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JOSEPH COHEN and GALIT DADOUN-COHEN, Individually and in ...

JOSEPH COHEN and GALIT DADOUN-COHEN, Individually and in ...

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the birth, any non-medical conversations with Defendant Fur<strong>in</strong> <strong>and</strong> “contact” with<br />

Defendant Rothman prior to the allegedly negligent care received at Lankenau Hospital<br />

do not affect the conclusion that proper venue lies <strong>in</strong> Montgomery County.<br />

II. THE COURT DID NOT ERR IN TRANSFERRING THE MATTER<br />

TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY BEFORE ALLOWING LIMITED DISCOVERY<br />

The st<strong>and</strong>ard of review <strong>in</strong> cases of venue is abuse of discretion. See Catagnus v.<br />

Allstate Ins. Co., 864 A.2d 1259, 1263, 2004 PA Super 486, *9 (Pa.Super. 2004). The<br />

trial court holds “considerable discretion” <strong>in</strong> mak<strong>in</strong>g the determ<strong>in</strong>ation to transfer venue.<br />

Id. “To determ<strong>in</strong>e whether venue is <strong>in</strong>deed improper, the trial court relies on facts raised<br />

‘by depositions or otherwise.’” Fritz v. Glen Mills Sch., 840 A.2d 1021, 1025, 2003 PA<br />

Super 516, *8 (Pa.Super. 2003) cit<strong>in</strong>g Pa.R.C.P. 1028(c)(2). After a review of the<br />

plead<strong>in</strong>gs, it may be “well with<strong>in</strong> the trial court’s discretion” to make f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs of fact<br />

regard<strong>in</strong>g venue “without the benefit of sworn depositions or an evidentiary hear<strong>in</strong>g.” Id.<br />

Upon review of the plead<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>stant case, this Court assumes the factual<br />

allegations to be true. In particular, this Court does not f<strong>in</strong>d any controverted fact <strong>in</strong> the<br />

plead<strong>in</strong>gs regard<strong>in</strong>g Defendants Fur<strong>in</strong>, Maternal Wellness Center, Rothman, <strong>and</strong> Woman<br />

Wise Midwifery that would create venue <strong>in</strong> Philadelphia County. Thus, the Court did not<br />

err <strong>in</strong> transferr<strong>in</strong>g the matter to Montgomery County, Pennsylvania before allow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

limited discovery.<br />

CONCLUSION<br />

For the forego<strong>in</strong>g reasons, this Court believes that it properly granted prelim<strong>in</strong>ary<br />

objections of Defendants Eric Carlson, D.O., <strong>and</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> L<strong>in</strong>e Per<strong>in</strong>atal Associates, thereby<br />

transferr<strong>in</strong>g the matter to the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County,<br />

13

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