Opinion ID: 668570
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Texas Long-Arm Statute

Text: 35 Veerkamp et al. urge that considerations of comity require that we respect the traditional civil law requirement--apparently practiced in Mexico--that legal documents be served by a government official or through other official channels. Veerkamp et al. would have us affirm on other grounds the district court's decision to quash service: specifically, by declaring that such service violates principles of comity. Ignoring for a moment the failure by Veerkamp et al. to introduce any evidence concerning the laws of Mexico or any precedents explaining how principles of comity might apply here, this argument misconstrues the core issue of this case. 36 Although the parties apparently agree that Kreimerman et al. properly employed the machinery of the Texas Long-Arm Statute, they do not address--in their submissions to us or to the district court--whether service of process under the Texas Long-Arm Statute on defendants residing in Mexico contravenes notions of comity, the procedural requirements of Fed.R.Civ.P. 4, or any other applicable domestic or international laws. 56 Neither did the district court reach such issues: Its inquiry ended when it held--incorrectly, we conclude--that the Convention preempted all other methods of service on defendants residing in another signatory nation. Whether Kreimerman et al.'s attempt to serve process under the Texas Long-Arm Statute contravened any other law besides the Convention is thus not before us. Such considerations are for the district court on remand. 57