10th Circuit Affirms Lack of Personal Jurisdiction over European Insurers

DENVER - The 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has affirmed a district court's dismissal of a company's declaratory judgment action against several European insurers concerning underlying asbestos claims, finding the lower court lacked personal jurisdiction over the insurers despite the global nature of their business. TH Agriculture & Nutrition v. ACE European Group, et al., No. 06-3105 (10th Cir.).

In a June 12 opinion, the 10th Circuit said that because the insurers have limited contacts with Kansas - plaintiff TH Agriculture & Nutrition's proposed forum - "they need not make a strong showing of unreasonableness to defeat personal jurisdiction."