Opinion ID: 479431
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Denial of Motion to Transfer

Text: 49 Edison argues that, even if venue was technically proper in Montana, the trial court erred in denying Edison's motion to transfer. We review the district court's denial of transfer motion for an abuse of discretion. J-R Distributors, Inc. v. Eikenberry, 725 F.2d 482, 485 n. 3 (9th Cir.1984), rev'd. on other grounds sub nom., Brocket v. Spokane Arcades, Inc., 472 U.S. 491, 105 S.Ct. 2794, 86 L.Ed.2d 394 (1985). 50 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1404(a) provides: For the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice, a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division where it might have been brought. This statute partially displaces the common law doctrine of forum non conveniens. Miskow v. Boeing Co., 664 F.2d 205, 207, (9th Cir.1981), cert. denied, 455 U.S. 1020, 102 S.Ct. 2717, 72 L.Ed.2d 138 (1982) (the statute only applies to transfers between federal district courts). Nonetheless, forum non conveniens considerations are helpful in deciding a Sec. 1404 transfer motion. In the former case a court must balance the preference accorded plaintiff's choice of forum with the burden of litigating in an inconvenient forum. Mizokami Bros. of Arizona v. Mobay Chemical Corp., 660 F.2d 712, 718 (8th Cir.1981); Continental Oil Co. v. Atwood & Morrill Co., 265 F.Supp. 692, 699 (D.Mont.1967). The defendant must make a strong showing of inconvenience to warrant upsetting the plaintiff's choice of forum. Id. As part of this inquiry, the court should consider private and public interest factors affecting the convenience of the forum. Piper Aircraft Co. v. Reyno, 454 U.S. 235, 241, 102 S.Ct. 252, 258, 70 L.Ed.2d 419 (1981). Private factors include the relative ease of access to sources of proof; availability of compulsory process for attendance of unwilling, and the cost of obtaining attendance of willing, witnesses; possibility of view of premises, if view would be appropriate to the action; and all other practical problems that make trial of a case easy, expeditious and inexpensive. Gulf Oil Corp. v. Gilbert, 330 U.S. 501, 508, 67 S.Ct. 839, 843, 91 L.Ed. 1055 (1947). Public factors include the administrative difficulties flowing from court congestion; the 'local interest in having localized controversies decided at home'; the interest in having the trial of a diversity case in a forum that is at home with the law that must govern the action; the avoidance of unnecessary problems in conflict of laws, or in the application of foreign law; and the unfairness of burdening citizens in an unrelated forum with jury duty. Piper Aircraft, 454 U.S. at 241 n. 6, 102 S.Ct. at 258 n. 6 (quoting Gulf Oil Corp., 330 U.S. at 509, 67 S.Ct. at 843). 51 Edison will defend on the ground that the problems at their Illinois and Indiana plants were sufficient to invoke the force majeure provision of the contract. It argues that the Illinois forum is more convenient because it is closer to witnesses and to the plants in case they must be viewed by the jury. We do not feel that these factors are sufficient to help Edison. Although the liability witnesses may be located in Illinois and Indiana, the damage witnesses primarily reside in Montana. The transfer would merely shift rather than eliminate the inconvenience. Furthermore, the public factors weigh in favor of Montana since that is where the claim arose. The district court concluded that it would be unnecessary for a jury to view the Illinois and Indiana plants and that [o]n balance, factors relating to plaintiffs choice of forum, convenience of witnesses and interests of justice weigh in favor of plaintiff. The court did not abuse its discretion in so holding. 52