Civil Practice – Personal Jurisdiction – Conspiracy Theory – Trucking Company – Safety Rules

Griffith v. Gray (Lawyers Weekly No. 004-003-17, 9 pp.) (Dennis Howell, USMJ) 1:16-cv-00235; W.D.N.C.

Holding: Plaintiffs allege that defendants Rosic and Duratovic participated in a conspiracy to flout the safety rules governing inspection, repair, and maintenance of the commercial vehicles under their control and that, while defendant Gray was operating one such vehicle in North Carolina, the trailer’s chassis frame failed, resulting in an accident that injured plaintiffs. Plaintiffs’ allegations are sufficient to indicate that this court has personal jurisdiction over Rosic and Duratovic pursuant to the conspiracy theory of personal jurisdiction.

The court denies Rosic and Duratovic’s motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction.