Business Ethics: The National Enquirer, Inc., is a Florida
corporation with its principal place of business in Florida. It publishes the
National Enquirer, a national weekly newspaper with a total circulation of more
than 5 million copies. About 600,000 copies, almost twice the level in the next
highest state, are sold in California. The National Enquirer published an
article about Shirley Jones, an entertainer. Jones, a California resident,
filed a lawsuit in California state court against the National Enquirer and its
president, who was a resident of Florida. The California lawsuit sought damages
for alleged defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of
emotional distress. Calder v. Jones, 465 U.S. 783, 104 S.Ct. 1482, 79 L.Ed.2d
804, Web 1984 U.S. Lexis 4 (Supreme Court of the United States)
1. What kind of paper is the National Enquirer?
2. Was it ethical for the National Enquirer to try to avoid
suit in California? In answering this question, be sure to provide a reasoned
discussion of the ethics involved in attempting to avoid jurisdiction in
California.
3. Are the defendants subject to suit in California? Why or
why not? When answerng this question be sure to discuss the applicability of
the long arm statute to National Enquirer and its president.
