Buckles v. Continental Resources Inc.

04/28/2020

DA 19-0162
Case Number: DA 19-0162

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2020 MT 107

ZACHARY SCOTT BUCKLES, deceased, by and
through his personal representative, NICOLE R.
BUCKLES, and NICOLE R. BUCKLES, personal
representative, on behalf of the heirs of ZACHARY
SCOTT BUCKLES,

Plaintiffs and Appellants,

v.

CONTINENTAL RESOURCES, INC., an Oklahoma
corporation, BH FLOWTEST, INC., a Montana
Corporation, BLACK ROCK TESTING, INC., a Montana
Corporation, JANSON PALMER, d/b/a BLACK GOLD
TESTING, and JOHN DOES I-V,

Defendants and Appellees.

APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Seventh Judicial District,
In and For the County of Richland, Cause No. DV 2015-014
Honorable Olivia C. Rieger, Presiding Judge

COUNSEL OF RECORD:

For Appellant:

A. Clifford Edwards, Roger W. Frickle, Edwards, Frickle & Culver,
Billings, Montana

Robert J. Savage, Savage Law Firm, Sidney, Montana

For Appellee BH Flowtest, Inc.:

Leonard H. Smith, Christopher C. Stoneback, David F. Knobel,
Monique P. Voigt, Crowley Fleck PLLP, Billings, Montana

For Appellee Black Rock Testing, Inc.:

Kelly J.C. Gallinger, Aaron M. Dunn, Brown Law Firm, P.C., Billings,
Montana
 For Appellee Continental Resources, Inc.:

W. Scott Mitchell, Kyle A. Gray, Holland & Hart LLP, Billings, Montana

Submitted on Briefs: November 13, 2019

Decided: April 28, 2020

Filed:

'ig-6---4c
__________________________________________
Clerk

2
Justice Beth Baker delivered the Opinion of the Court.

¶1 Nicole R. Buckles (“Buckles”), as personal representative of the estate of

Zachary Scott Buckles, appeals the order of the Seventh Judicial District Court granting

Defendant Continental Resources, Inc.’s (“Continental”) motion to dismiss for lack of

specific personal jurisdiction. Because Buckles raised sufficient facts to withstand a

motion to dismiss, we reverse and remand for further development of the record.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶2 This case returns to the Court for the second time on appeal. See Buckles v.

Cont’l Res. Inc., 2017 MT 235, 388 Mont. 517, 402 P.3d 1213 (“Buckles I”). We restate

the facts applicable to the issue presented.

¶3 Zachary Scott Buckles was born and raised in Glasgow, Montana. This action arises

from his tragic death on April 28, 2014, at a North Dakota oil well site owned by

Defendant Continental.

¶4 Continental is an Oklahoma corporation authorized to do business in Montana since

1990. Continental has significant operations in Montana, the extent of which is detailed in

our Opinion in Buckles I. Relevant here, Continental maintains a field office in

Sidney, Montana, which is responsible for overseeing the operation of the oil and gas well

site and tank battery in the Bakken region of North Dakota where Zachary died. The

District Court referred to this site as the Columbus Federal/Tallahassee complex, and we

do so here. The Columbus Federal/Tallahassee complex consists of twenty tanks that

support five oil wells that produce crude oil and natural gas.

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¶5 In June 2011, Continental entered into a Master Services Agreement (“MSA”) with

BH Flowtest, Inc.,1 a Montana corporation, to perform certain services at the

Columbus Federal/Tallahassee complex. The MSA provided: “It is expressly understood

that Contractor [BH Flowtest] is an independent contractor and that neither Contractor nor

Contractor’s principals, partners, employees, or subcontractors are servants, agents, or

employees of Continental.” The agreement further provided: “Contractor warrants that it

is an expert in the work it will perform, that its employees and agents have been trained to

follow all applicable laws, rules, and regulations and work safely, and that all of its

equipment has been thoroughly tested and inspected and is safe, sufficient and free of any

defects[.]” The MSA was signed by BH Flowtest’s owner and a Continental representative.

Continental avers—and Buckles does not dispute—that Continental signed the MSA from

its offices in Enid, Oklahoma.

¶6 Pursuant to the MSA, BH Flowtest agreed to perform oil gauging, or “flow-testing”

services. Flow-testing consists of monitoring the flow rate of oil from a newly producing

well into a holding tank. The gauger takes hourly manual readings of the level of crude oil

in those tanks at an oil tank battery; checks for leaks; adjusts pumping system controls to

hit the desired flow rates; makes sure the oil leaves, by truck or by pipeline; and ensures

that “everything ran smooth [sic].” BH Flowtest subcontracted the flow-testing to

Black Rock Testing, Inc., which in turn subcontracted the flow-testing to Janson Palmer,

doing business as Black Gold Testing. Palmer in turn subcontracted with his childhood

1
BH Flowtest is identified in the MSA as a limited liability company but referred to in briefing as
BH Flowtest, Inc. and BH Flow Testing, Inc.
4
friend Zachary Buckles, doing business as Dozer Testing, Inc. There is no dispute that the

work Zachary performed was among the services encompassed by the MSA.

¶7 In January 2014, Zachary and Palmer traveled to the Bakken to perform manual

tank-gauging of crude oil production tanks. They worked at various well sites in North

Dakota before arriving at Continental’s Columbus Federal/Tallahassee complex in mid-

March. Zachary and Palmer lived together in a trailer near the well site and alternated

twelve-hour shifts, with Palmer gauging during the day and Zachary gauging at night.

They sent daily “flow charts” documenting hourly production at the wells to Continental’s

Sidney office. On April 28, 2014, Zachary died at the Columbus Federal/Tallahassee

complex 2-16H well site, allegedly from exposure to high levels of hydrocarbon vapors

while manually gauging tanks. He was nineteen years old.

¶8 Buckles filed suit against Continental, BH Flowtest, Black Rock, and Black Gold in

Montana’s Seventh Judicial District Court, Richland County, alleging that Defendants are

liable for Zachary’s death. Specifically, Buckles asserted that Defendants had a legal duty

under state and federal law to maintain a safe and secure oil well site and that they breached

their duty by allowing an inherently dangerous and unsafe well site to be operated without

adequate or appropriate air monitoring equipment in place for the tank gauging activities.

Continental filed a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. After full briefing

by the parties, the District Court concluded that it lacked both general and specific personal

jurisdiction and granted Continental’s motion to dismiss. Buckles appealed. We agreed

with the District Court that Continental was not “at home” in Montana and therefore was

not subject to general personal jurisdiction, Buckles I, ¶ 14, but reversed and remanded to

5
the District Court “to conduct an evidentiary hearing for the purpose of determining

whether Continental is subject to specific personal jurisdiction in Montana.”

Buckles I, ¶ 29.

¶9 On remand, the District Court allowed additional jurisdictional discovery and held

a jurisdictional hearing, at which the parties presented deposition testimony from numerous

witnesses, including former and current Continental employees and Janson Palmer. On

January 14, 2019, the court entered its Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order on

Continental Resources, Inc.’s Motion to Dismiss – Specific Personal Jurisdiction, granting

Continental’s motion to dismiss. The court determined that Continental is not subject to

specific personal jurisdiction because the events leading to Zachary’s death do not satisfy

Montana’s long-arm statute, M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1), and because exercising jurisdiction over

Continental would violate the Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution.2

STANDARDS OF REVIEW

¶10 This Court reviews de novo a district court’s decision on a motion to dismiss for

lack of personal jurisdiction. Buckles I, ¶ 9 (quotations and citations omitted). If the

district court conducts a preliminary hearing and makes factual findings necessary to the

determination of personal jurisdiction, we review those findings of fact for clear error.

2
Pending before the Court is another appeal, by Continental’s co-defendants BH Flowtest and
Black Rock Testing, of the District Court’s separate order ruling that Montana law, rather than
North Dakota law, applies to Buckles’s claims in this case. Buckles v. Continental Resources, Inc.,
et al., S. Ct. No. DA 19-0546. We consider the appeals separately, on the discrete issues the parties
raise in each case. For purposes of this appeal, we assume Montana law applies. The issue here
is not each state’s doctrinal law or sovereign interests, Dissent, ¶¶ 49, 53-55, but whether
Continental’s case-linked activities related to its alleged Montana-based control over work
performed on its oil wells require it to defend Buckles’s claims in a Montana court.
6
Tackett v. Duncan, 2014 MT 253, ¶ 16, 376 Mont. 348, 334 P.3d 920 (citation omitted).

We review a district court’s conclusions of law to determine whether the conclusions are

correct. Buckles I, ¶ 9 (citation omitted).

DISCUSSION

¶11 “Personal jurisdiction—a court’s power over the parties in a proceeding—may be

general (all-purpose) or specific (case-linked).” Ford Motor Co. v. Mont. Eighth Judicial

Dist. Court, 2019 MT 115, ¶ 8, 395 Mont. 478, 443 P.3d 407, cert. granted, No. 19-368

(U.S. Jan. 17, 2020). “Specific personal jurisdiction exists when the suit itself ‘arises from

the specific circumstances set forth in Montana’s long-arm statute, M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1).’”

Ford Motor Co., ¶ 9 (citing Buckles I, ¶ 15). A state court’s ability to exercise specific

personal jurisdiction depends on the “relationship among the defendant, the forum, and the

litigation.” Ford Motor Co., ¶ 9 (quoting Daimler AG v. Bauman, 571 U.S. 117, 133, 134

S. Ct. 746, 758 (2014)). This relationship must arise out of contacts that the defendant

itself created with the forum. Ford Motor Co., ¶ 9; Tackett, ¶ 32. Stated another way, in

order for a state court to exercise specific jurisdiction, both the defendant and the

underlying controversy must be “appropriately affiliated” with Montana. Ford Motor Co.,

¶ 9. A defendant’s general connections with the forum state are not enough. Rather, “the

suit must arise out of or relate to the defendant’s contacts with the forum.” Buckles I, ¶ 17

(quoting Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. v. Superior Court, __U.S.__, 137 S. Ct. 1773,

1786 (2017) (internal quotations omitted)). “‘Specific’ or ‘case-linked’ jurisdiction

depends on an affiliation between the forum and the underlying controversy, principally an

activity or occurrence that takes place in the forum state and is therefore subject to the

7
state’s regulation.” Tackett, ¶ 19 (quoting Walden v. Fiore, 571 U.S. 277, 283 n.6,

134 S. Ct. 1115, 1121 n.6 (2014)). Finally, a defendant’s relationship with a third party,

standing alone, is an insufficient ground for specific jurisdiction. Buckles I, ¶ 20

(citation omitted); Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., 137 S. Ct. at 1781 (citation omitted). In sum,

“specific jurisdiction is confined to adjudication of issues deriving from, or connected with,

the very controversy that establishes jurisdiction.” Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.,

137 S. Ct. at 1780.

¶12 To determine whether Montana courts may exercise specific personal jurisdiction

over a nonresident defendant, we first determine whether personal jurisdiction exists under

our long-arm statute, codified at M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1). Ford Motor Co., ¶ 10;

Buckles I, ¶ 11. If not, we must decline jurisdiction, and our analysis ends.

Simmons v. State, 206 Mont. 264, 272, 670 P.2d 1372, 1376 (1983). If, however, the

defendant has done some act that potentially confers jurisdiction under the long-arm

statute, we examine whether the exercise of jurisdiction comports with traditional notions

of fair play and substantial justice embodied in the Due Process Clause of the

Fourteenth Amendment. Simmons, 206 Mont. at 272, 670 P.2d at 1376.

¶13 Montana’s long-arm statute provides in pertinent part:

[A]ny person is subject to the jurisdiction of Montana courts as to any claim for
relief arising from the doing personally, or through an employee or agent, of
any of the following acts:

(A) the transaction of any business within Montana;

(B) the commission of any act resulting in accrual within Montana of a
tort action;

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 (C) the ownership, use, or possession of any property, or of any interest,
therein situated within Montana[.]

M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1). Buckles asserts that “Continental’s conduct[] unequivocally falls

directly within the parameters of subsection (A), (B), and (C)” of the long-arm statute.

Concluding that subsection (A) applies to the claims Buckles raises, we do not consider

either (B) or (C).

¶14 Under M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1)(A), a Montana court may “exert long-arm jurisdiction

over any person if the claim arises out of that person’s transaction of business within the

state.” Grizzly Sec. Armored Express, Inc. v. Armored Group, LLC, 2011 MT 128, ¶ 23,

360 Mont. 517, 255 P.3d 143. “Jurisdiction comports with M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1)(A) if the

nonresident business conducts ‘substantial’ business activity in the state” from which the

claim arises. Grizzly Sec., ¶ 23 (quoting Bunch v. Lancair Int’l, Inc., 2009 MT 29, ¶ 18,

349 Mont. 144, 202 P.3d 784). As we stated in Buckles I, ¶ 20, “The dispositive question,

as it pertains to specific personal jurisdiction over Continental, is whether a relationship

exists ‘among [] [Continental], the forum, and the litigation,’ . . . not just with Continental’s

contacts with Montana in general.” (Citations omitted.)

¶15 It is undisputed that Continental conducts substantial business activities in Montana.

Continental maintains, however, that its only suit-related Montana business transaction is

the MSA with BH Flowtest. It argues that our decision in Cimmaron Corp. v. Smith,

2003 MT 73, 315 Mont. 1, 67 P.3d 258, precludes us from exercising specific jurisdiction

over Continental on the basis of the MSA.

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¶16 In Cimmaron, ¶ 14, we reiterated our holding in Edsall Construction Co., Inc. v.

Robinson that “a non-resident does not subject [itself] to the jurisdiction of Montana by

merely entering into a contract with a resident of Montana.” 246 Mont. 378, 382,

804 P.2d 1039, 1042 (1991). We affirmed the district court’s ruling that it lacked

personal jurisdiction over Pennsylvania defendants whose sole contacts with Montana

were the agreements they entered with the Montana-based plaintiff. Cimmaron, ¶¶ 15, 21.

We further observed that under the agreement in that case, the defendants were required to

perform services in Pennsylvania, not in Montana, and that each of the plaintiff’s claims

pertained to actions the defendants took, or failed to take, in Pennsylvania.

Cimmaron, ¶ 15.

¶17 Like the contract at issue in Cimmaron, the MSA is a contract Continental entered

with a Montana resident for the performance of services outside Montana. And like the

nonresident defendants in Cimmaron, Continental did not subject itself to this State’s

jurisdiction simply by entering into the MSA with a Montana entity for tank gauging to be

performed in North Dakota. Continental did not have a contract with Zachary; the parties

to the MSA are two co-defendants, Continental and BH Flowtest. A defendant’s

relationship with a third party (BH Flowtest), standing alone, is an insufficient basis for

jurisdiction. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., 137 S. Ct. at 1781 (quoting Walden,

571 U.S. at 286, 134 S. Ct. at 1123); Buckles I, ¶ 20; Tackett, ¶ 33.

¶18 The MSA’s connection to Zachary is through three additional subcontracts,

leading to the work he performed in North Dakota. But the MSA—which made

BH Flowtest and its subcontractors responsible for all tank-gauging services and related

10
safety measures—does not contractually connect Zachary’s death, Continental, and

Montana. We agree with Continental that its MSA with BH Flowtest is not sufficient by

itself to confer long-arm jurisdiction over Continental in this case pursuant to

M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1)(A).

¶19 Buckles argues nonetheless that, because Continental’s Sidney, Montana office

oversees the Columbus Federal/Tallahassee complex where Zachary died, there is a

relationship between Montana, Continental, and this litigation sufficient to subject

Continental to the exercise of specific jurisdiction.

¶20 The District Court found that Continental’s Sidney, Montana office exercises

“supervisory control” over the Columbus Federal/Tallahassee complex: it manages

production and daily operations at the well site; it has the authority to set flow rates; and it

directs the work that subcontractors are to perform at the well site. The court also found

that Continental contracts out certain elements of work for which its subcontractors are

responsible. For example, each individual tank-gauger—all of whom are independent

subcontractors—sets the flow rate in practice; subcontractors must procure their own safety

equipment; contractors are not included in the Sidney, Montana monthly safety trainings

held for employees; Continental does not train independent contractors; and Continental

expects that subcontractors acquire on-the-job training necessary to perform their work.

¶21 As the owner and operator of the Columbus Federal/Tallahassee complex,

Continental generally is not liable for any torts committed by its independent contractors.

Beckman v. Butte-Silver Bow County, 2000 MT 112, ¶ 12, 299 Mont. 389, 1 P.3d 348.

“Exceptions to this rule, which create vicarious liability for the employer, arise when

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(1) there is a non-delegable duty based on contract; (2) the activity is inherently or

intrinsically dangerous; or (3) the general contractor negligently exercises control reserved

over a subcontractor’s work.” Stricker v. Blaine Cty., 2019 MT 280, ¶ 12, 398 Mont. 43,

453 P.3d 897 (citing Beckman, ¶ 12). We held in Beckman that trenching activities on a

worksite are inherently dangerous because workers are exposed to the risk of being buried

if the operations are not safely conducted, which “requires the implementation of special

precautions.” Beckman, ¶¶ 23-24. Though such precautions may be well-recognized in

the construction industry, they demand “special knowledge and, when not followed or

properly applied, may result in instantaneous death to the workers.” Beckman, ¶¶ 24-25.

¶22 Continental did not dispute that safety concerns are paramount in the oil and gas

industry and that it took substantial precautions to deal with safety risks, including those

presented by hydrocarbon vapors. Russell Atkins, Continental’s production manager for

the Bakken area, testified that Continental ensured that contractors complied with basic

safety requirements. Atkins said that Continental would assure that both employees and

contractors had the required Personal Protective Equipment. Although the contractors

were not included in the monthly safety meetings, “they had to follow certain guidelines

that we made sure they did.” Testimony showed that Continental retained ultimate

authority over the well site and that it could shut down the operation immediately if one of

its employees observed something unsafe. Dusty Grosulak, Continental’s Northern region

health and safety coordinator, testified that he had, at times, conducted spot inspections or

examinations and looked at the safety practices of subcontractors on Continental’s

properties. He acknowledged that he had authority to shut an operation down if he saw

12
unsafe practices being conducted by a contractor. Atkins also agreed that if a contractor

was not following Continental’s guidelines, he had the ability “to fire them on the spot[.]”

¶23 Other Continental representatives confirmed that, though they did not supervise the

company’s subcontractors, if they were visiting a well site and observed a contractor who

was not following safety guidelines, they would give direction. Clint Dunn, who worked

as a lease operator for Continental at the time of Zachary’s death, testified that he checked

the equipment at the subject well site daily as part of his regular North Dakota route. Dunn

would check for leaks and any other safety hazards and would make sure the equipment

was functioning properly. Though Dunn never saw Zachary (who worked at night), he did

see Janson Palmer—long enough to say hello, ask if there were any problems, and

“get numbers” from him. Dunn confirmed that it was company policy that everyone

working on a well site would carry a gas monitor. He testified that if he saw a contractor

doing something unsafe while he was visiting a site, he would stop the unsafe activity and

contact his foreman for further action.

¶24 We noted in Buckles I, ¶ 28, that M. R. Civ. P. 12(i) allows a court to defer until

trial ruling on a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction (citing Data Disc, Inc.

v. Systems Tech. Assoc., Inc., 557 F.2d 1280, 1285 n.2 (9th Cir. 1977)).3 On the basis of

3
We disagree with the Dissent’s view of Data Disc, Inc. Dissent, ¶¶ 56-57. The Ninth Circuit in
that case opined that where the jurisdictional facts are intertwined with the merits, “it is preferable
that [a decision on the jurisdictional issues] be made at trial, where a plaintiff may present his case
in a coherent, orderly fashion and without the risk of prejudicing his case on the merits.”
Data Disc, Inc., 557 F.2d at 1285, n.2 (emphasis added). In any event, as mentioned, our own
rules of procedure contemplate deferring such a ruling until trial. M. R. Civ. P. 12(i). “Of course,
at any time when the plaintiff avoids a preliminary motion to dismiss by making a prima facie
showing of jurisdictional facts, he must still prove the jurisdictional facts at trial by a
13
the jurisdictional record, we conclude that the jurisdictional facts are so intertwined with

the merits that a decision on the jurisdictional issues depends on a decision of the merits. 4

Whether Continental is subject to jurisdiction in Montana depends on whether Buckles is

able to prove, under one or more of the Beckman exceptions, that it may be held liable for

the torts, if any, of its independent contractors. If one of those exceptions applies, the duty

to Zachary arises from Continental’s oversight of the North Dakota well that it managed

from its Sidney office in Montana and thus supplies the necessary “affiliation between the

forum and the underlying controversy.” Tackett, ¶ 19.

¶25 We therefore conclude that the evidence was sufficient at this juncture to withstand

Continental’s motion to dismiss for lack of a suit-specific connection between its Montana

business transactions and Buckles’s claims in this case. Whether Continental may be held

accountable for the alleged failures of its independent contractor(s) is

“the very controversy” that also would establish jurisdiction. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.,

137 S. Ct. at 1780. If Buckles in fact is able to demonstrate one or more of the Beckman

exceptions, Continental may be subject to personal jurisdiction in Montana under

Rule 4(b)(1)(A) based on its liability for tortious conduct, if any, by its independent

contractor or contractors.

preponderance of the evidence.” Data Disc, Inc., 557 F.2d at 1285, n.2. Our Opinion today holds
only that Buckles’s jurisdictional evidence met the prima facie showing.
4
The District Court denied Buckles’s request to wait until trial to determine its jurisdiction. It
held that the jurisdictional facts were “‘not so enmeshed with the merits’ of the case that the issue
of Continental’s personal jurisdiction in Montana should not be determined prior to trial.” On
de novo review of the jurisdictional issue, we disagree.
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¶26 Because personal jurisdiction potentially is conferred by Montana’s long-arm

statute, we consider whether the exercise of jurisdiction comports with traditional notions

of fair play and substantial justice embodied in the Due Process Clause of the

Fourteenth Amendment. Ford Motor Co., ¶ 10. The primary focus of the due process

inquiry “is the defendant’s relationship to the forum State.” Ford Motor Co., ¶ 12

(quoting Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., 137 S. Ct. at 1779). We consider whether: “(1) the

nonresident defendant purposefully availed itself of the privilege of conducting activities

in Montana, thereby invoking Montana’s laws; (2) the plaintiff’s claim arises out of or

relates to the defendant’s forum-related activities; and (3) the exercise of personal

jurisdiction is reasonable.” Ford Motor Co., ¶ 12 (citing Simmons, 206 Mont. at 276,

670 P.2d at 1378). If the plaintiff demonstrates that the defendant purposefully availed

itself of the privilege of conducting activities in Montana, “a presumption of

reasonableness arises, which the defendant can overcome only by presenting a compelling

case that jurisdiction would be unreasonable.” Ford Motor Co., ¶ 12 (citing

B.T. Metal Works v. United Die & Mfg. Co., 2004 MT 286, ¶ 34, 323 Mont. 308,

100 P.3d 127).

¶27 “A nonresident defendant purposefully avails itself of the benefits and protections

of the laws of the forum state when it takes voluntary action designed to have an effect in

the forum.” B.T. Metal Works, ¶ 35. “The defendant that invokes the laws of the forum

state by purposefully availing itself of the privilege of conducting activities within the

forum should reasonably anticipate being haled into court in the forum state, and the

exercise of jurisdiction over such a defendant is fundamentally fair.”

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B.T. Metal Works, ¶ 35. As discussed above and set forth in more detail in Buckles I,

Continental’s extensive business activities in Montana demonstrate that it purposefully

availed itself of the privilege of conducting activities within this state. We conclude that,

should Buckles prove the suit-specific connection through application of Beckman,

requiring Continental to defend in Montana would not offend traditional notions of fair

play and substantial justice as embodied in the due process clause. Once a plaintiff

demonstrates that a defendant has purposefully availed itself of such privilege, the

presumption of reasonableness arises. In that case, “we need not address the remaining

elements in determining whether the exercise of jurisdiction comports with due process.”

B.T. Metal Works, ¶ 37 (citing Simmons Oil Corp. v. Holly Corp., 244 Mont. 75, 85,

796 P.2d, 189, 195 (1990)). On this record, Continental has not presented “a compelling

case” that jurisdiction would be unreasonable should Buckles prove her claims.

Ford Motor Co., ¶ 12.

CONCLUSION

¶28 The District Court’s order granting Continental’s motion to dismiss is reversed, and

the case is remanded for further proceedings.

/S/ BETH BAKER

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We Concur:

/S/ MIKE McGRATH
/S/ JAMES JEREMIAH SHEA
/S/ JIM RICE
/S/ DIRK M. SANDEFUR
/S/ INGRID GUSTAFSON

Justice Dirk Sandefur, concurring.

¶29 Without assignment of error, the Court essentially holds that issues of fact preclude

dismissal of Buckles’s complaint at this juncture under the liberal standard of M. R. Civ.

P. 12(b)(2), as applied to Rule 4(b)(1)(A). I concur in that ultimate holding but, for the

following reasons, would more affirmatively hold that Buckles has shown sufficient facts

for exercise of Montana long-arm jurisdiction under M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1)(A) and that the

District Court erroneously concluded to the contrary.

¶30 Exercise of specific long-arm personal jurisdiction over a nonresident is a combined

function of state law under M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1) and Fourteenth Amendment due process

under the United States Constitution. B.T. Metal Works. v. United Die & Mfg. Co.,

2004 MT 286, ¶ 16, 323 Mont. 308, 100 P.3d 127; Simmons, 206 Mont. at 271-73, 670

P.2d at 1376-77. If specific jurisdiction over a nonresident is lacking under M. R. Civ.

P. 4(b)(1), the analysis ends and Montana courts “must decline jurisdiction” without

consideration of federal due process requirements. Simmons, 206 Mont. at 272, 670 P.2d

at 1376. Under M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1)(A), specific personal jurisdiction exists over any

individual who is the subject of a “claim for relief arising from” the individual’s

“transaction of any business within Montana.” (Emphasis added.) Thus, the limited scope

17
of inquiry under Rule 4(b)(1)(A) is whether the claim at issue arises from any substantial

business activity carried on by the nonresident in Montana. See M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1)(A);

Grizzly Sec. Armored Express, Inc., ¶ 23.

¶31 Here, the District Court narrowly focused on facts that, in isolation, would weigh

against exercise of specific jurisdiction, e.g.: (1) Continental contracted with an

independent contractor to perform the actual on-site tank-gauging and flow rate monitoring

on the North Dakota well site; (2) Continental did not involve subcontract employees in

safety meetings and training provided to its own employees; (3) Continental did not specify

or provide safety equipment for use by subcontract employees; and (4) Continental

expected that subcontractors, and their employees, would independently have the safety

training and equipment necessary to safely perform assigned subcontract work. Based on

those isolated facts, the District Court essentially concluded that Buckles’s asserted claims

did not arise from any Continental business activity in Montana but, rather, from “alleged

unsafe worksite and events,” and related safety training and equipment inadequacies, in

North Dakota.

¶32 As noted by the Majority, a non-resident does not subject itself to Montana specific

jurisdiction under M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1)(A) merely by communicating and entering into a

contract with a Montana resident. See Cimmaron Corp., ¶¶ 14-15 (citing Edsall Constr.

Co., 246 Mont. at 382, 804 P.2d at 1042). Two Montana cases illustrate the point.

¶33 In Cimmaron, a Montana corporation contracted with a non-resident Pennsylvania

corporation for the Pennsylvania corporation to serve as its Montana collections agent.

Cimmaron, ¶¶ 4-5. The contract resulted from preliminary interstate communications and

18
a one-time trip to Montana by the principal in the Pennsylvania corporation to negotiate

the terms of the collection agency contract and an ancillary contract for the principal’s

father to buy the Montana corporation’s accounts receivable. Cimmaron, ¶¶ 4-5 and 13.

¶34 Noting that interstate communications regarding a contract “to be performed in

another state” are insufficient alone for specific personal jurisdiction under M. R. Civ.

P. 4(b)(1)(A), we affirmed the district court’s dismissal of various contract and related tort

claims against the various non-resident defendants because (1) their “sole contacts with

Montana” were contracts calling for the non-resident(s) to provide or perform the subject

services in another state and (2) the alleged breaches of duty were based on conduct that

occurred outside Montana. Cimmaron, ¶¶ 14-15, 20-21 (emphasis omitted). We held that

the underlying contract, and related interstate communications, with the Montana company

were insufficient alone to establish specific long-arm jurisdiction under either

Rule 4(b)(1)(A) (transaction of business in Montana) or Rule 4(b)(1)(B) (commission of

act resulting accrual of a tort in Montana) absent additional evidence indicating that the

asserted breach of contract duty “arose from business . . . transacted [by the non-resident]

within Montana.” Cimmaron, ¶¶ 16-21 (emphasis omitted).

¶35 In contrast, in Nelson v. San Joaquin Helicopters, 228 Mont. 267, 742 P.2d 447

(1987), a Montana resident contracted by phone with a California company to repair his

helicopter in California, upon delivery from Montana. Nelson, 228 Mont. at 268-69,

742 P.2d at 447-48. Due to the prohibitive cost of repair, Nelson and the company later

agreed by phone that the company would buy the helicopter and make installment

payments on the purchase price under a promissory note from the company to Nelson, but

19
with the actual payments to be made on behalf of the company by a third-party Montana

company, in satisfaction of a debt owed to the California company, under a separate

agreement between the companies. Nelson, 228 Mont. at 268-69, 742 P.2d at 448.1 When

the Montana company failed to make the required payments to Nelson on behalf of the

California company, Nelson sued the California company in Montana on the promissory

note. Nelson, 228 Mont. at 269, 742 P.2d at 448. In contrast to the non-resident’s lack of

claim-related contact in Montana in Cimmaron, we held that the California company had

sufficient claim-related contacts with Montana to establish jurisdiction under M. R. Civ.

P. 4(b)(1)(A) based not only on its contract and related interstate communications with

Nelson, but also on its: (1) use of the Montana company as Nelson’s Montana payor;

(2) ongoing business relationship with the Montana company; and (3) prior

transaction-related debt collection attempts against the Montana company, which in turn

resulted in the Montana company’s claim-related relationship with Nelson. Nelson,

228 Mont. at 272, 742 P.2d at 450.

¶36 Here, in contrast to the lack of claim-related business contact with Montana in

Cimarron, there is evidence, however disputed, that in addition to its significant business

operations in Montana, Continental also had substantial claim-related business contact with

the North Dakota well site from Montana. As recognized by the Court, Continental

maintained and exercised overall management and supervisory control over daily

operations at the North Dakota well site from its office in Sidney, Montana. Regardless of

1
The Montana company’s debt to the California company related to a recent settlement of a
contract dispute in which Nelson was not involved. Nelson, 228 Mont. at 268-69, 742 P.2d at 448.
20
the fact that it contracted out for third-party performance of the on-site flow monitoring

and tank-gauging operations, there is evidence that Continental maintained the right and

authority to set the flow rates and to determine and specify the standards of performance

of the independent contract work.

¶37 Moreover, the pertinent contract language in the contract between Continental and

BH Flowtest went no further than assigning the specified contract work to BH, providing

that BH agreed “to comply with all [applicable] laws, rules, and regulations,” and stating

BH’s acknowledgment that Continental would “rely upon” its representation that all BH

“employees and agents have been trained to follow all applicable laws, rules, and

regulations and work safely.” Nothing in the contract language constituted a deferral or

delegation of site safety responsibility by Continental to BH Flowtest or its subcontractors.

Nor did it effect or manifest an assumption of that responsibility by BH Flowtest. Against

the backdrop of that limited contract language, there is evidence that Continental retained

ultimate authority and control over the well site, ensured that contractors complied with

basic safety requirements, and ensured that both its employees and contractors had required

personal safety equipment. The District Court’s narrow focus on the situs of injury and

chain of independent contractors separating Continental therefrom overlooks Buckles’s

complaint allegations under the liberal standard of M. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(2), as well as the

supplemental evidentiary basis, however slim at this juncture, that could conceivably

support a negligence claim that Continental was either directly liable for the injury, based

on its retention of Montana control over the North Dakota well site operations and

21
conditions,2 or vicariously liable based on a nondelegable duty of care arising from the

alleged abnormally dangerous activity or peculiar risk of harm at issue.3

¶38 Buckles’s complaint specifically alleges, inter alia, that:

Oil drilling and its associated activities [including] manual tank gauging is
an inherently dangerous activity and it was readily ascertainable to
[Continental, et al.,] that manual tank gauging of crude oil production tanks
would pose peculiar risks to all involved, as well as, dangers special . . . and
inherent . . . and that adequate precautions were required against recognized
hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm
[including] overexposure to hydrocarbon vapors.

[Continental, et al.,] knew of hazards associated with manually gauging
crude oil production tanks and of the strict requirements for adequate and
appropriate air monitoring equipment, as well as training regarding
overexposure to hydrocarbon vapors while manually gauging crude oil
production tanks.

Unlike in Cimmaron, there is evidence that supervisory Continental employees were

on-site from Montana daily, supervising and directing site operations with authority and

2
See, e.g., Beckman, ¶¶ 12, 32-39 (retained control exception to independent contractor rule—
citing Umbs v. Sherrodd, Inc., 246 Mont. 373, 376, 805 P.2d 519, 520 (1991) and Restatement
(Second) of Torts § 414 (Am. Law. Inst. 1965) (duty of principal who delegates work to
independent contractor but “retains control of any part of the work” to use reasonable care within
the scope of the retained control to protect others from foreseeable risks of harm resulting from
negligent acts or omissions of subcontractor and agents thereof)).

3
Nondelegable duty is an exception to the general rule of non-liability for the tortious conduct of
independent contractors and may arise from contracts for the performance of abnormally
dangerous activity, contracts for the performance of activity posing a peculiar risk of harm, or
statutory, regulatory, or contract duties of safety. See, e.g., State v. Silver-Bow County, 2009 MT
414, ¶¶ 24-29, 353 Mont. 497, 220 P.3d 1115 (state vicariously liable for county negligence under
state highway maintenance contract based on county breach of non-delegable state duty);
Beckman, ¶¶ 12-28 (vicarious liability of county for independent contractor breach of county’s
nondelegable duty regarding inherently dangerous activity or activity posing peculiar risk of
harm); Stepanek v. Kober Const., 191 Mont. 430, 625 P.2d 51 (1981); Restatement (Third) of
Torts: Physical and Emotional Harm § 57 cmt. a-b (Am. Law Inst. 2012); Restatement (Second)
of Torts §§ 413, 416, and 427.

22
duty to detect and correct on-site safety problems. While the alleged injury occurred in

North Dakota, there is ample evidence upon which Buckles could conceivably prove that

the alleged breach of duty by Continental at least partially occurred in or arose from

Montana based on supervisory or management decisions or omissions in Montana

regarding operations, conditions, and precautions at the North Dakota well site. Thus, the

essence of the District Court’s conclusion that Buckles’s claims do not arise from any

Continental business activity in Montana but, rather, exclusively from “alleged unsafe

worksite and events,” and related safety training equipment inadequacies, in North Dakota

is erroneous. Based on Continental’s substantial claim-related contact to the North Dakota

well site from Montana, the jurisdictional facts in this case are not only more analogous to

those in Nelson than Cimmaron, but even more substantial, qualitatively, than those found

sufficient in Nelson.

¶39 The proper focus of the Rule 4(b)(1)(A) inquiry is on the relevant jurisdictional

facts—not facts that go to the merits of the asserted claims. See Buckles I, ¶ 23 (jurisdiction

“should [be] determine[d] . . . only on the necessary jurisdictional facts and not on the

merits of the case” (internal citation omitted)). As noted by the Majority, the threshold

“jurisdictional facts are so intertwined with the merits [of Buckles’s claims] that a decision

on the jurisdictional issues [necessarily] depends on a decision on the merits,” whether at

the summary judgment stage, on proper motion at the close of the plaintiff’s case at trial,

or by special verdict form. M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1)(A) does not require Buckles to prove that

all elements of the asserted claims occurred in Montana or that Montana has more

significant contacts and relationship to the elements of the claims than North Dakota.

23
Rule 4(b)(1)(A) requires only that the asserted claim for relief arose in whole or in part

from “any business [conducted by Continental] within Montana.” (Emphasis added.)

Regardless of whether North Dakota may have more or closer claim-related contacts,

Buckles has shown that Montana also has minimally sufficient claim-related contacts under

the relatively undemanding standards of M. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(2) and 4(b)(1)(A). I would

thus more affirmatively hold that Buckles has alleged and shown sufficient facts to satisfy

the Rule 4(b)(1)(A) requirement that that her asserted claims arose at least in part from

Continental’s substantial business activity in Montana.

¶40 Independent of M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1)(A), the Fourteenth Amendment Due Process

Clause bars state courts from rendering a “personal judgment against a nonresident

defendant” unless “‘minimum contacts’ [exist] between the defendant and the forum

state,” such that exercise of personal jurisdiction over the nonresident will comport with

the traditional due process concepts of fairness and “substantial justice” within the limits

of co-equal state sovereignty in our system of constitutional federalism. Simmons,

206 Mont. at 272-75, 670 P.2d at 1376-78. Exercise of specific Montana jurisdiction over

a nonresident generally comports with traditional due process concepts of fairness and

substantial justice if:

(1) the nonresident has performed or engaged in some forum-related “act” or
“transaction” to purposely benefit from “the privilege of conducting
[business] in the forum” state, thereby subjecting itself to the law of the
forum state;

(2) claim at issue “arises out of or results from” the nonresident’s “forum-related
activities”; and

24
 (3) exercise of jurisdiction by the forum-state is reasonable under the
circumstances.

Simmons, 206 Mont. at 276, 670 P.2d at 1378; Data Disc, Inc., 557 F.2d at 1287. Accord

B.T. Metal Works, ¶ 34 (citing Simmons, 206 Mont. at 272-73, 670 P.2d 1376-77 and Data

Disc, Inc., 557 F.2d at 1287); Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., ___ U.S. at ___, 137 S. Ct.

at 1785-86.

¶41 Here, Continental was unquestionably engaged in substantial business activities in

Montana, thereby benefitting from the privilege of conducting business here and subjecting

itself to our law. As to the second due process factor, the claim at issue need only “arise

out of or relate to” the nonresident’s forum-related activities. Bristol-Myers Squibb,

___ U.S. at ___, 137 S. Ct. at 1786 (internal quotation omitted—emphasis added).

Regardless of whether North Dakota may have more or closer claim-related contracts,

Buckles’s asserted claims also clearly arise from and relate to Continental’s business

activities in Montana on the same grounds that specific jurisdiction exists under M. R. Civ.

P. 4(b)(1)(A).

¶42 Under the third due process factor, the reasonableness of the exercise of state

jurisdiction over a nonresident generally depends on: (1) the relative burden on the

nonresident of having to appear and litigate in the forum-state; (2) the forum-state’s interest

in adjudicating the type of dispute at issue; (3) the “plaintiff’s interest in obtaining

convenient and effective relief” in accordance with “the plaintiff’s power [within the rules

of civil procedure] to choose the forum”; (4) the “interstate judicial system’s interest in

obtaining the most efficient resolution of controversies”; and (5) “the shared interest of the

25
several States in furthering fundamental substantive social policies.” Simmons, 206 Mont.

at 273-74, 670 P.2d at 1377 (quoting World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, 444 U.S.

286, 292, 100 S. Ct. 559, 564 (1980)). Accord Bristol-Myers Squibb, ___ U.S. at ___,

137 S. Ct. at 1786. Here, the relative burden on Continental of having to appear and litigate

this dispute in eastern Montana, rather than a relatively short distance across the border in

western North Dakota, will be minimal, if any. Continental has made no showing to the

contrary.

¶43 Moreover, under the closely related circumstances of this case, Montana’s interest

in adjudicating this dispute is no less than North Dakota’s interest. The interstate judicial

system interest in obtaining the most efficient resolution of controversies, and the shared

interest of Montana and North Dakota in furthering fundamental substantive social

policies, will be equally served in Montana or North Dakota under the circumstances of

this case. Finally, adjudication of this dispute in Montana will serve Buckles’s interest and

prerogative to choose the forum, as authorized by the generally applicable rules of civil

procedure, without unfair or undue burden on Continental. Thus, adjudication of this

dispute in Montana will comport with traditional notions of fairness and due process under

the circumstances of this case.

¶44 Resolution of the threshold jurisdictional issue is an extremely close call based on

the limited state of the lower court factual record and the standard of review for motions to

dismiss under M. R. Civ. P. 4 and 12(b)(2). The liberal Rule 12 standard, set intentionally

low to favor trial on the merits of genuine issues of material fact, is particularly important

where, as here, the jurisdictional facts are inseparably intertwined at this early stage with

26
genuine issues of fact material to the merits of the currently-pled claims for substantive

relief. Without prematurely adjudicating disputed issues of fact material to those

substantive merits, these intertwined circumstances necessarily require some consideration

of the conceivable factual and legal courses that this litigation may take and which may

necessarily preclude a Rule 12 dismissal right out of the gate. As the factual record and

claims for relief continue to evolve on the Rule 56 and trial records, the question of

Montana jurisdiction will remain a live issue, at risk to Buckles upon appropriate defense

motion or special interrogatory.

¶45 I concur in the ultimate holding of the Court. But, based on Buckles’s well-pled

complaint allegations, and the limited factual record at this stage of proceedings, I would

more affirmatively hold that exercise of specific Montana jurisdiction is proper under M. R.

Civ. P. 4(b)(1)(A) and the Fourteenth Amendment Due Process Clause and that the District

Court thus erroneously granted Continental’s motion to dismiss due to lack of personal

jurisdiction.

/S/ DIRK M. SANDEFUR

27
Chief Justice Mike McGrath and Justice Ingrid Gustafson join in the concurring Opinion
of Justice Sandefur.

/S/ MIKE McGRATH
/S/ INGRID GUSTAFSON

Justice Laurie McKinnon, dissenting.

¶46 I dissent.

¶47 I would conclude Buckles has failed to establish even a prima facie case

Continental’s relevant, suit-specific conduct—that Continental failed to secure a safe

worksite and provide for adequate safety equipment and training—occurred in Montana.

As the District Court determined:

The “suit-related conduct” arose out of an alleged unsafe work site and events
that occurred at the oil well in North Dakota, a sub-contractor that performed
job-related duties in North Dakota, sub-contractor training occurring on the
job in North Dakota, and sadly, the death of [Zachary] that occurred on a
well-site in North Dakota.

This Court, however, concludes that Montana’s long-arm statute applies because

Montana’s non-delegable duty doctrine provides the “necessary ‘affiliation between the

forum and the underlying controversy.’” Opinion, ¶ 24 (quoting Tackett, ¶ 19). The Court

next concludes that Continental’s extensive business activities in Montana make the

exercise of jurisdiction over Continental reasonable. Opinion, ¶ 27. In my opinion, the

Court also misapplies the reasoning in Data Disc, Inc., and fails to abide by our

standard of review. I disagree with these conclusions and begin by examining

Montana’s long-arm statute.

28
¶48 Montana’s long-arm statute provides that “any person is subject to the jurisdiction

of Montana courts as to any claim for relief arising from the doing personally, or through

an employee or agent, of any of the following acts: (A) the transaction of any business

within Montana . . . .” M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1).1 Preliminarily, although Buckles was given

the opportunity to present “jurisdictional” evidence, Buckles offered no evidence of

contracts between Continental and Black Rock, Black Gold, or Buckles, or of any agency

agreement between Continental and the other Defendants. Accordingly, Buckles has failed

to present evidence that Continental acted through an “employee” or “agent” or otherwise

delegated a non-delegable duty. Buckles contends that Continental’s general oversight of

the North Dakota wells was negligent respecting the safety of the workplace and provision

of safety equipment and training. Importantly, Buckles has not argued that Continental

delegated a non-delegable duty to an agent or employee in contravention of Montana’s

non-delegable duty doctrine—only this Court has.

¶49 Next, recognizing that Continental’s MSA with BH Flowtest was not sufficient to

invoke long-arm jurisdiction over Continental under M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1)(A), the Court

nonetheless tethers “specific” or “case-linked” jurisdiction to Continental by applying

Montana doctrinal law, which the Court concludes may allow for the creation of a

non-delegable duty owed by Continental to Buckles. Opinion, ¶¶ 18, 24. The Court holds

1
The other subsections of Montana’s long-arm statute provide for jurisdiction when the
“commission of any act result[ed] in accrual within Montana of a tort action,”
M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1)(B); and when the claim arises out of “the ownership, use, or possession of
any property, or of any interest therein, situated within Montana,” M. R. Civ. P. 4(b)(1)(C). These
subsections are not applicable to the facts and neither the parties nor the Court address them.
29
that whether the non-delegable duty doctrine applies, thus creating case-specific

jurisdiction over Continental, depends upon the application of Montana’s case law,

specifically the Beckman factors and exceptions. Opinion, ¶¶ 21, 24. Further, the Court’s

reasoning requires a determination that oil gauging in North Dakota is an inherently

dangerous activity under Montana law. In essence this Court uses Montana doctrinal law

to hail Continental into its courts under a theory that the non-delegable duty doctrine can

establish suit-related conduct. Unfortunately, in doing so, the Court commingles

Montana’s substantive law relevant to Montana’s workplaces and jurisdictional law

relevant to a defendant’s suit-related conduct and contacts.

¶50 The Court concludes the long-arm statute applies, without noting or providing an

analysis under the relevant subsection and does not explain why Montana doctrinal law

should control workplace safety at a North Dakota worksite. The Court fails to distinguish

between important principles of interstate federalism underlying specific jurisdiction and

principles underlying the creation of Montana doctrinal law, which are derived primarily

from the jurisprudence of this Court and policies of the Montana legislature. For these

reasons, I believe the Court fundamentally errs when it concludes Montana’s

long-arm statute confers jurisdiction over Continental via Montana’s non-delegable duty

doctrine. I now turn, despite this conclusion, to whether the exercise of specific personal

jurisdiction over Continental comports with federal due process considerations.

¶51 Settled principles underlying personal jurisdiction consider a variety of interests,

including regard for Fourteenth Amendment due process, the burden on the defendant,

practical problems of litigating in the forum, and respect to limits on federalism interests.

30
“A state court’s assertion of jurisdiction exposes defendants to the State’s coercive power,

and is therefore subject to review for compatibility with the Fourteenth Amendment’s

Due Process Clause.” Goodyear Dunlop Tires Operations, S.A. v. Brown, 564 U.S. 915,

918-19, 131 S. Ct. 2846, 2850-51 (2011) (citing Int’l Shoe Co. v. Washington,

326 U.S. 310, 316, 66 S. Ct. 154, 158 (1945)). In order for a court to exercise specific

jurisdiction over a claim, there must be an “‘affiliatio[n] between the forum and the

underlying controversy,’ principally, [an] activity or an occurrence that takes place in the

forum State and is therefore subject to the State’s regulation.” Goodyear, 564 U.S. at 919,

131 S. Ct. at 2851 (internal citation omitted); see also Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.,

137 S. Ct. at 1781. The “suit” must “arise[] out of or relate[] to the defendant’s contacts

with the forum.” Daimler AG, 571 U.S. at 127, 134 S. Ct. at 754 (quoting Helicopteros

Nacionales de Columbia, S. A. v. Hall, 466 U.S. 408, 414, 104 S. Ct. 1868, 1872 (1984));

see also Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 472-74, 105 S. Ct. 2174,

2182 (1985). “For this reason, specific jurisdiction is confined to adjudication of issues

deriving from, or connected with, the very controversy that establishes jurisdiction.”

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., 137 S. Ct. at 1780 (emphasis added; internal quotation marks

omitted); see also Goodyear, 564 U.S. at 919, 131 S. Ct. at 2851 (Even though Goodyear

had plants in North Carolina and regularly engaged in commercial activity there,

“[b]ecause the episode-in-suit, the bus accident, occurred in France, and the tire alleged to

have caused the accident was manufactured and sold abroad, North Carolina courts lacked

specific jurisdiction to adjudicate the controversy,” as the dispute did not arise from or

relate to Goodyear’s contacts with the forum.).

31
¶52 Due process limits on the State’s adjudicative authority principally protect the

liberty of the nonresident defendant—not the convenience of plaintiffs or third parties.

Walden, 571 U.S. at 284, 134 S. Ct. at 1122. For specific jurisdiction, “a defendant’s

general connections with the forum are not enough.” Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.,

137 S. Ct. at 1781. “A corporation’s ‘continuous activity of some sorts within a

state’ . . . ‘is not enough to support the demand that the corporation be amenable to suits

unrelated to that activity.’” Goodyear, 564 U.S. at 927, 131 S. Ct. at 2856

(quoting Int’l Shoe, 326 U.S. at 318, 66 S. Ct. at 159). Thus, “consistent with due process,

the defendant’s suit-related conduct must create a substantial connection with the forum

State.” Walden, 571 U.S. at 284, 134 S. Ct. at 1121 (emphasis added).

¶53 As to limitations on the exercise of personal jurisdiction and principles of

federalism, the “primary concern” is assessing “the burden on the defendant,” which

requires the court to consider the practical problems resulting from litigating in the forum

and “the more abstract matter of submitting to the coercive power of a State that may have

little legitimate interest in the claims in question.” Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.,

137 S. Ct. at 1780. Restrictions on personal jurisdiction “are more than a guarantee of

immunity from inconvenient or distant litigation”; rather, “[t]hey are a consequence of

territorial limitations on the power of the respective States.” World-Wide Volkswagen

Corp. v. Woodson, 444 U.S. 286, 294, 100 S. Ct. 559, 565 (1980). States “retain many

essential attributes of sovereignty, including, in particular, the sovereign power to try

causes in their courts. The sovereignty of each State . . . implie[s] a limitation on the

sovereignty of all sister States.” World-Wide, 444 U.S. at 293, 100 S. Ct. at 565.

32
“[A]t times, this federalism interest may be decisive.” Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.,

137 S. Ct. at 1780. As the Supreme Court explained in World-Wide:

Even if the defendant would suffer minimal or no inconvenience from being
forced to litigate before the tribunals of another State; even if the forum State
has a strong interest in applying its law to the controversy; even if the forum
State is the most convenient location for litigation, the Due Process Clause,
acting as an instrument of interstate federalism, may sometimes act to divest
the State of its power to render a valid judgment.

World-Wide, 444 U.S. at 294, 100 S. Ct. at 565-66.

¶54 These rules, when applied to the District Court’s findings and conclusions, reveal

that the connection between the suit-related conduct (safety of the North Dakota well site)

and the forum (Montana) must arise out of the contacts Continental itself created with

Montana. The affiliation between the suit-related conduct and the forum must be

substantial and is determined by the defendant’s contacts which he himself has created, not

by doctrinal law of the forum state. Otherwise, the jurisdictional examination diverts the

inquiry from the quality of the defendant’s contacts with the forum state in relation to the

suit-related conduct, to an inquiry of the substance and reach of any particular state law.

The Court’s use of Montana’s non-delegable duty doctrine to manufacture jurisdiction

swallows up the protections afforded by the Due Process Clause and defeats principles of

interstate federalism. Under the Court’s reasoning, any business, entity, or person with a

contact or connection to Montana is subject to the specific jurisdiction of Montana courts

for potentially any conduct done within the fifty states or internationally, if that defendant

can be brought within the reach of Montana’s non-delegable duty doctrine, or, for that

matter, some other Montana law.

33
¶55 Here, North Dakota and Oklahoma have significant interests in the policies and laws

respecting the oil industry as conducted within the confines of each State’s borders.

Continental is “at home” and subject to general jurisdiction in Oklahoma; it owns the

oil site in North Dakota where the accident occurred and is, therefore, subject to specific

jurisdiction in North Dakota. Both North Dakota and Oklahoma offer Buckles a forum.

Both states have strong sovereign interests in the welfare of their workers and business

owners related to oil production in their respective states. These sovereign interests include

economic interests, such as the interests of workers, oil industry jobs, and state economies;

the interests of constituents; and state laws reflecting the policies of each respective

legislature. While Montana too has an interest in providing access to its courts,

implementing its legislative policies, and applying the jurisprudence of this Court, that

interest may not unreasonably extend beyond Montana’s boundaries into our sister states,

unless the constitutional requirements respecting interstate federalism have been met. The

Due Process Clause does not permit Montana to extend its non-delegable duty law to

exercise jurisdiction and define a lawsuit arising out of a death at a North Dakota well site

owned by an Oklahoma company. Here, the Due Process Clause must act to protect the

interests of North Dakota and Oklahoma in not being governed by Montana’s laws, just as

it acted in Ford Motor Co. to protect the interests of Montana in its roadways. There is no

evidence that Continental’s Sidney office provided Buckles with faulty equipment or

training, or that Buckles was injured in Montana by Continental’s inaction elsewhere.

Absent such evidence, the Due Process Clause, acting as an instrument of interstate

federalism, requires that Montana decline to exercise specific jurisdiction in this case.

34
¶56 Beyond the errors arising from the Court’s commingling of substantive and

procedural law, in my opinion, the Court also misapplies the analysis of Data Disc, Inc.

Opinion, ¶ 24. Data Disc, Inc., 557 F.2d at 1285-86 n. 2, 1289 nn. 5-7, stands for the

principle that a plaintiff, depending on the manner of proof set by the trial court, may be

entitled to an opportunity to prove jurisdictional facts while also presenting substantive

facts relevant to a trial on the merits. However, contrary to the Court’s reasoning,

Data Disc, Inc. does not stand for the proposition that a plaintiff may have

two opportunities to present jurisdictional facts: first, during a pretrial hearing where the

plaintiff is held to the same preponderance standard of proof as during trial; and then, again,

during the trial. Opinion, ¶ 24. Here, Buckles has already been provided an opportunity

to prove jurisdictional facts by a preponderance of the evidence. Buckles is not entitled

during the trial, a second opportunity to establish jurisdictional facts by a preponderance

of the evidence.

¶57 In Data Disc, Inc., the district judge orally ruled there was no jurisdiction following

oral argument and conflicting affidavits submitted by both parties. No findings of fact

were made in the order of dismissal. Data Disc, Inc., 557 F.2d at 1284. The Ninth Circuit

concluded that the affidavits were in conflict regarding jurisdictional facts. However,

instead of resolving the factual disputes, the Court determined that jurisdiction could be

determined by reference to the standard of review. Data Disc, Inc., 557 F.2d at 1285. The

Court explained “the quantum of proof required to meet that burden may vary, depending

upon the nature of the proceeding and the type of evidence which the plaintiff is permitted

to present.” Data Disc, Inc., 557 F.2d at 1285. Because there is no statutory method for

35
resolving a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, the “mode of its

determination is left to the trial court,” and the “limits which the district judge imposes on

the pre-trial proceedings will affect the burden which the plaintiff is required to meet.”

Data Disc, Inc., 557 F.2d at 1285. Accordingly,

If the court determines that it will receive only affidavits or affidavits plus
discovery materials, these very limitations dictate that a plaintiff must make
only a prima facie showing of jurisdictional facts through the submitted
materials in order to avoid a defendant’s motion to dismiss. Any greater
burden—such as proof by a preponderance of the evidence—would permit a
defendant to obtain a dismissal simply by controverting the facts established
by a plaintiff through his own affidavits and supporting materials.

Data Disc, Inc., 557 F.2d at 1285. Conversely, if the “pleadings and other submitted

materials raise issues of credibility or disputed questions of fact with regard to jurisdiction,

the district court has the discretion to take evidence at a preliminary hearing in order to

resolve the contested issues.” Data Disc, Inc., 557 F.2d at 1285 (emphasis added).

“In this situation, where plaintiff is put to his full proof, plaintiff must establish the

jurisdictional facts by a preponderance of the evidence, just as he would have to do at trial.”

Data Disc, Inc., 557 F.2d at 1285. “Where the jurisdictional facts are intertwined with the

merits, a decision on the jurisdictional issues is dependent on a decision of the merits. In

such a case, the district court could determine its jurisdiction in a

plenary pretrial proceeding.” Data Disc, Inc., 557 F.2d at 1285 n. 2 (emphasis added).

¶58 Here, Buckles had a chance to establish jurisdiction at a “plenary pretrial

proceeding” at which Buckles ought to be held by this Court, under the authority of

Data Disc, Inc., to the same burden of proof as if it were a trial on the merits. In my

36
opinion, Buckles has failed to meet the jurisdictional burden of proof and should not be

given a third opportunity during trial to prove jurisdiction.

¶59 Finally, the Court also fails to adequately abide by the standard of review. Here,

“[w]e review a district court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law regarding personal

jurisdiction to determine whether the findings are clearly erroneous and whether the

conclusions are correct.” Buckles I, ¶ 9. The Court recites many of the District Court’s

findings of fact and acknowledges that the owner and operator of a well complex is not

liable for any torts committed by its independent contractors. Opinion, ¶ 21. Nowhere has

the Court pointed to findings made by this District Court, or even the previous trial court,

which were clearly erroneous or applied incorrect conclusions of law. Despite this, the

Court charters Buckles through a Beckman analysis and offers a third opportunity to prove

jurisdiction. Opinion, ¶¶ 21-24. It is the responsibility of the plaintiff to prove jurisdiction

and establish its own trial strategy. Here, the Court suggests Continental may have a non-

delegable duty despite Buckles never having advanced such an argument themselves.

Indeed, Continental has not offered into evidence any of the contracts which would

establish an agency, subcontractor, or employee relationship. I would abide by the standard

of review and, where the trial court has not erred according to that standard of review, this

Court must not remand to provide the plaintiff—who carries the burden of proof—a third

opportunity to meet that burden.

¶60 To reiterate, the District Court concluded that every relevant instance of

Continental’s suit-related conduct occurred in North Dakota. Not a single fact regarding

Continental’s actions arose in Montana. Just as in Goodyear, it is irrelevant that

37
Continental maintained an office in Sidney, Montana, because the episode-in-suit arose out

of an alleged unsafe work site and events that occurred at an oil well in North Dakota, a

sub-contractor that performed job-related duties in North Dakota, training for

sub-contractors occurring on the job in North Dakota, and Zachary’s accident, and tragic

death, that occurred on a well site in North Dakota. Given these facts, I would hold that

Buckles has failed to establish even a prima facie case that any of Continental’s relevant,

suit-specific conduct occurred in Montana.

¶61 In my opinion, these proceedings raise significant concerns over interstate

federalism. Application of Montana law to assert specific jurisdiction on behalf of a

Montana plaintiff infringes upon the sovereignty of North Dakota and Oklahoma where

the suit-related conduct arises out of an accident on a North Dakota oil well site, where the

defendant is a resident of Oklahoma, and where no jurisdictional facts exist showing that

Continental oversaw the safety of the well site from its Sidney office in Montana. I dissent

from the Court’s decision concluding otherwise, and from its strained efforts to

accommodate Buckles in proving their case.

_________________________________
/S/ LAURIE McKINNON

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