United Financial Casualty Company v. Clark Auto Recovery & Towing LLC et al

Filing 64

ORDER denying 30 Defendant Washington's motion to change venue. Signed by Judge James M. Moody Jr. on 09/16/2022. (llg)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
CENTRAL DIVISION
UNITED FINANCIAL CASUALTY COMPANY
V.

PLAINTIFF

4:22CV00234 JM

CLARK AUTO RECOVERY & TOWING, LLC, et al,

DEFENDANTS

ORDER
Pending is the Motion to Change Venue pursuant to 28 U.S.C.A. § 1404(a) filed by
Separate Defendant Cherise Washington (“Washington”). Washington seeks a transfer of this
case to the Western District of Tennessee. The motion is unopposed by Plaintiff but opposed by
Separate Defendant Peggy Clark, individually and d/b/a Clark Towing/Clark Towing and Auto
Recovery (“Peggy Clark”).
Section 1404(a) states: “(a) For the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest
of justice, a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division where it
might have been brought or to any district or division to which all parties have consented.” 28
U.S.C.A. § 1404 (West). “The transferee forum must have both venue and personal jurisdiction
over the parties.” Steinbuch v. Cutler, No. 4:06CV00620 JLH (E.D. Ark. July 1, 2008) (citing
35A C.J.S. Federal Civil Procedure § 562).
In this case, it is Washington’s burden to prove that a transfer to the Tennessee court is
proper. Washington makes no argument regarding whether the Tennessee court has personal
jurisdiction over the defendants. Without any information to as the defendants’ contacts with
Tennessee, the Court is unable to determine whether this case could have brought there. For this
reason, the Court finds there is no basis for a § 1404(a) transfer.

Defendant Washington’s motion to change venue (ECF No. 30) is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 16th day of September 2022.

________________________
James M. Moody Jr.
United States District Judge