Opinion ID: 2675191
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Taishan’s Louisiana Contacts

Text: The district court recognized that Taishan lacked direct physical contacts with Louisiana. Taishan has never manufactured drywall, advertised, or performed services in Louisiana. Taishan is not registered to do business, does not have an office, bank account, or an agent appointed to accept service of process in Louisiana. Taishan has never paid taxes nor had a mailing address or telephone in Louisiana. 37 Case: 12-31213 Document: 00512636188 Page: 38 Date Filed: 05/20/2014 No. 12-31213 Nevertheless, Taishan’s Louisiana contacts are substantial. Taishan sold at least 45,756 sheets of drywall that ended up in Louisiana and earned Taishan $195,915.29. A potential customer emailed Taishan and informed it: “After Hurricane Katrina, the Great New Orleans area need rebuild[sic], and housing market in USA is very hot in these days. The both effects, we hope you and us can both take advantage from it.” Taishan told its customers it was able and willing to sell its drywall to Louisiana. OTC’s representative explained that Taishan was “very familiar with what port to use depending on what areas in the United States we were trying to sell to” and Taishan provided shipping information and rates for sending drywall to New Orleans. Taishan’s dealings with American companies also show relevant contacts with Louisiana. Taishan sold drywall to Advanced Products International Corp. (“API”) and GD Distributors, LLC (“GD Distributors”). GD Distributors, a Louisiana company, emailed Taishan about shipping drywall to the United States. They discussed “sizes of the sheetrock, how to get transported over,” and the history of the company. GD Distributors’ owner traveled to China to visit Taishan’s factory. At the visit, the parties discussed the product, price, and ASTM certification. Taishan provided GD Distributors with test reports asserting that its drywall met ASTM standards. Taishan provided a sample to GD Distributors. GD Distributors agreed to purchase 1,320 sheets of drywall in exchange for $11,601.22. The invoice for the purchase was “CIF NEW ORLEANS.” Taishan arranged the shipment of the drywall to New Orleans. GD Distributors’s owner testified that he “told them that I lived in New Orleans . . . [and] I’m assuming that’s why . . . they set it up to come to the Port of New Orleans.” According to GD Distributors, Taishan 38 Case: 12-31213 Document: 00512636188 Page: 39 Date Filed: 05/20/2014 No. 12-31213 “absolutely” knew that the drywall was going to New Orleans. 24 GD Distributors sold the drywall it purchased from Taishan to Helton Construction, another Louisiana company. TTP also sold 5,676 sheets of drywall for $24,123.00 to API, which is based in California. The invoices marked the sale as FOB China with a final destination of New Orleans, Louisiana. API made a second purchase of 5,760 sheets of drywall for $24,998.40 from TTP. The invoice provided that shipment was FOB China with final destination New Orleans, Louisiana. TTP did not ship this drywall. API handled the shipping arrangements from China to New Orleans. Another Louisiana company, Interior Exterior Building Supply, LP, purchased TTP drywall from Metro Resources Corporation. Taishan also sent samples of drywall to TP Construction, a Louisiana corporation. Finally, Taishan shipped 100,000 boards to New Orleans for an entity named Phoenix.