Case Updates
Case dismissed
May 01, 2017
Click here to view the opinion.
U.S. Chamber asks Eighth Circuit to reject personal-jurisdiction-by-joinder theory
September 16, 2016
In an amicus brief filed in the Eighth Circuit, the U.S. Chamber and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America urged the court to reverse a district court’s ruling confusing fundamental concepts of personal jurisdiction. Namely, the district court exercised specific personal jurisdiction over claims brought by out-of-state plaintiffs that have nothing to do with the forum state simply because they were joined with the claims of in-state plaintiffs.
The Chamber’s brief argued that this personal-jurisdiction-by-joinder theory violates due process because it does not require that a defendant’s conduct related to the claim bare a substantial connection with the forum. Moreover, the brief explained that allowing out-of-state plaintiffs to obtain specific personal jurisdiction through joinder harms businesses and courts, and also violates basic principles of federalism.
Andrew J. Pincus, Archis A. Parasharami, Matthew A. Waring, and Donald M. Falk of Mayer Brown LLP served as co-counsel for the amici.
Case Documents
- Plaintiffs' Motion to Remand -- Robinson v. Pfizer, Inc. (Eighth Circuit).pdf
- Pfizer's Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion to Remand -- Robinson v. Pfizer, Inc. (Eighth Circuit).pdf
- Plaintiffs' Reply Brief -- Robinson v. Pfizer, Inc. (Eighth Circuit).pdf
- Order re Motions to Remand and Stay -- Robinson v. Pfizer, Inc. (Eighth Circuit).pdf
- Plaintiffs-Appellees Motion to Dismiss Appeal -- Robinson v. Pfizer, Inc. (Eighth Circuit).pdf
- Defendant-Appellant's Response to Motion to Dismiss Appeal -- Robinson v. Pfizer, Inc. (Eighth Circuit)_0.pdf
- Plaintiffs-Appellees' Reply in Further Support of Motion to Dismiss -- Robinson v. Pfizer, Inc. (Eighth Circuit).pdf
- Brief for Plaintiffs-Appellees -- Robinson v. Pfizer, Inc. (Eighth Circuit).pdf
- Brief of Appellant Pfizer Inc. -- Robinson v. Pfizer, Inc. (Eighth Circuit).pdf
- Reply Brief of Appellant Pfizer Inc. -- Robinson v. Pfizer, Inc. (Eighth Circuit)_0.pdf
- U.S. Chamber Amicus Brief -- Robinson v. Pfizer, Inc. (Eighth Circuit).pdf
- American Tort Reform Association Amicus Brief -- Robinson v. Pfizer, Inc. (Eighth Circuit).pdf
- Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers Amicus Brief -- Robinson v. Pfizer, Inc. (Eighth Circuit).pdf
- Washington Legal Foundation Amicus Brief -- Robinson v. Pfizer, Inc. (Eighth Circuit).pdf
- Reply Brief of Appellant Pfizer -- Robinson v. Pfizer, Inc. (Eighth Circuit).pdf
- Opinion -- Robinson v. Pfizer, Inc. (Eighth Circuit).pdf