Glencore Grain Rotterdam Besloten Vennootschap v. Shivnath Rai Harnarain Co.
Ninth Circuit
284 F.3d 1114 (2002)
Relevant factsFree
Dutch company Glencore (plaintiff) and Indian company Shivnath (defendant) contracted in England for rice delivery in India, and after a London arbitration awarded Glencore damages, Glencore sued in California federal court to confirm the award, arguing California had personal jurisdiction over Shivnath because Shivnath had made many rice deliveries to California through an independent sales agent based there; the district court dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction, and Glencore appealed.
IssueFree
Whether a foreign company's use of an independent in-state sales agent to import and sell goods establishes personal jurisdiction over it for a claim unrelated to those in-state sales.