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ÐÌÓ  Óà  àLarry€Wells€and€Signal€Capital€Corporation€filed€a€complaint€against€Signal€One€LLCÐ ü#L# Ðand€Ô_ÔNationsBancÔ_Ô€Capital€Corporation€alleging€that€two€agreements,€the€First€Amendment€to€theÐ è$8 $ ÐAcquisition€Agreement€and€the€First€Amendment€to€the€Employment€Agreement,€were€inducedÐ Ô%$!% Ðby€fraud€and€duress.€€The€Plaintiffs€sought€rescission€of€the€amendments€and€reinstatement€of€theÐ À&"& Ðoriginal€Acquisition€and€Employment€agreements.€€Signal€One€and€Ô_ÔNationsBancÔ_Ô€filed€a€motionÐ ¬'ü"' Ðto€dismiss€for€improper€venue€because€the€original€Acquisition€Agreement€contained€a€forumÐ ˜(è#( Ðselection€clause€requiring€all€disputes€arising€from€the€agreement€to€be€resolved€in€Charlotte,Ð „)Ô$) ÐNorth€Carolina.€€The€Trial€Court€found€the€forum€selection€clause€valid€and€dismissed€theÐ p*À%* Ðcomplaint€without€prejudice.Ð \+¬&+ ÐÌÐ 4-„(-ý ÐÔ_Ôà  àOn€appeal,€the€Plaintiffs€raise€the€following€issues,€which€we€restate:Ð ° ÐÌà  àI.à0 ` àWhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€dismissing€a€cause€of€action€for€rescission€of€anÐ ˆØ Ðemployment€contract€based€upon€a€forum€selection€clause€contained€in€a€separateÐ tÄ Ðand€independent€acquisition€agreement.Ð`°` (#` (# Ðà  àII.à0 ` àWhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€dismissing€a€cause€of€action€for€enforcement€ofÐ L œ Ðthe€provision€of€a€limited€liability€company€agreement€based€upon€a€forumÐ 8 ˆ Ðselection€clause€contained€in€a€separate€and€independent€acquisition€agreement.Ô#†¼ÔÀ»XX•Ì #ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔÐ$ t` (#` (# Ðà  àIII.à0 ` àWhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€not€applying€North€Carolina€law€and€public€policyÐ  ` Ðopposing€forum€selection€clauses.Ðü L ` (#` (# Ðà0  àà0` (#(#àà  àIV.à ` àWhether€the€trial€court€erred€by€finding€none€of€the€exceptions€to€enforcement€ofÐ è 8  Ðthe€forum€selection€clause€applied.€€€€ÐÔ$ ` (#` (# ÐÌà  àWe€affirm€the€Trial€Court.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà@µµ(ìàòòFACTSóóˆÐ „Ô  Ðà  àLarry€Wells,€a€Tennessee€resident,€was€the€founder€and€sole€shareholder€of€Signal€CapitalÐ pÀ ÐCorporation.€€Mr.€Wells€formed€and€managed€Signal€Capital€beginning€in€1992.€€€SignalÐ \¬ ÐCapitalððs€business€consisted€of€acquiring,€constructing,€developing,€owning€and€leasing€wirelessÐ H˜ Ðcommunication€towers.€€Signal€Capital€is€a€Tennessee€corporation€with€its€offices€located€inÐ 4„ ÐChattanooga.Ð  p ÐÌà  àOn€July€8,€1998,€Mr.€Wells€and€NationsBanc€Capital€Corporation,€a€Texas€corporation,€Ð øH Ðentered€into€three€agreements,€an€Acquisition€Agreement,€an€Employment€Agreement€and€aÐ ä4 ÐLimited€Liability€Company€Agreement.€€The€Limited€Liability€Company€Agreement€createdÐ Ð  ÐSignal€One€LLC,€a€Delaware€limited€liability€company€with€its€offices€located€in€Chattanooga.€Ð ¼  ÐThe€Acquisition€Agreement€transferred€Signal€Capitalððs€operating€assets€to€Signal€One€LLC€inÐ ¨ø Ðexchange€for€$1,000,000€in€cash€and€46,320€Voting€Common€Units€of€Signal€One€LLC.€€TheÐ ”ä Ðamount€of€$4,000,000€was€placed€in€escrow€to€be€released€at€a€later€time.€€NationsBanc€receivedÐ €Ð Ð53,680€Nonvoting€Common€Units€of€Signal€One€LLC.€€In€the€Employment€Agreement,€Mr.Ð l¼ ÐWells€agreed€to€serve€as€Signal€Oneððs€Chief€Executive€Officer€until€June€30,€2001,€in€exchangeÐ X ¨ Ðfor€an€annual€salary€of€$250,000€with€benefits.Ð D!” ÐÌà  àEach€of€the€three€original€agreements€contained€a€clause€regarding€either€the€forumÐ #l! Ðselected€or€the€governing€law€Ô#†¼ÔÀ»XX•Ìf#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔfor€any€disputes.€€The€Limited€Liability€Company€AgreementÐ $X" Ðprovided€that€the€governing€law€would€be€the€law€of€the€State€of€Delaware€and€that€disputes€mayÐ ô$D # Ðbe€brought€in€the€courts€of€the€State€of€North€Carolina€or€the€United€States€District€Court€for€theÐ à%0!$ ÐWestern€District€of€North€Carolina.€€The€Employment€Agreement€stated€the€governing€law€wasÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€law€of€North€Carolina,€but€there€was€no€forum€selection€provision.€€The€AcquisitionÐ ¸'#& ÐAgreement€contained€a€governing€law€section€and€the€forum€selection€clause€which€is€reliedÐ ¤(ô#' Ðupon€by€the€Defendants.€€The€governing€law€under€the€Acquisition€Agreement€was€the€law€of€theÐ )à$( ÐState€of€North€Carolina.€€The€forum€selection€clause€in€the€Acquisition€Agreement€provided€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðfollowing:Ð h+¸&* Ðѳ/Ñâ âÑTRY,3Ø' LetterXà3Ø' Letter 3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑâ âÑ  ÑÌÒ°ÒÒ°ÒExcept€to€the€extent€a€claim€is€subject€to€arbitration€as€provided€in€Section€11.3(b)Ð œì Ðhereof,€any€and€all€actions€arising€under€or€in€respect€of€this€Agreement€(butÐ ˆØ Ðexcluding€any€Third€Party€Action)€shall€be€litigated€exclusively€in€the€federal€orÐ tÄ Ðstate€courts€in€the€City€of€Charlotte,€State€of€North€Carolina.€.€.€.By€execution€andÐ `° Ðdelivery€of€this€Agreement,€each€Party€to€this€Agreement€irrevocably€submits€toÐ L œ Ðthe€personal€jurisdiction€of€such€courts€for€itself,€himself,€or€herself€and€in€respectÐ 8 ˆ Ðof€its,€his€or€her€property€with€respect€to€such€action€with€respect€to€any€actionsÐ $ t Ðarising€under€or€in€respect€of€this€Agreement€(including€Third€Party€Actions).€Ð  ` ÐEach€party€to€this€Agreement€agrees€that€venue€would€be€proper€in€any€of€suchÐ ü L  Ðcourts,€and€hereby€waives€any€objection€that€any€such€court€is€an€improper€orÐ è 8  Ðinconvenient€forum€for€the€resolution€of€any€such€action.€€Ð Ô$  ÐÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÌà  àOn€September€1,€1998,€the€Acquisition€Agreement€and€Employment€Agreement€wereÐ ¬ü  Ðamended.€€The€First€Amendment€to€the€Acquisition€Agreement€reduced€the€number€of€VotingÐ ˜è  ÐCommon€Units€received€by€Signal€Capital€from€46,320€to€21,930.8€units.€€The€First€AmendmentÐ „Ô  Ðto€the€Employment€Agreement€changed€Mr.€Wellsðð€responsibilities€as€Signal€Oneððs€ChiefÐ pÀ ÐExecutive€Officer,€but€his€salary€and€benefits€remained€the€same.€€Neither€amendment€containedÐ \¬ Ða€clause€regarding€any€changes€to€the€governing€law€or€forum€selected.€€€€€Ð H˜ ÐÌà@qq#ìàòòÔ#†¼ÔÀ»XX•Ì•#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔTHE€AGREEMENTSóóˆÐ  p Ðà  àÔ#†¼ÔÀ»XX•Ì(#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔThe€Plaintiffsðð€first€two€issues€question€whether€the€three€agreements€are€separate€andÐ  \ Ðdistinct€or€one€transaction.€€In€interpreting€a€contract,€a€court€must€ascertain€and€give€effect€to€theÐ øH Ðpartiesðð€intentions.€€òòSeeóó€òòBob€Pearsall€Motors,€Inc.€v.€Regal€Chrysler„Plymouth,€Inc.óó,€521€S.W.2dÐ ä4 Ð578,€580€(Tenn.€1975).€€In€this€case,€the€parties€entered€into€more€than€one€contract.€€ð ðThe€termsÐ Ð  Ðof€separate€contracts€forming€integral€parts€of€a€single€transaction€may€be€considered€together.ðð€Ð ¼  ÐòòThe€Realty€Shop,€Inc.€v.€RR€Westminster€Holding,€Inc.óó,€7€S.W.3d€581Ô#†¼ÔÀ»XX•Ì‹(#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔ,€599€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð ¨ø Ð1999)€(citing€Ô#†¼ÔÀ»XX•Ìy+#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔòòMcCall€v.€Towne€Square,€Inc.óó,€503€S.W.2d€180,€182-83€(Tenn.€1973);€òòStovall€v.Ð ”ä ÐDattelóó,€619€S.W.2d€125,€127€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1981)).€€Ô#†¼ÔÀ»XX•Ìó+#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔThe€Trial€Court€found€the€three€originalÐ €Ð Ðagreements€constituted€one€transaction€and€applied€the€forum€selection€clause€to€all€theÐ l¼ ÐPlaintiffsðð€claims.€€Ô#†¼ÔÀ»XX•ÌØ,#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔ€€Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àThe€Plaintiffs€argue€that€the€three€agreements€are€separate€and€independent€documents.€Ð 0"€  ÐIn€support€of€their€argument,€Plaintiffs€cite€the€governing€law€and€permissive€forum€selectionÐ #l! Ðprovisions€in€the€Employment€Agreement€and€Limited€Liability€Company€Agreement.€€TheseÐ $X" Ðprovisions€do€not€conflict€with€the€mandatory€forum€selection€clause€in€the€AcquisitionÐ ô$D # ÐAgreement,€but€the€Plaintiffs€argue€that€these€provisions€prove€the€documents€are€separate€andÐ à%0!$ Ðindependent.€€We€disagree.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  àThe€parties€signed€the€Limited€Liability€Company€Agreement,€Acquisition€AgreementÐ ¤(ô#' Ðand€Employment€Agreement€on€the€same€day.€€The€Acquisition€Agreement€incorporates€both€theÐ )à$( ÐEmployment€Agreement€and€Limited€Liability€Company€Agreement€as€part€of€the€partiesðð€entireÐ |*Ì%) Ðagreement.€€Ô#†¼ÔÀ»XX•ÌÜ-#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔFurthermore,€the€Acquisition€Agreement€conditioned€the€obligations€of€the€partiesÐ h+¸&* Ðupon€their€entering€into€the€Limited€Liability€Company€Agreement€and€the€EmploymentÐ ° ÐAgreement.€€The€Acquisition€Agreement,€which€transferred€assets€to€Signal€One€LLC,€and€theÐ œì ÐEmployment€Agreement,€which€employed€Mr.€Wells€as€CEO€of€Signal€One€LLC,€would€beÐ ˆØ Ðmeaningless€without€the€Limited€Liability€Company€Agreement,€which€created€Signal€One€LLC.€Ð tÄ ÐWe€find€the€three€agreements€are€interrelated€and€must€be€read€together€as€one€transaction.€Ð `° ÐAccordingly,€the€Trial€Court€correctly€found€that€the€forum€selection€clause,€if€valid,€applied€toÐ L œ Ðall€the€Plaintiffsðð€claims.€Ô#†¼ÔÀ»XX•Ìû1#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌòòà@¸¸ìàFORUM€SELECTION€CLAUSEóóÔ#†¼ÔÀ»XX•ÌW5#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀԈР ` Ðà  àThe€Plaintiffsðð€last€two€issues€involve€the€enforceability€of€the€forum€selection€clause.€Ð ü L  ÐThey€argue€that€the€forum€selection€clause€violates€North€Carolina€public€policy.€€In€theÐ è 8  Ðalternative,€they€argue€that€the€forum€selection€clause€is€unenforceable€under€Tennessee€lawÐ Ô$  Ðbecause€four€exceptions€apply.€€€€Ð À  ÐÌà  àThe€Plaintiffs€cite€North€Carolina€General€Statutes€Section€22B„3€in€support€of€theirÐ ˜è  Ðargument€that€the€forum€selection€clause€in€this€case€violates€North€Carolina€public€policy.€€TheÐ „Ô  ÐAcquisition€Agreementððs€governing€law€section€states€that€the€law€of€North€Carolina€applies.€Ð pÀ ÐNorth€Carolina€General€Statutes€Section€22B„3€provides€that€ð ðany€provision€in€a€contract€enteredÐ \¬ Ðinto€in€North€Carolina€that€requires€the€prosecution€of€any€action€or€the€arbitration€of€any€disputeÐ H˜ Ðthat€arises€from€the€contract€to€be€instituted€or€heard€in€another€state€is€against€public€policy€andÐ 4„ Ðis€void€and€unenforceable.Ô#†¼ÔÀ»XX•ÌÝ5#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔðð€N.C.€Gen.€Stat.€ðð€22B„3€(1999).€€However,€this€statute€would€notÐ  p Ðapply€to€the€forum€selection€clause€in€this€case€because€the€contract€was€not€ð ðentered€into€inÐ  \ ÐNorth€Carolina.ððÐ øH Ѐ€Ð ä4 Ðà  àForum€selection€clauses€are€generally€enforced€in€Tennessee.€€In€òòDyersburg€MachineÐ Ð  ÐWorks,€Inc.€v.€Rentenbach€Engineering€Companyóó,€650€S.W.2d€378€(Tenn.€1983),€the€TennesseeÐ ¼  ÐSupreme€Court€provided€the€following€exceptions€to€the€enforceability€of€a€forum€selectionÐ ¨ø Ðclause:€ð ð(1)€the€plaintiff€cannot€secure€effective€relief€in€the€other€state,€for€reasons€other€thanÐ ”ä Ðdelay€in€bringing€the€action;€€(2)€or€the€other€state€would€be€a€substantially€less€convenient€placeÐ €Ð Ðfor€the€trial€of€the€action€than€this€state;€€(3)€or€the€agreement€as€to€the€place€of€the€action€wasÐ l¼ Ðobtained€by€misrepresentation,€duress,€abuse€of€economic€power,€or€other€unconscionable€means;€Ð X ¨ Ð(4)€or€it€would€for€some€other€reason€be€unfair€or€unreasonable€to€enforce€the€agreement.ððÐ D!” ÐòòDyersburgóó,€650€S.W.2d€at€380.€€The€Court€further€stated:€ð ðWe€conclude€that€the€courts€of€thisÐ 0"€  Ðstate€should€give€consideration€to€the€above€mentioned€factors€and€any€others€which€bear€uponÐ #l! Ðthe€fundamental€fairness€of€enforcing€such€a€forum€selection€clause,€and€should€enforce€such€aÐ $X" Ðclause€unless€the€party€opposing€enforcement€demonstrates€that€it€would€be€unfair€andÐ ô$D # Ðinequitable€to€do€so.ðð€€òòDyersburgóó,€650€S.W.2d€at€380.Ô#†¼ÔÀ»XX•̰:#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔÐ à%0!$ ÐÌà  àIn€reviewing€the€exceptions€to€the€enforceability€of€forum€selection€clauses,€the€TrialÐ ¸'#& ÐCourt€found€North€Carolina€has€jurisdiction€to€hear€this€action,€North€Carolina€is€a€convenientÐ ¤(ô#' Ðplace€for€this€action,€the€agreement€as€to€the€place€of€the€action€was€not€obtained€by€fraud€orÐ )à$( Ðduress€and€there€was€no€other€reason€that€would€be€unfair€or€inequitable€to€enforce€the€clause.€€Ô#†¼ÔÀ»XX•̶A#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔÐ |*Ì%) ÐÐ h+¸&* Їà  àThe€first€exception€involves€the€question€of€whether€a€party€can€secure€effective€relief€inÐ ° Ðthe€other€state.€€First,€the€Plaintiffs€assert€they€will€not€receive€effective€relief€because€€theirÐ œì Ðclaims€would€have€to€be€split€between€a€North€Carolina€court€and€Tennessee€court.€However,€theÐ ˆØ Ðclaims€would€only€have€to€be€split€if€we€found€the€agreements€were€separate€and€independent.€Ð tÄ ÐBy€finding€the€three€agreements€were€one€transaction,€all€the€Plaintiffsðð€claims€would€remainÐ `° Ðtogether€in€one€court.€€Ð L œ ÐÌà  àSecond,€the€Plaintiffs€argue€that€they€can€receive€no€relief€in€North€Carolina€becauseÐ $ t ÐNorth€Carolina€does€not€have€a€reasonable€relationship€to€the€parties€and€their€agreements.€Ð  ` ÐAccording€to€the€Plaintiffs,€North€Carolina€would€not€have€subject€matter€jurisdiction€over€thisÐ ü L  Ðdispute€without€having€a€reasonable€relationshipÔ#†¼ÔÀ»XX•ÌÏC#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔ.€€We€find€both€Tennessee€and€North€CarolinaÐ è 8  Ðhave€a€reasonable€relationship€to€this€contract€dispute.Ô#†¼ÔÀ»XX•ÌFH#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔ€€Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àTennessee€Code€Annotated€Section€47-1-105(1)€provides:€ð ðExcept€as€provided€hereafterÐ ¬ü  Ðin€this€section,€when€a€transaction€bears€a€reasonable€relation€to€this€state€and€also€to€anotherÐ ˜è  Ðstate€or€nation€the€parties€may€agree€that€the€law€either€of€this€state€or€of€such€other€state€orÐ „Ô  Ðnation€shall€govern€their€rights€and€duties.ðð€€Ô#†¼ÔÀ»XX•ÌI#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€47-1-105(1)Ô#†¼ÔÀ»XX•ÌñJ#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔ€(1999).€€€The€partiesÐ pÀ Ðchose€to€litigate€any€disputes€in€the€courts€of€Charlotte,€North€Carolina.€€NationsBanc€conductsÐ \¬ Ðbusiness€in€Charlotte€and€maintains€an€office€there.€€All€correspondence€arising€from€the€partiesððÐ H˜ Ðbusiness€relationship€was€to€be€sent€to€the€NationsBanc€office€in€Charlotte.€€Most€importantly,Ð 4„ ÐMr.€Binkowski,€one€of€the€individuals€representing€NationsBanc,€works€and€resides€in€NorthÐ  p ÐCarolina.€€Mr.€Binkowski€signed€all€the€agreements€as€a€Vice€President€of€NationsBanc€and€he€isÐ  \ Ða€material€witness€to€the€circumstances€surrounding€the€contract€negotiations.€€North€CarolinaÐ øH Ðhas€a€reasonable€relationship€to€this€dispute€and€can€provide€relief€to€the€Plaintiffs.€€Ð ä4 Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àÌà  àThe€second€exception€relates€to€the€convenience€of€having€a€trial€in€the€other€state€asÐ ¼  Ðcompared€to€Tennessee.€€The€other€state€must€be€a€substantially€less€convenient€place€for€the€trialÐ ¨ø Ðthan€Tennessee.€€The€convenience€is€evaluated€from€the€perspective€of€all€the€parties,€not€just€theÐ ”ä ÐPlaintiffs.€€The€Plaintiffs€argue€that€many€witnesses€and€all€the€business€records€of€Signal€CapitalÐ €Ð Ðand€Signal€One€LLC€are€located€in€Chattanooga,€Tennessee.€€However,€the€NationsBancððsÐ l¼ Ðrepresentatives€involved€in€this€action€are€located€in€Texas€and€North€Carolina.€€AllÐ X ¨ Ðcorrespondence€regarding€the€business€activities€between€the€parties€was€sent€to€North€Carolina.€Ð D!” ÐTherefore,€business€records€are€located€in€North€Carolina€as€well€as€Tennessee.€€The€recordÐ 0"€  Ðcontains€no€information€regarding€the€difference€in€Plaintiffsðð€expenses€for€litigating€inÐ #l! ÐTennessee€compared€to€litigating€in€North€Carolina.€€The€Plaintiffs€only€argue€that€they€may€haveÐ $X" Ðto€take€ð ðexpensive€depositions.ðð€€There€is€no€proof€that€these€ð ðexpensive€depositionsðð€would€notÐ ô$D # Ðhave€occurred€if€the€litigation€was€in€Tennessee.€€The€Plaintiffs€have€not€shown€a€substantialÐ à%0!$ Ðinconvenience€to€all€the€parties.€€€€Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  à€The€third€exception€is€whether€ð ðthe€agreement€òòas€to€the€place€of€the€actionóó€was€obtainedÐ ¤(ô#' Ðby€misrepresentation,€duress,€abuse€of€economic€power,€or€other€unconscionable€meansððÐ )à$( Ð(emphasis€added).€€The€Plaintiffs€allege€they€were€fraudulently€induced€into€signing€the€FirstÐ |*Ì%) ÐAmendment€to€the€Acquisition€Agreement.€€The€First€Amendment€to€the€Acquisition€AgreementÐ h+¸&* Ðdid€not€change€the€effect€of€the€forum€selection€clause€in€the€original€Acquisition€Agreement.€Ð ° ÐTherefore,€the€Plaintiffs€have€not€alleged€the€original€Acquisition€Agreement€containing€theÐ œì Ðforum€selection€clause€was€obtained€by€fraud€or€duress.€€The€third€exception€does€not€apply.€€Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  à€The€fourth€exception€encompasses€any€other€reason€that€is€unfair€or€unreasonable€toÐ `° Ðenforce€the€agreement.€€We€find€no€other€reasons€not€to€enforce€the€forum€selection€clause.€€òòóóÔ#†¼ÔÀ»XX•ÌSK#ÔÔ‡X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔÐ L œ ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼ÔÀ»XX•ÌY#ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X•ÌX»¼ÔÀÔà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons€the€judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€is€affirmed€and€the€causeÐ $ t Ðremanded€for€the€collection€of€costs€below.€€Costs€of€appeal€are€adjudged€against€Signal€CapitalÐ  ` ÐCorporation,€Larry€Wells€and€their€sureties.Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à_________________________________________Ð ˜è  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àHOUSTON€M.€GODDARD,€PRESIDING€JUDGEÐ „Ô  ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àà x à