CoStar Realty Information, Inc. v. CIVIX-DDI, LLC, No. 12 C 4968, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Oct. 18, 2012) (Holderman, C. J.).

Chief Judge Holderman denied patent holder CIVIX-DDI’s motion to transfer this patent dispute to the E.D. Virginia.

Convenience of the Parties

Plaintiff CoStar’s choice of forum was given deference – despite not being resident in Illinois –because of defendant CIVIX-DDI’s prior and existing litigation involving the same patents in this district.  The likely location of documents – in Washington, DC – did not weigh in favor of transfer because they would likely be transferred electronically.  The third party witnesses were in or near the E.D. Virginia, weighing in favor of transfer.

Public Interest

Both jurisdictions were familiar with the law.  The E.D. Virginia had a greater interest in the dispute because CoStar was located there.  The ability to try related cases together, however, weighed against transfer.  Balancing the locations, the ability to consolidate outweighed the other factors.