Gallin

Sandy Gallin and others (collectively Gallin) seek extraordinary relief after the court denied their motion to transfer venue. Gallin contends Los Angeles County is the proper venue because “some” individual defendants reside there, no corporate defendant has its principal place of business in San Diego County, and a “single retail sale” in San Diego is insufficient for venue in a consumer remedy class action. We determine the venue provision of the Consumers Legal Remedies Act (Civ. Code, § 1750 et seq.) does not override the general rule a defendant is entitled to have an action tried in the county of his or her residence. Accordingly we grant the petition and vacate the stay.

Factual and Procedural Background

Danielle Jeffrey filed this class action in San Diego County on behalf of purchasers of “Milli Vanilli” pop-rock record albums, tapes, compact disks and video recordings. In addition to “Milli Vanilli” manager Gallin, Jeffrey named the two performers, Rob Pilatus and Fabrice “Fab” Morvan, and various producers, distributors and recording companies as defendants. Jeffrey claims Gallin “committed a huge fraud upon the public by covering up that neither Pilatus or…