Court Opinion

ID: 9556269
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-16 19:04:57.508284+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:42:09.869399
License: Public Domain

2023 IL App (3d) 220360

                                 Opinion filed August 16, 2023
      ____________________________________________________________________________

                                                   IN THE

                                    APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                                              THIRD DISTRICT

                                                     2023

      PAUL ALAN LARSON and CYNTHIA           )     Appeal from the Circuit Court
      LARSON, Individually and Next Best Friends
                                             )     of the 12th Judicial Circuit,
      of B.L., a Minor,                      )     Will County, Illinois,
                                             )
            Plaintiffs-Appellees,            )     Appeal No. 3-22-0360
                                             )     Circuit No. 22-LA-75
      v.                                     )
                                             )
      ILLINOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL BUS, LLC, )          Honorable
                                             )     Roger D. Rickmon,
            Defendant-Appellant.             )     Judge, Presiding.
      ___________________________________________________________________________

      PRESIDING JUSTICE HOLDRIDGE delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
      Justices Brennan and Davenport concurred in the judgment and opinion.
      ____________________________________________________________________________

                                                 OPINION

¶1          The plaintiffs, Paul Alan Larson and Cynthia Larson, individually and next best friends of

     B.L., a minor, filed a complaint founded in negligence against the defendant, Illinois Central

     School Bus, LLC, an Illinois limited liability company with its principal place of business in Will

     County, for an incident that occurred in Denton County, Texas. The defendant filed a motion to

     dismiss pursuant to the doctrine of forum non conveniens, which the circuit court denied. The

     defendant filed this interlocutory appeal, which this court allowed.

¶2                                          I. BACKGROUND
¶3                                            A. The Complaint

¶4          The plaintiffs filed a complaint founded in negligence against the defendant. The complaint

     set forth the following allegations. On the morning of March 22, 2021, a driver and aide, who were

     employees of the defendant, picked up B.L. at his home in Denton County, Texas, to transport him

     to school. B.L. is a mentally and physically disabled minor. The driver and aide loaded B.L. in his

     wheelchair onto the bus and improperly secured the wheelchair. Shortly thereafter, as the bus was

     turning, B.L.’s wheelchair turned over, causing him to hit his head and land on his right side. As

     a result of the fall, B.L. sustained a concussion and a fractured right elbow. The plaintiffs alleged

     the defendant and its agents were guilty of the following acts or omissions: failing to implement

     policies and procedures pertaining to safely transporting children (such as B.L.), failing to properly

     train drivers and aides regarding properly and safely securing wheelchairs into its buses, failing to

     properly secure B.L.’s wheelchair into the bus, failing to adequately inspect the manner in which

     B.L.’s wheelchair was secured to the bus, failing to correct the dangerous condition created by

     improperly securing B.L.’s wheelchair, failing to properly monitor B.L. and his wheelchair during

     the ride to school, creating a dangerous condition on the school bus, and failing to act as a

     reasonably prudent owner and/or operator who transports minor disabled children in wheelchairs.

¶5                                       B. Forum Non Conveniens

¶6          The defendant filed its answer and a motion to dismiss pursuant to the doctrine of

     forum non conveniens. The defendant argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed and filed in

     Texas because (1) the incident occurred in Denton County, Texas; (2) nearly all of the occurrence

     witnesses and documentary evidence were in Texas; (3) the entirety of the post-accident

     investigation and nearly all of B.L.’s post-accident medical treatment occurred in Texas; (4) none

     of the investigators, post-accident medical providers, or witnesses were amenable to process by an

                                                       2
     Illinois court; (5) it would be costly and inconvenient to secure the attendance of willing witnesses

     that are principally located in Texas; and (6) Denton County’s docket was significantly less

     congested than Will County’s docket.

¶7          The defendant set forth four categories of witnesses: (1) the plaintiffs, who resided in Texas

     with B.L. and their three other children; (2) employee witnesses located in Texas, such as the bus

     driver and aide, the bus driver’s immediate supervisor, the dispatcher, and managers who

     conducted a post-incident investigation (some of these employee witnesses were employed at the

     time of the incident but were no longer employees at the time the case was filed); (3) post-

     occurrence witnesses from B.L.’s school who were present at the scene after the incident, which

     included the assistant principal, a nurse, the resources officer, and a teacher, who all resided in

     Texas; and (4) 13 medical witnesses who treated B.L., 11 of which were located in Texas, 1 in

     Virginia (which may have just been a supplies provider), and 1 in Utah.

¶8          The defendant included an affidavit of Richard Price, its director of safety, training, and

     risk management. He stated that he was familiar with the incident involving B.L. The bus driver,

     aide, dispatcher, and supervisors who investigated the incident resided in Texas. The bus driver

     and aide received orientation at the defendant’s Denton facility in Lewisville, Texas. The bus

     driver and aide’s physical employment and training records were maintained at the Denton facility

     and were maintained on its online repository accessible throughout the United States. He also noted

     that, for at least one year before and after the incident, the bus involved was regularly inspected

     and maintained at the defendant’s Denton facility, which also maintained those records.

¶9          The plaintiffs responded to the defendant’s motion, arguing that the court should deny it

     because (1) there were material witnesses in Will County and states other than Texas; (2) the

     defendant failed to show that Denton County was a more convenient forum for both parties;

                                                      3
       (3) Will County had a substantial interest in this controversy because its resident is the sole

       defendant; (4) the motion failed to meet requirements set forth by the supreme court; and (5) the

       motion was premature as very limited discovery had taken place. The plaintiffs emphasized that

       the defendant’s headquarters and its directors were located in Will County.

¶ 10                                         C. The Circuit Court’s Ruling

¶ 11           The court held a hearing on the motion. First, it addressed the private interest factors. It

       noted that the defendant had its principal place of business in Will County, so any inconvenience,

       would be suffered by the plaintiffs who chose this forum. For ease of access to evidence, the court

       stated there was no problem obtaining document evidence, such as medical records. As to

       witnesses, the court acknowledged that, while it was true that most of the witnesses were located

       in Texas, COVID-19 demonstrated that witnesses’ testimony both for discovery and trial could be

       obtained through live video platforms. However, the court said this factor slightly favored

       dismissal. 1 The court also found that the availability of a compulsory process to compel witnesses

       to appear would also favor dismissal. The court noted the cost to obtain witnesses in person but

       stated that most of the defendant’s witnesses were in Will County, so that factor was neutral. The

       court found access to the location of the occurrence for review not to be relevant in a personal

       injury case. The court stated that all practical considerations did not favor either option.

¶ 12           The court also discussed the public interest factors. It stated that the accident took place in

       Texas, so there was an interest in having the controversy decided locally, which favored dismissal.

       As to the unfairness of imposing a burden of jury duty on the residents of Will County, the court

               1
                  The circuit court referred to the motion in this case as a request for a “transfer” rather than a
       “dismissal.” Forum non conveniens applies when the alternative forum is another Illinois county (intrastate)
       and when the forum is outside of Illinois (interstate). Intrastate forum non conveniens is granted by transfer
       order while interstate forum non conveniens is granted by dismissal order. To avoid any confusion, we use
       language relating to a dismissal throughout as we are presented with interstate forum non conveniens. See
       Ill. S. Ct. R. 187(c)(2) (Jan. 1, 2018).
                                                             4
       highlighted that the defendant was incorporated in Illinois, and Will County residents might want

       to hear about the incident with alleged negligence in transporting special needs children. Last, the

       court considered the administrative difficulty. The court stated that 103% of civil cases filed in

       Denton County were resolved last year compared to 100.6% in Will County, which was a

       miniscule difference favoring denying the dismissal.

¶ 13          The court stated it considered the factors, gave some deference to the plaintiffs’ choice of

       forum, and denied the motion. The defendant filed an interlocutory appeal by permission pursuant

       to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 306(a)(2) (eff. Oct. 1, 2020), which this court allowed.

¶ 14                                              II. ANALYSIS

¶ 15          The doctrine of forum non conveniens assumes that there is more than one forum with the

       power to hear the case. Fennell v. Illinois Central R.R. Co., 2012 IL 113812, ¶ 12. Thus, the

       doctrine allows a court to decline jurisdiction of a case, even though it may have proper jurisdiction

       over the parties and subject matter, if it appears that another forum can better serve the convenience

       of the parties and the ends of justice. Id. “Forum non conveniens is a doctrine that is founded in

       considerations of fundamental fairness and sensible and effective judicial administration.”

       (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Vinson v. Allstate, 144 Ill. 2d 306, 310 (1991).

¶ 16          When considering a forum non conveniens motion, the court balances the relevant public

       interest and private interest factors. Tabirta v. Cummings, 2020 IL 124798, ¶ 18. The court must

       consider all of the relevant factors, without emphasizing one factor, within the context of the

       unique facts of the case. Langenhorst v. Norfolk Southern Ry. Co., 219 Ill. 2d 430, 443 (2006).

       The determination of a forum non conveniens motion lies within the sound discretion of the circuit

       court. Fennell, 2012 IL 113812, ¶ 21. This court will only reverse if it can be shown that the circuit

       court abused its discretion in balancing the relevant factors. Id. An abuse of discretion will be

                                                         5
       found where no reasonable person would take the view adopted by the circuit court. Id.

¶ 17                                  A. The Plaintiffs’ Choice of Forum

¶ 18          Plaintiffs have a substantial interest in choosing the forum where their rights will be

       vindicated, and such choice should rarely be distributed unless the other factors strongly favor

       dismissal. Langenhorst, 219 Ill. 2d at 442. However, a plaintiff’s interest in choosing the forum

       receives somewhat less deference when neither the plaintiff’s residence nor the site of the accident

       or injury is located in the chosen forum. Id. at 442-43. Here, the circuit court stated that it gave

       some deference to the plaintiffs’ choice of forum. The plaintiffs argue the court acted within its

       discretion by according some deference. We agree.

¶ 19                                       B. Private Interest Factors

¶ 20          The private interest factors include (1) the convenience of the parties; (2) the relative ease

       of access of sources of testimonial, documentary, and real evidence; (3) the availability of

       compulsory process to secure attendance of unwilling witnesses; (4) the cost to obtain attendance

       of willing witnesses; (5) the possibility of viewing the premises, if appropriate; and (6) all other

       practical considerations that make trial of a case easy, expeditious, and inexpensive. Fennell, 2012

       IL 113812, ¶ 15.

¶ 21                                     1. Convenience of the Parties

¶ 22          The circuit court found that the convenience of the parties favored keeping the case in Will

       County because the defendant had its principal place of business there and any inconvenience

       would be suffered by the plaintiffs. First, while the location of the defendant’s headquarters is a

       factor to consider, it is not dispositive. See Hansen-Runge v. Illinois Central R.R. Co., 2020 IL

       App (1st) 190383, ¶ 32. We must look beyond the criterion of venue because a motion pursuant to

       the doctrine of forum non conveniens already assumes that the court has jurisdiction over the

                                                        6
       defendant. Gridley v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., 217 Ill. 2d 158, 172-73

       (2005). The place of the defendant’s residence must be considered along with other connections

       that exist between the litigation and the chosen forum. Jones v. Searle Laboratories, 93 Ill. 2d 366,

       376-77 (1982). Second, we do not consider any inconvenience to the plaintiff with respect to their

       chosen forum. First American Bank v. Guerine, 198 Ill. 2d 511, 518 (2002).

¶ 23           As to convenience of the parties, the defendant argues within the context of the potential

       witnesses in this case. In sum, the defendant argues that its critical witnesses are in Texas (supra

       ¶ 8), while the plaintiffs argue that their critical witnesses are located in Illinois (supra ¶ 9). The

       parties essentially dispute whether the action is primarily about alleged negligence of the

       defendant’s directors in Illinois or the defendant’s employees in Texas. The plaintiffs specifically

       argue the directors’ relevance in that they made decisions regarding training and safety policies

       and practices. The defendant contends this claim, as it relates to its directors, is speculative because

       there was no evidence indicating that its directors in Illinois could testify as to nationwide safety

       policies or safety enhancement implementation. 2 See Hansen-Runge, 2020 IL App (1st) 190383,

       ¶¶ 20, 33 (finding that the plaintiff’s allegation that decision making at headquarters might have

       led to his injuries was pure speculation where there was no evidence to support this contention);

       but see Koss Corp. v. Sachdeva, 2012 IL App (1st) 120379, ¶ 101 (the plaintiff’s complaint

       included a litany of allegations against the defendant’s corporate policies and training and

       described the relevance of corporate personnel who may be called to testify); Erwin v. Motorola,

       Inc., 408 Ill. App. 3d 261, 278-279 (2011) (testimony of corporate officers in Illinois was relevant

       to injuries that took place in Texas and Arizona because the corporate officers created policies that

               2
                The parties go so far as to argue the meaning of the word “implement” in the plaintiffs’ complaint
       wherein they alleged that the defendant failed “to implement policies and procedures pertaining to safely
       transporting children” and whether that applies to the directors. We do not find it necessary to address this
       contention as it has no bearing on our analysis.
                                                            7
       affected working conditions).

¶ 24           Here, the plaintiffs’ allegations were directed at the defendant’s agents and employees. The

       complaint did not specifically state that the defendant’s directors created or failed to create policies

       and procedures or that they could testify as to the specific policies in Texas and their

       implementation. The plaintiffs failed to seek leave for discovery to support their allegation of

       corporate decision making, which was allowed per Illinois Supreme Court Rule 187(b) (eff. Jan.

       1, 2018). On the other hand, the affidavit of the defendant’s director of safety, training, and risk

       Management did not state that he could not provide testimony relating to these policies and

       procedures. Instead, he provided the location of where the incident and training occurred, where

       the records were maintained, and where the bus was maintained. Regardless, even if we assume

       the allegations as to the defendant’s directors were sufficient, the convenience of the parties still

       lends toward dismissal. Further, even if the case comes down to the defendant’s corporate policies,

       the importance of the Texas witnesses (incident, post-incident, and medical) is irrefutable in a

       negligence case. Thus, Texas is the convenient forum despite the defendant’s two named directors

       at its headquarters located in Will County.

¶ 25                                       2. Ease of Access to Evidence

¶ 26           We next consider ease of access to sources of testimonial, documentary, and real evidence.

       The circuit court found there was no issue with obtaining documentary evidence, such as medical

       records. It is true that the location of relevant documents deserves little weight when these

       documents can be copied and sent relatively easily and inexpensively. Fennell, 2012 IL 113812,

       ¶ 36. The court also found that recent history demonstrated that witness testimony can be obtained

       through live video platforms. However, the court still found that ease of access to evidence slightly

       favored dismissal as most of the witnesses were in Texas.

                                                          8
¶ 27           The defendant argues that the court in effect improperly eliminated access to testimonial

       evidence as a private interest factor. The defendant explains, that while electronic documents may

       be an adequate substitute for paper records, Illinois courts have long recognized there is no

       adequate substitute for live testimony in court at trial. We agree with the defendant that remote

       testimony is not the norm, but rather, the exception. 3 Here, the vast majority of witnesses are

       located in Texas, and the ease of access to these individuals lends to Denton County instead of

       Will County (approximately 900 miles away). We also note none of B.L.’s medical treatment

       occurred in Illinois. Thus, as the circuit court found, ease of access to evidence favors dismissal.

¶ 28                                    3. Availability of Compulsory Process

¶ 29           The next factor is the availability of compulsory process to secure attendance of unwilling

       witnesses. Here, the court found this factor favored dismissal. We agree. The plaintiffs disagree

       and argue this factor is neutral because, where a defendant’s employees reside in both states, one

       forum is not favored over another (citing Koss, 2012 IL App (1st) 120379, ¶ 127). However, this

       argument oversimplifies the witnesses in this case. The two directors, the only witnesses named

       by the plaintiffs in Will County, are available as employees of the defendant regardless of whether

       the case is tried in Illinois or Texas. See Illinois Tool Works, Inc. v. Sierracin Corp., 134 Ill. App.

       3d 63, 68 (1985); W.R. Grace & Co. v. Beker Industries, Inc., 128 Ill. App. 3d 215, 221 (1984).

       The same cannot be said for the witnesses that are no longer employees of the defendant and the

       majority of witnesses who reside in Texas. See Gridley, 217 Ill. 2d at 174 (Illinois courts do not

       have subpoena power in other states).

               3
                During the pendency of this appeal, Illinois Supreme Court Rules 45 and 241 were amended,
       which permit remote testimony where good cause is shown and prior approval is obtained from the judge
       presiding over the matter and appropriate safeguards are in place. Ill. S. Ct. R. 45(c) (eff. Jan. 1, 2023); R.
       241(a), (b) (eff. Feb. 2, 2023). The committee comments to Rule 241 reaffirms the significance of in-person
       testimony: “[t]he presentation of in-person testimony remains of utmost importance in trials and evidentiary
       hearings described in Rule 45(c)(1).” Ill. S. Ct. R. 241, Committee Comments (rev. Feb. 2, 2023).
                                                             9
¶ 30                            4. Cost to Obtain Attendance of Willing Witnesses

¶ 31          We also consider the cost to obtain attendance of willing witnesses. The court noted the

       cost to obtain witnesses in person, but found the factor to be neutral, as most of the defendant’s

       witnesses were in Will County. It is unclear why the court focused on the two directors without

       considering the vast majority of witnesses that are in Texas, such as the bus driver, aide, dispatcher,

       school employees, the plaintiffs, B.L., B.L.’s caretakers, and 11 of 13 medical providers who

       treated B.L. The cost of obtaining the Texas witnesses would be significant where the witnesses

       would need to travel extensively. See Hansen-Runge, 2020 IL App (1st) 190383, ¶ 29. Therefore,

       unlike the circuit court, we find this factor is not neutral and favors dismissal.

¶ 32                                  5. Possibility of Viewing the Premises

¶ 33          Another private interest factor is the possibility of viewing the premises, if appropriate.

       The possibility of having a jury view the scene of an accident is an important consideration when

       ruling on a forum non conveniens motion. Moore v. Chicago & North Western Transportation Co.,

       99 Ill. 2d 73, 77 (1983). Our supreme court emphasized that this factor is concerned with the

       possibility of viewing the site of injury and not the necessity of viewing the site. Dawdy v. Union

       Pacific R.R. Co., 207 Ill. 2d 167, 178 (2003). Here, the court found that access to the location of

       the occurrence for review was not relevant in a personal injury case.

¶ 34          The defendant argues that, to the extent the mechanism of the left turn that caused B.L.’s

       wheelchair to turn over becomes an issue, the street on which the turn occurred is located in Texas,

       and it would be inconvenient for a Will County jury to travel hundreds of miles to view it. The

       defendant also argues that the bus is located in Texas and the jury’s ability to see the area where

       B.L. was secured to the bus, and the restraints, may be beneficial given the plaintiffs’ allegations

       that the defendant failed to properly secure the wheelchair, inspect the manner in which it was

                                                         10
       secured, and correct the allegedly dangerous condition. The plaintiffs argue that (1) the defendant

       failed to articulate how a site visit would be relevant as no party pled that the condition of the

       roadway on which the bus was traveling was a factor in the wheelchair turning over and

       (2) viewing the bus was not practical as it continued to be used after the incident and its ongoing

       usage changed its condition. The plaintiffs instead suggest that other forms of evidence, such as

       video and photos “likely” taken during the investigation, are more probative.

¶ 35          We first disagree with the circuit court’s conclusion that access to the location of the

       occurrence for viewing was not relevant in a personal injury case. Instead, the importance of

       viewing the premises turns on the facts of the case and the allegations giving rise to the cause of

       action. See Hackl v. Advocate Health & Hospitals Corp., 382 Ill. App. 3d 442, 451-52 (2008)

       (viewing of the site is rarely or never called for in medical negligence cases); see also Ammerman

       v. Raymond Corp., 379 Ill. App. 3d 878, 891 (2008) (the importance of the factor of a jury possibly

       viewing the site is diminished where the case primarily concerns a products liability claim because

       it is generally not necessary in such cases).

¶ 36          In accidents involving vehicles, jurors may need to view the accident site to observe road

       crossings, signs, and sight lines from the perspective of the parties. See Blake v. Colfax Corp.,

       2013 IL App (1st) 122987, ¶¶ 22-23. Here, there are not the same concerns with viewing the

       specific road where the injury occurred to enhance a jury’s understanding. See id. The defendant

       also stated that viewing the actual bus was a possibility based on the allegations in this case.

       However, this argument shifts from viewing a premises to viewing a motor vehicle, which is

       classified as real evidence and should have been couched within its argument for ease of access to

       evidence. Smith v. Jewel Food Stores, Inc., 374 Ill. App. 3d 31, 36 (2007) (a wrecked truck was

       classified as real evidence and went to the factor concerning ease of access to evidence rather than

                                                       11
       possibility of viewing the premises). The plaintiffs also suggest that any viewing can be

       accomplished with video and photos “likely” taken from the inspection. This is speculative as there

       is no definitive assertion such exists. Based on the foregoing, we find this factor to be neutral.

¶ 37                                       6. Practical Considerations

¶ 38          The last private interest factor is the practical considerations that make trial easy,

       expeditious, and inexpensive. Dawdy, 207 Ill. 2d at 172. The court in this case found that practical

       considerations favored neither party. Practical considerations consist of factors previously

       analyzed, such as the availability of the compulsory process to secure the attendance of unwilling

       witnesses, the cost to obtain attendance of willing witnesses, and the ability to view the premises

       (if appropriate). First American Bank, 198 Ill. 2d at 516. As we already found that two of those

       factors favor dismissal and one was neutral, the practical considerations also favor dismissal.

       Neither the defendant nor the plaintiffs specifically argue any other practical considerations.

¶ 39                                        C. Public Interest Factors

¶ 40          We next consider the public interest factors: (1) the administrative difficulties caused when

       litigation is handled in congested venues instead of being handled at its origin, (2) the unfairness

       of imposing jury duty upon residents of a community with no connection to the litigation, and

       (3) the interest in having local controversies decided locally. Fennell, 2012 IL 113812, ¶ 16.

¶ 41                                      1. Administrative Difficulties

¶ 42          As to administrative difficulties, the circuit court found that 103% of civil cases filed in

       Denton County were resolved last year compared to 100.6% in Will County, which was a

       miniscule difference that favored denying the dismissal. The defendant argues, as the difference

       between the two counties was so small, the factor should have been found to be neutral rather than

       favoring denying the dismissal. We agree and find that this factor is neutral.

                                                        12
¶ 43                                   2. Unfairness of Imposing Jury Duty

¶ 44          The circuit court also addressed the unfairness of imposing a burden of jury duty on the

       residents of Will County. It stated that the defendant was incorporated in Illinois and Will County

       residents might want to hear about the incident with alleged negligence in transporting special

       needs children. Therefore, it appears the court found that this factor favored denying the dismissal.

¶ 45          The defendant argues that, although the case may be interesting, the location of its

       headquarters in Will County was not enough to justify the expense and burden of a jury on Will

       County residents and its judicial system where the alleged negligence and injuries took place in

       Texas. See Skidmore v. Gateway Western Ry. Co., 366 Ill. App. 3d 238, 241-42 (2006) (Illinois

       had no interest in being burdened by litigation concerning an automobile accident that occurred in

       Missouri and involved Missouri residents just because the defendant’s home office was in Illinois).

       The plaintiffs argue that the residents of Will County have an interest in ensuring local school bus

       companies comply with applicable laws and hire and train safe drivers who do not endanger

       children on school buses. See Koss, 2012 IL App (1st) 120379, ¶ 134 (a forum has an interest in

       ensuring the quality of services offered by a corporation headquartered in that forum). Based on

       the allegations in the complaint, we agree with both parties and find that it would not be unfair to

       impose jury duty in either forum. Therefore, this factor is neutral.

¶ 46                       3. Interest in Having Local Controversies Decided Locally

¶ 47          Last, the circuit court also considered the factor of interest in having local controversies

       decided locally. It stated that the accident took place in Texas, so there was an interest in having

       the controversy decided there, which favored dismissal. The parties again argue whether the case

       is about corporate decision-making at headquarters or where the physical injury occurred. A state

       has a decided interest in adjudicating cases alleging injuries that occurred within its borders. Wilder

                                                         13
       Chiropractic, Inc. v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., 2014 IL App (2d) 130781, ¶ 66. The

       majority of the plaintiffs’ allegations in this case centered around actions taken in Texas, where

       B.L. was injured. Supra ¶ 4. Thus, we agree with the circuit court that this factor favors dismissal.

¶ 48                                         D. Balancing the Factors

¶ 49           “Forum non conveniens is a flexible doctrine requiring evaluation of the total

       circumstances rather than consideration of any single factor.” Gridley, 217 Ill. 2d at 169. We

       consider all factors as a whole, without emphasizing one single factor, and do not weigh the private

       interest factors against the public interest factors. Fennell, 2012 IL 113812, ¶ 17. We consider the

       unique facts of each case. Langenhorst, 219 Ill. 2d at 443. The proper determination is whether the

       balance of factors strongly favors dismissal. Gridley, 217 Ill. 2d at 170.

¶ 50           Based on the foregoing analysis as to each individual factor, we find that the circuit court

       abused its discretion when it denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss. Aside from the plaintiffs’

       choice of forum, each factor either favored dismissal or was neutral. Accordingly, the balance of

       factors strongly favored dismissal. We reverse the circuit court’s judgment and remand with

       directions for the court to dismiss the action. See Ill. S. Ct. R. 187(c)(2) (eff. Jan. 1, 2018).

¶ 51                                            III. CONCLUSION

¶ 52           For these reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of Will County is reversed, and the

       cause is remanded to the circuit court with directions to dismiss the action in accordance with

       Illinois Supreme Court Rule 187(c)(2) (Jan. 1, 2018).

¶ 53           Reversed and remanded with directions.

                                                         14
             Larson v. Illinois Central School Bus, LLC, 2023 IL App (3d) 220360

Decision Under Review:        Appeal from the Circuit Court of Will County, No. 22-LA-75; the
                              Hon. Roger D. Rickmon, Judge, presiding.

Attorneys                     Lew R.C. Bricker, David Sethi, Ellen L. Green, and Michael Resis,
for                           of Amundsen Davis, LLC, of Chicago, for appellant.
Appellant:

Attorneys                     Thomas Manzella, of Block Klukas Manzella & Shell, P.C., and
for                           Pamela Davis Gorocowski, of KGG, LLC, both of Joliet, and
Appellee:                     Andrew L. Payne, Cindra M. Doud, and Payne Mitchell Ramsey,
                              of Dallas Texas, for appellees.

                                             15