Court Opinion

ID: 9855754
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 06:30:22.701669+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:36:58.585117
License: Public Domain

Smith, Justice,
concurring specially.
I agree with the judgment of affirmance, but disagree with Division 2 of the majority opinion insofar as it holds that the “alleged contacts are not sufficient to constitute the basis for long-arm jurisdiction of NCARB in this state.” In my view, NCARB’s contacts with Georgia, as set forth in the majority opinion, amply satisfy both the “transacts any business” requirement of the Long Arm Statute and the “minimum contacts” requirement mandated by the due process clause. See Hanson v. Denckla, 357 U. S. 235 (78 SC 1228, 2 *212LE2d 1283) (1958) and McGee v. International Life Ins. Co. 355 U. S. 220 (78 SC 199, 2 LE2d 223) (1957).
In support of its conclusion that this state lacks jurisdiction over NCARB, the majority emphasizes that appellant contacted NCARB by mail and telephone, that NCARB’s “purposeful acts” were performed at its Washington, D. C. offices, and that NCARB’s contacts with Georgia were “only generally connected with the appellant’s claim.” The majority relies primarily on O. N. Jonas Co. v. B & P Sales Corp., 232 Ga. 256 (206 SE2d 437) (1974). Jonas, however, is clearly distinguishable from the instant case. In Jonas, telephone and mail purchase orders originating outside Georgia and the shipping of goods from Georgia to the nonresident purchasers (who had no other contacts with Georgia except some visits to the manufacturing plant) were insufficient to establish this state’s long arm jurisdiction over the nonresidents in a suit concerning payment for the goods. The instant case, however, presents the factual converse of Jonas. Here, NCARB purposefully avails itself of the oppqrtunity to issue certificates to Georgia architects and solicits and receives compensation for this service. Appellant’s claim arises directly from this certification process. Clearly these contacts with Georgia are sufficient to establish long arm jurisdiction over NCARB. See J. C. Penny Co. v. Malouf Co., 230 Ga. 140 (196 SE2d 145) (1973).
I recognize that Malouf is factually distinguishable from the instant case in that it involved the shipment of tangible products “in the stream of commerce” to Georgia. However, I do not believe this factual dissimilarity leads to a different result. Although NCARB’s certification process may be considered “intangible,” it is nonetheless purposeful activity within the Georgia forum (Hanson, supra, at 253. Cf. Shaffer v. Heitner, 433 U. S. 186, 216 (97 SC 2569, 53 LE2d 683) (1977)), and appellant’s cause of action directly arises from that activity. See McGee, supra. Cf. Rush v. Savchuk, 444 U. S. 320 (100 SC 571, 62 LE2d 516) (1980) and Shaffer, supra, at 214.