Legal Definitions - single-act statute

A single-act statute is a specific type of long-arm statute that allows a state's courts to exercise legal authority (jurisdiction) over a defendant who lives or is based outside of that state. This authority arises when the lawsuit is directly connected to a single significant act or transaction that the defendant intentionally performed within the state's borders.

The principle behind a single-act statute is that by engaging in a specific, impactful action within a state, an out-of-state defendant has purposefully availed themselves of the benefits and protections of that state's laws. Therefore, it is considered fair and reasonable for them to be sued in that state for any claims that directly arise from that particular act, even if they have no other ongoing presence or extensive contacts there.

Here are some examples illustrating how a single-act statute might apply:

• Example 1: Defective Product Sale

  Imagine a small, independent furniture maker based in Oregon sells a custom-made dining table directly to a customer in California through an online marketplace. The table is delivered to California, but shortly after assembly, a critical structural component fails, causing injury to the customer. Even if the Oregon furniture maker has no physical store, employees, or regular business operations in California, a California single-act statute could allow the injured customer to sue the furniture maker in a California court. The act of selling and delivering the defective product into California, which directly led to the injury, would be considered the "single act" sufficient to establish jurisdiction.

• Example 2: Professional Service Malpractice

  Consider an architectural consultant, licensed and residing in New York, who travels to Florida for a one-time engagement to review and approve the structural plans for a new high-rise building. During this single visit, the consultant negligently overlooks a critical design flaw. Later, the building develops severe structural issues directly attributable to this oversight. A Florida single-act statute could permit the building owner to sue the New York-based consultant in Florida, despite the consultant having no other clients or business presence in the state. The specific professional service rendered within Florida, which caused harm there, would be the basis for jurisdiction.

• Example 3: Intentional Tort (Defamation)

  Suppose an individual living in Texas publishes a defamatory article online, specifically targeting a business owner in Colorado. The article contains false statements that cause significant financial damage to the Colorado business. Even if the Texas individual has never set foot in Colorado, a Colorado single-act statute could allow the Colorado business owner to sue the Texas individual in a Colorado court. The act of intentionally publishing defamatory content that was directed at and caused harm within Colorado would be the "single act" establishing jurisdiction, as the lawsuit directly arises from that specific action.