William J. Bumgarder v. Keene Corporation, Forty-Eight Insulation, Inc.

Invoking diversity jurisdiction, William Bumgarder, a resident of North Carolina, sued several foreign corporations in the district court. His complaint was dismissed upon a finding that South Carolina’s “door-closing” statute, S.C. Code § 15-5-150, barred the action. Bumgarder appeals, and we affirm.

The district court properly determined that Bumgarder’s case did not fall within the terms of § 15-5-150, for he is neither a resident of South Carolina, nor did his cause of action against Keene or Forty-Eight arise within the state. Although Bumgarder relies upon Szantay v. Beech Aircraft…