Opinion ID: 1131296
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: applying beco corp. v. roberts & sons , the trial court properly denied the motion to dismiss.

Text: Johnson asserts that the trial court should have granted the motion to dismiss on the grounds that Johnson's contacts with Idaho were too brief and insignificant to fall within the Idaho long-arm statute or to meet constitutional due process requirements. We first consider the propriety of the denial of the motion to dismiss by applying our decision in Beco Corp. v. Roberts & Sons . Viewing the affidavits presented here in the light most favorable to HFI, construing the facts asserted in the affidavits liberally in favor of HFI, and applying Beco, there was not a sufficient basis to dismiss the action for lack of personal jurisdiction. We note in passing that although the record does not contain either a return of service or an allegation indicating that Johnson was served outside of the state of Idaho, neither party has addressed this question. By implication, we are asked to assume that Johnson was served outside this state. If Johnson had been served in Idaho, the courts of this state would have had personal jurisdiction over Johnson. Burnham v. Superior Court of California, ___ U.S. ___, ___, 110 S.Ct. 2105, 2115, 109 L.Ed.2d 631, 645 (1990) (jurisdiction based on physical presence alone constitutes due process). Because this issue was not presented to the trial court, we do not rule on it here. Before embarking on an analysis of the trial court's denial of the motion to dismiss, we restate the standard by which we review the trial court's decision. In Intermountain Business Forms, Inc. v. Shepard Business Forms Co., 96 Idaho 538, 531 P.2d 1183 (1975), this Court set forth the evidentiary presumptions that should apply to appellate review of the factual questions presented by the conflicting affidavits in a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. Id. at 540, 531 P.2d at 1185. In Intermountain Business Forms, this Court applied the same standard for appellate review as the standard used in reviewing an involuntary dismissal at the close of plaintiff's proof in a jury case, and the standard used in reviewing an order granting summary judgment: On appellate review of involuntary dismissal at the close of plaintiff's proof in a jury case, this court has held that the evidence introduced must be viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs, and the plaintiffs are entitled to all reasonable inferences which can be drawn from facts established by their case in chief. Blackburn v. Boise School Bus Co., 95 Idaho 323, 325, 508 P.2d 553, 555 (1973).    On appeal from an order granting summary judgment, this court must construe the evidence presented to the district court liberally in favor of the party opposing the order and accord [that party] `the benefit of all inferences which might be reasonably drawn.' Straley v. Idaho Nuclear Corp., 94 Idaho 917, 918, 500 P.2d 218, 220 (1972). Accord, Fairchild v. Olsen, 96 Idaho 338, 528 P.2d 900 (1974). These same presumptions should apply to appellate review of the factual questions presented by the conflicting affidavits in a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. Id. In order to apply this standard of review to the denial of the motion to dismiss, we must first identify the legal basis for the assertion of personal jurisdiction over Johnson in this action. Our long-arm statute provides: 5-514. Acts subjecting persons to jurisdiction of courts of state.  Any person, firm, company, association or corporation, whether or not a citizen or resident of this state, who in person or through an agent does any of the acts hereinafter enumerated, thereby submits said person, firm, company, association or corporation, and if an individual, his personal representative, to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state as to any cause of action arising from the doing of any of said acts: (a) The transaction of any business within this state which is hereby defined as the doing of any act for the purpose of realizing pecuniary benefit or accomplishing or attempting to accomplish, transact or enhance the business purpose or objective or any part thereof of such person, firm, company, association or corporation; ... .