Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-01412/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-01412-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WAYLAND DEE KIRKLAND,

Plaintiff,

 v.

JAMES E. SHERIFF, et al.,

Defendants. ____________________________

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No. C 07-1412 MMC (PR) 

ORDER OF TRANSFER

(Docket Nos. 2, 3 & 4)

On March 12, 2007, plaintiff, a California prisoner incarcerated at the Deuel

Vocational Institute in Tracy, California and proceeding pro se, filed a complaint pursuant to

42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the above-titled civil rights case. Plaintiff alleges two state court

officials in Tracy, California, violated his constitutional rights in the course of proceedings

regarding the custody of plaintiff’s child. Plaintiff also names as defendants a lawyer located

in Tracy, California, a lawyer located in Placerville, California, a lawyer located in Los

Angeles, California, and two California Commission on Judicial Performance officials

located in San Francisco, California, all of whom plaintiff alleges “conspired” with the state

court officials in violating plaintiff’s constitutional rights. 

Venue may be raised by the court sua sponte where the defendant has not filed a

responsive pleading and the time for doing so has not run. See Costlow v. Weeks, 790 F.2d

1486, 1488 (9th Cir. 1986). When jurisdiction is not founded solely on diversity, venue is

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

Case 3:07-cv-01412-MMC Document 7 Filed 06/08/07 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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At the time he filed the complaint, plaintiff was located in Tracy, California, and has

since notified the Court that he has moved to Grizzly Flat, California, which is located in El

Dorado County. See 28 U.S.C. § 84(b).

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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 the 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 district

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

alternative forum with greater relation to the defendant or the action exists than the forum in

which the action was filed, the action may be transferred to such alternative forum “[f]or the

convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice.” See 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). 

It is clear from the instant complaint and the attachments thereto that plaintiff’s claims

arise largely out of actions alleged to have taken place in Tracy, California. Tracy, California

is located in San Joaquin County, which lies within the venue of the Eastern District of

California. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 84(b). In addition, the majority of the defendants are located

either in Tracy or Placerville, California. Placerville, California is located in El Dorado

County, which likewise is located within the venue of the Eastern District. See id. Finally,

plaintiff himself is located in the Eastern District.1

 

Accordingly, for the convenience of the parties, and in the interest of justice, the

above-titled action is hereby TRANSFERRED to the United States District Court for the

Eastern District of California pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a). In light of the transfer, this

Court will defer to the Eastern District with respect to plaintiff’s application to proceed in

forma pauperis, as well as his motions for appointment of counsel and for a temporary

restraining order or preliminary injunction. 

The Clerk shall close the file and terminate Docket Nos. 2, 3 and 4 on this Court’s

docket. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: June 8, 2007 _____________________________

MAXINE M. CHESNEY

United States District Judge

Case 3:07-cv-01412-MMC Document 7 Filed 06/08/07 Page 2 of 2