Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz

Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz (1985) is a U.S. Supreme Court case that clarified when a court can exercise personal jurisdiction over someone outside its state. The Court held that if a person or business has intentionally established significant connections with a state—like entering into a franchise agreement and actively conducting business—then they can reasonably expect to be sued there. In this case, Burger King’s franchisee in Michigan was subject to Florida courts because of their substantial relationship and purposeful activities linked to Florida. The decision emphasizes that purposeful, deliberate contacts with a state justify legal jurisdiction.