Judge Transfers Prempro Case to Illinois, Citing 'Convenience of Witnesses'

MINNEAPOLIS - A Minnesota federal judge has transferred a Prempro breast cancer action to Illinois federal court, ruling that the convenience of the parties and witnesses weigh in favor of transfer. Baird v. Wyeth Phamaceuticals Inc., et al., No. 04-3091 (D. Minn.).

Judge Joan N. Ericksen of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota ruled Aug. 20 that judicial economy would not be promoted by keeping the case in Minnesota where it could be "caught behind a bottleneck of cases with no connection to the District."

Sheila Baird, an Illinois citizen, sued Wyeth Inc., a Delaware corporation, in …