Amperex secures dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction

Client(s) Amperex Technology Limited

Jones Day successfully represented Amperex Technology Limited ("Amperex"), a Chinese lithium-ion battery manufacturer, in a product liability action brought in the Northern District of Illinois. Plaintiff alleged that Amperex was liable for strict product liability and negligence based on an Amperex battery incorporated into Plaintiff's cellphone. Plaintiff claimed that her cellphone exploded and burst into flames, resulting in serious and permanent injuries. Plaintiff argued that the court had general personal jurisdiction and specific personal jurisdiction under the stream of commerce theory of jurisdiction. The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois granted Amperex's motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, adopting Amperex's position that it could not exercise specific personal jurisdiction over Amperex because the litigation did not arise out of or relate to Amperex's contacts with Illinois. The court further reasoned that it could not exercise general personal jurisdiction over Amperex because Amperex's contacts with Illinois are too remote to consider it "at home" in Illinois. The court entered a final judgment dismissing Amperex with prejudice.

Taylor v. Samsung Electronics America, Inc. et al., No. 1:19-cv-04526 (N.D. Ill.)