Opinion
22 CV 9503 (VB)
11-09-2022
WILLIS TOWERS WATSON; FREBERG ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.; and INNOVISK SERVICES, INC., Petitioners, v. ANTHONY CARROLL, Respondent.
ORDER
VINCENT L. BRICCETTI UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Under Rule 18(a)(3) of the SDNY Rules for the Division of Business Among District Judges, a civil case must be designated for assignment to the White Plains courthouse if:
i. The claim arose in whole or in major part in the Counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, or Westchester (the “Northern Counties”) and at least one of the parties resides in the Northern Counties; or
ii. The claim arose in whole or in major part in the Northern Counties and none of the parties resides in this District.
A civil case may also be designated for assignment to White Plains if:
i. The claim arose outside this district and at least some of the parties reside in the Northern Counties; or
ii At least half of the parties reside in the Northern Counties.
Here, petitioners allege respondent resides in Connecticut, the arbitration proceedings took place in New York County, and the arbitration demand filed by respondent provided for arbitration in New York City. Petitioners also allege that respondent's regular office location was in New York, but do not specify whether the office location was in the Northern Counties. Therefore, it is not clear whether this case was properly designated to White Plains.
Accordingly, by November 16, 2022, petitioners' counsel shall submit a letter explaining in detail why this case is properly designated for assignment to the White Plains courthouse under Rule 18 or acknowledging that it should be reassigned to the Manhattan courthouse.
SO ORDERED: