Court Opinion

ID: 4995454
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-29 06:18:14.310399+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:16:51.930428
License: Public Domain

AFFIRMED and Opinion Filed September 22, 2021

                                    S  In The
                            Court of Appeals
                     Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                               No. 05-21-00182-CV

                    SHOCKTHEORY DLV, INC., Appellant
                                 V.
                      TAVA VENTURES, INC., Appellee

               On Appeal from the 416th Judicial District Court
                            Collin County, Texas
                   Trial Court Cause No. 416-03195-2020

                        MEMORANDUM OPINION
                    Before Justices Schenck, Smith, and Garcia
                            Opinion by Justice Garcia
      ShockTheory, DLV, Inc. (“ShockTheory”) brings this interlocutory appeal

from the trial court’s order denying its special appearance in a contract dispute with

Tava Ventures, Inc. (“Tava”). In essence, ShockTheory argues that the evidence is

legally and factually insufficient to support the trial court’s implied fact findings

because: (i) the court improperly admitted and relied on testimony from a witness

who was not competent to testify, and (ii) ShockTheory’s contacts with this state do

not constitute purposeful availment.
          Concluding that the trial court properly denied ShockTheory’s special

appearance because it did not meet its burden to negate the bases of jurisdiction, we

affirm.

                                           I. BACKGROUND

          On January 10, 2020, Tava, a Texas resident, and ShockTheory, a Georgia

entity, entered a contract for ShockTheory to provide marketing and advertising

services “for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) days.”1

          ShockTheory continued to provide services after the one hundred twenty-day

period expired and demanded payment. Tava instituted this declaratory judgment

action requesting, among other things, a determination that the contract expired on

its own terms.2

          ShockTheory filed a special appearance supported by an affidavit from its

Chief Executive Officer Sonja Williams (the “Williams Addidavit”). Tava’s

response to the Special Appearance was supported by the sworn declaration of

Tava’s Chief General Counsel, Jalene Mack (the “Mack Declaration”).

          The trial court conducted a hearing and the parties’ contract was admitted into

evidence. ShockTheory’s counsel requested and was granted the opportunity to

    1
      The contract is with Tava Lifestyle, LLC, a Tava Ventures Inc. company, but the scope of work
section of the contract is with “Tava, Inc.” Tava, Inc. initiated this lawsuit. The parties define both entities
collectively as “Tava,” and there is no dispute that Tava is a Texas resident. Therefore, we make no
distinction between the Tava entities for purposes of our analysis.
    2
        Five days later, ShockTheory filed a suit against Tava in Georgia for unpaid invoices.

                                                     –2–
examine Mack on her declaration. When the hearing concluded, the court denied

Shock Theory’s special appearance. That denial is the subject of this interlocutory

appeal.

                                   II. ANALYSIS

A.    Standard of Review and Burden of Proof

      A court must have both subject matter jurisdiction over a case and personal

jurisdiction over the parties to issue a binding judgment. Spir Star AG v. Kimich, 310

S.W.3d 868, 871 (Tex. 2010). Personal jurisdiction involves a court’s ability to bind

a particular party to that judgment. CSR Ltd. v. Link, 925 S.W.2d 591, 594 (Tex.

1996). Whether a court may exercise jurisdiction over a party is a question of law,

which we review de novo. BMC Software Belg., N.V. v. Marchand, 83 S.W.3d 789,

794 (Tex. 2002). Resolving this question of law, though, may require a court to

decide questions of fact. Am. Type Culture Collection, Inc. v. Coleman, 83 S.W.3d

801, 806 (Tex. 2002). When, as here, the trial court does not issue findings of fact

and conclusions of law with its judgment, we presume all factual disputes were

resolved in favor of the trial court’s decision unless they are challenged on appeal.

Id. Because implied findings are not conclusive, they may be challenged for legal

and factual sufficiency on appeal. Lensing v. Curd, 417 S.W.3d 152, 155 (Tex.

App.—Dallas 2013, no pet.).

      Texas courts may assert personal jurisdiction over a nonresident if (1) the

Texas long-arm statute authorizes the exercise of jurisdiction and (2) the exercise of

                                         –3–
jurisdiction is consistent with federal due-process guarantees. TV Azteca v. Ruiz, 490

S.W.3d 29, 36 (Tex. 2016). Consistent with federal due-process protections, a state

may assert personal jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant only if the defendant

has established “minimum contacts” with the forum state such that maintenance of

the suit does not offend “traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.” Int’l

Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 316 (1945); Moki Mac River Expeditions v.

Drugg, 221 S.W.3d 569, 575 (Tex. 2007).

      The plaintiff bears the initial burden of pleading allegations sufficient to

confer jurisdiction. Moki Mac, 221 S.W.3d at 574. The burden then shifts to the

defendant to negate all bases of jurisdiction in those allegations. Id. (citing BMC, 83

S.W.3d at 793). The defendant may do so by showing that even if the plaintiff’s

allegations are true, the evidence is legally insufficient to establish jurisdiction. Kelly

v. Gen. Interior Const., Inc., 301 S.W.3d 653, 658 (Tex. 2010). Or, the defendant

may present evidence to disprove the plaintiff’s allegations. Id. at 659.

      A defendant’s contacts with the forum can give rise to either general or

specific jurisdiction. Spir Star, 310 S.W.3d at 872. A court has general jurisdiction

over a nonresident defendant whose “affiliations with the State are so ‘continuous

and systematic’ as to render [it] essentially at home in the forum State.” TV Azteca,

490 S.W.3d at 37. By contrast, specific jurisdiction “covers defendants less

intimately connected with a state, but only as to a narrower class of claims.” Ford

Motor Co. v. Montana Eighth Judicial Dist. Ct., 141 S. Ct. 1017, 1024 (2021). The

                                           –4–
minimum contacts necessary for specific jurisdiction are established if the defendant

purposefully avails itself of the privilege of conducting activities in the forum state,

Luciano v. SprayFoamPolymers.Com., LLC, 625 S.W.3d. 1, 3 (Tex. 2021) (citing J.

McIntyre Mach., Ltd. v. Nicastro, 564 U.S. 873, 877 (2011) (plurality opinion)), and

the suit “arise[s] out of or relate[s] to the defendant’s contacts with the forum.” Moki

Mac, 221 S.W.3d at 576.

      In the court below, ShockTheory argued that it was not subject to general or

specific jurisdiction. Tava did not contest the absence of general jurisdiction, nor do

the parties argue general jurisdiction on appeal. Thus, our inquiry is confined to

whether a Texas court may properly exercise specific jurisdiction over

ShockTheory.

B.    Purposeful Availment

      The “touchstone of jurisdictional due process [is] ‘purposeful availment.’”

Spir Star, 310 S.W.3d at 873. That is, there must be “some act by which the

defendant purposefully avails itself of the privilege of conducting activities within

the forum state, thus invoking the benefits and protections of its laws.” Luciano, 625

S.W.3d at 3 (citing Hanson v. Denckla, 357 U.S. 235, 253 (1958)). Where the

defendant has “deliberately” engaged in significant activities within a state, he

“manifestly has availed himself of the privilege of conducting business there.”

Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 475–76 (1985).

                                          –5–
      When determining whether a nonresident purposefully availed itself of the

privilege of conducting activities in Texas, we consider three factors: (1) only the

defendant’s contacts with the forum are relevant, not the unilateral activity of

another party or third person; (2) the contacts relied upon must be purposeful rather

than random, isolated, or fortuitous; and (3) the defendant must seek some benefit,

advantage, or profit by availing itself of the jurisdiction. Cornerstone Healthcare

Grp. Holding, Inc. v. Nautic Mgmt. VI, L.P., 493 S.W.3d 65, 70–71 (Tex. 2016).

This analysis assesses the quality and nature of the contacts, not the quantity.

Moncrief Oil Intern. Inc. v. OAO Gazprom, 414 S.W.3d 142, 151 (Tex. 2013).

C.    Relatedness

      Notwithstanding the volume of purposeful contacts with the forum state, the

exercise of specific jurisdiction is prohibited if “the suit” does not “aris[e] out of or

relat[e] to the defendant’s contacts with the forum.” See Luciano, 625 S.W.3d. at 8.

This so-called relatedness inquiry defines the appropriate “nexus between the

nonresident defendant, the litigation, and the forum.” Moki Mac, 221 S.W.3d at 579,

and is satisfied by a “substantial connection” between the nonresident defendant’s

contacts and the “operative facts of the litigation.” Moki Mac, 221 S.W.3d at 585.

“In other words, ‘specific jurisdiction’ is confined to adjudication of issues deriving

from, or connected with, the very controversy that establishes jurisdiction.” Luciano,

625 S.W.3d. at 8 (citing Goodyear Dunlop Tires Operations, S.A. v. Brown, 564 U.S.

915, 919 (2011)).

                                          –6–
D.    Pleadings and Evidence

      Tava’s original petition seeking declaratory relief on the contract averred that

the court has personal jurisdiction over ShockTheory because it conducts business

in Texas, entered into a contract with a Texas resident, and otherwise purposefully

availed itself of the benefits of doing business in Texas. The petition further alleges

that Tava engaged ShockTheory to provide marketing and advertising services for

Tava in Texas and that a dispute exists concerning the expiration date of the

agreement and whether Tava has fully compensated ShockTheory for services

provided. This is sufficient to bring ShockTheory within reach of the long-arm

statute. See Assurance Generales Banque Nationale v. Dhalla, 282 S.W.3d 688, 695

(Tex. App.—Dallas 2009, no pet.) (minimal pleading requirement satisfied by

alleging that nonresident is doing business in Texas). Accordingly, the burden

shifted to ShockTheory to negate all alleged bases of jurisdiction. See Moki Mac,

221 S.W.3d at 574.

      ShockTheory’s first challenge to the court’s implied fact findings is that

Mack’s declaration and testimony did not demonstrate her personal knowledge and

she was therefore not competent to testify. As to Mack’s declaration, ShockTheory

did not object that it was defective or otherwise inadmissible. To the contrary,

ShockTheory’s counsel acknowledged that no objection was lodged because he

presumed Mack would testify and there would be “no need.”

                                         –7–
         ShockTheory’s counsel then requested and was allowed to examine Mack at

the hearing. When Mack testified, counsel did not object that she lacked personal

knowledge or was otherwise not competent to testify or request any type of ruling

from the trial court.3 Consequently, ShockTheory has not preserved these issues for

our review. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a); see also Grupo TMM, S.A.B. v. Perez, 327

S.W.3d 357, 361 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, pet. denied) (failure to

raise objections to defects in special appearance affidavit waives that complaint on

appeal). We therefore consider Mack’s declaration and testimony in our analysis.

         ShockTheory also argues that there is no purposeful availment because its

contractual performance did not specifically target Texas markets and its e-mails,

phone calls, and fortuitous contacts with Tava’s customers and distributors are

insufficient to support the trial court’s jurisdictional conclusion.

         Notably, however, there is no evidence to prove or even suggest that

ShockTheory did not specifically target Texas markets. To the contrary, Mack

testified that ShockTheory knew its material would largely target the Texas market

and would promote Tava’s products to Texas residents for Tava’s representatives,

who are also Texas residents.

    3
       At one point in arguments to and discussion with the court, ShockTheory’s counsel opined that Mack’s
declaration was not an affidavit pursuant to TEX. R. CIV. P. 120a but did not raise an objection or request a ruling on
this basis.

                                                        –8–
      It is undisputed that ShockTheory entered a contract with a Texas company.

Standing alone, this does not necessarily establish minimum contacts sufficient to

support jurisdiction. Burger King, 471 U.S. at 478–79; Michiana Easy Livin’

Country, Inc. v. Holten, 168 S.W.3d 777, 786 (Tex. 2005); Olympia Cap. Assocs.

L.P. v. Jackson, 247 S.W.3d 399, 417 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008, no pet.). But a

single contract may establish sufficient minimum contacts when considered against

a backdrop of “prior negotiations and contemplated future consequences, along with

the terms of the contract and the parties’ actual course of dealing.” Burger King, 471

U.S. at 478–79; see also Nance Intern., Inc. v. Oceanmaster Eng’g PTE, Ltd., No.

01-11-00664-CV, 2012 WL 5381224, at *8 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Nov.

1, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op.) (considering cumulative effect of contacts).

      The Williams Affidavit states that Tava representatives met with her in

Georgia to discuss ShockTheory’s engagement and she then communicated with

Mack via e-mail concerning the agreement and scope of services. Williams does not

address where the contract was to be performed.

      A contract’s place of performance is important. Citrin Holdings, L.L.C. v.

Minnis, 305 S.W.3d 269, 282 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2009, no pet.).

Indeed, the Texas long-arm statute specifically references place of performance and

provides that a nonresident does business in this state if the nonresident contracts

with a Texas resident and either party is to perform the contract in whole or in part

in this state. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 17.042(1); see also Fleischer

                                         –9–
v. Coffey, 270 S.W.3d 334, 338 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008, no pet.) (contract calling

for performance in Texas can support personal jurisdiction in appropriate

circumstances).

      Although the long-arm statute provides that performance by either party

constitutes doing business in this state, our analysis is limited to ShockTheory’s

performance because Tava’s actions cannot be considered a ShockTheory contact

with Texas. See KC Smash 01, LLC v. Gerdes Hendrichson Ltd., L.L.P., 384 S.W.3d

389, 394 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, no pet.); see also Haddad v. ISI Automation Int’l,

Inc., No. 04-09-00562-CV, 2010 WL 1708275, at *5 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Apr.

28, 2010, no pet.) (mem. op.) (electronic media system designer’s performance of

work in Texas for Mexican client was designer’s contact, not client’s).

      The express terms of the contract here are silent regarding the place of

performance. The scope of work section states that ShockTheory will provide

consulting, corporate brand identity, web development, product packaging and

design, and events. Only one event, the official launch, is specified to occur in

Georgia. Thus, the contract itself does little to inform our place of performance

analysis.

      The Mack Declaration, however, states that the agreement is performable in

part in Texas, and ShockTheory provided no evidence to the contrary. Context for

who was responsible for such performance appears in a separate paragraph of the

declaration stating:

                                       –10–
        Pursuant to the Agreement, ShockTheory agreed to perform brand
        development, brand and marketing consulting, website development,
        social media solutions, even planning and production, and content
        development services for Tava in Texas. The marketing services
        performed by ShockTheory for Tava were intended to and did target
        Texas consumers and were intended to and did target Texas as the
        marketplace for the marketing and sale of Tava’s products and services

        ....

        Although certain inferences might be drawn from Williams’s statement that

ShockTheory never traveled to Texas, ShockTheory does not argue such inferences,

nor does it challenge the court’s implied finding that the contract called for Texas

performance. Mack’s uncontroverted testimony was that it did. Moreover,

ShockTheory did not controvert Mack’s statement that ShockTheory’s services were

intended to and did target the Texas market.4

        During ShockTheory’s examination of Mack, counsel inquired if there were

specific e-mails indicating that advertising was directed at Texas. Mack replied:

        So the words were not used that this is advertised in Texas, but the
        implication was because that was part of the job and that was the market
        and the residents were here and the consumers were here and the
        distributors were here, that [ShockTheory] was developing content that
        was for the benefit of everybody, including the Texas market.

         Mack further testified that Tava products are sold and manufactured in Texas.

Although Mack acknowledged that Tava has distributors and customers in other

    4
      The parties did not litigate, nor do they argue now whether “targeting the market” to sell Tava’s, as
opposed to ShockTheory’s products is too attenuated to be considered a “constitutionally cognizable
contact.” Likewise, there is no argument that paying ShockTheory from a Texas bank account and directing
invoices to Tava in Texas are but collateral relations to Texas. See Michiana, 168 S.W.3d at 788 (quoting
Woodson World-Wide Volkswagen Corp., 444 U.S. 286, 289 (1980)). We confine our analysis accordingly.
                                                  –11–
states, she testified that when the parties entered the contract, Tava indicated that it

wanted to target Texas consumers. ShockTheory’s knowledge that it was targeting

the Texas market is inconsistent with its argument that its Texas contacts were

random and fortuitous.

        The contract also provides a travel allowance. According to Mack, the purpose

of the travel allowance was to pay ShockTheory’s travel expenses “to come to Texas

to perform services for Tava pursuant to the agreement.” This evidence is

undisputed.

        A contract’s choice of law provision is another important aspect of our

jurisdictional analysis. See Citrin, 305 S.W.3d at 282. The contract here is governed

by Georgia law. This suggests that no local availment was intended. Searcy v. Parex

Resources, Inc., 496 S.W.3d 58, 75 (Tex. 2016). While this weighs against personal

jurisdiction, it is not dispositive. Citrin, 305 S.W.3d at 282.5

        Tava argues that that the parties engaged in numerous telephone conversations

and e-mails, as well as some video conferences in connection with ShockTheory’s

performance of the contract and suggests that the volume of such communication is

“persuasive.” We disagree.

    5
       Tava points to a different contract provision purportedly granting ShockTheory the right to seek
injunctive relief for confidentiality breaches “in a court of competent jurisdiction” and argues that the only
court of competent jurisdiction that could enjoin Tava is a Texas court. Tava misreads the contract. The
right to seek injunctive relief is granted to “Client,” which is defined as Tava. Therefore, the contract
provides that Tava may seek injunctive relief against ShockTheory for confidentiality breaches. Whether
such a right could be exercised in a Texas court begs the question.
                                                   –12–
       In Old Republic Title Ins. Co. v. Bell, 549 S.W.3d 550, 560 (Tex. 2018), the

Texas Supreme Court explained:

      When communications between a nonresident are alleged as the basis
      for jurisdiction, we look to the quality and nature of the
      communications to establish purposeful availment . . . On their own,
      numerous telephone conversations with people in Texas do not
      establish minimum contacts, and we have noted that changes in
      technology may render reliance on phone calls obsolete as proof of
      purposeful availment.

Id.; see also Riverside Exports, Inc. v. B.R. Crane & Equip., LLC, 362 S.W.3d 649,

655 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2011, pet. denied) (applying analysis to

emails). Although Old Republic leaves open the possibility that some

communications of an undefined “quality and nature” may be considered as part of

the jurisdictional mix in certain unspecified contexts, our court has held that

telephone and written communications regarding a contract in the forum state do not

establish jurisdiction even if such communications are extensive. Invasix, Inc. v.

James, No. 05-19-00494-CV, 2020 WL 897243, at *8 (Tex. App.—Dallas Feb. 25,

2020, no pet.) (mem. op.); see also Univ. of Alabama v. Suder Foundation, No. 05-

16-00691-CV, 2017 WL 655948, at *5 (Tex. App.—Dallas Feb. 17, 2017, no pet.)

(mem. op.) (letters, e-mails, and videoconferences do not establish minimum

contacts); KC Smash, 384 S.W.3d at 393 (phone contacts, e-mail and sending

payment to Texas not purposeful availment); Olympia Capital Assoc., L.P. v.

Jackson, 247 S.W.3d 399, 418 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008, no pet.) (communications

regarding execution and performance of contract between resident and nonresident

                                       –13–
insufficient to establish minimum contacts).6 Our record does not include the

substance of any of these communications; we know only that they occurred.

Moreover, even if the phone calls, videoconferences, and e-mails are sufficiently

connected to the claim at issue in this case, “a proper minimum contacts analysis

looks to the defendant’s contacts with the forum itself, not the defendant’s contacts

with persons who reside there.” Old Republic, 599 S.W.3d at 561; see also Bryan v.

Gordon, 384 S.W.3d 908, 916–17 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, no pet.)

(jurisdiction should not be determined by the fortuitous location of the Texas

resident when the nonresident communicates with them). Without more, we cannot

conclude that the communications here add anything to the minimum contacts

equation.

        ShockTheory argues that “other than the virtual meetings, e-mails, telephone

calls, and payment from a Texas bank” the uncontroverted facts are that

ShockTheory never traveled to Texas, recorded all website content in Georgia,

created Tava’s packaging designs in Georgia, accessed Tava’s websites in Georgia,

and met with Tava’s representatives in Georgia. While the Williams Affidavit does

state that ShockTheory never traveled to Texas and physical meetings occurred in

    6
      We are cognizant that this court has previously considered these types of communication, albeit in a
different context, and not as dispositive on the purposeful availment analysis. See B.C.G. v. M.Y.R., 05-20-
00318-CV, 2020 WL 5987913, at *5 (Tex. App.—Dallas Oct. 9, 2020, pet. denied) (mem. op.). But the
B.C.G. case, involving an invasion of privacy claim, was expressly limited to its facts. Id.
                                                  –14–
Georgia, nothing in the record establishes the other assertions as fact, uncontroverted

or otherwise.

        Specifically, ShockTheory provides no record support for the proposition that

it recorded all website content in Georgia, created Tava’s packing designs in

Georgia, and accessed Tava’s websites in Georgia and our review reveals no direct

evidence in the record. Indeed, the only reference to any type of recording occurred

during Mack’s examination, and is ambiguous at best.7 Similarly, while

ShockTheory’s special appearance states that “ShockTheory developed Tava’s web

pages,” it does not specify where such development occurred, and offers no proof to

establish the statement as fact. Instead, the special appearance cites to a paragraph

in the Williams Affidavit stating that she communicated with Tava about branding,

website, and planning for the Atlanta event.8

        Unquestionably, ShockTheory’s Texas contacts are not extensive, and on a

different record might be characterized as so random or fortuitous as to deprive

Texas of jurisdiction. But ShockTheory had the burden to negate all alleged bases

    7
      Mack initially testified that Tava recorded the virtual presentations and recalled one occasion when
she had gone to Atlanta. When asked if she ever attended a conference or presentation or Atlanta, and
whether “those” were recorded in Atlanta, she responded, “Yes. I’m going to say yes because they were
streaming, and we had production teams with cameras and all that stuff.” Thus, the testimony is unclear as
to who was doing the recording and whether the recording that occurred in Atlanta was one the one occasion
Mack recalled being there. In addition, it is unclear whether the recorded conference(s) and presentation(s)
are the equivalent of recording web site content. Mack could not recall whether ShockTheory ever came to
Texas with a production team to do any recording.
    8
     Our analysis relies on direct evidence and the issues that were raised rather than the inferences and
arguments that might have been made from circumstantial evidence.
                                                  –15–
of jurisdiction, including the allegation that the contract was to be partially

performed in Texas. See Moki Mac, 221 S.W.3d at 574. ShockTheory did not meet

this burden. Because the undisputed evidence establishes that ShockTheory

contracted with a Texas resident, with the contract to be partially performed by

ShockTheory in Texas, and ShockTheory’s performance was directed at the Texas

market, the trial court did not err in concluding that ShockTheory purposefully

availed itself of the privilege of conducting business in this state.

      Having concluded that the purposeful availment prong is met, we next

consider whether ShockTheory’s potential liability arises from or relates to the

forum contacts. Guardian Royal Exch. Assurance, Ltd. v. English China Clays,

P.L.C., 815 S.W.2d 223, 227 (Tex. 1991). There must be a substantial connection

between the defendant’s contacts with the forum and the operative facts of the

litigation. Moki Mak, 221 S.W.3d at 585. The “operative facts” of the litigation are

those facts the trial court will focus on to determine the defendant’s liability.

Kaye/Bassman Int’l Corp. v. Dhanuka, 418 S.W.3d 352, 357 (Tex. App.—Dallas

2013, no pet.). Whether a plaintiff’s claims arise from or relate to the nonresident

defendant’s Texas contacts is a question of law. Moncrief, 414 S.W.3d at 150 n.4.

      ShockTheory offers no argument or authority that the “relatedness” prong is

not met, nor is there evidence establishing that Tava’s contract claims do not arise

                                         –16–
from ShockTheory’s performance of the contract in Texas.9 Accordingly, based on

the record before us, the requisite nexus between ShockTheory’s contacts and the

litigation has been met.

E.       Fair Play and Substantial Justice

         Having concluded minimum contacts exist, we would ordinarily next consider

whether the exercise of personal jurisdiction satisfies the traditional notions of fair

play and substantial justice. Moncrief, 414 S.W.3d at 154. ShockTheory bears the

burden to present a compelling case that other considerations render the exercise of

jurisdiction unreasonable. See Burger King, 471 U.S. at 477. Despite this burden,

ShockTheory makes no argument that it is unduly burdensome for it to defend this

case in Texas, nor does it address any other factor in the analysis. Without more, we

have no basis for concluding it would violate traditional notions of fair play and

substantial justice to proceed with this suit in Texas.

                                    III.   CONCLUSION

         We resolve ShockTheory’s issues against it and affirm the trial court’s order.

                                                /Dennise Garcia/
                                                DENNISE GARCIA
                                                JUSTICE

210182F.P05

     9
     In a single sentence, ShockTheory argues that “while the dispute admittedly arises from the
Agreement, ShockTheory’s contacts with Texas bare [sic] no relation to the underlying dispute.”
                                             –17–
                                   S
                            Court of Appeals
                     Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                  JUDGMENT

SHOCKTHEORY DLV, INC.,                        On Appeal from the 416th Judicial
Appellant                                     District Court, Collin County, Texas
                                              Trial Court Cause No. 416-03195-
No. 05-21-00182-CV           V.               2020.
                                              Opinion delivered by Justice Garcia.
TAVA VENTURES, INC., Appellee                 Justices Schenck and Smith
                                              participating.

    In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the trial court’s order is
AFFIRMED.

       It is ORDERED that appellee TAVA VENTURES, INC. recover its costs of
this appeal from appellant SHOCKTHEORY DLV, INC..

Judgment entered September 22, 2021.

                                       –18–