Question:
The Robinsons, residents of New York, bought a new Audi car from Seaway Volkswagen Corp., a retailer that was incorporated in New York and had its principal place of business there. World-Wide Volk-swagen, a company incorporated in New York and doing business in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, distributed the car to Seaway. Neither Sea- way nor World-Wide did business in Oklahoma, and neither company shipped cars there. The Robinsons were driving through Oklahoma when another vehicle struck their Audi in the rear. The gas tank of the Audi exploded, injuring several members of the family. The Robinsons brought a product liability suit against the manufacturer, distributor, and retailer of the car in an Oklahoma state court. Seaway and World-Wide argued that the Oklahoma state court did not have in personam jurisdiction over them. After the state's trial court and supreme court held that the state did have in personam jurisdiction over Seaway and World- Wide, they appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. How do you think the Court decided in this case? Why?