Opinion ID: 174852
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Arise Out of or Relate to Forum Activities

Text: We also must determine whether a nexus exists between the Defendant['s] forum-related contacts and the Plaintiff's cause of action. TH Agric. & Nutrition, 488 F.3d at 1291 (brackets omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted). When analyzing this issue, courts generally follow one of three approaches: (1) proximate cause; (2) but-for causation; or (3) substantial connection. [6] See Dudnikov, 514 F.3d at 1078-80. Although we have rejected the substantial-connection approach outright, id. at 1078, we have not expressly pick[ed] sides (i.e., exclusively made an election) between the proximate-cause and the but-for-causation approaches, id. at 1079. [7] Proximate cause is the most restrictive approach and requires courts to analyze whether any of the defendant's contacts with the forum are relevant to the merits of the plaintiff's claim. Id. at 1078 (internal quotation marks omitted); see O'Connor, 496 F.3d at 318-19 (noting that the cause of action must arise out of the defendant's in-forum conduct). But-for causation is less restrictive and supports the exercise of personal jurisdiction based on any event in the causal chain leading to the plaintiff's injury. Dudnikov, 514 F.3d at 1078. We also need not elect in this case between the proximate-cause and but-for-causation approaches. Under either, the declaratory judgment action results from alleged injuries that arise out of or relate to Bartile's contacts with Wyoming. The proximate-cause approach is satisfied because Bartile's allegedly negligent work is relevant to the merits of the declaratory judgment action. In the declaratory judgment action, EMC seeks to avoid having to defend or indemnify Bartile for injuries arising out of the allegedly negligent work on the luxury hotel in Wyoming. The but-for causation approach is satisfied because Bartile's allegedly negligent work was an event in the causal chain leading to the request for a declaratory judgment.