Mikuni Corporation v. Todd Foster and Candy Foster
This is a products liability lawsuit stemming from a motorcycle accident where Todd Foster was injured due to an allegedly defective carburetor. Appellees Todd and Candy Foster initially sued Classic Honda Mini Trails (CHT), which then filed third-party claims against Mikuni Corporation (Mikuni), the Japanese manufacturer of the carburetor. Mikuni appealed the trial court's denial of its special appearance, arguing a lack of personal jurisdiction in Texas. The appellate court examined both specific and general jurisdiction, including the alter-ego theory between Mikuni and its subsidiary MAC, ultimately concluding that Mikuni had not purposefully availed itself of the Texas market and that MAC's contacts could not be imputed to Mikuni. The court reversed the trial court's order and dismissed the case against Mikuni for lack of personal jurisdiction.