LORENZO MENDOZA MARTINEZ; ELIEZER MENDOZA MARTINEZ; ELIU MENDOZA; GLORIA MARTINEZ MONTES, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. AERO CARIBBEAN; EMPRESSA AEROCARIBBEAN, S.A.; CUBANA DE AVIACION, S.A.; ATR; GIE AVIONS DE TRANSPORT REGIONAL, Defendants-Appellees., 764 F.3d 1062

Summary

HOLDINGS: [1]-Dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction was proper as to claims brought by the heirs of a deceased passenger against the French manufacturer of an airplane that crashed in Cuba, as service of process on a corporate officer of the manufacturer while he was in California did not suffice to create general personal jurisdiction over the manufacturer. "Tag" jurisdiction based on physical presence in the forum state existed only over natural persons; [2]-The manufacturer's contacts with California were insufficient to establish general jurisdiction, as the manufacturer had no offices or staff in California and was not licensed to do business there, and its California contracts were minor compared to its contracts worldwide.