J. McIntyre Machinery, Ltd. v. Nicastro
United States Supreme Court
131 S.Ct. 2780 (2011)
New Jersey resident Robert Nicastro (plaintiff) was seriously injured using a metal-shearing machine manufactured in England by J. McIntyre Machinery, Ltd. (J. McIntyre) (defendant), which never directly marketed or shipped its products into New Jersey. The New Jersey Supreme Court nonetheless found jurisdiction proper because J. McIntyre knew or should have known its products, distributed through a nationwide distribution system, might end up sold in any of the fifty states including New Jersey, and J. McIntyre sought review.
Whether a defendant must purposefully avail itself of the privilege of conducting activities within the forum State, thus invoking the benefits and protections of its laws, to be subject to that State's personal jurisdiction.