In an action for bad faith and legal malpractice against several defendants, one of the defendants moved for a change of venue. Under Code of Civil Procedure section 396b, subsection (a), where an action has been filed in the wrong venue, a defendant may move to transfer the case to the proper court. If “an answer” is filed, the court may consider opposition to the motion and may retain the action in the county where filed for the convenience of the witnesses or the ends of justice. Here some, but not all, of the defendants had answered, and those defendants successfully opposed the motion to change venue because of the convenience of witnesses. The question before the appellate court was whether all defendants must answer before the court may consider opposition to the motion to change venue. Noting the important right of a defendant to defend in its own county, the appellate court concluded all defendants must answer the complaint before the trial court may consider opposition to a motion to change venue. The appellate court issued a preemptory writ of mandate directing the trial court to vacate its order denying the motion to transfer and to issue a new order granting the motion. (Cholakian & Associates v. Sup. Ct. (Elaine McDonald) (Cal. App. Third Dist.; April 29, 2015) 236 Cal.App.4th 361 [186 Cal.Rptr.3d 525].)