waiver of venue
Definition
Venue refers to the geographic location where a lawsuit gets heard, and a waiver of venue means you give up your right to insist that the case be heard in a particular court or location. When you sign a contract containing this clause, you agree in advance that if a dispute arises, you will not fight the other party's choice of where to file the lawsuit. This often appears in contracts drafted by larger companies who want to ensure any legal battles happen in their home city or state.
Example
You sign a vendor agreement with a supplier based in Texas, and buried in the fine print is a waiver of venue clause stating that all disputes will be resolved in Dallas courts, even though your business operates entirely in Ohio.
Watch Out
If you sign away your venue rights, you could end up spending significant money traveling to another state just to defend yourself in court, which sometimes makes fighting a claim too expensive to bother.
See which terms appear in your contract?
This definition is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult with a licensed attorney for legal guidance.