What is a long arm statute?

A long arm statute is a law that gives a court jurisdiction over a non-resident defendant if they have sufficient minimum contacts with the state in which the court is located. This means that even though the defendant may not live in the state, they can still be sued there if they have conducted business or caused harm in some way within that state. The long arm statute often outlines specific criteria that must be met in order for the court to assert jurisdiction, such as the defendant having committed a tortious act within the state or having entered into a contract with a resident of the state. These statutes help ensure that individuals and businesses cannot escape liability by simply operating in a different state from where their harmful actions occurred.