In the case of World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, the U.S Supreme Court ruled that an Oklahoma court did not have jurisdiction over a New York car dealership and its wholesale distributor in a product liability suit brought by plaintiffs who were residents of New York but had suffered injury in Oklahoma due to alleged defects in their vehicle. The court held that for a state to exercise jurisdiction over a defendant, there must be "minimum contacts" between the defendant and the state such that bringing them into litigation within the state does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice. In this instance, neither corporate defendant carried out activities within Oklahoma nor benefited from any privilege or protection provided by its laws; hence they could not reasonably anticipate being hauled into court there on account of an accident involving one of their products.

In the dissenting opinion for World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, Justice William Brennan disagreed with the majority's decision that Oklahoma courts lacked jurisdiction over a New York-based car dealership and its regional distributor in a product liability lawsuit brought by an Oklahoma resident injured in New York-manufactured vehicle accident within Oklahoma state lines. He argued that modern transportation and communication had made it foreseeable for businesses to expect their products to cross state lines, thus making them subject to out-of-state lawsuits if those products caused harm. He also contended that due process was not violated because defendants could reasonably anticipate being haled into court wherever they intentionally directed their efforts or where they created continuing relationships and obligations with citizens of another state through individuals acting on their behalf.