Bill Text: TX HB3238 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to a motion to transfer venue based on the joinder of certain defendants.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-13 - Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence [HB3238 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB3238-Introduced.html
 
 
  By: Landgraf H.B. No. 3238
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a motion to transfer venue based on the joinder of
  certain defendants.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 15, Civil Practice and
  Remedies Code, is amended by adding Section 15.0635 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 15.0635.  TRANSFER DUE TO IMPROPER JOINDER. (a)  On
  motion of a defendant filed and served concurrently with or before
  the filing of the defendant's answer, a court shall transfer an
  action to another county of proper venue if the court finds, based
  on the petition and affidavits submitted by the parties, that:
               (1)  a defendant was joined in the action for the
  primary purpose of establishing venue in a county that would not
  otherwise be a county of proper venue; or
               (2)  the facts pleaded concerning a defendant whose
  connection to a county is the primary basis for establishing venue
  in the county are materially false.
         (b)  In determining whether a defendant was joined for the
  primary purpose of establishing venue in a particular county under
  Subsection (a)(1), the court may consider whether:
               (1)  a trier of fact would impose significant liability
  on the defendant; or
               (2)  the plaintiff that joined the defendant has a good
  faith intention to prosecute the action and seek judgment against
  the defendant.
         (c)  A court's decision to grant or deny a transfer under
  Subsection (a) may be reversible error.
         SECTION 2.  Section 15.0635, Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an action filed on or
  after the effective date of this Act.  An action filed before the
  effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect
  immediately before that date, and that law is continued in effect
  for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
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