Pennoyer v. Neff, 95 U.S. 714, 24 L. Ed. 565 (1878).

Facts
Mitchell brought suit against Neff to recover unpaid legal fees. Mitchell published
notice of the lawsuit in an Oregon newspaper but did not serve Neff personally. Neff
failed to appear and a default judgment was entered against him. To satisfy the
judgment Mitchell seized land owned by Neff so that it could be sold at a Sheriffs
auction. When the auction was held Mitchell purchased it and later assigned it to
Pennoyer.
Neff sued Pennoyer in federal district court in Oregon to recover possession of the
property, claiming that the original judgment against him was invalid for lack
of personal jurisdiction over both him and the land. The court found that the
judgment in the lawsuit between Mitchell and Pennoyer was invalid and that Neff still
owned the land. Pennoyer lost on appeal and the Supreme Court granted certiorari.
Issue
Can a state court exercise personal jurisdiction over a non-resident who has
not been personally served while within the state and whose property within
the state was not attached before the onset of litigation?
Holding and Rule (Field)
No. A court may enter a judgment against a non-resident only if the party 1)
is personally served with process while within the state, or 2) has property
within the state, and that property is attached before litigation begins (i.e.
quasi in rem jurisdiction).
Since the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment, the validity of judgments may be
directly questioned on the ground that proceedings in a court of justice to determine
the personal rights and obligations of parties over whom that court has no jurisdiction
do not constitute due process of law. Due process demands that legal proceedings be
conducted according to those rules and principles which have been established in our
systems of jurisprudence for the protection and enforcement of private rights.
To give legal proceedings any validity, there must be a tribunal with legal authority to
pass judgment, and a defendant must be brought within its jurisdiction by service of
process within the state, or by his voluntary appearance.
The substituted service of process by publication in actions brought against non-
residents is valid only where property in the state is brought under the control of the
court, and subjected to its disposition by process adapted to that purpose, or where
the judgment is sought as a means of reaching such property or affecting some
interest therein; in other words, where the action is in the nature of a proceeding in
rem.
The Oregon court did not have personal jurisdiction over Neff because he was not
served in Oregon. The courts judgment would have been valid if Mitchell had
attached Neffs land at the beginning of the suit. Mitchell could not have done this
because Neff did not own the land at the time Mitchell initiated the suit. The default
judgment was declared invalid. Therefore, the sheriff had no power to auction the
real estate and title never passed to Mitchell. Neff was the legal owner.
Disposition
Judgment for Neff affirmed.
Summary of International Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 66 S. Ct. 154, 90 L.
Ed. 95 (1945).
Facts
International Shoe Co. (D, appellant) was a Delaware corporation with its principle
place of business in St. Louis, Missouri. It had no offices in the state of Washington
and made no contracts for sale there. International Shoe did not keep merchandise in
Washington and did not make deliveries of goods in intrastate commerce originating
from the state.
International Shoe employed 11-13 salesmen for three years who resided in
Washington. Their commissions each year totaled more than $31,000 and
International Shoe reimbursed them for expenses. Prices, terms, and acceptance or
rejection of footwear orders were established through St. Louis. Salesmen did not
have authority to make contracts or collections.
The state of Washington brought suit against International Shoe in Washington State
court to recover unpaid contributions to the unemployment compensation fund.
Notice was served personally on an agent of the defendant within the state and by
registered mail to corporate headquarters. The Supreme Court of Washington held
that the state had jurisdiction to hear the case and International Shoe appealed.
Issue
Did International Shoes activities in Washington make it subject to personal
jurisdiction in Washington courts?
Holding and Rule (Stone)
Yes. Minimum contacts with the forum state can enable a court in that state to
exert personal jurisdiction over a party consistent with the Due Process
clause.
A casual presence of a corporation or its agent in a state in single or isolated
incidents is not enough to establish jurisdiction. Acts of agents of the corporation,
because of the nature, quality, and circumstances of their commission, may be
deemed sufficient. Consent may be implied from the corporations presence and
activities in the state through the acts of authorized agents.
The activities carried on by defendant corporation in Washington were systematic and
continuous rather than irregular or casual. The defendant received the benefits and
protection of the laws of the state and is subject to jurisdiction there.
Relevant factors
International Shoe had conducted systematic and continuous business operations in
Washington. A large volume of interstate business for the defendant was created
through its agents within the state and the corporation received the benefits and
protection of Washingtons laws. International Shoe had established agents in the
state permanently.
Disposition
Affirmed judgment for the plaintiff.
Summary of Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 105 S. Ct. 2174, 85 L. Ed.
2d 528 (1985).
Facts
Rudzewicz (D) and MacShara entered into a franchise contract with Burger King Corp.
(P) to open a restaurant in Michigan. Burger King was incorporated in Florida and a
choice of law clause in the contract indicated that Florida law was controlling. The
contract allowed Rudzewicz to use Burger Kings trademarks and service marks for 20
years in Michigan. All financial obligations owed to Burger King were sent to Florida
and D received training in Florida. An economic downturn led to decreased sales and
Rudzewicz failed to meet his obligations under the contract.
Burger King brought a diversity suit against Rudzewicz in the Southern District of
Florida. Rudzewicz and MacShara moved to dismiss on the grounds that the court did
not have personal jurisdiction over them because they did not have sufficient
minimum contacts with the state. The court denied Rudzewicz motion and ruled that
jurisdiction was proper under Floridas long arm statute. The court entered judgment
in favor of Burger King and Rudzewicz appealed.
On appeal, the court held that while Rudzewicz had sufficient contacts with the state
of Florida to satisfy the states long arm statute, the exercise of personal jurisdiction
was fundamentally unfair and was a violation of due process. Burger King appealed.
Issues
1. Must a plaintiff show that an out of state defendant has both minimum contacts
with the forum state and that it is fair and equitable to require a defendant to
defend a suit in the state?
2. What factors must the court balance in addressing reasonableness in
jurisdictional analysis?
Holding and Rule (Brennan)
1. No. A plaintiff need not show that an out of state defendant has both minimum
contacts with the forum state and that it is fair and equitable to require the
defendant to defend a suit in the state.
2. The factors the court must balance in addressing reasonableness in an analysis
of personal jurisdiction are:
(1) the extent of a defendants purposeful interjection in the forum state;
(2) the burden on the defendant in defending in the forum;
(3) the extent of conflict with the sovereignty of the defendants state;
(4) the forum states interest in adjudicating the dispute;
(5) the most efficient judicial resolution of the controversy;
(6) the importance of the forum to the plaintiffs interest in convenient and
effective relief; and
(7) the existence of an alternative forum.
The court held that jurisdiction is proper when the defendants contact proximately
results from actions by the defendant such that they create a substantial connection
with the forum state.
Due Process protects an individuals liberty interests in not being bound by judgments
of a forum in which he has established no meaningful contacts, ties, or relations.
See International Shoe Co. v. Washington.
The court held that there must be fair warning that a particular activity may subject a
party to suit in another jurisdiction. SeeShaffer v. Heitner. The fair warning
requirement is satisfied when a party has purposefully directed his activities at the
forum. See Keeton v. Hustler Magazine, Inc. Parties who reach out and create
continuing relationships and obligations in another state are subject to regulation and
sanctions in that state for the consequences of their activities. The foreseeability that
is critical for due process is that the defendants conduct and connection with the
forum are such that he would reasonably anticipate being haled into court there.
See World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson.
Reasonable anticipation is demonstrated when a party purposefully avails itself of the
privilege of conducting activities within the forum thus invoking the benefits and
protections of its laws. See Hanson v. Denckla. Once purposeful availment and
minimum contacts are satisfied, the four World Wide factors must be analyzed.
Establishing that the defendant has minimum contacts creates a rebuttable
presumption that it is fair to require him to defend there. The burden shifts to the
defendant to show that it would be unfair to defend in the state. The question of
fairness requires a balancing of: the forums interest in the litigation, the plaintiffs
interest in efficient and convenient relief, the demands of the federal system as a
whole, the best interests of the federal system, and the defendants interest in not
having to defend a suit in a remote or disadvantageous forum.
The court held that in this case the franchise agreement with Burger King allowed
Rudzewicz to benefit from an association with a Florida corporation for twenty years.
Rudzewicz had continuing and direct contacts with Burger King. The fact that
Rudzewiczs contacts were purposeful allowed the state to exercise personal
jurisdiction despite that those contacts were minimal. The contract indicated that
Florida law would apply. It cannot be a shock that Burger King would sue Rudzewicz
there for a breach of the contract in light of the clear contractual terms of the
agreement.
Rudzewicz had not shown that he would be unfairly prejudiced or harmed by a trial in
Florida and the purposeful involvement of Rudzewicz in the contract met the
minimum contact requirements.
Disposition
Judgment for defendant Rudzewicz reversed.
Dissent (Stevens)
It is unfair to require a franchisee to defend a case of this kind in a forum chosen by
the franchisor. Rudzewicz did no business in the state of Florida. The principal
contacts were in Michigan with the local office of Burger King. Rudzewicz had a local
operation with far less resources than Burger King. It would be fundamentally unfair
for Rudzewicz to be required to defend in Florida.
Note: It is important to remember that the contract had choice of law clause, but not
a forum selection clause.
Summary of Shaffer v. Heitner, 433 U.S. 186, 97 S. Ct. 2569, 53 L. Ed. 2d 683
(1977).
Facts
Greyhound, a Delaware corporation, lost a large antitrust judgment and Heitner (P)
initiated a shareholder derivative suit in Delaware against 28 officers and directors of
the corporation (i.e. Shaffer, D). Heitner owned one share of Greyhound stock and
was a nonresident of Delaware. Heitner filed a motion for sequestration of stock
owned by 21 of the defendants in order to obtain quasi-in-rem jurisdiction. The legal
situs of the stock was deemed to be in Delaware.
The Delaware sequestration statute allowed property within the state to be seized to
allow the Delaware court to obtain personal jurisdiction over the owner. Shaffer et al.
made a special appearance to challenge the courts jurisdiction on the grounds that
the statute was unconstitutional. Shaffer also asserted that there were insufficient
contacts to confer jurisdiction. The District Court found that the statute was valid,
and did not address the minimum contacts argument due to the finding that the legal
presence of the stock in Delaware conferred quasi-in rem jurisdiction.
Issues
1. Can a state obtain personal jurisdiction over a party based on that partys
ownership of property in the state?
2. Is quasi in rem jurisdiction subject to the constitutional requirements of
minimum contacts?
Holding and Rule (Marshall)
1. No. A state cannot obtain personal jurisdiction over a party based merely on
that partys ownership of property in the state.
2. Yes. Quasi in rem jurisdiction is subject to the constitutional requirements of
minimum contacts.
Rules
Whether or not a State can assert jurisdiction over a nonresident must be evaluated
according to the minimum-contacts standard of International Shoe Co. v.
Washington.
In rem jurisdiction: due process under the Fourteenth Amendment requires that the
basis for jurisdiction must be sufficient to justify exercising jurisdiction over the
interests of persons in the thing. The presence of property in a State may allow
jurisdiction by providing contacts among the forum State, the defendant, and the
litigation; for example, when claims to the property itself are the source of the
underlying controversy.
Where, as in this case, the property serving as the basis for jurisdiction is completely
unrelated to the plaintiffs cause of action, the presence of the property alone, i.e.,
absent other ties among the defendant, the State, and the litigation, would not
support the States jurisdiction.
Delawares assertion of jurisdiction over appellants, based solely as it is on the
statutory presence of appellants property in Delaware, violates the Due Process
Clause, which does not contemplate that a state may make binding a judgment
against an individual or corporate defendant with which the state has no contacts,
ties, or relations. Appellants holdings in the corporation do not provide contacts with
Delaware sufficient to support jurisdiction of that States courts over appellants.
Delaware state-court jurisdiction is not supported by that States interest in
supervising the management of a Delaware corporation and defining the obligations
of its officers and directors, since Delaware bases jurisdiction, not on appellants
status as corporate fiduciaries, but on the presence of their property in the State.
Though it may be appropriate for Delaware law to govern the obligations of
appellants to the corporation and stockholders, this does not mean that appellants
have purposefully availed themselves of the privilege of conducting activities within
the forum State. See Hanson v. Denckla. Appellants, who were not required to
acquire interests in the corporation in order to hold their positions, did not by
acquiring those interests surrender their right to be brought to judgment in the States
in which they had minimum contacts.
Discussion
In Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank and Trust we held certain Fourteenth
Amendment rights attach once an adverse judgment in rem directly affects the
property owner by divesting him of his rights in the property. If jurisdiction over
property involves jurisdiction over a persons interests, the proper standard is the
minimum contacts standard of International Shoe. This makes the assertion of
jurisdiction over the property an assertion of jurisdiction over the person. Thus, all
assertions of jurisdiction must be determined according to the standards of
International Shoe and its progeny.
Delaware has a strong interest in supervising the management of corporations
created within its borders. The legislature must assert that interest, however.
Delaware is not a fair forum for this litigation because the officers and directors have
never set foot in the state and have not purposefully availed themselves of the
benefits and protections of the state.
Disposition
Reversed.
Concurring (Powell)
I reserve judgment as to whether ownership of real property in a jurisdiction may
provide the contacts necessary for jurisdiction. Quasi in rem jurisdiction should
remain valid when real property is involved.
Concurring (Stevens)
This holding should not be read to invalidate in rem jurisdiction.
Concurring in Part and Dissenting in Part (Brennan)
The use of minimum contacts is more than justified and it represents a sensible
approach to the exercise of state court jurisdiction, however the majoritys approach
to minimum contacts is wrong. To be proper, State court jurisdiction must have both
notice and a long arm statute. Under this case there is no such statute.
As a general rule, a state forum has jurisdiction to adjudicate a shareholder derivative
action centering on the conduct and policies of the directors and officers of a
corporation incorporated in that State. I therefore would not foreclose Delaware from
asserting jurisdiction over appellants were it persuaded to do so on the basis of
minimum contacts. Heitner however never pleaded or demonstrated that the
defendants had minimum contacts with the state.
Greyhounds choice of incorporation in Delaware is a prima facie showing of
submission to its jurisdiction. There was a voluntary association with the State of
Delaware invoking the benefits and protections of its laws. The majority opinion is
purely advisory once it finds that the state statute is invalid.
Summary of International Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 66 S. Ct. 154, 90 L.
Ed. 95 (1945).
Facts
International Shoe Co. (D, appellant) was a Delaware corporation with its principle
place of business in St. Louis, Missouri. It had no offices in the state of Washington
and made no contracts for sale there. International Shoe did not keep merchandise in
Washington and did not make deliveries of goods in intrastate commerce originating
from the state.
International Shoe employed 11-13 salesmen for three years who resided in
Washington. Their commissions each year totaled more than $31,000 and
International Shoe reimbursed them for expenses. Prices, terms, and acceptance or
rejection of footwear orders were established through St. Louis. Salesmen did not
have authority to make contracts or collections.
The state of Washington brought suit against International Shoe in Washington State
court to recover unpaid contributions to the unemployment compensation fund.
Notice was served personally on an agent of the defendant within the state and by
registered mail to corporate headquarters. The Supreme Court of Washington held
that the state had jurisdiction to hear the case and International Shoe appealed.
Issue
Did International Shoes activities in Washington make it subject to personal
jurisdiction in Washington courts?
Holding and Rule (Stone)
Yes. Minimum contacts with the forum state can enable a court in that state to
exert personal jurisdiction over a party consistent with the Due Process
clause.
A casual presence of a corporation or its agent in a state in single or isolated
incidents is not enough to establish jurisdiction. Acts of agents of the corporation,
because of the nature, quality, and circumstances of their commission, may be
deemed sufficient. Consent may be implied from the corporations presence and
activities in the state through the acts of authorized agents.
The activities carried on by defendant corporation in Washington were systematic and
continuous rather than irregular or casual. The defendant received the benefits and
protection of the laws of the state and is subject to jurisdiction there.
Relevant factors
International Shoe had conducted systematic and continuous business operations in
Washington. A large volume of interstate business for the defendant was created
through its agents within the state and the corporation received the benefits and
protection of Washingtons laws. International Shoe had established agents in the
state permanently.
Disposition
Affirmed judgment for the plaintiff.
See Pennoyer v. Neff for a law school civil procedure case brief presenting an issue
of personal jurisdiction in connection with personal service of process and quasi in
rem proceedings.
The Supreme Court in Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz set forth the balancing
factors for the personal jurisdiction reasonableness test.