Parker v. Fireman's Ins. Co. of Newark, NJ

Lamar Charles Parker brought this declaratory judgment action to determine whether Merit Insurance Company (Merit) must respond to Parker’s judgment against Merit’s insured. Merit, a foreign corporation, moved to dismiss the case for lack of personal jurisdiction. The circuit denied the motion, and Merit appeals.

Merit, an Illinois, corporation with its principal place of business in Chicago, insured an automobile owned by Norman Fernie, a Florida resident. Merit has never been licensed to transact business in South Carolina and has no offices and employees in South Carolina. Merit neither…