Heathcote Holdings Corp., Inc. v. Leapfrog Enters., Inc., No. 10 C 1471, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Dec. 27, 2010) (Coar, J.).
Judge Coar transferred plaintiff Heathcote’s false patent marking case to the Northern District of California. Because Heathcote was a relator standing in the shoes of the federal government, Heathcote’s chosen forum was given little deference. All of defendant’s witnesses — party and non-party alike — were located in California. Additionally, the relevant evidence was located in defendant’s California offices. And Heathcote was unlikely to have much relevant evidence. The Court, therefore, transferred the case.