Source: http://ca.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20090406_0005522.ECA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-02-27 00:08:40
Document Index: 757859475

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1446', '§ 1331', '§ 1332']

DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO TRANSFER ORDER [GRANTING/DENYING] VENUE (DOC. 5).
On March 25, 2008, Plaintiff XCEL Data System ("XCEL") filed a complaint in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Kern, alleging breach of contract by Defendant Derek Best. Compl. On May 2, 2008, Defendant David Best ("Best") removed the action to federal court on federal question and diversity jurisdiction grounds. Doc. 1, Def.'s Notice of Removal. Defendant Best moves to transfer the action to the Eastern District of Michigan. Doc. 5, filed May 12, 2008, Def.'s Mot. Change Venue. Oral argument was heard July 21, 2008.*fn1
From 1997 to 1998, Defendant David Best developed Microsoft Windows-based computer software known as XPAWN. Doc. 15, filed July 7, 2008, Def.'s Opp'n Pl.'s Mot. Remand, Ex. II, David Best Decl. Opp'n Pl.'s Mot. Remand ¶ 3. XPAWN is designed to manage transactions for small, independent pawnshops. Best began selling the software for commercial use in 1999 and launched the website "xpawn.com" during the same period. Id. ¶¶ 3, 6. On June 28, 2000, Best received a certificate of copyright registration for the software. Doc. 15, Def.'s Opp'n Pl.'s Mot. Remand, Ex. I. That same month he moved to California and entered into a partnership with Michael Moreno, the author of another, older software program for pawnshops. Doc. 15, Def.'s Opp'n Pl.'s Mot., Ex. II, David Best Decl. Opp'n Pl.'s Mot. Remand ¶¶ 7-9. A year later Best and Moreno formed XCEL Data Systems, the plaintiff in this action. Id. Best and Moreno were co-directors of XCEL Data Systems, which sold both Moreno's older program and Best's XPAWN software, and was based in Bakersfield, California. Id. As co-directors, Best and Moreno jointly leased property, took out loans, and operated XCEL. Id.
Best grew dissatisfied for reasons not relevant here and parted ways with Moreno. Id. ¶¶ 10, 14. On March 6, 2002, Moreno and Best entered into a Software Purchase Agreement (the "contract") in which Best agreed to resign as co-director, surrender any shares he owned, and transfer to XCEL all rights associated with XPAWN, including intellectual property, among other things, such as the "xpawn.com" domain name and website. Contract §§ 1.01, 1.03(f)-(j). The contract required a third-party to keep the copyright and trademark certificates in escrow until "[XCEL's] satisfactory performance," and, until the certificates' release, XCEL agreed not to remove from XPAWN's opening screen the words "(c) Copyright: Derek Best." Id. §§ 1.01(b), 3.06. In consideration of the sale, XCEL promised Best $69,154.30 (purchase price), profits or draws due as of March 31, 2002, repayment of $12,500 in loans, a $150 royalty fee for each software package sold, rented, or licensed within 48 months of the contract's execution, and $10,000 in fees for servicing Best agreed to render. Id. §§ 1.01(a)-(d). XCEL also agreed to assume all notes and leases Best had entered into as co-director. Id. § 1.01(k). The contract also gave Best an exclusive license to sell, distribute, and use the software in the United Kingdom and retain as security ownership in the software and associated intellectual property. Id. §§ 1.04(a), 3.05. The contract closed in Bakersfield, California "or such other location as may be agreed upon," with a provision specifying California law as the choice of law and an attorneys' fees provision. Id. §§ 1.07, 5.14-15.
After the contract was executed, Best allegedly developed substantial modifications to XPAWN, including additional modules and interface compatibility with the "Quickbooks" accounting system, which Best claims created an independent copyright in those modifications. Doc. 15, Def.'s Opp'n Pl.'s Mot., Ex. II, David Best Decl. Opp'n Pl.'s Mot. Remand ¶¶ 18, 20. Best claims these modifications constitute a derivative work not subject to the terms of the contract. Doc. 15, Def.'s Opp'n Pl.'s Mot. Remand at 4.
XCEL originally filed this action in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Kern. Best removed the case to federal district court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b). Doc. 1, Def.'s Notice of Removal ¶ 2. Best asserts federal question jurisdiction exists under 28 U.S.C. § 1331 because the complaint alleges claims that arise under federal copyright laws. Best asserts that a declaration of the parties' respective rights requires an application of federal copyright laws to determine the scope of the copyright assigned to XPAWN, given the existence of Best's derivative work. Doc. 15, Def.'s Opp. Pl.'s Remand at 16-17. Best argues the complaint alleges infringement and seeks a remedy expressly granted by the Copyright Act. Id. at 12-14. Best also claims diversity jurisdiction exists under 28 U.S.C. § 1332 because plaintiff is a California corporation with its principal place of business in California, defendant resides in Michigan, and the amount in controversy allegedly exceeds $75,000 in potential pecuniary losses to defendant, exclusive of interest and costs. Id. at 11.
Best moves to transfer venue to the Eastern District of Michigan, arguing that his medical condition makes travel to California substantially burdensome, his key witnesses*fn2 reside in or near Michigan, the acts of alleged copyright infringement occurred in Michigan, and Michigan has a greater interest than California in the disposition of the action. Doc. 5, filed May 12, 2008, Def.'s Mot. Change Venue.*fn3 In support of his claim that his medical condition makes travel to California burdensome, Best submits a letter written by his physician, Dr. Martin I. Belkin.*fn4
Doc. 24, filed July 17, 2008, Def.'s Br. Supp. Opp'n Pl.'s Reply, Ex. II, Physician's Letter. In turn, XCEL asserts proper venue is in Kern County, California as the contract was entered into and the events occurred there. Doc. 10, Pl.'s Mot. Remand. XCEL opposes transfer to the Eastern District of Michigan on the ground that federal subject matter jurisdiction is lacking. Doc. 13, filed on July 2, 2008, Pl.'s Opp'n Def.'s Mot. Change Venue.