Opinion ID: 410289
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Constitutional Constraint: Due Process

Text: 32 To determine whether maintenance of this suit in United States courts is consistent with due process, we must apply the minimum contacts standard established by International Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 66 S.Ct. 154, 90 L.Ed. 95 (1945). 17 See Texas Trading, 647 F.2d at 314. If sufficient affiliating circumstances exist, the defendants should have reasonably anticipated being subject to suit here, and notions of fairness are satisfied. World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, 444 U.S. 286, 291-99, 100 S.Ct. 559, 563-568, 62 L.Ed.2d 490 (1980). 33 Clearly, Melli has purposefully avail[ed] itself of the privilege of conducting activities in the United States, Hanson v. Denckla, 357 U.S. 235, 253, 78 S.Ct. 1228, 1239, 2 L.Ed.2d 1283 (1958), and thus has clear notice that it is subject to suit here, World-Wide Volkswagen Corp., 444 U.S. at 297, 100 S.Ct. at 567. Since 1969, Melli has maintained an active office in New York City. Indeed, in its filings with the Superintendent of Banking of the State of New York, Melli has emphasized the commercial significance of its United States office. Moreover, the business transaction in which Melli is involved in this case requires substantial performance in this country. 34 NIRT entered into a contract requiring performance by Harris in the United States and involving the training of NIRT personnel here as well. Harris asserts that such business conduct constitutes a contact sufficient to sustain the exercise of personal jurisdiction. It is not necessary for us to resolve that question, however, for NIRT did not raise the issue of lack of personal jurisdiction in the district court. 35 Generally, an appellate court will not consider issues not raised in the district court, e.g., United States v. 34.60 Acres of Land, 642 F.2d 788, 790 (5th Cir.), cert. denied sub nom., Van Cleve v. United States, 454 U.S. 107, 102 S.Ct. 125, 70 L.Ed.2d 107 (1981), and we decline to make exception here. Lack of jurisdiction over the person, unlike subject matter jurisdiction, is a waivable defect. Petrowski v. Hawkeye-Security Insurance Co., 350 U.S. 495, 76 S.Ct. 490, 100 L.Ed. 639 (1956); Fed.R.Civ.Pro. 12(h)(1). Where a defendant does not raise the defense of lack of personal jurisdiction at the appropriate time in the district court, the objection is waived and the defendant is considered to have conferred jurisdiction by consent. 18 See Rauch v. Day & Night Manufacturing Corp., 576 F.2d 697, 701 (6th Cir. 1978); Zelson v. Thomforde, 412 F.2d 56, 59 (3d Cir. 1969).