Minimum Contacts
What does "Minimum Contacts" mean in law?
Minimum contacts is the constitutional standard for personal jurisdiction established in International Shoe v. Washington. Due process requires that a non-resident defendant have 'certain minimum contacts' with the forum state such that maintaining the lawsuit does not offend 'traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.' The contacts must result from the defendant's purposeful availment of the privilege of conducting activities in the forum. Random, fortuitous, or attenuated contacts are insufficient.
Definition
Minimum contacts is the constitutional standard for personal jurisdiction established in International Shoe v. Washington. Due process requires that a non-resident defendant have 'certain minimum contacts' with the forum state such that maintaining the lawsuit does not offend 'traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.' The contacts must result from the defendant's purposeful availment of the privilege of conducting activities in the forum. Random, fortuitous, or attenuated contacts are insufficient.
Example
An online retailer in Ohio ships products to customers in all 50 states. Its purposeful availment of the Texas market through regular sales creates minimum contacts with Texas.