Also known as: specific jurisdiction · specific in personam jurisdiction
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A court's authority to adjudicate claims against a nonresident defendant when the claims arise out of or relate to the defendant's purposeful contacts with the forum state. The contacts must create a substantial connection such that the defendant could reasonably anticipate being haled into court there. The exercise of jurisdiction must also comport with traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.
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Serena Soto, a resident of State X, and three nonresident plaintiffs sued Sierra Solutions in State X court after suffering injuries from a product sold nationwide. Sierra Solutions had extensive contacts with State X that supported jurisdiction over Soto's claim. The court dismissed the nonresidents' claims because their injuries occurred outside State X and bore no connection to any Sierra Solutions activity in the forum.
Steven Silva bought a vehicle in State Y and sued Silverline Industries there after an accident caused by a defect. Silverline Industries advertised heavily in State Y, maintained dealerships, and supplied replacement parts to State Y customers. The court upheld specific personal jurisdiction even though Silva's particular vehicle had not been designed or first sold in State Y.
Sasha Stone, a State Z resident, purchased a life insurance policy from Southland Foods after the company solicited her through an agent in State Z. After the company denied her claim, Stone sued in State Z court. The court exercised specific personal jurisdiction because the suit arose directly from the company's deliberate solicitation and maintenance of the contract in the forum.
Sophia Singh, a State W resident, used Spectrum Financial's website to book travel services after the site displayed State W-specific rates, accepted reservations from State W users, and provided driving directions from State W. Singh sued in State W court for breach of contract. The court found specific personal jurisdiction because the website's interactive features purposefully targeted forum residents and the claim arose from those contacts.
Seth Shapiro and other out-of-state drivers sued a tire manufacturer in State V court after accidents occurring entirely outside the state. The manufacturer maintained substantial operations in State V but the claims bore no relation to those operations. The court declined specific personal jurisdiction because the accidents and purchases had no connection to the forum.
Skylar Sullivan sued a foreign parent corporation in State U court for injuries sustained abroad. The parent had no direct contacts with State U, though its subsidiary conducted business there. The court refused specific personal jurisdiction because the claim did not arise from any contacts fairly attributable to the parent itself.
The plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant purposefully directed activities at the forum state, that the claim arises out of or relates to those activities, and that the exercise of jurisdiction is reasonable under the circumstances.
Supporting sources
No. A single contract may suffice when it involves deliberate solicitation, ongoing performance in the forum, and future consequences there, but a contract alone without additional forum-directed activity is usually insufficient.
…jurisdiction pursuant to Florida’s long-arm statute did not violate the Due Process Clause. Pp. 471–487. (a) A forum may assert specific jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant where an alleged injury arises out of or relates to a defendant’s contacts with the forum. The constitutional touchstone is whether the defendant purposefully…
…two types of personal jurisdiction: “specific
…over a defendant in a suit arising out of or related to the defendant's contacts with the forum, the State is exercising "specific jurisdiction
…and systematic” as to render them essentially at home in the forum State. See International Shoe , 326 U. S., at 317. Specific jurisdiction
…jurisdiction exists in this case, it must be
Supporting sources
Yes. Jurisdiction exists when the manufacturer has created and exploited a market in the forum through advertising, dealerships, and parts distribution, and the claim relates to those contacts even if the individual unit reached the plaintiff by another route.
Supporting sources
Specific personal jurisdiction is limited to claims that arise out of or relate to the defendant's contacts with the forum. General personal jurisdiction allows suit on any claim when the defendant's contacts are so continuous and systematic that the defendant is essentially at home in the forum.
Supporting sources
It can when the site specifically targets forum residents through features such as localized rates, reservations, marketing, and directions, and the claim arises from those interactive contacts.
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