Opinion ID: 1697805
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: change of venue based on undue influence or prejudice.

Text: ¶ 9. Bayer contends that it would be prejudiced in a Holmes County trial because (1) Calvin Ramsey, M. D., a prominent physician with an active practice [with over 2000 patients] in Holmes County, would be testifying on behalf of the plaintiff; (2) dozens of plaintiffs reside in Holmes County; (3) more than 135 product liability/pharmaceutical tort cases with more than 2200 plaintiffs have been filed in Holmes County in the past six years; (4) significant publicity including attorney advertisements in the county newspaper regarding lawsuits associated with prescription drugs which has permeated Holmes County; and (5) a local hostility toward business. ¶ 10. Miss.Code Ann. § 11-11-51 (Rev. 2004) provides for a change of venue where a party: has good reason to believe, and does believe that, from the undue influence of the adverse party, prejudice existing in the public mind, or for some other sufficient cause to be stated in the petition, he cannot obtain a fair and impartial trial in the county where the action is pending, and that the application is made as soon as convenient after being advised of such undue influence, prejudice, or other cause, and not to delay the trial or to vex or harass the adverse party.... ¶ 11. Bayer's fears of prejudice are merely conclusory allegations at this stage. All of its claims are based on nothing but supposition. Indeed, in Beech v. Leaf River Forest Products, Inc., 691 So.2d 446, 449 (Miss.1997), the Court held: Since part of the basis of the change of venue motion was the amount of pretrial publicity, it would have been premature to file such a motion so long before the trial (three months prior to trial) that the effects of the publicity would have been too remote for a determination of resulting prejudice in the community. Not stated, but implied, this holding is based on the Court's reasoning that the pre-trial publicity on which a motion for change of venue should be based on pretrial publicity about the case in which the motion for change of venue is filed. ¶ 12. Here, Bayer has presented extensive evidence that there was pre-trial publicity regarding prescription medication in general; however, no evidence has been presented to link the publicity specifically with Bayer, Baycol or this particular lawsuit. Further, there is no evidence presented to indicate to this Court the extent of the effect any pre-trial publicity might have had on the venire. As far as we can discern, [4] there has been no trial setting in this case. A determination at this point in the proceedings that no unbiased Holmes County jury could ever be seated would be nothing but speculation; thus, the circuit court was correct in denying the motion for change of venue because it was premature. The transcript of the hearing on Bayer's motion for change of venue shows that 150 Holmes County citizens had been selected to constitute the venire for a trial in this case. ¶ 13. We have described a plaintiff's ability to choose a forum as a right: Of right, the plaintiff selects among the permissible venues and his choice must be sustained unless in the end there is no credible evidence supporting the factual basis for the claim of venue. Flight Line, Inc. v. Tanksley, 608 So.2d 1149, 1155 (Miss.1992) (citing Miss. Power Co. v. Luter, 336 So.2d 753, 754 (Miss.1976)). See also Re/Max Real Estate Partners, Inc. v. Lindsley, 840 So.2d 709, 713 (Miss.2003). Our general venue statute which was in effect when suit and the motion for change of venue were filed, Miss.Code Ann. § 11-11-3 (Supp.2001), provided for venue in the county where a non-resident corporation `may be found.' Bayer's principal place of business is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Reed's prescription for Baycol was filled in Holmes County. Venue in Holmes County is therefore proper. We find that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in denying Bayer's motion for change of venue.