/spuh-SIF-ik in per-SOH-nam ju-ris-DIK-shun/·doctrine
Also known as:specific in personam jurisdictions · specific personal jurisdiction
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A basis for a court's authority to adjudicate claims against a nonresident defendant when those claims arise out of or relate to the defendant's purposeful contacts with the forum state.
Sources & Authorities
How it applies
Common Examples
4
Nonresident Plaintiff Claims Dismissed
Stella Shapiro, a resident of State A, purchased a defective product from Sentinel Security and suffered injury in State A. Sophia Singh, a resident of State B, purchased the identical product from an unrelated dealer in State B and suffered injury there. Stella and Sophia jointly sued Sentinel Security in State A court. The court may exercise specific in personam jurisdiction over Sentinel Security as to Stella's claim but not Sophia's because Sophia's claim lacks any connection to State A.
Manufacturer Market Contacts Support Jurisdiction
Sarah Sullivan, a resident of State C, purchased a vehicle from Sterling Manufacturing through a private resale outside State C. Sterling Manufacturing extensively advertised in State C, maintained dealerships there, and supplied replacement parts to State C customers. Sarah suffered injury in State C when the vehicle malfunctioned. The court may exercise specific in personam jurisdiction over Sterling Manufacturing because Sarah's product-liability claim relates to the company's deliberate market exploitation in State C.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Cases
Study Supplements
Single Insurance Contract Creates Jurisdiction
Spencer Silver, a resident of State D, purchased an insurance policy from Summit Bank after the company solicited the contract in State D. Spencer suffered a covered loss in State D and sued Summit Bank there for breach. The court may exercise specific in personam jurisdiction over Summit Bank because the suit arises directly out of the single deliberate contact with State D and the forum has a strong interest in protecting its resident.
Targeted Website Supports Jurisdiction
Sydney Santos, a resident of State E, used Stonehaven Properties' website to book a hotel room after the site provided State E-specific rates, accepted the reservation, and supplied driving directions from State E. Sydney was injured at the hotel and sued Stonehaven Properties in State E court. The court may exercise specific in personam jurisdiction over Stonehaven Properties because the website specifically targeted State E residents and the claim relates to those contacts.
Common questions
Frequently Asked
4
What distinguishes specific in personam jurisdiction from general in personam jurisdiction?+
Specific in personam jurisdiction requires that the plaintiff's claim arise out of or relate to the defendant's contacts with the forum. General in personam jurisdiction permits adjudication of any claim when the defendant's contacts are so continuous and systematic that the defendant is at home in the forum.
Supporting sources
Must every plaintiff's claim have an independent forum connection for specific in personam jurisdiction?+
Yes. A court cannot exercise specific in personam jurisdiction over a nonresident plaintiff's claim that lacks any forum-related activity or in-forum injury even if the defendant is subject to jurisdiction on similar claims brought by resident plaintiffs.
Supporting sources
Can a manufacturer's forum advertising and dealer network support specific in personam jurisdiction even if the particular product was not sold in the forum?+
Yes. When a manufacturer extensively advertises, maintains dealerships, and supplies replacement parts in the forum, thereby creating and exploiting a market, a product-liability claim relates to those contacts even if the individual unit reached the plaintiff through another route.
Supporting sources
Does a single contract solicited in the forum suffice for specific in personam jurisdiction?+
Yes. A single deliberate contact such as solicitation and maintenance of an insurance contract with a forum resident can support specific in personam jurisdiction when the suit arises out of that contact and the forum has a strong interest in providing redress to its residents.
Supporting sources
141 S. Ct. 1017 (2021)Civil Procedure
…in the judgment — Justice Alito These cases can and should be decided without any alteration or refinement of our case law on specific personal jurisdiction. To be sure, for the reasons outlined in Justice Gorsuch’s thoughtful opinion, there are grounds for questioning the standard that the Court adopted in International Shoe Co. v.…
Family LawSeparation, divorce, dissolution, and annulment · Jurisdiction and recognition of decreesUBEFoundational