In the recent decision of Reid v. Siniscalchi, C.A. No. 2874-VCS (Del. Ch. Jan. 30, 2018), the Court of Chancery analyzed the “conspiracy theory” of personal jurisdiction.

According to the Court:

“Under the conspiracy theory of personal jurisdiction, the parties to a conspiracy are treated as each other’s agents with respect to acts in furtherance of the conspiracy. Thus, a substantial Delaware act by a conspirator in furtherance of the conspiracy may be attributed to nonresident co-conspirators if the co-conspirators knew or had reason to know of that act and the act “in [Delaware] was a direct and foreseeable result of the conduct in furtherance of the conspiracy.” In turn, if a conspirator’s conduct in furtherance of the conspiracy subjects him to the jurisdiction of Delaware’s courts, then the attribution of that conduct to nonresident co-conspirators will subject all of the conspirators to the jurisdiction of the Delaware courts.

Slip op., at 37 (internal citations omitted).

The case had spanned for over a decade to allow plaintiff to take jurisdictional discovery to support such theory of jurisdiction.  On a motion for summary judgment, the Court determined that the plaintiff “misled the Court by crying ‘victim’ of a Delaware based conspiracy, when, in fact, he was an architect of the very wrongdoing that he claimed provided a basis for the Court to exercise long-arm jurisdiction over [defendant].”  Slip op., at 42.  As such, Vice Chancellor Slights declined to exercise jurisdiction over such non-resident defendant, and granted summary judgment in its favor based on lack of personal jurisdiction.

[View source.]