Legal Question in Technology Law in California

It depends whether the Utah person had minimum contacts with CA, or the transaction was CA-related.

Mr. Cohen is right, and there is an additional hurdle: obtaining service of process. The defendant must be served in California, which may be impossible if the person never comes here, or visits without tipping you off. There are two exceptions (see Code of Civil Procedure section 116.340(e), (f) and (g)): if the claim relates to California real estate owned by the person, or if the case involves a motor vehicle accident that occurred in California. In either of these two situations, the defendant can be served in Utah, or wherever he can be found.