Hot Locks, Inc. v. Ooh La La, Inc.
Hot Locks, Inc. v. Ooh La La, Inc.
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
At oral argument held October 9, 1985 with respect to a motion docketed September 25, 1985, it was in effect conceded that venue in this District for this patent, trademark and copyright litigation is inappropriate insofar as concerns defendant Proud-line, Inc. Defendant’s motion is granted to the extent that the action is dismissed as to it, without prejudice and without costs. Defendant Proudline also seeks an award of legal expenses pursuant to Rule 11, F.R. Civ.P., incurred in making a motion to dismiss or transfer.
The amendment of Rule 11, F.R.Civ.P., effective in 1983 has called forth a flood of such collateral disputes within lawsuits, unrelated to the ultimate merits of the cases themselves, as to whether or not sanctions should be imposed on parties and/or lawyers for its violation. The amendment was enacted to decrease the costs and delay inherent in litigation in the federal courts, by requiring that all allegations and contentions be submitted in good faith. It has been held that an objective test of good faith must be applied. Wells v. Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., 101 F.R.D. 358, 359 (S.D.N.Y. 1984).
Under the circumstances of this case we should be reluctant to impose sanctions at this early stage, simply for alleging improper venue, and failing to recede promptly from the allegation without a motion being made to the Court. At least on the present record before me the underlying complaint presents fair ground for litigation. Selection of a forum is not part of the claim itself. When initially selected by plaintiff’s attorney, the venue was not known to be improper. Furthermore, objections to venue, and indeed objections to the exercise of in personam jurisdiction, may be and often are, waived. While imposition of sanctions serves an essential purpose in cases where allegations concerning
Against these considerations the Court must balance the right of the opposing party to be free from the cost and expense of having to resort to unnecessary motion practice. The inconvenience and delay suffered by defendant Proudline, Inc. in this case does not counterbalance the other considerations cited so as to require the imposition of sanctions. To the extent that Noxell Corp. v. Firehouse No. 1 Bar-B-Que Restaurant, 771 F.2d 521 (D.C.Cir. 1985), relied on by Proudline, may be read to require a contrary result, that case is of course not binding in this District. Furthermore, the egregiously oppressive conduct found in that case is not present here.
The action is dismissed without prejudice as to defendant Proudline, Inc.
So Ordered.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- HOT LOCKS, INC. and Hyman Products Company, Inc. v. OOH LA LA, INC., Tenten Creations, Inc. and Proudline, Inc.
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published