ELOY ROJAS MAMANI, et al., Plaintiffs, v. GONZALO DANIEL SANCHEZ DE LOZADA SANCHEZ BUSTAMANTE, Defendant., 547 F. Supp. 2d 465

Summary

Plaintiffs filed a virtually identical action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida against a former Minister of Defense of Bolivia, seeking to collect tort damages for the same events giving rise to plaintiffs' claims against defendant in the instant action. The court found that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida had personal jurisdiction over defendant pursuant to Fla. Stat. § 48.193(2) because defendant engaged in substantial activity in Florida by (1) maintaining his primary checking account in Florida; (2) contracting with investment advisors in Florida to manage personal investments; (3) retaining several Florida attorneys to handle his affairs; (4) joining a membership organization in Florida; and (5) making many visits to Florida. The court held that a venue transfer was warranted under 28 U.S.C.S. § 1404(a) because the only connection that the case had with Maryland was defendant's residence, transferring the case protected ...