The Japanese company New Oji and several other manufacturers were investigated for price fixing in sales of jumbo rolls of facsimile paper from 1990 to 1992. Oji later pled guilty to the charges. In 1996, several Florida purchasers of facsimile paper filed a class action suit to recover damages caused by price fixing. New Oji asked the judge to dismiss on grounds that, as a Japanese company, it was not subject to the jurisdiction of Florida courts. The judge did so, and the Fourth District Court agreed but certified the case to the Supreme Court.