Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_07-cv-05355/USCOURTS-cand-5_07-cv-05355-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Personal Injury

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Case No. C 07-05355 JF

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO TRANSFER VENUE

(JFLC3)

**E-Filed 01/08/2008**

NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

TERRY SOUTHARDS,

 Plaintiff,

 v.

CONAGRA FOODS, INC. and DOES 1 through

100, inclusive,

 Defendants.

Case Number C 07-05355 JF

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO 1

TRANSFER VENUE

[re: docket no. 11]

I. BACKGROUND

On August 6, 2007, Plaintiff Terry Southards (“Southards”) filed the instant case in the

Santa Clara Superior Court. The action involves an accident that occurred in Kings County,

California. On October 17, 2007, Defendant ConAgra Foods, Inc. (“ConAgra”) removed the

case to this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1446(a) on the basis of diversity of citizenship. 

On November 13, 2007, ConAgra answered the complaint. On November 28, 2007,

ConAgra moved to transfer venue to the Eastern District of California, primarily on the ground

Case 5:07-cv-05355-JF Document 14 Filed 01/08/08 Page 1 of 4
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Case No. C 07-05355 JF

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO TRANSFER VENUE

(JFLC3)

that this is where the accident occurred. Southards has not filed any opposition to the motion. 

Accordingly, the Court treats the motion to transfer as unopposed and pursuant to Civil Local

Rule 7-1(b), will grant the motion without oral argument. 

II. LEGAL STANDARD

For the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice, a district

court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division where it might

have been brought.

28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). A motion for transfer pursuant to § 1404(a) lies within the discretion of the

Court. Jones v. GNC Franchising, Inc., 211 F.3d 495, 498 (9th Cir. 2000). The decision

whether to grant such a motion turns on the facts of the particular case. Id. The factors to be

weighed in deciding a motion for transfer include: (1) the location where the relevant

agreements were negotiated and executed; (2) the state that is most familiar with the governing

law; (3) the plaintiff’s choice of forum; (4) the respective parties’ contacts with the forum; (5) the

contacts relating to the plaintiff’s cause of action in the chosen forum; (6) the differences in the

costs of litigation in the two forums; (7) the availability of compulsory process to compel

attendance of unwilling non-party witnesses; (8) the ease of access to sources of proof; (9) the

presence of a forum selection clause; and (10) the relevant public policy of the forum state, if

any. Id. at 498-99.

Ordinarily, a plaintiff’s choice of forum is accorded substantial weight, and courts will

not grant a motion under § 1404(a) unless the “convenience” and “justice” factors tip strongly in

favor of transfer. Florens Container v. Cho Yang Shipping, 245 F.Supp.2d 1086, 1092 (N.D.

Cal. 2002); see also Piper Aircraft Co. v. Reyno, 454 U.S. 235, 257 (1981); Decker Coal Co. v.

Commonwealth Edison Co., 805 F.2d 834, 843 (9th Cir. 1986). However, the Court may

disregard the plaintiff’s choice of forum where the plaintiff’s suit is the result of forum-shopping. 

Alltrade. Inc., v. Uniweld Products, Inc., 946 F.2d 622, 628 (9th Cir. 1991). 

III. DISCUSSION

The accident that forms the basis of this action occurred in Kings County, California. 

Southards’s complaint alleges the accident occurred during unloading or reloading of his truck. 

In its Notice of Removal, ConAgra asserts that Southards is an individual who resides in Yakima

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Case No. C 07-05355 JF

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO TRANSFER VENUE

(JFLC3)

County, Washington and ConAgra is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business

in the State of Nebraska. 28 U.S.C. 1391(a) provides that in diversity actions, venue is proper in

the judicial district in which a defendant resides and where a “substantial part of the events or

omissions” on which the claim is based occurred. 

The complaint contains the following allegations:

[Southwards] drove his truck to the ConAgra plant in Hanford, California. Once

he arrived, his truck was unloaded and reloaded by ConAgra employees using

forklifts . . . [Southards] placed the steel corner irons on his truck to secure his

load, but had not yet affixed the cables to secure them when a ConAgra employee

interrupted him to review some paperwork. [Southards] was standing near his

truck when defendant Doe forklift driver, employed by ConAgra, carelessly and

recklessly hit the side of his truck . . . .”

Complaint at ¶ 8. Thus, according to the complaint itself, the primary witnesses to the accident

are located in the Hanford area. It is apparent that a transfer to the Eastern District will serve the

interests of justice and be more convenient for the witnesses and the parties. As noted above,

Southards has not filed opposition to the motion to transfer. Accordingly, the motion will be

granted.

IV. ORDER

Good cause therefor appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the motion to transfer

venue is GRANTED. The action is hereby transferred to the Eastern District of California,

Fresno Division. 

DATED: January 8, 2007

 

JEREMY FOGEL

United States District Judge

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Case No. C 07-05355 JF

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO TRANSFER VENUE

(JFLC3)

This Order has been served upon the following persons:

Mark B. O'Connor

mbo@shea-shea.com 

Rod Jeffrey Cappy

mms@shea-shea.com 

Case 5:07-cv-05355-JF Document 14 Filed 01/08/08 Page 4 of 4