Failure to Timely Challenge Venue Before TC Heartland Waives Challenge Despite Reservation of Rights​

The court denied defendants' motion to transfer venue based on the recent Supreme Court decision in TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC, 137 S. Ct. 1514 (2017), because defendants waived their objection to venue. "[N]either [defendant] affirmatively sought dismissal or transfer because of the lack of 'resid[ence]' or the lack of a 'regular and established place of business' under § 1400(b) as interpreted by [Fourco Glass Co. v. Transmirra Prod. Corp., 353 U.S. 222], until . . . less than two months from trial. . . .The Court need not reach Defendants’ argument that a change in law constitutes an exception to waiver under Rule 12(h)(1)(A) because the Supreme Court’s decision in TC Heartland does not qualify. . . . 'TC Heartland does not qualify for the intervening law exception to waiver because it merely affirms the viability of Fourco.' [One defendant] argues that Defendants 'each expressly reserved their rights to challenge venue in the event TC Heartland changed the law,' but a defendant cannot state that it does not dispute venue while reserving the ability to later contest it. To conclude otherwise would undermine the purpose of Rule 12(g) and (h) to promote efficiency and finality."

Elbit Systems Land and C4I Ltd. et al v. Hughes Network Systems LLC et al, 2-15-cv-00037 (TXED June 20, 2017, Order) (Payne, MJ)