Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_22-cv-01585/USCOURTS-caed-1_22-cv-01585-0/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 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ESMELING L. BAHENA,

Plaintiff,

v.

T. Lemon,

Defendants.

No. 2:22-cv-01009 DB P

ORDER

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, filed a civil rights action pursuant to 42 

U.S.C. § 1983, together with a request to proceed in forma pauperis. In his complaint, plaintiff 

alleges violations of his civil rights by defendants. For the reasons discussed below, the court 

concludes that the case was erroneously filed in the Sacramento division of the Eastern District of 

California, and therefore transfers the action to the Fresno division.

The complaint mostly describes conduct that allegedly occurred at Kern Valley State 

Prison in Kern County, California, although the complaint also addresses an incident that 

allegedly occurred at Salinas Valley State Prison in Monterey County, California. (See generally, 

ECF No. 1.) It appears that most of the conduct described in the complaint took place in Kern 

County, which is part of the Fresno Division of the United States District Court for the Eastern 

District of California. See Local Rule 120(d). Plaintiff has additionally filed a notice stating the 

Case 1:22-cv-01585-BAM Document 14 Filed 12/12/22 Page 1 of 2
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case should have been filed in the Fresno Division of the United States District Court for the 

Eastern District of California. (ECF No. 6.)

Pursuant to Local Rule 120(f), a civil action which has not been commenced in the proper 

division of a court may, on the court’s own motion, be transferred to the proper division of the 

court. Therefore, this action will be transferred to the Fresno Division of the court. 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.

Good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

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

2. This action is transferred to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of 

California sitting in Fresno; and

3. All future filings shall reference the new Fresno case number assigned and shall be 

filed at:

United States District Court

Eastern District of California

2500 Tulare Street

Fresno, CA 93721

Dated: December 11, 2022

DLB7

bahe1009..22

Case 1:22-cv-01585-BAM Document 14 Filed 12/12/22 Page 2 of 2