Opinion ID: 1185853
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: california's interest in assuming jurisdiction

Text: The majority asserts  without explanation  that California has an interest in providing a forum since plaintiff is a California resident. A forum's interest in assuming jurisdiction is a factor often weighed in determining whether jurisdiction may be exercised within the constraints of due process. However, a forum's interest is generally based upon much more than plaintiff's mere residence within the forum state. The reasoning of McGee v. International Life Ins. Co., supra, 355 U.S. 220, 223 [2 L.Ed.2d 223, 226], upon which the majority relies, is illustrative: The contract was delivered in California, the premiums were mailed from there and the insured was a resident of that State when he died. It cannot be denied that California has a manifest interest in providing effective means of redress for its residents when their insurers refuse to pay claims. These residents would be at a severe disadvantage if they were forced to follow the insurance company to a distant State in order to hold it legally accountable. When claims were small ... claimants frequently could not afford the cost of bringing an action in a foreign forum.... Plaintiff's circumstances here, and California's resultant interests in providing a forum, are manifestly distinguishable from McGee. Defendant did not engage in any California activity giving rise to the cause of action; rather, plaintiff voluntarily left her state and became involved in a Nevada accident. Further, plaintiff has made no showing she would be at a severe disadvantage if required to litigate in Nevada. Finally, the substance of plaintiff's claim is obviously sufficient to justify the costs of Nevada litigation. Our busy courts should have little interest in assuring each resident who leaves the state that he may return to litigate every wrong incurred in his travels. The day of the flag following one to Tripoli has passed. It is plaintiff's burden to prove facts of jurisdiction by a preponderance of evidence. ( Arnesen v. Raymond Lee Organization, Inc., 31 Cal. App.3d 991, 995 [107 Cal. Rptr. 744].) Plaintiff has failed to do so. The judgment should be affirmed.