minimum contacts 最低限度联系

〈美〉美国最高法院在国际鞋业公司诉华盛顿州〔International Shoe Co.v. State of Washington〕一案中确立的关于对非本州岛民事被告行使对人管辖权〔personal jurisdiction〕的最低法律要求的原则。依据该原则，如果被告与诉讼地州有足够的或实质性的联系，从而对该案的审理不违反传统的公平对待和实质公正的概念，则州法院对不在该州居住的民事被告有对人管辖权。在另一案例中，被告的有目的性的积极商业行为被认为是足够的联系。同样，州税务机关对与本州岛有某些最低限度联系的外国公司可以合法征收地方所得税。

Minimum contacts is a term used in the United States law of civil procedure to determine when it is appropriate for a court in one state to assert personal jurisdiction over a defendant from another state. The United States Supreme Court has decided a number of cases that have established and refined the principle that it is unfair for a court to assert jurisdiction over a party unless that party's contacts with the state in which that court sits are such that the party "could reasonably expect to be haled into court" in that state. This jurisdiction must "not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice". A non-resident defendant may have minimum contacts with the forum state if they 1) have direct contact with the state; 2) have a contract with a resident of the state; 3) have placed their product into the stream of commerce such that it reaches the forum state; 4) seek to serve residents of the forum state; 5) have satisfied the Calder effects test; or 6) have a non-passive website viewed within the forum state. 具体例句如下，以加深对该术语的理解：

例句1

Because the need for minimum contacts is a matter of personal jurisdiction (the power of the court to hear the claim with respect to a particular party) instead of subject matter jurisdiction (the power of the court to hear this kind of claim at all), a party can explicitly or implicitly waive their right to object to the court hearing the case. Minimum contacts can be established by consent where a party signs a contract with a forum selection clause, agreeing to litigate in a specified forum.

因为最低限度联系的需要是属人管辖权的问题（法院审理针对特定当事人的诉讼的权力），而不是属事管辖权的问题（法院审理这种诉讼的权力），一方当事人可以明示或暗示放弃他们反对法院审理案件的权利。最低限度联系可以通过同意来建立，在这种情况下，一方签署了一份带有法院选择条款的合同，同意在特定的法院提起诉讼。

例句2

If jurisdiction in the case is in personam or quasi in rem (over a person or property or a debt owed by a person), the court may not exercise that jurisdiction unless the defendant has "minimum contacts" with the state in which the court sits (the forum state).

如果案件的管辖权是对人的或准对物的（对一个人或财产或一个人所欠的债务），法院不得行使该管辖权，除非被告与法院所在州存在“最低限度联系”。

例句3

Generally, the requirement of minimum contacts means that the defendant has to have taken actions that were purposefully directed towards the forum state. Such actions may include, among others, selling goods in the state, being incorporated in the state, visiting the state, or bringing property in the state. In order to exercise jurisdiction, such minimum contacts are required by the defendant's Fourteenth Amendment federal constitutional right to due process.

一般来说，最低限度联系的要求意味着被告必须采取了有目的地针对法院所在州的行动。除其他外，此类行动可包括在该州销售商品、在该州注册、访问该州或在该州携带财产。为了行使管辖权，这种最低限度联系是被告的第十四修正案联邦宪法正当程序权利所要求的。

例句4

Even if the defendant's miniumum contacts with the forum state are found to exist, the court will not exercise jurisdiction if considerations of "fair play and substantial justice" would require making the defendant defend in the forum state so unreasonable as to constitute a due process violation.

即使被告与法院所在州存在最低限度联系，如果“公平竞争和实质正义”的考虑要求被告在法院所在州进行辩护如此不合理以至于构成违反正当程序，法院也不会行使管辖权。