Opinion
CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:20-CV-1500-S
08-25-2020
ERIC RAMIREZ et al. v. C.R. BARD INCORPORATED et al.
AMENDED MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
This Order addresses Plaintiffs' Unopposed Motion to Sever and Transfer Venue of Out-of-State Plaintiffs' Cases [ECF No. 17]. Defendants filed a Response to the Motion, stating that they do not oppose severance and transfer of the cases identified in the Motion. See ECF No. 22. For the following reasons, the Court GRANTS IN PART the Motion.
I. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Plaintiffs filed this action in the state district court. See Notice of Removal Ex. D-2. Defendants timely removed the case to this Court based on diversity of citizenship. See Notice of Removal. Plaintiffs filed the pending Motion on July 30, 2020, which is now ripe and pending before the Court.
II. SEVERANCE
A court has broad discretion to sever issues under Rule 21, see Brunet v. United Gas Pipeline Co., 15 F.3d 500, 505 (5th Cir. 1994), and that discretion similarly allows for the severance and transfer of parties in the interest of justice, see Spencer, White & Prentis, Inc. v. Pfizer, Inc., 498 F.2d 358, 361-62 (5th Cir. 1974). "In the situation where venue is proper for one defendant but not for another and dismissal is inappropriate, the district court . . . may sever the claims, retaining jurisdiction over one defendant and transferring the case as to the other defendant to an appropriate district." Carnival Corp. v. Tug W.O. Watson, No. Civ. A. 02-2375, 2003 WL 943633, at *1 (E.D. La. Mar. 5, 2003) (citation omitted); see also Stewart v. Livingston, Civ. A. No. H-14-1483, 2014 WL 4975434, at *5 (S.D. Tex. Oct. 3, 2014) (citation omitted) ("The Court . . . has broad discretion to sever and transfer issues that should be tried in another district."). Defendants agree with Plaintiffs' request to sever the cases. Accordingly, the Court exercises its discretion and finds that severance of the out-of-state plaintiffs is in the interest of justice.
III. TRANSFER
A district court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division in which it might have been brought for the convenience of the parties and witnesses, if such transfer is in the interest of justice. See 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). The moving party bears the burden of demonstrating that a transfer of venue is warranted for convenience purposes. See Time, Inc. v. Manning, 366 F.2d 690, 698 (5th Cir. 1966). The movant's burden is to show "good cause" for transfer. In re Volkswagen of Am., Inc., 545 F.3d 304, 315 (5th Cir. 2008) (hereinafter, "Volkswagen II"). The Fifth Circuit explained:
Th[e] good cause burden reflects the appropriate deference to which the plaintiff's choice of venue is entitled. When viewed in the context of § 1404(a), to show good cause means that a moving party, in order to support its claim for a transfer, must satisfy the statutory requirements and clearly demonstrate that a transfer is for the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice.Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). The determination of venue transfer pursuant to § 1404(a) is within the district court's sound discretion, exercised "in light of the particular circumstances of the case." Hanby v. Shell Oil Co., 144 F. Supp. 2d 673, 676 (E.D. Tex. 2001) (citing Radio Santa Fe v. Sena, 687 F. Supp. 284, 287 (E.D. Tex. 1988))). In doing so, the court must balance the two categories of interest—private and public—to resolve whether the movant has carried his burden. Volkswagen II, 545 F.3d at 315 (citing Gulf Oil Corp. v. Gilbert, 330 U.S. 501 (1947)).
The private interest factors are: "(1) the relative ease of access to sources of proof; (2) the availability of compulsory process to secure the attendance of witnesses; (3) the cost of attendance for willing witnesses; and (4) all other practical problems that make trial of a case easy, expeditious and inexpensive." In re Volkswagen AG, 371 F.3d 201, 204 (5th Cir. 2004) (hereinafter, "Volkswagen I") (citing Piper Aircraft Co. v. Reyno, 454 U.S. 235, 241 n.6 (1981)). The public interest factors are: "(1) the administrative difficulties flowing from court congestion; (2) the local interest in having localized interests decided at home; (3) the familiarity of the forum with the law that will govern the case; and (4) the avoidance of unnecessary problems of conflict of laws of the application of foreign law." Id.
Plaintiffs request this Court to transfer the out-of-state plaintiffs to the jurisdictions in which they had surgery for the implantation of their Bard inferior vena cava filter. See Br. in Supp. of Mot. ("Br.") 7. The identified cases might have been brought in those jurisdictions because that is where "a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred." 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2). With respect to the private and public interest factors, Plaintiffs assert that the out-of-state plaintiffs have essentially no connection to the state of Texas. See Br. 8-9; Pls.' App. They reside outside of Texas, they were not implanted with a Bard inferior vena cava filter in Texas, and essentially all of their medical treatment took place outside of Texas. See generally Br. In summary, none of the out-of-state plaintiffs have any connection whatsoever to the Dallas Division of the Northern District of Texas, based on the evidence presented to the Court.
Plaintiffs also assert (and Defendants do not dispute) that the proposed transfer jurisdictions correspond with many of the out-of-state plaintiffs' residences. See Mot. 1. Moreover, the out-of-state plaintiffs received at least some medical care in that jurisdiction. See id. Thus, the private and public interest factors weigh in favor of transfer, as (1) transfer will allow for ease of access to sources of proof; (2) medical provider witnesses should be accessible through service of process; (3) travel costs should be minimized; and (4) there is a local interest due to those plaintiffs' residences. See Volkswagen I, 371 F.3d at 204.
The Court notes that while Defendants agree that Plaintiffs Tori Hines's ("Hines") and Marlene McBride's ("McBride") cases should be severed and transferred, they assert that the record is insufficient to determine the appropriate state of transfer. See ECF No. 25. Regardless, the Court finds, and the record is undisputed, that Hines resides in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, see Pls. App. 002, and that she received at least some medical treatment in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, see Pls. App. 021. Moreover, the Court finds, and the record is undisputed, that McBride resides in Washington, D.C., see id. at 002, and that she received at least some medical treatment in Washington, D.C., see id. at 024. Therefore, the Court finds that the public and private interest factors similarly weigh in favor of transfer with respect to Hines and McBride. Defendants agree that Plaintiff has identified the proper transferee district for the remaining out-of-state plaintiffs.
As a result, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have met their burden to clearly demonstrate that the proposed jurisdictions are more convenient forums for the parties and witnesses than the Dallas Division of the Northern District of Texas. See 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a); Volkswagen II, 545 F.3d at 315. Accordingly, based on the agreement of counsel and the undisputed representations by Plaintiffs' counsel, the Court GRANTS the Motion and directs the Clerk of the Court to sever and transfer this action as follows:
a. Plaintiff Stacy Eckenrod's case be severed and transferred to the Harrisburg Division of the Middle District of Pennsylvania;
b. Plaintiff Toni Hines's case be severed and transferred to the Pittsburgh Division of the Western District of Pennsylvania;
c. Plaintiff Marlene McBride's case be severed and transferred to the District of Columbia;
d. Plaintiff Karen McKay's case be severed and transferred to the Las Vegas Division of the District Court of Nevada;
e. Plaintiff Michael Rael's case be severed and transferred to the Lubbock Division of the Northern District of Texas;With respect to Plaintiff Ashley Hartman-Massey, the Court GRANTS the Motion to Sever but DENIES without prejudice the Motion to Transfer Venue as to the proposed transfer to the "Plano Division" of the Eastern District of Texas ("EDTX"). The EDTX Plano courthouse is located in the Sherman Division; there is no "Plano Division." Moreover, the proximity of Plano to Dallas is sufficiently close to Dallas to warrant closer scrutiny by the Court whether Plaintiffs have met their burden to clearly demonstrate that the Sherman Division is a more convenient forum. Accordingly, the Court directs the Clerk of the Court to sever Plaintiff Hartman-Massey from this action, but she will remain in the Dallas Division of the Northern District of Texas. Plaintiff Eric Ramirez will remain in this action as the sole plaintiff.
f. Plaintiff Denise Rowe's case be severed and transferred to the Alexandria Division of the Eastern District of Virginia;
g. Plaintiff Robert Stuebs's case be severed and transferred to the Kansas City Division of the District of Kansas;
h. Plaintiff Terry Walley's case be severed and transferred to the District of Delaware.
SO ORDERED.
SIGNED August 25, 2020.
/s/ _________
KAREN GREN SCHOLER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE