Fjell Tech. Group v. Unitech Int'l, Inc

In Fjell Tech. Group v. Unitech Int'l, Inc., No. 14-14-00255-CV, 2015 WL 457805 (Tex. App.--Houston 14th Dist. Feb. 3, 2015, pet. filed), the trial court denied a special appearance filed by a Norwegian corporation and one of its employees, a Dutch citizen living and working in Norway. Those nonresident defendants were sued by a Texas corporation, alleging its product designs and confidential customer list had been misappropriated. Id. In holding the nonresident defendants purposefully availed themselves of the privilege of conducting activities in Texas, the appellate court noted the nonresident defendants "initiated contact with Texas by sending marketing emails to individuals in Texas and by communicating -- via Skype, email and in-person meetings -- with the Texas-based employees" of the plaintiff. In addition, the nonresident defendants "sought to profit when they sent mails into Texas for the express purpose of becoming a supplier to Texas-based companies," and "they did profit when they garnered a purchase order from a Texas-based company." Id.