Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-01259/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-01259-0/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

ANTHONY BISSERUP,

Plaintiff, No. 2:10-1259 KJN P

vs.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding without counsel, 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 2:10-cv-01259-KJN Document 4 Filed 06/02/10 Page 1 of 2
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Venue of this action is technically appropriate in the Eastern District of California

because defendant Governor Schwarzenegger and defendant Cate, the Director of the California

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (hereafter “CDCR Director”) reside in this district. 

Nevertheless, the court is transferring this action to the Central District of California pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) in the interests of justice for the following reasons.

The complaint contains no allegations against defendant Schwarzenegger nor

defendant Cate. To the extent they are named as defendants, it is clear that plaintiff is suing them

in a respondeat superior capacity. Additionally, plaintiff is seeking monetary damages only and

has not stated a claim for injunctive relief. As such, the CDCR Director and the Governor are 

subject to be dismissed from this 42 U.S.C. § 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 Central 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 Central District of California.

DATED: June 1, 2010

_____________________________________

KENDALL J. NEWMAN

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

biss1259.tra

Case 2:10-cv-01259-KJN Document 4 Filed 06/02/10 Page 2 of 2