FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEVEN T HC IRC UIT JUNE 1 , 2006 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 05- 13687

________________________ D . C. D o c k e tN o . 0 4 - 0 0 5 1 5 - CV - FTM - 3 3 - SPC M I C H A E L S N O W , P la in tif f - A p p e lla n t, v ersu s D I R E C T V , I N C ., aC a lif o rn iac o rp o r a tio n , S T U M P , S T O R E Y , C A L L A H A N , D I E T R I C H & S P E A R S , P .A ., aF lo r id aP r o f

e s s io n a l A s s o c ia tio n , Y A R M U T H , W I L S D O N & C A L F O , P L L C , aW a s h in g to n P r o f

e s s io n a l L im ite d L iab ilityC o m p a n y , J O H N D O E S , 1 - 2 5 , D e f e n d a n ts - A p p e lle e s .

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f orthe M i ddl e D i s tr i c tof F l or i da

_________________________ ( Ju n e 1, 2006) B efo re C A RN E S , W IL S O N an d P R Y O R , C i rcu i tJu d g es.2

W IL S O N , C i rc ui tJudg e: M i c ha e l S now br oughta n a c t i on unde rthe S t or e d C om m uni c a t i ons A c t( the

“ S C A ”), 1 8 U . S . C . § 2 7 0 1 etseq . , ag ai n stD i recT V , In c. , a C al i fo rn i a co m p an y; Stu mp , St o ry , Ca l l a h a n , D i e tr i c h & Sp e a r s , P. A . ( “ Stu mp ” ) , aFl o r i d al a w f i rm; Y a rmu th , W i l s d o n & Ca l f o , PLLC ( “ Y a rmu th ” ) , aSt a t e o f W a s h i n g t o n l a w f

i rm; a nd 25 unknow n i ndi vi dua l s . S now a l l e ge d tha te m pl oy e e s of D i r e c T V , S tum p, a nd Y a rm uth a c c e s s e d hi s w e bs i t e ’ s e l e c tr oni c bul l e t i n boa r d w i thout author i z a t i on. T he di s tr i c tc ourtdi s m i s s e d the c om pl a i ntpur s ua ntt o R ul e 12( b) ( 6) of the F e de r a l R ul e s of

C i vi l P r oc e dur e , r e a s oni ng tha te l e c tr oni c bul l e t i n boa r ds a r e n o t “in e le c tr o n ic s to r a g e ,” a n d , th u s , a r e n o t p r o te c te d b yth e S C A . See 18 U . S . C . §§ 2510( 17) , 2701. W e a gr e e w i th the di s tr i c tc ourttha tS now ’ s c om pl a i nt f a i l s t o s t a t e ac aus e of

a c t i on f orw hi c h r e l i e f

c a n be gr a nt e d, buton adi f f e r e nt grou nd : S no w ’ s c om pl ai ntfa i l s t o al l ege, as the S C A re qu i re s, thatthe w ebsi t e w as co n fig u re d to n o t b e r ea d il y a cc es sib le b y th e g en er al p u b li c. A s to Y ar m u th ’s d i s s mi s s a l f

o rl a c ko f

p e r s o n a l j u r i s d i c t i o n , w e a l s o a f f i rm. I . B ACKGROUN D D ir e c T V h a s b e e n in v o lv e d in an a tio n w id e e f f o rt to s to p th e p ir a tin g o f its e nc rypt e d s a t e l l i t e tr a ns m i s s i ons byi ndi vi dua l s w i th “ pi r a t e a c c e s s de vi c e s ” w ho i nt er ce ptthe transm i ss i on s w i tho utpayi ng fe es t o D i re cT V . D i re cT V hi re dSnow submitted documentation showing over 1,800 ca ses pendingin Florida district 1 courts with Dire cTV a s a par ty . This number does not include thecountless demand letters sent on Dire c TV ’sbehalf

to indivi duals suspe c te d o f p iratingDire c TV ’ssa te llitetrans mis sio ns . 3 Y a rm uth, al a w f

i rm w i th i t s s ol e of

f i c e i n S e a tt l e , W a s hi ngt on, t o he l p w i th the effo rt . A s p arto f i t s strat eg y, D i recT V i n i t i at ed th o u san d s o f an t i -p i racy acti o n s, h u n d r e d s o f

w h ic h w e r e f

ile d in F lo r id af

e d e r a l d is tr ic t c o u rts . Y a rm u th 1 oc c a s i ona l l y ha s r e pr e s e nt e d D i r e c T V i n F l or i dac ourt s a l ongs i de l oc a l F l or i da coun se l re t ai ned b y D i re cT V . S tum p, a F l ori da l aw fi rm , al so has r epre se nt ed D i recT V i n F l o ri d a an t i -p i racy acti o n s, o n e o f w h i ch i n v o l v ed S n o w as a de f e nda nt . D i r e c T V ’ s a c t i on a ga i ns tS now w a s e ve ntua l l ydi s m i s s e d w i thout prej ud i ce . S no w ’ s c om pl ai ntal l eges thathe cr ea t ed hi s non -c om m er ci al w ebsi t e, ht t p: / / w w w . s top- c or

por ate - ex tor t i on. c om (th e “S C E w eb site” o r “S n o w ’s w ebsi t e” ), as a “ pri vat e s up po rtgrou p” w ebsi t e f or “ i nd i vi du al s w ho have been, ar e b e in g , o rw ill b e s u e d b y a n y C o rp o r a te e n tity .” S n o w ’s w e b s ite a llo w s its m e m b e r s to s h a r e m e s s a g e s w ith e a c h o th e rth r o u g h a n e le c tr o n ic b u lle tin b o a r d . Th e l a n g u a g e o n th e we b s i t e ’ s h o me p a g e “ e x p r e s s l yf o rb i d s a c c e s s b yDI RE CT V a n d its a g e n ts .” T o g a in a c c e s s , o n e m u s t r e g is te r , c r e a te ap a s s w o r d , a n d a g r e e to a ddi t i ona l t e rm s tha ta f

f i rm the non- a s s oc i a t i on w i th D i r e c T V . A pe r s on c l i c ki ng “I A g r e e to th e s e te rm s ” m ay e n te rin to , v ie w , a n d p a rtic ip a te in th e e le c tr o n icYar muth joined the motion conditi oned on the denial of its Rule 12(b)(2)motion. 2 4 b u lle tin b o a r d . A p e r s o n c lic k in g “I d o n o t a g r e e to th e s e te rm s ” is r e - d ir e c te d to the r e gi s tr a t i on pa ge a nd c a nnotpr oc e e d t o the e l e c tr oni c bul l e t i n boa r d. O n m ul t i pl e oc c a s i ons , S now a l l e ge s , e m pl oy e e s of D i r e c T V , Y a rm uth, a nd S tum p a c c e s s e d hi s w e bs i t e a nd vi e w e d i t s e l e c tr oni c bul l e t i n boa r d, i n e xc e s s of th e irau th o r ity . A f

te rd is c o v e r in g th e u n au th o r iz e d a c c e s s e s , S n o w f ile d h is c o m p la in t. Y a rm uth m ove d f

ordi s m i s s a l pur s ua ntt o F e d. R . C i v. P . 12( b) ( 2) f orl a c k of p e r s o n a l ju r is d ic tio n . T h e o th e rd e f e n d a n ts a ls o m o v e d f

o rd is m is s a l p u r s u a n t to R ul e 12(b)(6), cl ai m i ng thatS no w fa i l ed t o st at e acause of a ct i on up on w hi ch re li ef ca n b e g ra n ted b ec au se , as a m atter o f law , th e m es sa g es sto re d o n S n o w ’s el ec troni c bul l et i n b oard are no tel ec troni c c om m un i ca t i on s i n el ec troni c s t orage as c ont e m pl a t e d by the S C A . I n a ddi t i on t o gr a nt i ng both m ot i ons t o di s m i s s , the 2 d is tr ic t c o u rt d e n ie d ar e q u e s t b y S n o w f o rd is c o v e ryo n th e ju r is d ic tio n is s u e . T hi s appe a l f

ol l ow e d. II. S TAND ARDS O F R EVIEW W e r evi ew de no vo a di stri ctcourt ’ s grantof a m ot i on t o d i sm i ss for f ai l ure to s ta te ac la im . Ox

fo rd A s s e t M gm t., L td. v . J

a h a r is , 2 9 7 F .3 d 1 1 8 2 , 1 1 8 7 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 2 ) .5

W e r evi ew the di stri ctcourt ’ s det erm i nat i on thati tdi d n othave pers on al ju r is d ic tio n o v e rad e f

e n d a n t d e n o v o . Me i e rex r e l Me i e rv . Sun I

nt ’ l H ote l s , L td. , 288 F . 3d 1264, 1268 ( 11th C i r . 2002) . W he n, a s he r e , adi s tr i c tc ourtdoe s not cond ucta di sc re t i on ary e vi dent i ary heari ng on a R ul e 12(b)(2) m ot i on , the pl ai nt i ff m us te s t abl i s h apr i m af a c i e c a s e of

pe r s ona l j ur i s di c t i on ove ranonr e s i de nt defe nd antby pres ent i ng enou gh evi dence t o w i thst and a m ot i on for di re ct ed v e r d ic t. M

a da r a v . H

a ll , 91 6 F . 2d 15 10 , 15 14 (11th C i r. 19 90 ). “ T he di stri ctcourt m ustac ce ptthe fa ct s a l l eged i n the com pl ai ntas true, t o the ext entthey are un controvert ed by the defendant ’ s a ff i davi t s. ” I

d. W he r e the pl a i nt i f

f’ s c om pl a i nt a n d th e d e f

e n d a n t’s a f

f id a v its c o n f

lic t, th e d is tr ic t c o u rt m u s t c o n s tru e a ll r e a s o n ab le in f

e r e n c e s in th e p la in tif

f’s f a v o r . I d. III. D ISCUSSI ON A . P er son alJu ri sd i ct i on O ver Y arm u th I n f e de r a l que s t i on c a s e s a r i s i ng unde raf e de r a l s t a tut e s i l e nta s t o s e rvi c e of p r o c e s s , R u l e 4 ( e ) o f

th e F e d e r a l R u l e s o f

C i v i l P r o c e d u r e r e q u i r e s th a twe d e te rm in e b o th ju r is d ic tio n a n d s e rv ic e o f p r o c e s s u s in g s ta te a m e n ab ility s ta n d a r d s , th a t is , th e s ta te lo n g - a rm s ta tu te . Cab le/ H om e C om m c’ n C orp. v. N etw ork P rods. , Inc. , 90 2 F . 2d 82 9, 85 5 (11 th C i r. 19 90 ). O ur anal ys i s, ho w ever , goe s be y ond the s t a t e ’ s l ong- a rm s t a tut e . J ur i s di c t i on ove ranon- r e s i de nt6

d e f e n d a n t m u s t a ls o s a tis f

y th e D u e P r o c e s s C lau s e . Se e i d. a t857. B e c aus e the S C A i s s i l e nta s t o s e rvi c e of pr oc e s s a nd the pr e s e ntc a s e w a s br oughti n the U n ite d S ta te s D is tr ic t C o u rt f o rth e M id d le D is tr ic t o f F lo r id a , w e ap p lyth e S ta te o f F lo r id a ’s lo n g - a rm s ta tu te , w h ic h s ta te s in r e le v a n t p a rt: ( 1) A ny pe r s on, w he the rornotac i t i z e n orr e s i de ntof thi s s t a t e , w ho p e r s o n a llyo rth r o u g h a n a g e n t d o e s a n yo f th e a c ts e n u m e r a te d in th is s u b s e c t i o n th e r e b y s u b mi t s h i ms e l f o r h e r s e l f . . . t o th e j u r i s di c t i on of the c ourt s of

thi s s t a t e f

ora n y cau se o f a c t i on a r i s i ng f r om the doi ng o f an y o f th e fo l l o w i n g act s:

. . . (b) C om m i tt i ng a t ort i ou s a ctw i thi n thi s s t at e.

. . . ( f ) C au s in g in

ju ry to p e r s o n s o rp r o p e rtyw ith in th is s ta te a r is in g o u t o f

a n a c t o ro m is s i o n b y th e d e f e n d a n t o u ts id e th is s t a t e , i f , a toraboutthe t i m e of the i nj ury , . . . [ t ] he de f e nda nt w a s e n g a g e d in s o lic ita tio n o rs e rv ic e a c tiv itie s w ith in th is s ta te ;

. . . ( 2 ) A d e f e n d a n t w h o is e n g a g e d in s u b s ta n tia l a n d n o t is o la te d a c tiv ity w i thi n thi s s t at e, w hether s uc h ac t i vi ty i s w ho l l y i nt er st at e, i ntra st at e, or otherw ise, is subj ec tt o the j uri sdi ct i on of the court s of thi s s t at e, w h eth er o r n o tth e cl ai m ari ses fro m th atact i v i ty. F l a. S t at . § 4 8. 19 3 (20 06 ). W e f in d n o b a s is to a s s e rt ju r is d ic tio n o v e rY a rm u th . F ir s t, S n o w b r ie f ly a r g u e s th a t Y a rm u th is s u b je c t to ju r is d ic tio n u n d e r§ 4 8 .1 9 3 ( 1 ) ( b ) b e c au s e it conspi re d w i th and ac t ed throu gh i t s a gent s D i re cT V and S tum p, w hi ch com m i tt edF or e xamp le , th eonly

alle g atio n th at menti on s ac ts c ommitte d in F lorida state s: 3 “DIRECTV, STUMP, and YARMUTH havecommitted, and conspire d to commit, acts and have acte d alone a

nd in concert to commit acts within the State of Florida . . . relevant to and giving rise to the claims herein.” 7 t ort i ous a c t s i n F l or i da . S now r e l i e s s ol e l yon va gue a nd c onc l us orya l l e ga t i ons 3 pr e s e nt e d i n hi s c om pl a i nt , w hi c h a r e i ns uf f i c i e ntt o e s t abl i s h apr i m af a c i e c a s e of p e r s o n a l ju r is d ic tio n o v e rY a rm u th . Se e P os ne rv . Es s ex I ns . C o. , 178 F . 3d 1209, 12 17 -18 (11 th C i r. 19 99 ) ( per c uri am ) ( fi nd i ng a pl ai nt i ff’ s vague al l egat i on s of a c ons pi r a c y i ns uf

f i c i e ntt o e s t abl i s h a n a c t i onabl e c ons pi r a c ys ubj e c t i ng the defe nd antt o p er sonal j uri sdi ct i on ). W i l sdon , a Y arm uth p artner, subm i tt ed an a f f i da vi ti n w hi c h he c l a i m s tha t , w hi l e r e pr e s e nt i ng D i r e c T V i n F l or i dac ourt s , he w o rk e d w ith lo c a l c o u n s e l r e ta i n e d b yD i r e c TV. D i r e c T V , notY a rm uth, w oul d be th e p r i n c i p a l i n a n y p o s s i b l e a g e n c yr e l a t i o n s h i p th a te x i s t e d a m o n g Di r e c T V, Y a rm u th , a n d S tu m p , w h ic h w a s r e ta in e d b yD ir e c T V in s o m e F lo r id aa c tio n s . S no w pres ent s no fac tual al l egat i on s dem on stra t i ng an agency r el at i on shi p w here Y a rm u th w a s th e p r in c ip a l a n d S tu m p w a s its a g e n t, a s w o u ld b e r e q u ir e d to s u b j e c tYarm u th t o j u r i s d i c t i o n i n F l o r i d af o rS tu m p ’ s a c t i o n s . Ac c o r d i n g l y , we fi nd no basi s t o subj ec tY arm uth t o p er sonal j uri sdi ct i on un der § 48 . 19 3(1)(b). E qu al l y unp er suas i ve i s S no w ’ s argum entfor j uri sdi ct i on un der § 4 8 .1 9 3 ( 1 ) ( f

) . S n o w a r g u e s th a t u n d e rth e s ta tu te ’s p la in la n g u a g e Y a rm u th isA Yar muth employee admitted to acce ssing Snow’s website, which wa s hosted on 4 Globat’s ser

vers. Theemployee w as in Seattle, Washington. Ac cordingto documentation su bmitte d b y

Ya rm uth that w a s n ot dispute d b y

Sno w, Gl ob at’ s serv erswereloc ate d in California. Snow claims that the unauthorized acc ess of the w ebsite ca used injury

in Florida beca use he w as physically

located in F lorida. 8 subj ec tt o j uri sdi ct i on because i tcaused i nj ury t o h i m i n F l ori da. H ow ever , w e are 4 r e q u ir e d to r e a d th e s ta tu te a s th e F lo r id aS u p r e m e C o u rt w o u ld . Ca b le/ Ho me C om m c’ n , 9 0 2 F .2 d a t 8 5 6 . T h e F lo r id aS u p r e m e C o u rt h a s h e ld th a t § 48 . 19 3(1)(f

) app l i es on l y w hen a defendant ’ s outof st at e a ct i on s c ause pers on al in ju ry o rd a m a g e to p h y s ic a l p r o p e rtyin th e S ta te o f F lo r id a . See A etna L i

f e & Cas. C o. v. T

herm -O -D isc, Inc. , 511 S o. 2d 992, 994 ( F l a . 1987) . B e c aus e S now do es no tal l ege thathe sust ai ned any pers on al i nj ury or dam age t o h i s physi ca l prop erty, Y arm uth canno tbe re ac hed u nd er§ 4 8. 19 3(1)(f ). F i nal l y, S no w ar gu es thatthe st atut e’ s gener al j uri sdi ct i on prov i si on appl i es to Y a rm u th . See F l a . S t a t . § 48. 193( 2) ( 2006) . G e ne r a l j ur i s di c t i on doe s not r e q u ir e ac o n n e c tio n b e tw e e n ad e f e n d a n t’s a c tiv itie s a n d th e c au s e o f a c tio n . See H e lic o p te r o s N a c io n a le s de C o lo m b ia S.A . v . H a ll , 4 6 6 U . S. 4 0 8 , 4 1 4 n . 9 , 1 0 4 S. C t . 18 72 n. 9, 80 L . E d. 2d 40 4 (19 84 ). F l ori da court s have hel d the t erm

“ s ubs t a nt i a l a nd noti s ol a t e d a c t i vi ty ” us e d i n § 48. 193( 2) m e a ns “ c ont i nuous a nd s y s t e ma t i c g e n e r a l b u s i n e s s c o n t a c t ” w i th Fl o r i d a , at e rm u s e d b yth e Su p r e me C ourti n H

el i co p tero s to d e te rm in e w h e th e rg e n e r a l ju r is d ic tio n w a s p e rm is s ib leW i l s do ns t at e s th atth enumb er i s unkn o wn . S n o wc l ai m s m any. 5 9 u n d e rth e D u e P r o c e s s C lau s e . Se e W oods v . N

ov a C os . B e l i

z e L td. , 739 S o. 2d 6 1 7 , 6 2 0 ( F la . D is t. C t. A p p . 1 9 9 9 ) ; H e l i c opte r os , 46 6 U . S . at41 5-16 , 10 4 S . C t . at 1 8 7 2 - 7 3 . S now ’ s c om pl a i nts t a t e s tha tY a rm uth, i t s s ha r e hol de r s a nd a s s oc i a t e s ha ve be e n c onduc t i ng bus i ne s s i n F l or i daa nd i n F l or i dac ourt s on D i r e c T V ’ s be ha l f a nd in c o n ju n c tio n w ith S tu m p . Y a rm u th d o e s n o t a r g u e th a t it h a s n o c o n ta c ts w ith F lo r id a , b u t c la im s th a t its c o n ta c ts a r e f e w . A c c o r d in g to W ils d o n ’s a f f id a v it, Y arm uth i s al aw fi rm organi ze d and l ocat ed sol el y i n S ea tt l e, W as hi ng t on . Ithas never m ai nt ai ned any ph ys i ca l pres ence (e . g. , offi ce , m ai l i ng addres s, or re gi st er ed ag en t ) i n F l o ri d a, n o r h as i tev er so l i ci t ed cl i en t s i n F l o ri d a. N o n e o f i t s att o rn eys ar e a dm i tt ed t o the F l ori da bar. W i l sdon al so st at es , ho w ever , thatY arm uth h as r e p r e s e n te d f

o u rF lo r id a - b a s e d c lie n ts in m a tte r s p e n d in g in W a s h in g to n ’s s ta te c ourt s . I t s a tt orne y s ha ve c onduc t e d pr e - l i t i ga t i on ne got i a t i ons thr ough t e l e phone c o m m u n ic a tio n s , e le c tr o n ic m a il, a n d tr a d itio n a l m a il w ith m a n yF lo r id ar e s id e n ts s u s p e c te d o f

p ir a tin g D ir e c T V ’s s a te llite s ig n a l, a n d h a v e r e p r e s e n te d D ir e c T V in 5 th re e p irac y- re lated ca se s in F lo rid a. A cc o rd in g to W il sd o n , Y ar m u th ’s rep resen t at i o n o f F l o ri d a cl i en t s an d o f D i recT V i n F l o ri d a cases g en erat ed l ess than o ne perce ntof the l aw fi rm ’ s t ot al re venu e.Sno w’ s atto rney alsoprovide d a

n aff ida vit and trans c ript documentinga Ya rm uth 6 attorney ’s attempt to depose in F lorida a witness subpoenae d in connection with a casepending in the Southern District of Iowa. 10 S now c ount e r s tha tW i l s don unde r s t a t e d Y a rm uth’ s t i e s w i th F l or i da . S now prov i ded d ocum ent at i on show i ng Y arm uth att orneys l i st ed as the coun se l of re cord i n fou r F l ori da ca se s other than the on es l i st ed by W i l sdon . S no w al so subm i tt ed 6 do cum ent at i on show i ng D i re cT V w as a party i n 1 , 82 0 l aw sui t s i n the fe dera l d i stri ctco u rt s i n F l o ri d a. S n o w p resen t ed n o ev i d en ce l i n k i n g Y arm u th t o th ese cases. B a s e d on the a l l e ga t i ons , the a f f i da vi t s , a nd the s upport i ng doc um e nt a t i on, w e f in d n o “c o n tin u o u s a n d s y s te m a tic ” c o n ta c ts s u f f ic ie n t to s u b

je c t Y a rm u th to g e n e r a l ju r is d ic tio n in F lo r id a . A n ys u g g e s tio n th a t Y a rm u th w a s in v o lv e d in a ll 1, 820 of D i r e c T V ’ s F l or i dac a s e s i s s pe c ul a t i on. Y a rm uth’ s ne got i a t i ons on D i r e c T V ’ s be ha l f

w i th s om e F l or i dar e s i de nt s , i t s s e ve n appe a r a nc e s a s c ouns e l of r e c or d f orD i r e c T V , a nd i t s r e pr e s e nt a t i on of f ourF l or i dac l i e nt s i n W a s hi ngt on co u rt s are n o ten o u g h t o est ab l i sh g en eral j u ri sd i ct i o n , w h en b al an ced ag ai n st Y a rm uth’ s l a c k of

aphy s i c a l pr e s e nc e i n F l or i da , i t s non- s ol i c i t a t i on of F l or i da cl i ent s, and i t s der i vi ng l es s than o ne perce ntof i t s r evenues fr om m att er s conn ec t ed w i th F l ori da. Y arm uth fal l s out si de the sc op e of § 48 . 19 3(2). B ec ause Y arm uth i s notsubj ec tt o j uri sdi ct i on un der F l ori da’ s l on g-arm11

s ta tu te , w e n e e d n o t a d d r e s s w h e th e rth e D u e P r o c e s s C lau s e p e rm its ju r is d ic tio n . W e affi rm th e g ran to f Y arm u th ’ s m o t i o n t o d i sm i ss. B . D is m is s a l o f

S n o w ’ s C o m p la in t f

o r F a ilu r e t o S t a t e a C la im W e n o w tu rn to th e m o tio n to d is m is s f o rf a ilu r e to s ta te ac la im . W e h o ld tha tS now di d nota l l e ge the m a t e r i a l e l e m e nt s ne c e s s a ryt o s t a t e ac l a i m unde rthe S C A . O u ra n a ly s is b e g in s w ith ag e n e r a l d is c u s s io n o f p le a d in g s ta n d a r d s . W e th e n a d d r e s s th e r e q u ir e m e n ts o f s ta tin g ac la im u n d e rth e S C A , a n d f in a lly c o n c lu d e o u ra n a ly s is b y e x a m in in g th e f o u rc o rn e r s o f

S n o w ’s c o m p la in t. 1. P le adi ng Standards A ll f a c ts s e t f o rth in ap la in tif

f’s c o m p la in t a r e to b e a c c e p te d a s tru e . Ox fo rd A s s e t M gm t. , 2 9 7 F . 3 d at1 1 8 8 . A co m p l ai n tw i l l n o tb e d i sm i ssed “ u n l ess i ti s p l a i n th a tth e p l a i n t i f f c a n p r o v e n o s e to f

f a c t s th a tw o u l d s u p p o rtth e c l a i ms i n the com pl ai nt . ” I

d. “ H ow e ve r , c onc l us orya l l e ga t i ons , unw a rr a nt e d de duc t i ons of fa ct s or l egal concl usi on s m as qu er adi ng as fa ct s w i l l no tpreventdi sm i ss al . ” I d. ; see a l so Ka em p e v. M yers , 367 F . 3d 958, 963 ( D . C . C i r . 2004) ( “ [ W ] e w i l l not a c c e pti nf

e r e nc e s dr a w n by pl a i nt i f f s i f s uc h i nf e r e nc e s a r e uns upport e d bythe f a c ts s e t o u t in th e c o m p la in t . . . .” ) ( q u o ta tio n s o m itte d ) . “[ O u r ] d u tyto lib e r a lly c ons true apl a i nt i f

f’ s c om pl a i nti n the f

a c e of am ot i on t o di s m i s s i s notthe equi val entof a duty t o re- w ri t e i tfor [ the pl ai nt i ff ] . ” P eterso n v. A t la n ta H o u s.12

A uth. , 99 8 F . 2d 90 4, 91 2 (11 th C i r. 19 93 ). R u le 8 ( a ) r e q u ir e s th a t th e c o m p la in t c o n ta in o n ly“as h o rt a n d p la in s t a t e m e ntof

the c l a i m s how i ng tha tthe pl e a de ri s e nt i t l e d t o r e l i e f . ” F e d. R . C i v. P . 8(a) . A pl ai nt i ff

need no tpl ea d speci fi c f ac t s f or ev er y e l e m e ntof

ac aus e of a c tio n . Se e R o e v . A w a r e W o m a n C tr . fo rCh o ic e, I n c ., 2 5 3 F .3 d 6 7 8 , 6 8 3 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 1 ) ; S t. J

o s e p h ’s Ho s p . , I n c . v . Ho s

p . C o r p . o f A m. , 7 9 5 F .2 d 9 4 8 , 9 5 4 ( 1 1 th C i r. 19 86 ). H ow ever , a c om pl ai ntm ustst i l l cont ai n ei ther di re ctor i nfer ent i al a lle g a tio n s r e s p e c tin g a ll m ate r i al e le m e n ts o f

ac au s e o f

a c tio n . See A w a re W o m a n C tr. , 2 5 3 F .3 d a t 6 8 4 ; I n r e P l y w ood A nt i tr us t

L i t i g. , 655 F . 2d 627, 641 ( 5 th C ir . U n it A S e p t. 1 9 8 1 ) . “T h u s , a t am in im u m , n o tic e p le a d in g r e q u ir e s th a t a c om pl a i ntc ont a i n i nf

e r e nt i a l a l l e ga t i ons f

r om w hi c h w e c a n i de nt i f ye a c h of the m a te r ia l el em ent s nec es saryt o sust ai n a re coveryun der s om e vi abl e l egal theory. ” A w a r e W

o m a n C tr . , 25 3 F . 3d at68 4 (em ph as i s a dd ed). 2 . S ta t i n ga Cla i m u n de rth e S CA T he S C A w as i ncl ud ed as T i t l e I I of the E l ec troni c C om m un i ca t i on s P ri vacy A ctof 19 86 (“ E C P A ”) , P ub . L . N o. 99 -508 , 10 0 S t at . 18 48 (c od i fi ed as am ended i n sca tt er ed se ct i on s of 18 U . S . C . ). T he E C P A w as enac t ed t o u pd at e the then e xi s t i ng f

e de r a l w i r e t appi ng l a w t o pr ot e c tthe pr i va c yof the gr ow i ng num be rof e le c tr o n ic c o m m u n ic a tio n s . See 132 C ong. R e c . H 4039 ( 1986) ( s t a t e m e ntof R e p.13

K a s te n m e ie r ) . S in c e its in c e p tio n , th e E C P A p r o v id e d “s e v e r a l c le a re x c e p tio n s to the ba ron i nt e r c e pt i on s o a s t o l e a ve una f f e c t e d e l e c tr oni c c om m uni c a t i on m a de thr ough a n e l e c tr oni c c om m uni c a t i on s y s t e m de s i gne d s o tha ts uc h c om m uni c a t i on i s r e a di l y a va i l abl e t o the publ i c . ” 131 C ong. R e c . S 11790- 03 ( 1985) ( s t a t e m e nt o f S e n . L e a h y o n ab ill th a t w a s th e p r e c u r s o rto th e E C P A ) ; see a l so 131 C ong. R e c . E 4 1 2 8 ( 1 9 8 5 ) ( s ta te m e n t o f R e p . K a s te n m e ie ro n th e s a m e b ill) . I n d e e d , th e E C P A e x p lic itlyr e a d s , “I t s h a ll n o t b e u n la w f u l u n d e rth is chapt eror chapt er12 1 o f thi s t i t l e f or any per son– (i ) t o i nt er ce ptor ac ce ss an el ec troni c c om m un i ca t i on m ade throu gh an el ec troni c c om m un i ca t i on sy st em that i s co n fi g u red so th atsu ch el ectro n i c co m m u n i cat i o n i s r e adi l yac c e s s i ble to the g e n e r a l p u b lic .” 1 8 U .S .C . § 2 5 1 1 ( 2 ) ( g ) ( e m p h a s is a d d e d ) . C h ap te r1 2 1 r e f e r s to th e S C A . E C P A § 2 0 1 . T h e le g is la tiv e h is to rya n d th e s ta tu to rys tru c tu r e c le a r ly s how tha tC ongr e s s di d noti nt e nd t o c r i m i na l i z e orc r e a t e c i vi l l i abi l i tyf ora c t s of in d iv id u a ls w h o “in te r c e p t” o r“a c c e s s ” c o m m u n ic a tio n s th a t a r e o th e rw is e r e a d ily ac ce ss i bl e by the generalpu bl i c. T h ro u g h th e W o rl d W i d e W eb , i n d i v i d u al s can easi l y an d read i l y access w e b s ite s h o s te d th r o u g h o u t th e w o r ld . G iv e n th e W e b ’s u b iq u ito u s a n d p u b lic n a tu r e , it b e c o m e s in c r e a s in g lyim p o rta n t in c a s e s c o n c e rn in g e le c tr o n ic co m m u n i cat i o n s av ai l ab l e th ro u g h th e W eb fo r a p l ai n t i ff t o d em o n strat e th atth o se14

c om m uni c a t i ons a r e notr e a di l y a c c e s s i bl e . I f by s i m pl yc l i c ki ng ahype rt e xtl i nk, af t eri gn ori ng an expres s w arni ng , on an otherw i se pu bl i cl y a cc es si bl e w ebpage, one i s l i abl e unde rthe S C A , the n the f l oodga t e s of

l i t i ga t i on w oul d ope n a nd the m e r e lyc u r io u s w o u ld b e p r o s e c u te d . W e f in d n o in te n t b yC o n g r e s s to s o p e rm it. T h u s , th e r e q u ir e m e n t th a t th e e le c tr o n ic c o m m u n ic a tio n n o t b e r e a d ilya c c e s s ib le b y th e g e n e r a l p u b lic is m a te r ia l a n d e s s e n tia l to r e c o v e ryu n d e rth e S C A . C f. A w a re W

o m a n C tr. , 253 F . 3d a t683- 84 ( tr e a t i ng the m ot i ve r e qui r e m e ntof the F re edom of A cc es s t o C l i ni c E ntrances A ct(“ F A C E ”) as an es se nt i al el em entof a F A C E cl ai m b ecau se th e m o t i v e req u i rem en tfi l t ers o u tco n d u ctth atC o n g ress bel i eves i s notcovered by F A C E ). In addi t i on t o the “ re adi l y a cc es si bl e” el em ent , a val i d ci vi l com pl ai ntun der th e S C A m u s t a lle g e av io la tio n o f o n e o f its p r o v is io n s . See 18 U . S . C . 27 07 (a ) (“ [A ny pers on ] aggri eved by any vi ol at i on of thi s c hapt eri n w hi ch the cond uct c ons t i tut i ng the vi ol a t i on i s e nga ge d i n w i th aknow i ng ori nt e nt i ona l s t a t e of m i nd m ay, i n a ci v i l act i o n , reco v er . . . . ”). T h e p ro v i si o n ati ssu e i n th e p resen tcase s ta te s , “[ W h o e v e r ] ( 1 ) in te n tio n a llya c c e s s e s w ith o u t au th o r iz a tio n af a c ility thr ough w hi c h a n e l e c tr oni c c om m uni c a t i on s e rvi c e i s pr ovi de d; or( 2) in te n tio n a llye x c e e d s a n au th o r iz a tio n to a c c e s s th a t f a c ility ; a n d th e r e b yo b ta in s . .

. aw i r e ore l e c tr oni c c om m uni c a t i on w hi l e i ti s i n e l e c tr oni c s t or a ge [ vi ol a t e s the15

S C A ].” 1 8 U .S .C . § 2 7 0 1 ( a ) . 3. Snow ’s C om

plai nt To s u rv i v e amo t i o n t o d i s mi s s , Sn o w mu s th a v e a l l e g e d , a tami n i mu m, f a c ts f r o m w h ic h w e c o u ld in f e rth a t h is e le c tr o n ic b u lle tin b o a r d w a s n o t r e a d ily a c c e s s i bl e t o the ge ne r a l publ i c . S now s t a t e s tha thi s w e bs i t e w a s a“ noncom m er ci al pri vat e s up po rtgrou p” w ebsi t e. T hi s c on cl usory a l l egat i on , ho w ever , pr ovi de s l i tt l e i ns i ghti nt o w he the rthe w e bs i t e i s c onf i gur e d s o tha tthe c om m uni c a t i ons i n the e l e c tr oni c bul l e t i n boa r d a r e notr e a di l ya c c e s s i bl e . S now pr oc e e ds i n hi s c om pl a i ntt o de s c r i be the pr oc e s s byw hi c h one ga i ns a c c e s s t o the e le c tr o n ic b u lle tin b o a r d . A c c o r d in g to th e c o m p la in t, ap e r s o n m u s t r e g is te ra n d c r e a te ap a s s w o r d to e nt e ri nt o a nd pa rt i c i pa t e i n the e l e c tr oni c bul l e t i n boa r d. B e f or e r e gi s t e r i ng a nd l og gi ng i nt o the el ec troni c bul l et i n b oard, the prop osed re gi stranti s s ho w n a no t i ce th a tr e q u i r e s th e r e g i s tr a n tt o a f f i rm h i s n o n - a s s o c i a t i o n wi th Di r e c T V. T wo op t i on s app ear a tthe end o f the no t i ce : “ I A gree t o these t erm s” and “ I do n otagre e to th e s e te rm s .” “I f

ap e r s o n c lic k s o n ‘I A g r e e to th e s e te rm s ’, th a t p e r s o n is a llo w e d to e n te rin to , v ie w a n d p a rtic ip a te in th e e le c tr o n ic b u lle tin b o a r d w ith in th e S C E W e b s ite .” I n s u m , to a c c e s s th e e le c tr o n ic b u lle tin b o a r d m e s s a g e s , a llAt oral a rgument, Snow stated that he prevented individuals from acce ssing his website 7 who u se d w eb-ba se d, ano ny mou s email ac c ountsor

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itsag ents . 16 o n e n e e d s to d o is r e g is te r , c r e a te ap a s s w o r d , a n d c lic k“I A g r e e to th e s e te rm s .” 7 N othi ng i nhe r e nti n a ny of the s e s t e ps pr om pt s us t o i nf e rtha ta c c e s s bythe ge ne r a l publ i c w a s r e s tr i c t e d. I nde e d, the f a c t s a l l e ge d i n S now ’ s c om pl a i ntl e a d u s t o i n f e rth e o p p o s i t e . W e c o n c l u d e th i s c a s e i s d i s t i n g u i s h ab l e f r o m Kon op v. H aw ai i an A i rl i nes, Inc. , 302 F . 3d 868 ( 9th C i r . 2002) , aN i nth C i r c ui tc a s e upon w hi c h S now r e l i e s he a vi l y . I n Konop , pl ai nt i ff K on op cr ea t ed a l i stof H aw ai i an A i rl i nes e m pl oyee s w ho w er e e l i gi bl e t o acc es s the w ebsi t e. I d. a t 8 7 2 . T o g a in ac ce ss , on e had t o ent eran el i gi bl e e m pl oyee ’ s nam e, cr ea t e apass w ord, and cl i ck

“ S U B M IT ” i nd i ca t i ng ac ce pt ance of the t erm s and cond i t i on s, w hi ch proh i bi t ed user s f rom di sc l osi ng the w ebsi t e’ s c on t ent s and proh i bi t ed vi ew i ng by H aw ai i an A ir lin e s m a n a g e m e n t. Id . a t 8 7 2 - 7 3 . I n c o n tr a s t, S n o w a lle g e d th a t r e g is tr a n ts needed on l y t o cre at e apass w ord and ac kn ow l edge thatthey w er e notas soci at ed w i th D i recT V o r an o th er p ro h i b i t ed en t i ty. K o n o p ’ s w eb si t e, u n l i k e S n o w ’ s, r e qui r e d us e r s w i s hi ng t o vi e w the e l e c tr oni c bul l e t i n boa r d’ s c ont e nt s t o ha ve know l e dge ( a n e l i gi bl e e m pl oy e e ’ s na m e ) tha tw a s notpubl i c l ya va i l abl e . S now h a d n o s u c h lim ita tio n . I n o r d e rto b e p r o te c te d b yth e S C A , a n I n te rn e t w e b s ite17

m u s t b e c o n f

ig u r e d in s o m e w a y s o a s to lim it r e a d ya c c e s s b yth e g e n e r a l p u b lic . T o b e c l ear, w e do n otre qu i re a pl ai nt i ff t o “ pl ea d i n g ra ve det ai l ” a l l of a w ebsi t e’ s r es tri ct i ve t ec hn i ca l confi gu ra t i on s, as i nt i m at ed by S no w ’ s a tt orney a t or a l a r gum e nt . H e r e , as horts i m pl e s t a t e m e nttha tthe pl a i nt i f f s c r e e ns the r e g is tr a n ts b e f

o r e g r a n tin g a c c e s s m a yh a v e b e e n s u f f ic ie n t to in f

e rth a t th e w e b s ite w a s notc onf

i gur e d t o be r e a di l y a c c e s s i bl e t o the ge ne r a l publ i c . H ow e ve r , S now f a i l e d t o m a ke thi s ora ny r e m ot e l ys i m i l a ra l l e ga t i on. I ns t e a d, S now ’ s a l l e ga t i ons de s c r i be , i n e s s e nc e , as e l f - s c r e e ni ng m e thodol ogy by w hi c h thos e w ho a r e notthe w e b s ite ’s in te n d e d u s e r s w o u ld v o lu n ta r ilye x c u s e th e m s e lv e s . B e c au s e th is is i ns uf f i c i e ntt o dr a w a n i nf

e r e nc e tha tthe w e bs i t e i s notr e a di l ya c c e s s i bl e t o the generalpu bl i c, S no w ’ s c om pl ai ntfa i l s t o st at e acause of a ct i on and i tw as prop er to d is m is s it. A c c o r d in g ly , w e a f

f irm th e d is tr ic t c o u rt’s g r a n t o f th e d e f e n d a n ts ’ m o tio n to d i s mi s s f o rf a i l u r e t o s t a t e ac l a i m.

I V. C ONCLUSI ON W e a f f i rm both the di s tr i c tc ourt ’ s gr a ntof Y a rm uth’ s m ot i on t o di s m i s s f or l ac k o f per sonal j uri sdi ct i on and the defendant s’ j oi ntm ot i on t o d i sm i ss for f ai l ure t o s t a t e ac l a i m. AF F I RME D.