Red Pine Point LLC v. Amazon.Com, Inc., Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Jul 16, 2014) (Holderman, J.).

Judge Holderman granted defendants’ joint motion to transfer these consolidated patent cases to the N.D. California, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a).  First, the generic reasons plaintiff Red Pine Point cited in support of keeping the case in the Northern District — neutrality, Local Patent Rules, the Patent Pilot Program, and judicial expertise — were all equally true of the N. D. California and plaintiff’s choice of forum warranted little deference because the Northern District had, at most, minimal ties with the dispute.  Finally, the companies that designed the accused technologies, the witnesses and the documents, were in or near the N.D. California.  The interests of justice also, therefore, required transfer.