Opinion ID: 755901
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: States Interest in Furthering Fundamental Substantive

Text: Social Policies 52 The fifth factor we consider is the interests of the several states, in addition to the forum state, in advancing fundamental substantive social policies. Our analysis of this factor focuses on whether the exercise of personal jurisdiction by Kansas affects the substantive social policy interests of other states or foreign nations. See Asahi, 480 U.S. at 115, 107 S.Ct. 1026. The possible conflict with a foreign nation's sovereignty is not dispositive because, if given controlling weight, it would always prevent suit against a foreign national in a United States court. Gates Learjet Corp. v. Jensen, 743 F.2d 1325, 1333 (9th Cir.1984). Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has cautioned that great care and reserve should be exercised when extending our notions of personal jurisdiction into the international field. Asahi, 480 U.S. at 115, 107 S.Ct. 1026. 53 Important to this inquiry is the extent to which jurisdiction in the forum state interferes with the foreign nation's sovereignty. Id. Facts courts have relied on to determine whether the exercise of jurisdiction interferes with sovereignty include whether one of the parties is a citizen of the foreign nation, see FDIC v. British-American Ins. Co., Ltd., 828 F.2d at 1444, whether the foreign nation's law governs the dispute, e.g., id.,and whether the foreign nation's citizen chose to conduct business with a forum resident. See Burger King, 471 U.S. at 476, 105 S.Ct. 2174; Grand Entertainment Group, Ltd. v. Star Media Sales, Inc., 988 F.2d 476, 484 (3d Cir.1993). 54 Exercising personal jurisdiction in Kansas would affect the policy interests of Canada. Defendants are Canadian corporations. They entered into insurance contracts in Canada, with Plaintiff's Canadian parent company. The contracts are governed by Canadian law. Moreover, when jurisdiction is exercised over a foreign citizen regarding a contract entered into in the foreign country, the country's sovereign interest in interpreting its laws and resolving disputes involving its citizens is implicated. Paccar International, Inc. v. Commercial Bank of Kuwait, S.A.K., 757 F.2d 1058, 1065 (9th Cir.1985). This factor also weighs in Defendants' favor.