Explain whether the California state court can exercise personal jurisdiction over Sovereign consistent with the Due Process Clause.

PERSONAL JURISDICTION ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

The plaintiff, Lulu Keane, was the mother of Richard Nance. Both of them lived in California for their entire lives. Richard purchased a life insurance policy from Texas-based Sovereign Insurance Company and named Lulu as the beneficiary.

Sovereign advertised in the State of California and entered into its life insurance contract with Richard in California. Richard is currently Sovereign’s only customer in the state of California.

Richard dies and Sovereign refuses to pay Lulu the proceeds from Richard’s life insurance policy. Lulu sues Sovereign in California state court, but Sovereign argues that the court lacks personal jurisdiction over the company.

Explain whether the California state court can exercise personal jurisdiction over Sovereign consistent with the Due Process Clause. You do not need to discuss California’s long arm statute because it reaches to the full extent that the Due Process Clause allows.