Source: http://al.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20180213_0000296.MAL.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 02:58:47+00:00

Document:
MEGAN J. BRENNAN, et al., Defendants.
On November 16, 2017, this matter was referred to the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge for consideration and disposition or recommendation on all pretrial matters as may be appropriate. Doc. 21. Before the court is a motion to dismiss for improper venue filed by pro se Defendant Willie A. Lee. Doc. 11. On October 12, 2017, Plaintiff Britney B. Sconiers filed a response in opposition to Lee's motion. Doc. 13. For the reasons that follow, the undersigned recommends that Lee's motion be DENIED, as explained below.
Sconiers's complaint asserts claims for sexual harassment, retaliation, retaliatory hostile work environment, assault and battery, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress arising out of her employment at the United States Post Office in Enterprise, Alabama. Doc. 1. Sconiers filed her complaint in the Northern Division of the Middle District of Alabama because she alleges that the unlawful employment practices of which she complains occurred there. Doc. 1 at ¶ 2.
Lee, who is proceeding pro se, answered Sconiers' complaint on September 20, 2017. In addition to generally denying all material allegations, Lee moved to dismiss Sconiers' complaint on the basis that it was filed in the wrong division. Doc. 11 at ¶ 3. Specifically, Lee argues that all of the challenged conduct took place in Enterprise, Alabama, which is located in Coffee County, Alabama, and because Coffee County is located in the Southern Division of this district, as opposed to the Northern Division, the complaint should be dismissed for improper venue. Doc. 11 at ¶ 3. Lee articulates no additional support for his argument that Sconiers' complaint should be dismissed for improper venue.
28 U.S.C. § 1391(b). Although the parties do not dispute that Sconiers' complaint was filed in the proper district since a substantial part of the events that give rise to Sconiers' claims occurred in the Middle District, the court independently finds that Sconiers' complaint was filed in the proper judicial district pursuant to § 1391(b). See Young v. Maitake, 2016 WL 3878504, at *1 (N.D. Ala. July 18, 2016). However, even though at one time there was a “divisional venue” statute, that statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1393, was repealed by Public Law 100-702 in 1989, and this court has no local divisional rule governing venue. See Callwood v. Phenix City, Ala., 2016 WL 1122681, at *2 (M.D. Ala. Mar. 22, 2016) (citing Burris v. Holley, 2008 WL 4417229, at *1 (M.D. Ala. Sept. 25, 2008)). Because there is no longer a divisional venue statute, and because Lee has otherwise not met his burden of demonstrating that Sconiers' complaint should be dismissed for improper venue, the undersigned RECOMMENDS that Lee's motion to dismiss be DENIED.
To the extent Lee is requesting to transfer venue to the Southern Division, rather than to dismiss the lawsuit entirely based on improper venue, that motion is due to be denied as well. Title 28, United States Code, Section 1404 provides: “Upon motion, consent or stipulation of all parties, any action, suit or proceeding of a civil nature or any motion or hearing thereof, may be transferred, in the discretion of the court, from the division in which pending to any other division in the same district.” 28 U.S.C. § 1404(b). “In evaluating a request to transfer venue, a plaintiff's choice of forum should not be disturbed unless it is clearly outweighed by other considerations.” Callwood, 2016 WL 1122681, at *2. “The burden is on the movant to ‘show that the forum [he] suggests is more convenient or that litigating the case there would be in the interest of justice.'” Id. (quoting APR, LLC v. Am. Aircraft Sales, Inc., 985 F.Supp.2d 1298, 1303 (M.D. Ala. 2013)). Notably, “[s]ection 1404(b) expressly places the decision whether to transfer an action from one division to another within the discretion of the court.” Young, 2016 WL 3878504, at *2.

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