Jurisdiction – Long-arm Statute

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WI Court of Appeals – District IV

Case Name: The Segregated Account of Ambac Assurance Corporation, et al. v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.,

Case No.: 2015AP1493

Officials: Lundsten, P.J., Blanchard, and Kloppenburg, JJ.

Focus: Jurisdiction – Long-arm Statute

The Segregated Account of Ambac Assurance Corporation and Ambac Assurance Corporation appeal an order dismissing Ambac’s action alleging fraudulent inducement against Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. because Ambac failed to show that the circuit court has personal jurisdiction over Countrywide in this action.

We conclude that Ambac fails to carry its burden of showing that Countrywide consented to personal jurisdiction in this action by appearing in the rehabilitation proceeding. We also conclude that Ambac’s implicit concession that no injury to Ambac occurred in Wisconsin for purposes of its fraudulent inducement claim compels the conclusion that Countrywide is not subject to personal jurisdiction under Wisconsin’s long-arm statute. Accordingly, we affirm.

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Attorney Derek A. Hawkins is the managing partner at Hawkins Law Offices LLC, where he heads up the firm’s startup law practice. He specializes in business formation, corporate governance, intellectual property protection, private equity and venture capital funding and mergers & acquisitions. Check out the website at www.hawkins-lawoffices.com or contact them at 262-737-8825.