Historically, except in cases involving municipal defendants, the CPLR allowed plaintiffs to bring their actions in any county where a party to the action resided. Late last year, Governor Cuomo signed a bill amending the applicable provision of the CPLR to expand the options for where a case may be venued. In this column, we discuss the amendment, the legislative justifications behind it, and its significance for personal injury cases.

The placement of venue is governed by CPLR 503. As amended, CPLR 503(a) provides as follows (the text that was recently added is in italics):

(a)  Generally. Except where otherwise prescribed by law, the place of trial shall be in the county in which one of the parties resided when it was commenced; the county in which a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred; or, if none of the parties then resided in the state, in any county designated by the plaintiff. A party resident in more than one county shall be deemed a resident of each such county.

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