Minimum Contacts

Definition

The legal standard established in International Shoe v. Washington for determining whether a court has personal jurisdiction over a defendant. A defendant must have certain minimum contacts with the forum state such that exercise of jurisdiction does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice. These contacts can be physical presence, business operations, or other connections to the state.

Examples

• •In Cisco v. Doe, the parties dispute whether foreign defendants have sufficient minimum contacts with U.S. courts to justify compelling disclosure of their identities

Related Terms