World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson
United States Supreme Court
444 U.S. 286, 100 S. Ct. 559, 62 L. Ed. 2d 490 (1980)
- Written by Alexis Tsotakos, JD
Facts
Harry and Kay Robinson purchased a car from World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. (World-Wide) (plaintiff) in New York while they were residents of that state. The next year the family left New York to move to Arizona. On the way they were struck by a car in Oklahoma. Kay Robinson and her children were severely burned in the car crash. The Robinsons brought a products-liability suit against World-Wide, claiming that the fire was a result of the defective design of the car. World-Wide made a special appearance to the district court, claiming that Oklahoma’s exercise of jurisdiction over them violated the company’s due-process rights. World-Wide, a New York corporation, conducted no business in the State of Oklahoma. The district court ruled against World-Wide. World-Wide then sought a writ of prohibition in the Oklahoma Supreme Court to stop Judge Woodson (defendant) of the district court from exercising personal jurisdiction over it. The Oklahoma Supreme Court denied the writ. World-Wide then petitioned the United States Supreme Court, and the case was granted certiorari.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (White, J.)
Dissent (Brennan, J.)
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