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SB-1630 Civil actions: place of trial.(2007-2008)

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SB1630:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Senate  April 01, 2008

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2007–2008 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 1630


Introduced  by  Senator Corbett

February 22, 2008


An act to amend Section 395 Sections 395 and 397 of the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to civil actions.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 1630, as amended, Corbett. Civil actions: place of trial.
Existing law specifies the proper court for the trial of a civil action, generally providing that the superior court in the county where the defendants or some of them reside at the commencement of the action is the proper court. Existing law makes other provisions with regard to specific types of proceedings, among others, providing in a proceeding to enforce an obligation of support, the superior court in the county where the child resides is the proper court for the trial of the action. Existing law authorizes the court, on motion, to change the place of trial in specified cases.
This bill would provide that an action may be filed in, or transferred to, an appropriate alternative venue when, due to limited resources, the court in any county has a significant backlog of civil cases that has led to the delay or denial of the right to trial by jury. The bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions. The bill would also require the Judicial Council, in consultation with specified parties and entities, to establish standards for the implementation of these changes by court rule adopt a rule describing a process for promptly transferring venue of a civil case for trial when the court has a significant backlog of civil trials and the backlog is attributable to the documented need for judicial officers in that court or other special circumstances, as specified.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 395 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:

395.
 (a) (1) Except as otherwise provided by law and subject to the power of the court to transfer actions or proceedings as provided in this title, the superior court in the county where the defendants or some of them reside at the commencement of the action is the proper court for the trial of the action.
(2) If the action is for injury to person or personal property or for death from wrongful act or negligence, the superior court in either the county where the injury occurs or the injury causing death occurs or the county where the defendants, or some of them reside at the commencement of the action, is a proper court for the trial of the action.
(3) In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, the superior court in the county where either the petitioner or respondent has been a resident for three months next preceding the commencement of the proceeding is the proper court for the trial of the proceeding.
(4) In a proceeding for nullity of marriage or legal separation of the parties, the superior court in the county where either the petitioner or the respondent resides at the commencement of the proceeding is the proper court for the trial of the proceeding.
(5) In a proceeding to enforce an obligation of support under Section 3900 of the Family Code, the superior court in the county where the child resides is the proper court for the trial of the action.
(6) In a proceeding to establish and enforce a foreign judgment or court order for the support of a minor child, the superior court in the county where the child resides is the proper court for the trial of the action.
(7) Subject to subdivision (b), if a defendant has contracted to perform an obligation in a particular county, the superior court in the county where the obligation is to be performed, where the contract in fact was entered into, or where the defendant or any defendant resides at the commencement of the action is a proper court for the trial of an action founded on that obligation, and the county where the obligation is incurred is the county where it is to be performed, unless there is a special contract in writing to the contrary.
(8) If none of the defendants reside in the state or if they reside in the state and the county where they reside is unknown to the plaintiff, the action may be tried in the superior court in any county that the plaintiff may designate in his or her complaint, and, if the defendant is about to depart from the state, the action may be tried in the superior court in any county where either of the parties reside or service is made.
(9) If any person is improperly joined as a defendant or has been made a defendant solely for the purpose of having the action tried in the superior court in the county where he or she resides, his or her residence shall not be considered in determining the proper place for the trial of the action.

(10)An action may be filed in, or transferred to, an appropriate alternative venue when, due to limited resources, the court in any county has a significant backlog of civil cases that has led to the delay or denial of the right to trial by jury. The Judicial Council shall establish standards for the implementation of this paragraph by court rule.

(b) Subject to the power of the court to transfer actions or proceedings as provided in this title, in an action arising from an offer or provision of goods, services, loans or extensions of credit intended primarily for personal, family or household use, other than an obligation described in Section 1812.10 or Section 2984.4 of the Civil Code, or an action arising from a transaction consummated as a proximate result of either an unsolicited telephone call made by a seller engaged in the business of consummating transactions of that kind or a telephone call or electronic transmission made by the buyer or lessee in response to a solicitation by the seller, the superior court in the county where the buyer or lessee in fact signed the contract, where the buyer or lessee resided at the time the contract was entered into, or where the buyer or lessee resides at the commencement of the action is the proper court for the trial of the action. In the superior court designated in this subdivision as the proper court, the proper court location for trial of a case is the location where the court tries that type of case that is nearest or most accessible to where the buyer or lessee resides, where the buyer or lessee in fact signed the contract, where the buyer or lessee resided at the time the contract was entered into, or where the buyer or lessee resides at the commencement of the action. Otherwise, any location of the superior court designated as the proper court in this subdivision is a proper court location for the trial. The court may specify by local rule the nearest or most accessible court location where the court tries that type of case.
(c) Any provision of an obligation described in subdivision (b) waiving that subdivision is void and unenforceable.

SEC. 2.

 Section 397 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:

(a) The court may, on motion, change the place of trial in the following cases:

(a)

397.
 (1)
 When the court designated in the complaint is not the proper court.

(b)

(2) When there is reason to believe that an impartial trial cannot be had therein.

(c)

(3) When the convenience of witnesses and the ends of justice would be promoted by the change.

(d)

(4) When from any cause there is no judge of the court qualified to act.

(e)

(5) When a proceeding for dissolution of marriage has been filed in the county in which the petitioner has been a resident for three months next preceding the commencement of the proceeding, and the respondent at the time of the commencement of the proceeding is a resident of another county in this state, to the county of the respondent’s residence when the ends of justice would be promoted by the change. If a motion to change the place of trial is made pursuant to this paragraph, the court may, prior to the determination of such motion, consider and determine motions for allowance of temporary spousal support, support of children, temporary restraining orders, attorneys’ fees, and costs, and make all necessary and proper orders in connection therewith.
(b) The Judicial Council, in consultation with superior court presiding judges, court executive officers, representatives of plaintiff attorney and defense attorney organizations, and the State Bar, shall adopt a rule of court setting forth a process for promptly transferring venue of a civil case for trial when both of the following apply:
(1) The court in which the action or proceeding has been filed has a significant backlog of civil trials.
(2) The backlog is attributable to the documented need for judicial officers in that court or other special circumstances that impact the ability of the court to conduct trials in civil actions.