Venue for a Civil Trial - Explained
What is Venue in a Civil Trial?
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What is Venue?
Venue is the physical location (within the state or federal circuit) where the trial is conducted.
More discuss on Venue below.
Next Article: Personal Jurisdiction - Minimum Contacts Standard Return to: CIVIL LITIGATION
How to determine the appropriate Venue?
A state may contain more than one federal courthouse.
Further, states generally have courthouses located in every county, district, or precinct within the state.
Once the court establishes subject-matter jurisdiction over the type of case and personal jurisdiction over the defendant, there is a question as to the appropriate venue for the trial or hearing.
The appropriate venue is generally the courthouse located in the county, district, or precinct that is most closely related to the matter in controversy.
- Relevant Law: The federal rule for venue is located at 28 USC 1391.
This could be the location where the controversial activity (such as the tort or breach of contract) took place.
Alternatively, it could be the locale where the plaintiff or defendant resides.
If the parties live in different towns, the place where the activity in controversy occurred or the defendant's local is generally the appropriate court.
- Relevant Law: The federal rule for change of venue is located at 28 USC 1404.
A court may transfer venue to another court in the state if mutually requested by both parties or other equities require a transfer.
The reasons for transferring the venue of a trial to another court in the state are to avoid one party having a home-field advantage or one party is subject to a biased jury pool.
For example, one party's home locality may be more likely to find in her favor at trial.
Similarly, an individual accused of a horrible crime in a community may be subject to undue bias by prospective jurors.
- Note: State rules concerning venue will be the subject of the particular state's rules of civil procedure.
Discussion Question
Can you think of any famous trials in which venue was transferred to another court? Do you think that parties to a contract should be able to choose the venue where any controversies must be litigated?
- One case of relevance is a lawsuit brought the Monument Fund against the City of Charlottesville allegedly violating a state statute when removing a Confederate monument. The plaintiffs asked for a change of venue based upon the bias. You may have seen a Choice of Law; Venue clause in a contract. These clauses are generally drafted by one party to put themselves in an advantage if sued or if forced to sue the other party.
Practice Question
Beth is a resident of Sonoma County in Northern California. Samantha is a resident of San Diego County in Southern California. Last month, while visiting Disney Land, which is located in Orange County in Southern California, Samantha accidentally hit Beth with her car when she was crossing the parking lot. Beth suffered some injuries and later decides to sue Samantha in the Sonoma County Superior Court for damages. What is the likely result if Samantha disputes the venue for the court proceeding?
- Samantha will likely be successful in disputing the venue in Sonoma County, where Beth instituted the charges. Beth will likely be forced to bring the action in Orange County, where the accident took place, or in San Diego County, where Samantha is a resident.
Related Topics
- Civil Litigation Procedure (Intro)
- What is a civil lawsuit or civil action?
- Who are the parties to a lawsuit?
- What is standing to sue?
- Venue
- What is personal jurisdiction?
- What is a class action?
- What are the pleadings?
- What is discovery?
- What is the scope of discovery?
- What are motions and how are they used?
- What are frivolous cases?
- Barratry
- What is the process of selecting a jury?
- What are the steps involved in a civil trial?
- What is the burden of proof in a civil trial?
- How is a civil trial decided?
- Adjudication
- Default Judgment
- Stipulated Judgment
- Equitable Defenses
- Equitable Relief
- Doctrine of Clean Hands
- Compensatory Damages
- Punitive Damages
- Replevin
- What is joint and several liability?
- Judgment Proof
- What is the process for appeal?
- Amicus Curiae Brief
- How do parties enforce a civil judgment?
- Levy
- Garnishment
- Writ of Attachment
- Writ of Execution
- Writ of Seizure and Sale
- Sheriff's Sale
- What is res judicata