Vogel v. Exocel Bio Incorporated et al

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WO
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
Jillian Vogel,
Plaintiff,
v.
Exocel Bio Incorporated, et al.,
Defendants.
No. CV-25-03066-PHX-GMS
ORDER
Pending before the Court is Defendant Raj Jayashankar (“Jayashankar”) and
Defendant Exocel Bio, Inc.’s (“Exocel”) Motion to Dismiss or in the Alternative Defendant
Exocel’s Motion to Transfer. (Doc. 5). Because Plaintiff Jillian Vogel (“Plaintiff”) has
consented to dismiss Jayashankar (Doc. 6 at 1 n.1), Jayashankar’s Motion to Dismiss is
granted. As such, only Exocel’s Motion to Dismiss and alternative Motion to Transfer
remain at issue. For the reasons discussed below, both of Exocel’s motions are denied.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff, an Arizona resident, began working as a national sales consultant for
Exocel in 2020, pursuant to a Consulting Agreement. (Doc. 1-1 at 4-5; Doc. 8-1 at 3).
Exocel, a Delaware corporation, is a skincare product provider with its principal place of
business in Pennsylvania. (Doc. 1-1 at 4-5; Doc. 5 at 2). At the time Plaintiff was hired,
Exocel’s principal place of business was California, before it moved its headquarters to
Pennsylvania in 2022. (Doc. 1-1 at 4-5; Doc. 5 at 2). Exocel is not registered to do business
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in Arizona and only pays a small amount of taxes in the state. (Doc. 5-1 at 3). Since its
move to Pennsylvania, all major company functions, including management of personnel
and internal company administration, take place in Pennsylvania. (Doc. 5 at 2; Doc. 5-1 at
2).
When Plaintiff was hired, Exocel knew that she lived in Arizona and would be
working from Arizona. (Doc. 6-1 at 1). Because it allows sales consultants to work
remotely from any state, Exocel “does not specifically recruit employees in Arizona.”
(Doc. 5-1 at 3; Doc. 8-1 at 2). Nonetheless, at all relevant times, Plaintiff worked for
Exocel from Arizona. (Doc. 1-1 at 5). But because Exocel does not own or lease any real
property, does not have a mailing address, and “does not have a substantial presence of
employees or contractors in Arizona,” Plaintiff did not use an Exocel “office in Arizona”
and “did not hold regular in-person meetings with other Exocel . . . staff in Arizona.” (Doc.
5-1 at 3; Doc. 8-1 at 3).
Under the terms of her Consulting Agreement, as a national sales consultant,
Plaintiff was entitled to twenty percent commission on most sales. (Doc. 1-1 at 5). Further,
in the event that Exocel terminated the Agreement, Plaintiff would “receive commissions
for up to 90 days after the last day of contracted services.” (Id. at 6).
Though Plaintiff was initially hired as a sales consultant, Exocel eventually hired
Plaintiff to be its Vice President (“VP”) of Sales and Marketing, paying her $6,000 per
month on top of her commission. (Id. at 5). In her VP role, Plaintiff “served as the face of
Exocel to customers and leads.” (Id.). Plaintiff was responsible for its “business strategies,
marketing techniques, promotional strategy, and product designs[;] spearheading email
campaigns, evaluating results[;] . . . working with potential partners and customers on
behalf of Exocel,” and “develop[ing] and manag[ing] [its] team of sales representatives,”
with whom she worked closely. (Id.). “Any work that [Plaintiff] performed for Exocel . . .
concerning the development and management of [its] other . . . sales representatives was
not dependent on the location in which she was physically present because [its] sales
consultants are located across the United States.” (Doc. 8-1 at 3).
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While serving as VP of Sales and Marketing, Plaintiff continued to work as a sales
consultant, selling Exocel’s products around the country—including in Arizona. (Doc. 6-
1 at 2; Doc. 8-1 at 2). To make these sales, she regularly met with existing and potential
customers in Arizona. (Doc. 6-1 at 2). Exocel “regularly sold and shipped [its] products
to its customers in Arizona,” with sixty-one of its more than 1,000 customer accounts
located in the state. (Doc. 6-1 at 2; Doc. 8-1 at 3). Exocel also shipped its products to
Plaintiff’s home in Arizona “for legitimate business purposes,” as “approved and
authorized by Exocel.”1 (Doc. 6-1 at 2). Plaintiff herself delivered some of these products.
(Id.). In 2024, eighty-three percent of Exocel’s sales came from customers outside of
Arizona (Doc. 8-1 at 2), though its “largest customer was an Arizona company”2 (Doc. 6-
1 at 2). Plaintiff also attended industry conferences hosted in Arizona by medical and
cosmetic organizations. (Id.).
Plaintiff met with Alejandro Contreras, one of Exocel’s founders who lived in
Arizona while she worked for Exocel, several times. (Id.). Contreras did not have an active
operational or management role at Exocel (Doc. 8-1 at 4) but introduced her to other Exocel
sales consultants in Arizona. (Doc. 6-1 at 2).
On May 30, 2024—at the direction of Jayashankar, Exocel’s Principal Owner—
Patrick Retif, its former Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), emailed Plaintiff to inform her
that Exocel would no longer engage in marketing and would therefore “pause” her $6,000
monthly rate for her VP position. (Doc. 1-1 at 4-6). After she received the email, however,
Plaintiff spoke to Jayashankar, who agreed that Exocel “would keep [Plaintiff] employed
as Vice President of Sales and Marketing.” (Id. at 6).
1 Exocel disputes this, asserting that it never sent Plaintiff its products for legitimate
business purposes and accusing her of the theft of over $2,000,000 worth of its products.
(Doc. 8-1 at 3-4). However, all conflicts between facts asserted in the parties’ affidavits
are resolved in favor of Plaintiff. Rio Props., Inc. v. Rio Int’l Interlink, 284 F.3d 1007,
1019 (9th Cir. 2002) (citing AT&T v. Compagnie Bruxelles Lambert, 94 F.3d 586, 688 (9th
Cir. 1996)).
2 Exocel also disputes this, asserting that its “single largest customer was located outside
of Arizona.” (Doc. 8-1 at 3). Again, this conflict must be resolved in Plaintiff’s favor.
Rio Props., 284 F.3d at 1019 (citing AT&T, 94 F.3d at 688).
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On July 8, 2024, Plaintiff sent Exocel a letter of resignation, stepping down from
her VP position, effective July 15, 2024. (Id.). The letter did not include a resignation
from her role as a sales consultant. (Id.). Nonetheless, on July 14, 2024, Plaintiff was
locked out of her company email and customer management software. (Id.). Plaintiff
alleges that, by locking her out, Exocel “effectively terminated the Consulting Agreement.”
(Id.).
Between June 1, 2024, and July 15, 2024, Plaintiff earned $9,000 in salary from her
VP role (“Salary Payment”). (Id. at 7). While her June commission was $54,322.00 (“June
Commission”), Plaintiff does not know her July commission because she no longer has
access to her company accounts (“July Commission”). (Id. at 6-7). Plaintiff does know,
however, that Exocel “awarded all sales employees and consultants an additional ten . . .
percent commission for sales made during July 2024.” (Id. at 6). And during the six
months prior to the alleged termination, Plaintiff earned an average of $28,689.77 in
commission. (Id. at 7). Exocel has not paid Plaintiff her June Commission, her July
Commission, or her Salary Payment. (Id. at 6-7).
In September 2024, Exocel filed a lawsuit against Plaintiff in the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania, alleging related claims for, among other things, breach of contract, theft of
its products, and unlawful use of its trade secrets and confidential information
(“Pennsylvania Suit”). (Doc. 5 at 4 (citing Exocel Bio, Inc. v. Retif & Vogel, No. 2:24-cv-
05202 (E.D. Pa. Sep. 2024); Doc. 5-2). The Pennsylvania Suit is ongoing. (Doc. 5 at 4;
Doc. 8-1 at 4).
Plaintiff filed her Complaint in the Arizona Superior Court on May 14, 2025, which
Exocel removed on August 22, 2025. (Doc. 1; Doc. 1-1). In her Complaint, Plaintiff
alleges three Counts related to her employment with Exocel: (1) Failure to Pay Minimum
Wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.; (2) Failure
to Pay Minimum Wage under the Arizona Minimum Wage Act, A.R.S. § 23-362 et seq.;
and (3) Failure to Pay Wages under the Arizona Wage Act, A.R.S. § 23-350 et seq. (Doc.
1-1 at 7-10).
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DISCUSSION
I. Personal Jurisdiction
Exocel asks the Court to dismiss Plaintiff’s suit under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 12(b)(2), for a lack of personal jurisdiction. (Doc. 5 at 1). For the reasons
discussed below, the motion is denied.
A. Legal Standard
In a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, the “party . . . invok[ing] the court’s
jurisdiction bears the burden of establishing that jurisdiction exists.” Scott v. Breeland,
792 F.2d 925, 927 (9th Cir. 1986). To avoid dismissal, a plaintiff “need make only a prima
facie showing of jurisdictional facts”—by “demonstrat[ing] facts that if true would support
jurisdiction over the defendant.” Ballard v. Savage, 65 F.3d 1495, 1498 (9th Cir. 1995);
see also Brainerd v. Governors of the Univ. of Alberta, 873 F.2d 1257, 1258 (9th Cir.
1989). “Generally, the court may consider the pleadings as well as any declarations
submitted by the parties when deciding a motion to dismiss for lack of personal
jurisdiction.” Born v. Celtic Mktg. LLC, No. 8:19-cv-01950, 2020 WL 3883273, at *2
(C.D. Cal. May 20, 2020) (citing Data Disc. Inc. v. Sys. Tech. Assocs., Inc., 557 F.2d 1280,
1285 (9th Cir. 1977)).
Though a plaintiff’s allegations generally “must be taken as true,” a plaintiff may
not “simply rest on the bare allegations of its complaint.” Schwarzenegger v. Fred Martin
Motor Co., 374 F.3d 797, 800 (9th Cir. 2004). “[N]onspecific conclusory statement[s],”
“unsupported by specific facts,” cannot defeat a motion to dismiss for lack of personal
jurisdiction. Butcher’s Union Local No. 498 v. SDC Inv., Inc., 788 F.2d 535, 540 (9th Cir.
1986) (citing Kaylor v. Fields, 661 F.2d 1177, 1182-83 (8th Cir. 1981)). Further, “mere
allegations of the complaint, when contradicted by affidavits,” cannot “confer personal
jurisdiction of a nonresident defendant.” Taylor v. Portland Paramount Corp., 383 F.2d
634, 639 (9th Cir. 1967). Nonetheless, any disputes of fact between “the parties’ affidavits
must be resolved in [the plaintiff’s] favor.” Rio Props., 284 F.3d at 1019 (citing AT&T, 94
F.3d at 688).
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To allege sufficient jurisdictional facts, the plaintiff has the burden of showing that:
(1) the forum state’s long-arm statute confers jurisdiction over the nonresident defendant;
and (2) the exercise of jurisdiction comports with principles of due process. Omeluk v.
Langsten Slip & Batbyggeri A/S, 52 F.3d 267, 269 (9th Cir. 1995). Arizona’s long-arm
statute confers jurisdiction to the maximum extent allowed by the Due Process Clause of
the United States Constitution. Ariz. R. Civ. P. 4.2(a); Doe v. Am. Nat’l Red Cross, 112
F.3d 1048, 1050 (9th Cir. 1997). Due process requires a nonresident defendant to have
“certain minimum contacts with [the forum state] such that the maintenance of the suit does
not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.” Int’l Shoe Co. v.
Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 316 (1945) (citation omitted).
Depending on the nature of a defendant’s forum contacts, one of two types of
personal jurisdiction may apply. Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 473 n.5
(1985). General jurisdiction allows all actions against defendants with significant,
continuous contacts with the forum state, while specific jurisdiction allows actions against
defendants with minimal contacts with the forum state only if the action relates directly to
those contacts. See id. Here, only specific jurisdiction is at issue.3 (Doc. 6 at 4).
A defendant is subject to specific personal jurisdiction based on their forum contacts
“if (1) they purposefully directed tortious activities at the forum or a resident thereof or
performed some act by which they purposefully availed themselves of the privileges of
conducting activities in the forum, (2) the claims arise out of or result from the defendant’s
forum-related activities, and (3) the exercise of jurisdiction is reasonable.” Tanga.com
LLC v. Gordon, No. CV-14-01871, 2015 WL 533264, at *2 (D. Ariz. Feb. 9, 2015) (citing
Bancroft & Masters, Inc. v. Augusta Nat’l Inc., 223 F.3d 1082, 1086 (9th Cir. 2000)). The
plaintiff “bears the burden of satisfying the first two prongs of the test.” Briskin v. Shopify,
Inc., 135 F.4th 739, 751 (9th Cir. 2025) (citing Sher v. Johnson, 911 F.2d 1357, 1361 (9th
Cir. 1990)).
3 In her Response to Defendants’ Motion, Plaintiff does not assert that Exocel is subject to
general personal jurisdiction in Arizona. (Doc. 6 at 4).
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B. Analysis
1. Purposeful Availment
In the Ninth Circuit, the first prong of the specific jurisdiction test “may be satisfied
by purposeful availment of the privilege of doing business in the forum; by purposeful
direction of activities at the forum; or by some combination thereof.” Yahoo! Inc. v. La
Ligue Contre Le Racisme Et L’Antisemitisme, 433 F.3d 1199, 1206 (9th Cir. 2006). The
Court’s decision whether to apply the purposeful availment or purposeful direction test is
guided by the nature of the underlying claims. Davis v. Cranfield Aerospace Sols., Ltd.,
71 F.4th 1154, 1162 (9th Cir. 2023). “The ‘purposeful direction’ test ‘typically’ applies to
tort claims while the ‘purposeful availment’ test ‘typically’ applies to contract cases.” Id.
(citing Yahoo!, 433 F.3d at 1206). Purposeful availment applies here, as the parties both
recognize (Doc. 5 at 4-9; Doc. 6 at 4-7; Doc. 8 at 5-7).
Purposeful availment “requires that the defendant engage in some form of
affirmative conduct allowing or promoting the transaction of business within the forum
state. This focus on the defendant’s affirmative conduct is designed to ensure that the
defendant is not haled into court as the result of random, fortuitous, or attenuated contacts.”
Gray & Co. v. Firstenberg Mach. Co., 913 F.2d 758, 760 (9th Cir. 1990) (citation omitted).
A defendant has engaged in affirmative conduct and thereby “purposely availed himself of
the benefits of a forum if he has deliberately ‘engaged in significant activities within a State
or has created “continuing obligations” between himself and the residents of the forum.’”
Id. (quoting Burger King, 471 U.S. at 475-76); see Cybersell, Inc. v. Cybersell, Inc., 130
F.3d 414, 417 (9th Cir. 1997) (stating that “the ‘purposeful availment’ requirement is
satisfied if the defendant has taken deliberate action within the forum state or if he has
created continuing obligations to forum residents”) (citing Ballard, 65 F.3d at 1498).
Here, Exocel has purposefully availed itself of the benefits of doing business in
Arizona.4 Regardless of its proportion to Exocel’s total business, a customer base does
4 Unlike the defendants from the cases that Exocel cites to support the proposition that a
remote worker’s presence in the forum state is insufficient to establish purposeful
availment, see, e.g., Martinez v. N. Ariz. Univ., 553 F. Supp. 3d 908, 918 (D.N.M. 2021);
Hanna v. Am. Cruise Lines, Inc., No. 18-cv-0919, 2018 WL 3993357, at *3 (S.D. Cal. Aug.
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exist for its products in Arizona. In 2024, approximately seventeen percent of its sales
came from customers in Arizona. (See Doc. 8-1 at 2). Indeed, Exocel has approximately
sixty customer accounts in Arizona, including, at the time of Plaintiff’s employment, its
largest customer. (Doc. 6-1 at 2; Doc. 8-1 at 3). It regularly sells and ships products to
Arizona. (Doc. 6-1 at 2). Though Exocel asserts that its only contact with Arizona is by
nature of its relationship with Plaintiff, it “has taken deliberate action within the forum
state” and “has created continuing obligations to forum residents”—by making sales,
shipping products, and maintaining relationships with its Arizona customer accounts.
Cybersell, Inc., 130 F.3d at 417 (citing Ballard, 65 F.3d at 1498). Moreover, while Exocel
“does not have a substantial presence of employees or contractors in Arizona” (Doc. 5-1 at
3), it does have other sales consultants operating in the State (Doc. 6-1 at 2) and does not
claim that Plaintiff was the only exclusive point of contact between it and the Arizona
customer accounts (see Docs. 5-1, 8-1). Exocel therefore has affirmative, intentional, and
sustained engagements with Arizona.
Accordingly, Plaintiff has made a prima facie case of purposeful availment
sufficient to satisfy the first prong of specific personal jurisdiction.
2. Cause of Action Arising from or Related to Forum Contacts
The second prong of specific jurisdiction may also be satisfied by one of two tests:
“‘arise out of’ and ‘relate to’ are alternatives.” Yamashita v. LG Chem, Ltd., 62 F.4th 496,
504-05 (9th Cir. 2023) (citing Ford Motor Co. v. Mont. Eighth Jud. Dist. Ct., 592 U.S. 351,
361-63 (2021)). “For a claim to arise out of a defendant’s forum contacts requires
causation,” which can be established by “a direct nexus . . . between a defendant’s contacts
with the forum state and the cause of action.’” Id. (citation modified) (first quoting In re
21, 2018); Radial Spark LLC v. Talend Inc., No. 23-cv-00653, 2023 WL 4105354, at *3-4
(D. Ariz. June 21, 2023), Exocel has other employees in the forum state and regularly
conducts business with other residents of the forum state. (Doc. 5-1 at 3; Doc. 6-1 at 2;
Doc. 8-1 at 2-3). Though correct that Plaintiff’s presence in Arizona alone could not
establish specific jurisdiction over it, Exocel focuses narrowly on its contacts with Plaintiff,
Plaintiff’s contacts with the forum state, and Plaintiff’s contacts with other states, rather
than directing its arguments to the proper inquiry: whether it has affirmatively engaged in
business with the forum state beyond its relationship to Plaintiff. Gray, 913 F.2d at 760
(citation omitted); (see Doc. 5 at 4-8; Doc. 8 at 5-8).
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W. States Wholesale Nat. Gas Antitrust Litig., 715 F.3d 716, 742 (9th Cir. 2013), aff’d sub
nom. Oneok, Inc. v. Learjet, Inc., 575 U.S. 373 (2015); and then citing Ford, 592 U.S. at
361-63). In contrast, for a claim to “relate to” a defendant’s forum contacts, a plaintiff
need not make a prima facie case of causation. Id. (citing Ford, 592 U.S. at 361-63).
Rather, the Court should assess whether the plaintiff has made a prima facie case of
relatedness by showing that (1) the defendant’s forum contacts will tend to cause “similar
injuries” to those alleged; (2) “the defendant should have foreseen the risk that its contacts
might cause injuries like” plaintiff’s; and (3) there is a “close connection between [the]
contacts and [the] injury.” Id. at 504-06 (citations omitted).
Here, Plaintiff has made a prima facie showing that her claims relate to Exocel’s
forum contacts. As noted above, Exocel has a customer base in Arizona and has employees
and contractors, including sales consultants, in Arizona. (Doc. 5-1 at 3; Doc. 6-1 at 2; Doc.
8-1 at 2-3). Under the first and second inquiries of the relatedness test, Exocel’s contacts
are likely to foreseeably cause similar injuries as those Plaintiff alleges. Plaintiff’s claim
is based on Exocel’s failure to pay her June Commission, her July Commission, and her
Salary Payment. (Doc. 1-1 at 6-7). Contracting with sales representatives who live in
Arizona to make sales, paid on commission, to customers (at least some of whom are based
in Arizona), will foreseeably give rise to disputes involving the payment of commissions
to Arizona personnel for sales to Arizona customers.
As to the third relatedness inquiry, the injuries underlying Plaintiff’s claims are
closely connected to Exocel’s forum contacts. Plaintiff’s commission as a sales consultant
at Exocel was dependent on (i.e., closely connected to) her sales—including sales made in
Arizona to the customer base that Exocel has established in the state. (Doc. 1-1 at 5).
Further, her salary as VP of Sales and Marketing was closely connected to her development
of the sales team, including marketing strategies, customer relationships, and the results of
sales efforts—which would also have involved Exocel’s Arizona sales consultants and
customers. (Doc. 1-1 at 5).
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As such, Plaintiff has made a prima facie showing that her claims are related to
Exocel’s forum contacts, satisfying the second prong of specific personal jurisdiction.
3. Reasonableness of Exercising Jurisdiction
The third prong of specific personal jurisdiction is that the Court’s “exercise of
jurisdiction is reasonable.” Tanga.com, 2015 WL 533264, at *2 (citing Bancroft, 223 F.3d
at 1086). Once a plaintiff has shown that the defendant has purposefully availed itself “of
the privilege of conducting business” in the forum state, “it is presumptively not
unreasonable to require [it] to submit to the burdens of litigation in that forum as well.”
Burger King, 471 U.S. at 476. Thus, unlike the other prongs of specific personal
jurisdiction, the defendant bears the burden of proving that jurisdiction would be
unreasonable. Id. at 477. To be reasonable, the exercise of jurisdiction must comport with
“fair play and substantial justice.” Id. (quoting World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson,
444 U.S. 286, 292 (1980)). To “defeat jurisdiction,” the defendant must “present a
compelling case” against the exercise of jurisdiction. Id. “To evaluate reasonableness,”
courts “use a seven-factor balancing test,” as applied below. Freestream Aircraft Ltd. v.
Aero Law Grp., 905 F.3d 597, 607 (9th Cir. 2018) (listing factors). Here, consideration of
the relevant factors does not suggest that the exercise of jurisdiction in Arizona is
unreasonable.
Extent of Defendant’s Purposeful Injection into the Forum. As discussed above,
Exocel has purposefully availed itself of the forum, conducting sales in this state with
Arizona sales consultants and Arizona customers. (Doc. 5-1 at 3; Doc. 6-1 at 2; Doc. 8-1
at 2-3). Although this appears to be a relatively small portion of Exocel’s overall business,
it has had a consistent presence in Arizona for a number of years. (Doc. 8-1 at 2-3). This
factor does not suggest that the exercise of jurisdiction would be unreasonable.
Burden on Defendant. Exocel argues that it would face a “substantial burden” by
having to litigate in Arizona because of travel and litigation expenses. (Doc. 5 at 10).
Beyond these conclusory statements, however, Exocel has presented no “evidence that the
‘inconvenience is so great as to constitute a deprivation of due process.’” Freestream, 905
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F.3d at 608 (quoting Panavision Int’l, L.P. v. Toeppen, 141 F.3d 1316, 1323 (9th Cir.
1998)). Again, Exocel already has a market presence in Arizona. (Doc. 5-1 at 3; Doc. 6-
1 at 2; Doc. 8-1 at 2-3). And it emphasized the convenience and familiarity of remote
work. (Doc. 8 at 5). Indeed, “modern advances in communications and transportation
have significantly reduced the burden of litigating in another forum.” Freestream, 905
F.3d at 608 (citation modified) (quoting Sinatra v. Nat’l Enquirer, Inc., 854 F.2d 1191,
1199 (9th Cir. 1988)). This factor does not suggest that the exercise of jurisdiction would
be unreasonable.
Extent of Conflict with Another Sovereignty. Neither party suggests that
jurisdiction in Arizona would create a conflict with any other sovereignty. (Doc. 5 at 9;
Doc. 6 at 7). As such, this factor does not suggest that the exercise of jurisdiction would
be unreasonable.
Forum State’s Interest in Adjudicating the Dispute. As evidenced by its wage
statutes, A.R.S. §§ 23-350 et seq., 23-362 et seq., Arizona has an interest in protecting
forum wage-earners. This factor does not suggest that the exercise of jurisdiction would
be unreasonable.
Efficient Judicial Resolution of the Controversy. Though “this factor is ‘no longer
weighed heavily given the modern advances in communication and transportation.’”
Freestream, 905 F.3d at 609 (quoting Harris Rutsky & Co. Ins. Servs. v. Bell & Clements
Ltd., 328 F.3d 1122, 1133 (9th Cir. 2003)), Exocel’s headquarters, operations, and
witnesses are located in Pennsylvania. (Doc. 5 at 9-10). Plaintiff has not argued that any
witnesses other than herself are in Arizona or that the underlying events occurred in
Arizona. (See Doc. 6 at 7). This factor, therefore, weighs against the exercise of
jurisdiction in Arizona, but has little effect on the overall balance of the factors.
Plaintiff’s Interest in Convenient & Effective Relief. Plaintiff lives in Arizona and
litigation in this State would be most convenient for her. (Doc. 1-1 at 4-5). While this
convenience for Plaintiff is marginal, the factor does not weigh against the reasonableness
of jurisdiction in Arizona.
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Existence of an Alternative Forum. Finally, Exocel suggests an alternative forum
which Plaintiff acknowledges as a viable alternative: the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
(Doc. 5 at 10; Doc. 6 at 7). While the relative merits of litigating in the District of Arizona
or the Eastern District of Pennsylvania will be addressed below, Plaintiff’s
acknowledgement of this available forum means that this factor weighs in favor of Exocel’s
arguments. Freestream, 905 F.3d at 609 (“Plaintiffs bear the burden of proving the
unavailability of an alternative forum.” (citing Core-Vent Corp. v. Nobel Indus. AB, 11
F.3d 1482, 1490 (9th Cir. 1993))).
Nonetheless, when weighed against the other factors, Exocel has not made a
“compelling case” that the exercise of jurisdiction in Arizona is unreasonable.
Accordingly, each of the three prongs for specific personal jurisdiction is satisfied.
Exocel is subject to personal jurisdiction in Arizona and its Motion to Dismiss for lack of
personal jurisdiction is thus denied.
II. Transfer
Exocel alternatively asks the Court to transfer this case to the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania under either 28 U.S.C. § 1404 or 28 U.S.C. § 1631. (Doc. 5 at 1). Because
28 U.S.C. § 1631 only applies when “the court finds that there is a want of jurisdiction,”
that transfer statute is not applicable here given the Court’s finding that Exocel is subject
to specific personal jurisdiction in Arizona. As such, the Court will only consider the
parties’ arguments as to transfer under § 1404,5 which allows transfer of “any civil action
to any other district . . . where it might have been brought” in the interest of the parties’ and
witnesses’ convenience.6 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a).
5 Venue lies in the District of Arizona because the case was originally filed in the Superior
Court for Maricopa County and then properly removed to this Court, which “embrac[es]
the place” where the action was filed. Polizzi v. Cowles Mags., Inc., 345 U.S. 663, 665-66
(1953) (“[O]n the question of venue, Section 1391 has no application to this case because
it is a removed action. The venue of removed actions is governed by 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a).”).
6 Plaintiff seems to concede that venue would lie in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
(Doc. 6 at 7-9). Nonetheless, the Court notes that under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(1)—which
provides that venue lies in “a judicial district in which any defendant resides”—venue lies
in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Because its principal place of business is in the
Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Exocel—the only defendant in this case—is a resident of
that district. Id. § 1391(c)(2) (a defendant entity resides “in any judicial district in which
such defendant is subject to the court’s personal jurisdiction with respect to the civil action
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Decisions regarding transfer under § 1404 are discretionary and are made on a case-
by-case basis. Stewart Org., Inc. v. Ricoh Corp., 486 U.S. 22, 29 (1988). The moving party
has the burden of showing that the action should be transferred. Jones v. GNC Franchising,
Inc., 211 F.3d 495, 499 (9th Cir. 2000). Indeed, a defendant “must make a strong showing
of inconvenience to warrant upsetting the plaintiff’s choice of forum.” Decker Coal Co. v.
Commonwealth Edison Co., 805 F.2d 834, 843 (9th Cir. 1986). The Ninth Circuit has
established a non-exclusive list of factors for courts to consider when deciding whether to
transfer. See Jones, 211 F.3d at 498-99 (listing factors). Here, consideration of the relevant
factors counsels against transfer.
Location Where Relevant Agreements Were Negotiated & Executed. Plaintiff and
Exocel negotiated her Consulting Agreement in Arizona and California, where Exocel was
headquartered at the time. (Doc. 1-1 at 4-5; Doc. 5 at 2). Because neither party seems to
afford substantial weight to this factor (Doc. 5 at 12; Doc. 6 at 8), it weighs slightly against
transfer.
Familiarity with Governing Law. Plaintiff’s first claim is brought under federal law
while her second and third claims are brought under Arizona law. (Doc. 1-1 at 7-10). The
districts are equally familiar with federal law. While the District of Arizona is more
familiar with Arizona law, “federal judges routinely apply the law of a State other than the
State in which they sit.” Atl. Marine Constr. Co., Inc. v. U.S. Dist. Ct. for W.D. Tex., 571
U.S. 49, 67 (2013). Moreover, it is not clear that a court in the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania would need special familiarity with her Arizona claims to adjudicate them.
(See Doc. 6 at 8-9). As such, this factor weighs slightly against transfer.
Plaintiff’s Choice of Forum. A plaintiff’s choice of forum is usually given great
deference. Decker Coal, 805 F.2d at 843. Plaintiff chose to file this action in Arizona, so
this factor substantially weighs against transfer.
Parties’ Contacts with Forum. Exocel has significant contacts with Pennsylvania
and has contacts with Arizona, as discussed above. Plaintiff, on the other hand, has
in question”).
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significant contacts with Arizona and does not appear to have any contacts with
Pennsylvania outside of her past relationship with Exocel. (Doc. 8 at 8). This factor thus
weighs against transfer.
Contacts Relating to the Plaintiff’s Cause of Action in the Forum. Plaintiff provides
a detailed description of Exocel’s contacts with the forum state and makes a prima facie
case that those contacts are related to her claims. (Doc. 1-1 at 7-10). Plaintiff is an Arizona
wage earner, bringing two claims under Arizona laws for work completed from Arizona.
(Id. at 4-7). Both parties thus have contacts with Arizona relating to the cause of action.
The parties’ contacts with Pennsylvania, however, are limited to Exocel’s presence in that
state. This factor, therefore, weighs against transfer.
Costs of Litigation in Each Forum. Plaintiff is an individual residing in Arizona
while Exocel is a corporation headquartered in Pennsylvania. (Doc. 1-1 at 4-5). Regardless
of which forum is chosen, one party will have to travel to litigate this matter. Though
Exocel’s travel will be more costly given its corporate form, it is an entity that is likely
better situated to handle such costs than Plaintiff as an individual. Moreover, both parties
have counsel in Arizona. Exocel’s remaining counsel are in Tampa, Florida, and will have
to travel regardless of which forum is chosen. Though the Pennsylvania Suit presents
similar issues, it is not clear that transferring this case to the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania would have a substantial effect on the parties’ costs. As such, this factor
weighs against transfer.
Availability of Compulsory Process to Compel Non-Party Witnesses. Most
witnesses in this case are located in or near Pennsylvania, with the only witness located in
Arizona being Plaintiff. (See Doc. 6 at 7). This factor favors transfer.
Ease of Access to Evidence. As noted, both Exocel’s headquarters and most
witnesses are located in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. (Doc. 5 at 13). However, it
seems likely—and neither party has argued to the contrary—that documentary evidence
regarding Plaintiff’s remote employment with Exocel will be readily available digitally
from either forum. This factor only slightly favors transfer.
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In conclusion, Exocel has not made “a strong showing of inconvenience to warrant
upsetting [Plaintiff’s] choice of forum.” Decker Coal Co., 805 F.2d at 843. Upon weighing
the relevant factors, the substantial deference given to Plaintiff’s choice is not outweighed
by factors which may marginally improve the convenience of litigation. Accordingly,
Exocel’s Motion to Transfer is denied.
CONCLUSION
IT IS ORDERED that Defendants’ Motion (Doc. 5) is GRANTED as to Defendant
Jayashankar.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss (Doc. 5) is
DENIED as to Defendant Exocel.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Exocel’s alternative Motion to Transfer (Doc.
5) is DENIED.
Dated this 20th day of March, 2026.
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