For a corporation, where is venue proper in federal court?

• A. Place of incorporation
• B. Anywhere there is personal jurisdiction over the defendant
• C. The defendant's domicile
• D. The location where the plaintiff resides

Answer: (B)

For a corporation, venue in federal court is proper in any district where the defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction. This means the company’s “residence” for venue purposes is defined by where it has enough contacts to satisfy due process, i.e., where the court can exercise jurisdiction over it. So you can sue the corporation in districts where it conducts business, maintains offices, or is otherwise subject to PJ. The other options—place of incorporation, the defendant’s domicile, or the plaintiff’s residence—do not determine venue for corporations. Therefore, the best answer is the district where the defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction.