I really don’t think it should be. If you’re from out of state, but you mess around in Oklahoma, then you shouldn’t be surprised to end up in court in Oklahoma. Pretty simple. But its not really that simple. The rules of personal jurisdiction, both specific and general, are complex and very fact dependent.
So make note of this case. Not because the result is that earth shattering or surprising, but because the case gives a mini-tutorial on personal jurisdiction.
WILLBROS USA, INC. v. CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYDS OF LONDON, 2009 OK CIV APP 90 questions whether a London based insurance broker can be sued in Oklahoma courts. The broker had made several trips to Oklahoma, as part of the transaction, discussing business and meeting the client and broker. He exchanged emails and made calls to Oklahoma for the same purpose. The broker tried to minimize the importance and extent of these contacts, but the COCA held that there were sufficient contacts to support personal jurisdiction over the broker in Oklahoma.
Again, the result is not surprising in my mind, and the result might have been reached with a much shorter legal opinion. But the COCA chose to give a great outline of personal jurisdiction – all that stuff about minimum contacts and fair play and substantial justice. I won’t repeat it all here because I would simply be regurgitating what the COCA already wrote. Just save this case and make reference to it next time you’ve got a personal jurisdiction problem to work out.