MBE Rules · Civil Procedure
Specific personal jurisdiction — minimum contacts
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The rule
Specific PJ requires (1) minimum contacts with the forum, (2) the claim arising out of or related to those contacts, and (3) the exercise of jurisdiction comporting with fair play and substantial justice. Contacts must show purposeful availment of the forum's benefits.
In plain English
A court can hear a case if the defendant has enough connection to the place where the court is, the case is related to that connection, and it's fair to make them show up there.
Worked example
A Florida company sells products online to Texas residents. A Texas buyer sues for a defective product. The Texas court can hear the case because the company purposely sold to Texas, creating a connection.
Memory hook
Contact Counts, Claim Connects! Minimum contacts + related claim = jurisdiction if fair.
The trap
Students think: any contact is enough. Wrong, because it must show purposeful availment. The actual test is specific contacts related to the claim.
How examiners test it
The MBE loves: business transactions in the forum but unrelated to the claim. Trap: students assume any contact suffices — but it must relate to the claim.
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