SARAH WHITE VS. ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION ET AL

Set for Law and Motion/Discovery Calendar on Thursday, March 19, 2026, Line 7.

2 - Defendants National Center for APEC and CW Worldwide Meetings, Inc.'s motions to change venue to Monterey County are DENIED.

Code of Civil Procedure section 397(b) provides that the court may change the place of a trial "[w]hen there is reason to believe that an impartial trial cannot be had therein." Moving Defendants here have not carried their burden to establish a reason to believe that an impartial trial cannot be had in San Francisco.

Moving Defendants present news articles and internet postings showing that the incident was publicized in 2023 when the incident occurred and in 2025 when Plaintiff filed suit. Defendants have not shown a widespread feeling of prejudice extending over a long time. (See People v. Ocean Shore Railroad, Inc. (1938) 24 Cal.App.2d 420 [no abuse of discretion in transferring venue when defendants filed nearly 200 affidavits which referred to the widespread feeling of prejudice extending over a long period of years against the defendants].)

Nor do the local inconveniences experienced by some during the conference suggest substantial prejudice toward any party in this case. This record is clearly distinguishable from the record before the court in Ocean Shore. The court finds that Moving Defendants' showing falls far short of that necessary to move a case under section 397(b) and the court is confident any actual fairness issues can be addressed in voir dire. Therefore, the motion is denied.

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