However, this is not a proper consideration for the Court to make as the " ‘convenience of counsel is not a factor to be considered when ruling on [a] motion for transfer.’ " Sanhua , 2019 WL 2088431, at *6, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 80240, at *16 (quoting United States v. Currency $96,770 , No. 16-cv-11185, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 175451, at *18, 2016 WL 7367424, at *7 (E.D. Mich. Dec. 20, 2016) ); see alsoTorus Specialty Ins. Co. v. Selection Mgmt. Sys., Inc. , No. 1:15-cv-755, 2016 WL 776614, at *3 n.5, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24539, at *7 n.5 (S.D. Ohio Feb. 29, 2016) ("[m]oreover, the location of counsel is an ‘improper consideration’ in the section 1404(a) analysis.") (citations omitted).
This lack of evidence cannot carry the weight necessary to support the request for transfer. See United States v. Currency $96,770, No. 16-CV-11185, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 175451, at *17 (E.D. Mich. Dec. 20, 2016).
Accordingly, the threshold requirement—that the case could have been brought in the proposed transferee-court—is satisfied. Thomas v. Home Depot, U.S.A., Inc., 131 F. Supp. 2d 934, 936 (E.D. Mich. 2001); see also United States v. Currency $96,770, No. 16-cv-11185, 2016 WL 7367424, at *4 (E.D. Mich. Dec. 20, 2016). The Court denotes that Plaintiff's transfer motion was filed within two weeks of this Court's Order denying his Motion to Relate Case to MDL 2744.
Although Plaintiffs contend that the location of their lead counsel weighs against transfer, the "convenience of counsel is not a factor to be considered when ruling on motion for transfer." United States v. Currency $96,770, No. 16-cv-11185, 2016 WL 7367424, at *7 (E.D. Mich. Dec. 20, 2016) (collecting cases); see also Torus Specialty Ins. Co. v. Selection Mgmt. Systems, Inc., No. 1:15-cv-755, 2016 WL 776614, at *3 (S.D. Ohio Feb. 29, 2016) ("Moreover, the location of counsel is an 'improper consideration' in the section 1404(a) analysis.") (citations omitted). Moreover, the Court also notes that Plaintiff Zhejiang is a Chinese entity that would have to travel internationally whether the case stays in Ohio or is transferred to Illinois.