Benefit Ass'n International, Inc. v. Superior Court

Opinion

PARRILLI, J.

This case concerns what “minimum contacts” are needed for in personam jurisdiction over an insurer that sells “medical benefits” policies to foreigners traveling in California. A Venezuelan insured has filed an action in California against two Mississippi companies. Neither the insurance company issuing the policy, which has offices in Jackson, Mississippi and Miami, Florida, nor its servicing agent, whose only office is in Mississippi, conducts business in California. The suit is over a contract for medical insurance obtained through Venezuelan representatives of a Turks…