Document: 342 U.S. 437 72 S.Ct. 413 96 L.Ed. 485 PERKINSv.BENGUET CONSOLIDATED MINING CO. et al. No. 85. Argued Nov. 27, 28, 1951. Decided March 3, 1952. Rehearing Denied 31, See 343 917, 645. Mr. Robert N. Gorman, Cincinnati, Ohio, for petitioner. Lucien H. Mercier, Washington, D.C., respondent. Justice BURTON delivered the opinion of Court. 1 This case calls an answer to question whether Due Process Clause Fourteenth Amendment Constitution United States precludes Ohio from subjecting a foreign corporation jurisdiction its courts in this action personam. The has been carrying on continuous and systematic, but limited, part general business. Its president, while engaged doing such business served with summons proceeding. cause sued upon did not arise does relate corporation's activities there. For reasons hereafter stated, we hold that leaves free take or decline over corporation. 2 After extended litigation elsewhere1 petitioner, Idonah Slade Perkins, nonresident filed two actions personam Court Common Pleas Clermont County, against several respondents. Among those is Benguet Consolidated Mining Company, here called mining company. It styled 'sociedad anonima' under laws Philippine Islands, where it owns operated profitable gold silver mines. In one petitioner seeks approximately $68,400 dividends claimed be due her as stockholder. other she claims $2,500,000 damages largely because company's failure issue certificates 120,000 shares stock. 3 each trial court sustained motion quash service Com.Pl., 99 N.E.2d 515. Appeals affirmed decision, 88 App. 118, 95 5, Supreme 155 St. 116, 98 33. cases were consolidated granted certiorari order pass conclusion voiced within below federal process required result there reached. 808, 33, —-. 4 We start holding contested here, that, law, company treated corporation.2 Actual notice proceeding was given instant through regular president he acting capacity. Accordingly, can no jurisdictional objection based lack responsible representative 5 state are open personam, amply notified corporation, enforce arising related State rests entirely law unless compels decision either way. 6 suggestion substance. 7 'Provisions making corporations subject matter legislative discretion, provide denial process. Still less incumbent furnishing make wide enough include adjudication transitory state.' Missouri P.R. Co. v. Clarendon Co., 257 533, 535, 42 210, 211, 66 354. 8 Also without merit argument merely permits complainant maintain properly natural person which out anything done therefore, like relief 9 A more serious presented by claim prohibits granting syllabus report below, denying sought, indicate rested Amendment. first paragraph follows: 10 '1. appointed statutory agent whom made otherwise consented brought state, will way 117, 34. 11 If above statement stood alone, might mean solely Ohio. support possibility told rules practice only necessarily carries approval court.3 As understand practice, constitutes official must read light facts issues case. 12 accompanying places concurrence author unequivocally ground exercising respondent proceeding.4 That report, however, disclose what extent, if any, members may have shared view expressed opinion. us allow judgment stand would risk affirmance decided differently had felt free, our decisions, do so. 13 primarily relied Old Wayne Life Ass'n McDonough, 204 8, 27 236, 51 345, Simon Southern R. 236 115, 35 255, 59 492. Unlike at bar, actual proceedings received case, public who attempt bind held necessary authority accept so outside forum. pages 22—23, 240—241, page 130, 260. finding inadequate bound it. same true today directed authority, statute otherwise, kind At time rendering decisions aided, reaching limited scope officials, Court's conception precluded giving officials terms broad obligation now modified rationale adopted later particularly International Shoe 326 310, 154, 90 95. 14 Today authorized physically present forum appropriate accepting receiving behalf, recognize unfairness representative. squarely least relation forum.5 15 essence constitutional level, fairness Appropriate tests discussed supra, 317—320, 158, 160. amount carried reasonable just determined corporate which, statute, secure license designate helpful conclusive test. example, require lawfully carry functional intrastate operations refining ore. On hand, on, systematic here—consisting directors' meetings, correspondence, banking, stock transfers, payment salaries, purchasing machinery, etc.—those fair insofar seek causes relating very state. 16 takes step further Using mentioned find requirement opening conforms realistic reasoning 318—319, 159—160: 17 '* * instances thought substantial nature justify suit dealings distinct activities. Missouri, K. & T.R. Reynolds, 255 565, 41 446, 65 788;6 Tauza Susquehanna Coal 220 N.Y. 259, 115 N.E. 915; cf. Louis S.W.R. Alexander, supra (227 218, 33 245, 57 486). 18 some amenable supported resort legal fiction consent suit, being implied presence acts agents. Lafayette Insurance French, How. 404, 407; Clair Cox, 106 (350) 356, (354) 359, 222; Commercial Mutual Accident Davis, 213 (245) 254, 29 (445) 447, 53 782; Washington Superior Court, 289 361, 364, 365, 624, 626, 627, 77 1256. But realistically said fiction. Smolik Philadelphia Reading 222 F. 148, 151. Henderson, Position Foreign Corporations American Constitutional Law, 94, 19 Whether satisfied depend rather quality activity orderly administration purpose clause insure. contemplate binding individual defendant contacts, ties, relations. Cf. Pennoyer Neff, (95 714, 24 565); Minnesota Assn. Benn, 261 140, 43 293, 67 573.' 20 remains consider, detail, whether, process, sufficiently permit entertain arose 318, 159. 21 summarized evidence subject. 119—125, 6—9. From summary following substantially beyond controversy: properties Islands. completely halted during occupation Islands Japanese. During interim also manager principal stockholder company, returned his home There maintained office conducted personal affairs many things behalf He kept files correspondence employees. drew distributed salary checks both own favor secretaries worked him. used active bank accounts balances funds. Hamilton acted transfer Several meetings County. supervised policies dealing rehabilitation Philippines dispatched funds cover purchases machinery rehabilitation. Thus supervision wartime discharged duties manager, Japanese immediately thereafter. While owned attention summons. Consideration circumstances ultimately determine choose reserved State. Without policy, conclude recited, violate relieves restriction influenced below. 22 vacated remanded opinion.7 23 ordered. Judgment proceedings. 25 BLACK concurs result. 26 MINTON, CHIEF JUSTICE joins, dissenting. I agreed stated syllabus. filed, expresses views writer join him why declared Judge Taft alone 28 syllabus, whole speaking, clearly adequate grounds. opinions grounds declare majority points out, erroneous decisions. 'This brings situation settled rule whereby review resting independent nonfederal even though summoned law.' Radio Station WOW Johnson, 120, 129, 1475, 1480, 89 2092. Tax Comm'n Van Cott, 306 511, 605, 83 950, ground, interwoven 'unable interpretation 514, 606. clear Only approved court. 30 What saying is: 'You service, you right do, don't want to, far concerned.' think gratuitously advisory dismiss writ improvidently granted. Perkins Phil.R. 205; Harden 58 141; Guaranty Trust 274 250, 849; Beneguet 55 Cal.App.2d 720, 132 P.2d 70, rehearing denied, 774, 102, 319 63 1435, 37 1721; 60 845, 141 19, 320 803, 815, 64 429, 485; First National Bank 79 requires transact 'business' State, Throckmorton's Code, 1940, § 8625—4, appoint 'designated agent' served, §§ 8625—2, 8625—5. neither secured nor designated agent. penalties handicaps, prevent transacting sued. 8625—25. 'managing 11290. Such permissive alternative chief officer. 11288. Lively Picton, Cir., 218 401, 406—407. Appeals. constitute transaction referred Code. passing sufficiency purpose, defining use term, dismissing complaint assumed constituted 'doing business' extent sufficient recognized decision. 1858 promulgated rule: 'A shall writing, assigned deliver confined And submitted Judges concurring therein, revisal, before publication thereof; inserted book reports alteration, therein.' vii. policy statute. Bates R.S. 427, amended, 103 Laws 1913, 1483, 108 1919, 1483. appears 'Whenever thus thereof prepared judge delivering opinion, court; per curiam, reported, written brief concise form consistent presentation reported accordance provisions section receive sanction any references syllabi Typical these following: 'It long contains requiring all judgment. Where writing discusses matters gives expression questions contained judge.' ex rel. Donahey Edmondson, 93, 107—108, 105 269, 273, 52 L.R.A.,N.S., 305. also, Williamson Heater Radich, 128 124, 190 403; Baltimore O.R. Baillie, 112 567, 148 233. than itself. supra; Bright, 109 14, 19—20, 689, 690—691; re Poage, 87 72, 82—83, 100 125, 127—128. 'However, Indianapolis 22, 23, 345; Ry. 130 132, See, Pennsylvania Fire Ins. Gold Issue Milling 243 96, 344, 61 610; Mitchell Furniture Selden Breck Construction 213, 215 216, 84, 201; 320, 'An examination foregoing instance void wanting 119—120, 35. evident establish contacts ties according traditional play justice obligations appellant incurred Hence cannot say maintenance involves unreasonable undue procedure.' citation significance thrown Reynolds 224 Mass. 379, 113 413; 228 584, 117 913. addition cited text see Barrow S.S. Kane, 170 100, 526, 964; 610 (statutory appointed); McKibbin, 264, 268—269, 280, 281, 282, 710 (question left open). procedure followed somewhat comparable 950.

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