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Conflict of Laws Keyed to Brilmayer
BNSF Railway Co. v. Tyrrell
Citation:
137 S. Ct. 1549 (2017)Facts
Plaintiffs, Nelson and Tyrrell, were injured railroad workers who brought suit against Defendant, BNSF Railway Co. (BNSF), in Montana state court under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA). Neither of the railroad workers resided in Montana nor were they injured in Montana. Defendant, BNSF Railway Co. (BNSF), did business in Montana, but was not incorporated and did not have its principle place of business in Montana.
The Montana Supreme Court, in order to justify the exercise of personal jurisdiction over BNSF, relied upon §56 of FELA, which provided personal jurisdiction over railroads that were “doing business” in the state at the time the action was commenced. The U.S. Supreme Court granted BNSF’s petition for certiorari.
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