Forum
U.S. Supreme Court
Case Status
Decided
Docket Number
Term
2013 Term
Oral Argument Date
November 04, 2013
Questions Presented
1. Whether due process permits a court to exercise personal jurisdiction over a defendant whose sole "contact" with the forum State is his knowledge that the plaintiff has connections to that State.
2. Whether the judicial district where the plaintiff suffered injury is a district "in which a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred" for purposes of establishing venue under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2) even if the defendant's alleged acts and omissions all occurred in another district.
Case Updates
U.S. Supreme Court reverses Ninth Circuit decision regarding jurisdiction
February 25, 2014
The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the Ninth Circuit holding that because the defendant had no other connections with Nevada and his contacts cannot be decisive in determining in his rights, the district court in Nevada cannot exercise jurisdiction here.
U.S. Chamber urges Supreme Court to reverse decision by Ninth Circuit
June 04, 2013
In its brief, NCLC urged the Supreme Court to reverse a ruling of the Ninth Circuit, which dramatically expands the reach of federal courts by broadly interpreting the “effects test”for personal jurisdiction. NCLC argued in its amicus brief that jurisdiction based on the effects of a nonresident defendant's out-of-state conduct requires that the defendant expressly aim that conduct at the forum. NCLC urged the Court the narrowly construe the so-called effects test due to its lack of historical pedigree. NCLC argued that the Ninth Circuit's formulation of the effects test does not comport with the due process limits on the exercise of personal jurisdiction and pointed out that the constitutional standard for the effects test does not depend on whether the defendant is engaged in commercial activity. Additionally, NCLC pointed out that Congress has declined to authorize the sweeping theory of jurisdiction employed by the Ninth Circuit.
Case Documents
- Cert. Petition -- Walden v. Fiore (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- Brief in Opposition -- Walden v. Fiore (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- Reply Brief for Petitioner -- Walden v. Fiore (U.S. Supreme Court)_0.pdf
- Brief for Petitioner -- Walden v. Fiore (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- Adams Amicus Brief -- Walden v. Fiore (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- New England Legal Foundation and Associated Industries of Massachusetts Amicus Brief -- Walden v. Fiore (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- U.S. Amicus Brief -- Walden v. Fiore (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- NCLC amicus brief -- Walden v. Fiore (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Amicus Brief -- Walden v. Fiore (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- Alabama Amicus Brief -- Walden v. Fiore (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- Brief of the Respondents -- Walden v. Fiore (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- Worker's Injury Law & Advocacy Group Amicus Brief -- Walden v. Fiore (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- Reply Brief for Petitioner -- Walden v. Fiore (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- Opinion--Walden v. Fiore (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf