Sterling Novelty Corp. v. Frank & Hirsch Distributing Co.

Whether or not defendant, a foreign corporation, was doing business in this State so as to be subject to the jurisdiction of our courts is the question certified for our determination.

The defendant is a South African importing corporation which does much of its buying in New York, but is concededly not qualified to do business here and has no branch office in this State. Plaintiff began the present action for breach of contract by serving a summons' and complaint upon an officer of a New York corporation which makes purchases for defendant. Urging that such service was not effective,…