Opinion ID: 2973346
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Factual circumstances

Text: The magistrate judge’s Report and Recommendation aptly summarizes the background facts, identifying the parties and the alleged tortious acts that gave rise to this diversity case: Plaintiffs Paul and Karen Brunner are residents of Missoula, Montana. Plaintiff Douglas Otte is a resident of St. Paul, Nebraska. Defendant Pamela Hampson is a resident of Fairfield County, Ohio and is the Executrix of the Estate of Jerry Jay Hampson. Defendant Canada North is an international booking agent and outfitter providing sport hunting excursions in the Province of Nunavut, Canada. Canada North is incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada. Defendant Knap is the owner and sole shareholder of Canada North and is a resident of Almonte, Ontario, Canada. In February 1999, Thomas Moore, a resident of Ohio, was contacted by Brent Sinclair, a “booking agent” located in Pincher Creek, Alberta regarding a muskox hunt to be offered by Canada North in 2001. Moore contacted Jerry Hampson to advise him about the hunt. Moore then booked the hunt for himself, Brunner and Hampson and sent his check and one from Hampson to Sinclair. Canada North used a cabin in the Ellice River in the Province of Nunavut, Canada, for the muskox hunting trip booked by Thomas Moore, Paul Brunner and Jerry Hampson. On August 26, 2001, Jerry Hampson, while in the cabin, placed a pot on a Coleman stove and it caught on fire. Hampson then grabbed a container with clear liquid which he threw on the flames. The liquid, however, was naphtha, a highly flammable substance, which caused an explosion. The cabin caught fire. As a result of this fire, Hampson died, and plaintiffs Paul Brunner and Otte suffered severe burns. A fire investigation concluded that: (1) the hunting party was accommodated in an inadequate hunting camp that was neither inspected nor licensed for commercial operation; (2) camp safety orientation was not provided; (3) portable fire extinguishers were not provided; and (4) the Coleman camp stove was operated contrary to manufacturer’s instructions. Additionally, plaintiffs allege that Jerry Hampson knew or should have known that pouring liquid on a fire is contrary to notions of basic safety. Nos. 05-3123/3191 Brunner et al. v. Hampson et al. Page 3 In their complaint against the Estate of Jerry Jay Hampson, Canada North, and Jerome Knap, plaintiffs Paul Brunner and Douglas Otte alleged that they suffered physical and psychological injuries as a result of the defendants’ negligence. Karen Brunner, the wife of Paul Brunner, sued for loss of consortium. The Hampson Estate filed a cross-claim against Canada North and Knap, asserting claims of negligence and wrongful death. For the sake of simplicity, all of the U.S. citizens with claims and cross-claims against the Canadian defendants will be referred to collectively as the “appellants.” The men who were in the cabin during the fire and explosion will be referred to as the “hunters.” Canada North and Knap filed a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. The motion was referred to a magistrate judge, who issued a recommendation that the Canadian defendants be dismissed. Despite objections by the appellants, the district court adopted the recommendation and dismissed the Canadian defendants for lack of personal jurisdiction. The Hampson Estate then moved under Rule 54(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for the district court’s order to be certified as a final appealable judgment. There was no opposition, and the district court granted the motion. This timely appeal followed, but only as to Canada North and not as to Knap.