Bar Exam (Uniform) Quiz: Personal Jurisdiction

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Personal JurisdictionQuestion 1 of 20

A software company based in New York entered into a contract with a Texas corporation to provide custom software development services. The contract was negotiated via email and phone calls between the parties in their respective states. The contract contained a clause stating, 'Any disputes arising from this agreement shall be litigated exclusively in the state courts of New York.' A dispute arose, and the Texas corporation filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the software company in a Texas state court.

The New York software company filed a motion to dismiss. What is the most likely basis for the court to grant this motion? Select one.

Lack of subject matter jurisdiction, because the dispute involves parties from different states.

Lack of personal jurisdiction, because the New York company does not have sufficient minimum contacts with Texas.

Improper venue, based on the enforceable forum-selection clause in the contract.

Failure to state a claim, because the lawsuit was filed in the wrong court.

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Bar Exam (Uniform) Quiz

Bar Exam (Uniform) Quiz: Personal Jurisdiction

Practice Personal Jurisdiction in Bar Exam (Uniform) with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Personal Jurisdiction, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Bar Exam (Uniform).

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

The New York software company filed a motion to dismiss. What is the most likely basis for the court to grant this motion? Select one.

Lack of subject matter jurisdiction, because the dispute involves parties from different states.
Lack of personal jurisdiction, because the New York company does not have sufficient minimum contacts with Texas.
Improper venue, based on the enforceable forum-selection clause in the contract. (correct answer)
Failure to state a claim, because the lawsuit was filed in the wrong court.

Explanation: The correct answer is C. The motion should be based on the forum-selection clause. Such clauses are presumptively valid and enforceable. By agreeing to litigate exclusively in New York, the Texas corporation waived its right to sue in Texas. The proper procedural mechanism to enforce such a clause is typically a motion to dismiss for improper venue (or under the doctrine of forum non conveniens). A is incorrect because diversity of citizenship would support federal subject matter jurisdiction, not defeat state court jurisdiction. B is incorrect because while the New York company might have sufficient contacts for specific jurisdiction in Texas (related to the contract), the forum-selection clause acts as a waiver or consent to jurisdiction elsewhere and a bar to suing in Texas. D is incorrect as the complaint may state a valid claim for breach of contract, even if filed in the wrong court.

Question 2

A Florida-based author wrote a blog post on a nationally accessible website, falsely claiming that a particular California-based wine producer was using banned pesticides. The author has never been to California, owns no property there, and has no business dealings in the state. The wine producer, a California corporation with its principal place of business in California, saw its sales plummet and filed a defamation lawsuit against the author in a federal district court in California. The author was properly served in Florida.

The author moves to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. Is the California court likely to find it has jurisdiction over the author? Select one.

No, because the author lacks any physical contacts with California, and the blog post was not specifically targeted at California residents.
Yes, because the author knew the wine producer was based in California and intentionally directed a tortious act at the forum state, causing foreseeable harm there. (correct answer)
No, because exercising jurisdiction would violate the First Amendment by chilling speech on the internet.
Yes, because the website is nationally accessible, which means the author has established minimum contacts with every state, including California.

Explanation: Personal jurisdiction questions require analyzing whether a defendant has sufficient "minimum contacts" with the forum state such that exercising jurisdiction would be fair and reasonable. When the defendant lacks physical presence in the state, courts apply the "effects test" from Calder v. Jones for intentional torts. The California court will likely find jurisdiction here because the author intentionally targeted California by writing about a California-based business, knowing the false statements would cause reputational and economic harm in that state. Even though the author wrote from Florida, the tortious act was "directed at" California because the wine producer's business operations and reputation are centered there. The harm was also foreseeable—falsely accusing a business of using banned pesticides would predictably damage sales in its home market. Answer A is incorrect because physical contacts aren't required when a defendant intentionally directs tortious conduct at the forum state. The targeting analysis focuses on where the harm was intended to be felt, not geographic presence. Answer C misapplies First Amendment principles. While the First Amendment protects speech, it doesn't immunize speakers from jurisdiction in states where their defamatory statements cause harm. Personal jurisdiction and free speech are separate legal concepts. Answer D overstates the effect of internet accessibility. Simply posting content on a nationally accessible website doesn't automatically create minimum contacts with every state—there must still be some targeting or purposeful direction toward the specific forum. Study tip: In internet defamation cases, focus on where the defendant knew the harm would be felt, not just where they physically wrote the content. Geographic targeting matters more than physical location.

Question 3

A driver, a citizen of State A, was driving his car through State B on his way to a vacation in State C. While in State B, he was involved in a car accident with a citizen of State B. The State B citizen later filed a negligence lawsuit against the driver in State B state court. The driver was served with process via mail at his home in State A, pursuant to State B's long-arm statute.

The driver has hired you to represent him and asks about filing a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. What is your best advice regarding the motion? Select one.

The motion should be granted, because the driver was only transiently passing through State B and lacks minimum contacts with the state.
The motion should be granted, because the driver was not personally served with process while physically present within State B.
The motion should be denied, because the lawsuit arises directly from the driver's tortious act of causing an accident within State B. (correct answer)
The motion should be denied, because by using the roads of State B, the driver implicitly consented to the jurisdiction of its courts for all purposes.

Explanation: The correct answer is C. The court has specific personal jurisdiction over the driver. The commission of a tortious act within a state is a classic example of a contact that gives rise to specific jurisdiction for claims arising from that act. The driver purposefully availed himself of the privilege of driving in State B, and the lawsuit directly arises from that activity. A is incorrect because even a single contact can be sufficient for specific jurisdiction if the cause of action arises from it. The transient nature of his presence is irrelevant for specific jurisdiction analysis in this context. B is incorrect because personal service within the state ('tag' jurisdiction) is one way to establish jurisdiction, but it is not the only way; compliance with a state's long-arm statute is also sufficient if minimum contacts exist. D is an overstatement; while states have implied consent statutes for motorists, this establishes specific jurisdiction for claims arising from driving in the state, not general jurisdiction for all purposes.

Question 4

The author moves to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. Is the California court likely to find it has jurisdiction over the author? Select one.

No, because the author lacks any physical contacts with California, and the blog post was not specifically targeted at California residents.
Yes, because the author knew the wine producer was based in California and intentionally directed a tortious act at the forum state, causing foreseeable harm there. (correct answer)
No, because exercising jurisdiction would violate the First Amendment by chilling speech on the internet.
Yes, because the website is nationally accessible, which means the author has established minimum contacts with every state, including California.

Question 5

A cruise line is incorporated in Panama and has its principal place of business in Florida. It operates cruises worldwide. A passenger, a citizen of Oregon, purchased a ticket for a cruise from California to Mexico. The ticket contained numerous terms and conditions in fine print, including a clause stating that the passenger consents to personal jurisdiction in Florida for any lawsuit arising from the cruise. The passenger was injured on the ship while it was in international waters and filed a lawsuit against the cruise line in federal court in Oregon. The cruise line has no offices in Oregon but advertises heavily there and sells about 2% of its tickets to Oregon residents.

The cruise line moves to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. What is the strongest reason for the Oregon court to grant the motion? Select one.

The cruise line's advertising and sales in Oregon are not systematic and continuous enough to establish general jurisdiction.
The passenger's injury occurred in international waters, not in Oregon, so no specific jurisdiction exists.
As a foreign corporation, the cruise line can only be sued where it has its principal place of business.
The forum-selection clause in the passenger's ticket, consenting to jurisdiction in Florida, is enforceable. (correct answer)

Explanation: When analyzing personal jurisdiction questions, you need to consider both constitutional requirements and any contractual agreements that might override the standard analysis. Courts can establish jurisdiction through general jurisdiction (systematic contacts), specific jurisdiction (case-related contacts), or valid forum-selection clauses. The strongest argument for dismissal here is the forum-selection clause in the passenger's ticket requiring lawsuits to be filed in Florida (D). Federal courts generally enforce forum-selection clauses in commercial contexts, especially in the cruise industry where such clauses are common and serve legitimate business purposes. The passenger agreed to this term when purchasing the ticket, creating a contractual obligation to sue in Florida rather than Oregon. Courts view these clauses as valid exercises of party autonomy unless they're fundamentally unfair or unreasonable. Option A is incorrect because while the cruise line's 2% ticket sales and advertising in Oregon likely aren't enough for general jurisdiction, this doesn't address whether specific jurisdiction might exist. Option B misunderstands specific jurisdiction—the location where the injury occurred doesn't determine whether specific jurisdiction exists; rather, it's about whether the defendant's forum contacts relate to the plaintiff's claims. The cruise line's marketing to Oregon residents could create specific jurisdiction. Option C incorrectly states the law—foreign corporations can be sued in any state where proper jurisdiction exists, not just where they have their principal place of business. Remember: Forum-selection clauses are powerful tools that can override traditional jurisdiction analysis. Always check contracts for jurisdiction or venue clauses before analyzing constitutional requirements for personal jurisdiction.

Question 6

A plaintiff sued a defendant in federal court. The defendant believed the court lacked personal jurisdiction over it. The defendant filed a single pre-answer motion under Rule 12 that raised the defenses of improper venue and failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. The court denied the motion. The defendant then filed its answer, and in the answer, it raised the defense of lack of personal jurisdiction for the first time.

The plaintiff moves to strike the defense of lack of personal jurisdiction from the defendant's answer. How should the court rule? Select one.

Deny the motion, because the defense of lack of personal jurisdiction can be raised in the answer.
Deny the motion, because the defendant is allowed to file a second Rule 12 motion asserting the defense.
Grant the motion, because a defendant must choose to raise either improper venue or lack of personal jurisdiction, but not both.
Grant the motion, because the defendant waived the personal jurisdiction defense by omitting it from the pre-answer motion. (correct answer)

Explanation: When you see a question about Rule 12 motions and waiver, focus on the strict rules governing when certain defenses must be raised or they're forever lost. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(h)(1), four specific defenses are waived if not raised in a defendant's first Rule 12 motion (if one is filed) or in the answer (if no motion is filed): lack of personal jurisdiction, improper venue, insufficient process, and insufficient service of process. The key principle is consolidation - if you file any Rule 12 motion, you must include all available Rule 12(b) defenses in that single motion. Here, the defendant filed a pre-answer motion raising improper venue and failure to state a claim, but omitted the personal jurisdiction defense. By doing so, the defendant waived the personal jurisdiction defense permanently. The court should grant the motion to strike because the defense was waived. Looking at the wrong answers: (A) incorrectly suggests personal jurisdiction can always be raised in an answer - this ignores the waiver rule when a prior Rule 12 motion was filed. (B) is wrong because defendants cannot file successive Rule 12 motions raising defenses that should have been included in the first motion. (C) creates a false either/or rule - defendants can raise both venue and personal jurisdiction defenses simultaneously; there's no prohibition against raising both. Study tip: Remember the "one-shot rule" for Rule 12 motions - if you file any pre-answer motion, you must include all available 12(b) defenses or waive the omitted ones forever. This prevents defendants from filing multiple motions and delaying proceedings.

Question 7

An investment advisor in State A provides advice to clients across the country via a secure website. A client in State B opened an account and, based on the advisor's online recommendations, lost a significant amount of money. The client agreement, which the client agreed to by clicking a box on the website, contained a clause stating that all disputes must be resolved through binding arbitration in State A. Ignoring the clause, the client filed a lawsuit against the advisor in State B federal court.

The advisor moves to dismiss based on the arbitration clause. The court determines that it has personal jurisdiction over the advisor. Even so, what is the most likely outcome of the motion? Select one.

The motion will be denied, because the advisor purposefully directed its activities at State B by accepting the client.
The motion will be denied, because arbitration clauses in online consumer agreements are presumptively unconscionable.
The motion will be granted, because the advisor has no physical presence in State B.
The motion will be granted, because the court must enforce the valid arbitration agreement. (correct answer)

Explanation: This question tests your understanding of arbitration law and the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA). When you encounter arbitration clauses in contracts, remember that federal law strongly favors enforcing valid arbitration agreements, even when state courts might prefer to handle the dispute themselves. The correct answer is D because under the FAA, courts have a duty to enforce valid arbitration agreements. Once the court determines it has personal jurisdiction (which is given here), the next step is examining whether a valid arbitration agreement exists. The client agreed to binding arbitration in State A by clicking the agreement box, creating a contractually binding obligation. Federal law requires courts to stay litigation and compel arbitration when such valid agreements exist, regardless of the court's preference to hear the case. Looking at the wrong answers: A focuses on personal jurisdiction through purposeful direction, but this is irrelevant since the court already determined it has jurisdiction over the advisor. The question isn't about jurisdiction—it's about whether arbitration should proceed. B incorrectly suggests online arbitration clauses are presumptively unconscionable, but there's no such presumption under federal law; arbitration clauses are generally enforceable unless specific unconscionability is proven. C suggests physical presence matters for arbitration enforcement, but the advisor's lack of physical presence in State B doesn't affect the validity of the arbitration agreement the parties voluntarily entered. Study tip: On bar exam questions involving arbitration clauses, always remember the FAA creates a strong federal policy favoring arbitration. Unless the clause is clearly invalid or unconscionable, courts must enforce these agreements and compel arbitration.

Question 8

A plaintiff from Wyoming properly filed a lawsuit in Wyoming federal court against a corporation headquartered in Idaho. The corporation conducted some business in Wyoming, but believed the contacts were insufficient for personal jurisdiction. The corporation's attorney filed an answer to the complaint, which denied the allegations of liability but did not raise the defense of lack of personal jurisdiction. Two months later, after some initial discovery, the corporation's attorney filed a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction.

How should the court rule on the corporation's motion to dismiss? Select one.

Grant the motion, because a party can raise lack of personal jurisdiction at any time during the litigation.
Grant the motion, because the corporation did not have sufficient minimum contacts with Wyoming for the court to exercise jurisdiction.
Deny the motion, because by conducting business in Wyoming, the corporation consented to jurisdiction there for any lawsuit.
Deny the motion, because the corporation waived the defense by failing to include it in its initial answer. (correct answer)

Explanation: When you encounter a personal jurisdiction question involving procedural defenses, focus on the waiver rules that govern when a defendant loses the right to challenge jurisdiction. The correct answer is D because personal jurisdiction is a waivable defense that must be raised in the defendant's first responsive pleading or it's forever lost. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(h)(1), defenses including lack of personal jurisdiction are waived if not included in a motion under Rule 12 or in the answer, whichever comes first. Here, the corporation filed an answer without raising the jurisdictional defense, then waited two months before filing the motion to dismiss. This delay constitutes waiver regardless of whether the court actually had jurisdiction. Answer A is wrong because personal jurisdiction cannot be raised at any time—it's subject to strict waiver rules, unlike subject matter jurisdiction which can never be waived. Answer B addresses the merits of whether jurisdiction exists, but this analysis is irrelevant once the defense has been waived through procedural default. Answer C incorrectly states the law on consent; merely conducting some business in a state doesn't automatically constitute consent to general jurisdiction for any lawsuit—the corporation's business contacts would need to be evaluated under specific jurisdiction analysis. The key takeaway: Personal jurisdiction challenges are "use it or lose it" defenses. On civil procedure questions, always check whether a defense was properly and timely raised before analyzing whether the defense would succeed on the merits. Waiver rules often trump substantive analysis.

Question 9

A national retail chain is incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in Arkansas. It has thousands of stores nationwide, including over 100 in California. The company's board of directors, meeting in Arkansas, approved a new employee compensation policy. A group of employees who work exclusively in the company's California stores filed a class action lawsuit in California state court, alleging the new policy violates California labor law. The retail chain moved to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, arguing the policy was created entirely in Arkansas.

Is the California court likely to find it has personal jurisdiction over the retail chain? Select one.

Yes, because the retail chain is 'at home' in California due to its extensive network of stores, making general jurisdiction proper.
Yes, because the lawsuit relates to the company's implementation of the policy at its California stores, establishing specific jurisdiction. (correct answer)
No, because the corporate decision-making that gave rise to the claim occurred exclusively in Arkansas.
No, because a corporation can only be subject to general jurisdiction in its state of incorporation and principal place of business.

Explanation: The correct answer is B. The court has specific personal jurisdiction. The claim 'arises out of or relates to' the defendant's contacts with the forum state. Here, the company's contacts are its operation of over 100 stores in California and its employment of the plaintiffs there. The lawsuit, which alleges the compensation policy violates California law as applied to California employees, is directly related to those contacts. A is incorrect because even with 100 stores, the company is not 'at home' in California for general jurisdiction purposes; its home is Delaware and Arkansas. C is incorrect because the location of the decision-making is not dispositive; the location where the policy was implemented and caused the alleged harm (California) is key for specific jurisdiction. D is a correct statement about general jurisdiction but is irrelevant because specific jurisdiction exists.

Question 10

The motion will be denied, because the advisor purposefully directed its activities at State B by accepting the client.
The motion will be denied, because arbitration clauses in online consumer agreements are presumptively unconscionable.
The motion will be granted, because the advisor has no physical presence in State B.
The motion will be granted, because the court must enforce the valid arbitration agreement. (correct answer)

Question 11

A corporation is incorporated in Delaware and has its headquarters and principal place of business in California. The corporation operates retail stores in all 50 states and derives approximately 5% of its total annual revenue from its 20 stores located in Texas. A Texas resident was on vacation in France when she was injured in a slip-and-fall accident at one of the corporation's Parisian stores. The Texas resident filed a negligence lawsuit against the corporation in federal court in Texas.

The corporation moved to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. What is the likely outcome of the motion? Select one.

The motion will be denied, because the corporation's extensive business operations in Texas are sufficient to establish specific jurisdiction.
The motion will be granted, because the plaintiff's cause of action does not arise out of or relate to the corporation's contacts with Texas. (correct answer)
The motion will be denied, because the corporation is essentially 'at home' in Texas due to its 20 stores and significant revenue from the state.
The motion will be granted, because a domestic corporation can only be sued in its state of incorporation or the state of its principal place of business.

Explanation: Personal jurisdiction questions require you to determine whether a court has the power to exercise authority over a defendant. Courts can establish jurisdiction through either general jurisdiction (where the defendant is essentially "at home") or specific jurisdiction (where the claim arises from the defendant's contacts with the forum state). The motion will be granted because the plaintiff's cause of action doesn't arise out of or relate to the corporation's contacts with Texas. The key issue here is that the injury occurred in France, not Texas. For specific jurisdiction, there must be a meaningful connection between the defendant's forum-state activities and the plaintiff's claim. Since the slip-and-fall happened at a Parisian store, the corporation's Texas operations are irrelevant to this particular lawsuit. Choice A incorrectly assumes that extensive business operations automatically create specific jurisdiction for any claim. However, specific jurisdiction requires the claim to arise from those specific contacts. Choice C misapplies the "essentially at home" standard for general jurisdiction. While the corporation has 20 stores in Texas, this represents only 5% of its revenue and doesn't make Texas a place where it's "at home" like its state of incorporation (Delaware) or principal place of business (California). Choice D states an overly restrictive rule that doesn't exist in law - corporations can face lawsuits in other states where proper jurisdiction exists. Remember this distinction: specific jurisdiction requires a connection between the defendant's forum contacts and the particular claim, while general jurisdiction allows any claim but requires the defendant to be essentially "at home" in the forum state.

Question 12

The driver has hired you to represent him and asks about filing a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. What is your best advice regarding the motion? Select one.

The motion should be granted, because the driver was only transiently passing through State B and lacks minimum contacts with the state.
The motion should be granted, because the driver was not personally served with process while physically present within State B.
The motion should be denied, because the lawsuit arises directly from the driver's tortious act of causing an accident within State B. (correct answer)
The motion should be denied, because by using the roads of State B, the driver implicitly consented to the jurisdiction of its courts for all purposes.

Question 13

A manufacturer in State A sells component parts to a company in State B. The State B company incorporates the parts into a finished product and sells that product nationwide through a national distributor. One of the finished products was sold to a consumer in State C, where it malfunctioned and caused an injury. The State C consumer sued the State A manufacturer in State C court. The State A manufacturer has no direct sales, advertising, or employees in State C, and its contract with the State B company is silent as to where the final products will be sold.

The State A manufacturer moves to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. What is the plaintiff's strongest argument for jurisdiction? Select one.

The manufacturer placed its component parts into the stream of commerce with the expectation they would be purchased by consumers in the forum state. (correct answer)
The manufacturer is subject to general personal jurisdiction in State C because its products are available for sale nationwide.
The manufacturer is liable for the contacts of the State B company, which acted as its agent in distributing the products to State C.
It would be fair and reasonable for the manufacturer to defend the suit in State C, given the state's interest in protecting its citizens.

Explanation: The correct answer is A. This scenario involves the 'stream of commerce' theory of personal jurisdiction. The plaintiff's strongest argument is that the manufacturer purposefully availed itself of State C's market by placing its product into a distribution system that it knew or should have known would result in sales in State C. While the Supreme Court is divided on the exact standard (mere awareness vs. 'stream of commerce plus' targeting), this argument is the correct one to make. B is incorrect because nationwide sales do not establish general jurisdiction; the defendant must be 'at home.' C is incorrect as there are no facts to support an agency relationship between the two independent companies. D is incorrect because the reasonableness factors (fair play and substantial justice) are only considered after minimum contacts have been established; they cannot create jurisdiction on their own.

Question 14

The plaintiff moves to strike the defense of lack of personal jurisdiction from the defendant's answer. How should the court rule? Select one.

Deny the motion, because the defense of lack of personal jurisdiction can be raised in the answer.
Deny the motion, because the defendant is allowed to file a second Rule 12 motion asserting the defense.
Grant the motion, because a defendant must choose to raise either improper venue or lack of personal jurisdiction, but not both.
Grant the motion, because the defendant waived the personal jurisdiction defense by omitting it from the pre-answer motion. (correct answer)

Question 15

A parent company is incorporated and has its principal place of business in Japan. It has a wholly-owned subsidiary that is incorporated and has its principal place of business in California. The subsidiary acts as the exclusive American distributor for the parent's products. A plaintiff was injured in Nevada by one of the parent's products, which was sold to him by the California subsidiary. The plaintiff sued the Japanese parent company in Nevada federal court. The Japanese parent company has no direct contact with Nevada.

The parent company moves to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. For the court to potentially exercise jurisdiction over the parent, the plaintiff must successfully argue which of the following? Select one.

The subsidiary is the alter ego of the parent, so its contacts with Nevada should be imputed to the parent. (correct answer)
The parent company placed its product into the stream of commerce, which ended up in Nevada.
It is more convenient for the plaintiff to sue the parent company in Nevada than in Japan or California.
The parent company is subject to general jurisdiction in Nevada because its products are sold there.

Explanation: The correct answer is A. To establish jurisdiction over a foreign parent company based on the actions of its domestic subsidiary, a plaintiff typically must 'pierce the corporate veil' or show that the subsidiary is merely an 'alter ego' of the parent. This requires demonstrating that the subsidiary is not a truly distinct corporate entity, allowing its jurisdictional contacts to be imputed to the parent. B is a plausible but weaker argument. While the stream of commerce theory applies, it is often harder to establish against a foreign manufacturer one step removed. The most direct path is through the subsidiary's own contacts, if they can be imputed. C is incorrect because convenience to the plaintiff is part of the 'reasonableness' analysis but cannot create minimum contacts where none exist. D is incorrect because sales within a state do not establish general jurisdiction.

Question 16

You represent a client who was injured in a car accident in Illinois. The other driver is a resident of Indiana. You plan to file a lawsuit in the federal district court for the Northern District of Illinois. The Indiana driver owns a vacation home in Wisconsin and a bank account in Illinois, but has no other contacts with Illinois. The lawsuit seeks damages of $100,000.

The Indiana driver's attorney will likely move to dismiss. What is your strongest argument in favor of personal jurisdiction in Illinois? Select one.

The court has specific jurisdiction because the cause of action, the car accident, occurred in Illinois. (correct answer)
The court has general jurisdiction because the driver owns property in Illinois in the form of a bank account.
The court can exercise quasi in rem jurisdiction by attaching the driver's Illinois bank account.
The court has jurisdiction because the driver's domicile in Indiana is geographically close to Illinois.

Explanation: The correct answer is A. The strongest basis for personal jurisdiction is specific jurisdiction. The claim (negligence) arises directly out of the defendant's conduct within the forum state (driving a car and causing an accident in Illinois). This is a classic and straightforward basis for specific personal jurisdiction. B is incorrect because owning a bank account is not sufficient to render an individual 'at home' for purposes of general jurisdiction. C is incorrect because since Shaffer v. Heitner, quasi in rem jurisdiction also requires that the defendant have minimum contacts with the forum state that are related to the cause of action. While the bank account could potentially be attached to satisfy a judgment, specific jurisdiction provides the direct basis for the court to hear the case in the first place. D is incorrect as geographical proximity is irrelevant to the constitutional analysis of personal jurisdiction.

Question 17

The corporation moved to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. What is the likely outcome of the motion? Select one.

The motion will be denied, because the corporation's extensive business operations in Texas are sufficient to establish specific jurisdiction.
The motion will be granted, because the plaintiff's cause of action does not arise out of or relate to the corporation's contacts with Texas. (correct answer)
The motion will be denied, because the corporation is essentially 'at home' in Texas due to its 20 stores and significant revenue from the state.
The motion will be granted, because a domestic corporation can only be sued in its state of incorporation or the state of its principal place of business.

Question 18

Is the California court likely to find it has personal jurisdiction over the retail chain? Select one.

Yes, because the retail chain is 'at home' in California due to its extensive network of stores, making general jurisdiction proper.
Yes, because the lawsuit relates to the company's implementation of the policy at its California stores, establishing specific jurisdiction. (correct answer)
No, because the corporate decision-making that gave rise to the claim occurred exclusively in Arkansas.
No, because a corporation can only be subject to general jurisdiction in its state of incorporation and principal place of business.

Question 19

A resident of State X owns a vacant parcel of land in State Y. A dispute arises with an adjoining landowner, a resident of State Y, over the proper boundary line between the two properties. The State Y landowner files an action to quiet title in a State Y court, seeking a declaration that she is the rightful owner of the disputed strip of land. The State X resident has never been to State Y and has no other contacts with the state besides owning the land. The State X resident is properly served with process in State X.

The State X resident moves to dismiss the action for lack of personal jurisdiction. How is the State Y court likely to rule on the motion? Select one.

Grant the motion, because the State X resident lacks minimum contacts with State Y sufficient for the exercise of personal jurisdiction.
Grant the motion, because an action to quiet title requires the defendant to be personally served within the forum state.
Deny the motion, because the court has in rem jurisdiction over the property located within its borders. (correct answer)
Deny the motion, because ownership of property in a state is sufficient for general personal jurisdiction over the owner.

Explanation: The correct answer is C. This action is about determining ownership rights to a piece of property located within State Y. This is a classic example of an in rem action. A court has jurisdiction over property (the 'res') located within its geographical boundaries, and can adjudicate the rights of all persons to that property, even if it does not have personal jurisdiction over those persons. A is incorrect because the analysis for in personam (personal) jurisdiction based on minimum contacts is not required when the basis for jurisdiction is in rem. B is incorrect because service of process for an in rem action can be accomplished through means reasonably calculated to give notice, such as service by mail, and does not require in-state service. D is incorrect because mere ownership of property is a sufficient contact for specific jurisdiction for claims arising from that property (as is the case here), but it is not sufficient for general personal jurisdiction over claims unrelated to the property.

Question 20

The subsidiary is the alter ego of the parent, so its contacts with Nevada should be imputed to the parent. (correct answer)
The parent company placed its product into the stream of commerce, which ended up in Nevada.
It is more convenient for the plaintiff to sue the parent company in Nevada than in Japan or California.
The parent company is subject to general jurisdiction in Nevada because its products are sold there.