Personal & subject matter jurisdiction · Venue · Pleadings · Summary judgment

Civil Procedure Issue Spotting Practice

Spot personal jurisdiction, venue, and summary judgment issues before the clock runs out.

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Issue Spot: The Out-of-State Seller

Jurisdiction & Venue · Free access

Harbor Tools, LLC is a specialized manufacturing firm headquartered exclusively in Burlington, Vermont, where it maintains its sole warehouse, corporate office, and all employee records. The company operates a proprietary e-commerce portal, HarborConnect.com, which features a 'Global Shipping' banner despite the company having no physical presence, agents, or bank accounts outside of Vermont. Over the past twenty-four months, Harbor Tools generated $4 million in gross revenue, with $160,000 of that total derived from 380 discrete, individual orders fulfilled for customers located within Massachusetts. On March 12, 2023, Lena, a professional cabinetmaker operating in Worcester, Massachusetts, purchased a $450 industrial clamping rig via the website. The order confirmation email stated, 'By purchasing, you agree that any disputes arising from this transaction are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state or federal courts in the seller's home state.' Upon arrival, the clamp failed while Lena was using it, severely injuring Lena's hand. Lena filed a civil complaint against Harbor Tools in the Worcester Superior Court, alleging negligence and breach of warranty. Harbor Tools was served on May 5, 2023, and promptly filed a notice of removal to the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts based on diversity of citizenship. Simultaneously, the company filed a motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2) for lack of personal jurisdiction and 12(b)(3) for improper venue.

Identify every valid procedural issue raised by the facts that is legally significant to the pending motion to dismiss or the current procedural posture of the litigation.

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