Deselms v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. et al

Filing 36

ORDER by Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer on 11/16/2020. ORDERED that, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1404(a), this case is transferred to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. (sphil, )

Case 1:20-cv-02921-PAB Document 36 Filed 11/16/20 USDC Colorado Page 1 of 3

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer
Civil Action No. 20-cv-02921-PAB
CARRIE DESELMS,
Plaintiff,
v.
TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS USA, INC.,
TEVA WOMEN’S HEALTH LLC f/k/a Teva Women’s Health, Inc.,
DURAMED PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a division of Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc., d/b/a
TEVA WOMEN’S HEALTH, INC.,
TEVA WOMEN’S HEALTH, INC., individually, and as successor in interest to Duramed
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a division of Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
TEVA WOMEN’S HEALTH, LLC, individual and as successor in interest to Teva,
Women’s Health, Inc.,
COOPERSURGICAL, INC., and
THE COOPER COMPANIES, INC.,
Defendants.

ORDER

This matter is before the Court on defendants’ Response to Order to Show
Cause [Docket No. 29]. On September 29, 2020, Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty
issued an order to show cause regarding plaintiff’s citizenship and whether the Court
had diversity jurisdiction. Docket No. 19. On August 17, 2020, plaintiff Carrie Deselms
filed this lawsuit in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania.
Docket No. at 2. On September 4, 2020, defendants removed the action to the United
States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. On stipulation of the
parties, that court transferred the matter to the District of Colorado on September 15,
2020 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a), predicated on plaintif f’s residence in Colorado

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and based on the “convenience of the parties and witnesses.” Docket Nos. 13 and 131 at 2.
In response to the order to show cause, defendants state that plaintiff has moved
to southern Ohio. Docket No. 29 at 3. The parties request, therefore, that this Court
either transfer the matter to the United States District Court for the Southern District of
Ohio or return it to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, id., and have filed a Stipulation
to Transfer Venue [Docket No. 29-1].
Section 1404(a) of Title 28 provides, “[f]or 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.” Section 1404(a) is “intended to place discretion in
the district court to adjudicate motions for transfer according to an ‘individualized, caseby-case consideration of convenience and fairness.’” Stewart Org., Inc. v. Ricoh Corp.,
487 U.S. 22, 29 (1988) (quoting Van Dusen v. Barrack, 376 U.S. 612, 622 (1964)).
The parties have consented to the transfer of this matter to the Southern District
of Ohio. Docket No. 29-1 at 3. Plaintiff no longer resides in Colorado, and the facts
presented by defendants show that no one with any connection to the facts at issue has
ties to Colorado. Id. at 2–3. By contrast, it would be convenient to the parties and
witnesses to litigate this case where the plaintiff resides, namely, the Southern District
of Ohio. See Employers Mut. Cas. Co. v. Bartile Roofs, Inc., 618 F.3d 1153, 1169 (10th
Cir. 2010) (“The convenience of witnesses is the most important factor in deciding a
motion under § 1404(a).” (internal quotation mark omitted)). The Court will order this
case transferred to the Southern District of Ohio.

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For the foregoing reasons, it is
ORDERED that, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1404(a), this case is transferred to the
United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

DATED November 16, 2020.
BY THE COURT:

PHILIP A. BRIMMER
Chief United States District Judge