Opinion
No. 03 C 1290
August 27, 2003
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiffs brought this enforcement action against defendants under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), seeking recovery of allegedly delinquent pension fund contributions and union dues. Defendants now move to transfer venue under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(b). For the following reasons, defendants' motion is denied. Defendants request that we transfer this case to the Western Division of the Northern District of Illinois. A district court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division where it might have been brought if venue is proper in both courts, transfer is for the convenience of the parties and witnesses, and is in the interest of justice. 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a); Brandon Apparel Group. Inc. v. Quitman Mfg. Co., Inc. , 42 F. Supp.2d 821, 833 (N.D.Ill. 1999). The final determination and the weight of each factor is within the sound discretion of the trial Judge. Coffey v. Van Porn Iron Works , 796 F.2d 217, 219 (7th Cir. 1986). The parties agree that venue is proper in both courts. We turn then to the convenience of each venue. We consider the plaintiffs' choice of forum, the site of material events, the relative ease of access to evidence, and the convenience of the witnesses and parties. Brandon Apparel. 42 F. Supp.2d at 833. Here, defendants are seeking an inter-divisional transfer rather than an inter-district transfer. While the relative closeness of the courts minimizes the potential inconvenience of changing forums, weighing in favor of transfer, it also means that it would not be a great difference in travel to defend here rather than in the requested forum, weighing against it But defendants assert that the distance between the court locations makes it significantly more convenient for them to appear in the Western Division since it Is closer to their principal place of business and is the site of the events giving rise to the litigation. Indeed, these are both factors weighing In favor of transfer. See Cody b. DeKalb Sanitary District , 1999 U.S.Dist. Lexis 9211, *8 (N.D.Ill. 1999); Concrete Structures of the Midwest v. Treco Construction Services Inc. , 1996 U.S.Dist.Lexis 1660 (N.D.Ill 1996). We also note that the plaintiff fund is located well west of Chicago, which minimizes the travel difference for fund employees, although the auditors are, apparently, located in Chicago. But we must also consider that this is an ERISA enforcement action brought by a pension plan and as a result substantial deference is given to the plan's choice of venue. Central States v. Lewis Michael , 992 F. Supp. 1046 (N.D.Ill. 1998). The claimed inconvenience to defendants does not overcome this strong preference afforded plaintiffs' choice. Additionally, a transfer would not be in the public interest Defendants argue that judicial economy will be served through a transfer since the Western Division has a smaller docket of cases than in our court They are correct that the efficient functioning of the court system is a consideration in our determination. See Coleman Co., Inc. v. Black A Decker Corp. , 1996 WL 41484 *6 (N.D.Ill. 1996). It is also in the public interest to litigate close to where the cause of action arose. But, as with the consideration of convenience, the determination of justice is affected by the fact that this is a pension plan enforcement action. We must consider the cost to the beneficiaries of the plan who will ultimately bear the expense of this litigation. It was in the interest of supporting benefit plans and their participants that Congress permitted enforcement actions against employers to be brought in the court where the benefit plan is administered. Central States v. Lewis Michael. Inc. , 992 F. Supp. 1046, 1049 (N.D.Ill. 1998) The importance of efficient collection of delinquent benefit plan contributions outweighs the other interests presented by defendants. For the above reasons, defendants' motion for transfer of venue is denied.