What does "minimum contacts" refer to in the context of jurisdiction?

"Minimum contacts" refers to the level of connection between a defendant and the forum state that is necessary for a court to exercise personal jurisdiction over that defendant. This concept stems from the due process clause and is crucial in ensuring that it is fair to require a defendant to respond to a lawsuit in a particular jurisdiction.

The idea is that if a defendant has established sufficient connections or contacts with the state in which the lawsuit is brought—such as conducting business, owning property, or committing a tortuous act within that state—they can reasonably anticipate being haled into court there. The U.S. Supreme Court has laid out this standard in cases such as International Shoe Co. v. Washington, affirming that "minimum contacts" must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. This assessment is focused on whether the defendant’s activities in the forum state are such that they would not be unfair to require them to defend themselves in that jurisdiction.

The other options do not accurately address the concept of minimum contacts, as they relate to other legal principles or aspects of civil procedure unrelated to the jurisdictional connections needed for a court to hear a case against a defendant.