Long arm jurisdiction

Civil procedure in the United States
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Doctrines of civil procedure Jurisdiction Subject-matter jurisdiction Diversity jurisdiction Personal jurisdiction Removal jurisdiction Venue Change of venue Forum non conveniens Pleadings Service of process Complaint Cause of action Case Information Statement Class action Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 Demurrer Answer Affirmative defense Reply Counterclaim Crossclaim Joinder Indispensable party Impleader Interpleader Intervention Other Motions Pre-trial procedure Discovery Initial Conference Interrogatories Depositions Request for Admissions Request for production Resolution without trial Default judgment Summary judgment Voluntary dismissal Involuntary dismissal Settlement Trial Parties Plaintiff Defendant Pro Se Jury Voir dire Burden of proof Judgment Judgment as a matter of law (JMOL) Renewed JMOL (JNOV) Motion to set aside judgment New trial Remedy Injunction Damages Attorney's fees American rule English rule Declaratory judgment Appeal Mandamus Certiorari

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
Doctrines of civil procedure
Jurisdiction
Venue
- Change of venue
- Forum non conveniens
Pleadings
Pre-trial procedure
Resolution without trial
Trial
- Parties
  - Plaintiff
  - Defendant
- Pro Se
- Jury
  - Voir dire
- Burden of proof
- Judgment
  - Judgment as a matter of law (JMOL)
  - Renewed JMOL (JNOV)
  - Motion to set aside judgment
  - New trial
  - Remedy
Appeal
- Mandamus
- Certiorari

In United States jurisprudence, long arm jurisdiction is a statutory grant of jurisdiction to local courts over foreign ("foreign" meaning out-of-state) defendants. A state's ability to confer jurisdiction is limited by the Constitution. This jurisdiction permits a court to hear a case against a defendant and enter a binding judgment against a defendant residing outside the state's jurisdiction. That is, without a long arm statute, a state's court may not have personal jurisdiction over a particular defendant.

Generally, the authority of a court to exercise long arm jurisdiction must be based upon some action of the defendant which subjects him or her to the jurisdiction of the court. In the United States, some states long arm statutes refer to specific acts, for example torts or contract cases, which a court may entertain. Other states, like California, broadly grant jurisdiction "on any basis not inconsistent with the Constitution of this state or the United States."

The use of a long arm statute is usually constitutional where the defendant has certain minimum contacts with the forum state and there has been reasonable notice of the action against him or her.

Since the 1960s, several states have enacted one of the two types of long arm statutes:(a) the first type enumerates fact situations that submit an individual/corporation to the forum's jurisdiction; (b) the second type extends the forum's jurisdiction to the extent of the constitutional limitations (of the 14th am.)

Examples

California Code of Civil Procedure § 410.10 (as broad as the Constitution)

Wisconsin Statutes § 801.05 (specific acts)

N.J. Court Rule 4:4-4 New Jersey's equivalent of a "long-arm statute". Not actually a statute, but a state court rule.

Like California, New Jersey permits personal jurisdiction over non-resident defendants up to the Constitutional limits of due process.