Opinion ID: 2675191
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Taishan deals with OTC.

Text: Taishan sold 200,000 sheets of its drywall to Florida customers or customers doing business in Florida and made almost $800,000 from these sales. Taishan’s specific dealings with OTC, however, are particularly relevant to our jurisdictional analysis. TTP entered into a sole agency agreement with OTC—a Florida company—in which OTC agreed to purchase at least 20,000 sheets of TTP drywall between November 2006 and February 2007, and not less than 1,000,000 sheets in the following twelve months. The agreement with OTC was notarized under Florida law, OTC paid a $100,000 deposit to TTP under the agreement, and OTC purchased about 57,800 sheets of drywall for $208,711.20 from TTP. 9 Though the district court found that jurisdiction was proper under § 48.193(1)(a)(1), (2), and (6), because we find § 48.193(1)(a)(1) satisfied, we do not need to address these alternative grounds for long-arm jurisdiction. 18 Case: 12-31213 Document: 00512636188 Page: 19 Date Filed: 05/20/2014 No. 12-31213 Taishan knew through communications with OTC that its drywall would be shipped to Florida, as invoices and emails provided that shipments would be to Miami, Florida. 10 TTP also issued export invoices on 44,490 pieces of drywall sold to OTC and shipped to Miami. OTC and Taishan discussed expanding the sales in the United States, and Taishan said it would help OTC market and sell the drywall. Further, OTC requested that the drywall meet American Codes and Standards. Specifically, Taishan customized its drywall to meet American Society for Testing and Materials (“ASTM”) standards and provided ASTM certificates. Taishan also manufactured its drywall in inches, altered its DUN brand colors to reflect the colors of the American flag, and shipped samples of its drywall to Florida. Moreover, Taishan hosted OTC’s representative for a visit in China. Taishan arranged shipments from China to Florida, and although the shipping was FOB China, Taishan handled and paid for the shipping of drywall to Florida. 11 Taishan made suggestions as to which Florida port would be best for shipping, 12 and all of OTC’s shipments went to Florida. Taishan also complied with Florida Department of Transportation’s regulations. After their business relationship ended, OTC and Taishan discussed a new business relationship, in which Taishan would provide electronics to OTC in the United States. 10 Indeed OTC emailed TTP instructing, “I think the best thing to do right now is to let you operate the ocean freight and shipping from Qingdao to Miami, Fl” and “Half of this order will have Miami, FL as a destination; the other half will go to Orlando, FL.” 11 As Ivan Gonima of OTC testified: “[T]hey were in charge of finding the shipping company, they were in charge of making the deal with the shipping company, and we were to pay, because they said that they could get a better price through their connections in China . . . So, yes, it was free on board, the price they were giving us was free on board, but they were the ones hiring or making the arrangements for the shipping.” 12 Gonima explained that they would take care of the shipping and that “they also mentioned . . . Jacksonville, Florida” as a possible port. 19 Case: 12-31213 Document: 00512636188 Page: 20 Date Filed: 05/20/2014 No. 12-31213