Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-05139/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-05139-0/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 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EARL E. SIMPSON, 

Plaintiff,

 vs.

ATASCADERO STATE HOSPITAL, 

Defendant .

 

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No. C 05-5139 JSW (PR) 

TRANSFER ORDER

(Docket Nos. 2, 4)

According to the complaint, Plaintiff is currently committed to the custody of the

California Department of Mental Health and is located at Atascadero State Hospital in

Atascadero, California, in San Luis Obispo, California, within the venue of the United

States District Court for the Central District of California. He filed this civil rights

action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on

December 12, 2005, complaining of violations of his rights at Atascadero State Hospital. 

Plaintiff has also filed two motions seeking to proceed in forma pauperis (docket nos. 2,

4).

Plaintiff's complaint was not filed in the proper district. When jurisdiction is not

founded solely on diversity, venue is proper in the district in which (1) any defendant

resides, if all of the defendants reside in the same state, (2) the 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

Case 3:05-cv-05139-JSW Document 6 Filed 01/31/06 Page 1 of 2
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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). Where a case is filed in the wrong

venue, the district court has the discretion either to dismiss the case or transfer it to the

proper federal court “in the interest of justice.” 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a). Venue may be

raised by the court sua sponte where the defendant has not yet filed a responsive

pleading and the time for doing so has not run. Costlow v. Weeks, 790 F.2d 1486, 1488

(9th Cir. 1986). 

It is apparent from this Court’s review of the complaint that Plaintiff alleges

events occurring within the venue of the Central District of California. See 28 U.S.C. §

84. Therefore, the Court will transfer this action to the United States District Court for

the Central District of California. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED in the interest of

justice, and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a), that this action be TRANSFERRED to the

United States District Court for the Central District of California. Because this Court is

transferring Petitioner’s case to the Central District of California, it will not resolve the

pending motions seeking in forma pauperis status (docket nos. 2, 4).

The Clerk of the Court shall transfer this matter forthwith.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED:January 31, 2006

 

JEFFREY S. WHITE

United States District Judge

Case 3:05-cv-05139-JSW Document 6 Filed 01/31/06 Page 2 of 2