Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-05782/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-05782-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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The original complaint was superseded by Plaintiff’s December 11, 2007

Amended Complaint. For expediency, the Amended Complaint is referred to as “the

complaint” throughout this order. 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KELLY LAMONT, 

Plaintiff,

 vs.

PLEASANT VALLEY STATE PRISON,

et al.,

Defendants

 

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No. C 07-5782 JSW (PR)

ORDER OF PARTIAL

DISMISSAL AND OF

TRANSFER

(Docket Nos. 2, 6)

Plaintiff, an inmate incarcerated at Salinas Valley State Prison (“SVSP”), has

filed a pro se civil rights complaint1

 under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against numerous prison

officials. The bulk of the complaint alleges the violation of Plaintiff’s constitutional

rights at Pleasant Valley State Prison (“PVSP”), where Plaintiff was formerly housed,

by PVSP officials. Plaintiff also has a claim against one official at SVSP. He has also

filed a motion to proceed in forma pauperis. 

DISCUSSION

A. Standard of Review

Federal courts must engage in a preliminary screening of cases in which

prisoners seek redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a

governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). In its review the court must identify

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any cognizable claims, and dismiss any claims which are frivolous, malicious, fail to

state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seek monetary relief from a

defendant who is immune from such relief. See id. at 1915A(b)(1),(2). Pro se

pleadings must be liberally construed. See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't, 901 F.2d

696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990).

To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege two essential

elements: (1) that a violation of a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the

United States was violated, and (2) that the alleged deprivation was committed by a

person acting under the color of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988).

B. Claim Against SVSP Defendant

Plaintiff alleges that Defendant A. Partida, the only Defendant at SVSP,

“falsified” documents in Plaintiff’s prison file. Even if true, the inaccuracy of records

compiled or maintained by the government is not sufficient to state a claim of

constitutional injury under the Due Process Clause. See Paul v. Davis, 424 U.S. 693,

711-714 (1976). Consequently, Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable claim against

Partida, and such claim will be DISMISSED. 

C. Claims Against PVSP Defendants 

Other than the claim against Partida, discussed above, Plaintiff’s remaining

claims are against PVSP Defendants arising from their alleged violation of his

constitutional rights at PVSP. PVSP is located in Coalinga, California (Fresno

County), within the venue of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of

California.

When jurisdiction is not founded solely on diversity, venue is proper in the

district in which (1) any defendant resides, if all of the defendants reside in the same

state, (2) the district in which a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to

the claim occurred, or a substantial part of property that is the subject of the action is

situated, or (3) a judicial district in which any defendant may be found, if there is no

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district in which the action may otherwise be brought. 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b). Where a

case is filed in the wrong venue, the district court has the discretion either to dismiss

the case or transfer it to the proper federal court “in the interest of justice.” 28 U.S.C.

§ 1406(a). Venue may be raised by the court sua sponte where the defendant has not

yet filed a responsive pleading and the time for doing so has not run. Costlow v.

Weeks, 790 F.2d 1486, 1488 (9th Cir. 1986). 

Plaintiff’s claims complains about constitutional violations at PVSP by PVSP

officials will, in the interest of justice, be transferred to the Eastern District of

California. 

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the claim against Defendant Partida is DISMISSED

for failure to state a cognizable claim for relief. The Clerk shall TERMINATE

Defendant Partida from this action. 

As the proper venue for the remaining claims is the Eastern District of

California, in the interests of justice, and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a), this action

be TRANSFERRED to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of

California. In light of this transfer, the Court will defer to the Eastern District for

ruling on Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis. 

The Clerk of the Court shall transfer this matter forthwith and terminate Docket

Nos. 2 & 6 from this Court’s docket.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: April 3, 2008 JEFFREY S. WHITE

 United States District Judge

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LAMONT KELLY,

Plaintiff,

 v.

PLEASANT VALLEY STATE PRISON et al,

Defendant. /

Case Number: CV07-05782 JSW 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. District

Court, Northern District of California.

That on April 3, 2008, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by placing said

copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by depositing

said envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery

receptacle located in the Clerk's office.

Kelly Lamont H-33023

Salinas Valley State Prison

P.O. Box 1050

Soledad, CA 93960

Dated: April 3, 2008

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: Jennifer Ottolini, Deputy Clerk

Case 3:07-cv-05782-JSW Document 8 Filed 04/03/08 Page 4 of 4