§ 15.094.Corporation; Association; Joint-Stock Company

The provision for suing an entity rather than a person, and it is the most generous in the subchapter.

A suit against a private corporation, association, or joint-stock company may be brought in the county and precinct in which: (1) all or part of the cause of action arose; (2) the entity has an agency or representative; or (3) its principal office is located.

The second option is unusually wide. An "agency or representative" is far less than a principal office — a branch, a local agent, a person authorised to act — so a company operating across Texas is suable in many precincts.

The first option is wider than its district court cousin too. This section says all or part of the cause of action arose; the general venue rule requires all or a substantial part of the events. Any part will do here.

The breadth is deliberate and matches the forum. Justice court claims are small, the plaintiffs are usually individuals without lawyers, and a rule confining them to a corporate defendant's principal office would put most of these disputes out of practical reach.

"Private" excludes governmental entities, which are covered by the provisions for counties and, in the earlier subchapters, for political subdivisions.

It is permissive, so the option provision adds the defendant's county of residence — for a corporation, the county of its principal office.

Insurance companies get their own more specific provision immediately after, and railroads and carriers theirs.