LA TELE PRODUCTIONS, INC. v. TV Azteca et al

Filing 115

ORDER granting 39 40 Motions to Dismiss and Dismissing Defendants TV Azteca and Comarex for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction. Signed by Judge Federico A. Moreno on 9/25/2018. See attached document for full details. (mmd)

UNI
TED STATES DI
STRI COURT FOR THE
CT
SOU TH ERN D I
STRI OF FLOR I
CT
DA
M im iDi so
a
vii n
Cas N um ber 16- 347- V - O REN O
e
: 25
Cl M

LA TELE PRODUCTI
ONS,l ,
NC.
Pli if
a ntf ,
VS.

TV AZTECA ,COM A REX S.A. CV,
de

AZTECA I
NTERN ATI
ONAL CORP.,
AZTECA STATI S LLC a
ON
J nd
I VESTM EN T M EDI G ROU P, COR P.
N
A
,
Def nt .
enda s
/

ORDER DI I NG DEFENDANTS TV AZTECA AND COM AREX FOR LACK OF
SM SSI
PERSONAL JURI CTI
SDI ON
1
.

Backzround

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4 ( ) te f ri n c a n l b o d a tn te tln v ls ae a c si e o ln o o c be
2; 5 h o eg h n es r a c sig h ee o ea r c e sbl n ie r n a l

tlvso i Flrd , i. a ! 4 ; ( ) t e tln v ls b o d a td t r u h TV Aze as
ee iin n o ia d t 3 6 h ee o ea r a c se h o g
tc '
s b i ire (n ld n Dee d n Aze aAmeia aea alb eo ln wih TV Aze a sl g
u sdais i cu i g fn a t tc
rc ) r v ia l n ie t
tc ' o o
a r m an a ce sbl i Fl i a t oug
nd e i c s i e n orda nd hr houtt Unie St es i a ! 4 .a d ( )Aze a
he t d at , d t 4, n 7 tc
l e na i lCom or ton ofer d TV Azt a' c e oft t l novels a t Conf r nc i
nt r tona
ai
f e
ec s ont nt he e e
a t he
ee e n

M imiFl i i J nuay201 i a !76.
a , orda n a r 8,d. t
The que ton i whe he Pli ifspr f r d e nt a e s fc e t fnd t tTV Az e a
si s t r antf
ofe e ve s r ufi i nt o i ha
tc
a Coma e c
nd
r x omm it d at ri a ti Fl i , t r by s ts yi Fl i s l a m s a ut .
te o tous c n orda he e a i f ng or da' ong- r t t e
1
.

Fl i sLong- m St ut
orda'
Ar
at e

Fl i s l a m s a ut i nots ts be a e Pl i ifhasf l t m e tisbur n of
orda' ong- r t t e s
a i ûed c us a ntf
aied o e t
de

e tb ihig s e ii p ro a j rs ito I a pli F o ia Sau e481 ()a ( ) ap ro
sa ls n p cfc e s n l u id cin. n p yng lrd ttt .93 1 ()2 , e s n
who c m isa t r i a tout i t s a e t tr uls i ha m w ihi t s a e ge r ly co e s
om t o tous c
sde he t t ha es t n r
t n he t t ne a l nf r

p ro a j rs ito o e t eo to -tt e tt . a di 1 t1 I .v Ah Ko 6 0F. p 2
e s n l u idcin v r h u- fsae n iy Eln a n ' nc .
,
y, 9 Su p. d

1 7 1 2 ( D.Fl.2 0 ( o dn t tpes n lj rs ito o e a o to sae e t y wa
31 , 3 9 S. a 01 ) h l ig ha ro a u id cin v r n u f tt ni s
t
pr rbe aus t dee
ope c e he fndantowe fducir dui t t pl ntf t tweeal e ybr c d)
d i ay tes o he ai if ha r leg dl ea he .

S eas Ro is n 7 F.d a 2 7 (oli t tte ln -r saue e tn sj rs ito o e a
e lo bn o , 4 3 t 5 h dng ha h o g am tt t xe d u idcin v r
d fn a twh alg d y c u e ij r i Flrd b n g ie ty d a n a d rviwig awil
e e d n o le e l a s d nu y n o i a y e lg n l rhig n e e n
l
o tieo Flrd )
u sd f o ia .

TV Aze aa Co rx7aen ts b e tt p ro a j rs ito i Flrdab viteo
tc nd mae r o u j c o es n l u idcin n o i y ru f
t pos i lt t tt t lnovel we e br ased i o Fl rda. The onl alegai i t
he sbiiy ha he ee
as r oadc t nt o i
y l tons n he
Ame
nded Compli t tal a ee sbiiy - ihe vi t i e ne o ca et e so
ant ha lege c s i lt --et r a he nt r t r bl elvii n--oft
he

te
elnovelsi Fl i ae:()fom 2011t t prs nt TV Azt awr ngf l a i e i ly
a n orda r a r
o he e e ,
ec o uly nd ntntonal
pr uce br dca t d,a diti ed t t e
od d, oa se nd srbut he elnovel n t Unie St e , D. 3 a ! 4
asi he
t d at s E. 2 t 2

(mp a i a d d ;()t f r i c n l b o d atn t etln v lsaea c s il o l o
e h ss d e ) b he o egn ha nes r a c sig h ee o ea r c e sbe ni r
ne
o c b etlvso i Flrd ,i a ! 4 (mp a i a d d ;a ( )t etln v lsb o d a td
n a l ee iin n o i a d. t 3 e h ss d e ) nd c h ee o ea r a c se
t ough FF Aze a% s sdi is (ncl ng Dee ntAze a Ameia ar a ia e onlne
hr
tc ub i are i udi
fnda
tc
rc ) e valbl i
wih TV A zt c s l a r m a n ac s i e i Fl i , i a ! 4 (mp a i a d d .Th
t
e a' ogo nd e i ce sbl n or da d. t 4 e h ss d e ) e

al tonsa
legai
bovt dono s
t ugge tt tTV Az e a orCom a e sa tonsout i ofFl rdar ule
s ha
tc
r x' c i
sde
o i es t d

i triu ij r i F o ias c c l
n o t s nu y n lrd pe 6 al
o
y.
l t d,Pl i i fs
ns ea
a ntf ugge t t tTV A z e w r f l br dca t d t t e
s s ha
t ca ong uly oa s e he el novel s ii t
a *n he

Unied St est but no s ik a l i Fl i . Ta ng t t wi r ng ng al ga i a tue
t
at ,
'
t pect ly n orda ki ha de-a i le ton s r
woul mea t t e y sae wih a sm ia l - r sa ut woul pos e s s ik pe s
d
n ha ver t t t
i lr ong am tt e
d
s s pecf
r onal

j rs cin overTV Azt a smpl by vit ofissausa asaei t Uni Suc t r
u idito
ec , i y
rue t tt s tt n he on. h heoy
woul s ey r n a oul of t Due Pr s Cl us s f i wa ni r r nt be a e t
d ur l u f
he
oce s a e' ar r ng equieme , c us he
d e ntmus ha pur e uly die t hi a tvii s a t f um- i t s ca e Fl i , not
ef nda
t ve pos f l r ced s c i te t he or
n hi s orda
7Tobes e,Pli ifdoe notale t tComa e wr uly br dc t dt t enoveasi oFl i The
lge ha
r x ongf l oa ase he el
l nt orda.
ur antf s
ale tonsc ntrar
lga i e e oundTV Aztcaa iss i a i .
e nd t ubsdires

t Unie Stt s Thus t ta l ga i on is own, i i ufii ntt gi rs t s c fcperonal
he t d a e .
t
, ha le ton,
s ns fc e o ve ie o pe ii s

j rs ito .
u idci n
Ne , Pli if c am s t t i or i n c nne s' and S
xt antf l i
ha i e g ha l '
f
I
TV Azt a' s i a i '
ec s ubsdires'

br dc t d t t e
oa ase he elnovel t ta e ac es i e i Fl i .
as ha r c sbl n orda

D. 3 ! 4 - 4 Flrd slng am
E. 2 ! 3 4 . o ia' o -r

sat e s el doe not c e ae i
t ut ur y
s
ont mpl t mpugni t a l ed t tous acs of wholy unr l t
ng he leg ori
t
l
e aed
e ii s àd f e g c nnes -ont TV Azt a. N or does Pl ntf cie t s h aut riy
ntte - . or i n ha l- o
ec
ai i f t o uc
ho t .

Ho v r t eq eto aie wheh rTV Aze ac n b s b e tt s e ii p ro a ju s i o
wc e, h u sin rs s te
tc a e u j c o p cfc es n l ti ddin
be aus oft a i ofisal ge s i a i s
c e he ctons t le d ubsdire .
A c por ton t t e ge i s tntalaci t i a sa e,t ough a s i a y, i
or a i ha nga s n ubsa i
tviy n
tt hr
ubsdir s

s b e tt p ro a j rs ito i F o ia Uni ers Cari an Est ihmentv Bard,543 So.
u j c o e s n l u id cin n l rd . v al bbe
abls
.

2d447,448( a 4t DCA 1 .Todeer newhehe af ei cor ai i la ebasd o
F1. h
989)
t mi
t r or gn porton s ibl e n
a s bsdir s s tntala tviy, t Co tmus consde t owne s p oft s i a y
u i a y' ubsa i c i t he ur
t
i r he
r hi
he ubsdir

,

t
he

busnes a tvii of t s i a y, and t fna ilr l to hi be wee t c or ton and
i s c i tes he ubs di r
he i nca e ai ns p t n he om a i

t s bsdir Ab amson v Wal Dine Co. 1 F.App' 273,
he u i a y. r
.
t s y , 32
x
2 6 ( 1h Ci. 0 5 ( p lig
7 1 t r 2 0 ) a pyn

scin 48 1 3 1 ()o Flrd ' ln -r sau e ( iig M ee v Sun Int1 Hot s,Lt ,288
e to .9 ()a f o ia s o g am tt t) ctn ir
el d
.

F. 1
3d 264, 1 2- ( 1h Ci. 2002) ' etbls a age y r l ins p, t f ei
27 73 1 t r
). $ sa ih n nc eato hi he or gn
To
c po ai m us e r ie s h co r t t t s i a y' s e pur e f e se e i t
or r ton
t xe c s uc ntol ha he ubsdi r s ol
pos or xitnc s o
ac
compls t a ms of t f ei c por ton a t r i no e de ofs par t i er t
ih he i
he or gn or a i nd he e s
vi nce
e ae nt es s.

Evi nceofope a i contoli no s tsi d wher t f e gn c or ton' pol
de
r tonal r s t a ite
e he or i om a i s i

cy st em ent
at
s

m e ey e t bls goas f iss i mi sa whe et s i a i sope ae wih a ç gh degr e
r l sa ih l or t ubsdi e nd
r he ubsdi re
r t t hi
e
ofa onom y.' I
ut
'' d

8

Acc ptng Pl i ifs f t l alegai as tue, Pl ntf cai t t G Az e a'
e i
antf acua l tons
r
ai if l ms ha '
TV
tc s
s bsdires'br dc t d t t l
u i a i ' oa ase he eenoveas t ta e ac es i e i Fl i .
l ha r c sbl n orda

D. 3 ! 4 .Plitf
E. 2 4 an if

does no i ntf whih of t s bsdire i r e s t but t Cour pr s
t de iy
c
he u i a i s t ef r o
he
t e umes t y a e
he r
,
Def nda s Az ec I e nai l Cor a i and Aztca Sttons
e nt
t a ntr tona
por ton
e
ai

bo h a lge y
t le dl

i por t d i Deawar a c
ncor a e n l e nd onduc i busne s i Fl i . Thi ale ton i t ve ii d
tng
i s n orda
s l gai n he rfe
Ame d Compl i ,at
nde
ant lhough a bi
m guous i s fiin t saeaprmaf cec s o j rs ito
, s u f e t o tt
c
i a i a e f u idcin
unde Flrda' l a m saut . Howe r t al ga i was die ty c r di t by Ra ae
r o i s ong- r t t e
ve , he le ton
r c l onta ced
f l
Rod i ue Sa he s de a a i , whe e n he e a ned t t d z e Am e i a a s i a y of
rg z nc z' clr ton
ri
xpl i
ha l t ca
A
r c , ubs di r

TV Aztc oper t c
e a,
aes omplt y i pe nty fom TV Az e . Thei he dq rer a e l a e
e el nde nde l r
t ca
r a ua t s r oc t d
i s pa a e coun res The s eno ofier ordie t s a have s pa a e boa dsofdie t s''
n e rt
ti .
y har
fc s
r cor , nd
e rt
r
r c or
.

D. 3 ,Ex A ! 2 .Fnal a c z d cae t a û Aze a a d Aze a Ame ia d n t
E. 9 .
0 il
y,S n he e lr d h t S
TV tc n tc
rc o o
s r ac oun s or i smen s' I
ha e c t , nve t t v ' d

a ! 21 S nc e s alg to s a e s fiin t s f t e
t . a h z' le ain r u fce t o hit h

b r e b c t Plitf t p o u e e i e c i s p r o j rs ito H owever alhough
u d n a k o an if o r d c v d n e n u po t f u id ci n
, t
.

Pli ifsa e d compl i i vc ii d, Pl i ifdi notpr de t si ony
antf m nde
ant s rfe
antf d
ovi e tm

,

orot e de e
her vi nc ,

t r b t TV Aze a s d ca ain a s t frh i te pes n lj rs ito b r e s hi
o eu
tc ' e lr to s e o t n h ro a u id ci n u d n hi ng
-

fa wo k8Abramson, 1 2F. p' a 2 6(t traplitf h se tb ih daprmaf i c s
rme r .
3 Ap x t 7 s e an if m sa ls e
Af
i ace a e

f rj rs ito a d t ed fn a th sfld a fd v t c n e tn j rs ito , t pli if bear
o u idci n n h e e d n a ie fia is o tsi g u idcin he antf
s
te b r e o p o ig s fiin j rs ito b afd vt o oh rs r sae ns'. Thus
h u d n f r vn u fce t u idcin y fi a is r t e wo n ttme t '
)
,
.

Pl ntf ha no me isbur t s
ai if s t t t
den o how t tt t e
ha he elnovel bei br dc t i Fl i we e
as ng oa ased n orda r
c us d by t t tousacsofTV Azt a oroneofiss i a is
a e
he ori
t
ec ,
t ubsdire .

Th n x i ur i wh t e TV Aze a a Co rx a e s j c t s e ii p ro a
e e t nq iy s eh r
tc nd ma e r ube t o p cfc es n l
j rs ito b c u eoft e me t st a pupo tdy o c re i Flrd The Cour fnds t t
u idcin e a s
h ei h t r re l c u rd n o ia
ng
t i ha
.

BThe Ve ii d Am e d Com pl ntdoe notpr deal tonsr ga di t r ltons p am on t va i
r fe
nde
ai
s
ovi legai e r ng he eai hi
g he rous
Defnda s.
e nt

te ae n t The Veiid Ame d d Co litalg s ta :()i De e e 2 01 Plitf
h y r o.
rfe
n e mp an le e h t a n c mb r 0 , anif
ofe e t t lnovel t TV Aze ,Coma e a l sm e M e a Gr up durng a meei
f r d he ee
as o
t ca
r x, nd nve t nt di o
i
tng

wihVi y J. nCo a Ga e , o ia D. 3 a ! 2 ;( )o s v r lo c so sbewe n 2 01
t na r i r l bls Flrd , E. 2 t 9 b n e e a c a in t e 0
a 201 Fr i a tnded t Conf e e i Cor lGa es Fl i a ofe e t t lnovels'
nd
0, a z te
he
er nc n
a bl , orda nd f r d he ee
a

rg t t TV Aze a i a ! 31 ()i J l 2 1 Fri a d Via Sr me i M imi Flrd t
ih s o
tc , d t . c n uy 01 , az n n y . t n a , o ia o
,
dic sTV Azt a' i rng ntofPl ntf c i ht , i a !38 a d ()Dee d n Aze a
s us
ec s nfi eme
ai ifs opyrg s d t
; n d fn a t tc
l e na i l Cor a i of e e TV A z e a' c ent of t t e
nt r tona
por ton f r d
t c s ont
he el novel s a t Conf r nc i
a t he
ee e n
M i m i Fl r da i J nua y 2018,i . a ! 7 I e s nc ,o rt e s a o s v n e n y a s t e
a , oi n a r
d t 6. n se e ve h p n f e e te e r, h

rg s t t t lno l s we e al ge y ofe e t TV Az ec a Co a e a t Conf r nce
i ht o he ee ve a
r le dl f r d o
t a nd m r x t he
ee

a o he nonnd t r
conf r e r l t me i i Fl i . Addii ly,Pl i ifalege t tFr i
e enc e aed etngs n orda
tona l antf l s ha az
a V i y, Sr m e i M i m i t di c s TV A z ec s a l ge i r nge e of Pl i if s
nd na
. t n
a
o s us
t a' le d nf i m nt
a ntf

c py i s
o rght.
Pli ifs ve ii d al ga i r ga di me i t toc ur e i Fl i a e s fce
antf' rfe le tons e r ng etngs ha c r d n orda r ufi int

t saeaprmaf cec s o j rs ito u e Flrd ' ln -r sau e S nc e ' d caain
o tt i a i ae f u idcin nd r o i as o g am ttt . a h z s e lrto
saest tETV Azec ne rhad a dic sons orbusne s de lngs wih Pl i ifLa l i
t t ha S
t a ve
ny s us i
i s ai
t antf Te e n

F o iao es whee'D. 3 , A !2 Ad iin l C Aze arp e e ttve ma ta l
l rd r le r . E. 9 Ex. 4. dto al C
'
y, TV tc e r s n ai s y rve
s o a ial t Flrdago te Co e e c a d ... o me twih oh ritmain ln t r s
p rdc ly o o i f r h nfrn e n ) t e t te n e to a ewo k .
The e viis a e net r c t ntnorm ehodia .'l .a ! 2 I o tnl S n he sae ta
s st r ihe onsa
t c l ' d t 7. mp ra t a c z tts h t
y,

d anif( dd n to frt No ea t TV Aze a ... ewe n 2 01a d 2 0. I a ! 28
s itf J i o fe he v ls o
pl
tc
b t e 0 n 01 ' d t .
'
Si ia l t de a a i of V i y, J .sa e t t
m l ry, he cl r ton
na r t t s hat d
coma e ha ne rha any dicus i or
r x s ve d
s sons
busnes de lngsw ih Pl i ifLa e i Fl r da orel e he e.'D. 40Ex. !21.
i s ai
t a ntf Tel n o i
s w r ' E.
A
The alega i of Sa hez a V i y J . a e s tcen t s A t bu de ba k t
l tons
nc
nd na r r ufi i t o hi he r n c o

Pl nift pr e e denc i s
aitf o oduc vi e n uppor ofj iditon.Bec us Pli ifhasf l t pr de
t urs ci
a e antf
aied o ovi
10

a e de et c e TV Az e a a Com a e sa lga i Pl ntf ha notm e isbur n of
ny vi nc o ountr
t c nd
r x' le tons ai if s
t t de
,

s fcinty a lgi t t t l ng- m saut i s tsi unde t t
ufi e l le ng ha he o ar t t e s a ifed
r he h
e y t t t meei
or ha he
tngs

b t e t p risi F o iagv rs t s cfcp ro l u idcin Abramson,132 F.App'
ewe n he a t n lrd ie ie o pe i e s na j rs ito
e
i
x
.

a 2 6 (tt g t a wh n a d fn a th s fld afd vt c ne tn j rs ito , t pl i if
t 7 sai h t e
n
ee d n a ie fi a is o tsig u idcin he antf
be r t bur n ofr buti by a fdavisorot s n satm e s
a s he de
e tng
fi t
her wor t e nt .

)
.

Acc di y,t Am e
or ngl he
nded Compli i dimis d be us Pli if has not met is
ant s s s e
ca e a ntf
t

b d ofetbls ng s ik pes lj iditon unde Fl i slng ann s at e over TV
ur en sa ihi pect rona urs ci
r orda' o
t ut
-

Azec a Comar x.
t a nd
e
2.

M i m um Cont s
ni
act

As umi ar ndo t tPl i ifha m e isbur n a is al ga i s tsy Fl i s
s ng gue
ha antf s t t
de nd t le tons aif orda'
l a m sa ut , t n x q e to i wh t e s b e tn TV
ong- r t t e he e t u sin s eh r u j cig

Aze a a d Co rx t p ro a
tc n mae o e s n l

j rs ito i t i Co r c mp rswi t Du Pr c s Clu e W her a f ' seekst as ert
u id cin n hs u t o o t t he e o e s a s
h
e ol
um
o s
.

s e ii p ro a j rs ito o e an n e ie td fnd n , duepr essr quiest def ntt
p cfc es n l u idcin v r o rsd n ee a t
oc e r he enda o

h v Sarwa nn ' ta a p riulra tvt ma s be thm t tej rs it n ofa f rin
a e ' i r ig' h t a t a ciiy y u j c i o h u idci
f
c
o
o eg
s r i Robison,74 F.3 a 258(ii Bur rKi Cor v. ze c 471 U . 462,472
ove egn.
n
d t
ctng ge ng p. Rud wiz
S.
,

( 9 5 (n en lctto o te l.Th starwanig' e urme ti me i t d fn a th s
1 8 ) itr a iai n mitd) i i i r n 'r q ie n s t f he e e d n a
f
pur ef l die t d hi a tvii a t f um a t ltga i r uls fom a l d i
pos uly r c e s c i tes t he or
nd he ii ton es t r
lege

n u is
j re

t ta ie ou oforr l t t t e aci te . I (ntr lquottonsa ctto omitd) The
ha rs t
e ae o hos tvii s d i ena
ai nd iains te .

de e nts c ac wih t f m sae s d g ve rs t a r as
f nda ' ont t t he onl t t houl i ie o e onabl a ii a i ofbeng
e ntc p ton
i
hal d i o c tt r . I (ntr lctto omi e .
e nt our he e d i ena iains t d)
t

TV Az e a Com a e 9 di no ha s fce c a t i Fl i t s ts y due
t ca nd
r x d t ve uf int ont c s n orda o a if
pr e s A m ee i i t f um sat m ay cons iut pup os f a l e i i i ves
oc s .
tng n he or
te
tt e
e ul vaim nt f t nvol

sg fc ntne i i ns of i pora t nus S e S a Lft I c v Re a o a Co tr ie s d
i nii a
gotato
m tnt e . e e / n . . hn d r
sa rc n e e

Per e S. ,79 F. 989,993 ( 1h Ci.1 6)(i ng t thol ngme tngsi t f 'm
tolo, A. 2 2d
1 t r 98 fndi ha di
ei n he ol
u

sae t sg a b i r aec nrc wa n ts fiin f rmi mu c na t) I t i c s ,t e
tt o in ol plt o ta t s o u fce t o ni m o tcs. n hs a e h
e
al d m e tngs t tocc r d i Fl i c m o e a l be r f r d t a ( olcia i .' Se
lege
e i ha
ure n orda an r pty
e ere o s i i ttons ' a
s

Lft I . 792 F. a 994 ( ci ng t dee ntsage ' pr s nc i Flrdat dicus a
/ nc,
2d t
des rbi he fnda ' nts e e e n o i o s s
f t omi busne s r ai hi as a (s iiai ' rt t n a C ei ' tA diect
orhc ng i s eltons p
dolctton' aher ha
t tng') ; r
me
.

s iiai n by a f e g def nda of t busne s of a f m r i nt has be n he d t be
olct to
or i n
e nt
he
i s
onl esde
e
l o
ç pos f a ime ' i ca e whe e eiher a c i ng r a i hi or s
pur e ul va l nt n s s
r t
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s o d b ds s e b c u e e ecsng p ro a j rs ito o e t e wo l vilt d e
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DONE AND ORDERED i Cha be s a M im i Fl i ,t s
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of Se e r
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F

201
8.

FEDERI O
RENO
UN I
TED ATES DI
STRI J
CT UDGE
Copi sf nihe t
e ur s d o:
Couns ofRe or
el
c d

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