Williams v. United States

How later courts describe this case

• construing Wis.Stat. § 801.05(5)(a) and (b) as inapplicable to a contract action involving the sale of goods manufactured in Wisconsin
• mailing of contract acceptance to plaintiff in Wisconsin insufficient to establish in personam jurisdiction in that state over defendant in suit for contract purchase price even though plaintiff's performance was to occur in Wisconsin
• declining to exercise jurisdiction over the defendant and stating that Wisconsin courts have a lesser interest in protecting Wisconsin residents in disputes not involving dangers to persons or things within the state’s borders
• “Use of the interstate telephone and mail service to communicate with a Wisconsin plaintiff, if constituting contacts supporting jurisdiction, would give jurisdiction to any state into which communications were directed.”
• Justice White dissenting from the denial of the petition for certiorari