Wood
Wood v. Igate Technologies, Inc.
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Donato, J.
ORDER RE REMAND AND INTRA-DISTRICT TRANSFER
This order addresses whether this employment case, which was initially brought in California state court, should be sent back there. The plaintiff, Barbara Wood, claims that it should be, based on a forum-selection clause found in the employment agreement between her and the defendant, iGate Technologies:
Wood Decl., Ex. A ¶ 9, Dkt. No. 19. The Court disagrees that remand is required by this provision. But it clearly selects a venue in Alameda County, and so the Court transfers the case to the Oakland Division of this district.
BACKGROUND
The case was initially filed by Wood in Alameda County Superior Court, and removed by iGate to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. When iGate removed the case, it selected this district’s Oakland Division, which is located in Alameda County, see Steenhoek Decl. ¶2, Dkt. No. 22-1, and the case was initially assigned to Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu, whose chambers are in Alameda County. iGate consented to proceed before Magistrate Judge Ryu, Dkt. No. 10, but Wood did not file either a consent or declination to magistrate judge jurisdiction, so the case was sent…