Opinion ID: 1277932
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Juridical Link Argument.

Text: Plaintiffs argue that all the named plaintiffs and all of the unnamed class members purchased their memberships through TAI. Plaintiffs point out that TAI assigned the promissory notes to the various defendants that collected payments from all the class members on the assigned promissory notes. Therefore, plaintiffs contend that TAI provides a common juridical link to the defendants who were allegedly assigned installment contracts entered into by the class members. Consequently, plaintiffs urge, FAF is linked to Iowa through TAI. In response, FAF asserts that the juridical link doctrine is irrelevant in this matter because the doctrine has nothing to do with the issue of personal jurisdiction. FAF further maintains that the cases cited by plaintiffs do not address personal jurisdiction, and therefore, the juridical-link doctrine should not be considered in this matter. Initially, it should be noted that Iowa case law has not addressed the juridical-link doctrine. The juridical-link doctrine was first introduced in dicta by the ninth circuit in La Mar v. H & B Novelty & Loan Co., 489 F.2d 461, 465-66 (9th Cir.1973). The doctrine was used to determine whether named plaintiffs in a class action were typical of the class and could fairly and adequately protect the class interests as required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23. In re Eaton Vance Corp. Sec. Litig., 220 F.R.D. 162, 170 (D.Mass.2004). The crux of the doctrine held that `a plaintiff who has no cause of action against the defendant can not [represent] those who do have such causes of action.' Id. The ninth circuit suggested two exceptions to this rule: [O]ne for situations where the named plaintiff's injuries are the result of a conspiracy or concerted schemes between the defendants, and another for situations where it would be expeditious to combine the defendants into one action because they are juridically related. Id. Historically, this doctrine has been used in connection with class-certification analysis pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 and for determining standing under Article III of the United States Constitution. Id. It does not pertain to establishing personal jurisdiction over nonresident defendants because, as noted in our discussion in a prior division, personal jurisdiction must be determined as to each defendant individually based on that defendant's contacts with the forum state.