Source: http://sc.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20171113_0002999.DSC.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2018-06-21 04:26:46
Document Index: 217118417

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 636', '§ 1391', '§ 1391', '§ 1404', '§ 1406', '§ 1406', '§ 1406', '§ 1391', '§ 1406']

Sussex County, Todd Lawson, Constable Mike Castello, Kelly Passwater, Defendants.
This is a civil action filed by a pro se litigant. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), and District of South Carolina Local Civil Rule 73.02(B)(2)(e), the undersigned is authorized to review all pretrial matters in such pro se cases and to submit findings and recommendations to the district court.
Under established local procedure in this judicial district, a careful review has been made of Plaintiff's pro se complaint filed in this case. This court is required to liberally construe pro se complaints. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007). Such pro se complaints are held to a less stringent standard than those drafted by attorneys. Id.; Gordon v. Leeke, 574 F.2d 1147, 1151 (4th Cir. 1978). The mandated liberal construction afforded to pro se pleadings means that if the court can reasonably read the pleadings to state a valid claim on which plaintiff could prevail, it should do so, but a district court may not rewrite a complaint to include claims that were never presented, construct the plaintiff's legal arguments for him, or conjure up questions never squarely presented to the court. Beaudett v. City of Hampton, 775 F.2d 1274, 1278 (4th Cir. 1985); Small v. Endicott, 998 F.2d 411 (7th Cir. 1993); Barnett v. Hargett, 174 F.3d 1128 (10th Cir. 1999).
The requirement of liberal construction does not mean that the court can ignore a clear failure in the pleading to allege facts which set forth a claim currently cognizable in a federal district court. Weller v. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 901 F.2d 387, 390-91 (4th Cir.1990) (The “special judicial solicitude” with which a [court] should view such pro se complaints does not transform the court into an advocate.). Moreover, even when the filing fee is paid, the court possesses the inherent authority to ensure that a plaintiff has standing, that federal jurisdiction exists, and that a case is not frivolous. Ross v. Baron, 493 Fed.Appx. 405, 406 (4th Cir. 2012)(per curiam).
Federal district courts are vested with the inherent power to control and protect the administration of court proceedings. White v. Raymark Indus., Inc., 783 F.2d 1175, 1177 (4th Cir. 1986). The court has the power to consider sua sponte whether venue is proper. See Jensen v. Klayman, 115 Fed.Appx. 634, 635-36 (4th Cir. 2004)(per curiam). The statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b), governs where the instant action may be brought:
28 U.S.C. § 1391(b). The District of South Carolina does not satisfy any of these subsections insofar as Plaintiff's Complaint under review is concerned. In absence of venue, the court has authority sua sponte to transfer under either 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) or § 1406(a), or both. See Jensen, 115 Fed.Appx. at 635-36; In re Carefirst of Md., Inc., 305 F.3d 253, 255-56 (4th Cir. 2002). The statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a) provides: “The district court of a district in which is filed a case laying venue in the wrong division or district shall dismiss, or if it be in the interest of justice, transfer such case to any district or division in which it could have been brought.” 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a).
Here, the District of South Carolina is the wrong district for venue under 28 U.S.C. § 1391, as Plaintiff's Complaint alleges that all Defendants are residents of Delaware, that the property involved is located in Delaware, and “the events that gave rise to this action occurred in the District of Delaware.” (ECF 1 at 1). Because venue is improper by statute, Plaintiff's choice of venue is almost immaterial to the analysis, and under 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a), if Plaintiff desires to maintain her action, transfer is virtually mandated. See Blevins v. Pension Plan, 6:10-CV-03261-JMC, 2011 WL 2670590, at *7 (D.S.C. July 8, 2011). The interests of justice weigh heavily in favor of transferring this action. Furthermore, transferring the case is in keeping with the ultimate goal of allowing cases to be decided on their substantive merits, as opposed to being decided on procedural grounds. See Goldlawr v. Heiman, 369 U.S. 463, 466-67 (1962); Dubin v. U.S., 380 F.2d 813, 815 (5th Cir. 1967).
The undersigned recommends that the District of Delaware is the proper forum in which to adjudicate the claims raised in this Complaint, regarding property located in Delaware, activities that occurred in Delaware, and ...