Specific jurisdiction

Specific jurisdiction depends on the link between the lawsuit and the defendant's contacts with the state. If a company sold a defective product to someone in the state and that product caused an injury there, courts in the state usually have specific jurisdiction over the company for that lawsuit. The contacts have to relate to the actual claim being sued on, not just to the defendant's general activity. This is the most common basis for personal jurisdiction in modern litigation. It contrasts with general jurisdiction, which covers any claim regardless of where it arose.