Failure to Challenge Venue in First-Filed Motion to Dismiss Does Not Waive Venue If Defendant Supplements the Motion Prior to Decision​

Following the Supreme Court decision in TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC, 137 S. Ct. 1514 (2017), the court denied defendant's motion to dismiss plaintiff's patent infringement action for improper venue but rejected plaintiff's argument regarding waiver because defendant's motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) remained pending. "There is authority supporting both sides of the waiver issue. But the Court need not choose a side, because [defendant's] original motion to dismiss is still pending. . . . [A] party that files a Rule 12(b) motion and fails to raise the issue of improper venue can avoid waiving that issue if the party supplements its motion 'before the . . . court [takes] up the matter.' To the extent that 'prompt' amendment is a requirement to avoid waiver, the Court finds that [defendant's] filing of a motion raising improper venue within a month of the Supreme Court’s decision in TC Heartland is sufficiently prompt as this case has not progressed past the pleading stage."

Lit v. Zazzle, Inc., 1-16-cv-07054 (ILND August 3, 2017, Order) (Durkin, USDJ)