Court Opinion

ID: 9714948
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 05:49:55.454779+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:29.901930
License: Public Domain

Mr. JUSTICE HARRISON, dissenting: I respectfully dissent. I believe that the contacts which NIPSCO has with Illinois, as set forth in the trial court’s certification to this court, are a sufficient basis to conclude that defendant is “doing business” in the State of Illinois and is, therefore, subject to the in personam jurisdiction of our State courts. Notwithstanding the long-arm statute, which I agree is without application in this case, the test to be applied is as follows: “[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.’ [Citations.]” (International Shoe Co. v. Washington (1945), 326 U.S. 310, 316, 90L. Ed. 95, 102, 66 S. Ct. 154, 158.) Since a corporation is involved, we must look to the activities of NIPSCO as carried on by its authorized agents. “Whether due process is satisfied must depend * * * upon the quality and nature of the activity in relation to the fair and orderly administration of the laws which it was the purpose of the due process clause to insure. That clause does not contemplate that a state may make binding a judgment in personam against * * * [a] corporate defendant with which the state has no contacts, ties, or relations.” International Shoe Co. v. Washington (1945), 326 U.S. 310, 319, 90 L. Ed. 95, 103-04, 66 S. Ct. 154, 160. The majority correctly cites an inquiry into “the relationship among the defendant, the forum, and the litigation” (Shaffer v. Heitner (1977), 433 U.S. 186, 204, 53 L. Ed. 2d 683, 698, 97 S. Ct. 2569, 2580), but seemingly construes that inquiry to mean that the business activities engaged in by the corporate defendant must give rise to the current cause of action now in litigation. This is simply incorrect. As the Supreme Court noted in the International Shoe case, “there have been instances in which the continuous corporate operations within a state were thought so substantial and of such a nature as to justify suit against it on causes of action arising from dealings entirely distinct from those activities.” (326 U.S. 310, 318, 90 L. Ed. 95, 103, 66 S. Ct. 154, 159.) The test is “that there be some act by which the defendant purposefully avails itself of the privilege of conducting activities within the forum State, thus invoking the benefits and protection of its laws.” (Hanson v. Denckla (1958), 357 U.S. 235, 253, 2 L. Ed. 2d 1283, 1298, 78 S. Ct. 1228, 1240.) If this occurs, “the defendant’s conduct and connection with the forum State are such that he should reasonably anticipate being haled into court there. ” e e [I]t has clear notice that it is subject to suit there, and can act to alleviate the risk of burdensome litigation by procuring insurance, passing the expected costs on to customers, or, if the risks are too great, severing its connection with the State.” World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson (1980), 444 U.S. 286, 297, 62 L. Ed. 2d 490, 501, 100 S. Ct. 559, 567. I believe that NIPSCO’s use of Chicago, Illinois, banks via contractual arrangements as depositories, disbursing agents, trustees for a mortgage and pension fund, and as stock transfer agents, the defendant’s agreement to buy and sell electrical power in Illinois, and its ownership of pipelines connected to others located in Illinois, all in combination, evidence NIPS-CO’s “doing business” in this State. It has purposefully availed itself of the privilege of conducting the activities such that it is reasonable to require it to defend the present suit in our courts. Can there be little doubt that NIPSCO, should legal problems emerge regarding its Chicago banking activities, the generation of Illinois power, or the maintenance of Illinois pipelines, would not run to an Illinois courthouse to protect its interests in those Illinois activities? I think not. To believe otherwise would be to ignore commercial and legal reality. That being the case, NIPSCO has a concomitant responsibility to defend suits brought against it in the same forum courts. Such a price for actively engaging in business in Illinois “does not offend ‘traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice, ’ ” but is consistent with due process. Since I disagree with the majority and would affirm the ruling of the circuit court, I respectfully dissent.