Opinion ID: 1161850
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: jurisdiction over ms. gibson

Text: In determining personal jurisdiction, we must first decide whether the service requirements of Rule 4, W.R.C.P., have been met. If Rule 4 is satisfied, we must then determine whether the court's exercise of jurisdiction is consistent with due process. See First Wyoming Bank, N.A., Rawlins v. Trans Mountain Sales & Leasing, Inc., Wyo., 602 P.2d 1219 (1979). With respect to Ms. Gibson, there appears to be no deficiency in service of process. Accordingly, we will focus on whether due process considerations precluded the district court from exercising personal jurisdiction over her. W.S. 5-1-107(a), provides that a Wyoming court may exercise jurisdiction on any basis not inconsistent with the Wyoming or United States Constitution. This statute extends state court jurisdiction in Wyoming to the constitutionally permissible limit. Shanks v. Westland Equipment and Parts Co., 668 F.2d 1165 (10th Cir.1982). The principal question in this appeal is whether it is constitutionally permissible to predicate personal jurisdiction on temporary physical presence and personal service within the forum state. The continued vitality of jurisdiction based on physical presence, sometimes called transient jurisdiction, has been discussed by many commentators and several courts. While the commentators have been largely critical of the doctrine, [1] most courts have concluded that it is still valid. [2] In urging that transient jurisdiction is no longer constitutionally permissible, appellees rely heavily on the following statement contained in Shaffer v. Heitner, 433 U.S. 186, 97 S.Ct. 2569, 2584, 53 L.Ed.2d 683 (1977): [A]ll assertions of state-court jurisdiction must be evaluated according to the standards set forth in International Shoe [326 U.S. 310, 66 S.Ct. 154, 90 L.Ed. 95, 161 A.L.R. 1057 (1945)] and its progeny. Contrary to appellees' assertions, this statement does not require minimum contacts analysis. Instead, it merely requires that the standards set forth in International Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 66 S.Ct. 154, 90 L.Ed. 95, 161 A.L.R. 1057 (1945), and its progeny must be met. In International Shoe, the Court recognized an exception from minimum contacts analysis when the defendant is present in the forum state: [D]ue process requires only that in order to subject a defendant to a judgment in personam, if he be not present within the territory of the forum, he have certain minimum contacts with it such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend `traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.' (emphasis added and citation omitted) 66 S.Ct. at 158. See also Amusement Equipment, Inc. v. Mordelt, 779 F.2d 264, 269 (5th Cir.1985). Appellee has cited, and we have found, no subsequent United States Supreme Court cases requiring minimum contacts where service is made upon an individual within the forum state. If an individual is served while present in the forum state, minimum contacts analysis is not appropriate for determining jurisdiction over that individual. Amusement Equipment, supra. Although minimum contacts analysis is inappropriate, exercise of personal jurisdiction still must satisfy due process, which requires that maintenance of the suit does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice. Amusement Equipment, supra 779 F.2d at 269 (discussing Insurance Corp. of Ireland, Ltd. v. Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinee, 456 U.S. 694, 102 S.Ct. 2099, 72 L.Ed.2d 492 (1982)). We are convinced that transient jurisdiction does not offend this standard. [A] traditional notion of fair play and substantial justice has been that presence alone is sufficient to support personal jurisdiction   . Amusement Equipment, supra 779 F.2d at 270. Jurisdiction based upon personal service within the forum state is a concept that is historically entrenched, nearly universally recognized, very predictable, and easy to apply. One cannot claim unfair surprise when he enters a state and is subjected to the jurisdiction of that state's courts.