Opinion ID: 435109
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Standards Applied.

Text: 26 We have stated previously that this court has long recognized mandamus to be an appropriate remedy to test the validity of a transfer order. Cessna Aircraft Company, supra. Whether the standards for issuance of the writ are satisfied in this case must be determined. 27 Five specific guidelines have been formulated by courts of appeal for determining the propriety of mandamus relief in particular cases. See Varsic v. United States District Court for the Central District of California, 607 F.2d 245, 250 (9th Cir.1979). First, the party seeking the writ has no other adequate means to secure the relief desired. Second, the petitioning party will be damaged or prejudiced in a way not correctable on appeal. Third, the district court's order constitutes an abuse of discretion. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has phrased this third guideline as whether the district court's order is clearly erroneous as a matter of law. Clearly erroneous and abuse of discretion are often used interchangeably by courts, including the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. See Anderson v. Air West, Inc., 542 F.2d 522 (9th Cir.1976). However, to avoid any confusion, we have phrased this third guideline in terms of abuse of discretion. Fourth, the district court's order represents an often repeated error and manifests a persistent disregard of federal rules. Fifth, the district court's order raises new and important problems or issues of law of the first impression. While these guidelines are not entirely conclusive, they are eminently reasonable and certainly provide a manageable framework for our determination. 28 The possibility of an appeal from the final judgment in the transferee circuit, even with the difficult burden of demonstrating prejudice there, will preclude relief by writ. Varsic, supra, at 251; Magnetic Engineering & Manufacturing Co. v. Dings Manufacturing Co., 178 F.2d 866, 869-70 (2d Cir.1950). The remedy of a future appeal from a final judgment in the transferee court is inadequate and therefore justifies mandamus only when the appeal is totally unavailable or when it cannot correct extraordinary hardship because of the particular circumstances. Gulf Research and Development Co. v. Harrison, 185 F.2d 457, 460 (9th Cir.1950). No such extraordinary hardship is alleged in this case. Dalton merely alleges that review now is necessary to preserve the two previously mentioned pending appeals. 29 Thus, the argument is for protective review. We must hold that it is insufficient to satisfy the first two guidelines mentioned above as standards to be considered for issuing an extraordinary writ. It is to be noted that the appeal in the Colorado District Court from the Colorado Bankruptcy Court's Section 543 turnover order was instituted by the government; its pendency cannot be used by Dalton to support the request for mandamus. Indeed, the government's appeal may properly be deemed withdrawn as a result of the government's motion for transfer of venue. Dalton may not now assert the protection of this court's appellate jurisdiction over an allegedly pending appeal which was withdrawn by the government as a basis for mandamus. So Dalton's contention in this respect is not persuasive. 30 Extinguishment of the pending appeal of the Colorado District Court's order withdrawing reference from the bankruptcy court is also inadequate to justify mandamus. Dalton concedes that to be realistic the venue order must not be divorced from the withdrawal since together they effected a single scheme. Brief of Debtor/Petitioner, at 16. Because as already stated the extinguishment of the appeal to this court from the district court's transfer order is not sufficient to justify mandamus, the extinguishment of the appeal from the withdrawal of reference order, too, necessarily fails to justify mandamus. 31 This court has held that determining whether to transfer venue of an action lies within the formal discretion of the district court and its determination should not be rejected unless the court of appeals determines that there is a clear abuse of discretion. Texas Gulf Sulphur Company v. Ritter, 371 F.2d 145, 147 (10th Cir.1967). All of the relevant factors were considered and weighed by the district court on the motion for change of venue. We are not called on to engage in a balancing of completing factors which bear upon convenience and the interests of justice. Northern Acceptance Trust 1065 v. Gray, 423 F.2d 653 (9th Cir.1970); Texas Gulf Sulphur Company, supra. It is not our function to substitute our judgment for that of the judge most familiar with the problem. The district court considered the applicable law in its transfer order and clearly set forth the reasons for granting the venue change. Dalton has failed to show that the district court abused its discretion. Accordingly, he failed to satisfy the third guideline for issuing a writ. 32 The fourth and fifth guidelines are intertwined somewhat and are subject to being considered together. The allegation is that mandamus is appropriate because the Colorado District Court violated Dalton's federal due process rights by transferring venue without convening a hearing. He cites the court's hospitality for considering petitions for mandamus in those cases where challenged transfer orders were entered without hearings. E.g., Roofing and Sheet Metal Services, Inc. v. LaQuinta Motor Inns, Inc., 689 F.2d 982 (11th Cir.1982); Swindell-Dressler Corporation v. Dumbauld, 308 F.2d 267 (3rd Cir.1962). Even though this argument is not clearly articulated, Dalton is evidently contending that mandamus should issue under these circumstances because the allegation of denial of due process raises issues and problems of peculiar public importance involving disregard of federal rights. Superficially this contention appears to satisfy the fourth and fifth guidelines for the issuance of mandamus; however, Dalton misreads the decisions he cites in support of his argument. 33 The assertion is that several courts have held that mandamus is particularly appropriate to review orders issued without a hearing. Citing Starnes v. McGuire, 512 F.2d 918, 929 (D.C.Cir.1974); Plum Tree, Inc. v. Stockment, 488 F.2d 754, 756 (3rd Cir.1973); Swindell-Dressler Corp., supra, at 273-74. A close reading of the cited decisions reveals that none of the courts of appeal has held that a district court's failure to hold a hearing on a motion to transfer venue constitutes an abuse of discretion reviewable by mandamus. The contrary is true; the decisions evidence the appellate courts' explicit refusal to hold that a hearing is necessarily required on every transfer motion. E.g., Plum Tree, Inc., supra, at 756. Rather, the decisions stand for the proposition that the failure to provide notice and an opportunity to be heard to the party opposing transfer [constitutes] a violation of due process and [can] be remedied by granting a writ of mandamus to secure vacation of the transfer order. Id. at 756 (stating what the Third Circuit Court of Appeals held in its earlier decision, Swindell-Dressler Corp., supra ). 34 From a review of the record it is plain that Dalton had extended to him a fair opportunity to be heard concerning his opposition to transfer. The government's motions for withdrawal of reference and transfer of venue were properly filed with notice to Dalton, and Dalton properly responded by filing substantial reply memoranda in opposition to the government's motions. Over seven months elapsed from the government's filing of its motion to withdraw reference to the Colorado District Court's transfer of venue to the Arizona District Court. The interim period involved an exchange of motions and memoranda between the parties and the court. There is no evidence that during that period Dalton requested oral argument or a hearing on any of the motions. Therefore, it is plain once again that Dalton's due process rights were not violated or even threatened by the issuance of the venue transfer order. Consequently, the fourth and fifth guidelines for issuance of a writ are not satisfied.