Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-02387/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-02387-0/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

JAMES L. BELL,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-05-2387 FCD DAD P

vs.

BUREAU OF PRISONS, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff, a federal prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a document concerning

lost personal property, together with an incomplete application to proceed in forma pauperis. 

Although plaintiff is now confined at a federal medical center in Minnesota, he alleges that the

property loss occurred at USP-Lompoc and that prison officials at that institution are responsible

for the loss or destruction of his property. The Clerk of the Court has construed plaintiff’s filing

as a civil rights complaint.

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

Case 2:05-cv-02387-FCD-DAD Document 5 Filed 12/16/05 Page 1 of 2
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no district in which the action may otherwise be brought.” 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b). In the interests

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).

In this case, the defendants are located and the claims arose at a federal prison

located in Santa Barbara County, which is within the Central District of California. Plaintiff’s

case should have been filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of

California.

Good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this action is transferred

to the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

DATED: December 15, 2005.

DAD:13:mp

bell2387.21a

Case 2:05-cv-02387-FCD-DAD Document 5 Filed 12/16/05 Page 2 of 2