Which statement best describes the five long-arm bases for NY jurisdiction?

• A. Defamation is one of the bases
• B. Defamation is not a long-arm base
• C. Contract disputes only are long-arm bases
• D. Long-arm bases are limited to within NY-only activities

Answer: (B)

The main idea is how New York’s long-arm statute allows a court to reach a nonresident only when there’s a specific connection to New York. The bases are not simply “any tort here equals long-arm.” They are defined categories that tie the defendant to New York, such as transacting business in the state, contracting to supply goods or services to be performed in New York, or causing a tort outside New York that results in injury in New York (along with other listed scenarios like real property interests in New York). Defamation isn’t listed as its own standalone long-arm category. It would only come into play under the tort-based base if the defaming conduct outside New York caused injury in New York. So defamation by itself isn’t a separate long-arm base, which is why the statement asserting that defamation is a long-arm base is not correct. It’s also true that long-arm jurisdiction isn’t limited to New York-only activities; it covers certain out-of-state acts that have effects in New York. And long-arm bases are broader than contract disputes alone.