A defendant who contracts with a resident of the forum to perform services in the forum may be subject to personal jurisdiction based on what principle?

A defendant who contracts with a resident of the forum to perform services in the forum may be subject to personal jurisdiction based on what principle?

• A. The defendant’s distant business activities are irrelevant to forum contacts.
• B. The defendant has purposefully availed itself of the forum by contracting for services in the forum.
• C. Personal jurisdiction requires actual presence in the forum for the entire contract term.
• D. Personal jurisdiction cannot be based on contract unless the defendant signed a forum-specific agreement.

Answer: (B)

Purposeful availment through a contract. When a defendant enters into an agreement with a resident of the forum to perform services in that forum, the defendant has intentionally directed activity toward the forum and has created a forum-based connection. Under the due process standard for specific jurisdiction, if the plaintiff’s claim relates to that contract or its performance, the forum may constitutionally exercise jurisdiction because the defendant has purposefully availed itself of the forum’s laws and protections, and jurisdiction would be reasonable. Distant business activities aren’t the controlling factor here because the contract to perform services in the forum establishes the necessary contact. Requiring presence in the forum for the entire contract term isn’t needed; jurisdiction can attach based on the contract and its forum-based performance. And a forum-specific agreement isn’t a prerequisite for jurisdiction—the contract itself can provide the basis for the forum’s authority.

Purposeful availment through a contract. When a defendant enters into an agreement with a resident of the forum to perform services in that forum, the defendant has intentionally directed activity toward the forum and has created a forum-based connection. Under the due process standard for specific jurisdiction, if the plaintiff’s claim relates to that contract or its performance, the forum may constitutionally exercise jurisdiction because the defendant has purposefully availed itself of the forum’s laws and protections, and jurisdiction would be reasonable.

Distant business activities aren’t the controlling factor here because the contract to perform services in the forum establishes the necessary contact. Requiring presence in the forum for the entire contract term isn’t needed; jurisdiction can attach based on the contract and its forum-based performance. And a forum-specific agreement isn’t a prerequisite for jurisdiction—the contract itself can provide the basis for the forum’s authority.