Cheaves v. Crounse Corporation

Filing 10

ORDER GRANTING Joint MOTION to Transfer Case (Doc. 8 ). Signed by Judge Staci M. Yandle on 12/22/2016. (mah).

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS

GERALD CHEAVES,

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Plaintiff,
vs.
CROUNSE CORPORATION,
Defendant.

Case No. 16-CV-886-SMY-SCW

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
On August 7, 2016, Plaintiff Gerald Cheaves filed this action against Defendant Crounse
Corporation alleging violations of the Jones Act, 46 U.S.C. § 688, and general maritime law
claims (Doc. 1). Pending before the Court is the Parties’ Joint Motion to Transfer Venue (Doc.
8) in which the parties request that the Court transfer this case to the District Court for the
Western District of Tennessee, Eastern Division, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a).
“For the convenience of the 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 where all parties have consented.” A motion to transfer an action
pursuant to § 1404(a) is committed to the sound discretion of the district court. Coffey v. Van
Dorn Iron Works, 796 F.2d 217, 219 (7th Cir. 1986). A transfer under § 1404(a) is appropriate if
venue is proper in the transferor court, the action could have been brought in the transferee court,
is for the convenience of the parties and witnesses and is in the interest of justice. Hanley v.
Omarc, Inc., 6 F.Supp.2d 770, 774 (N.D. Ill. 1998).
Here, the requisite requirements for transfer exist. Plaintiff currently resides in the
Western District of Tennessee, Eastern Division, and did at the time of the incident giving rise to
this lawsuit. Defendant is a Kentucky corporation with its principal place of business in
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Kentucky. All of Plaintiff’s medical treatment has occurred in Tennessee or Kentucky. The
Southern District of Illinois has no connection to this case. Accordingly, for good cause shown,
the motion is GRANTED.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that this matter be transferred to the United States
District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Eastern Division and the Clerk of Court is
DIRECTED to take all necessary and appropriate actions to transfer the record in this civil
action.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: December 22, 2016
s/ Staci M. Yandle
STACI M. YANDLE
United States District Judge

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