Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_08-cv-00019/USCOURTS-caed-2_08-cv-00019-0/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

GREGORY BROWNLOW, et al.,

Plaintiffs, No. CIV S-08-0019 LKK GGH P

vs.

SPECTER, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiffs, state prisoners proceeding pro se, have 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 plaintiffs’ 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 2:08-cv-00019-LKK -GGH Document 8 Filed 02/27/08 Page 1 of 2
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In this case, plaintiffs appear to raise claims challenging the validity of their

confinement, apparently based on parole violations. It appears from the complaint that these

parole violations were prosecuted in Riverside and Los Angeles Counties. Plaintiffs are

incarcerated in Ironwood State Prison which is located in Riverside County.

The only defendant located in the Eastern District of California is Governor

Schwarzenegger. Plaintiff alleges that he wrote Governor Schwarzenegger letters alerting him to

the human rights violations. Based on these allegations, it is likely that defendant

Schwarzenegger will be dismissed.

Riverside and Los Angeles Counties, where plaintiffs’ claims arose, are located in

the Central District of California. Therefore, plaintiffs’ claim should have been filed in the

United States District Court for the Central 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 court has not ruled on plaintiffs’ request to proceed in forma pauperis; and

2. This matter is transferred to the United States District Court for the Central

District of California.

DATED:02/27/08 /s/ Gregory G. Hollows

 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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Case 2:08-cv-00019-LKK -GGH Document 8 Filed 02/27/08 Page 2 of 2