November 22, 2016

POS 282 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN LAW
In class today, Tuesday 11/22, I distributed one handout, the Maine long-arm (personal jurisdiction) statute. We began by reviewing subject-matter jurisdiction enough to contrast it with personal jurisdiction. We talked about four avenues for assertion of personal jurisdiction over a defendant: domicile of the defendant, service of process within the state, minimal contacts, and consent. We discussed special appearances to contest jurisdiction. We went through the Swoboda case and put it into a case brief format. I then discussed two recent U.S. Supreme Court cases regarding personal jurisdiction: McIntyre v. Nicastro and Walden v. Fiore. We looked at the Maine long-arm statute, and questioned whether one of its provisions is consistent with constitutional requirements. On next Tuesday I plan to distribute assignment #2, another case brief, which will be due the last day of class, Thursday 12/8. The assignment for Tuesday 11/29 is to finish Chapter 4 of the text, which includes reviewing the previously assigned St. James v. Coinmach, and adds Frump v. Claire's Boutiques. Have a good and a safe Thanksgiving.