When is jurisdictional discovery necessary?

Jurisdictional discovery is necessary in situations where there is a dispute regarding the existence of personal jurisdiction, and further evidence is required to resolve that dispute. When the parties disagree on whether the court has the authority to exercise personal jurisdiction over a defendant, it may be necessary to conduct discovery to gather additional facts and evidence. This can include obtaining documents, taking depositions, or conducting other inquiries that clarify the relationship between the defendant and the forum state. The goal is to establish whether the legal standards for asserting personal jurisdiction, such as minimum contacts or other relevant factors, are met based on the evidence gathered.

In contrast, circumstances such as whether a defendant is a corporate entity, the court's caseload, or a defendant's voluntary submission to jurisdiction, do not alone warrant jurisdictional discovery. The nature of the defendant or the efficiency of the court's schedule does not influence the need for evidence gathering. Instead, the focus is specifically on the presence of a dispute about personal jurisdiction that necessitates clarification through additional facts.