Opinion ID: 409069
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Waiver of Personal Jurisdiction

Text: 50 Adden claims that, even if personal jurisdiction were lacking in the instant case, the defendants waived that defense. The defendants challenged the personal jurisdiction of the court, as well as raising the issues of the Eleventh Amendment bar and subject matter jurisdiction, in their motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Because the district court found the action barred by the Eleventh Amendment, the opinion below did not discuss the question of personal jurisdiction. The appellant addressed only the Eleventh Amendment grounds and, by implication, the question whether diversity jurisdiction existed, in his original brief before this court. The defendants-appellees responded to these arguments but did not brief the personal jurisdiction question. Because that issue appeared critical to this court, supplemental briefing was ordered on the issue of personal jurisdiction. 51 First, we find that the appellees did not waive their objection to personal jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 12(h), Fed.R.Civ.P. That rule provides that a defense of lack of jurisdiction over the person is waived if it is omitted from a motion raising other grounds for dismissal pursuant to Rule 12 or if it is neither raised by motion nor included in a responsive pleading or an amendment thereof. The defendants did raise the question of personal jurisdiction in their Rule 12 motion and therefore no waiver exists under the requirements of Rule 12(h). 52 The appellant also relies on Shuford v. Anderson, 352 F.2d 755 (10th Cir. 1965), cert. denied, 383 U.S. 935 (1966), in support of his argument that any objection to personal jurisdiction was waived. In Shuford, the appellee had moved the trial court to dismiss the plaintiff's claim on grounds pertaining to the inadequacy of service and improper venue. The district court ordered the dismissal, relying solely on the venue issue. The briefs before the Tenth Circuit primarily argued the venue question; in fact, Anderson hardly more than mentioned (the service of process) point in his ... brief without any supporting argument either in the brief or orally, id. at 765. After the Tenth Circuit had reversed the district court's order and remanded the case for further proceedings, Anderson petitioned for rehearing. He maintained that the judgment of the district court should have been sustained on the grounds raised in his original motion pertaining to the adequacy of service. The Tenth Circuit stated that Anderson could be deemed to have waived, id., the service of process issue and went on to note that because the case had been remanded the trial court (could) consider whether previous service of process upon Anderson was irregular or adequate .... Id. 53 The Shuford court did not hold that the service of process issue had been waived. The reference to waiver was mere dicta in light of the Tenth Circuit's observation that the district court could consider the issue on remand. Second, the posture of the two cases is clearly distinguishable. Anderson was petitioning for a rehearing which the court denied. In the interest of judicial economy, rehearings are not favored. Fed.R.App.P. 35(a). Further, at the time the Shuford panel considered and decided the appeal, it did not have the benefit of the parties' views on the service of process issue. By contrast, the personal jurisdiction question was addressed by both Adden and the appellees in their Supplemental Briefs, submitted pursuant to order of this court. The issue also received considerable attention by both parties at oral argument. This court has before it the parties' contentions as to the legal principles governing this issue on which there is no disputed question of fact. This court is therefore competent to decide the issue. 54 We do not hold that this court was required to consider an issue that received no attention by the district court and only passing reference in the briefs originally filed before this court. Appellees are well advised to brief fully all grounds supportive of a ruling below in their favor. The fact that this court is not required to address the question of personal jurisdiction does not mean, however, that it is powerless to do so. We think the issue is an important one, worthy of attention by the court. We conclude therefore that the question of personal jurisdiction was not waived by the appellees.