UNITED STATE S DIST RI CT DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA FOURTH DIVISION
DAVID
ARNESON,
Plaintiff C i v i l A c t i o n No.
4-79-109
MEMORANDUM YG AX AX , T A C T I C A L S T U D Y GARY G YG RULES, partnership consisting G a r y G y g a x an Br ia n Bl me an T S R H O B B I E S , I N C . corporation, Defendants.
N S U P P O R T O F D E F E N D A NT NT S ' MOTION TO QUASH SERVICE OF PROCESS AND DISMISS FOR LACK PERSONAL JURISDICTION, AND SUPPORT F D E F EN EN DA DA N T ALTERNATE MOTION TRANSFER UNDER
51404
TABLE
CONTENTS
Page No. INTRODUCTION
ARGUEMENT
DEFENDANTS' M O T I O N TO D I S M I S S AFTER REMOVAL
11
111.
PROPER
THE BURDEN UPON PLAINTIFF TO PROVE COURT HAS J U R I S D I C T I O N OVER THAT TH EACH TH DEFENDA DEFENDANTS, NTS, FOR EACH ALLEGED CAUSE A C T I O N , CONSISTENT W I T H DUE PR OC ESS MINNESOTA LONG-AIIM
STATUTES
COURT LACKS PERSONAL J U R I S D I C T I O N TH TH OVER EACH DEFENDANTS
e C ou o u r t L ac ac ks ks J is ic ti n r th N on on - e s i d e n t I n d i v i d u a l D e fe f e n da da n t Gary Gygax ( 1) 1)
Ju ri sd ic ti on over x s not c o n f e r r e d y M in i n n es es ot ot a ta tu te
( 2) 2)
J u r i s d i c t i o n o v er er x s not consis te t with e process
e C o u rt rt L a ck ck s n Ov r e Defendant Partnership, Tactical Studies Rules, (D iss olv ed n Nov mb , 1975
13
( 1) 1)
15
2) (3)
J u r i s d i c t i o n o ve v e r t h e T e m in i n at a t ed ed Partn ership s n o t C o nf n f er e r re re d Minnesota Statutes J u r i s d i c t i o n o ve v e r t h e P a r t n e rs rs h i p s n o t C o n s i s t e n t w i t h D e P r o ce ce s s n C an an no no t e O b t a in in e d o v e r T e r m i n at at e d r N o n e x i st st e n t P a r t n e r ship
The Court Lacks Jurisdiction Over The Defendant Corporation, Hobbies, Inc.
2.2.
(1)
2.3
2)
y of TSR's TSR's Con tac ts Minnesota
it
J u r i s d i c t i o n o ve ve r Hobbies, Inc. s n o t c o n f e r r e d by by M in in ne ne so so ta ta S t a t u t e ri ic ti n H o b b ie ie s , I n . ,
r D e fe fe nd n d an an t s t Consisten
2.4
TABLE
CONTENTS
Page No. INTRODUCTION
ARGUEMENT
DEFENDANTS' M O T I O N TO D I S M I S S AFTER REMOVAL
11
111.
PROPER
THE BURDEN UPON PLAINTIFF TO PROVE COURT HAS J U R I S D I C T I O N OVER THAT TH EACH TH DEFENDA DEFENDANTS, NTS, FOR EACH ALLEGED CAUSE A C T I O N , CONSISTENT W I T H DUE PR OC ESS MINNESOTA LONG-AIIM
STATUTES
COURT LACKS PERSONAL J U R I S D I C T I O N TH TH OVER EACH DEFENDANTS
e C ou o u r t L ac ac ks ks J is ic ti n r th N on on - e s i d e n t I n d i v i d u a l D e fe f e n da da n t Gary Gygax ( 1) 1)
Ju ri sd ic ti on over x s not c o n f e r r e d y M in i n n es es ot ot a ta tu te
( 2) 2)
J u r i s d i c t i o n o v er er x s not consis te t with e process
e C o u rt rt L a ck ck s n Ov r e Defendant Partnership, Tactical Studies Rules, (D iss olv ed n Nov mb , 1975
13
( 1) 1)
15
2) (3)
J u r i s d i c t i o n o ve v e r t h e T e m in i n at a t ed ed Partn ership s n o t C o nf n f er e r re re d Minnesota Statutes J u r i s d i c t i o n o ve v e r t h e P a r t n e rs rs h i p s n o t C o n s i s t e n t w i t h D e P r o ce ce s s n C an an no no t e O b t a in in e d o v e r T e r m i n at at e d r N o n e x i st st e n t P a r t n e r ship
The Court Lacks Jurisdiction Over The Defendant Corporation, Hobbies, Inc.
2.2.
(1)
2.3
2)
y of TSR's TSR's Con tac ts Minnesota
it
J u r i s d i c t i o n o ve ve r Hobbies, Inc. s n o t c o n f e r r e d by by M in in ne ne so so ta ta S t a t u t e ri ic ti n H o b b ie ie s , I n . ,
r D e fe fe nd n d an an t s t Consisten
2.4
T h i s C o u rt rt S h ou o u ld ld Ov er A y Of D Convenie Conveniens ns s
t Exer cise Ju ri sd ic ti on s ased as ed On Forum ions
D e f e n d a n ts t s A l t e r n a t e M o t o n To T r a n s f e r Under 11404 U.S.C. (1)
T h i s A c t i o n c o u l d h a ve ve b e e n b r o u g h t n E a s te t e r n D i s t r i c t o f W i sc s c on on s e C on on v en en ie ie n ce ce o f t e P a t i s Witnesses Supports a Motion to Transfer s C ho h o ic ic e f m is n Longer Entitled to Great Weight
(4)
e te Transfer
Conclusion
ts of Ju st ic e
l
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Cases
Page No.
Aaron Ferer
So s
---
burp.
5 64 F .
2d 1211 (8 th
. v. C i r .
Di ve rs if ie d Metals 1977)
Af ta na se v . y B al er 3 43 F . 2 d 1 8 7 ( 8 t h C i r . 1 9 6 5 ) Lease Company v. B e t t s 294 Minn. 473 (1 972) DeNucci v, Fleischer Mass. 1 9 6 4 ) 5 . s up p. '( D. t Natio nal k o f M i n ne a po l is v . W hi t 420 F. Supp. 13 31 (D. Minn. 197 6) Fou rth Northwestern N atio nal Industries 264 Minn. 110 (196 2)
Hillson
H a n so n v . D e n c k l a 3.57 S. 235 (1958) Hau e M (
1
9
H o us t on v . F e hr B r o s . , I n c . C i r . 1978) 584 F. 2d 833 (8 Hurst
Hurst , A . 2 37 ( 1 96 5 )
Imper ial Products,
Inc . v.
I n t e r n t i o n l S ho e v . 32 S. 310 (1945)
W as hi ng to n
l . w Y or k W o r l d- T e l e gr a m C o r p o r a t i o n 172 F. Supp. 615 (N.D. I l l . 1 9 6 9 ) Lambert Co. v. Baltimore 377 (1922) 258. Lykes Bros . S. S. 272 F. 2d 679 (2d Medtronic In c. 337 F. Supp. Norwood 9 .
9
v.
C i r .
Ohio Railroad Co. Sugarman 1959)
A me ri ca n O p t i c a l C o r p o r a t i o n (D. Minn. 1971)
K ir k a t r i c k
13, 17
Rheem Manufacturing Co. J o h ns o n H e a t e r C or p . Supp. 806 Minn. 1974) 37 Toro Co. Bal las Liqu ida ting C 57 2d 1267 (8th C i r . 1978) Tunnel1
Doegler Supp. 1338
Kirsent Inc. Minn. 1976)
W as hi ng to n S c i e n t i f i c I n c . 30
American
Supp. 736 (D. Minn. 1970)
Gen era l Inv est men t C . v. 26 S. 261 (1922)
Statutes 28 U.S.C. U.S.C.
8133 81404
Minn.
Stat.
Minn.
Stat. 323.29
.
S
i nn . S
303.13
. 3 2 3. 3 5 . 5 4 3 . 1 9 S ub d
W is c. S t a . 1 7 8 . 2 5 Wisc.
(3)
S t a t . 178.31
L a k e s h o r e R a i lw a y
13 , 17
U N I T E D STATES DISTRICT COURT
T OF MINNESOTA FOURTH DIVISION
DAVID
. ARNESON, Plaintiff l A c t i o n N . 4 - 7 9 -1 0 9 MEMORANDUM
TACTICAL STUDY , a par tn er sh ip c on si st in of Gary Gygax and Brian Blume, and TSR HOBBIES, I N C . , corporation,
SUPPORT F DEFENDANTS' MOTION TO QUA H F PROCES DISMISS FOR LACK OF PERSONAL JURISDICTION, AND
GARY GYGAX,
SUPPORT F DEFENDANTS' ALTERNATE M O T I O N TO TRANSFER UNDER 28 U.S.C. 11404 (a)
Defendants.
INTRODUCTION
D A V I D L.
st
N co
t C o u r t, C o
d t
y of H e
s
n i n a Mi nne sot
, th e 4th Judical D is tr ic t.
S e r v i c e o f P r o c e s s w as p u r p o r t e d l y m
e i n L a e G en ev a
Wisconsin, February
9
y p e r s o n a l s e r v i c e an d d e l i v e r y
of t hr ee copies
s and C om pl ai nt on Gary Gygax
a n i n d i v i d u a l De fe nd a nt , a s T a c t i c a l S t u d y R u l es re si
] ( sh o ul d
e "Studies"),
en t of Defend ant, T R Hobbies, In c.
r em ov ed t o
s C o u r t b y D e f e nd a n t s , M a Pl ai
Minneosta. a nd
former partner of Defendant,
ti ff , Ar
Defendant, G
,
s i n L ak e G en ev a, W i sc o ns in .
St ud ie s Rules d and
e case h 1 2, 1979.
s a resident of
, i s a
n
Paul,
f W is co n si n
D e f en d an t , T a c t i c a l
s a b 7 is co n si n p a r t n e r s h i p , d up s
d as
bu t has bee
e appro ximat ely N
mb ,
1975
n exe cute d a game r
, 1975, Defendant G ri tt
n A gr ee me nt
Ag
s
x an d A rn e so n
e me n )
, w
as au thors of
h Defe nda nt
T a c t i c a l S t u d ie s R u l es ( h e r e i n a f t e r r e f e r r e d t o a s " P a r t nership").
x si gn ed t
P a r t n e r s h i p a nd
e A gr ee me nt o n b e h a l f o f
n b e h a l f o f hi m s e lf a s a u t h o r .
t a ll ow e d t h e P a r t n e r s h i p t o " . . . p u b l i s h , ,
e
t of
e ru
S i n any for m r co mm e c ia l f ". .. a
R
le
r g
e
..
royalty
s
e e
tn
l
d di s-
d D ] deemed
in r et ur n fo r p
t to the authors
1 0% o f t h e c o v er p i c e o f t h e
r g a e on e a c h a nd e v e r y c op y s o l d . . . " A g re e me nt
e A gr ee -
s a tt ac he d
o
e e nd o f
e ru
copy of the s
m
Exhibit A rn es on h a s a l l e g e d i n p a r a g r a p h 1 4 t t th e ri
t D e fe n d a nt , T R H ob bi es , I n c .
e of In c. ,
In fac t, a
d the obliga-
l a s s e t s , g o od w l l, a d t h e t r a d e
e P a r t n e r s h i p w e r e s o l d t o D e f en d a n t,
a nd t h e P a r t n e r s h i p
) ro ya lt ie s f
s
s
Arneson for
f
o m
e
%
e
S game r
bo xe d game e
S
y p ay m en ts
e D d "
S e t " a nd f o r s a l e s o f t h e t h r e e GEONS
r s l e s of t h e g
DRAGONS. R c on ti nu es
i n c lu d e d i
r 1 6 , 1 97 5
o t h e A gr ee me nt , T R H o bb i es , I n c . h a s
p a i d A rn es on ( an d game
R Hobbies,
d i s s o l v e d , p u r s ua n t t o a
i t t e n d i s s o l u t i o n a g re e m en t, e f f e c t i v e N he re af te r, purs uant
s
the assignee of
s o f t h e P a r t n e r s h i p a nd h a s a
t i o n s t he r e o f .
f
Edition".
s b S
e s
t " O ri g in a l DUN-
The TSR royalty
s believed th at the basic dispute wh h led thi s
w su it relates
TSR's po sit io n t
A g re em en t, A rn es on i s n o t e y d ev e lo p ed pla yin g a
ti tl
t under the
5% royalty on sepa-
a nd a t t im e s s e p a r a t e l y p r i c e d a d m a rk e te d )
,
, polyhedra d ice s
, D
n G
, and Monster a d Treasure Assortment w i t h a n e d i t e d DUNGEONS
e
DRAGONS
boxed game entitled "DUNGEONS
r o y a l t y f o r s a l e s of w h
"ADVANCED
a re
d o ne
DUGONS
but which are solely authored by
DRAGONS,
k e
k e
HANDBOOK"
ti tl
"ADVANCED
and
DUNGEONS
MONSTER MANUAL"
s Alleged Causes of Action
y of P A r n e s o n' s F al le ge s th at
t C a u e o f A ct io n l
om
have continued
s i n C o n t ra c t a
d a t e r t h e m id d e o
1 9 7 7 Defendants
publish, market and exploit "Dungeons
Dragons" bu t have f s
the original game
r example, a one volume
o lu me w
Also,
submits are separately and
DRAGONS,
DUNGEONS
n a
n i s n o t e n t i t l e d t o a 5%
later developed works which relate
Def end ant, Gygax, f
s book,
DRAGONS B a s ic S e t " .
takes the position th at Ar
r u l e s DUNGEONS
) included along
d and refuse
n a c c o rd a n ce w i t h t h e A
me
pay Plaintiff royal, e x ce p t f o r c e r t a i n
sums paid which are less than the amounts required by the co
tr ac t [Agreement].
equal
one-ha lf
f al le ge s
f te n perce nt
con tinuin g pub lic ati on s sold
e in an
10%) f th e cover
y D e fe n da nt ,
mo nt ri
Hobbies, Inc.
e c o n t i n u i n g p u b l i c a t i o n s n ot ed by P l a i n t i f f i n c l u d e boxed g
e
d "Dungeons
nd Dragons, Basic Se t"
, a one-v olum e work e g o n s , M on s e r M
d "Dungeons and Dra-
" ( h e r e i n a f t e r r e f e r r e d t o a s "MONSTER
MANUAL"), and numerous other playing aids and publications copied, derived and developed from "Dungeons and Dragons". s S e co nd , T h i r d , a nd F o u rt h C A c ti on a p p a r e n tl y l e i n t
, a nd
f a m a t i o n , D e fe nd an t a l l e g i n g : PLAYERS HANDBOOK an
ls
s of
e spec ific ally , de-
th at th e
bo e referenced
MONSTER MANUAL a r e pu b l is h e d i n a f or m
l y r e p r e s e n t e d t o b e s o l e l y a u th o re d by D ef en da n
Gygax, Defendants th ere by having converted th e l a i n t i f f a s t h e co -a u h or
DUNGEONS
DRAGONS
s of to receive
s ( Se co nd C au se of A c t i o n ) ; a l l e g i n g D ef en da nt s t h e r e b y de p ri ve d
la in ti ff
f t h e v a l u a b le r i g h t t o b
d i s c l o s e d a s an au th or of a wo k t o th e consum ng pu bl ic and publishing profession (Third Cause of Action); and relating back t o th e Second and Third Causes Defendants w i l l contin ue o t h e r w o rk s " c op ie d from DUNGEONS
f Ac tion, a lle gi ng t
o publish th e above noted
n su bs ta nti al p ar t
DRAGONS,"
d w ho l y d e r i v e d
fa ls el y representing tha t
x i
t h e s o l e a u t h o r t h e r e o f , t h e re b y c a u si n g i r r e p a r a b l e to P
s r e p u t a t i o n a s a p r o f e s si o n a l a ut ho r of
and gam s
s (F our th Cause of Ac tio n) y of P
s Requested Relief
P l a i n t i f f h as re qu es te d, i n t e r a l i C o ur t e n t e r j
me t
n f av o r of P l a i n t i f f
, that th d again st
Def end ants and eac h of them, a s m eq ual t e of each d i
e or g
e
s c opi es, der iva tion s
le s
t o
DUNGEONS
d adaptatio ns sold
f t e cover DRAGONS
y De f