No. 19-368October Term 2019Decided Mar 25, 2021Updated May 23, 2026
Ford Motor v. Montana Eighth Judicial Dist.
Ford Motor Co. v. Montana Eighth Judicial Dist.
The Court considered whether Montana and Minnesota courts could hear product-liability suits against Ford when the crashes happened in those states and Ford extensively marketed, sold, and serviced the same vehicle models there, even though the particular cars involved were first sold elsewhere.
Case status
Decided 8-0 · March 25, 2021 · Opinion by Justice Kagan
Read the opinion (PDF)- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Mar 25, 2021
- What it's about
The Court considered whether Montana and Minnesota courts could hear product-liability suits against Ford when the crashes happened in those states and Ford extensively marketed, sold, and serviced the same vehicle models there, even though the particular cars involved were first sold elsewhere. The Court held that those state courts could exercise specific personal jurisdiction over Ford.
Question presented
Whether the “arise out of or relate to” requirement is met when none of the defendant's forum contacts caused the plaintiff's claims, such that the plaintiff's claims would be the same even if the defendant had no forum contacts.
- Case path
Supreme Court of Montana / Decision released Mar 25, 2021
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided March 25, 2021
The Court released its decision on March 25, 2021 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity4
Brief added: Questions Presented
May 23, 2026 | Court records
Opinion added: opinion
Mar 25, 2021 | Court records
Brief added: Petition
Sep 18, 2019 | Court records
Court Order added: Lower Court Orders/Opinions
Jul 24, 2019 | Court records
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Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology