507 F.Supp. 345
United States District
Court, S. D. New York. Mitchell DIXON,
Plaintiff, v. Mitchell MACK,
Gifford R. Cappellini, Joseph Alexander, Jr., Gary Scharff, William Rick,
Douglas Doe, Michael Moe, and Tim
Toe, Defendants No. 80 CIV 3040 (LBS). Dec. 10, 1980. SUBSEQUENT
HISTORY: Distinguished by: Daventree Ltd. v.
Republic of Azerbaijan, 349 F.Supp.2d 736, RICO Bus.Disp.Guide 10,805 (S.D.N.Y.
Dec. 28, 2004) (No. 02 CIV. 6356 (SHS)) [*346] COUNSEL: Levy, Gutman, Goldberg & Kaplan, Eugene N.
Harley, Jeremiah S. Gutman, New York City, for plaintiff. Alan G. Apfel, Great Neck, N. Y., for defendants William Rick and
Gifford R. Cappellini. OPINION JUDGE: SAND, District Judge. This case presents the question of whether an out-of-state
defendant subjects himself to jurisdiction under the New York long-arm statute
by virtue of the activities of his co-conspirators in New York, when he did not
join the conspiracy until after its activities in New York had been completed. Plaintiff Mitchell Dixon has sued a number of defendants,
including William Rick, under 42 U.S.C. ss 1983 and 1985, alleging a conspiracy
to deprive Dixon of his civil rights and seeking damages and injunctive relief.
The matter comes before this Court at present on a motion by defendant Rick to
quash service as to him on the ground that the Court lacks personal
jurisdiction over him. For the reasons stated below, we deny Ricks motion,
subject to renewal at trial should the facts as they then appear so warrant. The facts in this case, as alleged in the complaint, are as
follows. Plaintiff at some point in the past became an adherent of the
Unification Church. Subsequently, an order was procured ex parte in Arkansas,
naming plaintiffs mother as his conservator. Plaintiff asserts that
the order was invalid, claiming the issuing court lacked jurisdiction and that
the order was procured through fraud and deceit. Plaintiffs
Verified Complaint at 8. The events of which plaintiff
complains in the present action are alleged to have begun when defendants
Cappellini, Alexander, Doe, Toe, and
Moe met with plaintiffs mother on a day in May of
1978 and allegedly formed a conspiracy to deprive plaintiff of his civil
rights. Plaintiff alleges that on or about that day defendants Doe,
Toe, and Cappellini, together with plaintiffs
mother, forcibly abducted him in New York City and drove him to New Jersey.
There they were joined by defendants Alexander, Moe, and
Scharff. Plaintiff alleges that the defendants attempted to deprogram
him. Plaintiffs Verified Complaint at
7. After three days they were joined by defendant Mack and plaintiffs
aunt, and plaintiff was removed to Pennsylvania. After what was apparently four
more days, defendant Rick, who is a psychiatrist, was called in. Plaintiffs
*347 Verified Complaint at p. 5, recites that, Defendant
Rick
is a psychiatrist licensed in the State of
Pennsylvania. Defendant Rick participated in and agreed to commit the wrongful
acts hereinafter described. Plaintiffs assertions regarding
Rick continue: Defendant Cappellini thereafter (once plaintiff had been removed
to Pennsylvania) brought in Defendant Rick to speak with plaintiff. Rick asked
plaintiff a few questions concerning Plaintiffs relationship with his
mother. Upon information and belief, Defendant Rick thereafter, and with no
further examination of Plaintiff, wrote a report in which he asserted that, in
Ricks professional opinion as a psychiatrist, Plaintiff was
unbalanced. Plaintiffs Verified Complaint at
10.[FN1] One week after plaintiff was moved from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, he
escaped and returned to New York. FN1. Rick asserts: That
at approximately 9 oclock on the night of June 1, 1978, I received a
telephone call from the defendant, GIFFORD CAPPELLINI, who asked if I would
come to his home to speak with the plaintiff who it was believed was acting in
an irrational manner
. That on June 1st, 1978, I did go to the home
of the co-defendant, GIFFORD CAPPELLINI, and did spend a short period of time
speaking with the plaintiff and his mother and left the Cappellini residence at
approximately 3 a. m. in the morning of June 2nd. That the foregoing, which is basically what is
alleged in the complaint, was my sole contact with the plaintiff, his mother or
any of the co-defendants concerning the instant matter. I further state to the
Court that I wrote no report as alleged in the complaint and have no idea what
led the plaintiff to make that allegation. Affidavit of William Rick
at 3-4. Plaintiffs allegations are that Rick joined the
conspiracy when he was called in to see plaintiff Dixon in Pennsylvania.
Affidavit of Eugene N. Harley at 2-3. The same affidavit
recites further specifics of Ricks involvement. See Appendix infra.
Plaintiff states that, (t)he exact extent of (Ricks)
participation and his liability
are questions of fact to be
determined at trial. Id. at 6. Plaintiff thus maintains that Rick joined a conspiracy in progress
and that although he himself performed no acts in furtherance of the conspiracy
in New York, and did not join the conspiracy until after the conspirators
acts in New York were completed, he is responsible for the acts of his
co-conspirators in New York and therefore is subject to this Courts
jurisdiction under N.Y.Civ.Prac.Law s 302(a)1. or 2. (McKinney 1972 &
Supp.1979). Plaintiff states that, Defendant Rick joined the
conspiracy in progress knowing that overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy
had already occurred in the State of New York. Plaintiffs
Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Motion of Defendant William Rick to Dismiss
the Complaint at 1 (hereinafter Plaintiffs Memorandum
in Opposition ). Plaintiff also states that, Defendants
and the conspirators have threatened and continue to threaten to assault and
imprison Plaintiff unless he renounces his religious beliefs and associational
preferences. Plaintiffs Verified Complaint
at 4. Defendant Rick does not contest that he was called in by
Cappellini to see Dixon and did so. However, Rick denies that he was party to
the conspiracy. Reply Affidavit of Alan G. Apfel at 2. Rick
maintains that he did not know and had not communicated with any of his
co-defendants before Cappellinis phone call. Affidavit
of William Rick at 3. He also denies that before he was approached in
Pennsylvania he had any knowledge
of any actions that had
taken place prior to the day he got the call. Memorandum of
Law in Support of Motion by Defendant, William Rick, to Quash Service of the
Summons and Complaint at 9 (hereinafter Defendants
Memorandum in Support ). Moreover, (t)he
defendant, RICK,
denies committing any tortious act through this
agency in New York. Id. at 10. Defendant Rick further states in his
Affidavit at p. 2: I am a resident of the State of Pennsylvania
and am a
duly licensed psychiatrist in that state. I do not own, use or *348 possess any
real estate within the State of New York. My practice is limited to
Pennsylvania and I obtain no revenue from outside the State of Pennsylvania,
and I do not solicit business from or in New York and I further do not derive
revenue from goods or services sold in New York. Whether this Court has jurisdiction over Rick is determined first
by New York law, since Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(e) makes state law determinative in cases
in which the relevant federal statute does not prescribe the circumstances of
proper service.[FN2] Only if this Court has jurisdiction under New York law do
we proceed to consider whether such jurisdiction is constitutional. FN2. None of the statutes under which
plaintiff sues so prescribe. The controlling statute is N.Y.Civ.Prac.Law s 302.[FN3] Plaintiff
argues that this Court has jurisdiction over Rick primarily under s 302(a) 2.,
but also argues under s 302(a)1. Plaintiffs Memorandum of
Law in Opposition at 7-10. FN3. The text of this provision, in relevant
part, reads as follows: s 302. Personal jurisdiction by acts of
non-domiciliaries (a) Acts which are the basis of jurisdiction.
As to a cause of action arising from any of the acts enumerated in this
section, a court may exercise personal jurisdiction over any non-domiciliary,
who in person or through an agent: 1. transacts any business within the state or
contracts anywhere to supply goods or services in the state; or 2. commits a tortious act within the state
. The only act of which plaintiff complains which took place in New
York is plaintiffs alleged abduction in May of 1978. Therefore, if we
are to hold that this Court has jurisdiction over Rick, such jurisdiction must
derive from that event. In order to find that we have jurisdiction, we must
conclude as a matter of state law that Rick in person or through an
agent: 1. transacts any business within the state
; or 2. commits a
tortious act within the state
. s 302(a). As we find that we
have jurisdiction under s 302(a) 2., we do not reach s 302(a)1. We recognize at the outset that plaintiff has the burden of
establishing the Courts jurisdiction over Rick. See Lehigh Valley
Industries, Inc. v. Birenbaum, 527 F.2d 87, 92 (2d Cir. 1975). At the same
time, on a motion to dismiss the Court will construe the pleadings and
affidavits in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. See Equipment
Spare Parts, Ltd. v. World Wide Machinery Corp., No. 79 Civ. 5811
(S.D.N.Y. Aug. 1, 1980) (Motley, J.). It has been recognized that under certain circumstances
a person may be subjected to jurisdiction under CPLR s 302(a)(2) on the theory
that his co-conspirator is carrying out activities in New York pursuant to the
conspiracy. Socialist Workers Party v. Attorney General of the
United States, 375 F.Supp. 318, 321 (S.D.N.Y.1974). To establish jurisdiction
on this basis, plaintiff must make a prima facie factual showing of conspiracy.
Merkel Associates, Inc. v. Bellofram Corp., 437 F.Supp. 612, 617 (W.D.N.Y.1977).
See also United States v. Montreal Trust Co., 358 F.2d 239, 242
& n.4 (2d Cir. 1966), cert. denied, 384 U.S. 919, 86 S.Ct. 1366, 16 L.Ed.2d
440 (1966). He must also allege specific facts warranting the inference that
the defendant was a member of the conspiracy. Louis Marx & Co. v. Fuji
Seiko Co., 453 F.Supp. 385, 391-92 (S.D.N.Y.1978). The plaintiff
must come forward with some definite evidentiary facts to connect the defendant
with transactions occurring in New York. Socialist Workers Party, 375 F.Supp. at 322. We find that plaintiff has made the necessary prima facie factual
showing that Rick was a member of a conspiracy in this case. Plaintiffs
Affidavit of Eugene N. Harley, see Appendix infra, gives
rise to a reasonable inference that Rick knew that he was participating in an
effort to deprogram Dixon. Moreover, Harleys
Affidavit, at p. 4, presents Rick as having said in his
deposition, referring to the night Rick saw Dixon, that I indicated
that perhaps [*349] he (i. e., defendant Alexander) and I could work together
and we would combine medical and lay deprogramming together, and that was
agreed to as a reasonable idea. See also Grove Press, Inc. v.
Central Intelligence Agency, 483 F.Supp. 132, 137 (S.D.N.Y.1980). Furthermore,
plaintiff
(has) come forward with some definite
evidentiary facts to connect the defendant with transactions occurring in New
York. See Socialist Workers Party, 375 F.Supp. at 322. Unlike the
Socialist Workers Party case, in which the plaintiff failed to come forward
with any indication that the moving defendants activities had any
connection with the plaintiff, such a connection is alleged here. Plaintiff
here, by making a prima facie showing that Rick joined a conspiracy whose
members activities in furtherance of the conspiracy included a
critical overt act in New York, has connected the moving defendant with acts
occurring in New York. Moreover, as noted earlier, plaintiff alleges that
Defendant Rick joined the conspiracy in progress knowing that overt
acts in furtherance of the conspiracy had already occurred in the State of New
York. Plaintiffs Memorandum of Law in Opposition
at 1. Nowhere in Ricks papers does he controvert this allegation,
limiting his denials to knowledge of such acts prior to the time he was first
approached by the alleged co-conspirators. See pp. 347-348 supra. For the
purposes of this motion, we will accept plaintiffs allegation as
true. This strengthens the connection between Rick and the activities of the
conspiracy in New York. In addition, since the mere presence of one
co-conspirator within the jurisdiction does not create jurisdiction over all
alleged co-conspirators, see Lehigh, 527 F.2d at 94 n.6, we note that
the plaintiff has made the necessary showing of more than mere
presence in New York. Plaintiffs allegations, if true,
establish that an overt act not only in furtherance of the conspiracy, but critical
to it, occurred in New York, namely Dixons alleged abduction. In his papers, Rick argues that in order for this Court to have
jurisdiction over him, more is required than activities of co-conspirators in
New York in furtherance of the conspiracy. He quotes that portion of the
district courts first opinion in Leasco Data Processing Equipment
Corp. v. Maxwell, 319 F.Supp. 1256, 1262 (S.D.N.Y.1970) (Lasker, J.), vacated, 468
F.2d 1326 (2d Cir. 1972), on remand 68 F.R.D. 178 (S.D.N.Y.1974) (Carter J.),
which states that to establish an agency relationship under the New
York long-arm statute
there must be specific facts that show that
the principal had requested the agent to perform purposeful acts in New York
for the principals benefit (citation omitted). Reply
Affidavit of Alan G. Apfel at 3. He also quotes from the courts
opinion in Faim Information Services, Inc. v. Borchert, 395 F.Supp. 878, 880
(S.D.N.Y.1975): the rule in New York is that an out-of-state
principal must exercise domination and control over the
in-state agent in order for the principal to be subject to the jurisdiction of
New York courts (citations omitted). Rick asserts, (i)t
follows from the fact pattern of this case that no out-of-state principal, i.
e., RICK, exercised any control over any agent in New York since RICK was not a
member of the conspiracy during the time when the acts took place within New
York. Defendants Supplemental Memorandum in
Support at 6. Elsewhere, he states that, While it is true that co-conspirators are held
to have an agency relationship under the New York law and that the relationship
need not be the traditional agency relationship, there must be a showing for
jurisdictional purposes that the agent acted in New York for the benefit and with
the knowledge and consent of the nonresident. Defendants Memorandum in Support at
9 (citations omitted). The Second Circuit has repudiated the requirement of a formal
agency relationship as a basis for imputing acts to a co-conspirator for
jurisdictional purposes. See Lehigh, 527 F.2d at 90 n.3 citing Galgay v.
Bulletin Co., 504 F.2d 1062, 1065 (2d Cir. 1974); [*350] Clark v.
United States, 481 F.Supp. 1086, 1100 (S.D.N.Y.1979), appeal dismissed, 624
F.2d 3 (2d Cir. 1980). However, where the courts have been asked to exercise
jurisdiction under s 302(a)2. on the basis of the acts of co-conspirators in
New York, they have continued to impose requirements related to agency
concepts. Thus, the courts have required that the defendant have an awareness of
the effects in New York of its activity, see Grove Press, 483 F.Supp. at
137-38; Equipment Spare Parts, No. 79 Civ. 5811, that the activity of the
co-conspirators in New York be to the benefit of the out-of-state conspirators,
see Clark, 481 F.Supp. at 1101; and that the co-conspirators acting in New
York be acting at the direction or under the control of the
(out of state) defendants, Grove Press, 483 F.Supp. at
137-38, or, as another court has put it, at the request of or on
behalf of the out-of-state defendant, Equipment Spare Parts, No. 79
Civ. 5811. But see Ghazoul v. International Management Services, Inc., 398 F.Supp. 307,
312-14 (S.D.N.Y.1975) (sustaining jurisdiction without mention of a control
requirement, although apparently the defendants challenge to the
courts jurisdiction was based not on the absence of control but
rather on the fact that it (had) never been in New York (either by
officer or agent) and that it fulfilled its role in the subject transaction by
means of the mails and by telephone).[FN4] FN4. In addition, Grove Press, 483 F.Supp. at 137,
suggests that plaintiff must (make) out a prima facie case that
(the defendant was) aware of the illegality of (his) acts. This
requirement too is satisfied in this case, since plaintiff has made out a prima
facie case that Rick joined the conspiracy to deprogram Dixon,
knew of the acts in New York, i. e., the abduction, and, we infer, knew that
Dixon was being subjected to deprogramming efforts against his will, see pp.
351-352, infra. We find these requirements satisfied in the present case. First,
the requirement that the defendant have an awareness of the effects in New York
of its activity is satisfied.[FN5] Plaintiff has alleged that Rick had
knowledge that overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy had occurred in New
York. Ricks joining of the conspiracy, adoption of its goal, and
action in furtherance of it, thus constituted a ratification of those acts
already committed with the purpose of accomplishing the shared goal. Ricks
knowing ratification of acts committed in New York constitutes an awareness of
the ramifications or effects in New York of his own activity as a
co-conspirator. Additionally, we note that it is black letter *351 conspiracy
law that one who joins a conspiracy in progress ratifies all that has come
before. FN5. We note also that
the requirements articulated by the courts in Leasco are satisfied here. The
Court of Appeals, in ruling on plaintiffs assertion of personal
jurisdiction under s 27 of the Securities Exchange Act, which the court found
afforded jurisdiction to the full extent permitted by the Constitution, stated,
At
minimum the conduct must meet the tests laid down in s 18 of the Restatement
(Second) of Foreign Relations Law, including the important requirement that the
effect occurs as a direct and foreseeable result of the conduct
outside the territory. We believe, moreover, that attaining the
rather low floor of foreseeability necessary to support a finding of tort
liability is not enough to support in personam jurisdiction. The person sought
to be charged must know, or have good reason to know, that his conduct will
have effects in the state seeking to assert jurisdiction over him. 468 F.2d at 1341 (footnote omitted). On
remand, the district court interpreted and applied this standard: While
it is clear that Kerman was never in New York during the course of these
negotiations, he could be held to have brought himself within the personal
jurisdiction of this court if he committed in England any acts which he
must know, or have good reason to know
will have effects
in New York, and the resultant impact in New York must occur as a
direct and foreseeable result of the conduct outside this country.
See 2d Circuit Leasco opinion, supra, at 1341. What I understand this to mean
is that Kerman must be shown to have performed some activity in England which
he either knew at the time, or should have known, would directly contribute to
the furtherance of the negotiations between Maxwell and Leasco in New York, and
that the signing of the agreement in New York on June 17, 1969, was a direct
and foreseeable consequence of this conduct. 68 F.R.D. at 182. As concluded within, Dixon
has made out a prima facie case that Rick acted in furtherance of the
conspiracy with knowledge of overt acts in New York essential to the goals of
the conspiracy. Inasmuch as he joined and furthered a conspiracy involving an
abduction in New York, we conclude that he satisfied the circuit courts
requirement. Second, we turn to the requirement that the activity of the
co-conspirators in New York be to the benefit of the out-of-state conspirator.
In Clark, 481 F.Supp. at 1101, the court held that the benefit need not be
economic, and that the requisite benefit accrues to the out-of-state
conspirator when the acts of his co-conspirators in New York realize the goals
of the conspiracy. In Dixon, the alleged abduction of the plaintiff by the
co-conspirators in New York acted to realize the goals of the conspiracy.
Therefore, this jurisdictional requirement also is fulfilled. Third, and lastly, there is the requirement that the out-of-state
conspirator have exercised direction or control over the co-conspirators acting
in New York, or that the co-conspirators in New York have acted at
the request of or on behalf of the out-of-state defendant, Equipment
Spare Parts, No. 79 Civ. 5811. We find this requirement to be satisfied as
well. Since, for jurisdictional purposes, we have found that Rick joined the
conspiracy, and since plaintiff alleges that Rick knew overt acts had been
committed in New York, then, as we have said above, in joining the conspiracy,
Rick ratified its earlier acts including those, of course, in New York. It
appears from the pleadings and affidavits as they stand that Rick joined the
conspiracy and acted, knowing full well that what was going on at the time he
answered Cappellinis call and met with Dixon was an attempt to
deprogram Dixon. In fact, according to Harleys
Affidavit, see Appendix infra, Rick made plans with
defendant Alexander that evening to collaborate on further deprogramming
projects. Nowhere in Ricks papers does he suggest to the Court that
he believed that Dixon was undergoing deprogramming voluntarily.
The only reasonable inference for the Court to draw is that Rick knew plaintiff
was being deprogrammed against his will. Since Rick, as a
conspirator, ratified the acts of his co-conspirators in New York, knew that
prior overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy had taken place in New York,
and, we infer, knew that plaintiff was being deprogrammed against
his will, the necessary abduction of Dixon in New York and by Ricks
co-conspirators was an act committed also on Ricks behalf, with his
approval and assent.[FN6] While Grove Press could be construed to impose a
requirement that the out-of-state defendant have directed and controlled the
in-state actors, in the sense of having acted as their superior (which was the
case in Grove Press ), we see no reason for this particular requirement, which
would distinguish without cause the case of the conspiracy which features a
mastermind, 483 F.Supp. at 137, from the case of that
featuring only peer co-conspirators. [FN7] *352 In the case at hand, plaintiff
alleges directly that Rick had knowledge of acts in New York at the time he
joined the conspiracy. Therefore, we need not fall back on a requirement that
Rick have masterminded those acts in order to find that he
knew of and approved of them. FN6. This case is distinguishable from the
circumstance referred to in Lehigh, 527 F.2d at 94 n.6, where the Second
Circuit said, In antitrust cases it is well established that
the mere presence of one co-conspirator within the jurisdiction does not render
alleged co-conspirators outside the jurisdiction amenable to process. Bertha
Building Corp. v. National Theatres Corp., 248 F.2d 833 (2d Cir. 1957), cert. denied,
356 U.S. 936 (78 S.Ct. 777, 2 L.Ed.2d 811) (1958) (and cert. denied sub. nom. Gumbiner
Theatrical Enterprises, Inc. v. National Theatres Corp., 356 U.S. 936 (78
S.Ct. 778, 2 L.Ed.2d 811) (1958)). Similarly where there is a claim of a
conspiracy to violate section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act, as Judge
Friendly stated in Leasco Data Processing Equipment Corp. v. Maxwell, 468 F.2d 1326, 1343
(2d Cir. 1972), To be sure, the rule in this circuit is that the mere
presence of one conspirator
does not confer personal jurisdiction
over another alleged conspirator. First, this refers to statutory provisions
other than s 302. Second, here we have found more than mere presence
of a co-conspirator in New York. See pp. 349-350 infra. Third, here we find not
only a conspiracy relationship, but also a satisfaction of the lingering agency
related requirements which evidently remain in force. FN7. The suggestion in Grove Press that
jurisdiction over an out-of-state conspirator depends in part on his having
directed and controlled the New York activities, 483
F.Supp. at 138, arises in that part of the opinion in which the court
distinguishes Marsh v. Kitchen, 480 F.2d 1270 (2d Cir. 1973). In Marsh, the
court ruled there was no jurisdiction over Missouri defendants. However, Marsh
relied on the rule that a traditional agency relationship must exist
between the non-domicilary and the alleged agent. Id. at 1273. However,
the Second Circuit overturned this rule in Galgay, undermining the
authority of Marsh. Moreover, Marsh makes no mention of conspiracy as a
possible basis for jurisdiction over an out-of-state defendant. In any event,
the case at hand is distinguishable from the situation presented in Marsh. Therefore, we conclude that the New York long-arm statute, s
302(a)2., confers jurisdiction over Rick on this Court.[FN8] We consequently
must proceed to consider whether the exercise of such jurisdiction comports
with due process. FN8. While plaintiff hinges all of its
arguments that this Court has jurisdiction over Rick on Ricks
relationship to the alleged abduction in New York, we note that there may be an
additional basis for finding such jurisdiction in plaintiffs
allegation that, Defendants and the conspirators have threatened and
continue to threaten to assault and imprison Plaintiff unless he renounces his
religious beliefs and associational preferences. Plaintiffs
Verified Complaint at 11. Again we note that it is black
letter conspiracy law that a conspirator, in this case Rick, remains a member
of the conspiracy until he affirmatively acts to repudiate it and remove
himself. We find that it does. The act of the conspiracy in allegedly
abducting plaintiff in New York, which is one of the acts, of course,
complained of in the suit, supplies the necessary minimum contacts. See International
Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326
U.S. 310, 316, 66 S.Ct. 154, 158, 90 L.Ed. 95 (1945). By joining the
conspiracy with the knowledge that overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy
had taken place in New York, Rick purposely (availed himself) of the
privilege of conducting activities within the forum state, Hanson v.
Denckla, 357 U.S. 235,
253, 78 S.Ct. 1228, 1239, 2 L.Ed.2d 1283 (1958). (T) he defendants
conduct and connection with the forum state are such that he should reasonably
anticipate being haled into court there. World-Wide Volkswagen
Corp. v. Woodson, 444 U.S. 286,
297, 100 S.Ct. 559, 567, 62 L.Ed.2d 490 (1980) (citations omitted). It is
reasonable, fair and just that Rick defend himself in this forum. See id. at 292, 100 S.Ct. at
564, and cases cited therein.[FN9] This is particularly the case, where to hold
otherwise might substantially prejudice plaintiff by posing problems of proof
and inviting duplicative litigation. See generally, id.; McGee v.
International Life Insurance Co., 355 U.S. 220, 223, 78
S.Ct. 199, 201, 2 L.Ed.2d 223 (1957). FN9. Also, see note 5, supra. While we have found that plaintiff has made the necessary prima
facie showings for jurisdictional purposes, in the event evidence is adduced at
trial which undercuts the bases for this Courts jurisdiction over
Rick, Rick may then renew this motion. See Ghazoul, 398 F.Supp. at 310
n.1, 314. SO ORDERED. APPENDIX Harleys Affidavit recites that Ricks
deposition has been taken in a case now pending in the Middle District of
Pennsylvania. Affidavit of Eugene N. Harley at 2. It goes
on to recite, at pp. 2-5: THIRD: The following excerpts from the deposition of Dr. Rick set
forth in his own words how he came to join the conspiracy to violate the civil
rights of Mitchell Dixon
. (1) Page 17, lines 15-22 A: (Doctor Rick) Attorney Gifford Cappellini called me. Q: (deponent) In relation to what matter? A: In relationship to a case which he was dealing with Freedom of
Mind and wanted a medical and psychiatric opinion. Q: What case was that? A: The case was Mitchell Dixon. It should be noted that Freedom of Mind, Inc. was a corporation
formed by Defendant Cappellini and Joseph Alexander, Tim Lusch and others for
the purpose of deprogramming *353 and rehabilitating
members of unpopular religious groups
. (2) Page 26, lines 17 through 24 THE WITNESS: I think that Tim (Lusch) was at Attorney Cappellinis
house that night. I think that he was there and also Joe Alexander was present
at the time I went to see Mitchell Dixon because they were concerned about what
psychiatric manifestations he might be showing, and that was my original
contact with Freedom of Mind. (3) Page 39, lines 16-18, 25 Page 40, lines 1 through 9 A:
. This was still around the time I was just getting
into this organization
. Q: When you are talking about just getting in, are you talking
about May of 1978 or January of 1979? A: May of 1978. Q: Which is the approximate time of the Dixon matter? A: The Mitchell Dixon matter. (4) Page 49 lines 3-6, and 20-25 A:
and when Gifford thought the organization needed a
medical and psychiatric thing, his mother mentioned my name to him and,
therefore, he called me Q: Did you have a conversation with Mr. Cappellini? A: Yes. Q: What was the substance of that conversation? A: Thanks for coming out, I dont know what we
would do without you. (5) Page 53 lines 23-25 Page 54 lines 1-9 Q: Did you have any conversation with Joe Alexander, Jr. that
evening? A: Yes. Q: What was the substance of the conversation with Joe Alexander,
Jr.? A: I only honestly recall that he wanted to know what my theories
were on deprogramming and I indicated that perhaps he and I could work together
and we would combine medical and lay deprogramming together, and that was
agreed to as a reasonable idea. Thats the sum and substance of it. The night in question is the same night in which Defendant Rick
first met Plaintiff Mitchell Dixon. (6) Page 110 lines 23-25 Page 111 lines 1-16 Q: Did you evaluate the parents in any of these deprogramming or
rehabilitation situations? A: Yes, Mitchell Dixon, for example going back to number one. I am
not sure I think it was the day after I saw him or shortly thereafter that his
mother had come up from wherever it was North Carolina South Carolina, and I
did see his mother and she was very upset about the situation with her son, and
I asked her to come into the office. Well, she asked me to come into the
office, and I suggested that would be a good idea because she wanted to find
out why he might have possibly been attracted to deviate from her goals and I
think I thought it was a wise judgment to have the mother come in so I could
see whether or not the idea involved and again, you have to realize this is the
first case I was involved with with Freedom of Mind that I wanted to be able to
talk to the family members as much as possible. |