Document: 486 U.S. 694 108 S.Ct. 2104 100 L.Ed.2d 722 VOLKSWAGENWERK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, Petitionerv.Herwig J. SCHLUNK, administrator of Estates Franz Schlunk and Sylvia Schlunk, Deceased. No. 86-1052. Argued March 21, 1988. Decided June 15, Syllabus After his parents were killed in an automobile accident, respondent filed a wrongful death action Illinois court, alleging that defects the designed sold by Volkswagen America, Inc. (VWoA), which driving, caused or contributed to their deaths. When VWoA's answer denied it had assembled vehicle, amended complaint add as defendant petitioner here (VWAG), German corporation is sole owner VWoA. Respondent attempted serve on VWAG serving VWoA VWAG's agent. Filing special limited appearance, moved quash service grounds could be served only accordance with Hague Service Convention, not complied Convention's requirements. The court motion, reasoning are so closely related agent for process matter law, notwithstanding failure refusal appoint formally concluded that, because was accomplished this country, Convention did apply. Appellate Court affirmed, ruling long-arm statute authorized substituted VWoA, such violate Convention. Held: does apply when foreign its domestic subsidiary which, under state corporation's involuntary service. Pp. 698-708. (a) case covered Article 1 provides "shall . where there occasion transmit judicial document abroad." "Service" means formal delivery documents legally sufficient charge notice pending action. Since itself prescribe standard determining legal sufficiency delivery, internal law forum controls. Thus, where, here, state's define applicable method requiring transmittal abroad, This interpretation consistent negotiating history general purposes One purpose provide facilitate abroad. implements each establish central authority assist process, nothing present decision interferes requirement. Another assure defendants adequate notice. necessarily advance purpose, makes application depend forum's law; however, unlikely any country will draft laws deliberately circumvent cases would appropriate Furthermore, prevent voluntary compliance even require, can advantageous. 698-706. (b) contention upon complete until transmitted Germany, transmission "for abroad" rendered 1, without merit. Where, valid both Due Process Clause official inquiry ends has no further implications. 706-708. 145 Ill.App.3d 594, 105 Ill.Dec. 39, 503 N.E.2d 1045, affirmed. O'CONNOR, J., delivered opinion Court, REHNQUIST, C.J., WHITE, STEVENS, SCALIA, KENNEDY, JJ., joined. BRENNAN, concurring judgment, MARSHALL BLACKMUN, joined, post, p. 708. Herbert Rubin, New York City, petitioner. Jack Samuel Ring, Chicago, Ill., respondent. Jeffrey P. Minear, U.S., amicus curiae, supporting respondent, leave Court. Justice O'CONNOR involves attempt process. We must decide whether compatible Abroad Judicial Extrajudicial Documents Civil Commercial Matters, Nov. 1965 (Hague Convention), [1969] 20 U.S.T. 361, T.I.A.S. 6638. 2 * Herwig accident 1983. behalf Circuit Cook County, Illinois. alleged also driver other involved collision negligent; since obtained default judgment against person, who longer party lawsuit. successfully denying question. then Aktiengesellschaft here. VWAG, established Federal Republic place business country. wholly owned VWAG. 3 appearance quashing asserted motion. It first observed registered do receipt reasoned relied facts majority members board directors contract exclusive importer distributor products United States. within States, 4 certified two questions For reasons similar those given determined 1045 (1986). Supreme appeal, 112 Ill.2d 595 (1986), petitioned writ certiorari review Court's granted address issue, 484 895, 226, 98 185 (1987), rise disagreement among lower courts. Compare Ex parte Volkswagenwerk A.G., 443 So.2d 880, 881 (Ala.1983) (holding if national properly through country); Zisman v. Sieger, 106 F.R.D. 194, 199-200 (ND Ill.1985) (same); Lamb 104 95, 97 (SD Fla.1985) McHugh International Components Corp., 118 Misc.2d 489, 491-492, 461 N.Y.S.2d 166, 167-168 (1983) (same), Cippolla Picard Porsche Audi, Inc., 496 A.2d 130, 131-132 (R.I.1985) corporation); Wingert Civ.Action Nos. 3:86-2994-16 3:86-2995-16 (S.C. May 19, 1987), slip op., at 3-4 (same). II 5 multilateral treaty formulated 1964 Tenth Session Conference Private Law. revised parts Conventions Procedure 1905 1954. revision intended simpler way sued jurisdictions receive actual timely suit, proof de la Haye Droit Prive, Actes et Dixieme (Notification) 75-77, 363 (1965) (3 Documents); B. Ristau, Assistance (Civil Commercial) § 4-1 (1984 Supp.1986) (1 Ristau). Representatives all 23 countries approved reservation. Thirty-two countries, including States have ratified acceded Brief Amicus Curiae 2, n. (filed Sep. 12, 1987). 6 primary innovation requires requests from countries. 362, 6638, Art. 2. Once receives request proper form, prescribed receiving designated requester law. 5. certificate conforms specified model. 6. A may consent methods boundaries than authority. Arts. 8-11, 19. remaining provisions relevant limit circumstances entered abroad appear, some relief judgment. 16. 7 defines scope subject controversy case. says: "The shall cases, civil commercial matters, extrajudicial U.S.T., 362. equally authentic French version says, "La presente est applicable, en matiere civile ou commerciale, dans tous les cas un acte judiciaire extrajudiciaire doit etre transmis l'etranger pour y signifie notifie." Ibid. language mandatory, we acknowledged last Term Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale District 482 522, 534, 107 2542, 2550, 96 (1987). By virtue Supremacy Clause, Const., VI, pre-empts inconsistent applies. purport Therefore, falls trial should motion quash. 8 interpreting treaty, "begin 'with text context written words used.' " Socie Nationale, supra, S.Ct., 2550 (quoting Air France Saks, 470 392, 397, 1338, 1341, 84 289 (1985)). Other rules construction brought bear difficult ambiguous passages. 'Treaties construed more liberally private agreements, ascertain meaning look beyond negotiations, practical adopted parties.' 396, 1341 Choctaw Nation Indians 318 423, 431-432, 63 672, 678, 87 L.Ed. 877 (1943)). 9 specify "occasion transmit" But least term "service process" well-established technical meaning. refers Ristau 4-5(2), 123 (interpreting Convention); Black's Law Dictionary 1227 (5th ed. 1979); see C. Wright & A. Miller, Practice 1063, 225 (2d measured standard. standard, almost refer state. If 10 supports our view sense. committee prepared preliminary used form "notification" (formal notice), instead neutral "remise" (delivery), drafted 1. Documents, 78-79. Then, course debates, negotiators made exact. said give person staying Id., 65 ("La il lieu transmettre notifier commerciale une personne se trouvant l'etranger") (emphasis added). To precise, delegates decided juridical "signification" (service), narrower France, identical others, 152-153, 155, 159, 366. criticized suggested transmissions culminate 165-167. final eliminates possibility applies report (Rapport Explicatif ) confirms use terms, transmission, requesting state, whom intended. 11 indicates reference "where grounds" realized implied govern implicated 80-81. reporter expressed regret about solution decrease obligatory force 81. Nevertheless, change respect. 12 Yugoslavian delegate offered proposal amend make explicit defined according 167. Netherlands supported him. principle, although he thought require corresponding significance full explanation too complicated. 168. President opined choice between phrase draft, exist," modify phrase, "according state." prompted declare difference immaterial, exist" forum. added view, turn equivalent 169. At point, recommended entrusting problem drafting committee. 13 composed ultimately adopted, says occasion" 211. revision, again explained one task defining abroad; consequence unavailability objective test; while decreases clarity. 254. inference draw rejected superfluous, inaccurate, same draft. 14 protests interpret applying stated objectives "to create ensure addressee time." cannot notice, argues, determines warns Indeed, contends already exists troubled Conference: notification au parquet. 15 Notification parquet permits deposit local official. Although generally supposed defendant, limitations begins run time documents, allegedly sanction them. 167-169; S.Exec.Rep. 6, 90th Cong., 1st Sess., (1967) (statement Philip Amram, member delegation); 4-33, 172. 10th Conference, Netherlands, Greece, Belgium, Italy utilized type 75. 16 There question but wanted eliminate 75-77. included problem. unless received whereby seek become final. 364-365. Like Articles 168-169. argues determination fail variants expressly defendants. Yet likely 17 parties conflicting representations authorizing command somewhat equivocal. strict might raise regulates parquet, understanding Commission, based 367. statement affect issue resolve today, comparable evidence meant like clearly Hence neither nor contradicts presumed determine 18 Nor persuaded different conclusion. important Thus create" second improve organization mutual assistance simplifying expediting procedure." enabling function. Nothing today 19 correctly maintains aims mandatory applies, 700—701, indirect ignore it, 92, 363. Our particular objective, inasmuch recourse dependent think example, been excepting nationals protection Clause. Under assured either personal service, typically trigger "notice reasonably calculated, circumstances, apprise interested pendency afford them opportunity objections." Mullane Central Hanover Bank Trust Co., 339 306, 314, 70 652, 657, 94 865 (1950).* say prevents require. simple certain national. Those eschew procedures risk discovering required therefore provided In addition, comply find easier enforce judgments See Westin, Enforcing Foreign Judgments Arbitral Awards West England, Policy Int'l Bus. 325, 340-341 these reasons, anticipate resort voluntarily, fall outside application. III 21 case, sending Germany. Ill.Rev.Stat., ch. 110, ¶ 2-209(a)(1) (1985). holding contends, According constituted 22 explains matter, Germany notify litigation. every 657. requirement, involving Tr. Oral Arg. 8. emphasizes upheld after "the relationship close 'was fully apprised action' summons VWoA." Ill.App.3d, 606, Ill.Dec., 47, N.E.2d, 1053 Maunder DeHavilland Aircraft Canada, Ltd., 102 342, 353, 80 765, 771, 466 217, 223, cert. denied, 469 1036, 511, 83 401 (1984). reject argument. Where Whatever internal, communications take principal concerns necessary part And, contrary assertion, Applying analysis, conclude Therefore apply, proper. 24 Affirmed. 25 BLACKMUN join, 26 Term, reiterates ante, 699, terms 1965, "mandatory," "optional" respect covers. Even so, holds, I agree, litigant may, subsidiary, reaches conclusion, depriving effect, "forum's law" conclusively abroad," not. Ante, 704. join implausible framers contracting nation, 50 Nation, free what any, control. Rather, my read light history, embody substantive limits latitude deem domestically. 27 enumerated preamble time. ." 702—703. Until implemented, nations followed widely divergent practices across international borders, much less often produced unfair judgments. Co-Operation Litigation: Europe (H. Smit 1965); 11-12 (hereinafter Documents). Particularly controversial procedure, common civil-law called "notification parquet," permitted ordinarily diplomatic channels. 11-12, 14-16 (S.Exec.Rep. 6); S.Doc. C, 5-6, (S.Exec.Doc. C). Typically, deemed succeeded transmitting otherwise lawsuit.1 28 delegation objected requirements 'due law' Constitution." 128 (citations omitted). head derided '[i]njustice, extravagance, [and] absurdity. .' Amram 651 (citation classic formulation, observed, 'totally sacrificed rights defense favor plaintiff.' noted 'spirited criticisms system'. wish eliminated." 76 (translated). 29 response concerns, prescribes emanating nation culminating another. As observes, "transmit[ted] abroad"; covers constitute "service." 700. ground governs procedure That say, designate "domestic" thereby avoid 30 Admittedly, points out, ibid., precise distinguish leaves entirely, converting into exhortation. direct mail foreigner effective mailbox, arbitrarily domestically though little likelihood ever reach defendant. fact, far tell, revive long nation's deems domestically, cf. 704, though, concedes, "such notice," "[t]here 703 31 adheres interpretation, (in words) "does advance" announces, 705, duty "with effecting objects contracting." Rocca Thompson, 223 317, 331-332, 32 207, 210, 56 453 (1912). Factor Laubenheimer, 290 276, 293-294, 54 191, 195-196, 78 315 (1933); Henkel, 190 40, 57, 781, 784-85, 47 948 (1903). assuming quantum suffice support fundamentally odds amasses reading—two interim comments initial drafts suggesting dictate implicates Convention—falls short. 701—702. place, reporter's uncontroversial. participant, directly challenged "report['s] allusion danger hearing proceeding service," "[n]ow, [the] specifies convention, writs persons order guarantee knowledge them." 165 (United Kingdom delegate) (translation) considered explicitly prescribing 'according petitioning state,' id., 167 (translation), "because allow [domestic] obligatory." (Italian (translation). 33 differences tabling proposal, they apparently issued Rapport Explicatif. report, presumably supersedes comments, stresses Third Commission [that] 'obligatory,' making 366 acknowledges literal reading doubts coverage yet announces commission prohibit service.2 'in liberal spirit intended[,]' 'the hardship injustice, [the Convention] seeks relieve,' 367 omitted), interprets impose proscribing "abroad." captured Rapport's admonition 34 '[a]ll channels (prescribed convention) fact act due requirement justice, assumes importance instituting proceedings.' (footnote omitted; emphasis 35 belittles presuming assumed, various permitting always 703-704. above-cited passage purports survey forms prevalent, hint continue "domestic." Moreover, assumption imputes inaccurate; above, 709, Any essential informal arrangement parent. See, e.g., entertains bans (notwithstanding analysis) sets 36 Significantly, own delegation, whose contemporaneous views "entitled great weight," 536, 2551 took seriously conclusion just precatory. delegation's applauded "mak[ing] substantial changes many moving direction approach concepts process." S.Exec.Doc. chief negotiator emphasized convention up minimum standards ratifies offer others ratify." W. Amram) original). Then-Secretary State Rusk reiterated point,3 Department's Deputy Legal Advisor,4 Johnson.5 repeated references "due not, course, suggest submitted intricacies constitutional jurisprudence. shorthand formulations directed "reach time," 37 uniform announced confirm ability "domestic," avoiding terms. precisely contours. imprecision absolve us responsibility mandatorily, discard law," Amdt. 14, And however discern limits, remarkably easy owned, controlled calculated parent "in time" requires. Fletcher, Cyclopedia Corporations 4412, 400 (rev.ed. 1985). is, requires, 314-315, (1950), before implementation see, Perkins Benguet Consolidated Mining 342 437, 444-445, 72 413, 417-418, 485 (1952); Latimer S/A Industrias Reunidas F. Matarazzo, 175 F.2d 184, (CA2 1949) (L. Hand, J.). significant clear Senate major federal service-of-process rules.6 unsurprising suggests dissatisfied practice surely aware, abolish infinitely parent's attention (or singled out criticism) reason bar it. 38 My outcome and, courts future come us. "a minor cases" need accompanied effort defendant"). Constitution bind haling citizens rely primarily believed "provide increased (due process) American Citizens litigation 3. bound pronouncement lacks force, today's sympathize pleading violates characterization) 39 perhaps heartening "think [no] countr[y] defendant's perspective "circumvention" (which, entails exercising prerogative bound) painful deliberate remains, content notions fair play found unnecessary, participate [would] concurrence believes adequately denominates "primary" albeit Post, 711. proposes impute words, Evidently, recipient 712, 714. notion squared plain contours concurrence's defined, note uncertainty tracks Fourteenth Amendment, self-evident question, held activities enough render court's jurisdiction, otherwise. Cannon Mfg. Co. Cudahy Packing 267 333, 336-337, 45 250, 251-252, 69 634 (1925); Textile Corp. Gregory, 85, 88, 53 529, 530, 77 1047 18A 8773 pp. 250-254 1988). decide, factbound character doubt "remarkably easy" 715. described follows: "This system entry personam nonresident real right move open appeal expired finds "Under process-server simply delivers copy public official's office. immediately. Some Office effect validity "There protections [comparable jurisdiction] system. Here jurisdiction lies merely plaintiff national; needed." Amram). (letter submittal Secretary Rusk); Revolutionary Change Procedure, 650, 650-651 (1968) (Amram). original; footnote omitted): "However, confronted letter provision, ask knowing [au parquet], applicable. "THE AUTHENTIC INTERPRETATION OF THE COMMISSION AS IT EMERGES FROM DISCUSSIONS, IS IN SENSE APPLICATION CONVENTION." ("[T]he changes, modern efficient procedures, other" nations) ("It advantage obtain binding commitments governments adhere principles" embodied Richard D. Kearney) generous concept documents"). Rusk, "[i]n broadest aspects basic practices." 20. ("The most aspect States") Rusk). likewise repeatedly "leaves common-law due-process principles unaffected unchanged." 11. ("By litigants provide"); (Convention "requires assistance").

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