Supreme Court of Alabama, 2017

Kelley v. Rockingham Boat Club, Inc. (Ex parte Rockingham Boat Club, Inc.)

Kelley v. Rockingham Boat Club, Inc. (Ex parte Rockingham Boat Club, Inc.)
Supreme Court of Alabama · Decided October 27, 2017 · Sellers, Shaw
252 So. 3d 1077 (Southern Reporter, Third Series)

Kelley v. Rockingham Boat Club, Inc. (Ex parte Rockingham Boat Club, Inc.)

Dissenting Opinion

SELLERS , Justice (dissenting).

I respectfully dissent. A single isolated sale, in this case of a boat, even when coupled with an agreement to undertake to make minor repairs, is an insufficient basis on which to establish in personam jurisdiction. Jurisdiction depends on the nature and extent of a defendant's in-state activities. In this case, the defendant, Rockingham Boat Club, Inc., did not target Alabama or otherwise specifically direct its commercial activities toward Alabama so as to benefit from the protections afforded by Alabama's laws. For jurisdiction to exist, a defendant's activities must create a substantial nexus with Alabama; one isolated sale is not sufficient. I would issue the writ and direct the trial court to dismiss the action.

Opinion of the Court

SHAW, Justice.

PETITION DENIED. NO OPINION.

Stuart, C.J., and Bolin, Parker, Murdock, Main, Wise, and Bryan, JJ., concur.

Sellers, J., dissents.

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