Personal Jurisdiction: The Narrowing Door

In recent years, the Supreme Court has severely restricted the exercise of personal jurisdiction over non-forum defendants, clarifying that continuous and systematic business activity is not sufficient for general jurisdiction unless the defendant is also “at home” in the forum. Purposeful activity directed toward the forum is no longer sufficient for specific jurisdiction unless the activity relates to the plaintiff’s particular claim.

Insurance Litigation team members Jason Gosselin and Nicole Wixted presented an in-depth look at significant recent decisions concerning the exercise of personal jurisdiction, including two decisions from the Supreme Court’s most recent term, BNSF Railway Co. v. Tyrrell and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. v. Superior Court of California.

The presenters offered commentary on these decisions and what they may mean for litigants, particularly in the class action and mass tort context.