Gloria R. Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., Inc., & Parachutes Inc., 531 F.2d 193 (4th Cir. 1976). · Go Syfert
Gloria R. Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., Inc., & Parachutes Inc., 531 F.2d 193 (4th Cir. 1976). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“no unconstitutional burden is imposed on a foreign corporation by requiring it to defend a suit in a forum located in a state, where it has advertised and sold a product whose use gave rise to the cause of action.”
72 citation events (10 in the last 25 years) across 23 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: David Neiman D/B/A London Group (1974) v. Rudolf Wolff & Co., Ltd., James Gourlay and Ingleram Investments, Ltd. (ca7, 1980-05-22)
Treatment trajectory · 1977 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1977 2001 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 35 distinct citers. How cited ↗
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) David Neiman D/B/A London Group (1974) v. Rudolf Wolff & Co., Ltd., James Gourlay and Ingleram Investments, Ltd.
7th Cir. · 1980 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
no unconstitutional burden is imposed on a foreign corporation by requiring it to defend a suit in a forum located in a state, where it has advertised and sold a product whose use gave rise to the cause of action.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Megan Lee Studio, LLC v. TieGuys.com, Inc.
W.D.N.C. · 2023 · confidence medium
In concluding that it had personal jurisdiction over the corporation, the court noted that “[a] single transaction is a sufficient contact to satisfy [the standards of due process] if it gives rise to the liability asserted in the suit.” Id. at 195 (emphasis added).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Gracious Living Corp. v. Colucci & Gallaher, PC
D.S.C. · 2016 · confidence medium
In Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir. 1976), the Fourth Circuit held that a “single transaction is a sufficient contact to satisfy [due process] if it gives rise to the liability asserted in the suit.” Applying Hardy, Keenan’s unauthorized practice of law in filing the confession of judgment is sufficient to confer specific personal jurisdiction in South Carolina courts.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Moosally v. WW Norton & Co., Inc.
S.C. Ct. App. · 2004 · confidence medium
Norton is negligible because “[n]o unconstitutional burden is imposed on a foreign corporation by requiring it to defend a suit in a forum located in a state where it has advertised and sold a product whose use gave rise to the cause of action.” Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir.1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Campbell v. Johnson & Towers, Inc.
D.S.C. · 1999 · confidence medium
Corp., 783 F.2d 1124, 1127 (4th Cir.1986); Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir.1976); Long v. Baldt, 464 F.Supp. 269, 275 (D.S.C.1979); Berkeley PG Corp. v. South-bank Investment Group, Inc., 291 S.C. 315 , 353 S.E.2d 305, 308 (1987).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Slaughter v. Life Connection of Ohio
M.D.N.C. · 1995 · confidence medium
Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., Inc., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir.1976); Gemini Enterprises, Inc. v. WFMY Television Corp., 470 F.Supp. 559, 563 (M.D.N.C.1979).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Sonoco Products Co. v. Inteplast Corp.
D.S.C. · 1994 · confidence medium
See e.g., Southern Plastics Co. v. Southern Commerce Bank, — S.C. -, -, 423 S.E.2d 128, 130 (1992); Atlantic Soft Drink Co. v. South Carolina Nat’l Bank, 287 S.C. 228, 231 , 336 S.E.2d 876, 878 (1985); Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., Inc., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir.1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Clark v. Milam
S.D.W. Va · 1993 · confidence medium
Because the statute permits the exercise of jurisdiction to outer constitutional limits, the first step of the Court’s analysis "collapses into the second.” Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir.1976).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Eagle Aviation, Inc. v. Galin
D.S.C. · 1989 · confidence medium
For this reason, as the Fourth Circuit explained in Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., Inc., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir.1976), the long-arm statute question “collapses into” the due process analysis.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) The Federal Insurance Company v. Lake Shore Inc. Peterson Builders, Incorporated, and American Ship Management, Incorporated
4th Cir. · 1989 · confidence medium
Here, “the first question collapses into the second,” Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir.1976), because the South Carolina long-arm statute has been construed to extend jurisdiction "to the outer limits” of due process.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Richmar Development, Inc. v. Midland Doherty Services, Ltd.
W.D.N.C. · 1989 · confidence medium
Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., Inc., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir.1976) (products liability action); see also McGee v. International Life Ins.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Spiro Giotis v. Apollo of the Ozarks, Inc., Red Rocket Fireworks, a Corporation, and Cyril James Warrilow, Lead Underwriter, and Malcolm Gillespie, and Third-Party v. Capitol Fireworks Company and John Heffinger, Jr., Third-Party
3rd Cir. · 1986 · confidence medium
World-Wide Volkswagen, 444 U.S. at 295 , 100 S.Ct. at 566 ; Casas v. Royal Bank of Canada, 625 F.2d 139, 144 (7th Cir.1980), Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir.1976), cited with approval by this Court in Neiman v. Rudolf Wolff & Co., Ltd., 619 F.2d 1189 , 1194 n. 6 (7th Cir.1980), certiorari denied, 449 U.S. 920 , 101 S.Ct. 319 , 66 L.Ed.2d 148 ; Honeywell, 509 F.2d at 1144 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Giotis v. Apollo of the Ozarks, Inc.
7th Cir. · 1986 · confidence medium
World-Wide Volkswagen, 444 U.S. at 295 , 100 S.Ct. at 566 ; Casas v. Royal Bank of Canada, 625 F.2d 139, 144 (7th Cir.1980), Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir.1976), cited with approval by this Court in Neiman v. Rudolf Wolff & Co., Ltd., 619 F.2d 1189 , 1194 n. 6 (7th Cir.1980), certiorari denied, 449 U.S. 920 , 101 S.Ct. 319 , 66 L.Ed.2d 148 ; Honeywell, 509 F.2d at 1144 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Choon Young Chung v. Nana Development Corporation (2×)
4th Cir. · 1986 · confidence medium
Wolf v. Richmond County Hospital Authority, 745 F.2d 904, 909 (4th Cir.1984); Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir.1976); Bowman v. Curt G.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Jack Thompson, Individually and as Next Friend for Clinton J. Heath, Etc. v. Chrysler Motors Corporation, Crimson Dodge, Inc., Martha v. Nash v. Chrysler Motors Corporation, Crimson Dodge, Inc.
5th Cir. · 1985 · confidence medium
See World-Wide Volkswagen, 444 U.S. at 297-98 , 100 S.Ct. at 567-68 (recognizing in dictum distinction between entities composing distribution system); Bean Dredging Corp. v. Dredge Technology Corp., 744 F.2d 1081, 1084 (5th Cir.1984) (quoting Nelson v. Park Industries, Inc., 717 F.2d 1120 , 1125-26 (7th Cir.1983) ("[A] manufacturer or primary distributor may be subject to a particular forum's jurisdiction when a secondary distributor and retailer are not, because the manufacturer and primary distributor have intended to serve a broad market and they derive direct benefits from serving that ma…
cited Cited as authority (rule) Blue Ridge Bank v. Veribanc, Inc.
4th Cir. · 1985 · confidence medium
Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir.1976); Wolfe v. Richmond City Hospital Authority, 745 F.2d 904, 909 (4th Cir. 1984).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Alan W. Wolf and Gail S. Wolf v. Richmond County Hospital Authority
4th Cir. · 1984 · confidence medium
Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir. 1976).
cited Cited as authority (rule) In Re Nine Mile Limited, D/B/A Serco Administrators and American Warranty Corporation
8th Cir. · 1982 · confidence medium
Lakota Girl Scout Council, Inc. v. Havey Fund-Raising Management, Inc., 519 F.2d 634, 637 (8th Cir. 1975); Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir. 1976).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Southern Case, Inc. v. Management Recruiters International, Inc.
E.D.N.C. · 1982 · confidence medium
Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., Inc., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir. 1976); Gemini Enterprises, Inc. v. WFMY Television Corp., 470 F.Supp. 559, 563 (M.D.N.C.1979).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Douglas Battery Manufacturing Co. v. Taylor Auto Supply, Inc.
M.D.N.C. · 1982 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
Accord, World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, 444 U.S. 286, 298 , 100 S.Ct. 559, 567 , 62 L.Ed.2d 490, 502 ; cf. Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir. 1976) (cause of action arose from “act” or transaction “consumated in the forum state”); Munchak Corp. v. Riko Enterprises, Inc., 368 F.Supp. 1366, 1374 (M.D.N.C.1973) (unrelated activities of defendant in forum state do not constitute minimum contacts).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Wooldridge v. Beech Aircraft Corp.
W.D. Mo. · 1979 · confidence medium
Ray Baker, Inc. v. Associated Banking Corp., 592 F.2d 550, 551 (9th Cir. 1979), cert. denied,-U.S.-, 100 S.Ct. 63 , 62 L.Ed.2d 42 (1979); Washington v. Norton Mfg., Inc., 588 F.2d 441, 444 (5th Cir.), cert. denied,-U.S.-, 99 S.Ct. 2886 , 61 L.Ed.2d 313 (1979); Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., Inc., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir. 1976); Arrowsmith v. United Press International, 320 F.2d 219, 223-31 (2d Cir. 1963); Gemini Enterprises, Inc. v. WFMY Television Corp., 470 F.Supp. 559, 563 (M.D.N.C.1979); Indianola Prod.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Woodrow Hutson v. Fehr Brothers, Inc., Acciaierie Weissenfels, John David Epperson v. Fehr Brothers, Inc., Acciaierie Weissenfels (2×)
8th Cir. · 1978 · confidence medium
In Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir. 1976), the court stated: 49 Modern transportation, communication, and the national flow of commerce have contributed to the recognition that states have a legitimate interest in providing means for their citizens to seek redress against foreign corporations that ship allegedly defective products into the state.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) McLaughlin v. Copeland
D. Maryland · 1977 · confidence medium
Jurisdiction over Veasey exists under subsection (b)(1) because as Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir. 1976), makes clear, a single transaction may be sufficient to satisfy due process even though a defendant’s acts may fall short of a persistent course of conduct.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Wells Fargo & Company v. Wells Fargo Express Company
9th Cir. · 1977 · confidence medium
See Amba Marketing Systems, Inc. v. Jobar Int'l, Inc., 551 F.2d 784, 787 (9th Cir. 1977); Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir. 1976); Rebozo v. Washington Post Co., 515 F.2d 1208, 1211 (5th Cir. 1975); Davis H.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Wells Fargo & Co. v. Wells Fargo Express Co.
9th Cir. · 1977 · confidence medium
See Amba Marketing Systems, Inc. v. Jobar Int'l, Inc., 551 F.2d 784, 787 (9th Cir. 1977); Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir. 1976); Rebozo v. Washington Post Co., 515 F.2d 1208, 1211 (5th Cir. 1975); Davis H.
discussed Cited "see" Boyd Ex Rel. Estate of Boyd v. Green (2×)
W.D. Va. · 2007 · signal: see · confidence high
See Wolf, 745 F.2d at 909 (citing Hardy v. Pioneer Para *700 chute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir.1976)).
cited Cited "see" Prince v. Illien Adoptions International, Ltd.
D. Maryland · 1992 · signal: see · confidence high
See Sleph, 76 Md.App. 418 , 545 A.2d 111 , Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir.1976).
discussed Cited "see" Snyder v. Hampton Industries, Inc. (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
D. Maryland · 1981 · signal: see · confidence high
See discussion in section 11(D) infra. See generally Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir. 1976); Stephenson v. Jordan Volkswagen, Inc., 428 F.Supp. 195, 197-98 (W.D.N.C.1977).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Pompeian, Inc. v. The Mill at Kings River, LLC
D. Maryland · 2024 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See, e.g., Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir. 1976) (holding that “[n]o unconstitutional burden is imposed on a foreign corporation by requiring it to defend a suit in a forum located in a state where it has advertised and sold a product whose use gave rise to the cause of action”).
cited Cited "see, e.g." Jones v. Koons Automotive, Inc.
D. Maryland · 2010 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See, e.g., Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., Inc., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir.1976) (finding sales of parachutes in South Carolina satisfied due process contact requirement).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Thompson v. Chrysler Motors Corp.
5th Cir. · 1985 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See also Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir.1976) (a single transaction is a sufficient contact to satisfy the due process standard if it gives rise to the liability asserted in the suit); Duple Motor Bodies, Ltd. v. Holl-ingsworth, 417 F.2d 231 (9th Cir.1969); Sage Computer Technology v. P-Code Distributing Corp., 576 F.Supp. 1194 (D.Nev.1983); Cal-Mar Industries, Inc. v. Wilson Research Corp., 442 F.Supp. 796, 798-99 (S.D.Fla.1977); Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws §§ 36, 49 (1971); R.
cited Cited "see, e.g." Craig v. General Finance Corp. of Illinois
D. Maryland · 1981 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See, e. g., Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., Inc., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir. 1976).
cited Cited "see, e.g." Finance Co. of America v. BankAmerica Corp.
D. Maryland · 1980 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence low
See, e.g., Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., 531 F.2d 193 (4th Cir. 1976); Szantay v. Beech Aircraft Corp., 349 F.2d 60 (4th Cir. 1965).
cited Cited "see, e.g." Lee v. Hunt
W.D. La. · 1977 · signal: see also · confidence low
See also Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., Inc., 531 F.2d 193 (4th Cir. 1976); Promotion Network, Inc. v. C.
cited Cited "see, e.g." Carter v. Massey
D. Maryland · 1977 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Krashes v. White, supra; see also Hardy v. Pioneer Parachute Co., Inc., 531 F.2d 193, 195 (4th Cir. 1976).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Gloria R. HARDY, Appellant,
v.
PIONEER PARACHUTE COMPANY, INC., and Parachutes Incorporated, Appellees
74--1700.
Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Jan 22, 1976.
531 F.2d 193
1976 U.S. App. LEXIS 13208
Edward M. Swartz, Boston, Mass., Walter W. Brooks, Kermit S. King, and O. Fayrell Furr, Jr., Columbia, S.C., on brief, for appellant., Douglas McKay, Jr., McKay, Sherrill, Walker, Townsend & Wilkins, Heyward McDonald, Rogers, McDonald, McKenzie & Fuller, Columbia, S.C., on brief, for appellees.
Craven, Butzner, Russell.
Cited by 56 opinions  |  Published
BUTZNER, Circuit Judge:

Gloria R. Hardy appeals from a ruling of the district court that it lacked personal jurisdiction over the appellees, Pioneer Parachute Co. and Parachutes, Inc. We conclude that the district court had jurisdiction under both South Carolina’s long-arm statute and the federal constitution. Accordingly, we reverse.

Hardy brought suit to recover damages for injuries she received while using a parachute made by Pioneer and sold by Parachutes. She asserted jurisdiction under South Carolina Code § 10.2-803(1), which provides in part: “A court may exercise personal jurisdiction over a person who acts directly or by an agent as to a cause of[*195] action arising from the person’s (a) transacting any business in this State; (b) contracting to supply services or things in the State; (c) commission of a tortious act in whole or in part in this State . . .”

Pioneer is a Delaware corporation whose principal place of business is in Manchester, Connecticut. It owns no property in South Carolina, has no agents, employees or office in the state, and pays no taxes there. Although Pioneer occasionally makes direct sales to customers in South Carolina, it primarily sells through its exclusive distributor, Parachutes. Pioneer does no direct advertising but contributes to Parachutes’ advertising budget.

Parachutes, a New York corporation with its home office in Orange, Massachusetts, distributes and markets sports parachutes made by Pioneer. Parachutes owns no property in South Carolina, maintains no office or place of business there, and has no agents, employees, salesmen, distributors, or franchisees in the state. It advertises Pioneer’s products in two nationally circulated magazines which reach subscribers in South Carolina. Since 1966, Parachutes has made at least 42 direct sales to customers in South Carolina. In March 1967, it sold the Pioneer parachute, whose safety is at issue in this case, for $361.00 to a resident of South Carolina in response to a telephone order from that state.

A federal court presented with a challenge to its personal jurisdiction over an out-of-state defendant faces two questions: one, whether there is statutory authority for the exercise of jurisdiction under the laws of the state in which it sits, see Bowman v. Curt G. Joa, Inc., 361 F.2d 706, 711 (4th Cir.1966); and two, whether the statute that confers jurisdiction meets federal constitutional standards of due process, see International Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 316, 66 S.Ct. 154, 90 L.Ed. 95 (1945). In this case, the first question collapses into the second, for South Carolina’s long-arm statute, § 10.2-803(1), grants as broad a reach of jurisdiction as is constitutionally permissible. See Triplett v. R. M. Wade & Co., 261 S.C. 419, 200 S.E.2d 375, 378-79 (1973) (dictum); cf. Shealy v. Challenger Mfg. Co., 304 F.2d 102, 107 (4th Cir.1962); Gardner v. Q.H.S., Inc., 304 F.Supp. 1247, 1249 (D.S.C.1969), rev’d on other grounds, 448 F.2d 238 (4th Cir.1971).

Thirty years ago the Supreme Court ruled “that in order to subject a defendant to a judgment in personam, if he be not present within the territory of the forum, he [must] have certain minimum contacts with it such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend ‘traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.’ ” International Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 316, 66 S.Ct. 154, 158, 90 L.Ed. 95 (1945). A single transaction is a sufficient contact to satisfy this standard if it gives rise to the liability asserted in the suit. McGee v. International Life Insurance Co., 355 U.S. 220, 78 S.Ct. 199, 2 L.Ed.2d 223 (1957); Gkiafis v. S.S. Yiosonas, 342 F.2d 546, 556 (4th Cir.1965). Modern transportation, communication, and the national flow of commerce have contributed to the recognition that states have a legitimate interest in providing means for their citizens to seek redress against foreign corporations that ship allegedly defective products into the state. No unconstitutional burden is imposed on a foreign corporation by requiring it to defend a suit in a forum located in a state where it has advertised and sold a product whose use gave rise to the cause of action. We conclude, therefore, that the due process clause does not preclude entry of a judgment against Pioneer and Parachutes because they did not have more extensive contacts with South Carolina. Cf. McGee v. International Life Insurance Co., 355 U.S. 220, 78 S.Ct. 199, 2 L.Ed.2d 223 (1957); Peeler v. South Carolina Helicopters, Inc., 263 S.C. 487, 211 S.E.2d 344 (1975); Triplett v. R. M. Wade & Co., 261 S.C. 419, 200 S.E.2d 375 (1973); Gardner v. Q.H.S., Inc., 304 F.Supp. 1247, 1249 (D.S.C. 1969), rev’d on other grounds, 448 F.2d 238 (4th Cir.1971). See also Note, In Personam Jurisdiction Over Nonresident Manufacturers in Product Liability Actions, 63 Mich.L. Rev. 1028, 1031 (1965).

[*196] Hanson v. Denekla, 357 U.S. 235, 78 S.Ct. 1228, 2 L.Ed.2d 1283 (1958), on which Pioneer and Parachutes rely, does not require a different result. There, it was the resident settlor of a trust, not the nonresident trustee named as a defendant, who established contacts within the forum state. The Court emphasized that the cause of action, unlike the situation in McGee, supra, did not arise “out of an act done or a transaction consummated in the forum State.” 357 U.S. at 251, 78 S.Ct. at 1238. This same distinction renders Hanson inapplicable to Hardy’s case. Cf. Gray v. American Radiator & Standard Sanitary Corp., 22 Ill.2d 432, 176 N.E.2d 761, 764 (1961).

Hardy’s accident occurred almost a year before South Carolina’s long-arm statute became effective. In accord with the clear weight of authority, the statute had been held to operate retrospectively. Thompson v. Hofmann, 263 S.C. 314, 210 S.E.2d 461 (1974); Segars v. Gomez, 360 F.Supp. 50, 54 (D.S.C.1972). The statute, along with other South Carolina rules of procedure, affords Pioneer and Parachutes adequate notice and a reasonable opportunity to appear and defend this suit. They had no vested right not to be sued in South Carolina and, consequently, retroactive application of the statute does not deprive them of due process of law. Cf. McGee v. International Life Insurance Co., 355 U.S. 220, 224, 78 S.Ct. 199, 2 L.Ed.2d 223 (1957).

The judgment of the district court is reversed, and this case is remanded for further proceedings.