MARDIS et al v. JACKSON HEWITT TAX SERVICE INC. et al
Filing
191
OPINION. Signed by Judge John Michael Vazquez on 12/26/2019. (lag, )
Not for Publication
UNITED STATES DISTRiCT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
WANDA MARDIS, et al.,
Plaint(ffs,
Civil Action No. 16-2115
V.
JACKSON HEWITT TAX SERVICE INC.,
et al.,
OPINION
Defendants.
John Michael Vazguez, U.S.D.J.
This putative class action concerns Defendants’ alleged violations of Plaintiffs’
employment contracts and various states’ wage laws by reducing the commissions earned by
Plaintiffs as tax preparers for the 2013-2014, 2014-201 5, 2015-2016, and 2016-2 107 tax seasons.
Currently pending before the Court are Defendants’ motions to dismiss Plaintiffs’ Third Amended
Class Action Complaint (“TAC”). D.E. 165, 166, 167, 168. The Court reviewed the parties’
submissions’ and decided the motions without oral argument pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 78(b) and
Defendants submitted four separate motions to dismiss, grouped as follows: (1) LMG (D.E. 165);
(2) Jackson Hewitt (D,E. 166); (3) KEF and TAYLOR (D.E. 167); and (4) WING (D.E. 168).
Plaintiffs submitted two separate oppositions, grouped as follows: (1) opposition to LMG, KEF,
TAYLOR, and WING (D.E. 177); and (2) opposition to Jackson Hewitt (D.E. 176). Defendants
replied separately, grouped as follows: (1) LMG (D.E. 178); (2) KEF and TAYLOR (D.E. 179);
(3) WING (D.E. 180); and (4) Jackson Hewitt (D.E. 181). LMG’s brief in support of its motion
will be referred to as “LMG’s Br.”; Jackson Hewitt’s brief in support of its motion will be referred
to as “Jackson Hewitt’s Br.”; KEF and TAYLOR’s brief in support of their motion will be referred
to as “KEF’s Br.”; and WING’s brief in support of its motion will be referred to as “WING’s Br.”
Plaintiffs’ opposition to LMG, KEF, TAYLOR, and WING will be referred to as “Pls.’ Opp. to
Franchisees”; and Plaintiffs’ opposition to Jackson Hewitt will be referred to as “Pis.’ Opp. to
Jackson Hewitt.” LMG’s reply brief will be referred to as “LMG’s Reply”; Jackson Hewitt’s reply
L. Civ. R. 78.1(b). For the following reasons, the Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part
Defendant Jackson Hewitt’s motion to dismiss, and the Court GRANTS Defendants LMG, KEF,
TAYLOR, and WING’s motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction.
I.
BACKGROUND2
The Court3 included an extensive factual background in its March 23, 2017 Opinion,
D.E. 44, which the Court incorporates by reference here insofar as it pertains to the same parties
and claims. By way of background, the following facts are taken from Plaintiffs’ Third Amended
Complaint. D.E. 68. Plaintiffs are Wanda Mardis, Kim Alexander, Cecilia Morris, Karma Dozier,
Sheila Baker, Sandra Coleman, Katrina Corbitt, Jacqueline Knight, Amy Donaldson, Sonja
Niemeyer, Terry Meyer, Catherine Dickerson, Carol Scott, Amanda Disotell, Elaine Fernandez,
Jessica Gay, Christina Babineaux, Brenda Boyd, LaDonna Washington, and Danice Ragland,
(collectively, “Named Plaintiffs”), individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated
(collectively, “Plaintiffs”). TAC ¶1 1-20.
Defendants are Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, Inc. (“JHTS”) and Jackson Hewitt, Inc. (“JH”)
(collectively, “Jackson Hewitt”), and KB Fanner Enterprises, LLC (“KEF”), Lemaire-McCumsey
Group, Inc. (“LMG”), Taylor Tax and Accounting (“TAYLOR”), and Wing Financial Services,
brief will be referred to as “Jackson Hewitt’s Reply”; KEF and TAYLOR’s reply brief will be
referred to as “KEF’s Reply”; and WING’s reply brief will be referred to as “WING’s Reply.”
2
When reviewing a motion to dismiss, the Court accepts as true all well-pleaded facts in the
complaint. Fow1erv UPMCShadyside, 578 F.3d 203, 210 (3d Cir. 2009). Additionally, a district
court may consider “exhibits attached to the complaint and matters of public record” as well as
“an undisputedly authentic document that a defendant attaches as an exhibit to a motion to dismiss
if the plaintiff’s claims are based on the document.” Pension Ben. Guar. Corp. v. White (‘onsoL
Indies., Inc.. 998 F.2d 1192, 1196 (3d Cir. 1993).
The Court’s previous Opinion dated March 23, 2017 was issued by former Chief Judge Jose
Linares. D.E. 44. This matter was reassigned to this Court on May 20, 2019. D.E. 186.
2
LLC (“WING”) (collectively, the “Franchisees”), among others.4 Id.
¶11
21-33.
Defendants
collectively provide tax preparation services to customers under the tradename “Jackson Hewitt.”
Id.
38-39. Plaintiffs allege that the Franchisees’ “day to day operations
[] are closely supervised
and controlled by [Jackson Hewitt]” and that “although [Jackson Hewitt] may purport to be
separate from [the Franchisees], in reality, they act as an integrated enterprise, alter egos of each
other and as joint employer[s].” Id.
¶ 39.
All Named Plaintiffs claim that they were previously,
or are currently, employed by Jackson Hewitt. Id. jifi) 1-20. In addition, Named Plaintiffs Corbitt,
Knight, Donaldson, Niemeyer, Meyer, Dickerson, Scott, Disotell, Babineaux, and Washington
claim to have been previously jointly employed by Jackson Hewitt and one of the Franchisees. Id.
¶ 7-14;
17, 19.
For the duration of each tax season, Jackson Hewitt and the Franchisees employ tax
preparers, such as Plaintiffs, to file clients’ tax returns. Id.
¶
75. These tax preparers receive
employment contracts with compensation plans based, in part, on the individual revenues they
generate during the tax season. Id. ¶ 75. For the 2013-2014 tax season, Defendants administered
a promotional program to induce new customers to use Defendants’ tax service (the “Gift Card
Promotion”). Id. ¶jj 49, 80. As part of the Gift Card Promotion, Plaintiffs were required to offer
prepaid gift cards to all new customers who qualified for the promotion and filed their taxes with
Jackson Hewitt. Id. ¶ 81 At the conclusion of the 2013-2014 tax season, Plaintiffs were paid their
*
sales commission in accordance with their compensation plans. Id. ¶ 52. In calculating Plaintiffs’
commissions, however, Jackson Hewitt deducted the value of the prepaid gift cards from the
revenues that Plaintiffs earned during the tax season, thus resulting in Plaintiffs receiving lower
Plaintiffs also assert claims against additional defendants; however, the Court addresses only the
Defendants who have moved to dismiss Plaintiffs’ claims.
3
commission payments. Id. Plaintiffs claim this deduction was in breach of Plaintiffs’ employment
contracts and various states’ wage laws. Id.
¶ 52.
Defendants continued to deduct the cost of the
Gift Card Promotion from the revenues Plaintiffs earned for the 2014-2015,2015-2016, and 20162017 tax seasons, resulting in Plaintiffs receiving lower commission payments for each of those
respective tax seasons. Id.
II.
¶J 56-57.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On October 4, 2017, Plaintiffs were instructed to file their Third Amended Complaint
naming all franchises at which Named Plaintiffs worked. D.E. 66. On November 15, 2017,
Plaintiffs filed their Third Amended Complaint, naming as additional defendants LMG, KEF.
TAYLOR, and WING, among other franchises. D.E. 68. Specially, Plaintiffs assert twelve claims
against either Jackson Hewitt, the Franchisees, or both: (1) breach of contract against LMG, KEF,
TAYLOR, and WING; (2) unjust enrichment against Jackson Hewitt; (3) violation of Kentucky
wage law against Jackson Hewitt; (4) violation of Illinois wage law against Jackson Hewitt; (5)
violation of New York wage law against Jackson Hewitt; (6) violation of New Jersey wage law
against Jackson Hewitt; (7) violation of Pennsylvania wage law against Jackson Hewitt; (8)
violation of California wage law against TAYLOR and Jackson Hewitt; (9) violation of South
Carolina wage law against KEF and Jackson Hewitt; (10) violation of North Carolina wage law
against Jackson Hewitt; (II) violation of Oklahoma wage law against WING and Jackson Hewitt;
and (12) violation of Washington wage law against Jackson Hewitt. TAC
¶J 253-330.
Defendant Jackson Hewitt moved to dismiss Count Eleven for failure to state a claim. D.E.
166. Defendant LMG moved to dismiss all counts against it for lack of personal jurisdiction, for
failure to state a claim, for improper venue, and for improper joinder, or in the alternative, for a
more definite statement. D.E. 165. Defendants KEF and TAYLOR together moved to dismiss all
4
counts against them for lack of personal jurisdiction, for failure to state a claim, and pursuant to
the doctrine offorum non-conveniens, or in the alternative, for Plaintiffs’ claims to be severed and
transferred. D.E. 167. Defendant WING moved to dismiss all counts against it for lack of personal
jurisdiction and pursuant to the doctrine of forum non-conveniens, or in the alternative, for
Plaintiffs’ claims to be severed and transferred. D.E. 168. Plaintiffs separately opposed Jackson
Hewitt’s motion to dismiss, D.E. 176, and LMG, KEF, TAYLOR, and WING’s motions to
dismiss. D.E. 179. Defendants replied. D.E. 178, 179, 180, 181.
III.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
A. Rule 12(b)(2) Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction:
-
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2) permits a party to move to dismiss a case for
“lack of personal jurisdiction.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(2). In such a motion, the plaintiff “bears the
burden of demonstrating the facts that establish personal jurisdiction.” Pinker v. Roche Holdings
Ltd., 292 F.3d 361, 368 (3d Cir. 2002). When a court “resolves the jurisdictional issue in the
absence of an evidentiary hearing and without the benefit of discovery, the plaintiff need only
establish a prima facie case of personal jurisdiction.” Otsuka Pharm. Co. v. Mylan Inc., 106 F.
Supp. 3d 456, 461 (D.N.J. 2015). In such cases, a court “take[s] the allegations of the complaint
as true.” DayhoffInc. v. Hf Heinz no., 86 F.3d 1287, 1302 (3d Cir. 1996).
However, once a defendant raises a jurisdictional defense, “a plaintiff bears the burden of
proving by affidavits or other competent evidence that jurisdiction is proper.” Id. In other words,
a court looks beyond the pleadings to all relevant evidence and construes all disputed facts in favor
of the plaintiff. See Carteret Say. Bank v. Shushan, 954 F.2d 141, 142 n.1 (3d Cir. 1992). Plaintiff
must establish “with reasonable particularity sufficient contacts between the defendant and the
forum state.” Otsuka, 106 F. Supp. 3d at 462 (citing Mellon Bank (E) PSFS, Nat ‘lAss ‘n v. Farino,
5
960 F.2d 1217, 1223 (3d Cir. 1992)). In addition, a court “may always revisit the issue of personal
jurisdiction if later revelations reveal that the facts alleged in support of jurisdiction remain in
dispute.” Otsuka, 106 F. Supp. 3d at 462 n.5 (citing Metcalfe v. Renaissance Marine, Inc., 566
F.3d 324, 331 (3d Cir. 2009)).
A federal court “engages in a two-step inquiry to determine whether it may exercise
personal jurisdiction”: (1) “whether the relevant state long-arm statute permits the exercise of
jurisdiction,” and (2) “if so, [whether] the exercise of jurisdiction comports with due process”
under the Fourteenth Amendment. Display Works, LLC v. Bartley, 182 F. Supp. 3d 166, 172
(D.N.J. 2016) (citinglMOlndus., Inc. v. KiekertAG, 155 F.3d 254, 258-59 (3d Cir. 1998)). “New
Jersey’s long-arm statute extends the state’s jurisdictional reach as far as the United States
Constitution permits, so the analysis turns on the federal constitutional standard for personal
jurisdiction.” Id. (citing IMO Industries, 155 F.3d at 259).
Accordingly, the two steps are
collapsed into one and a court must “ask whether, under the Due Process Clause, the defendant
has certain minimum contacts with [New Jersey) such that the maintenance of the suit does not
offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.” O’Connor v. Sandy Lane Hotel Co.,
496 F.3d 312, 316 (3d Cir. 2007) (internal quotation marks omitted). In other words, to establish
personal jurisdiction, the Due Process Clause requires (1) minimum contacts between the
defendant and the forum; and (2) that jurisdiction over the defendant comports with “fair play and
substantial justice.” Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 476 (1985) (quoting Int’l
Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 320 (1945)).
“Personal, or in personam, jurisdiction, [generally] divides into two groups: ‘specific
jurisdiction’ and ‘general jurisdiction.” Display Works, 182 F. Supp. 3d at 172 (citing Burger
King, 471 U.S. at 472 n. 14(1985)). Specific jurisdiction “depends on an afflliatio[n] between the
6
forum and the underlying controversy (i.e., an activity or an occurrence that takes place in the
forum State and is therefore subject to the State’s regulation).” Id. (quoting Walden
i’.
Flare, 571
U.s. 277, 284 n.6 (2014)). General jurisdiction “permits a court to assert jurisdiction over a
defendant based on a forum connection unrelated to the underlying suit.” Id. (quoting Walden,
571 U.S. at 284 n.6). Personal jurisdiction can also be obtained through consent, waiver, or in
state service on a defendant. See Carnival CruiseLines, Inc. v. Shute, 499 U.S. 585, 590-97 (1991)
(regarding consent via a forum selection clause); Burnham v. Superior Court of C’aL, 495 U.S.
604, 628 (1990) (regarding in-state service); In reAsbestos Products Liability Litigation (No. VI),
921 F.3d 98, 104-05 (3d Cir. 2019) (regarding waiver); Jasper v. Bexar County Adult Detention
Center, 332 Fed App’x. 718, 719 (3d Cir. 1999) (regarding consent).
B. Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim
-
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) permits a motion to dismiss for “failure to state a
claim upon which relief can be granted[.]” For a complaint to survive dismissal under Rule
1 2(b)(6), it must contain sufficient factual matter to state a claim that is plausible on its face.
Ashcroft
i&
Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell AtL Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.s. 544,
570 (2007)). A claim is facially plausible “when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows
the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.”
Id. Further, a plaintiff must “allege sufficient facts to raise a reasonable expectation that discovery
will uncover proof of her claims.” Connelly v. Lane Const. Corp., 809 F.3d 780, 789 (3d Cir.
2016). In evaluating the sufficiency of a complaint, district courts must separate the factual and
legal elements. Fowler v. UPMCShadyside, 578 F.3d 203, 210-211 (3d Cir. 2009). Restatements
of the elements of a claim are legal conclusions, and therefore, not entitled to a presumption of
truth. Burtch v. Milberg Factors, Inc., 662 F.3d 212, 224 (3d Cir. 2011). The Court, however,
7
“must accept all of the complaint’s well-pleaded facts as true.” Fowler, 578 F.3d at 210. Even if
plausibly pled, however, a complaint will not withstand a motion to dismiss if the facts alleged do
not state “a legally cognizable cause of action.” Turner v. IP. Morgan €‘hase & Co., No. 14-7 148,
2015 WL 12826480, at *2 (D.N.J. Jan. 23, 2015).
IV.
LAW AND ANALYSIS
A. Personal Jurisdiction over Defendants KEF, TAYLOR, LMG, and WING
Defendants KEF, TAYLOR, LMG, and WING each move to dismiss Plaintiffs’ Third
Amended Complaint for, inter aim, lack of personal jurisdiction. KEF’s Br. at 7; LMG’s Br. at 7;
WING’s Br. at 7. The Court finds that Plaintiffs have failed to establish personal jurisdiction over
KEF, TAYLOR, LMG, and WING.
When a court “resolves the jurisdictional issue in the absence of an evidentirny hearing and
without the benefit of discovery, the plaintiff need only establish a prima facie case of personal
jurisdiction.” Otsuka Pharm. Co., 106 F. Supp. 3d at 461. In such cases, a court “take[s] the
allegations of the complaint as true.” DayhoffInc., 86 F.3d at 1302. However, once a defendant
raises a jurisdictional defense, “a plaintiff bears the burden of proving by affidavits or other
competent evidence that jurisdiction is proper.” Id. In other words, a court looks beyond the
pleadings to all relevant evidence and construes all disputed facts in favor of the plaintiff See
Carteret Say. Bank, 954 F.2d at 142 n.l. A plaintiff must establish “with reasonable particularity
sufficient contacts between the defendant and the forum state.” Otsuka, 106 F. Supp. 3d at 462
(citing Mellon Bank (E) PSFS, Nat ‘lAss ‘n, 960 F.2d at 1223).
Here, Plaintiffs’ argument that there exists personal jurisdiction over KEF, TAYLOR,
LMG, and WING is solely based on a forum section clause in the Franchisees’ franchise agreement
8
with Jackson Hewitt. See TAC, Ex. 5 at 23; PIs.’ Opp. to Franchisees at 4-19. As an initial matter,
the Court notes that in their Third Amended Complaint, Plaintiffs put forth only the conclusoiy
allegation that the Franchisees “have conducted business within the State of New Jersey,” TAC
¶ 36, but otherwise fail to establish “by affidavits or other competent evidence that jurisdiction is
proper.” Dayhoff Inc., 86 F.3d at 1302. Conversely, the Franchisees contest Plaintiffs’ single
allegation with various certifications and affidavits to the contrary. See D.E. 165, Ex. 2; D.E. 167,
Exs. 3,4; D.E. 168, Ex. 2. In their opposition brief, Plaintiffs do not contest the “exhaustive
jurisdictional minimum-contacts analysis” set forth in the Franchisees’ moving briefs. PIs.’
Opp.
to Franchisees at 2. Rather, Plaintiffs argue for the first time that the Franchisees “signed valid
forum selection clauses and [thus] waived opposition to personal jurisdiction in New Jersey.” Id.
at 2.
The Court finds that the forum selection clause is not applicable to this case. The forum
selection clause reads as follows:
2&2. Jurisdiction. You [the Franchisees] consent to venue and
personal jurisdiction in all litigation brought by us [Jackson Hewitt]
or our Affiliates against you [Franchisees], which in any way arises
out of or relates to your franchise relation with us, including, but not
limited to, any and every aspect of entering into the franchise
relation, this Agreement, any guaranty or other Collateral
Agreements with us or our Affiliates, our performance in connection
with the franchise relation, any termination, rescission, cancellation
or nonrenewal of the franchise relation, and conduct posttermination or post-expiration of this Agreement, in the following
The Court notes that the numbering of the paragraphs in the franchise agreement attached as
Exhibit 5 to the Third Amended Complaint is different from the numbering of the paragraphs cited
by Plaintiffs in their opposition brief. For example, Plaintiffs’ opposition brief cites to paragraph
29.2 for the relevant provision regarding jurisdiction, but that provision is actually paragraph 28.2
of the franchise agreement attached to the Third Amended Complaint. Compare D.E. 177, with
D.E. 68-5, It appears that the paragraph numbering in Plaintiffs’ opposition brief instead tracks the
paragraph numbering of the franchise agreement submitted by Defendants KEF and TAYLOR as
Exhibit B to their motion to dismiss. See D.E. 167-7. The difference, however, is immaterial to
the Court’s analysis.
9
courts: (a) the state or county court of any city or county where we
have our principal place of business, (presently, Morris County,
New Jersey); and, (b) the United States District Court nearest to our
principal place of business, (presently the District of New Jersey,
Newark Division).
TAC, Ex. 5 at 23 (emphasis added). Furthermore, the franchise agreement contains the following
definition: “Affiliated Companies’ or ‘Affiliate(s)’ means any person [or entity6] that, directly or
indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the referenced party” Id.
at I.
Plaintiffs contend that they are “Affiliates” within the meaning of the franchise agreement
because Plaintiffs as employees
—
—
“were all directly and indirectly controlled by [Jackson Hewitt]
and/or were under common control with [Jackson Hewitt] and the [Franchisees].” PIs.’ Opp. to
the Franchisees at 5. In other words, Plaintiffs claim that, as employees, they fall under the
definition of “any person [or entity] that, directly or indirectly
.
.
.
is controlled by, or is under
common control with [Jackson Hewitt].” Id. In response, the Franchisees argue that are not
“Affiliates” of Jackson Hewitt within the meaning of the franchise agreement. KEF’s Reply 1-8;
LMG’s Reply at 3-7; WING’s Reply at 1-5. The Court agrees with the Franchisees.
Courts must “[i]nterpret a contract according to its plain language by reading the document
as a whole in a fair and common sense manner so as to match the reasonable expectations of the
parties.” Illinois NaL Ins. C’o. v. Wvndham Worlthvide Operations, Inc., 653 F.3d 225,231 (3d Cir.
The Court notes that the contractual language cited in Plaintiffs’ opposition brief regarding
“Affiliate” is slightly different than the language in the franchise agreement attached as Exhibit S
to Plaintiffs’ Third Amended Complaint. Compare TAC, Ex. 5, with Pls.’ Opp. to Franchisees
at 5. The language cited in Plaintiffs’ opposition again appears to track the language of the
franchise agreement submitted by Defendants KEF and TAYLOR as Exhibit B to their motion to
dismiss, which reads as follows: “Affiliated Companies’ or ‘Affiliate(s)’ means any person or
entity that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the
referenced party.” See D.E. 167-7, Ex. B (emphasis added). The difference, however, is immaterial
to the Court’s analysis.
10
2011) (citing Hardy cx reL Dowdell v. Abdul-Ivlatin, 965 A.2d 1165, 1168-69 (N.J. 2009) (“A
basic principle of contract interpretation is to read the document as a whole in a fair and common
sense manner.”)). “In making a determination concerning the clarity or ambiguity of [a) contract
term[], the [c]ourt should avoid interpreting contractual language in a way that renders any term
of the contract meaningless or superfluous.” Glenpointe Associates, III v. Regency Sai’. Bank, No.
06-1690, 2006 WL 2786885, at *6 (D.N.J. Sept. 25, 2006) (citing Pens/ce Logistics, Inc. V KLLM,
Inc., 285 F. Supp. 2d 468, 474 (D.N.J. 2003)).
Here, reading the franchise agreement in a “fair and common sense manner” leads to the
conclusion that Plaintiffs are not “Affiliates” ofiackson Hewitt within the meaning ofthe franchise
agreement. Plaintiffs admit that they are employees. The franchise agreement makes a clear
For example, Section 18.3 of the franchise
distinction between affiliates and employees.
agreement prohibits the Franchisees from hiring the “employees” of Jackson Hewitt or its
Affiliates, stating in relevant part:
18.3. Covenant Against Recruiting or Hiring Our Employees.
During the term of this Agreement. neither you [Franchisee] nor
any of your Owners may, without our prior written permission,
during the below-mentioned employees’ employment with us or our
Affiliates. solicit, recruit, or hire. any ofour or our Affiliates’
employees[.J
.
.
.
.
.
.
TAC, Ex. 5 at 17 (emphasis added). This provision clearly indicates that a Franchisee may not
recruit or hire the employees of Jackson Hewitt or its affiliates.7 In other words, the franchise
agreement differentiates between affiliates and employees.
‘
If the Court were to accept Plaintiff’s interpretation of the term “Affiliate,” then this provision
would mean that the “Affiliates’ employees” language would actually mean the “Employees’
employees.” Such a reading is nonsensical; there is no indication that Plaintiffs, as employees,
were permitted or did hire their own employees.
11
A similar distinction between employees and affiliates is found in Section 28.1 of the
franchise agreement:
2&1. Governing Law. We accept this Agreement in the State of
New Jersey. In any action, suit, or claim
by or against you
[Franchisee] or us (including our present or fonner agents and
employees, our [A]fflliates, and our [A]fflhiates’ present or former
agents and employees, which in any way arises out of or relates to
your [Franchisee’s] franchise relation with us
[.1
.
.
.
.
.
TAC, Ex. 5 at 22. Again, if Plaintiffs’ interpretation of “Affiliate” were adopted, then the distinct
use of the different terms “employee” and “Affiliate” would be rendered “meaningless or
superfluous.” Glenpointe Associates, III, 2006 WL 2786885, at *6 (explaining that a “[c]ourt
should avoid interpreting contractual language in a way that renders any term of the contract
meaningless or superfluous”). The same distinction between the terms “employee” and “Affiliate”
is also found in Section 28.3 (discussing venue), Section 28.5 (discussing waiver ofjury trial), and
Section 28.6 (discussing waiver of punitive damages), among other sections. TAC, Ex. 5 at 23-24.
Accordingly, the franchise agreement clearly distinguishes between the terms “employee” and
“Affiliate,” and therefore, the Court declines to read them as synonymous.
Rather, by interpreting the franchise agreement in a “fair and common sense manner so as
to match the reasonable expectations of the parties,” the Court finds that Plaintiffs are not
“Affiliates” of Jackson Hewitt within the meaning of the franchise agreement, and therefore, the
forum selection clause is not applicable as a basis for personal jurisdiction.8 Because Plaintiff
8
The Court also notes that Plaintiffs are attempting to enforce the forum-selection clause of a
contract to which they are non-parties. “In the Third Circuit, a non-signatory party may enforce a
forum selection clause in a contract if that party is a third-party beneficiary of the contract or is
closely related to the contractual relationship or dispute such that it is foreseeable that the party
will be bound.” D ‘Elia v. Grand Caribbean Co., Ltd., No. 09-1707, 2010 WL 1372027, at *3
(D.N.J. Mar. 30, 2010). “To qualify’ as a third-party beneficiary, it must be shown that the contract
was ‘made for the benefit of that third party within the intent and contemplation of the contracting
parties.” Id. (quoting Hadley v. Shaffer, No. 99-144,2003 WL 21960406, at *5 (D. Del. Aug. 12,
12
provides no other basis for this Court to assert personal jurisdiction over the Franchisees, the Court
therefore grants Defendants KEF, TAYLOR, LMG, and WiNG’s motions to dismiss for lack of
personal jurisdiction.9
2003)). Here, there is no indication that the franchise agreements between Jackson Hewitt and the
Franchisees were made for the benefit of Plaintiffs. Rather, the franchise agreement appears to be
just that an agreement between a franchisor and a franchisee. It makes little sense that Jackson
Hewitt (and its affiliates) would have entered into a franchise agreement with the Franchisees with
the intent to benefit the Franchisees’ (then un-hired) employees. Moreover, as noted by the court
in hi re Mushroom Transp. Co., Inc.,
—
It is one thing for a party, with rights and obligations under a
contract, to seek [] enforcement [of a forum selection clause] against
others. It is quite a another, however, for a non-party individual or
organization to seek to enforce a [forum selection] clause against a
contracting party. It stretches logic and reason to assert that nonparty parties with absolutely no rights or obligations under a contract
(indeed, who were nowhere in the picture when the contract was
signed) should be allowed to enforce a clause against a party to the
contract in later litigation.
247 B.R. 395, 398 n.4 (E.D. Pa. 2000). Because the Court finds that the forum selection clause is
not applicable in the first instance, however, the Court therefore need not reach the issue as to
whether Plaintiffs may enforce the forum selection clause as non-parties.
The Court’s decision is limited to a finding of no personal jurisdiction over KEF, TAYLOR,
LMG, and WiNG. The Court does not reach the other issues raised by the Franchisees concerning
Plaintiffs’ failure to state a claim, improper venue, improper joinder, the doctrine offorum non
conveniens, nor the Franchisees’ requests that Plaintiffs’ claims be severed and transferred. To
the extent the Franchisees raise these issues, their motions are denied as moot.
13
B. Defendant Jackson Hewitt’s Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim’°
Plaintiff Washington and the Oklahoma Sub-Class” bring Count Eleven against Jackson
Hewitt. among others, for violation of the Oklahoma Protection of Labor Act, Okia. Stat. Ann. tit.
40,
§
165 et seq. TAC
¶ 320-325.
Specifically, Plaintiff Washington and the Oklahoma Sub
Class assert (1) that they were or are “employees” of Jackson Hewitt as defined by OkIa. Stat. Ann.
tit. 40,
§
165.1.2; (2) that Jackson Hewitt is an “employer” as defined by Okia. Stat. Ann. tit. 40,
165.1.1; and (3) that the commissions earned by Plaintiff Washington and the Oklahoma Sub
§
Class constitute “wages” as defined by Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 40,
§
165.1.4. Id.
¶f 321-323.
As
such, Plaintiff Washington and the Oklahoma Sub-Class claim that Jackson Hewitt failed to pay
Plaintiff Washington and the Oklahoma Sub-Class their earned wages in violation of Okla. Stat.
Ann. tit. 40,
§
165, etseq. Id.
¶J 324-325.
Defendant Jackson Hewitt moved to dismiss Count Eleven against it for failure to state a
claim under Rule 12(b)(6), arguing that neither JHTS nor JH can be considered an “employer”
under Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 40,
§
165.1.1. Jackson Hewitt’s Br. at 1-2. Plaintiff Washington and
the Oklahoma Sub-Class acknowledge that JHTS is the parent corporation of JH, and JH is the
franchisor of WING, the franchisee. TAC ¶J 19, 2 1-22, 40. Therefore, Jackson Hewitt asserts that
10As the Court explained in its previous Opinion, D.E. 44, in exercising its diversity jurisdiction
over this action, the Court would generally apply the law of the forum slate New Jersey. Am.
Cyanarnid v. Fermentta Animal Health, 54 F.3d 177, 180 (3d Cir. 1995). The parties do not
dispute, however, that the Oklahoma state law claim asserted by Plaintiff Washington and the
proposed Oklahoma Sub-Class is governed by the law of Oklahoma. For purposes of this motion,
the Court has accepted the parties’ position.
—
‘
Named Plaintiffs bring this suit on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, the
latter of which are grouped into “State Sub-Classes.” TAC ¶ 245. The Third Amended Complaint
defines the Oklahoma Sub-Class as “[ajIl persons in the State of Oklahoma who are current or
JHTS[], [JH] and [thel Franchisees, from January 2014 through the
former ta.x-preparers of.
present.” Id. ¶ 245.
.
.
14
regardless of Plaintiffs’ theory of joint employer liability, pursuant to OkIa. Stat. Ann. tit. 59,
§
6005(B).(C) “[a] franchisor shall not be considered the employer of a franchisee or a franchisee’s
employees,” and “[tjhe employees of a franchisee shall not be considered employees of the
franchisor[.]” Jackson Hewitt’s Br. at 2 (citing OkIa. Stat. Ann. tit. 59,
§
6005(B),(C)). In other
words, JH (the franchisor) and JHTS (the franchisor’s parent corporation) cannot be considered an
“employer” of Plaintiff Washington or the Oklahoma Sub-Class under Oklahoma law, nor can
Plaintiff Washington and the Oklahoma Sub-Class be considered “employees” of Jackson Hewitt.
Jackson Hewitt’s Br. at 2. As such, Jackson Hewitt asserts that neither Plaintiff Washington nor
the Oklahoma Sub-Class have sufficiently pled that Jackson Hewitt meets the statutory definition
of “employer” under OkIa. Stat. Ann. tit. 40,
40,
§
§
165.1.1 or “employee” under OkIa. Stat. Ann. tit.
165.1 .2. Id. Plaintiffs respond that OkIa. Stat. Ann. tit. 59,
§
6005 has an effective date of
November 1, 2016, and therefore the statute should not be applied retroactively to bar Count
Eleven insofar as Plaintiffs’ claims arose before November 1,2016. PIs.’ Opp. to Jackson Hewitt
at 2-5. Plaintiff, however, appears to concede that OkIa. Stat. Ann. tit. 59,
§
6005 bars Count
Eleven insofar as it pertains to claims arising on or after November 1,2016. Id. at 2.
The Court finds that OkIa. Stat. Ann. tit. 59,
§
6005 does not apply retroactively. Under
Oklahoma law, “statutes and amendments are to be construed to operate only prospectively unless
the [Ijegislature clearly expresses a contrary intent.” Anagnost v. Tomecek, 390 P.3d 707, 711-12
(OkIa. 2017); see also Cole
i’.
Silverado Foods, Inc., 78 P.3d 542, 546 (OkIa. 2003) (“Absent a
plain legislative intent to the contrary, statutes are generally presumed to operate prospectively
only.”); see also Wickham
i’.
Gu(f Oil Co’p., 623 P.2d 613, 615 (OkIa. 1981) (explaining that
“[s]tatutes are generally presumed to operate prospectively”) (quoting Scott Paper Company v.
City ofAnacortes, 578 P.2d 1292, 1299 (OkIa. 1978)). “However, this presumption does not dee’
15
rebuttal if the purposes and intention of the Legislature to give a statute a retrospective effect are
expressly declared or are necessarily implied from the language used.” Wickham, 623 P.2d at 615616. Where there exists doubt as to the purpose and intent of the legislature, however, “the doubt
should be resolved against retrospective effect.” Barnhill v. Multiple Injuty Tr. Fund, 37 P.3d 890,
898 (OkIa. 2000; see also CNA Ins. Co. v. Ellis, 148 P.3d 874, 877 (Okla. 2006) (“Statutes are
typically not given retroactive effect unless the Legislature has made its intent to do so clear. Any
doubts must be resolved against a retroactive effect.”). Here, the Court is entirely unable to discern
from the Oklahoma legislature a clearly expressed contrary intent to the general presumption that
statutes are to operate prospectively only.
See Anagnost, 390 P.3d at 711-12 (OkIa. 2017)
(explaining that “statutes and amendments are to be construed to operate only prospectively unless
the [liegislature clearly expresses a contrary intent”).
Jackson Hewitt argues that retroactivity can be implied from the context in which the
Oklahoma legislature enacted
§ 6005. Specifically, Jackson Hewitt argues that the Oklahoma
legislature intended to apply
§ 6005 retroactively in the wake of the National Labor Relations
Board’s 2015 decision in Browning-Ferris Industries ofCalifornia Inc., which expanded the jointemployer standard under the National Labor Relations Act. See 362 N.L.R.B. 1599, 1614 (2015),
affirmed in part and reversed in part, Browning-Ferris Industries of c’ahfornia, Inc. v. NatL Lab.
EeL Rd., 911 F.3d 1195, 1222 (D.C. Cir. 2018). Additionally, Jackson Hewitt argues that the U.S.
Department of Labor’s 2016 Opinion Letter, which broadly interpreted the joint-employer
standard with respect to the Fair Labor Standards Act and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural
Worker Protection Act, also influenced the Oklahoma legislature to enact
284582 (Jan. 20, 2016).
Browning-Ferris
—
§ 6005. See 2016 WL
Therefore, according to Jackson Hewitt, the NLRB’s decision in
decided on August 27, 2015— and the Department of Labor’s Opinion Letter
16
issued on January 20, 2016— prompted the Oklahoma legislature to ratify
§ 6005 enacted on
—
May 24, 2016. See 2016 OkIa. Sess. Law Serv. Ch. 327 (S.B. 1496) (codified at Okia. Stat. Ann.
tit. 59,
§ 6005).
However, even accepting Jackson Hewitt’s argument that the Oklahoma legislature enacted
§ 6005 in response to the proceedings described above, Jackson Hewitt provides no indication that
the legislature did so with the particular intention of applying
Jackson Hewitt’s argument merely casts doubt as to whether
§ 6005 retroactively. At best,
§ 6005 should apply retroactively,
and therefore, “the doubt should be resolved against retrospective effect.” Barnhill, 37 P.3d at
898; see also CNA Ins. Co., 148 P.3d at 877 (“Statutes are typically not given retroactive effect
unless the Legislature has made its intent to do so clear, Any doubts must be resolved against a
retroactive effect.”).
Moreover, Jackson Hewitt also argues that the stated purpose of § 6005 is to “provide[] for
clarification of employment status.” Jackson Hewitt’s Br. at 9. Jackson Hewitt cites to Polymer
Fabricating Inc. v. Employers Workers’ C’ompen. Ass ‘ii, 980 P.2d 109, 114 (OkIa. 1998) for the
proposition that “clarifying amendments” are to apply retroactively. Id. at 8. Polymer Fabricating
found that “[w]here an earlier legislative enactment is unclear in some respect and a later
enactment attempts to remove the ambiguity, the amendatory statute constitutes a clarifying
enactment that is to be given retrospective force.” 980 P.2d at 114 (emphasis removed). As further
explained by the Oklahoma Supreme Court:
A clarifying amendment is one that explains ambiguous law in order
to remove doubt concerning the legislative intent in the original text.
By amending a statute the legislature may have intended (a) to
change existing law or (b) to clarify ambiguous law, Its precise
intent is ascertained by looking to the circumstances that surround
the change. If the earlier statute definitely expressed an intent or
had been judicially interpreted, the Legislature’s amendment is
presumed to have changed an existing law, but if the meaning of the
17
earlier statute was in doubt, or where uncertainty as to the law’s
meaning did exist, a presumption arises that the amendment was
designed to more clearly express the legislative intent that was left
indefinite by the earlier text.
Polymer Fabricating Inc., 980 P.2d at 114 n. 18 (internal citations omitted).
Here, the Court disagrees that
§ 6005 was a “clarifying amendment.” There was no
ambiguity in any previous version of § 6005 because there was no previous version of the statute.
As argued by Jackson Hewitt, the Oklahoma legislature allegedly first enacted
§ 6005 in response
to the federal proceedings described above. Insofar as Jackson Hewitt argues that Okla. Stat. Ann.
tit. 59,
§ 6005 should instead be read as “clarifying” Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 40, § 165, the latter is a
wholly separate statute addressing different issues. Cf Polymer Fabricating, Inc., 980 P.2d at 114
(where original text of
§ 149.1 of the Workers’ Compensation Act was ambiguous, an added
subsection to same statute constituted a “clarifying” amendment and thus applied retroactively);
Samman v. Multiple Injwy Tr. Fund, 33 P.3d 302, 307 (Okla. 2001) (where no ambiguity existed
in original version of statute, a later amendment to the same statute “[could] not be said to have
been enacted by the [l]egislature to clarify the earlier law”). Even assuming that Okla. Stat. Ann.
tit. 59,
§ 6005 could be read as clarifying OkIa. Stat. Ann. tit. 40, § 165, the latter is not an
“ambiguous law” in need of clarification “to remove doubt concerning the legislative intent in the
original text.” Polymer Fabricating, Inc., 980 P.2d at 114 n. 18. Rather, it appears that OkIa. Stat.
Ann. tit. 59,
§ 6005 was enacted as an entirely new statute addressing the employer/employee
relationship as it relates to franchises.
Accordingly, Court finds that Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 59,
§ 6005 does not apply retroactively
to bar Count Eleven insofar as Plaintiffs’ claims arose before November 1, 2016. However, the
Court also finds
—
and Plaintiffs appear to concede
—
that OkIa. Stat. Ann. tit. 59,
Count Eleven insofar as Plaintiffs’ claims arose on or after November 1,2016.
18
§ 6005 does bar
V.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Defendant
Jackson Hewitt’s motion to dismiss Count Eleven, and GRANTS Defendants LMG, KEF,
TAYLOR, and WING’s motions to dismiss for lack ofpersonaljuHsdiction. An appropriate Order
accompanies this Opinion.
Dated: December
2019
t
John”Michael VazquegiA.D.J.
19
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