Monday, August 21, 2017

Objection to Venue Under § 1391(c) Does Not Preserve Objection to Venue Under § 1400(b)​

The magistrate judge recommended denying defendant's motion to dismiss or transfer for improper venue because defendant waived that defense by limiting its venue challenge in its answer to its personal jurisdiction challenge. "[Defendant] did not generally deny that venue is proper. Instead, [Defendant] specifically denied venue is proper 'for the reasons set forth in the Complaint' -- namely, that [its] acts of infringement subject it to personal jurisdiction in this District. In other words, [defendant's] objection was based solely on the argument this District does not have personal jurisdiction over [defendant] because it does not infringe, and [defendant] admits as much. This Court has already concluded a defendant’s acknowledgement of the applicability of [28 U.S.C. § 1391(c)], without more, results in waiver. . . . [Defendant] conceded the applicability of § 1391(c) while omitting from its Answer an objection to venue because it had no 'regular and established place of business' in this District. That waives any such objection."

MyMail, Ltd. v. Yahoo!, Inc., 2-16-cv-01000 (TXED August 17, 2017, Order) (Payne, MJ)

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