Opinion ID: 2056494
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Private Interest Factors

Text: The plaintiffs filed suit in Cook County, and the record contains affidavits from Patrick, Christopher, and Samuel Malone stating that they will suffer no inconvenience by traveling to Cook County to litigate this case. On the defense side, Guerine lives in Cook County and never filed a forum non conveniens motion. J.Q. Tex has its headquarters in Mishawaka, Indiana. Certainly, any corporate representatives traveling to Illinois in this case would have to pass through Cook County first on the way to either Kane or De Kalb Counties. Cook County is a more convenient forum for all parties, especially the defendants. Further, the accident occurred in De Kalb County, and Guerine's vehicle, boat, and trailer remain there. Of the potential witnesses, Michelle Schumpert of Kane County and James and Bonnie Schumpert of De Kalb County have filed affidavits stating that Cook County is not an inconvenient forum. Though these affidavits do not resolve all of the scheduling problems associated with a trial in a forum away from the location of witnesses (see Washington, 144 Ill.2d at 402, 163 Ill.Dec. 490, 581 N.E.2d 644), they do suggest that the Schumperts are willing to travel to Chicago at the behest of the defendants and the trial court. Guerine's passenger McKinney lives in Cook County. Guerine's other passenger Tischer lives in Du Page County, and Baker, the only other eyewitness, lives in De Kalb County. Additionally, the three police officers who investigated the accident come from De Kalb County, and Dr. Blum, the coroner's physician who performed Angel's autopsy, comes from Winnebago County. J.Q. Tex has not listed any corporate representatives as witnesses, and neither party has identified any expert witnesses. While De Kalb County has significant ties to this case, so does Cook County. Further, compulsory process is available in Cook, Kane, and De Kalb Counties, and we fail to see how a jury view of the accident site will be necessary.