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Change of venue motion in California

by Stan Burman

A change of venue motion in California is the topic of this blog post.

The term venue as used in the legal profession refers to the court location where a case is heard.

Any defendant in California has the legal right to have any trial heard in the county of their residence, unless there is some express statutory justification for an exception such as a personal injury case where the defendant is alleged to have caused a vehicle accident in another county. If a defendant wishes to object to the venue they must file a motion for change of venue at or before filing an answer or other response. Otherwise they may be deemed to have waived any objection to the venue of the case.

The law in California strongly favors the right of trial at the defendant's residence. This means that any complaint filed in another county other than the county where the defendant lives will be strictly construed against a plaintiff seeking to lay the venue elsewhere.

Code of Civil Procedure § 395(a) states in pertinent part: "Except as otherwise provided by law and subject to the power of the court to transfer actions or proceedings as provided in this title, the county in which the defendants or some of them reside at the commencement of the action is the proper county for the trial of the action."

If several causes of action are alleged in a complaint, a motion for change of venue must be granted on all, if a defendant is entitled to a change of venue on any one cause of action.

Code of Civil Procedure § 396 states in pertinent part, "If an action or proceeding is commenced in or transferred to a court which has jurisdiction of the subject matter thereof as determined by the complaint or petition, and it thereafter appears from the verified pleadings, or at the trial, or hearing, that the determination of the action or proceeding, or of a cross-complaint, will necessarily involve the determination of questions not within jurisdiction of the court, in which the action or proceeding is pending, the court, whenever such lack of jurisdiction appears, must suspend all further proceedings therein and transfer the action or proceeding and certify the pleadings, and all papers and proceedings therein to a court having jurisdiction thereof which may be agreed upon by the parties, or if they do not agree, to a court having such jurisdiction which is designated by law as a proper court for the trial or determination thereof.. Upon the making of an order for transfer, proceedings shall be had as provided in Section 399 of this code, the costs and fees thereof, and of filing the case in the court to which transferred, to be paid by the party filing the pleading in which the question outside the jurisdiction of the court appears unless the court ordering the transfer shall otherwise direct".

If plaintiff did in fact file in the wrong county, the defendant has the right to have the plaintiff pay all of their expenses, including court costs and attorney fees before any transfer is made. If the fees are not paid within 30 days of service of notice of the transfer order the defendant may make a motion for dismissal of the case without prejudice.

Code of Civil Procedure § 399 states in pertinent part, "When the transfer is sought solely, or is ordered, because the action or proceeding was commenced in a court other than that designated as proper by this title, such costs and fees (including any expenses and attorney's fees awarded defendant pursuant to Section 396b) shall be paid by the plaintiff before such transfer is made".

As stated previously the right of a defendant to have any trial heard in the county of their residence is very strong and any exception to that rule will be strictly construed against a plaintiff. If the plaintiff is represented by an attorney, the Court can order that the attorney for the plaintiff be the one to pay any expenses and attorney fees before any such transfer is made.

Attorney or parties in California who wish to view a potion of a sample motion for change of venue can use the link shown below to view a portion of a sample motion for change of venue complete with a memorandum of points and authorities with citations to case law and statutory authority, sample declaration and proof of service sold by the author.

Sample Motion for Change of Venue for California by Stan Burman on Scribd

 


Attorneys or parties in California who would like more information on a law and motion document collection containing over 70 sample documents for California including a sample motion for change of venue can use the link shown below.

https://legaldocspro.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/california-law-and-motion-document-collection

The author of this blog post, Stan Burman, is a freelance paralegal who has worked in California and Federal litigation since 1995 and has created over 300 sample legal documents for sale.

*Do you want to use this article on your website, blog or e-zine? You can, as long as you include this blurb with it: “Stan Burman is the author of over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation and is the author of a free weekly legal newsletter. You can receive 10 free gifts just for subscribing. Just visit freeweeklylegalnewsletter.gr8.com/ for more information.  

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DISCLAIMER:

Please note that the author of this blog post, Stan Burman is NOT an attorney and as such is unable to provide any specific legal advice. The author is NOT engaged in providing any legal, financial, or other professional services, and any information contained in this blog post is NOT intended to constitute legal advice.

The materials and information contained in this blog post have been prepared by Stan Burman for informational purposes only and are not legal advice. Transmission of the information contained in this blog post is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, any business relationship between the author and any readers. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.

 

 

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