Los Angeles, CA asked in Consumer Law and Collections for California

Q: I'm in L.A County. I wish to sue for fraud/extortion in Orange Co. Can I file the complaint my county, or Orange Co.?

I just need to know, if I'm in Los Angeles County and the Defendant is in Orange County, can I file in L.A or do I need to travel and file in the local court in Orange County.

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3 Lawyer Answers
Scott Richard Kaufman
Scott Richard Kaufman
Answered
  • Consumer Law Lawyer
  • Los Altos, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: When it comes to the law, generally, the answer to many questions is "maybe."

In response to your question, the same is true. You may wish to search the

internet for statutes in California that govern venue. Good luck with it.

Robert Kane
Robert Kane
Answered
  • Eagan, MN
  • Licensed in California

A: "Usually, venue is in the county where:

The person you are suing lives or does business (if you are suing a business or organization); or

The dispute arose, like where an accident happened, or where a contract was entered into or broken.

It is possible to have a situation where more than one county is the proper venue for you to file your lawsuit." See California courts website about venue.

Orange California Business Attorney.

Eagan Minnesota Business Attorney.

James L. Arrasmith
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Answered
  • Consumer Law Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: You can file a lawsuit in either Los Angeles County or Orange County. The court where you file will depend on the specific facts of your case.

In general, you can file a lawsuit in the county where the defendant lives, or in the county where the events that gave rise to the lawsuit took place. In your case, the defendant lives in Orange County, so you could file a lawsuit in Orange County. However, the events that gave rise to the lawsuit may have taken place in Los Angeles County, so you could also file a lawsuit in Los Angeles County.

If you are not sure where to file your lawsuit, you should consult with an attorney. An attorney can help you determine the proper venue for your lawsuit and can represent you in court.

Here are some of the factors that a court will consider when determining the proper venue for a lawsuit:

* The residence of the parties

* The location of the events that gave rise to the lawsuit

* The convenience of the parties

* The public interest

The court will weigh all of these factors when making its decision.

If you file a lawsuit in the wrong county, the defendant may be able to have the case transferred to the proper county. However, this can be a time-consuming and expensive process. It is best to file your lawsuit in the proper county from the beginning.

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