Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00098/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00098-0/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN W. WASHINGTON, 

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-07-0098 WBS KJM P

vs.

CORRECTIONAL OFFICER REEDER,

et al., 

Defendants. ORDER

 /

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

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, together with a request to proceed in forma pauperis. In light of 1996

amendments to 28 U.S.C. § 1915, this court will not rule on plaintiff's request to proceed in

forma pauperis. 

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 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).

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Case 2:07-cv-00098-WBS -KJM Document 8 Filed 04/02/07 Page 1 of 2
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Venue of this action is technically appropriate in the Eastern District of California

because the headquarters of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the

California Department of Forestry are located in this district. Nevertheless, the court is

transferring this action to the Northern District of California pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) in

the interests of justice for the following reasons.

It is clear that plaintiff is suing CDCR and the Department of Forestry solely in a

respondeat superior capacity. Additionally, plaintiff is seeking monetary damages primarily;

although he asks for injunctive relief, the basis of his suit is past events, generally not the subject

of injunctive relief. As such, the CDCR and Department of Forestry are subject to be dismissed

from this § 1983 action. Fayle v. Stapley, 607 F.2d 858, 862 (9th Cir. 1979). Venue would then

be improper in this district because no defendant would be found here. Venue would also be

improper because the claims for which plaintiff seeks relief took place in the Northern District. 

Thus, it is appropriate that those claims be litigated in that district.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that: 

1. This court has not ruled on plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis;

and 

2. This action is transferred to the Northern District of California.

DATED: March 30, 2007. 

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wash0098.21c

Case 2:07-cv-00098-WBS -KJM Document 8 Filed 04/02/07 Page 2 of 2