BBB Industries, LLC v. Cardone Industries, Inc.
DueProcess TradeSecret Privacy
Whether the Texas courts' supplemental specific personal jurisdiction doctrine is inconsistent with the Due Process Clause
QUESTION PRESENTED Under the Due Process Clause, courts may exercise specific personal jurisdiction over out-of-state defendants only when the plaintiffs claim arises from or relates to sufficient contacts between the defendant and the state. Texas courts recognize an exception to this rule that operates as a form of supplemental specific personal jurisdiction: Once there is one claim for which jurisdiction is established, a trial court may in its discretion exercise jurisdiction over other claims against the same defendant, even if they do not arise from constitutionally sufficient forum contacts. The question presented is: Is the Texas courts’ supplemental specific personal jurisdiction doctrine inconsistent with the Due Process Clause?