White & Case secures complete dismissal for Vanguard National Trailer Corporation in high-stakes jurisdictional dispute

Global law firm White & Case LLP has secured the dismissal of all claims on behalf of Vanguard National Trailer Corporation and CIMC Reefer Trailer, Inc. in a high‑stakes commercial dispute involving more than US$28 million in alleged damages. On April 8, 2026, the Texas Business Court granted defendants' motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction.

The dispute centered on box and refrigerated trailers. The plaintiff alleged that a dealer obtained the commercial freight trailers from the Vanguard parties on credit, received signed Manufacturers' Certificates of Origin while the originals were withheld pending payment, then used copies of those documents to induce the plaintiff to finance trailer purchases. According to the plaintiff, the dealer received the loan proceeds but failed to pay the manufacturers or deliver good title. The White & Case team successfully argued that strict but‑for causation is not always required for specific jurisdiction, and that the Constitution requires a concrete connection among the defendant, the forum and the specific claims at issue.

In a detailed opinion, the Court held that Texas was "noticeably absent" from the majority of the operative facts and granted the motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. This early ruling from the Texas Business Court underscores that meaningful constitutional constraints remain on efforts to expand specific jurisdiction in interstate business disputes.

The White & Case team was led by partner Sean Gorman and included associate Kyle Mason (both in Houston).

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