Tri-West Insurance Services, Inc. v. Seguros Monterrey Aetna, S.A.
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Armstrong, J.
Tri-West Insurance Services, Inc. (Tri-West), an insurance broker, appeals from the dismissal of its cross-complaint against Seguros Monterrey Aetna, S.A. (SMA), a Mexican insurance company, in *675 litigation instigated by a Tri-West client, Swat-Fame, Inc. (Swat-Fame). We agree with the trial court that SMA did not have the requisite minimum contacts with this state for the assertion of jurisdiction, and so affirm the dismissal.
Facts
Swat-Fame is a clothing manufacturer which maintains factories in Mexico. In 1995, Swat-Fame contacted Tri-West, seeking transit insurance to cover goods being transported to and from Mexico. Tri-West contacted Peter Ribbens and the Ribbens Insurance Agency (Ribbens) in San Diego, and through Ribbens obtained a policy from SMA. Swat-Fame made its premium payments to Tri-West, for transmission to SMA. According to the allegations of Tri-West’s cross-complaint, Ribbens invoiced Tri-West for the payments.
In October of 1996, Swat-Fame suffered a loss in Mexico and made a claim under the policy. SMA informed Swat-Fame that it had never received any premium payments and that the policy had long since been cancelled.