Magnecomp Corp. v. Athene Co.

In this case, we conclude a Japanese corporation has the requisite minimum contacts with California to permit the trial court to exercise limited personal jurisdiction over a case alleging misappropriation of trade secrets. The uncontroverted evidence establishes the person who is alleged to have stolen the trade secrets from a California resident was an agent of the Japanese corporation. This establishes the Japanese corporation has the requisite minimum contacts with California to permit the trial court to exercise limited jurisdiction over the case. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court’s order quashing the service of the summons and dismissing the Japanese corporation with prejudice.

Statement of Facts and Proceedings Below

Athene is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Japan. Its principal place of business is Tokyo, Japan. Athene engages in no business or other activities knowingly or purposefully directed toward the United States.

In May 1987, Felix Urbanczyk proposed to Athene in Japan to become a consultant and to offer technical engineering advice concerning the potential manufacture of gimbal assemblies. Urbanczyk represented to Athene…