Case Name: Gerard H. Brandi & another vs. National Bulk Carriers, Inc. & another
Court: Massachusetts Appeals Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1982-06-15
Citations: 14 Mass. App. Ct. 916
Docket Number: 
Parties: Gerard H. Brandi & another vs. National Bulk Carriers, Inc. & another.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Appeals Court Reports
Volume: 14
Pages: 916–918

Head Matter:
Gerard H. Brandi & another vs. National Bulk Carriers, Inc. & another.
June 15, 1982.
Lynda Brandi.
Westend Properties Limited.

Opinion:
1. National's motion for summary judgment. There was no error in the allowance of National's motion for summary judgment. In support of its motion, National filed an affidavit of one of its officers, one Funke. He described with particularity the services provided by National on a contract basis to all the Princess Hotels, including the Southampton Princess. The affidavit stated that National did not own, operate or control the operations of the Southampton Princess. The statements in the affidavit were not legal conclusions, as the affiant, by virtue of being an officer of National, possessed the requisite knowledge and capacity to state whether National held any ownership interest in the Southampton Princess, whether it exercised any control over hotel operations, and whether it was involved in any aspect of such operations. The plaintiffs did not respond by alleging specific facts which established a triable issue. Community Natl. Bank v. Dawes, 369 Mass. 550, 554 (1976). Since there was no basis for finding that National had control over the hotel, the plaintiffs' theories of liability need not be examined.
2. Westend's dismissal motion. On a motion filed pursuant to Mass.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(2) & (5), 365 Mass. 755 (1974), the plaintiffs had the burden of establishing the facts on which they predicated jurisdiction over the defendant. Droukas v. Divers Training Academy, Inc., 375 Mass. 149, 151 (1978). The plaintiffs relied on the affidavit of Gerard Brandi, the pleadings, selected portions of affidavits filed by the defendant, and part of a transcript of a deposition of Magnifico. The defendant submitted another affidavit of Funke and also an affidavit of Magnifico. The undisputed facts were that the plaintiffs made arrangements through an independent travel agent to spend their vacation at the Southampton Princess, which is owned by Westend, a Bermuda corporation. Westend does not have an office or resident agent in Massachusetts, nor does the Southampton Princess have a telephone listing in the Commonwealth. The plaintiffs' contention that Westend's business was transacted through an agent, Magnifico, is without factual support. Magnifico was an employee of National and was not subject to supervision or control by Westend. The plaintiffs presented no facts from which it might be deduced that Westend solicited business in Massachusetts by advertising that Magnifico was its resident agent or by publishing his telephone number. Compare Jet Mfg. Co. v. Sanford Ink Co., 330 Mass. 173, 176 (1953); Campbell v. Frontier Fishing & Hunting, Ltd., 10 Mass. App. Ct. 53, 54 (1980). Magnifico was not an agent for the purposes of G. L. c. 223, § 37 & 38, nor did Westend transact business in the Commonwealth. G. L. c. 223A, § 3(a). Magnifieo's involvement in a bank promotion whereby he furnished information on the hotel was an "isolated transaction." See Droukas v. Divers Training Academy, Inc., supra at 154. The judge's action in allowing the motion was correct.
Alexander H. Pratt, Jr., for the plaintiffs.
D. Alice Olsen for the defendants.
Judgment affirmed.