Plаintiffs appeal a general judgment dismissing their breach of contract and declaratory relief action against defendants because of lack of subject matter and personal jurisdiction. They also appeal a supplemental judgment awarding attorney fees to defendants. We conclude that the court erred in determining that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the action. We further conclude that the theory that defendants advance on appeal to justify the trial court’s decision regarding personal jurisdiction — that it would be unreasonable to enforce their cоnsent to jurisdiction in Oregon — was not the basis upon which the trial court ruled. And, because the record might have developed differently if defendants had raised that issue in their motion to dismiss, we will not affirm the trial court’s ruling under a “right for the wrong reason” rationale. We also decline to resolve the other grounds for dismissal raised by defendants that the trial court expressly did not reach — that is, forum non conveniens, improper joinder, and failure to state ultimate facts sufficient to constitute a claim. Accordingly, we reverse and remand the general judgment of dismissal. We also reverse the supplemental judgment awarding defendants attorney feеs.
This case involves three Florida limited partnerships: the AOH-Regent Limited Partnership (AOH-Regent Partnership); the American Opportunity for Housing-James Park Limited Partnership (AOH-James Park Partnership); and the American Opportunity for Housing-Greenview Manor Limited Partnership (AOH-Greenview Partnership). Each limited partnership owns a low-income apartment project in Florida built with tax-credit financing under the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
Plaintiffs are the limited partners in those partnerships.
Plaintiffs brought breach of contract claims against defendants, alleging that defendants had breached their contractual obligations to repurchase plaintiffs’ limited partnership interests on the occurrence (or, to be more precise, nonoccurence) of certain events. They also sought declaratory relief, asking the court to “declare the rights of the parties under the various contracts.” For purposes of this appeal, it is not necessary for us to describe in detail the specifics of the limited-partnership agreements and plaintiffs’ claims. Suffice it to say that each of the respective partnership agreements provides for the repurchase of plaintiffs’ limited-partnership interests upon the satisfaction of certain conditions. The agreements also each provide that the repurchase obligation is an obligation of that partnership and that the general partner of each partnership guarantees the repurchase obligation. The repurchase obligations of the general partners are, in turn, guaranteed by AOH under separate guaranty agreements.
As a remedy for their breach of contract claims, the investment limited-partner plaintiffs in each limited partnership, see
Each of the three limited-partnership agreements contains, essentially,
“Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State. Each of the undersigned irrevocably (i) agrees that any suit, action or other legal proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be brought in the courts of either the State of Oregon or State of Florida or the courts of the United States of America for the District of Oregon or the District of Florida; (ii) consents to the jurisdiction of each such court in any suit, actiоn, or proceeding; and (iii) waives any objection which he or it may have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in each of such courts.”
(Underscoring in original.) Similarly, each of the AOH guaranties includes the following:
“Personal Jurisdiction and Venue. The Guarantor hereby submits to personal jurisdiction as provided in this Section 19 for the enforcement of this Guaranty and waives any and all personal rights to object to such jurisdiction for the purposes of litigation to enforce this Guaranty. The Guarantor hereby consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of either the States of Oregon or Florida or the courts of theUnited States of America for the Districts of Oregon or Florida, in any action, suit, or proceeding which any Limited Partner may at any time wish to file in connection with this guaranty or any related matter. The Guarantor hereby agrees that an action, suit, or proceeding to enforce this Guaranty may be brought in any state or federal court in the States of Oregon or Florida and hereby waives any objection which the Guarantor may have to the laying of the venue of any such action, suit, or proceeding in any such court [.]”
(Underscoring in original.)
Defendants moved to dismiss plaintiffs’ amended complaint for, among оther grounds,
“After considering the briefing, exhibits and oral arguments submitted by the parties, the court granted the motions to dismiss, finding that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction for the reasons set forth in defendants’ briefing and at oral argument. The court also found, alternatively, that it lacked personal jurisdiction for the reasons articulated by the defendants. Based on these determinations, the court found it unnecessary to reach defendants’ other motions, including those presenting the grounds of forum non conveniens, improper joinder, and failure to state ultimate facts sufficiеnt to constitute a claim.”
The judgment dismissed plaintiffs’ amended complaint “with prejudice as to the jurisdictional issues of subject matter and personal jurisdiction decided by the court, but without prejudice as to the merits of plaintiffs’ claims [.]” It further ordered that the dismissal “shall not bar plaintiffs from pursuing their claims in Florida before any court with jurisdiction” and awarded defendants costs and reasonable attorney fees “in an amount to be determined by the court pursuant to ORCP 68.” Subsequently, the court entered a supplemental judgment awarding defendants costs and $50,000 in attorney fees. Plaintiffs appeal both judgments.
On appeal, plaintiffs contend that the trial court erred in (1) granting defendants’ motions to dismiss, and (2) awarding defendants their attorney fees. Regarding their first contention, plaintiffs argue that the trial court had both subject matter and personal jurisdiction and thus erred in dismissing the case on those bases. We consider each in turn, beginning with subject matter jurisdiction.
Whether a court has subject matter jurisdiction is a legal question.
“[sjubject matter jurisdiction exists when the constitution or the legislature authorizes a specific court to do something about the specific kind of dispute at issue. School Dist. No. 1, Mult. Co. v. Nilsen,262 Or 559 , 566, 499 P2d 1309 (1972). Under the Oregon Constitution, circuit courts have subject matter jurisdiction over all actions unless a statute or rule of law divests them of jurisdiction. State v. Terry,333 Or 163 , 186,37 P3d 157 (2001), cert den,536 US 910 ,122 S Ct 2368 ,153 L Ed 2d 189 (2002); see Or Const, Art VII (Original), § 9 (All judicial power, authority, and jurisdiction not vested by this Constitution, or by laws consistent therewith, exclusively in some other Court shall belong to the Circuit Courts!.]’); Or Const, Art VII (Amended), § 2 (retaining the jurisdictional scheme set out in original Article VII).”
Defendants do not refute — indeed, it is irrefutable— that Oregon circuit courts generally have subject matter jurisdiction over breach of contract actions. See Black v. Arizala,
Plaintiffs refute that logic. They contend, first, that, if their interests are repurchased, each partnership will nonetheless retain a limited partner because the purchaser— either the applicable general partner or AOH — would acquire the limited-partnership interests, thus meeting any requirement that a limited partnership include one or more limited partners. Specifically, according to plaintiffs, purchase by AOH would result in a separate, but new, limited partner (in each limited partnership), and purchase by the general partner would mean that “that entity would occupy dual capacities, as both a general partner and as a limited partner, which is permitted under Florida law.” See Fla Stat § 620.1113 (2006) (“A person may be both a general partner and a limited partner.”). Defendants remonstrate that the agreements contemplate only that the general partners and AOH will guarantee payment “on behalf of the partnership,” not that, “in doing so, either entity would assume ownership of the partnership interests.” (Emphasis in originаl.) Moreover, defendants contend, even if the general partners did assume ownership of the limited partners’ interests, the limited partnership “would still need to be dissolved” because, under Fla Stat § 620.1102(12) (quoted above), there “still must be at least two separate persons in a limited partnership.” (Emphasis in original.)
We need not resolve that dispute between the parties because we agree with plaintiffs’ second argument— that, even if the partnerships are left without a limited partner as a result of a court-ordered repurchase of plaintiffs’ limited-partnership interests, that does not — as defendants contend — effect a judicial dissolution of the limited partnership under Florida law. As support for their argument in that regard, defendants rely, in part, on
“On application by a partner, the circuit court may order dissolution of a limited partnership if it is not reasonably practicable to carry on the activities of the limited partnership in conformity with the partnership agreement.”
Because each partnership agreement in this case establishes the parties’ intentions to proceed as a limited partnership, without limited partners, defendants argue, it is “not reasonably practicable to carry on the activities of the limited partnership in conformity with the partnership agreement,” resulting injudicial dissolution under that statute. The problem with defendants’ argument is that Fla Stat § 620.1802 (2006) authorizes — but does not require — the court to dissolve a limited partnership in that circumstance and then, as plaintiffs correctly point out, only “on application by a partner.” (Emphasis added.) It does not, as a matter of course, operate to dissolve a limited partnership upon the absence of a limited partner, contrary to defendants’ suggestion otherwise.
Nor would the repurchase of the limited partners’ interests in the partnerships necessarily result in a nonjudicial dissolution of those partnerships. Although defendants did not rely on it below, Fla Stat § 620.1801 (2006), pertaining to nonjudicial dissolution, provides, as relevant:
“(1) Except as otherwise provided in [Fla Stat §] 620.1802, a limited partnership is dissolved, and its activities must be wound up, only upon the occurrence of any of the following:
“(a) The happening of an event specified in the partnership agreement;
“(b) The consent of all general partners and of all limited partners;
“(c) After the dissociation of a person as a general partner:
«* * * * *
“(d) The passage of 90 days after the dissociation of the limited partnership’s last limited partner, unless before the end of the period the limited partnership аdmits at least one limited partner [.]”
(Emphasis added.)
Thus, Fla Stat § 620.1801 (2006) operates to dissolve a limited partnership, but only if a new limited partner is not admitted within 90 days after the dissociation of the last limited partner. Even assuming a court-ordered repurchase of plaintiffs’ limited-partnership interests results in a “dissociation” of the limited partners, a matter that defendants do not address, dissolution of the partnership is not automatic. Instead, nonjudicial dissolution depends on the satisfaction of a further condition — viz., that a new limited partner not be admitted within 90 days.
In sum, even if plaintiffs prevail in this action, there are uncertain contingencies that must occur before the limited pаrtnerships would be dissolved, either judicially or nonjudi-cially, under Florida law. The fact that there is a mechanism in Florida law by which a party may later seek dissolution if certain criteria are satisfied, Fla Stat § 620.1802 (2006), or that the relief plaintiffs seek may have consequences that lead to dissolution at some future time, Fla Stat § 620.1801 (2006), does not compel the conclusion that plaintiffs are seeking, not to enforce a contractual right, but to dissolve their Florida limited partnerships. In other words, although it may set the wheels in motion, we are not persuaded that the relief plaintiffs seek for their breach of contract clаims — repurchase of their limited-partner interests— will, as defendants contend, “effect a dissolution of their partnerships” which, in defendants’ view is relief beyond the subject matter jurisdiction of an Oregon court to grant.
We turn to the question of personal jurisdiction. “Plaintiffs have the burden of alleging and proving facts sufficient to establish personal jurisdiction.” Portland Trailer & Equipment v. A-1 Freeman Moving,
“Where, as here, the trial court made no express findings, we assume that the court found facts consistent with its judgment and review the court’s assumed factual findings to determine whether they are supported by any competent evidence. Once the jurisdictional facts are established, we review the determination of personal jurisdiction for errors of law.”
Id. (internal quotation marks, citations, and brackets omitted).
In their complaint, plaintiffs alleged jurisdiction over defendants in Oregon on the sole basis that defendants had contractually consented to jurisdiction under the provisions of the partnership agreеments and guaranties quoted above, see
“Personal jurisdiction. A court of this state having jurisdiction of the subject matter has jurisdiction over a party served in an action pursuant to Rule 7 under any of the following circumstances:
“A. Local presence or status. In any action, whether arising within or without this state, against a defendant who when the action is commenced:
«}}? i}i % ‡
“A(5) Has expressly consented to the exercise of personal jurisdiction over such defendant.”
(Boldface in original; emphasis added.)
In moving to dismiss plaintiffs’ complaint on the basis of lack of personal jurisdiction, defendants contended in the trial court that the relevant contractual provisions— which they describe as choice of law provisions — do not reflect their express consent to personal jurisdiction in Oregon.
As noted, the trial court granted defendants’ motions to dismiss based on lack of personal jurisdiction “for the reasons articulated by the defendants.” It did not explain its reasoning further; nor did it make any findings.
On appeal, defendants do not attempt to defend the trial court’s decision on either of the rationales that they had advanced to the trial court — and on which, apparently, the trial court granted their motions to dismiss
“(1) that the facts of record be sufficient to support the alternative basis for affirmance; (2) that the trial court’s ruling be consistent with the view of the evidence under the alternative basis for affirmancе; and (3) that the record materially be the same one that would have been developed had the prevailing party raised the alternative basis for affirmance below. In other words, even if the record contains evidence sufficient to support an alternative basis for affirmance, if the losing party might have created a different record below had the prevailing party raised that issue, and that record could affect the disposition of the issue, then we will not consider the alternative basis for affirmance.”
Id. at 659 (emphasis in original). As explained below, those requirements are not satisfied in this сase.
In Reeves, the Supreme Court held that contractual clauses conferring exclusive jurisdiction in the courts of another state were enforceable, provided they were not “unfair or unreasonable.”
Thus, the relevant inquiry under Reeves is very fact dependent. Here, as noted, the trial court did not make any findings related to the fairness and reasonableness of enforcing
In particular, defendants now argue that enforcing their consent to personal jurisdictiоn would be unreasonable, in part, because the relevant information and witnesses “are located almost exclusively in Florida,” where the housing developments are located; and “litigation in Oregon would be highly inconvenient for defendants, none of [which] maintains an office in Oregon, conducts business in Oregon, has established an agency in Oregon for any portion of its business, or owns property in Oregon,” but “all of [which] have a strong connection to Florida.” Plaintiffs, on the other hand, remonstrate that defendants have not demonstrated that litigation in Oregon “‘will be so gravely difficult and inconvenient that [they] will for all рractical purposes be deprived of [their] day in court.’” (Quoting The Bremen,
Moreover, as the parties recognize, the “enforceability” analysis implicates some of the same concerns inherent in defendants’ motion to transfer the case on grounds of forum non conveniens — a determination that the trial court expressly declined to make in light of its conclusion that it lacked jurisdiction. See, e.g., Novich v. McClean,
For similar prudential reasons, we decline to consider the alternative grounds for dismissal that the trial court did not reach. Finally, because the supplemental judgment for attorney fees was predicated on the general judgment of dismissal, we reverse that judgment as well. See ORS 20.220(3)(a) (providing that, when a party appeals a judgment to which аn attorney-fee award relates, “[i]f the appellate court reverses the judgment, the award of attorney fees or costs and disbursements shall be deemed reversed”).
General judgment reversed and remanded; supplemental judgment for attorney fees reversed.
Notes
Specifically, plaintiff PNC Multifamily Capital Institutional Fund XXXIV Limited Partnership (Fund XXXIV), a Delaware limited partnership, is the investment limited partner in two of the partnerships: the AOH-Regent Partnership and the AOH-Greenview Partnership. Plaintiff PNC Multifamily Capital Institutional Fund XXIX Limited Partnership (Fund XXIX), also a Delaware limited partnership, is the investment limited partner in the AOH-James Park Partnership. Plaintiff Columbia Housing SLP Corporation (Columbia Housing), an Oregon corporation, is the other, special limited partner in each of the three partnerships. Unless otherwise noted, we refer to them collectively as “plaintiffs” throughout this opinion.
Specifically, the Regent defendants are the AOH-Regent Partnership, AOH-Regent GP, Inc., and AOH; the James Park defendants are the AOH-James Park Partnership, James Park Corporation, and AOH; and the Greenview defendants are the AOH-Greenview Partnership, AOH-Greenview Manor, GP, Inc., and AOH. Unless otherwise specified, we refer to those parties collectively as “defendants.”
Thus, there is the AOH-Regent Guaranty, the AOH-James Park Guaranty, and the AOH-Greenview Guaranty.
The specific amounts sought are as follows: (1) AOH-Regent Partnership — $6,133,124; (2) AOH-James Park Partnership — $1,875,246; and (3) AOHGreenville Partnership — $1,147,843.
That contribution was $10 in each limited partnership.
The AOH-Greenview Limited Partnership Agreement lists the Florida courts before the Oregon courts; in all other respects, the provisions are identical in all three partnership agreements.
Again, the only difference among the agreements is that the AOHGreenview Guaranty lists the Florida courts before the Oregon courts.
Specifically, the Regent defendants also moved to dismiss for failure to join an indispensable party (ORCP 21 A(7), 29); improper joinder of claims (ORCP 28); failure to state a claim for breach of contract or damages (ORCP 21 A(8)); failure to state a claim for breach of guaranty as to defendant AOH (ORCP 21 A(8)); and failure to state a claim for declaratory relief (ORCP 21 A(8)). The James Park and Greenview defendants also moved to dismiss for improper joinder of claims (ORCP 28); failure to state a claim for breach of contract or damages (ORCP 21 A(8)); failure to state a claim for breach of guaranty as to defendant AOH (ORCP 21 A(8)); and failure to state a claim for declaratory relief (ORCP 21 A(8)).
ORCP 21A provides, in part:
“Every defense, in law or fact, to a claim for relief in any pleading * * * shall be asserted in the responsive pleading thereto, except that the following defenses may at the option of the pleader be made by motion to dismiss: (1) lack of jurisdiction over the subject matter, (2) lack of jurisdiction over the person!.]”
The Regent defendants requested that the case against them be transferred to Duval County, Florida; the James Park and Greenview defendants requested that the claims against them be transferred to Pinellas County, Florida.
Defendants also argued below that, although styled as a breach of contract action, plaintiffs, in effect, sought rescission оf the partnership agreements. They do not renew that argument in defending the trial court’s ruling on appeal.
In their reply brief, plaintiffs, apparently for the first time, dispute defendants’ premise that a Florida court would have exclusive subject matter jurisdiction over a dissolution of the limited partnerships in this case. Given our conclusion, we need not address that argument.
At the hearing on the motions, defendants refined that argument to contend that the provision in the partnership agreements cannot be construed as “clear and express consent” to personal jurisdiction in Oregon (and that any ambiguity must be construed against plaintiffs) because, unlike the provision in the guaranty agreements, the partnership agreements do not explicitly refer to personal jurisdiction. Thus, defendants essentially conceded consent with respect to AOH, the guarantor defendant.
At the hearing on the motions to dismiss, defendants, in rebuttal to plaintiffs’ contention about enforceability, did argue that a forum selection clause is only prima facie enforceable and that, “even if Your Honor were to find that there had been a waiver of personal jurisdiction, that Your Honor should not enforce it because of the other arguments and evidence presented.” However, without findings by the trial court or a further explanation of its reasoning, we cannot assume, based on those brief comments, that, in dismissing the case for lack of personal jurisdiction “for the reasons articulated by the defendants,” the court concluded that defendants had contractually consented to personal jurisdiction but that enforcing the contractual consent provisions against defendants would be unjust and unreasonable.
Nor would that position be tenable. First, although the provision in the partnership agreements is titled simply “Governing Law.” it expressly provides that each party “(i) agrees that any suit, action or other legal proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplаted hereby shall be brought in the courts of either the State of Oregon or State of Florida * * *; (ii) consents to the jurisdiction of each such court in any suit, action, or proceeding-, and (iii) waives any objection which he or it may have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in each of such courts.” (Underscoring in original; emphasis added.) Although the guaranty is more explicit on the question, providing, in part, that “[t]he Guarantor hereby submits to personal jurisdiction as provided in this Section 19 for the enforcement of this Guaranty and waives any and all personal rights to object to such jurisdiction for the purposes of litigation to enforce this Guaranty,” we conclude that all defendants have, by virtue of the respective contractual provisions, expressly consented to personal jurisdiction in Oregon.
Second, the constitutional “minimum contacts” analysis under Internat. Shoe Co. v. Washington,
Although both plaintiffs and defendants seem to tacitly accept that the principles announced in MS/Bremen (and other federal cases following it) apply here, neither explains why that is the case, nor is it readily apparent to us. In any event, that, too, would be a question for the trial court to confront in the first instance.