A Maryland state court can exercise jurisdiction over National Insurance Corporation, an out-of-state company, if the firm has

minimum contacts with the state

Explanation:

In legal terms (civil law), minimum contacts refers to the defendant having performed business activities in the state, or have directed their business activities towards the state.

If a court wants to serve an out of state firm, the minimum contacts procedure is required to determine if it is appropriate for the state court to have jurisdiction over the out of state firm.

If no minimum contact requirement is satisfied, then the out of state firm is protected under the Fourteenth Amendment and the state court will be denied jurisdiction.