ALVIN K. HELLERSTEIN, District Judge.
Defendants move for dismissal pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(2) and (3) or for transfer to the Southern District of California pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). For the reasons stated below, Defendants' motion is denied.
Defendant San Diego Rock Church, a California corporation, and Defendant Miles McPherson, a California citizen, contend that the Court lacks personal jurisdiction. "Personal jurisdiction of a federal court over a non-resident defendant is governed by the law of the state in which the court sits—subject, of course, to certain constitutional limitations of due process."
Plaintiff alleges that the Court has jurisdiction pursuant to N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 302(a)(1) and (3). Section 302(a)(1) provides that "a court may exercise personal jurisdiction over any non-domiciliary . . . who in person or through an agent . . . transacts any business within the state or contracts anywhere to supply goods or services in the state. . . ." "[P]roof of one transaction in New York is sufficient to invoke jurisdiction, even though the defendant never enters New York, so long as the defendant's activities here were purposeful and there is a substantial relationship between the transaction and the claim asserted."
Plaintiff alleges that Defendants' infringing actions include selling McPherson's book, "DO Something: Make Your Life Count," in New York, promoting McPherson's book in New York and advertising and offering items for sale to New York residents via interactive websites.
To establish jurisdiction pursuant to § 302(a)(3)(ii), a plaintiff must demonstrate that: "(1) the defendant's tortious act was committed outside New York, (2) the cause of action arose from that act, (3) the tortious act caused an injury to a person or property in New York, (4) the defendant expected or should reasonably have expected that his or her action would have consequences in New York, and (5) the defendant derives substantial revenue from interstate or international commerce."
Plaintiff's causes of action are alleged to arise in part from Defendants' acts of trademark infringement committed outside of New York. Plaintiff, a New York corporation, sufficiently alleges injury to its person or property in New York because "the first effects of trademark infringement . . . are typically felt where the trademark owner resides and conducts business, and can include injury in the form of damage to goodwill, lost sales, or lost customers."
With respect to a defendant expecting consequences in New York, "courts have focused on whether there were concrete facts known to the nondomiciliary that should have alerted it that its product would enter the New York market."
The revenue requirement "is designed to narrow the long-arm reach to preclude the exercise of jurisdiction over nondomiciliaries who might cause direct, foreseeable injury within the State but whose business operations are of a local character."
"The due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment permits a state to exercise personal jurisdiction over a non-resident defendant with whom it has certain minimum contacts . . . such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice. In determining whether minimum contacts exist, the court considers the relationship among the defendant, the forum, and the litigation. To establish the minimum contacts necessary to justify specific jurisdiction, the plaintiff first must show that his claim arises out of or relates to defendant's contacts with the forum state. The plaintiff must also show that the defendant purposefully availed himself of the privilege of doing business in the forum state and that the defendant could foresee being haled into court there. If the plaintiff satisfies these requirements, the court also considers whether the assertion of jurisdiction comports with traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice—that is, whether it is reasonable under the circumstances of a particular case."
Per their actions as alleged by Plaintiff, Defendants availed themselves of the privilege of doing business in New York such that they could reasonably foresee being haled into a New York court. Furthermore, the assertion of jurisdiction is reasonable. As to the first factor, this forum imposes some burden on California-based Defendants, though this consideration "cuts both ways" because a California forum would impose a similar burden on Plaintiff.
The Court has personal jurisdiction and its exercise of personal jurisdiction is consistent with due process. Defendants' motion is denied with respect to personal jurisdiction.
Defendants contend that venue is improper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2) and that even if venue is proper, transfer is warranted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a).
Section 1391(b)(2) provides for venue in "a judicial district in which a substantial part of the events . . . giving rise to the claim occurred. . . ." "Under section 1391(b)(2), venue is proper for a trademark infringement claim in each jurisdiction where infringement is properly alleged to have occurred."
Finally, Defendants move for this case to be transferred to the Southern District of California, "For the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice, a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division where it might have been brought or to any district or division to which all parties have consented." 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). "District courts have broad discretion in making determinations of convenience under Section 1404(a) and notions of convenience and fairness arc considered on a case-by-case basis, Some of the factors a district court is to consider are, inter alia: (1) the plaintiff's choice of forum, (2) the convenience of witnesses, (3) the location of relevant documents and relative ease of access to sources of proof, (4) the convenience of parties, (5) the locus of operative facts, (6) the availability of process to compel the attendance of unwilling witnesses, and (7) the relative means of the parties."
Plaintiff chose this forum and Plaintiff's choice is entitled to great weight.
SO ORDERED.