Ford Motor Co. v. Montana Eighth Judicial Dist.

Summary

The Court held that Montana and Minnesota courts may exercise specific personal jurisdiction over Ford in products-liability suits involving vehicles that malfunctioned and injured residents in those States, even though the particular vehicles were designed, manufactured, and first sold elsewhere. Ford deliberately served both States’ markets for the same vehicle models through advertising, sales, dealerships, repairs, and parts, creating a sufficient relationship among Ford, the forums, and the litigation. The Court rejected Ford’s proposed requirement of a strict causal link between its forum conduct and the plaintiffs’ injuries and affirmed both state supreme court judgments.