Jurisdiction -- 2016



Bristol-Myers Squibbhuntn Company v. Superior Court (Anderson)   (California Supreme Court)

Business and industry opposes finding of California jurisdiction

The NAM filed an amicus brief in the California Supreme Court to safeguard manufacturers’ due process rights. The NAM’s involvement followed a California court decision to extend specific jurisdiction to force a non-resident corporate defendant to appear in California courts because the corporation had engaged in “substantial, continuous economic activity” in California. If upheld, this decision would have dramatically increased manufacturers’ exposure to liability. The NAM’s brief argued that it is unreasonable and unlawful to extend jurisdiction to the California court system when neither the plaintiffs nor defendants are residents of the state. While the California Supreme Court did not hold in NAM’s favor, the U.S. Supreme Court later overturned that holding.


Related Documents:
NAM brief  (June 10, 2015)
NAM letter  (September 25, 2014)