helicopteros nacionales de colombia hall argued november decided april petitioner colombian corporation entered contract provide helicopter transportation peruvian consortium alter ego joint venture headquarters houston consortium construction pipeline peru peruvian oil company petitioner place business texas never licensed business contacts state consisted sending chief executive officer houston negotiate contract consortium accepting new york bank account checks drawn consortium texas bank purchasing helicopters equipment training services texas manufacturer sending personnel manufacturer facilities training helicopter owned petitioner crashed peru resulting death respondents decedents citizens employed consortium respondents instituted actions texas state consortium texas manufacturer petitioner denying petitioner motion dismiss actions lack personam jurisdiction trial entered judgment petitioner jury verdict favor respondents texas civil appeals reversed holding personam jurisdiction petitioner lacking turn reversed texas held petitioner contacts texas insufficient satisfy requirements due process clause fourteenth amendment hence allow texas assert personam jurisdiction petitioner one trip houston petitioner chief executive officer purpose negotiating transportation services contract regarded contact continuous systematic nature thus support assertion general jurisdiction similarly petitioner acceptance checks drawn texas bank negligible significance purposes determining whether petitioner sufficient contacts texas petitioner purchases helicopters equipment texas manufacturer related training trips sufficient basis texas assertion jurisdiction rosenberg curtis brown mere purchases even occurring regular intervals enough warrant state assertion personam jurisdiction nonresident corporation cause action related purchases fact petitioner sent personnel texas training connection purchases enhance nature petitioner contacts texas pp reversed blackmun delivered opinion burger white marshall powell rehnquist stevens joined brennan filed dissenting opinion post thomas whalen argued cause petitioner briefs austin magner cynthia larsen james ingram barry chasnoff george pletcher argued cause filed brief respondents robert stern stephen shapiro william crabtree edward good filed brief motor vehicle manufacturers association amicus curiae urging reversal solicitor general lee assistant attorney general mcgrath deputy solicitor general geller kathryn oberly michael hertz howard scher filed brief amicus curiae justice blackmun delivered opinion granted certiorari case decide whether texas correctly ruled contacts foreign corporation state texas sufficient allow texas state assert jurisdiction corporation cause action arising related corporation activities within state petitioner helicopteros nacionales de colombia helicol colombian corporation principal place business city bogota country engaged business providing helicopter transportation oil construction companies south america january helicopter owned helicol crashed peru four citizens among lost lives accident respondents survivors representatives four decedents time crash respondents decedents employed consorcio peruvian consortium working pipeline peru consorcio alter ego joint venture named wsh venture headquarters houston tex consorcio formed enable venturers enter contract petro peru peruvian oil company consorcio construct pipeline petro peru running interior peru westward pacific ocean peruvian law forbade construction pipeline entity needed helicopters move personnel materials equipment construction area upon request chief executive officer helicol francisco restrepo flew conferred houston representatives three joint venturers meeting discussion prices availability working conditions fuel supplies housing restrepo represented helicol first helicopter job days representatives decided accept contract proposed restrepo helicol began performing agreement formally signed peru november contract written spanish official government stationery provided residence parties lima peru stated controversies arising contract submitted jurisdiction peruvian courts addition provided make payments helicol account bank america new york city app aside negotiation session houston restrepo representatives helicol contacts texas years purchased helicopters approximately fleet spare parts accessories million bell helicopter company fort worth period helicol sent prospective pilots fort worth training ferry aircraft south america also sent management maintenance personnel visit bell helicopter fort worth period order receive plant familiarization technical consultation helicol received new york city panama city bank accounts million payments drawn upon first city national bank houston beyond foregoing business contacts helicol state texas helicol never authorized business texas never agent service process within state never performed helicopter operations texas sold product reached texas never solicited business texas never signed contract texas never employee based never recruited employee texas addition helicol never owned real personal property texas never maintained office establishment helicol maintained records texas shareholders state none respondents decedents domiciled texas tr oral arg decedents hired houston work petro peru pipeline project respondents instituted actions district harris county bell helicopter company helicol helicol filed special appearances moved dismiss actions lack personam jurisdiction motion denied consolidated jury trial judgment entered helicol jury verdict favor respondents app texas civil appeals houston first district reversed judgment district holding personam jurisdiction helicol lacking texas three justices dissenting initially affirmed judgment civil appeals app pet cert seven months later however motion rehearing withdrew prior opinions three justices dissenting reversed judgment intermediate ruling texas courts personam jurisdiction texas first held state statute reaches far due process clause fourteenth amendment permits thus question remaining decide whether consistent due process clause texas courts assert personam jurisdiction helicol ibid ii due process clause fourteenth amendment operates limit power state assert personam jurisdiction nonresident defendant pennoyer neff due process requirements satisfied personam jurisdiction asserted nonresident corporate defendant certain minimum contacts forum maintenance suit offend traditional notions fair play substantial justice international shoe washington quoting milliken meyer controversy related arises defendant contacts forum said relationship among defendant forum litigation essential foundation personam jurisdiction shaffer heitner even cause action arise relate foreign corporation activities forum state due process offended state subjecting corporation personam jurisdiction sufficient contacts state foreign corporation perkins benguet consolidated mining see keeton hustler magazine perkins addressed situation state courts asserted general jurisdiction defendant foreign corporation japanese occupation philippine islands president general manager philippine mining corporation maintained office ohio conducted activities behalf company kept company files held directors meetings office carried correspondence relating business distributed salary checks drawn two active ohio bank accounts engaged ohio bank act transfer agent supervised policies dealing rehabilitation corporation properties philippines short foreign corporation president ha carrying ohio continuous systematic limited part general business exercise general jurisdiction philippine corporation ohio reasonable parties present case concede respondents claims helicol arise related helicol activities within texas thus must explore nature helicol contacts state texas determine whether constitute kind continuous systematic general business contacts found exist perkins hold undisputed helicol place business texas never licensed business state basically helicol contacts texas consisted sending chief executive officer houston session accepting new york bank account checks drawn houston bank purchasing helicopters equipment training services bell helicopter substantial sums sending personnel bell facilities fort worth training one trip houston helicol chief executive officer purpose negotiating contract described regarded contact continuous systematic nature perkins described see also international shoe washington thus support assertion personam jurisdiction helicol texas similarly helicol acceptance checks drawn texas bank negligible significance purposes determining whether helicol sufficient contacts texas indication helicol ever requested checks drawn texas bank negotiation helicol respect location identity bank checks drawn common sense everyday experience suggest absent unusual circumstances bank check drawn generally little consequence payee matter left discretion drawer unilateral activity another party third person appropriate consideration determining whether defendant sufficient contacts forum state justify assertion jurisdiction see kulko california superior arbitrary subject one parent suit state parent chooses spend time custody child pursuant separation agreement hanson denckla unilateral activity claim relationship nonresident defendant satisfy requirement contact forum state see also lilly jurisdiction domestic alien defendants rev texas focused purchases related training trips finding contacts sufficient support assertion jurisdiction agree assessment opinion rosenberg curtis brown brandeis unanimous tribunal makes clear purchases related trips standing alone sufficient basis state assertion jurisdiction defendant rosenberg small retailer tulsa dealt men clothing furnishings never applied license business new york time authorized suit brought never established place business new york never regularly carried business state connection new york purchased new york wholesalers large portion merchandise sold tulsa store purchases sometimes made correspondence sometimes visits new york officer defendant concluded visits business even occurring regular intervals warrant inference corporation present within jurisdiction new york international shoe acknowledged repudiate holding rosenberg see accordance rosenberg hold mere purchases even occurring regular intervals enough warrant state assertion personam jurisdiction nonresident corporation cause action related purchase transactions conclude fact helicol sent personnel texas training connection purchase helicopters equipment state way enhanced nature helicol contacts texas training part package goods services purchased helicol bell helicopter brief presence helicol employees texas purpose attending training sessions significant contact trips new york made buyer retail store rosenberg see also kulko california superior basing california jurisdiction stopovers state make mockery due process limitations assertion personal jurisdiction iii hold helicol contacts state texas insufficient satisfy requirements due process clause fourteenth amendment accordingly reverse judgment texas ordered footnotes throughout record case entity referred consorcio wsh refer hereinafter respondents acknowledge contract executed peru tr oral arg see app brief respondents colombian national airline aerovias nacionales de colombia owns approximately helicol capital stock remainder held aerovias corporacion de viajes four south american individuals see brief petitioner respondents lack residential contacts texas defeat otherwise proper jurisdiction keeton hustler magazine calder jones mention respondents lack contacts merely show nothing nature relationship respondents helicol possibly enhance helicol contacts texas harm suffered respondents occur texas alleged negligence part helicol took place texas defendants bell helicopter company granted directed verdicts respect respondents claims bell helicopter granted directed verdict helicol app claim helicol obtained judgment amount state statute tex rev civ stat art vernon supp reads relevant part sec foreign corporation engages business state irrespective statute law respecting designation maintenance resident agents maintain place regular business state designated agent upon service may made upon causes action arising business done state act acts engaging business within state shall deemed equivalent appointment foreign corporation secretary state texas agent upon service process may made action suit proceedings arising business done state wherein corporation party made party sec purpose act without including acts may constitute business foreign corporation shall deemed business state entering contract mail otherwise resident texas performed whole part either party state committing tort whole part state act recruiting texas residents directly intermediary located texas employment inside outside texas shall deemed business state texas principal opinion relied upon rulings advertising burt tex hoppenfeld crook tex civ app lanpar tex within province course determine whether texas correctly interpreted state statute therefore accept holding limits texas statute coextensive due process clause said state exercises personal jurisdiction defendant suit arising related defendant contacts forum state exercising specific jurisdiction defendant see von mehren trautman jurisdiction adjudicate suggested analysis harv rev state exercises personal jurisdiction defendant suit arising related defendant contacts forum state said exercising general jurisdiction defendant see brilmayer contacts count due process limitations state jurisdiction rev von mehren trautman harv calder jones see brief respondents tr oral arg parties argued relationship cause action helicol contacts state texas contrary dissent implication post assert view respect issue dissent suggests erred drawing distinction controversies relate defendant contacts forum arise contacts post criticism somewhat puzzling dissent goes urge purposes determining constitutional validity assertion specific jurisdiction really distinction two post address validity consequences distinction issue presented case respondents made argument cause action either arose related helicol contacts state texas absent briefing issue decline reach questions whether terms arising related describe different connections cause action defendant contacts forum sort tie cause action defendant contacts forum necessary determination either connection exists reach question whether two types relationship differ forum exercise personal jurisdiction situation cause action relates arise defendant contacts forum analyzed assertion specific jurisdiction example financial health continued ability bank honor draft questionable payee might request check drawn account institution international shoe cited rosenberg proposition commission single occasional acts corporate agent state sufficient impose obligation liability corporation though confer upon state authority enforce arguably therefore rosenberg also stands proposition mere purchases sufficient basis either general specific jurisdiction case us one assertion general jurisdiction foreign defendant need decide continuing validity rosenberg respect assertion specific jurisdiction cause action arises relates purchases defendant forum state alternative traditional analysis respondents suggest hold state texas personal jurisdiction helicol doctrine jurisdiction necessity see shaffer heitner conclude however respondents failed carry burden showing three defendants sued together single forum clear record example whether suit brought three defendants either colombia peru decline consider adoption doctrine jurisdiction necessity potentially modification existing law absence complete record justice brennan dissenting decisions applying due process clause fourteenth amendment determine whether state may constitutionally assert personam jurisdiction particular defendant particular cause action often turn weighing facts see kulko california superior brennan dissenting large extent today decision follows usual pattern based essentially undisputed facts concludes petitioner helicol contacts state texas insufficient allow texas state courts constitutionally assert general jurisdiction claims filed foreign corporation although independent weighing facts leads different conclusion see infra holding issue neither implausible unexpected troubling opinion however implications might drawn way approaches constitutional issue addresses first limits discussion assertion general jurisdiction texas courts view underlying cause action aris relat corporation activities within state ante relies decision rosenberg curtis brown without considering whether case retains validity recent pronouncements concerning permissible reach state jurisdiction posing deciding question presented manner fear saying realizes constitutional limitations potential reach personam jurisdiction particular relying precedent whose premises long discarded refusing consider distinction controversies relate defendant contacts forum causes action arise contacts may placing severe limitations type amount contacts satisfy constitutional minimum contrast believe undisputed contacts case petitioner helicol state texas sufficiently important sufficiently related underlying cause action make fair reasonable state assert personal jurisdiction helicol actions filed respondents given helicol purposefully availed benefits obligations forum given direct relationship underlying cause action helicol contacts forum maintenance suit texas courts offend traditional notions fair play substantial justice international shoe washington quoting milliken meyer touchstone jurisdictional analysis due process clause therefore dissent expressly limits decision case assertion general jurisdiction foreign defendant ante see ante framed question way obliged address prior holdings perkins benguet consolidated mining rosenberg curtis brown supra perkins considered state assertion general jurisdiction foreign corporation ha carrying continuous systematic limited part general business forum circumstances case held contacts constitutionally sufficient make reasonable subject corporation jurisdiction state citing international shoe supra nothing perkins suggests however continuous systematic contacts necessary minimum state may constitutionally assert general jurisdiction foreign corporation therefore looks guidance decision rosenberg supra today dubious validity given subsequent expansion personal jurisdiction began international shoe supra rosenberg held company purchases within state even combined related trips state company officials allow courts state assert general jurisdiction claims nonresident corporate defendant making purchases reasoning analogy case concludes helicol contacts state texas significant purchases made defendant rosenberg makes attempt however ascertain whether narrow view personam jurisdiction adopted rosenberg comports fundamental transformation national economy occurred since mcgee international life ins see also volkswagen woodson brennan dissenting hanson denckla black dissenting failure view fatal analysis vast expansion national economy past several decades provided primary rationale expanding permissible reach state jurisdiction due process clause broadening type amount business opportunities available participants interstate foreign commerce economy increased frequency foreign corporations actively pursue commercial transactions throughout various turn become necessary view desirable allow leeway bringing activities nonresident corporations within scope respective jurisdictions neither unique novel idea first noted commercial transactions touch two may involve parties separated full continent increasing nationalization commerce come great increase amount business conducted mail across state lines time modern transportation communication made much less burdensome party sued defend state engages economic activity mcgee supra moreover trend toward expanding permissible scope state jurisdiction foreign corporations nonresident mcgee supra entirely consistent traditional notions fair play substantial justice international shoe control inquiry due process clause active participants interstate foreign commerce take advantage economic benefits opportunities offered various fair reasonable subject obligations may imposed jurisdictions chief among obligations nonresident corporation expect fulfill amenability suit forum significantly affected corporation commercial activities foreign corporation actively purposefully engaged numerous frequent commercial transactions state texas helicol clearly falls within category nonresident defendants may subject forum general jurisdiction helicol purchased helicopters equipment state many years also sent pilots management personnel texas trained use equipment consult seller technical matters moreover negotiations contract helicol provided transportation services joint venture employed respondents decedents also took place state texas taken together contacts demonstrate helicol obtained numerous benefits transaction business texas turn eminently fair reasonable expect helicol face obligations attach participation commercial transactions accordingly basis continuous commercial contacts forum conclude due process clause allows state texas assert general jurisdiction petitioner helicol ii also fails distinguish legal principles controlled prior decisions perkins rosenberg particular contacts petitioner helicol state texas unlike contacts defendant forum cases significantly related cause action alleged original suit filed respondents accordingly view fair reasonable texas courts assert specific jurisdiction helicol case asserting present case implicate specific jurisdiction texas courts see ante nn necessarily removes decision reality actual facts presented consideration moreover refuses consider distinction contacts related underlying cause action contacts give rise underlying cause action view however substantial difference two standards asserting specific jurisdiction thus although agree respondents cause action formally arise specific activities initiated helicol state texas believe claim filed respondents significantly related undisputed contacts helicol forum basis conclude due process clause allows texas courts assert specific jurisdiction particular action actions filed respondents premised fatal helicopter crash occurred peru helicol joined defendant lawsuits provided transportation services including particular helicopter pilot involved crash joint venture employed decedents specifically respondent hall claimed original complaint helicol legally responsible negligence pilot employee app viewed light allegations contacts helicol state texas directly significantly related underlying claim filed respondents negotiations took place texas led contract helicol agreed provide precise transportation services used time crash moreover helicopter involved crash purchased helicol texas pilot whose negligence alleged caused crash actually trained texas see tr oral arg simply case therefore state asserted jurisdiction nonresident defendant basis wholly unrelated contacts forum rather contacts helicol forum directly related negligence alleged respondent hall original complaint helicol expected amenable suit texas courts claims directly related contacts fair reasonable allow assertion jurisdiction case despite substantial relationship contacts cause action declines consider whether courts texas may assert specific jurisdiction suit apparently simply reflects narrow interpretation question presented review see ante nonetheless possible opinion may read imply specific jurisdiction texas courts inapplicable cause action formally arise contacts helicol forum view however rule place unjustifiable limits bases texas may assert jurisdictional power limiting specific jurisdiction forum cases cause action formally arose defendant contacts state subject constitutional standards due process clause vagaries substantive law pleading requirements state example complaint filed helicol case alleged negligence based pilot error even though pilot trained texas assumes texas courts may assert jurisdiction suit cause action arise related training see ante however applicable substantive law required negligent training pilot necessary element cause action pilot error respondents simply added allegation negligence training provided helicol pilot presumably concede specific jurisdiction texas courts applicable interpretation due process clause never dependent upon applicable substantive law state formal pleading requirements least since international shoe washington principal focus determining whether forum may constitutionally assert jurisdiction nonresident defendant fairness reasonableness defendant extent specific jurisdiction applicable whenever cause action arises relates contacts defendant forum eminently fair reasonable view subject defendant suit forum significant contacts directly related underlying cause action helicol contacts state texas meet standard affirm judgment texas leaves open question whether decision rosenberg intended address constitutional limits assertion specific jurisdiction ante citing international shoe anything clear justice brandeis opinion rosenberg however concerned general jurisdiction corporate defendant see sole question decision whether defendant business within state new york manner extent warrant inference present corporation contacts forum warrant inference corporation present within jurisdiction state ante resuscitation rosenberg therefore bearing upon forum assertion jurisdiction claims arise relate defendant contacts state although takes note contacts concludes enhanc nature helicol contacts texas training part package goods services purchased helicol ante presumably statement simply recognizes participation today interdependent markets often necessitates use complicated purchase contracts provide numerous contacts representatives buyer seller well training related personnel ironically however relying realities denigrate significance helicol contacts forum refuses acknowledge realities require concomitant expansion forum jurisdictional reach see supra result deciding balance case must struck jurisdiction loses sight ultimate inquiry whether fair reasonable subject nonresident corporate defendant jurisdiction state defendant purposefully availed benefits obligations particular forum cf hanson denckla agree respondents conceded claims related helicol activities within state texas although parts written oral arguments proceed assumption relationship exists portions suggest opposite concern solicitor general appearing amicus curiae holding respondents cause foreign companies refrain purchasing fear exposure general jurisdiction unrelated causes action concern well founded respondents cause dependent ruling mere purchases state together incidental training operating maintaining merchandise purchased constitute ties contacts relations necessary justify jurisdiction unrelated cause action however regular purchases training coupled contacts ties relations may form basis jurisdiction brief respondents jury specifically found pilot failed keep helicopter proper control helicopter flown treetop fog condition whereby vision pilot impaired flying negligence negligence proximate cause crash see app basis findings helicol ordered pay million damages respondents compare von mehren trautman jurisdiction adjudicate suggested analysis harv rev brilmayer contacts count due process limitations state jurisdiction rev see also lilly jurisdiction domestic alien defendants rev