Pasero

In this case we conclude that a nonresident defendant consented to personal jurisdiction in California by previously filing another action here arising from the same transaction.

Robert J. Nobel, Nobel Farms, Inc. (Nobel Inc.), and Flora Noria de Angeles, S. de RL de CV. (Flora; collectively plaintiffs) appeal an order granting the separate motions of Manuel F. Pasero and Galaz, Gomez Morfin, Chavero, Yamazaki, S. C. (the Galaz firm) to quash service of summons based on lack of personal jurisdiction. We affirm as to the Galaz firm and reverse as to Pasero, concluding that he submitted to jurisdiction by his earlier related action filed against plaintiffs in California.

Factual and Procedural Background

Nobel owns Nobel Inc., a California corporation, which in turn owns Flora, a Mexican corporation. Nobel is an officer of both corporations. In 1997, plaintiffs suffered a fire in a Mexican warehouse owned and operated through Flora. The Galaz firm, a Mexican accounting firm, recommended that plaintiffs retain Pasero, a Mexican attorney, to pursue an insurance claim for the fire damages. Plaintiffs followed this recommendation. In June 1999, Pasero suspended his work…