w i t h t h e d efen d an t ’ s act s o r t ran s act i o n s in

Geo rg i a).

2 0 Co n t ’l Res ea r ch Co r

p

. v. Reeves

, 2 0 4 Ga. A p p

. 1 2 0, 1 2 3 (1 ) (4 1 9 SE2 d 4 8 ) (1 9 9 2) (p u n ct u at i on o m i t ted ).

2 1 Co n t ’l Res ea r ch Co rp

. , 2 0 4 G a. A p p

. at 1 2 3 (1 ) (ci tat i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); s ee In t ’l S

h oe Co

. v. S t a t e o

f W a s h

. , 3 2 6 U.S. 3 10

, 3 1 6 (6 6 SCt 1 5 4

, 9 0 LE

9 5 (1 9 4 5 ) (h o l d i n g t h at “ d ue p ro ces s req u i res o n ly t h at i n ord er t o s u b ject a d efen d an t

t o a ju dg m en t i n pers o n am , i f h e b e n o t p res en t wi t h i n t h e t erri t o ry o f t h e fo ru m , h e h av e cert ai n m i n i m

u m co n t act s wi th i t s u ch t h at t h e m ai n t en an ce o f t he s u i t d o es n ot

o ffen d ‘ t rad i ti o na l not i o ns o f fai r p l ay an d s u b st an t i al ju s t i ce” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

10t h e d u e-p ro ces s cri teri a, t h e “ j u r i s d i ct i o na l d i s t i n ct i o n b et ween ag en t s an d

i n d ep en den t c o n t ract o rs h as b eg u n t o fad e.” 2 2 Bu t ev en m o re i m p o rt an t l y , h ere,

reg ard l es s o f wh et h er Berk o wi t z act ed as an ag en t o r m erel y an i n d ep en d en t

co n tract or, as no t ed s u

p ra , ACC, v i a i t s web si t e, h ad sev eral cl i en t s i n Geo rg i a ev en

b efo re Berk o w i tz was h i red . Gi v en t h es e ci rcu m st an ces , an d ap p l y i n g o u r Su p rem e

Co u rt ’ s m o re ex p an s iv e i n t erp ret at i o n o f t h e “ t ran s act i n g an y b us i n es s ” p ro v i s i o n o f

o u r L o n g Arm St at u t e , 2 3 we co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co urt d i d n o t err i n d et erm i n i n g

t h at ACC h as s u ffi ci en t m i ni m u m co n t act s wi t h t h e St at e o f G eo rg i a t o warran t t h e

ex erci s e o f p ers o n al ju ri s d i ct i o n o v er i t i n t h i s cas e. 2 4 A cco rd i n gl y , we affi rm t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s d en i al o f ACC’ s m o t i o n t o d is m i s s

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . El l i n g t o n , P. J., a n d McFa d den , J., co ncu r

.

2 2 Co n t ’l Res ea r ch Co r

p. , 2 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 2 3 -2 4 (1 ) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco r d Ho l l i n gs wo r t h v. Cu n a rd Li n e Lt d

. , 1 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 50 9

, 5 1 3 (2 6 3

SE2 d 1 9 0) (1 9 7 9).

2 3 S ee In n o va t i ve Cl i n i ca l , 2 7 9 Ga. at 6 7 5 -7 6

.

2 4 S ee Aer o To

y S t o r e, LLC

, 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 2 3 -2 4 (1 ) (h o l di n g t h at

n o n res i d en t au t om o b i l e s el l er, wh o re g u l a r l y s o l i ci t ed b u s i n es s i n Geo rg i a v i a an i n t eract i v e web si t e an d, i n fact

, s o ld p l ai n t i ff t he car at i s s u e i n t he l aws u i t

, h ad

s u ffi ci en t m i n i m

u m co n t act s wi t h Geo rg i a t o warran t t h e ex e r c i s e o f p ers o n al ju ri s d i c t i o n i n p l ai nt iff’ s breach o f co n t ract act i o n, ev en t ho u g h s el l er di d n o t h av e

o ffi ces i n Geo rg i a an d d i d n ot d eri v e s ub s t an t i al rev en u e fro m s al es i n Geo rg i a).

11