Pro bono team wins motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction for Indie Rock Band

Client(s) Clients GS, MW, MO

A team from Jones Day New York obtained dismissal of a complaint against three Chicago performing artists, brought by the former manager of their band. The former manager, based in New York, filed suit against the three performers in New York; defendants, now residing in California and outside the U.S., moved to dismiss the case for want of personal jurisdiction. After briefing and argument, the court found that it lacked general jurisdiction over the defendants, but referred the issue of specific jurisdiction, based on the manager's claim that his management agreement had been reached in New York, to a special referee. After a two day evidentiary hearing and post-hearing submissions, the referee dismissed the case in full, finding the band members' position that the management agreement had not been reached in New York to be credible, and that there was no merit to the manager's other arguments for jurisdiction.