# OLDHAM v. THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY

> District Court, M.D. North Carolina · December 16, 2020

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10253627

## Case

- **Court:** District Court, M.D. North Carolina
- **Decided:** December 16, 2020
- **Opinion:** 100trialcourt
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10253627

## How later opinions describe it (automated extraction)

- finding venue lacking where the “[p]laintiffs allege[d] a series of actions by [the] defendants ... [and] the vast majority of these acts occurred outside” the district in which the plaintiffs filed the case
- stating that a district court may sua sponte consider transfer pursuant to § 1404(a)
- explaining that although the plaintiff’s choice of forum is ordinarily given considerable weight, that weight is diminished when the conduct giving rise to the complaint did not occur in the forum

## Opinion text

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA

JENNIFER OLDHAM, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. )
)
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE )
UNIVERSITY; CHRISTOPHER J. ) 1:20-cv-466
HARRIS, as agent for Penn )
State in his official )
capacity; WIESLAW R. GLON, in )
his official and individual )
capacities; and GEORGE G. )
ABASHIDZE, in his official and )
individual capacities, )
)
Defendants. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

THOMAS D. SCHROEDER, Chief District Judge.
This case arises from an alleged sexual assault committed on
a cross-country flight by an employee of the athletic department
of Pennsylvania State University. Before the court are three
motions: Defendant Wieslaw R. Glon’s motion to dismiss pursuant to
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2), (3), (6), and 28 U.S.C.
§ 1406, or in the alternative, to transfer pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1404 (Doc. 22); Defendants Pennsylvania State University (“Penn
State”) and Christopher J. Harris’s motion to dismiss pursuant to
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2), (3), and (6), or in the
alternative, to transfer pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) (Doc.
24); and Defendant George G. Abashidze’s motion to dismiss pursuant
to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2) (Doc. 31). For the
reasons set forth below, the motions to transfer will be granted
and the case will be transferred to the Middle District of

Pennsylvania pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a) and § 1404(a),
rendering the motions to dismiss moot.
I. BACKGROUND
The basic facts alleged in the complaint, as relevant to the
motions before the court, are as follows:
Plaintiff Jennifer Oldham, a resident of Durham County, North
Carolina, is the owner and Head Coach of Mid-South Fencers’ Club,
a private fencing club. (Doc. 1 ¶ 11.) Defendant Penn State is
an independently-governed university associated with
Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth System of Higher Education. (Id.
¶ 12.) Defendant Harris is Penn State’s Title IX Coordinator.
(Id. ¶ 13.) Defendant Glon is the Head Coach of Penn State’s

fencing team, and Defendant Abashidze was an Assistant Coach. (Id.
¶¶ 14, 15.) All three individually-named Defendants in this action
are residents of Centre County, Pennsylvania.1 (Id. ¶¶ 13–15.)
On December 12, 2017, Oldham was seated next to Abashidze on
a flight from Portland, Oregon to Chicago O’Hare Airport. (Id. ¶¶
1, 6.) Both Oldham and Abashidze were returning from a USA Fencing

1 Although Oldham asserts that Abashidze lives in Ohio as of August 17,
2020 (Doc. 27 at 27), Abashidze himself confirmed on September 4, 2020
that, as the complaint alleges, he resides in Pennsylvania (see Doc. 32
at 2).
North American Cup tournament, which they had each attended in
their capacity as coaches. (Id. ¶¶ 7, 8.) During the course of
the flight, Abashidze made numerous, unwelcome lewd comments to

Oldham, touched her legs, arms, and face without her consent, and
repeatedly demanded that she engage in sexual relations with him.
(Id. ¶ 2.) Somewhere over the Great Plains, Abashidze thrust his
hand between Oldham’s legs and sexually assaulted her without her
consent. (Id. ¶ 1.) These events were witnessed by a third person
seated next to Oldham. (See id. ¶¶ 9, 53.) Upon returning home
to North Carolina, Oldham shared the details of the sexual assault
with her husband, Jeff Kallio. (Id. ¶ 36.)
Oldham sought advice about how to deal with the assault from
her professional mentor and former fencing coach, Ed Korfanty.
(Id. ¶ 37.) As a long-time friend of Defendant Glon, Penn State’s
fencing coach, Korfanty called him on January 15, 2018 to speak

with him about the incident. (Id. ¶¶ 37, 38.) After that
conversation, Glon allegedly spoke with Abashidze and formed a
conspiracy to cover up the assault. (Id. ¶ 39.) Glon did not
report the assault to Penn State’s Title IX Coordinator or anyone
else in the Penn State Athletic Department. (Id. ¶ 40.)
In February 2018, Glon and Abashidze travelled to Durham,
North Carolina with the Penn State fencing team for a competition
at Duke University. (Id. ¶ 41.) At that time, at Oldham’s urging,
Glon and Oldham met. (Id. ¶ 42; Doc 25. at 8.) During the meeting,
Oldham informed Glon of the details of the sexual assault and
provided a written summary of the assault. (Doc. 1 ¶ 43.) Oldham
then asked Glon if he was going to report the assault to Penn

State, to which he replied, “no.” (Id. ¶¶ 44, 45.) Glon went on
to tell Oldham that it would be embarrassing for her if the assault
became known and that no one would believe her claims against
Abashidze. (Id. ¶ 46.) Glon then brought Abashidze into the
conversation and directed him to apologize to Oldham, after which
the meeting ended. (Id. ¶ 48.)
In April 2018, Oldham attended a USA Fencing North American
Cup tournament in Richmond, Virginia. (Id. ¶ 52.) At that time,
Korfanty asked her to speak with him and Glon over coffee. (Id.)
During that meeting, Glon pressured Oldham not to engage in an
ongoing investigation into the assault by SafeSport, an
independent investigative agency.2 (Id. ¶ 53.) Glon also

reiterated that no one would believe Oldham’s allegations and tried
to impress upon her that Abashidze was a “good guy.” (Id. ¶¶ 54,
55.) Oldham suggested that Glon had a duty to report the assault
to Penn State, but Glon replied that he did not believe Abashidze
was a “danger” to the team. (Id. ¶¶ 56, 57.)
In July 2018, Kallio emailed Penn State Athletic Director

2 SafeSport is an independent organization focused on ending all forms
of abuse in sports. (Id. ¶ 46 n.5.) SafeSport initiated an investigation
into Oldham’s assault based on a report by the third-party witness. (Id.
¶ 53.)
Sandy Barbour to discuss Oldham’s assault. (Id. ¶ 70.) In
response, Defendant Harris and Penn State Athletics Integrity
Officer Robert Boland contacted Kallio by email and phone. (Id.

¶ 71.) According to Harris and Boland, Kallio’s email was the
first they had heard of the assault. (Id. ¶ 72.)
On August 14, 2018, Harris and others had a conference call
with Oldham. (Id. ¶ 73.) During that call, Oldham informed them
of Abashidze’s assault and Glon’s failure to report the assault.
(Id.) After the call, Harris began an Affirmative Action Office
(“AAO”) investigation into these events. (Id. ¶ 74.)
Between August 2018 and February 2019, Oldham did not hear
anything from Harris regarding the investigation. (Id. ¶ 75.)
During that period, Oldham experienced harassment and retaliation,
both through electronic mediums and at international fencing
tournaments. (Id. ¶ 76.) This harassment was allegedly

perpetuated by Abashidze’s friends and supporters with the
knowledge of Abashidze and Glon. (Id. ¶¶ 76, 77.)
In February 2019, Oldham contacted Penn State for an update
on the investigation and was informed that it was ongoing. (Id.
¶ 78.) Shortly thereafter, Harris emailed the initial AAO
determination to Oldham. (Id. ¶ 79.) The initial determination
substantiated and admitted as true her factual allegations of
assault and harassment, but also concluded that Abashidze had not
violated any Penn State policy. (Id. ¶¶ 79, 80.) The
determination did not mention Glon’s failure to report. (Id.
¶ 82.)
After that time, Oldham repeatedly tried to arrange a personal

meeting with Harris at Penn State but was discouraged from doing
so. (Id. ¶ 83.) Instead, she had a brief telephone call with
Harris and others. (Id. ¶ 85.) During that call, Oldham
communicated her thoughts and disagreements regarding the initial
determination. (Id. ¶ 85.) Despite this conversation, the final
AAO determination reached the same conclusions as the initial
determination. (Id.)
The final AAO determination deferred making a final judgment
until after a future and separate determination could be made by
Boland’s parallel Inter Collegiate Athletics (“ICA”)
investigation. (Id. ¶ 88.) Oldham was not asked to be involved
in that investigation, nor was she given an opportunity to review

or comment on the ICA report. (Id. ¶ 90.) Further, she was never
given notice of that investigation’s outcome or its impact on the
AAO determination. (Id.) When Oldham called Penn State to ask
about the outcome of the ICA investigation, Harris told her that
the process was complete but that he could not share any further
information. (Id. ¶ 91.) Harris suggested that Oldham look at
Penn State’s website to “figure out” what happened with Abashidze.
(Id. ¶ 92.)
In April 2019, Oldham submitted to Penn State a written Title
IX complaint against Glon based on his failure to report. (Id.
¶ 93.) Oldham alleged that Glon had sexually harassed and
discriminated against her at numerous points, including when he

told her that no one would believe her claims, that she would be
embarrassed if her assault became known, and that he was not going
to report her claim. (Id.) Penn State never responded to this
complaint. (Id. ¶ 94.)
In March 2020, the United States Department of Education
Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”) published a compliance review of
sexual misconduct cases at Penn State from 2011 to 2020. (Id.
¶ 95.) Among OCR’s findings was the conclusion that Penn State
failed to respond promptly and equitably to complaints of sexual
harassment. (Id.)
On May 27, 2020, Oldham filed the present complaint alleging
seven causes of action against Defendants, collectively and

individually, stemming from Oldham’s assault and failures of Penn
State’s Title IX process relating to that assault. (Id.) Against
all Defendants, she brings claims alleging violations of Title IX
of the Education Amendments Of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., and
civil conspiracy (deliberate indifference); violations of Title IX
and civil conspiracy (erroneous outcome) in relation to her
allegations against Abashidze; negligence/gross negligence; and
negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress. (Id.
¶¶ 100–61.) Against Glon, Harris, and Penn State, she alleges
violations of Title IX and civil conspiracy (erroneous outcome) in
relation to her allegations against Glon as well as a failure to
train and/or supervise employees regarding sexual misconduct

claims. (Id.) Against Penn State and Abashidze, she brings a
claim of battery. (Id.)
Beginning on July 27, 2020, the Defendants filed their current
motions: Glon, Penn State, and Harris move to dismiss or, in the
alternative, to transfer pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404. (Docs. 22,
24.) Abashidze moves to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(2). (Doc.
31.) The motions are fully briefed and ready for resolution. (See
Docs. 27, 29, 30, 34, 35.)
II. ANALYSIS
Defendants each move to dismiss, in part, under Federal Rule
of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2) for lack of personal jurisdiction.
Three of the four defendants also move to dismiss for improper

venue pursuant to Rule 12(b)(3). Although “there is no mandatory
sequencing of jurisdictional issues,” Sinochem Int'l Co. v.
Malaysia Int'l Shipping Corp., 549 U.S. 422, 431 (2007) (internal
quotation marks omitted), when faced with motions to dismiss based
on both lack of personal jurisdiction and improper venue, courts
typically address personal jurisdiction first. BSN Med., Inc. v.
Am. Med. Prods., LLC, 3:11cv092-GCM-DSC, 2012 WL 171269, at *2
(W.D.N.C. Jan. 20, 2012). However, “the Supreme Court has held
that ‘when there is a sound prudential justification for doing so,
. . . a court may reverse the normal order of considering personal
jurisdiction and venue.’” Id. (quoting Leroy v. Great W. United
Corp., 443 U.S. 173, 180 (1979)); see also Sucampo Pharm., Inc. v.

Astellas Pharma, Inc., 471 F.3d 544, 550 n.3 (4th Cir. 2006) (“[A]
district court has the discretion to dismiss on the basis of
improper venue before reaching the issue of personal
jurisdiction.”). Where, as here, a plaintiff brings claims against
multiple defendants, each of whom contests personal jurisdiction,
over whom personal jurisdiction is doubtful, and where the court
would need to reach the issue of venue regardless, courts have
exercised their discretion to address venue first. See, e.g.,
Mylan Labs., Inc. v. Akzo, N.V., No. CIV. A. 89-1671, 1990 WL
58466, at *1 (D.D.C. Mar. 27, 1990) (considering venue prior to
personal jurisdiction when eight defendants challenged personal
jurisdiction); Boyd v. Koch Foods, No. 5:10-CV-349-D, 2011 WL

2413844, at *2–3 (E.D.N.C. June 10, 2011) (transferring venue
without consideration of personal jurisdiction where jurisdiction
over a corporate defendant was “in serious doubt”); Tyler v. Gaines
Motor Lines, Inc., 245 F. Supp. 2d 730, 734 (D. Md. 2003)
(exercising discretion to transfer on the basis of improper venue
where the issue of personal jurisdiction was “a close one”);
Datasouth Comput. Corp. v. Three Dimensional Techs., Inc., 719 F.
Supp. 446, 450, 453 (W.D.N.C. 1989) (transferring venue without
determining issues of personal jurisdiction where the
jurisdictional issues presented “a difficult question”)
(collecting cases). “A court need not have personal jurisdiction
over a defendant to transfer a case pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§

1404(a) or 1406(a).” BSN Med., 2012 WL 171269, at *2; see also
DEB USA, Inc. v. CWGC LA Inc., No. 316-CV-00521-MOC-DCK, 2017 WL
581328, at *4 (W.D.N.C. Feb. 13, 2017).
“When an objection to venue has been raised under Rule
12(b)(3), the burden lies with the plaintiff to establish that
venue is proper in the judicial district in which the plaintiff
has brought the action.” Turfworthy, LLC v. Dr. Karl Wetekam &
Co. KG, 26 F. Supp. 3d 496, 502 (M.D.N.C. 2014) (internal quotation
marks omitted). “[I]n a case involving multiple defendants and
multiple claims, the plaintiff bears the burden of showing that
venue is appropriate as to each claim and as to each defendant.”
Bartko v. Wheeler, No. 1:13CV1006, 2014 WL 29441, at *8 (M.D.N.C.

Jan. 3, 2014), aff'd, 589 F. App'x 181 (4th Cir. 2015) (quoting
Hickey v. St. Martin's Press, Inc., 978 F. Supp. 230, 240 (D. Md.
1997)). Absent an evidentiary hearing, a plaintiff need only make
a prima facie showing that venue is proper. Mitrano v. Hawes, 377
F.3d 402, 405 (4th Cir. 2004). In making a venue determination,
the court can consider evidence outside the pleadings and should
view the facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiff.
Turfworthy, 26 F. Supp. 3d at 502.
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b), venue is proper in
(1) a judicial district in which any defendant resides, if
all defendants are residents of the State in which the
district is located;

(2) a judicial district in which a substantial part of the
events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred . . . ;
or

(3) if there is no district in which an action may otherwise
be brought as provided in this section, any judicial district
in which any defendant is subject to the court's personal
jurisdiction with respect to such action.

In the event venue is improper in the district in which a case is
filed, the district court retains discretion to dismiss or, if in
the interest of justice, to transfer the case to any district in
which it could have been brought. 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a).
“[T]ransfer is generally considered to be more in the interest of
justice than dismissal and, therefore, doubts should be resolved
in favor of preserving the action, particularly where it appears
that venue may be properly laid in the proposed transferee
district.” Blue Rhino Glob. Sourcing, Inc. v. Best Choice Prod.,
No. 1:17CV69, 2018 WL 4784006, at *3 (M.D.N.C. June 20, 2018)
(internal quotations).
Oldham now has had an opportunity to directly address the
propriety of venue in this district, as well as the prospect of
transfer to the Middle District of Pennsylvania. After carefully
reviewing the complaint and Oldham’s responses to the present
motion, the court concludes, for reasons detailed below, that venue
is improper in this district and the court will therefore transfer
this action.
A. Venue is not proper in this district
Oldham claims that venue is proper in this district pursuant

to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2) because “a substantial part of the events
. . . giving rise to Oldham’s action occurred in the district,
and/or more so than in any other single district.” (Doc. 1 ¶ 21.)
This argument is unavailing.
“In 1990, [the general federal venue statute] was amended to
make venue proper in any ‘judicial district in which a substantial
part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim
occurred.’” Mitrano, 377 F.3d at 405 (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 1391)
(emphasis added). The statute as amended makes it possible for
venue to be proper in more than one judicial district. Id.; see
also Red Bull GmbH v. RLED, LLC, 515 F. Supp. 2d 641, 646 (M.D.N.C.
2007) (“Substantial activities may occur in other districts

without disqualifying this district as a proper venue, so long as
‘substantial’ activities occurred in this district also[,] . . .
even if more substantial or the most substantial activities took
place elsewhere.” (internal citations omitted)).
While venue may be appropriate in multiple districts,
district courts should “take seriously the adjective
‘substantial.’” Bartko, 2014 WL 29441, at *9 (quoting Gulf Ins.
Co. v. Glasbrenner, 417 F .3d 353, 356–57 (2d Cir. 2005)); see
also Jenkins Brick Co. v. Bremer, 321 F.3d 1366, 1371 (11th Cir.
2003) (“The new language thus contemplates some cases in which
venue will be proper in two or more districts. This does not mean,
however, that the amended statute no longer emphasizes the

importance of the place where the wrong has been committed.
Rather, the statute merely . . . reduc[es] the degree of
arbitrariness in close cases.”). Determining an appropriate venue
is a question of quality, not quantity. N.C. Mut. Life Ins. Co.
v. Stamford Brook Cap., LLC, No. 1:16CV1174, 2019 WL 4747851, at
*6 (M.D.N.C. Sept. 27, 2019). In evaluating the appropriateness
of a given venue, courts review the entire sequence of events
underlying a claim. Mitrano, 377 F.3d at 405. Ultimately, “what
matters most is whether the material acts or omissions within the
forum ‘bear a close nexus to the claims.’” Stamford Brook, 2019
WL 4747851, at *6 (quoting Daniel v. Am. Bd. of Emergency Med.,
428 F.3d 408, 433 (2d Cir. 2005)). “That means for venue to be

proper, significant events or omissions material to the
plaintiff's claim must have occurred in the district in question,
even if other material events occurred elsewhere.” Bartko, 2014
WL 29441, at *9 (quoting Gulf Ins., 417 F.3d at 357); see also
Setra of N. Am., Inc. v. Schar, No. 1:03CV711, 2004 WL 1554195, at
*8 (M.D.N.C. July 7, 2004) (unpublished) (recommendation of
Eliason, M.J., adopted by Beaty, J.) (“Under the plain language of
the venue statute, only events and omissions giving rise to a claim
are considered.” (emphasis in original)).
Here, a small number of events relating to Oldham’s claims
took place in North Carolina. Beyond telephone calls and emails
exchanged between Penn State officials in Pennsylvania and Oldham

in North Carolina, the only event alleged to have occurred in North
Carolina was a meeting between Oldham, Glon, and Abashidze in
February 2018. At that time, allegedly at Oldham’s request, Glon
and Abashidze met with Oldham while they were in North Carolina
for a fencing tournament at Duke University. This meeting occurred
after Abashidze allegedly assaulted Oldham. It also occurred after
Glon learned of the assault claim — and his duty to report arose
— and after Glon and Abashidze allegedly formed a conspiracy to
cover it up. However, the meeting occurred before Penn State was
made aware of the assault allegation and before it began its
investigation. In light of the entire series of events underlying
Oldham’s claims, this meeting is not enough to justify venue in

the present venue.
At the center of all of Oldham’s claims is the assault
allegedly perpetrated by Abashidze and the failure of the
responsible officials to properly act on Oldham’s reports. In
relation to these claims, the vast majority of underlying events
did not occur in the Middle District of North Carolina. Rather,
with the exception of the assault itself (which was perpetrated
mid-flight over the Great Plains region), the substantial events
alleged in this case occurred in Centre County, Pennsylvania, in
the Middle District of Pennsylvania. For example, Glon’s initial
failure to report Oldham’s assault became actionable following his
January 2018 phone call with Korfanty. At the time, Glon was in

the Pennsylvania district. (Doc. 29 at 3, 4.) Similarly, the
alleged conspiracy to cover-up the assault was formed between Glon
and Abashidze in that district. (Doc. 22 at 12.) All of Penn
State’s investigations into Oldham’s assault were conducted in the
Pennsylvania district, and all of the related reports were produced
there. (Id. at 12, 13.) Likewise, all of Defendants’ alleged
failures to sufficiently train coaching staff in Title IX
procedures occurred in the Pennsylvania district. (Id.) In view
of the entire course of events and the claims brought by Oldham,
a single meeting in North Carolina, coupled with phone calls and
emails incidental to Oldham’s claims, do not justify venue in the
Middle District of North Carolina.

Oldham argues that venue is appropriate in the Middle District
of North Carolina because “the discriminatory impacts of
[Defendants’] actions have [] occurred” here. (Doc. 27 at 25.)
However, only the events giving rise to a claim may justify venue,
not impacts felt by a plaintiff after an action accrues. See
Taylor v. City & Cnty. of Honolulu, No. 7:16-CV-410-D, 2017 WL
3526660, at *3 (E.D.N.C. Aug. 16, 2017) (seeking medical care after
an accident in a given district not sufficient to establish proper
venue); Apr. Ademiluyi v. Nat'l Bar Ass'n, No. GJH-15-02947, 2016
WL 4705536, at *3 (D. Md. Sept. 8, 2016) (feeling “all the
injuries” from defendants’ actions in a given district not
sufficient to establish proper venue); Massi v. Lomonaco, No.

C/A0:10-265-CMC-PJG, 2010 WL 2429313, at *1 (D.S.C. May 25,
2010), report and recommendation adopted, No. C/A0:10CV-265CMC-
PJG, 2010 WL 2429234 (D.S.C. June 11, 2010) (“Any argument that
[plaintiff] has suffered monetarily in this district from
[defendant’s actions] is insufficient to confer venue in [this
district] . . . because otherwise venue almost always would be
proper at the place of the plaintiff's residence.”); see also
McClintock v. Sch. Bd. E. Feliciana Par., 299 Fed. App’x 363, 365
(5th Cir. 2008) (“Venue [] cannot lie simply because a plaintiff
continues to experience the psychological effects of an injury in
a particular place.”). As such, the discriminatory impacts of
Defendants’ actions felt by Oldham in this district cannot justify

venue here.
Oldham further characterizes the February 2018 meeting as an
instance of sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination
perpetrated by Glon against her. As Defendants suggest, this is
a legal conclusion. However, even accepting that claim as true,
this would make venue appropriate solely over any Title IX claims
Oldham brings against Glon as well as related claims against Penn
State for failure to properly investigate. Oldham has not
established how this meeting in North Carolina would make venue
appropriate in relation to her battery claim against Abashidze or
her associated Title IX-based deliberate indifference, erroneous
outcome, and failure to train claims, nor her negligence and

negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress claims
brought against Defendants other than Glon.
Put another way, “[a]lthough § 1391 no longer requires the
court to identify the single best venue for a plaintiff's
claim[s],” in this case the connections of Oldham's claims to the
Middle District of Pennsylvania “so far predominate over those in
[this district] as to make it impossible to conclude that a
‘substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the
claim[s]’ occurred in this district.” MTGLQ Invr’s, L.P. v. Guire,
286 F. Supp. 2d 561, 566 (D. Md. 2003) (internal citation omitted);
see also Daniel, 428 F.3d at 434 (finding venue lacking where the
“[p]laintiffs allege[d] a series of actions by [the] defendants

... [and] the vast majority of these acts occurred outside” the
district in which the plaintiffs filed the case). A more
appropriate venue for Oldham’s claims is the Middle District of
Pennsylvania.3 Not only is venue proper there under § 1391(a)(1)
because all Defendants reside in the Middle District of
Pennsylvania, but also because the bulk of the witnesses to
Oldham’s sexual harassment and discrimination claims, as well as

3 The court expresses no opinion as to whether other districts might also
be proper venues.
the witnesses who can testify as to Penn State’s investigations
into those claims, are located there.
B. Appropriateness of transfer

As provided by § 1406(a), a case brought in an improper venue
may be “dismiss[ed], or if it be in the interest of justice,
transfer[red] . . . to any district or division in which it could
have been brought.’” 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a). The analysis of whether
a transfer is in the interest of justice is the same under both 28
U.S.C. § 1404(a) and § 1406(a). Nichols v. G.D. Searle & Co., 991
F.2d 1195, 1201 n. 5 (4th Cir. 1993). Accordingly, this court
will look to § 1404(a) to determine whether transfer is
appropriate.
In order to transfer venue pursuant to § 1404(a), the
transferee district must first be determined to be a district where
the action initially may have been brought. The Middle District

of Pennsylvania meets this requirement. As discussed above, all
Defendants reside in Pennsylvania and do not contest personal
jurisdiction in that forum. Further, the bulk of the substantial
events underlying Oldham’s claims occurred in that district.
In determining whether transfer is appropriate, the court
must next consider the “convenience and fairness” of such a
transfer. Stewart Org., Inc. v. Ricoh Corp., 487 U.S. 22, 29
(1988). In so doing, the court has broad discretion, see Nichols,
991 F.2d 1195, and weighs the following factors:
(1) the plaintiff's initial choice of forum; (2)
relative ease of access to sources of proof; (3)
availability of compulsory process for attendance of
unwilling witnesses, and the cost of obtaining
attendance of willing and unwilling witnesses; (4)
possibility of a view of the premises, if appropriate;
(5) enforceability of a judgment, if one is obtained;
(6) relative advantage and obstacles to a fair trial;
(7) other practical problems that make a trial easy,
expeditious, and inexpensive; (8) administrative
difficulties of court congestion; (9) local interest in
having localized controversies settled at home; (10)
appropriateness in having a trial of a diversity case in
a forum that is at home with the state law that must
govern the action; and (11) avoidance of unnecessary
problems with conflicts of laws.

Dillon v. BMO Harris Bank, N.A., 16 F. Supp. 3d 605, 617 (M.D.N.C.
2014) (citation omitted).4 As a general rule, “unless the
balancing of these factors weighs strongly in favor of the
defendant, the plaintiff's choice of forum [] should not be
disturbed.” Casana Furniture Co., Ltd. v. Coaster Co. of Am., No.
1:08CV744, 2009 WL 783399, at *2 (M.D.N.C. Mar. 24, 2009) (quoting
Brown v. Flowers, 297 F. Supp. 2d 846, 850 (M.D.N.C. 2003));
Collins v. Straight, Inc., 748 F.2d 916, 921 (4th Cir. 1984).
Moreover, “[w]hile a district court has discretion to transfer the

4 The Fourth Circuit has enunciated a similar, but shorter test listing
the following four factors: “(1) the weight accorded to plaintiff’s
choice of venue; (2) witness convenience and access; (3) convenience of
the parties; and (4) the interest of justice.” Trs. Of the Plumbers &
Pipefitters Nat’l Pension Fund v. Plumbing Servs., Inc., 791 F.3d 436,
444 (4th Cir. 2015). These factors are inherently or expressly
incorporated into the more expansive test applied by district courts in
this circuit. See Triangle Grading & Paving, Inc. v. Rhino Servs., LLC,
No. 1:19CV486, 2020 WL 2086188, at *16 n.17 (M.D.N.C. Apr. 30, 2020)
(collecting cases); see also Hunter v. Mountain Com. Bank, No.
1:15CV1050, 2016 WL 5415761, at *9 (M.D.N.C. Sept. 28, 2016).
action to a more appropriate venue, a court should not transfer
venue where doing so would only shift the inconvenience to another
party.” Casana, 2009 WL 783399, at *2.

As this court has already determined that Oldham’s choice of
forum is not an appropriate venue, the court will give it little
weight. See Alvarez v. Babik, No. 1:13-CV-252, 2014 WL 1123383,
at *3 (N.D. W. Va. Mar. 21, 2014); see also Parham v. Weave Corp.,
323 F. Supp. 2d 670, 674 (M.D.N.C. 2004) (explaining that although
the plaintiff’s choice of forum is ordinarily given considerable
weight, that weight is diminished when the conduct giving rise to
the complaint did not occur in the forum).
The remaining relevant factors weigh largely in favor of
transfer. First, the Middle District of Pennsylvania has greater
ease of access to witnesses. As discussed above, the vast majority
of the witnesses to Oldham’s sexual harassment and discrimination

claims, as well as the witnesses to Penn State’s investigation
into those claims, are located in Pennsylvania. Additionally, the
sole third-party witness to Abashidze’s assault on Oldham resides
in New Jersey, making the Middle District of Pennsylvania — which
partially borders New Jersey — a significantly more convenient
forum for that witness. As all Defendants are located in
Pennsylvania, that forum is also significantly more accessible for
most of the parties involved.5 While Oldham asserts that a number
of key witnesses reside in North Carolina, those witnesses — with
the exception of Oldham and Kallio — have knowledge only of the

impact of these events on Oldham, rather than knowledge of the
events themselves. (See Doc. 27 at 28.) As such, the court finds
that the Middle District of Pennsylvania has greater ease of access
to the key witnesses in this case.
Second, as most witnesses are located in Pennsylvania, that
court also is better situated to exercise compulsory process over
unwilling witnesses in this case. By that same merit, the cost of
obtaining attendance of witnesses in that forum is notably less
burdensome. Third, the Middle District of Pennsylvania is able to
impose an enforceable judgment on Defendants because they are each
subject to personal jurisdiction in that court.
Finally, the local interest in having localized controversies

settled at home weighs in favor of transfer. “Courts have
determined that litigation should take place in the federal
judicial district or division with the closest relationship to the
operative events.” Speed Trac Techs., Inc. v. Estes Express Lines,
Inc., 567 F. Supp. 2d 799, 804 (M.D.N.C. 2008); Weishaupt v. Boston
Coll., No. 1:11-cv-1122, 2012 WL 1439030, at *5 (M.D.N.C. Apr. 24,

5 Although the Middle District of Pennsylvania is admittedly less
convenient for Oldham, as her first choice and most convenient forum is
not an appropriate venue, this cannot be helped.
2012). If acts or omissions primarily occurred in one state, that
forum should resolve the dispute, even if the harm occurred
elsewhere. See Triangle Grading & Paving, Inc. v. Rhino Servs.,

LLC, No. 1:19CV486, 2020 WL 2086188, at *18 (M.D.N.C. Apr. 30,
2020); Weishaupt, 2012 WL 1439030, at *5. Here, the alleged
wrongful acts occurred primarily in the Middle District of
Pennsylvania, and all of the acts are alleged to have been
committed by individuals and entities associated with the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In light of this, the local interest
in resolving the case is significant.
However, at least one factor does not weigh in favor of
transfer. Specifically, as Oldham has brought several North
Carolina tort claims alongside her federal claims, the Middle
District of Pennsylvania is not “at home with the state law”
governing those claims. However, the claims and issues brought

under federal law in this action largely outweigh those brought
under North Carolina law. There is also no reason to believe that
the federal court in Pennsylvania cannot apply general North
Carolina tort law, if that law is applicable. As the other
relevant factors weigh heavily in favor of transfer, Oldham’s North
Carolina tort claims do not disturb that balance.
It is in the interest of justice for Oldham to have her day
in court. There is no reason why the matter should be dismissed
rather than transferred. Thus, the court finds that it is more
appropriate to transfer Oldham’s claims to the Middle District of
Pennsylvania rather than to dismiss, as Defendants request. See
Carolina Archery Prod., Inc. v. Alpine Archery Inc., No. 1:03 CV

00176, 2004 WL 1368863, at *9 (M.D.N.C. June 15, 2004)
(transferring case because it was “in the interest of justice for
plaintiffs to have their day in court” and there were no
“countervailing reasons to deny transfer”); see also Davis Media
Grp. v. Best W. Int'l, 302 F. Supp. 2d 464, 470 (D. Md. 2004) (“In
addressing the issue of proper venue in the context of a possible
dismissal of the action, the usual procedure should be transfer
rather than dismissal.” (internal quotation marks omitted)). In
light of the lack of venue over the claims against Penn State,
Harris, and Glon in the Middle District of North Carolina, the
court will transfer the claims against them to the Middle District
of Pennsylvania pursuant to § 1406(a).
C. Venue over claims against Abashidze

Unlike Defendants Penn State, Harris, and Glon, Abashidze has
not contested venue in his motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule
12(b)(2). As such, the court must consider whether transferring
the claims against him is appropriate.
Venue is considered a “personal privilege[] of the defendant,
rather than [an] absolute stricture[] on the court.” Leroy, 443
U.S. at 180. A defendant, therefore, may waive his privilege to
demand a proper venue if he does not make a “timely and sufficient
objection.” See 28 U.S.C. § 1406(b). Under Rule 12(b) of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, “[e]very defense to a claim for
relief . . . must be asserted in the responsive pleading if one is

required,” but certain defenses, including the defense of improper
venue, may be asserted by motion. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b). “As a
general rule, a defendant waives its right to challenge venue if
it fails to do so either in a responsive pleading or in the first
Rule 12 motion filed before a responsive pleading.” Blue Rhino,
2018 WL 4784006, at *2 (citing Rules 12(b) and 12(h)(1)).
In this case, as Abashidze did not raise the issue of venue
in his Rule 12(b) motion, he is considered to have waived that
objection and to have accepted venue in this court. He does
contest this court’s exercise of personal jurisdiction over him.
But that issue is moot if the court exercises its discretion to
also transfer the claims against Abashidze to the Pennsylvania

federal court. See BSN Med., 2012 WL 171269, at *2 (“A court need
not have personal jurisdiction over a defendant to transfer a case
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1404(a) or 1406(a).”).
“[W]hen venue is proper for one defendant but not for another,
and dismissal is inappropriate, the [c]ourt can either (1)
‘transfer the entire case to another district that is proper for
both defendants,’ or (2) ‘sever the claims, retaining jurisdiction
over one defendant and transferring the case as to the other
defendant to an appropriate district.’” Gore v. Air & Liquid Sys.
Inc., No. 1:15-cv-465, 2016 WL 11680149, at *4 (M.D.N.C. June 21,
2016) (quoting Cottman Transmission Sys., Inc. v. Martino, 36 F.3d
291, 296 (3d Cir. 1994)). The court “should not sever if the

defendant over whom jurisdiction is retained” — even if that
defendant has waived its objection to venue — “is so involved in
the controversy to be transferred that partial transfer would
require the same issues to be litigated in two places.” Id. Here,
Abashidze is a central figure in Oldham’s claims, and the court’s
consideration of the claims against him when the rest of the action
is transferred to the Middle District of Pennsylvania could result
in multiple proceedings involving many of the same issues and
witnesses. Such duplicative, piecemeal litigation is contrary to
notions of judicial economy and efficiency. In the interest of
justice, the court will transfer the claims against Abashidze to
the Middle District of Pennsylvania pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1404(a). See Feller v. Brock, 802 F.2d 722, 729 n.7 (4th Cir.
1986) (stating that a district court may sua sponte consider
transfer pursuant to § 1404(a)). This results in transfer of the
entire action to the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
III. CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated,
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the motions to transfer venue by
Defendants Penn State, Harris, and Glon (Docs. 22, 24) are GRANTED,
and the action shall be TRANSFERRED to the United States District
Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Defendants’ motions
to dismiss (Docs. 22, 24, 31) are DENIED as MOOT. The Clerk of
Court is directed to close this file.

/s/ Thomas D. Schroeder
United States District Judge

December 16, 2020

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10253627. Public record. Not legal advice.