DAVID HITTNER, District Judge.
Pending before the Court is Defendant Federated Capital Corporation's Motion to Transfer Venue Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) (Document No. 30). Having considered the motion, submissions, and applicable law, the Court determines the motion should be granted.
In February 2006, Plaintiff Carissa Brown ("Brown"), on behalf of Brown Boys Storage, applied for and was approved for an Advanta credit card (the "Credit Card").
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a), Federated seeks to transfer this case to the United States District Court for the District of Utah in accordance with the forum-selection clause in the alleged credit card agreement between Brown and Federated. When evaluating a motion to transfer venue, the Court must first determine whether a contractually valid forum-selection clause exists that applies to the present case. See Atl. Marine Constr. Co. v. U.S. Dist. Court for the W. Dist. of Tex., ___ U.S. ___, 134 S.Ct. 568, 581 n. 5, 187 L.Ed.2d 487 (2013); Stinger v. Chase Bank, USA, NA, 265 Fed.Appx. 224, 226-27 (5th Cir.2008) (per curiam); Braspetro Oil Servs. Co. v. Modec (USA), Inc., 240 Fed.Appx. 612, 616 (5th Cir.2007) (per curiam). If such a forum-selection clause exists, the Court must then determine whether any extraordinary circumstances unrelated to the convenience of the parties exist that warrant denial of transfer. Atl. Marine Constr. Co., 134 S.Ct. at 575, 581 & n. 5. If no such extraordinary circumstances exist, the Court should grant the motion to transfer in accordance with the forum-selection clause. Id. at 575, 581.
As a threshold issue, Brown claims Federated waived the right to seek transfer of venue by failing to plead improper venue in the initial responsive pleading as required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(3).
Because Federated moves to transfer venue under § 1404(a), not to dismiss for improper venue under Rule 12(b)(3), Federated has not waived the right to seek transfer of venue by not pleading improper venue in the initial responsive pleading. Further, the Court finds Federated filed its motion to transfer with reasonable promptness. Accordingly, Brown's waiver argument does not raise grounds for relief from transfer of venue.
The Court must first determine whether a contractually valid forum-selection clause exists that applies to the present case, which involves two separate inquiries: (1) whether the parties agreed to a contractually valid forum-selection clause, and (2) whether the present case falls within the scope of the forum-selection clause. See Atl. Marine Constr. Co., 134 S.Ct. at 581 n. 5; Stinger, 265 Fed.
Brown contends she did not agree to the forum-selection clause, and thus is not bound by the forum-selection clause, because she did not sign the agreement that contained the forum-selection clause and because she was not delivered the agreement that contained the forum-selection clause. "A party may be bound by an agreement even in the absence of a signature, provided that the actions of the parties reflect a mutual intent to be bound." Stinger, 265 Fed.Appx. at 227; Jones v. Citibank (S.D.), N.A., 235 S.W.3d 333, 338-39 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 2007, no pet.). Likewise, a party may be bound by an agreement even in the absence of actual delivery of the agreement, provided that "the part[y] manifest[s] an intent through [his or her] actions and words that the contract become effective." Winchek v. Am. Express Travel Related Servs. Co., 232 S.W.3d 197, 204 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, no pet.); Devine v. Am. Express Centurion Bank, No. 09-10-00166-CV, 2011 WL 2732583, at *4 (Tex. App.-Beaumont July 14, 2011, no pet.) (mem. op.). In the context of a credit card, a party is bound by the terms of a credit card agreement if the party uses the credit card, even if the party does not sign the credit card agreement and even if the credit card agreement is not delivered to the party. Stinger, 265 Fed.Appx. at 225, 227; Winchek, 232 S.W.3d at 202-04. Use of a credit card constitutes manifestation of an intent to be bound by the credit card agreement. Ghia v. Am. Express Travel Related Servs. Co., No. 14-06-00653-CV, 2007 WL 2990295, at *3 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] Oct. 11, 2007, no pet.) (mem. op.); Taraldsen v. Dodeka, L.L.C., No. 01-09-01000-CV, 2011 WL 2653274, at *2 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] Jan. 20, 2011, no pet.) (mem. op.).
Federated contends a document entitled "Advanta Business Card Agreement" (the "Credit Card Agreement"),
The language of a forum-selection clause determines the scope of the forum-selection clause. Braspetro Oil Servs., 240 Fed.Appx. at 616. For example, forum-selection clauses that apply to all disputes that "relate to" or "are connected with" the contract are construed broadly, while clauses that apply to all disputes "arising out of or over "the implementation and interpretation of the contract are construed narrowly. Blueskygreenland Envtl. Solutions, LLC v. Rentar Envtl. Solutions, Inc., No. 4:11-cv-01745, 2011 WL 6372842, at *4 (S.D.Tex. Dec. 20, 2011). The scope is not limited to breach of the contract that contains the forum-selection clause. MaxEn Capital, LLC v. Sutherland, No. H-08-3590, 2009 WL 936895, at *6 (S.D.Tex. Apr. 3, 2009).
Brown does not address whether the present case falls within the scope of the Forum-Selection Clause. The Forum-Selection Clause applies to "any lawsuit pertaining to the [Credit Card] account."
Because a contractually valid forum-selection clause exists that applies to the present case, the Court must next determine whether any extraordinary circumstances unrelated to the convenience
When determining whether extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant denial of transfer, only the public-interest factors of a traditional § 1404(a) analysis may be considered; the private-interest factors of a traditional § 1404(a) analysis, which involve the private interests of the parties and their witnesses, may not be considered.
Brown argues three public-interest reasons why this case should not be transferred to Utah,
Based on the foregoing, the Court hereby