Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_19-cv-00153/USCOURTS-casd-3_19-cv-00153-0/pdf.json

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

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TONY ASBERRY,

Plaintiff,

v.

GODINEZ, et al.,

Defendants.

No.: 1:19-cv-00078 BAM (PC)

ORDER TRANSFERRING CASE TO THE 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Plaintiff Tony Asberry, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a civil rights action 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. ' 1983. Plaintiff initiated this case by filing a complaint on January 17, 

2019, which appears to be undated and unsigned. (Doc. No. 1.) Plaintiff has also filed a motion 

to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. (Doc. No. 2.) 

The federal venue statute requires that a civil action, other than one based on diversity 

jurisdiction, be brought only in “(1) a judicial district where any defendant resides, if all 

defendants reside in the same state, (2) a judicial 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.” 28 U.S.C. ' 1391(b).

In this case, Plaintiff alleges a violation of his civil rights by defendants employed at 

Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, located in San Diego County, California, when he was 

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housed at that institution. None of the defendants reside in this district, and the claim arose in 

San Diego County, which is in the Southern District of California. Therefore, Plaintiff’s claim

should have been filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. 

In the interest of justice, a federal court may transfer a complaint filed in the wrong 

district to the correct district. See 28 U.S.C. ' 1406(a); Starnes v. McGuire, 512 F.2d 918, 932 

(D.C. Cir. 1974).

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. This matter is transferred to the United States District Court for the Southern

District of California; and

2. The Court will not rule on Plaintiff’s pending motion. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 22, 2019 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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