Opinion ID: 2130275
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: special appearance and discovery

Text: When a defendant has appeared specially and objected to personal jurisdiction over the defendant, to say that the factual basis for resolution of the jurisdictional question is important amounts to a major understatement. Affidavits, although permissible in connection with a special appearance, may be self-serving or otherwise provide information which is somewhat skewed by the party offering the affidavit in conjunction with a special appearance. Therefore, any party to an action in which a special appearance has been filed is entitled to discovery authorized by the Nebraska Discovery Rules to ascertain facts relevant to the court's jurisdiction over the person of a defendant. Accord, Oppenheimer Fund, Inc. v. Sanders, 437 U.S. 340, 98 S.Ct. 2380, 57 L.Ed.2d 253 (1978); Crane v. Carr, 814 F.2d 758 (D.C.Cir.1987); Surpitski v. Hughes-Keenan Corporation, 362.2d 254 (1st Cir.1966); Nehemiah v. Athletics Congress of U.S.A., 765 F.2d 42 (3d Cir.1985); Amer. Lung Ass'n v. Farmers & Mer. Nat. Bank, 329 S.E.2d 854 (W.Va.1985); Bielefeldt v. St. Louis Fire Door Co., 90 Wis.2d 245, 279 N.W.2d 464 (1979). See, also, Insurance Corp. v. Compagnie des Bauxites, 456 U.S. 694,102 S.Ct. 2099, 72 L.Ed.2d 492 (1982) (sanctions may be applied against a party who fails to comply with discovery in connection with an issue of personal jurisdiction). See, further, English v. 21st Phoenix Corp., 590 F.2d 723 (8th Cir.1979). In the present case, however, appellants orally requested a continuance to obtain depositions pertaining to the issue of personal jurisdiction over Lerner. An application for continuance must be in writing and supported by an affidavit which contains factual allegations demonstrating good cause or sufficient reason necessitating postponement of proceedings. See Neb.Rev.Stat. § 25-1148 (Reissue 1985). See, also, State v. Carter, 226 Neb. 636, 413 N.W.2d 901 (1987); Korte v. Betzer, 193 Neb. 15, 225 N.W.2d 30 (1975); Stastny v. Tachovsky, 178 Neb. 109, 132 N.W.2d 317 (1964). Because appellants' request for a continuance was oral and, therefore, failed to comply with § 25-1148, which prescribes a written application for a continuance and supporting affidavit, we are precluded from considering whether the district court committed reversible error in denying a continuance, although appellants' requested continuance related to permissible discovery concerning the jurisdictional issue raised by Lerner's special appearance.