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Classic Commercial Servs. Inc. v. Baldwin

The defendant failed to meet his burden of showing that the trial court lacked personal jurisdiction over him, and the trial court thus erred in dismissing the action on that basis.

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Classic Commercial Services, Inc. sued defendant Robert Baldwin in the Superior Court of Gwinnett County and later served Baldwin with the summons and complaint at his residence in North Carolina. Baldwin moved to dismiss the complaint on the grounds that the superior court lacked personal jurisdiction. The trial court granted Baldwin’s motion to dismiss, and Classic Commercial appeals. For the reasons set forth below, we vacate the trial court’s order and remand the case with direction.

A defendant moving to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction bears the burden of proving the absence of jurisdiction. To meet that burden, the defendant may raise matters not contained in the pleadings. However, when the outcome of the motion depends on unstipulated facts, it must be accompanied by supporting affidavits or citations to evidentiary material in the record. Further, to the extent that defendant’s evidence controverts the allegations of the complaint, plaintiff may not rely on mere allegations, but must also submit supporting affidavits or documentary evidence. When examining and deciding jurisdictional issues on a motion to dismiss, a trial court has discretion to hear oral testimony or to decide the motion on the basis of affidavits and documentary evidence alone pursuant to OCGA § 9-11-43 b.

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