Wiggins v. Physiologic Assessment Services, LLC

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE CHERYL WIGGINS, Plaintiff/Counterclaim Defendant, v, C.A. No. N15C-01-186 CLS PHYSIOLOGIC ASSESSMENT SERVICES, LLC, and Defendant/Counterclaim Plaintiff, JORDAN KLEAR, \_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/§/\_/\_/\_/§/\_/\./€ Defendant. Date Submitted: March 2, 2016 Date Decided: June 3, 2016 On Defendant Jordan Klear’s Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdicti0n Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(2). GRANTED. _ OPINIQI§IM John G. Harris, Esquire, Berger Harris LLP, Wilmington, Delaware, Attorney for Plaintiff/Counterclaim Defendant. Lauren E.M. Russell, Esquire, Margaret M. DiBianca, Esquire, Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor, LLP, Wilmington, Delaware, Attorneys for Defendant Jordan Klear. SCOTT, J. Defendant Jordan Klear ("Klear") has moved to dismiss Plaintiff’s, Cheryl Wiggins ("Plaintiff"), amended complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction pursuant to Superior Court Civil Rule l2(b)(2). For the following reasons, Klear’s Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED. Backg_round This action arises from the termination of Plaintiff’ s employment at Physiologic Assessment Services, LLC ("PAS"), in December of 2014. Plaintiff filed her initial complaint on January 23, 20l5, solely against PAS, asserting claims for breach of contract, promissory estoppel, and violation of Pennsylvania’s Wage Payment and Collection Law ("WPCL"). On July 22, 2015, Plaintiff filed an amended complaint, adding Klear as a co-defendant to the action and alleging personal liability against him, as chief executive officer ("CEO") of PAS, for the WPCL claims only. The amended complaint asserts that personal jurisdiction over Klear is authorized by 6 Del. C. § 18-109 based on his status as officer and manager of PAS, a DelaWare limited liability company. On August 18, 2015, Klear filed his Motion to Dismiss the amended complaint, and Plaintiff filed a Response in Opposition to Klear’s Motion on December 7, 2015.' PAS is a DelaWare limited liability company that maintains its principal place of business in Pennsylvania and the Corporation Trust Company as 1