Bauman, et al v. DaimlerChrysler Corp, et al

Filing

FILED OPINION (MARY M. SCHROEDER, DOROTHY W. NELSON and STEPHEN R. REINHARDT) REVERSED AND REMANDED. To the minimal extent that the opinion contains information received under seal by the district court, the seal is lifted. To the extent that any other information was received under seal, and has not previously been made public, the stipulated protective order shall remain in effect. This opinion replaces the opinion filed on August 28, 2009 and withdrawn on May 6, 2010. Judge: SR Authoring. FILED AND ENTERED JUDGMENT. [7755986] --[COURT UPDATE: Replaced PDF of Opinion (to correct submission dates.) Resent NDA. 05/18/2011 by DB]

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Corrected Reprint
FOR PUBLICATION

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
BARBARA BAUMAN; GREGORY
GRIECO; JOSEFINA NUNEZ; GABRIELE
NUNEZ; MIRIAM NUNEZ; SILVIA
NUNEZ; EMILIO GUILLERMO PESCE;
MIRTA HAYDEE ARENAS; GRACIELA
GIGENA; GUILLERMO ALBERTO
GIGENA; NURIA GIGENA; AMELIA
SCHIAFFO; ELBA LEICHNER;
ANUNCIACION SPALTRO DE
BELMONTE; HECTOR RATTO;
EDUARDO OLASIREGUI; RICARDO
MARTIN HOFFMAN; EDUARDO
ESTIVILLE; ALFREDO MANUEL
MARTIN; JUAN JOSE MARTIN; JOSE
BARREIRO; ALEJANDRO DAER,
Plaintiffs-Appellants,
v.
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION;
DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG,
Defendants-Appellees.





No. 07-15386
D.C. No.
CV-04-00194-RMW
OPINION



Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of California
Ronald M. Whyte, District Judge, Presiding
Argued and Submitted
October 21, 2008—San Francisco, California
Opinion Filed August 28, 2009
Opinion Withdrawn May 6, 2010
Resubmitted August 6, 2010
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BAUMAN v. DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

Filed May 18, 2011
Before: Mary M. Schroeder, Dorothy W. Nelson and
Stephen Reinhardt, Circuit Judges.
Opinion by Judge Reinhardt

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COUNSEL
Terrence Patrick Collingsworth and Natacha H. Thys, Conrad
& Scherer, Washington, D.C., for the plaintiffs-appellants.
Matthew James Kemner, Carroll, Burdick & McDonough
LLP, San Francisco, California, for the defendants-appellees.

OPINION
REINHARDT, Circuit Judge:
I.
Plaintiffs-Appellants (the “plaintiffs”), twenty-two Argentinian residents,1 bring suit against DaimlerChrysler Aktiengesellschaft (DCAG) alleging that one of DCAG’s subsidiaries,
Mercedes-Benz Argentina (MBA)2 collaborated with state
1

One of the plaintiffs is a resident of Argentina, but a citizen of Chile;
the other twenty-one are Argentinian citizens and residents.
2
MBA was actually the subsidiary of DCAG’s predecessor-in-interest,
but neither party contends that there is any relevance to this distinction.

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security forces to kidnap, detain, torture, and kill the plaintiffs
and/or their relatives during Argentina’s “Dirty War.”3 Some
of the plaintiffs are themselves former employees of MBA
and the victims of the kidnapping, detention, and torture,
while others are close relatives of MBA workers who were
“disappeared” and are presumed to have been murdered. The
only question before us is whether the district court had personal jurisdiction over DCAG. The district court granted
DCAG’s motion to dismiss the case for lack of such jurisdiction. We conclude, however, that DCAG was subject to personal jurisdiction in California through the contacts of its
subsidiary Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA). We hold that
MBUSA was DCAG’s agent, at least for personal jurisdictional purposes, and that exercise of personal jurisdiction was
reasonable under the circumstances of this case.
II.
A.
The plaintiffs here were workers or relatives of workers at
the Gonzalez-Catan plant of Mercedes-Benz Argentina
(MBA), a wholly owned-subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler AG’s
predecessor-in-interest. The plaintiffs allege that MBA sought
to brutally punish plant workers whom MBA viewed as union
agitators, and that MBA collaborated with the Argentinian
military and police forces in doing so. They also allege that
MBA had knowledge that the result of this collaboration
would be the kidnapping, torture, detention and murder of
those workers, and that the plan was implemented, in part, in
the following manner. First, MBA labeled the appellants as
“subversives” and “agitators” and passed on this information
to the state security forces. Second, MBA “had members of
the military and police forces stationed within” the Gonzalez3

The Dirty War in Argentina began in 1976 when the military overthrew the government of President Isabel Peron and set up a military dictatorship.

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Catan plant. Third, MBA opened the plant to periodic raids by
those forces. Fourth, MBA hired Ruben Lavallen, the police
station chief who had been behind much of the reign of terror
and installed him as Chief of Security, providing legal representation to him when he was “accused of human rights
abuses.” The plaintiffs further allege that MBA was pleased
with the results of the raids and detentions because those
actions helped to end a strike, restoring maximum production
at the plant.
B.
Plaintiffs brought suit against DCAG in the District Court
for the Northern District of California under the Alien Tort
Statute (“ATS”), 28 U.S.C. § 1350, and the Torture Victims
Protection Act of 1991 (“TVPA”), 106 Stat. 73, note following 28 U.S.C. § 1350. After attempting to serve process at one
of DCAG’s headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany,4 they learned
that DCAG purported to maintain an operational headquarters
in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They then attempted to serve
DCAG in Michigan. Bauman v. DaimlerChrysler AG (Bauman I), No. C-04-00194 RMW, 2005 WL 3157472, *2 (N.D.
Cal. Nov. 22, 2005). DCAG moved to quash service and to
dismiss the case for lack of personal jurisdiction. In support
of its opposition to these motions, the plaintiffs submitted
DCAG’s proxy statement which stated that, following the
merger of Daimler-Benz and Chrysler, DCAG would “maintain two operational headquarters—one located at the current
Chrysler headquarters, 1000 Chrysler Drive, Auburn Hills,
Michigan 48326-2766, and one located at the current
Daimler-Benz headquarters, Epplestrasse 225, 70567 Stuttgart, Germany.” The language referring to dual operational
4

A German trial court authorized the service, but a German appellate
court stayed the service so it could determine whether the service of process would infringe on Germany’s sovereignty. See Bauman v. DaimlerChrysler AG (Bauman I), No. C-04-00194 RMW, 2005 WL 3157472, *1
(N.D. Cal. Nov. 22, 2005).

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headquarters was repeated four times in the proxy statement.
The plaintiffs also submitted a document from DCAG’s website, entitled “Investor Questions and Answers.”5 This document also discussed the “dual operational headquarters” and
went on to note that the Co-Chairmen and Co-Chief Executive Officers of DCAG, Jurgen E. Schrempp (former Chairman of DaimlerBenz AG) and Robert J. Eaton (former
Chairman and CEO of Chrysler Corporation) both had “offices and staff in both locations.” After this evidence was submitted, DCAG withdrew its motion to quash service. Bauman
I, 2005 WL 3157472, at *2.
C.
As discussed in more detail below, the District Court for
the Northern District of California did not hold an evidentiary
hearing when it ruled on DCAG’s motion to dismiss for lack
of personal jurisdiction; therefore, the plaintiffs “need only
demonstrate facts that if true would support jurisdiction over
the defendant.” Doe v. Unocal Corp., 248 F.3d 915, 922 (9th
Cir. 2001) (per curiam) (quoting Ballard v. Savage, 65 F.3d
1495, 1498 (9th Cir. 1995) (emphasis added).
5

Although the defendants objected to these two documents as unauthenticated hearsay, the district court dismissed the objection, finding that it
was appropriate to consider them at least for the purposes of determining
personal jurisdiction. Bauman I, 2005 WL 3157472, at *5. The district
court refused, however, to further examine some of plaintiffs’ evidence,
including the percentage of DCAG’s worldwide sales that occurred
through MBUSA in California and the overlap between the personnel of
DCAG and MBUSA, because the court found that this evidence was not
“relevant” to whether MBUSA was an agent of DCAG and thus was allegedly beyond the scope of supplemental briefing. Bauman v. Daimlerchrysler AG (Bauman II), No. 04-00194, 2007 WL 486389, at *2 n.5 (N.D.
Cal., Feb. 12, 2007). The plaintiffs had moved to file the evidence under
seal in light of DCAG’s declaration that this information was confidential,
and the district court admitted the evidence into the record when it
approved the filing of each of these additional items before its final order.
Therefore, it is irrelevant whether the district court should have found that
evidence to be “relevant;” the evidence was properly in the record below,
and we may consider it in evaluating the agency relationship.

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DCAG was a German stock company,6 but according to
DCAG, sales of its vehicles in the United States “accounted
for 1% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).” In the
annual report DCAG filed with the SEC in 2006, DCAG further admits that “a significant portion of our business, primarily in the case of the Mercedes Car Group, depends in part on
export sales to the United States.” (emphasis added).
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (“MBUSA”) was a Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business in
New Jersey. MBUSA was a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
holding company DaimlerChrysler North America Holding
Corporation, which was, in turn, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of DCAG.7 MBUSA was the single largest supplier of luxury
vehicles to the California market; according to DCAG’s figures, MBUSA’s sales in California alone accounted for 2.4%
of DCAG’s total worldwide sales.
6

Under the plaintiff-friendly standard at this stage of the litigation, it
appears that DCAG had dual operational headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany and Auburn Hills, Michigan. DCAG vigorously disputes this.
Another federal court has also found that DCAG has dual headquarters in
Germany and in Michigan. Tracinda Corp. v. DaimlerChrysler AG, 364
F. Supp. 2d 362, 367 (D. Del. 2005). Because this contested fact is not
necessary to our ultimate decision, we do not rely on it. We do note, however, that if we did rely on it, it would add further support to our conclusions.
7
In 2007, DCAG was restructured when it sold its majority interest in
the Chrysler Car Group. This is irrelevant for purposes of this case, primarily because DCAG’s relation to MBUSA was not affected by the
restructuring (except that DCAG is now known as DaimlerBenz AG). In
addition, general jurisdiction is determined at the time the suit was filed.
Wells Fargo & Co. v. Wells Fargo Exp. Co., 556 F.2d 406, 422 (9th Cir.
1977). Of course this rule makes sense, otherwise companies could
restructure after the filing of large lawsuits for the sole purpose of escaping liability. DCAG does not contend that the restructuring is relevant in
any of its filings before this court; in fact, DCAG acknowledges the
restructuring, but ascribes no importance to it. Moreover, in its response
to interrogatories, DCAG contends that the relevant relationship is the
relationship that existed “at the time the complaint was filed.”

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MBUSA had a regional office in Costa Mesa, California, a
Vehicle Preparation Center in Carson, California, and a Classic Center in Irving, California. Bauman I, 2005 WL
3157472, at *10. Because of MBUSA’s extensive contacts
with California, DCAG does not dispute that MBUSA is subject to general jurisdiction in California. Id.
DCAG manufactured Mercedes-Benz motor vehicles and
parts primarily at factories in Germany. MBUSA purchased
Mercedes-Benz vehicles from DCAG in Germany for distribution in the United States.
Before DCAG created MBUSA, DCAG and its predecessors used two independent distributors to distribute MercedesBenz vehicles in the United States. From 1952 to 1957, Max
Hoffman was the sole distributor of Mercedes-Benz vehicles;
the relationship was terminated “[d]ue to low number of vehicle sales.” From 1958-1964, an independent subsidiary of the
Studebaker-Packard Corporation was the sole distributor.
That company declared bankruptcy in 1964; that same year,
the predecessor-in-interest to MBUSA became the exclusive
U.S. distributor of Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
The final subsidiary that is relevant to this case is the
DaimlerChrysler Corporation (DCC). As the district court
noted, when the Chrysler Corporation and Daimler-Benz AG
merged, they both became wholly-owned subsidiaries of
DCAG. Bauman I, 2005 WL 3157472, at *1. At that point,
Chrysler Corporation changed its name to DaimlerChrysler
Corporation. Id.
D.
The relationship between DCAG and MBUSA is governed
by a General Distributor Agreement (“the Agreement”) which
establishes extensive requirements for MBUSA as the general
distributor of Mercedes-Benz cars in the U.S.8 Because the
8

Many of the provisions in the Agreement also apply to MBUSA’s
Authorized Resellers. Because this case focuses on the relationship

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Agreement is the critical legal document that defines DCAG’s
relationship with MBUSA, we will discuss its provisions at
some length.
Sales Figures
According to the Agreement, DCAG and MBUSA agree
every year upon a set of quantitative and qualitative objectives, that can include a “minimum or specific number of
Vehicles to be sold by [MBUSA] and its Authorized Resellers
to end users . . . [and] a minimum or a specific market share
in defined vehicle segments” in the United States.
Sales Network
DCAG has extensive oversight over MBUSA’s network of
Authorized Resellers. MBUSA must “consult” with DCAG
before establishing its sales and service network of Authorized Resellers, and before making any adjustments to that
sales and service network. MBUSA must make “any changes
or adjustments” to that network requested by DCAG. (emphasis added). MBUSA must receive approval from DCAG
before entering into an agreement with any Authorized Reseller. According to the Agreement, “DCAG may, in its sole discretion, reject any such proposed appointment.” (emphasis
added). If DCAG approves of the appointment of the Authorized Reseller, then DCAG also must approve the location of
“each retail sales outlet, showroom and service facility.”
Standards
MBUSA must also comply with all Dealership Standards
promulgated by DCAG. MBUSA cannot appoint an Authobetween DCAG and MBUSA, we will primarily discuss the provisions as
they apply to MBUSA, although in some instances, for clarity’s sake, we
will discuss the provisions as they apply to MBUSA and its Authorized
Resellers.

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rized Reseller who does not agree to comply with the Dealership Standards. Moreover, DCAG has wide latitude to dictate
MBUSA’s behavior. MBUSA and its Authorized Resellers
“shall comply with [DCAG’s] requirements or such other
manuals, guidelines or materials as may be from time to time
implemented and amended or updated by [DCAG].”
Business Systems
DCAG must approve of the accounting, order, inventory
control and warranty claim processing systems used by
MBUSA and its Authorized Resellers. DCAG must also
approve of the “electronic data storage, transmission and
communication system” used by MBUSA and its Authorized
Resellers. MBUSA must further observe all of DCAG’s
“rules, terms and conditions” relating to the use of these business systems.
Customer Information
DCAG dictates what customer information is to be collected by MBUSA. At DCAG’s request, MBUSA must provide customer information to DCAG including “financial
reports and operating statements, Parts sales and stock reports
as well as customer databases and information.”
Management Personnel
According to the Agreement, MBUSA must employ a
“General Manager, a Parts Manager, a Service Manager, and
a Sales Manager.” MBUSA cannot combine these positions
without the “prior consent” of DCAG. These employees
“shall not, without the prior consent of [DCAG], engage or
participate in operating, selling or servicing, as the case may
be, of any brand of vehicles other than” Mercedes-Benz vehicles. (emphasis added). DCAG must approve the replacements for any key personnel of MBUSA, and MBUSA must
appoint such approved replacements within a reasonable time.

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MBUSA personnel must participate in training offered or
organized by DCAG. It is significant also that the Chairman
of DCAG, Dieter Zetsche, was simultaneously the Chairman
of MBUSA. Zetsche was also the head of the Mercedes Car
Group at DCAG. There is at least one other instance of an
MBUSA board member also serving on DCAG’s board.
Service
DCAG sets the standards and requirements for the vehicle
servicing conducted by MBUSA and its Authorized Resellers.
The servicing must comply with DCAG’s Dealership Standards as well as DCAG’s “requirements and other manuals,
guidelines, or materials.” MBUSA must establish, if DCAG
requests, a Service Coordination Center “in conformity with
the requirements of [DCAG].” Included in its responsibilities,
this Service Coordination Center is to be responsible for
“such other tasks as may be from time to time assigned by
[DCAG].”
Warranty
DCAG sets the warranty terms applicable to MBUSA.
MBUSA may not provide additional warranties without the
prior consent of DCAG. MBUSA must allow DCAG to
access its facilities to observe the “performance or administration of warranty service.”
Vehicle Alteration
MBUSA cannot “alter or modify” any Vehicle without
DCAG’s “prior approval and then only in the manner
[DCAG] authorizes,” unless the vehicle has been ordered and
the modification specifically requested by an end user.
Technical Publications
MBUSA and its Authorized Resellers must each maintain
an “organized library of [DCAG’s] technical service publications.”

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Promotion and Advertising
The Agreement requires MBUSA to “actively market” the
Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The Agreement gives DCAG the
discretionary power to conduct a yearly review of MBUSA’s
“comprehensive advertising and marketing plan.” If DCAG
exercises this right of review, MBUSA cannot pursue the
advertising and marketing strategy without the approval of
DCAG. MBUSA’s marketing strategy, as well as its advertising and promotional materials must be consistent with both
the Dealership Standards and DCAG’s “brand representation
and identification standards;” it must also comply with
DCAG’s “directives, standards, and processes as may be
issued by [DCAG] from time to time.” Furthermore, “[u]pon
[DCAG’s] request, [MBUSA] and its Authorized Resellers
shall immediately stop advertising, promotion, or other marketing activities which (in the sole opinion of [DCAG]) do not
comply” with DCAG’s guidelines or standards. (emphasis
added). Finally, DCAG can require MBUSA and its Authorized Resellers to participate in dealer advertising programs,
associations, and parts merchandising programs.
Signage
MBUSA and its Authorized Resellers must display “appropriate signs and fascia” to identify each facility. DCAG “reserves the right to approve or disapprove of each sign’s type,
design and size.” Moreover, DCAG may implement a signage
program whereby DCAG “designs, acquires and arranges for
the installation of pre-approved signs” at MBUSA and its
Authorized Resellers’ facilities. DCAG may also force
MBUSA and its Authorized Resellers to sell any signage that
they own to DCAG.
Prices
Although the sales volume is set yearly by agreement
between DCAG and MBUSA, DCAG has the authority to

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unilaterally set and change prices. DCAG simply must “notify” MBUSA “from time to time of the prices and charges for
Contract Goods.” Even though the Agreement locks MBUSA
into a precise sales amount on an annual basis, DCAG may
change the prices “at any time, and make the changes effective immediately.” DCAG even has the power to force
MBUSA to modify the prices that MBUSA charges to its
Authorized Resellers for the vehicles MBUSA sells to those
Authorized Resellers. Furthermore, MBUSA and its Authorized Resellers must comply with “any pricing policies”
established by DCAG. DCAG may also change the “discounts
and/or bonuses” it grants to MBUSA with one year’s notice.
MBUSA’s Authority and Ownership
MBUSA must request the approval of DCAG before it
changes its management control or ownership interests, the
name or form of its legal entity, or the location of its principal
place of business.
Working Capital
MBUSA and its Authorized Resellers must maintain a
“working capital level and financing capability” level that is
“acceptable” to DCAG. In fact, “[a]t no time may
[MBUSA’s] working capital dedicated to its operations
related to the Contract Goods be less than the amount specified by [DCAG] from time to time.”
Customer Satisfaction Policies
MBUSA must participate in any “program and rating
scheme with regard to customer satisfaction policies”
requested by DCAG.
Other Goods
MBUSA may not manufacture motor vehicles or parts, or
sell any vehicles not listed in the Agreement.

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Vehicle Homologation
MBUSA must assist DCAG with vehicle distribution and
vehicle homologation (the process of ensuring that vehicles
comply with applicable regulations).
Sales Numbers
DCAG requires MBUSA to “make all reasonable efforts”
to limit the amount of Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold by any
Authorized Reseller or group of Resellers to 15% of the total
sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the United States.
Trademark
DCAG retains full ownership of the “Mercedes-Benz”
trademark.
Related Agreements
DCAG can require MBUSA and its Authorized Resellers to
execute “any agreement relating to . . . any other matter
related to this Agreement in the form from time to time
adopted by [DCAG]” as long as those Agreements are not an
“unreasonable burden” on MBUSA.
E.
On November 22, 2005, the district court issued an order
“tentatively granting defendant’s motion to dismiss” for lack
of personal jurisdiction. Bauman I, 2005 WL 3157472. The
district court applied the two part test for general jurisdiction
developed in Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia, S.A. v.
Hall, 466 U.S. 408, 416 (1984): 1) whether defendant had
“systematic and continuous” contacts with California, and 2)
whether the assertion of general jurisdiction was reasonable.
The district court found that it did not have general jurisdiction over DCAG because DCAG did not have “systematic and

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continuous contacts” with California; Bauman I, 2005 WL
3157472, at *9, the court found that DCAG itself did not have
such contacts and, moreover, that the plaintiffs had failed to
show that MBUSA was DCAG’s agent such that MBUSA’s
contacts could be imputed to DCAG. Id. at *12.
The district court acknowledged that “without MBUSA or
another distributor, DCAG would not be able to sell
Mercedez-Benz vehicles in California.” Id. at *12. In deciding
that there was no agency relationship, however, the district
court relied heavily on its conclusion that “it is not clear that
[DCAG] would be required to perform such functions itself to
avail itself of the California, luxury-vehicle market.” Id. The
district court admitted that the agency question was a “close
question,” but found that MBUSA’s contacts should not be
imputed to the defendant. Id.
In its tentative order, the district court also found that personal jurisdiction over DCAG would not be reasonable,
although it made a number of factual findings that caused it
to question the correctness of that finding. It found that
DCAG had purposefully interjected itself into California by
“initiating lawsuits in California courts to challenge the state’s
clean air laws and to protect DCAG’s patents and other business interests.” Id. at *13. Moreover, it found that the sale of
DCAG’s vehicles in California “is not an isolated occurrence
but arises from the efforts of DCAG to serve the California
market.” Id. The district court recognized that DCAG would
be slightly burdened if it was forced to litigate the case in the
United States; but, it found that the burden would be “minimal” because DCAG “is a sophisticated, global business, has
previously litigated in California, retains permanent counsel
in California, and has subsidiaries in California.” Id. The district court concluded “that California has at least an abstract
interest in adjudicating plaintiffs’ dispute,” but found that
California had “little direct interest” in adjudicating the case.
Id. at *14. The district court decided that the other factors in
the reasonableness inquiry were either “difficult to balance”

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or weighed “slightly” in favor of the plaintiffs or of DCAG.
Id. at *14, *19. The district court tentatively held that exercise
of personal jurisdiction would be unreasonable, however, primarily because it found that Argentina was available as an
alternative forum. Id. at *15-*17. Because the question was a
close one, the district court did not issue a final decision;
instead, it allowed for limited jurisdictional discovery regarding the agency relationship between DCAG and MBUSA and
the availability of Argentina and Germany as alternative fora.
Id. at *20.
On February 12, 2007, following the limited jurisdictional
discovery, the district court issued its final order granting
DCAG’s motion to dismiss.9 Bauman II, 2007 WL 486389, at
*1. The court wrote that it “conclude[d]” that distribution is
not a task that DCAG would have to undertake itself, but for
the existence of MBUSA, and therefore, the court found that
“this mean[t]” that the court lacked personal jurisdiction over
DCAG. Id. at *2. The court, however, went on to hold that it
did “not need to reach this conclusion, as DCAG has demonstrated that both Argentina and Germany provide plaintiffs
with an adequate alternative forum for their claims.”10 Id.
(emphasis added).
9

The district court did not consider plaintiffs’ argument, raised for the
first time after the district court’s tentative order, that there was nationwide personal jurisdiction over DCAG under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(k)(2). Bauman II, 2007 WL 486389, at *6. It also did not consider
plaintiffs’ argument that if the court found no personal jurisdiction in California, it should transfer the action to the federal district court in Eastern
Michigan pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1406. Id. Because we find that plaintiffs
have made a prima facie showing of personal jurisdiction over DCAG, it
is unnecessary for us to consider those arguments or to decide whether, as
DCAG contends, plaintiffs have waived those arguments by failing to
raise them at an earlier stage in the district court proceedings.
10
The district court included a cursory mention of exhaustion requirements under the TVPA in its reasonableness analysis. Bauman II, 2007
WL 486389, at *3. Because we decide, as discussed below, that Argentina
is not an “adequate” alternative forum, we need not decide whether the

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The appellants timely appealed, asserting that the district
court erred in finding that it lacked jurisdiction over DCAG.
III.
DCAG argued in the district court that the court did not
have personal jurisdiction over DCAG or subject matter jurisdiction over plaintiffs’ claims. The district court chose to
resolve the personal jurisdiction question first. The district
court’s discretionary decision to do so was proper. See Sinochem Int’l Co. v. Malaysia Int’l Shipping Corp., 549 U.S.
422, 431 (2007) (“[t]here is no mandatory sequencing of jurisdictional issues . . . [A] federal court has leeway to choose
among threshold grounds for denying audience to a case on
the merits.” (quoting Ruhrgas AG v. Marathon Oil Co., 526
U.S. 574, 584-85 (1999) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Therefore, the only question before us is whether the district
court had personal jurisdiction over DCAG.
We review a dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction de
novo. Butcher’s Union Local No. 498 v. SDC Inv., Inc., 788
district court properly addressed this issue when it included it as an aside
in its reasonableness analysis. Also, because we find that Argentina is not
an adequate alternative forum, we hold that DCAG has not shown that the
asserted remedy in Argentina is “available, effective, and not futile.” Sarei
v. Rio Tinto, PLC, 550 F.3d 822, 832 (9th Cir. 2008) (en banc) (plurality).
Moreover, plaintiffs bring claims under the ATS and the TVPA. Even if
the plaintiffs had failed to properly exhaust claims, that would affect only
their TVPA claims, and the district court’s brief mention of exhaustion
discussed only those claims. Bauman II, 2007 WL 486389, at *3. As for
the ATS claims, we have held that exhaustion under the ATS is prudential
rather than statutory. Sarei v. Rio Tinto, PLC, 550 F.3d at 832 n.10. Therefore, “exhaustion under the ATS should be approached consistently with
exhaustion principles in other domestic contexts. The defendant bears the
burden to plead and justify an exhaustion requirement, including the availability of local remedies.” Id. at 831-32. Here, DCAG did not plead the
exhaustion issue as an affirmative defense before the district court nor
does it argue exhaustion before us.

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F.2d 535, 538 (9th Cir. 1986). In doing so, we apply the following rule: “[w]hen a district court acts on a . . . motion to
dismiss [for lack of personal jurisdiction] without holding an
evidentiary hearing, the plaintiff need make only a prima
facie showing of jurisdictional facts to withstand the motion.”
Unocal, 248 F.3d at 922 (emphasis added) (first alteration in
original) (quoting Ballard, 65 F.3d at 1498). In other words,
when as here, the district court did not hold an evidentiary
hearing, the plaintiffs “need only demonstrate facts that if true
would support jurisdiction over the defendant.” Id. (emphases
added).
IV.
In evaluating the appropriateness of personal jurisdiction
over a nonresident defendant, we ordinarily examine whether
such jurisdiction satisfies the “requirements of the applicable
state long-arm statute” and “comport[s] with federal due process.” Chan v. Society Expeditions, Inc., 39 F.3d 1398, 140405 (9th Cir. 1994). Because California “permits the exercise
of personal jurisdiction to the full extent permitted by due
process,” Bancroft & Masters, Inc. v. Augusta Nat. Inc., 223
F.3d 1082, 1086 (9th Cir. 2000), we need only determine
whether jurisdiction over DCAG comports with due process.
See Unocal, 248 F.3d at 923.
Before doing so, we note that “[t]here are two types of personal jurisdiction: general and specific.” Ziegler v. Indian
River County, 64 F.3d 470, 473 (9th Cir. 1995). Specific jurisdiction is only relevant if the defendant’s “contacts with the
forum give rise to the cause of action before the court.” Unocal, 248 F.3d at 923. By contrast, “when the cause of action
does not arise out of or relate to the foreign corporation’s
activities in the forum State,” the State is exercising “general
jurisdiction over the defendant.” Helicopteros Nacionales de
Colombia, S.A. v. Hall, 466 U.S. 408, 414, 415 n.9 (1984)
(citations and internal quotation marks omitted). The parties
agree that the claims here do not arise out of DCAG’s con-

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tacts with California, and the plaintiffs press only general
jurisdiction over DCAG.
We therefore turn to an examination of whether general
jurisdiction over DCAG in California comports with due process; in doing so, we conduct a two-part inquiry. First, we
examine whether “the defendant ha[d] the requisite contacts
with the forum state to render it subject to the forum’s jurisdiction.” Unocal, 248 F.3d at 925 (quoting Amoco Egypt Oil
Co. v. Leonis Navigation Co., 1 F.3d 848, 851 (9th
Cir.1993)). Second, if it did, we then turn to an examination
of whether the assertion of jurisdiction is fair and reasonable.
Id.
A.

Requisite Contacts

[1] In determining the requisite contacts of a defendant, we
look to whether its activities in the forum are “ ‘substantial’
or ‘continuous and systematic,’ even if the cause of action is
unrelated to those activities.” Sher v. Johnson, 911 F.2d 1357,
1361 (9th Cir. 1990) (quoting Data Disc, Inc. v. Systems
Tech. Ass’n, 557 F.2d 1280, 1287 (9th Cir. 1977)). In other
words, we ask whether a defendant’s “continuous corporate
operations within [the] state are . . . so substantial and of such
a nature as to justify suit against the defendant on causes of
action arising from dealings entirely distinct from those activities.” Tuazon v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 433 F.3d 1163,
1169 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Int’l Shoe Co v. Wash., 326
U.S. 310, 318 (1945)) (quotation marks and brackets omitted).
Here, there is no doubt that MBUSA has the requisite contacts.11
The question is whether MBUSA’s extensive contacts with
California warrant the exercise of general jurisdiction over
DCAG.
11

Both parties agree that courts in California have general jurisdiction
over MBUSA.

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[2] Under the controlling law, if one of two separate tests
is satisfied, we may find the necessary contacts to support the
exercise of personal jurisdiction over a foreign parent company by virtue of its relationship to a subsidiary that has continual operations in the forum. The first test, not directly at
issue here, is the “alter ego” test. It is predicated upon a showing of parental control over the subsidiary. The two prongs of
the “alter ego” test are as follows:
(1) that there is such unity of interest and ownership
that the separate personalities of the two entities no
longer exist and (2) that failure to disregard their
separate identities would result in fraud or injustice.
The first prong of this test has alternately been stated
as requiring a showing that the parent controls the
subsidiary to such a degree as to render the latter the
mere instrumentality of the former.
Unocal, 248 F.3d at 926 (internal citations, quotation marks,
and brackets omitted). The second test, which is applicable
here, is the “agency” test. That test is predicated upon a showing of the special importance of the services performed by the
subsidiary:
The agency test is satisfied by a showing that the
subsidiary functions as the parent corporation’s representative in that it performs services that are sufficiently important to the foreign corporation that if it
did not have a representative to perform them, the
corporation’s own officials would undertake to perform substantially similar services.
Id. at 928 (quoting Chan, 39 F.3d at 1405) (emphasis added)
(internal quotation marks omitted); see also Harris Rutsky &
Co. Ins. Servs., Inc. v. Bell & Clements Ltd., 328 F.3d 1122,
1135 (9th Cir. 2003). For the agency test, we ask: Are the services provided by MBUSA sufficiently important to DCAG
that, if MBUSA went out of business, DCAG would continue

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selling cars in this vast market either by selling them itself, or
alternatively by selling them through a new representative?
We answer this question in the affirmative. In addition, this
test requires the plaintiffs to show an element of control,
albeit not as much control as is required to satisfy the “alter
ego” test.12 We conclude that DCAG has more than enough
control to meet the agency test, because DCAG has the right
to control nearly every aspect of MBUSA’s operations.
Application of the Agency Test
1.

Sufficient Importance

Our agency test for personal jurisdiction over a foreign corporation on the basis of its subsidiary’s operations has its origins in case law from the Second Circuit. See Wells Fargo &
12

The cases that might be read to require a more stringent showing of
control do so only when describing both the agency and alter ego tests
without differentiating between them. See e.g., Unocal, 248 F.3d at 926
(“An alter ego or agency relationship is typified by parental control of the
subsidiary’s internal affairs or daily operations.”) (emphasis added);
Kramer Motors, Inc. v. British Leyland, Ltd., 628 F.2d 1175, 1177 (9th
Cir. 1980) (per curiam) (“[t]hese facts are insufficient to make [the parent]
an ‘alter ego’ or ‘agent’ . . . [because the parent company does not] control[ ] the internal affairs . . . [nor] determine[ ] how [the subsidiary] operates on a daily basis”) (emphasis added). The Unocal court did not rely
on control for its agency analysis; instead it relied only on the sufficiently
important test as discussed above. See id. at 928. The court merely noted
that the level of control exercised by Unocal was not enough to overcome
the plaintiffs’ failure to demonstrate “sufficient importance.” See id. at
929-30. Here, as discussed further below, the plaintiffs have sufficiently
demonstrated the importance of MBUSA’s services to DCAG. Moreover,
because of DCAG’s comprehensive right to control MBUSA’s operations,
it is clear that this relationship easily meets the agency test, and thus we
need not define the precise degree of control required to meet that test or
establish any particular method for determining its existence. We prefer to
follow the traditional case-by-case common law method for refining these
questions in the future. See, e.g., Wells Fargo, 556 F.2d at 426 (“[I]t must
be cautioned that questions of personal jurisdiction admit of no simple
solutions” and often “must be decided on a case-by-case basis.”).

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Co. v. Wells Fargo Exp. Co., 556 F.2d 406, 423 (9th Cir.
1977) (adopting agency theory of personal jurisdiction, with
extensive reliance on case law from the Second Circuit). The
purpose of examining sufficient importance is to determine
whether the actions of the subsidiary can be understood as a
manifestation of the parent’s presence. Int’l Shoe Co. v.
Wash., 326 U.S. 310, 318 (1945); Wells Fargo, 556 F.2d at
423. Presence is a well-established basis for general jurisdiction: an individual who is physically present in a state is subject to the jurisdiction of its courts on any matter. Int’l Shoe,
326 U.S. at 316 (1945).
Our starting point for the sufficient importance prong is
that a subsidiary acts as an agent if the parent would undertake to perform the services itself if it had no representative
at all to perform them. Unocal, 248 F.3d at 928 (finding
agency if the services are “sufficiently important to the foreign corporation that if it did not have a representative to perform them, the corporation’s own officials would undertake to
perform substantially similar services”) (quoting Chan, 39
F.3d at 1405) (emphasis added).13 As the Second Circuit
13

Admittedly, there is a lack of clarity and consistency in the previous
articulations of the “sufficient importance” test. Some language in our
Unocal opinion would appear to require that without the particular subsidiary’s services, the parent company would have to undertake the agent’s
activities itself, perhaps through the use of its own personnel. See Unocal,
248 F.3d at 928 (“[C]ourts have permitted the imputation of contacts
where the subsidiary was either established for, or is engaged in, activities
that, but for the existence of the subsidiary, the parent would have to
undertake itself.”) (quoting Chan, 29 F.3d at 1405 n.9) (emphasis added)
(internal quotation marks omitted). This language, taken from a footnote
in the Chan opinion that quotes a district court opinion from the Eastern
District of Pennsylvania, could be read to suggest that as long as the subsidiary’s services could be performed equally effectively by an independent contractor, no agency relationship can exist. That is contrary,
however, to the main thrust of both the Unocal and Chan opinions, and
such a reading would make little sense in a complex global economy.
Companies can delegate most necessary services to other entities to perform on their behalf, but that does not mean that the entities performing

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explained, a court “may assert jurisdiction over a foreign corporation” when it affiliates itself with a local entity whose services “are sufficiently important to the foreign entity that the
corporation itself would perform equivalent services if no
agent were available.” Wiwa v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co.,
226 F.3d 88, 95 (2d Cir. 2000) (emphasis added).
[3] Selling Mercedes-Benz vehicles is a critical aspect of
DCAG’s business operations; DCAG’s charter defines its
goals as the “development, manufacture, and sales of products.” (emphasis added). When this suit was filed, the United
States market accounted for 19% of the sales of MercedesBenz vehicles worldwide, and MBUSA’s sales in California
alone accounted for 2.4% of DCAG’s total worldwide sales.
DCAG simply could not afford to be without a U.S. distribution system.
[4] The services that MBUSA currently performs are sufficiently important to DCAG that they would almost certainly
be performed by other means if MBUSA did not exist,
whether by DCAG performing those services itself or by
DCAG entering into an agreement with a new subsidiary or
a non-subsidiary national distributor for the performance of
those services. As we held in Wells Fargo, “it is clear that
whether the alleged general agent was a subsidiary of the
principal or independently owned is irrelevant.” 556 F.2d at
423. Independent contractors may be considered representatives, and contracting with an independent contractor to
achieve the same end — distributing cars in the United States
— means, in practice, obtaining a “representative” to “underthose services are not or cannot be agents of the delegating company.
Accordingly, we accept the more reasonable statement of the Unocal court
quoted in the text above, which was drawn from the text of the Chan opinion and constitutes a more complete statement of the proposition relied on
by those cases; equally important, it is consistent with the Second Circuit’s
rule.

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take . . . substantially similar services.” Unocal, 248 F.3d at
928 (quoting Chan, 39 F.3d at 1405).
[5] Therefore, the plaintiffs have established the importance to DCAG of the services performed by MBUSA and
met the sufficiently important test, because even if DCAG
were to replace MBUSA with an independent entity, that
entity would still be considered a representative for purposes
of that test.
2.

Control

We turn now to an examination of the element of control.
As we have stated, supra, the principal focus of our agency
test for purposes of personal jurisdiction is the importance of
the services provided to the parent corporation. In Unocal, we
conducted a thorough analysis of a potential agency relationship and based our decision solely on the failure to meet the
sufficient importance test. Id. at 928-31. We then added that
control alone was insufficient to overcome that failure.
[6] Control nevertheless plays a role in determining
whether personal jurisdiction is established because control is
a traditional element of agency under common law principles.
DCAG contends that a right to control is not sufficient, and
that the parent must actually exercise control over the operations of its subsidiary on a day-to-day basis in order to meet
the agency test. This argument is in error because it conflates
the agency and alter ego tests. We have previously explained
that these two tests are distinct and involve considerations of
distinct factors. Wells Fargo, 556 F.2d at 425.14 As explained
in the Restatement (Third) of Agency:
14

As discussed above, the alter ego test requires a showing that the “parent controls the subsidiary ‘to such a degree as to render the latter the mere
instrumentality of the former.’ ” Unocal, 248 F.3d at 926 (quoting Calvert
v. Huckins, 875 F. Supp. 674, 678 (E.D. Cal. 1995)). A similar degree of
control is not required to establish agency.

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A principal’s right to control the agent is a constant
across relationships of agency, but the content or
specific meaning of the right varies. Thus, a person
may be an agent although the principal lacks the
right to control the full range of the agent’s activities, how the agent uses time, or the agent’s exercise
of professional judgment. A principal’s failure to
exercise the right of control does not eliminate it, nor
is it eliminated by physical distance between the
agent and principal. . . .
§ 1.01 cmt. c. (emphasis added).
As we recently held, “[t]o form an agency relationship,
both the principal and the agent must manifest assent to the
principal’s right to control the agent.” United States v. Bonds,
608 F.3d 495, 506 (9th Cir. 2010) (emphasis added). We went
on to make clear that actual control was not necessary by noting that a principal must either “actually control[ ]” the agent,
or the principal and the agent must agree that the principal has
the right to do so. Bonds, 608 F.3d at 506. We can think of
no clearer manifestation of assent to the principal’s right to
control than the comprehensive written agreement between
DCAG and MBUSA.15
[7] Even at common law, agents may exercise a considerable amount of discretion in performing their functions. See
Restatement (Third) of Agency § 2.01, cmt. d (2006). A principal has control when it “has the right to give interim instructions or directions to the agent once their relationship is
established.” § 1.01 cmt. f (emphasis added). Indeed, the principal need not exercise control at all in order to preserve an
15

The mere “capacity” to control is not sufficient to establish agency,
absent some indication of an agreement that the principal has the right to
control the agent. Bonds, 608 F.3d at 506. Although that agreement need
not be explicit, “there must be at least some manifestation of assent” to the
right to control. Id. at 507.

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agency relationship; the relevant inquiry, rather, is whether
the principal has the right to control. See, e.g., Bonds, 608
F.3d at 506; In re Coupon Clearing Service, Inc., 113 F.3d
1091, 1099 (9th Cir. 1997) (holding that “[t]he right to control, rather than its exercise, is sufficient to meet [the agency]
standard” under California law).
The Second Circuit’s test does not require that “the defendant exercise[ ] direct control over its putative agent.” Wiwa,
226 F.3d at 95. In fact, the Second Circuit relies on the sufficient importance test without requiring any control. Id. We do
not go so far, however. For the reasons explained above, it is
necessary in this circuit that the principal have the right of
control with respect to the agent.
We must remember that we are considering the contours of
the test for agency to be applied in the context of personal
jurisdiction. We are not examining the rules governing the test
for vicarious liability, or for holding DCAG financially liable
for the actions of MBUSA. Moreover, when we consider control here, it is as part of a test that primarily considers whether
the services are of “sufficient importance.” See Unocal, 248
F.3d at 928. Outside the context of personal jurisdiction, we
do not require a double showing in order to establish an
agency relationship: in other circumstances, the tasks to be
performed by the agent on behalf of the principal need not be
of any special importance. See, e.g., Batzel v. Smith, 333 F.3d
1018, 1036 (9th Cir. 2003); Restatement (Third) of Agency
§ 1.01.
3.

DCAG’s Right to Control

[8] The degree of control that DCAG exercises over
MBUSA is more than sufficient for the purpose of establishing personal jurisdiction. To repeat, we must take plaintiffs’
alleged facts as true, because plaintiffs need make only a
prima facie showing of personal jurisdiction here.

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[9] DCAG contends that the General Distributor’s Agreement is evidence of an “arms-length” relationship with
MBUSA. We do not read the agreement as DCAG appears to.
DCAG has the right to control nearly all aspects of MBUSA’s
operations including: the number of vehicles that MBUSA
must sell; the approval of MBUSA’s Authorized Resellers, as
well as the location of each retail sales outlet, showroom and
service facility; the dealership standards that MBUSA must
comply with; the business systems that MBUSA uses; the
type of customer information that MBUSA must collect;
which management personnel are appointed to run MBUSA;
which management personnel positions shall exist at
MBUSA; the standards and requirements MBUSA must meet
for vehicle servicing; whether MBUSA is required to establish a Service Coordination Center, and if so, what tasks that
Center will perform; the warranty terms applicable to
MBUSA’s customers; whether MBUSA can alter or modify
any vehicle; what technical service publications MBUSA
shall have in its library; the content and scope of MBUSA’s
advertising and marketing strategy; the type, design and size
of MBUSA’s signs; the prices that MBUSA must pay to
DCAG; the prices that MBUSA may charge to its Authorized
Resellers; the working capital level and financing capability
level that MBUSA must maintain; what other goods MBUSA
may sell or manufacture; whether MBUSA must assist in
vehicle homologation; and the sales numbers of various
Authorized Resellers. If that exhaustive list were not enough,
DCAG also has the right to require MBUSA to execute “any
agreement relating to . . . any other matter related to this
Agreement in the form from time to time adopted by
[DCAG]” as long as those new Agreements are not an “unreasonable burden” on MBUSA. (emphasis added). MBUSA
must comply with all of DCAG’s current requirements and all
future requirements that may be set forth in any future document promulgated by DCAG. DCAG also receives notice
about nearly all of MBUSA’s actions, including personnel
changes, customer information, and marketing strategy.

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[10] Because MBUSA’s services were sufficiently important to DCAG and because DCAG had the right to substantially control MBUSA’s activities, we conclude that MBUSA
was DCAG’s agent for general jurisdictional purposes.
B.

Reasonableness

Because we hold that there is ample evidence of an agency
relationship between DCAG and MBUSA, and, thus, that
MBUSA’s contacts with California may be imputed to
DCAG, we now must turn to the second part of our test:
whether the assertion of jurisdiction is “reasonable.” See Unocal, 248 F.3d at 925.
[11] Once plaintiffs have made the requisite showing of
minimum contacts in the forum state, “[t]he burden . . . shifts
to the defendant to present a compelling case that jurisdiction
would be unreasonable.” Sinatra v. Nat’l Enquirer, Inc., 854
F.2d 1191, 1198 (9th Cir. 1988) (citing Burger King Corp. v.
Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 477 (1985)) (emphasis added); see
also Tuazon v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 433 F.3d 1163,
1175 (9th Cir. 2006). We weigh seven factors in resolving this
question:
the extent of purposeful interjection; the burden on
the defendant; the extent of conflict with sovereignty
of the defendant’s state; the forum state’s interest in
adjudicating the suit; the most efficient judicial resolution of the dispute; the convenience and effectiveness of relief for the plaintiff; and the existence of an
alternative forum.
Sinatra, 854 F.2d at 1198-99. No one factor is dispositive; nor
is the answer dictated by whether the majority of factors
favors one side or the other. Rather we take into consideration
all seven factors and then conduct an overall evaluation of the
question. See Harris Rutsky, 328 F.3d at 1132.

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The Extent of Purposeful Interjection

[12] DCAG has purposefully and extensively interjected
itself into the California market through MBUSA. The district
court found that DCAG had purposely availed itself of the
California market, primarily through its design of cars to meet
California’s air quality standards, its manufacture of a fuel
cell for the California Fuel Cell Partnership, and the fact that
DCAG built a prototype fuel cell vehicle specifically for the
United Parcel Service (“UPS”) to use in California. Bauman
I, 2005 WL 3157472, at *8. The district court also found that
DCAG had purposefully interjected itself into California by
“initiating lawsuits in California courts to challenge the state’s
clean air laws and to protect DCAG’s patents and other business interests.” Id. at *13. Moreover, it found that the sale of
DCAG’s vehicles in California “is not an isolated occurrence
but arises from the efforts of DCAG to serve the California
market.” Id. In addition, we note that DCAG established
DaimlerChrysler Research and Technology North America
and headquartered the company in “the heart of Silicon Valley.” Researchers at the Research and Technology Center in
Palo Alto have focused on such products as fuel cell vehicles
and vehicle-to-vehicle communication for DCAG brands
including Mercedes-Benz.
[13] The district court also found it relevant that DCAG
has retained permanent counsel in California and is listed on
the Pacific Stock Exchange located in San Francisco. Bauman
I, 2005 WL 3157472, at *8. DCAG also answered a complaint in a different case in the Northern District of California
and filed a cross-complaint after waiving service of process.
See id. (discussing case). Next, the district court found that
the patent and clean air DCAG instituted lawsuits were
“likely central to DCAG’s business functions.” Id. at 9.
Finally, according to DCAG’s own figures, MBUSA’s sales
in California alone account for 2.4% of DCAG’s total worldwide sales.

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The first factor, therefore, weighs heavily in favor of “reasonableness,” as a corporation that “has continuously and
deliberately exploited the [California] market . . . must reasonably anticipate being haled into court there . . . .” Keeton
v. Hustler Magazine, Inc., 465 U.S. 770, 781 (1984).
2.

The Burden on the Defendant

The burden on the defendant, a large international corporation, to litigate the case in California is not so weighty as to
preclude jurisdiction — particularly since “modern advances
in communications and transportation have significantly
reduced the burden of litigating in another country.” Sinatra,
854 F.2d at 1199. In 1990, we held that “[i]n this era of fax
machines and discount air travel, requiring the partnership to
defend itself in California . . . would not be so unreasonable
as to violate due process.” Sher, 911 F.2d at 1365. Today, for
better or for worse, we have moved past that era of fax
machines to the current era of electronic-filing in which
judges of this court must make a special request if we wish
to receive the paper copy of some documents filed with our
court. Now, in addition to discount airline travel, parties have
the option of conducting video conferences with their clients,
and can even, in some instances, conduct video depositions.
These technological advances significantly lower the costs,
financial and otherwise, of foreign corporations litigating
cases in American courts.
[14] Here, the burden on the defendant of producing
records and witnesses in California, when the events in question took place in Argentina, would be no greater than if the
case were instead litigated in Germany. Moreover, DCAG’s
official language is English, so it will not be disadvantaged in
that respect by litigating in the forum selected by the plaintiffs.
This factor weighs slightly in DCAG’s favor, because there
is some burden in having to litigate in a foreign country. It is

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not, however, a particularly significant factor, in part because
the burden for an international corporation is ordinarily slight,
and in part because “the Supreme Court has preferred nonjurisdictional methods of lessening the inconvenience faced
by defendants.” Sinatra, 854 F.2d at 1199.
3.

The Extent of Conflict with Sovereignty of the
Defendant’s State

Third, we have held that the extent of the conflict with the
sovereignty of the defendant’s state “is not dispositive
because, if given controlling weight, it would always prevent
suit against a foreign national in a United States court.” Id.
(quoting Gates Learjet Corp. v. Jensen, 743 F.2d 1325, 1333
(9th Cir. 1984), cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1066 (1985)). Although
it is true that “[g]reat care and reserve should be exercised
when extending our notions of personal jurisdiction into the
international field,” Asahi Metal Indus. v. Superior Court, 480
U.S. 102, 115 (1987) (quoting United States v. First Nat’l
City Bank, 379 U.S. 378, 404 (1965) (Harlan, J., dissenting)),
that same consideration will always be present in claims
under the ATS and the TVPA.
[15] Although German courts have expressed some concern that this suit may impinge upon German sovereignty, we
do not agree. In applying this factor, we examine “the presence or absence of connections to the United States in general, not just to the forum state.” Core-Vent Corp. v. Nobel
Indus. AB, 11 F.3d 1482, 1489 (9th Cir. 1993). Here, DCAG
“has manifested an intent to serve and to benefit from the
United States market.” See Sinatra, 854 F.2d at 1200. Therefore, “sovereignty considerations weigh less heavily than if no
United States-based relationships were established.” Id. When
this suit was filed, nearly 50% of DCAG’s overall revenue
came from the U.S., and sales of DCAG vehicles in the
United States accounted for 1% of this country’s GDP. It is
obvious that this magnitude of sales requires extensive “relationships” in the United States. In addition to its relationship

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with MBUSA discussed at length above, DCAG was the
product of a merger between Chrysler and DaimlerBenz AG.
One of the products of that merger, the DaimlerChrysler Corporation (DCC), was one of the Big Three automobile companies in the United States at the time the suit was filed.
Although DCAG insists that it did not have headquarters in
the U.S. and that the employee payroll figures that plaintiffs
repeatedly cite refer to DCC employees rather than DCAG
employees,16 we need not decide for the purposes of examining this factor whether this is correct. It is clear that DCAG
had a strong general presence in the United States through
MBUSA and DCC. It is not an infringement on the corporate
form to count DCC as a large asset in the United States that
DCAG owned. It is irrelevant whether DCC’s employees also
counted as employees of DCAG.
DCAG has “manifested an intent to serve and to benefit
from the United States market.” Sinatra, 854 F.2d at 1200. It
has chosen to place itself at risk of litigation by engaging in
extensive business in the United States through the operations
of its agent MBUSA and its asset DCC. We do not violate
Germany’s sovereignty by exercising jurisdiction to hear this
suit, even though it involves a German citizen corporation.
This factor again weighs only slightly in DCAG’s favor.
4.

The Forum State’s Interest in Adjudicating the Suit

Fourth, although the events at issue did not take place in
California and although the plaintiffs are not California residents, the forum state does have a significant interest in adjudicating the suit. California partakes in “the shared interest of
the several States in furthering fundamental substantive social
16

A letter from DCAG Chairman Jurgen Schrempp in a DCAG publication, under the headline “Our Presence in North America,” said that
DCAG had 125,000 employees in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
(emphasis added). The same publication said that DCAG paid $8.2 billion
in wages in the United States in 2003.

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policies.” World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, 444
U.S. 286, 292 (1980). Here, as the claims are predicated upon
the ATS and TVPA, that policy is providing a forum to
redress violations of international law by defendants who
have enough connections with the United States to be brought
to trial on our shores, even though the injury is to aliens and
occurs outside our borders — “a small but important step in
the fulfillment of the ageless dream to free all people from
brutal violence.” Filartiga v. Pena-Irala, 630 F.2d 876, 890
(2d Cir. 1980). American federal courts, be they in California
or any other state, have a strong interest in adjudicating and
redressing international human rights abuses. As the Second
Circuit held shortly after the turn of the century:
The new formulations of the Torture Victim Protection Act convey the message that torture committed
under color of law of a foreign nation in violation of
international law is our business, as such conduct not
only violates the standards of international law but
also as a consequence violates our domestic law. In
the legislative history of the TVPA, Congress noted
that universal condemnation of human rights abuses
provide[s] scant comfort to the numerous victims of
gross violations if they are without a forum to remedy the wrong. This passage supports plaintiffs’ contention that in passing the Torture Victim Prevention
Act, Congress has expressed a policy of U.S. law
favoring the adjudication of such suits in U.S. courts.
Wiwa, 226 F.3d 88, 106 (2d Cir. 2000) (internal citations and
quotation marks omitted).
We agree and have previously cited Wiwa with approval
for this exact point. Sarei v. Rio Tinto, 550 F.3d at 831. The
policy of the TVPA is that these “suits should not be facilely
dismissed on the assumption that the ostensibly foreign controversy is not our business.” Wiwa, 226 F.3d at 106. In light
of the important interest we have recognized, this factor

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weighs in favor of the reasonableness of exercising personal
jurisdiction.
5.

The Most Efficient Judicial Resolution of the Dispute

The fifth factor, which examines which forum is most efficient, “involves a comparison of alternative forums.” Amoco
Egypt Oil Co. v. Leonis Nav. Co., Inc, 1 F.3d 848, 852 (9th
Cir. 1993). Because we have primarily looked to where the
witnesses and evidence are located in order to determine the
most efficient forum, see, e.g., Core-Vent, 11 F.3d at 1489,
there is no difference between the United States and Germany
insofar as this factor is concerned. Here, the witnesses and
evidence are located primarily in Argentina. Therefore, if that
forum were an available alternative forum as discussed below,
it would likely be the most efficient. Of course, if a forum is
not an available alternative, it cannot be the most efficient in
the “comparison of alternative forums.” In any event, “this
factor is ‘no longer weighed heavily given the modern
advances in communication and transportation.’ ” Harris
Rusty, 328 F.3d at 1133 (quoting Panavision Int’l v. Toeppen,
141 F.3d 1316, 1323 (9th Cir. 1998)). In the end, the factor
is a draw; there is no difference insofar as the efficiency factor is concerned between the United States and Germany, and
Argentina is not a truly available forum as discussed below.
6 & 7.

The Convenience and Effectiveness of Relief for the
Plaintiff; and the Existence of an Alternative
Forum

We have traditionally evaluated the sixth and seventh factors together. See Core-Vent, 11 F.3d at 1490. The plaintiffs
contend that Germany does not recognize human rights suits
against corporate defendants and will not allow equitable tolling. Argentinian courts, the plaintiffs assert, provide no means
of redress against corporations that collaborated with Argentine security forces in carrying out the Dirty War, and would
bar this suit on account of the statute of limitations. Most

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important for our purposes is whether Argentina would be an
adequate forum, as that country, where the events at issue in
this lawsuit took place, would be the most natural location in
which to litigate the case, were all other factors equal. The
plaintiff “bears the burden of proving the unavailability of an
alternative forum,” Harris Rutsky, 328 F.3d at 1133-34,
although as mentioned earlier, the overall burden with respect
to reasonableness lies with the defendants.
[16] The plaintiffs’ arguments that Argentina would not be
a fully adequate forum — if it is a forum at all — are persuasive, at this stage of the litigation. A recent Supreme Court
case in Argentina has held that human rights civil cases arising out of the Dirty War are subject to a two-year and threemonth statute of limitations. See Corte Supreme de Justicia de
la Nacion [CSJN] [National Supreme Court of Justice],
30/10/2007, “Larrabeiti Yanez, Anatole Alejandro y otro c/
Estado Nacional / proceso de concocimiento,” La Ley [L.L.]
(2008-F-23) (Arg.).17 This suit would, for that reason, be
barred — which makes Argentina unavailable as an alternative forum.18 See Bank of Credit and Commerce Int’l, Ltd. v.
17

DCAG points to a news article about another Argentinian Supreme
Court case involving the prosecution of a government official for acts
committed during the Dirty War; the article says that “[t]he statute of limitations is not applied to these crimes.” Martinez de Hoz Pardon Quashed
By Supreme Court, Buenos Aires Herald (Apr. 28, 2010) (emphasis
added). There is no indication, however, that the law regarding civil cases
has changed, and therefore this article, even were we to consider it, is of
no significance. In fact, the Yanez case cited above recognized that crimes
against humanity “have no statute of limitations in the penal sphere” but
rejected an argument that an “action to claim compensation has no statute
of limitations.” (emphasis added). Rather, the Court found that the two
year and three-month statute of limitations from the age of majority
applied to claims for compensation.
18
Even if it were possible to bring suit in Argentina, which appears
unlikely in light of Yanez, we cannot say that either “efficient judicial resolution of the dispute” or the “convenience and effectiveness of relief for
the plaintiff” would likely be achieved. The Department of State has noted
“credible allegations of efforts by members of security forces and others

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State Bank of Pakistan, 273 F.3d 241, 246 (2d Cir. 2001)
(“[A]n adequate forum does not exist if a statute of limitations
bars the bringing of the case in that forum.”)
As to Germany, there is conflicting expert testimony about
whether equitable tolling, or an equivalent within the German
legal system, would allow the suit to proceed. The answer is
not clear; indeed, the district court concluded that “it appears
that plaintiffs’ claims, which are based on events that
occurred in 1976 and 1977, would not necessarily be timebarred.” Bauman II, 2007 WL 486389, at *4 (emphasis
added) (citations omitted). DCAG argues that Germany does
allow human rights suits against corporate defendants, and
that plaintiffs are incorrect when they assert a contrary position. Plaintiffs argue, however, that when DCAG was arguing
before the German courts about the need to stay the plaintiffs’
service of process, DCAG argued that plaintiffs could not
allege a cause of action in the German courts.
Furthermore, in Harris Rutsky, we considered the defendant’s amenability to service of process in the alleged alternative forum in deciding whether that forum was truly an
alternative. Harris Rutsky, 328 F.3d at 1134. Given the concerns discussed above, and the issues that have already arisen
with respect to plaintiffs’ efforts to serve DCAG in Germany,
we cannot say that Germany is an adequate forum such that
personal jurisdiction elsewhere should be defeated. Here,
DCAG is not readily amenable to service of process in Germany, see footnote 4 supra; instead, as discussed above, it has
vigorously fought the plaintiffs’ attempts to serve it. For the
to intimidate the judiciary and witnesses.” U.S. Dep’t of State, Argentina,
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices — 2002, at 8 (Mar. 31,
2003). According to plaintiffs, they have already suffered intimidation for
speaking out against Mercedes-Benz Argentina and the security forces,
and it is reasonable to conclude that they might continue to be so intimidated if they were to pursue this litigation in Argentina. Therefore, the barriers to effective relief in Argentina for the plaintiffs are formidable.

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reasons stated above, factors six and seven weigh in favor of
the plaintiffs with respect to Argentina, but the answer is
unclear as to Germany or possibly, because of the burden of
proof applicable to the evaluation of this factor, the balance
should be struck in favor of Germany.
Even if Argentina and Germany were, as DCAG argues,
both adequate fora for redressing any alleged wrongs, the
availability of an alternative forum is not the deciding factor
in the personal jurisdiction analysis.19 We are not here considering forum non conveniens. “While forum non conveniens
and personal jurisdiction analyses overlap, they are by no
means identical.” Dole Food Co. v. Watts, 303 F.3d 1104,
1116 (9th Cir. 2002). Rather, the question of an alternate
forum is one factor among several that we consider in deciding whether it is reasonable and fair to bring DCAG, a foreign corporation with a general agent operating continuously
throughout the state of California, before a court in that
forum.
Overall Evaluation of the Factors
[17] The question before us is ultimately whether exercising personal jurisdiction over DCAG comports with fair play
and substantial justice. We find that it does. As the Second
Circuit held in evaluating the exercise of personal jurisdiction
over the Royal Dutch/Shell Group:
While it is true that certain factors normally used to
assess the reasonableness of subjection to jurisdiction do favor the defendants (they are foreign corpo19

In fact, we have noted that “[w]hether another reasonable forum exists
becomes an issue only when the forum state is shown to be unreasonable.”
Sinatra, 854 F.2d at 1201 (quoting Corporate Investment Business Brokers v. Melcher, 824 F.2d 786, 787 (9th Cir. 1987)) (alteration in original).
Here, the defendants have not shown that jurisdiction in the forum state
is unreasonable.

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rations that face something of a burden if they
litigate here, and the events in question did not occur
in New York), litigation in New York City would
not represent any great inconvenience to the defendants. The defendants control a vast, wealthy, and
far-flung business empire which operates in most
parts of the globe. They have a physical presence in
the forum state [through their agent], have access to
enormous resources, face little or no language barrier, have litigated in this country on previous occasions, have a four-decade long relationship with one
of the nation’s leading law firms, and are the parent
companies of one of America’s largest corporations,
which has a very significant presence in New York.
New York City, furthermore, where the trial would
be held, is a major world capital which offers central
location, easy access, and extensive facilities of all
kinds. We conclude that the inconvenience to the
defendants involved in litigating in New York City
would not be great and that nothing in the Due Process Clause precludes New York from exercising
jurisdiction over the defendants.
Wiwa, 226 F.3d at 99.
Many or all of those considerations apply with equal force
in this case. For much the same reasons, we conclude that it
is reasonable to exercise jurisdiction over DCAG in California, a state that has itself become a major hub for world commerce and attracts business not only from all over Europe, but
from all over Asia as well.
In Harris Rutsky, we found that jurisdiction was reasonable
even though there was an “obvious alternative forum” and the
balance of the seven factors was essentially a wash, “since
some of the reasonableness factors weigh in favor of [the
defendant], but others weigh against it.” 328 F.3d at 1134; see
also Roth, 942 F.2d at 625 (holding that jurisdiction was rea-

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sonable even though only two reasonableness factors favored
plaintiff, while three favored defendant). Here, the defendants
present a far less compelling case than did the defendants in
Harris Rutsky. Most important, DCAG’s contacts with California and with the U.S. are far more extensive than the
defendant’s contacts in Harris Rutsky. In that case, the defendant had “several California-based relationships, including a
contractual one with ASR [the purported agent]. After purposefully seeking out a financially lucrative relationship with
ASR, [the defendant] communicated with ASR on a regular
basis over a four-year period.” Harris Rutsky, 328 F.3d at
1134. That was the extent of the contacts in Harris Rutsky,
and yet we ultimately held that “[g]iven the quantity and quality of the contacts with the forum state, it is not unreasonable
for a court in California to exercise personal jurisdiction” over
the defendant. Id.
[18] In light of DCAG’s pervasive contacts with the forum
state through MBUSA, including the extensive business operations of that subsidiary, the interest of California in adjudicating important questions of human rights, our substantial
doubt as to the adequacy of Argentina as an alternative forum,
and the various issues discussed above with respect to Germany, we hold that DCAG “has not met its burden of presenting a compelling case that the exercise of jurisdiction would
not comport with fair play and substantial justice.” See id.
(emphasis added).
V.

Conclusion

At the time this suit was filed, MBUSA’s business was sufficiently important to DCAG that without MBUSA or another
representative, DCAG would have performed those services
itself. Moreover, DCAG had the right to control to one extent
or another nearly every aspect of MBUSA’s business. Therefore, we conclude that, at least for the limited purpose of
determining general jurisdiction, MBUSA was DCAG’s
agent.

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The Supreme Court “long ago rejected the notion that personal jurisdiction might turn on ‘mechanical’ tests” that fail
to take account of reality. Burger King, 471 U.S. at 478-79
(quoting Int’l Shoe, 326 U.S. at 319). The reality is that in an
increasingly complex and globalized economy, international
corporations such as DCAG reap enormous profits from the
sale of their goods in the United States. The sales are achieved
through the use of major distributors, frequently in the form
of subsidiaries. Many international companies organize their
corporate structure and establish subsidiaries for the sole purpose of obtaining the maximum benefit from the American
market. To the ordinary American, and certainly to us, it
would seem odd, indeed, if the manufacturer of MercedesBenz vehicles, which are sold in California in vast numbers
by its American subsidiary, for use on the state’s streets and
highways, could not be required to appear in the federal
courts of that state. Mercedes-Benz cars are ubiquitous in California, and Mercedes-Benz dealerships, required to display
the signage mandated by DCAG, have a highly visible presence.
The numbers bear out our perception. At the time that this
suit was filed, MBUSA’s sales in California alone accounted
for 2.4% of DCAG’s total worldwide sales. Moreover, when
considering burdens on the defendant and the issue of state
sovereignty, we cannot overlook the fact that when this suit
was filed, nearly 50% of DCAG’s overall revenue came from
the United States, and that in order to make this income,
DCAG created a wholly-owned subsidiary, MBUSA, to sell
Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the United States.
Our test for personal jurisdiction must take these realities
into account in determining whether it is reasonable to subject
a parent company to the jurisdiction of the courts of this
nation on the basis of the acts of its agent. After applying this
test, we have no doubt that DCAG is subject to personal jurisdiction in California, and that the exercise of such jurisdiction
is not only reasonable, but fair and just. Therefore we reverse

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and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.20
REVERSED and REMANDED.21

20

To the minimal extent that the opinion contains information received
under seal by the district court, the seal is lifted. To the extent that any
other information was received under seal, and has not previously been
made public, the stipulated protective order shall remain in effect.
21
This opinion replaces the opinion filed on August 28, 2009 and withdrawn on May 6, 2010.