Brief Fact Summary. A Philippine Island mining company’s production is halted due to occupation of the islands by the Japanese. The President conducts business from his home in Ohio.
Synopsis of Rule of Law. Federal due process is not violated in either taking or declining jurisdiction of a foreign corporation when the foreign corporation’s supervision of a business is carried on continuously and systematically within a state.
While no mining properties in Ohio were owned or operated by the company, many of its wartime activities were directed from Ohio and were being given the personal attention of its president in that State at the time he was served with summons.
View Full Point of LawIssue. At the constitutional level, the fairness to the corporation, and whether as a matter of federal due process, the business done in Ohio by the respondent mining company was sufficiently substantial and of such a nature as to permit Ohio to entertain a cause of action against a foreign corporation, where the cause of action arose from activities entirely distinct from its activities in Ohio.
Held. Under these particular circumstances it would not violate federal due process for Ohio to either take or decline jurisdiction of the corporation. Vacated and remanded.
Dissent. Justice Minton and The Chief Justice dissented on the grounds that the U.S. Supreme Court was essentially issuing an advisory opinion to the Ohio Supreme Court.
Concurrence
Discussion. Although no mining properties were located in Ohio, the operations and supervision of the company and wartime activities being directed by the president in the State of Ohio are enough not to violate federal due process.