Ex parte Sansom, [Ms. SC-2025-0278, Sept. 19, 2025] __ So. 3d __ (Ala. 2025). The Court (Wise, J.; Stewart, C.J., and Shaw, Bryan, Sellers, Mendheim, Cook, McCool, and Lewis, JJ., concur) unanimously issues a writ of mandamus directing the Montgomery Circuit Court to vacate its forum non conveniens transfer to the Elmore Circuit Court. The circuit court did not afford the plaintiff a reasonable opportunity to respond to the motion to transfer. The Court explains “State Farm filed its motion to transfer the action on the doctrine of forum non conveniens on March 19, 2025, at 12:24 p.m. The trial court granted the motion on March 20, 2025, at 8:42 p.m. … [W]e conclude that the trial court did not give the Sansoms a reasonable opportunity to respond to State Farm’s motion to transfer the action based on the doctrine of forum non conveniens, as codified in § 6-3- 21.1(a), before granting that motion.” Ms. **6-7.
