U.S. Supreme Court to Review Personal Jurisdiction Issue in Calif. Plavix Litigation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court will review a ruling that California courts have personal jurisdiction over Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. in eight Plavix actions involving nearly 600 non-residents pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure Section 410.10, which extends jurisdiction to the maximum extent permissible under the U.S. Constitution.

The high court granted the pharmaceutical company’s petition for certiorari on Jan. 19.

On Aug. 29, a majority of the California Supreme Court reasoned that although BMS’ business contacts in California are insufficient to invoke general jurisdiction, the company‘s California activities are sufficiently related to the nonresident plaintiffs’ lawsuits to support …