Seagate Technology v. Goel CA4/3

FACTS

Because the facts are undisputed, and this appeal concerns one legal question, we limit our summary to an abbreviated version of the underlying facts. Seagate was a data storage company headquartered in California. Goel’s company, eSys Singapore, sold Seagate’s products worldwide. In 2006, the parties had a disagreement, resulting in multiple lawsuits, which the parties eventually settled in 2009. The settlement agreement provided eSys Singapore would pay the money owed to Seagate by a certain date, and Goel personally guaranteed the debt. Relevant to this appeal, the parties also agreed their disputes would be governed by California law. The parties consented to personal jurisdiction in California courts and agreed to service of process by U.S. mail to the addresses listed in the agreement. All did not proceed as planned, and in 2018 Seagate filed a breach of contract action against Goel in a California superior court. According to the explicit settlement agreement terms, Seagate mailed the summons and complaint to Goel at the pre-designated address in India. In early 2019, the trial court considered and granted Goel’s motion to quash the complaint based on improper…