Opinion ID: 1149598
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Minimum Contacts/Due Process

Text: The general principle regarding the exercise of jurisdiction over a nonresident is that he may not be subjected to a litigation in a foreign jurisdiction unless he has `certain minimum contacts with it such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend the traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice'. International Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 316, 66 S.Ct. 154, 90 L.Ed. 95, 102 (1945). Administrators of the Tulane Ed. Fund v. Cooley, 462 So.2d 696, 702 (Miss. 1984). These contacts must amount to something more than occasional fortuitous instances where the defendant had in the past come into some casual, isolated contact with an in-state resident. Cooley, 462 So.2d at 703 (citing Worldwide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, 444 U.S. 286, 295, 100 S.Ct. 559, 566, 62 L.Ed.2d 490, 500 (1980)) Purposeful activity by a non-resident in the forum state may subject him to in personam jurisdiction there. If a nonresident corporate or individual defendant has purposefully availed itself of the privilege of conducting activities within the forum state, then it is considered not unfair that the nonresident's important rights be adjudged in that forum. Hanson v. Denckla, 357 U.S. 235, 253, 78 S.Ct. 1228, 1240, 2 L.Ed.2d 1283, 1298 (1958). See Wilkinson v. Mercantile National Bank, 529 So.2d 616, 618-20 (Miss. 1988); Anderson v. Sonat Exploration Co., 523 So.2d 1024, 1026-27 (Miss. 1988). We perceive no constitutional imperative that the action arise out of the non-resident defendant's contacts/activities in this state. Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia v. Hall, 466 U.S. 408, 414, 104 S.Ct. 1868, 80 L.Ed.2d 404, 411 (1984); Perkins v. Benquet Consolidated Mining Co., 342 U.S. 437, 72 S.Ct. 413, 96 L.Ed. 485 (1952); Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund v. Cooley, 462 So.2d 696, 703 (Miss. 1984). All that is required is that the non-resident defendant have continuous and systematic general contacts with this state. See Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 35(3) (1971). In the latter years of his life, Speaks had such Mississippi contacts. The Circuit Court did not err in holding the Estate of Speaks subject to in personam jurisdiction in this state.