Opinion ID: 1591334
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Denial of Whitson's Motion for Change of Venue

Text: Whitson also contends on appeal that the Shelby Circuit Court erred in denying his motion to transfer the case back to Jefferson County. Preliminarily, we note that Whitson does not argue that the Jefferson Circuit Court erred by initially transferring the case to Shelby County. Whitson argues, however, that once he agreed to the dismissal of his retaliatory-discharge claim under the Workers' Compensation Act, his case should have been transferred back to Jefferson County. He fails, however, to offer any analysis or cite any caselaw that supports his argument; rather, he merely declares that the case should have been transferred back to Jefferson County. The City points out that this Court has held that if a municipality is physically located in two or more counties, venue is appropriate in either county. `The burden of proving a duty to transfer [an action] is on the party raising the issue.' Ex parte Alabama Power Co., 640 So.2d 921, 922 (Ala.1994), citing Ex parte Ralston, 519 So.2d 488 (Ala.1987), and Ex parte Finance America Corp., 507 So.2d 458 (Ala.1987). Ex parte Sawyer, 892 So.2d 919, 921 (Ala.2004). Whitson has failed to show that the Shelby Circuit Court had any duty to transfer the case back to the Jefferson Circuit Court. The only caselaw he cites in the section of his brief making this argument in fact indicates that Shelby County was an appropriate venue for this dispute. See Ex parte City of Haleyville, 827 So.2d 778 (Ala.2002) (stating that a municipality that is physically located in two or more counties may be sued in either of those counties). It is not this Court's duty to formulate legal arguments or provide authorities in support of an appellant's position on appeal. Dykes v. Lane Trucking, Inc., 652 So.2d 248, 251 (Ala.1994). We therefore decline to further address Whitson's assertion that the Shelby Circuit Court exceeded its discretion in not transferring the case back to Jefferson County.