Opinion ID: 691975
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: improper venue argument

Text: 15 Line contends that the subpoena enforcement action was filed in the wrong venue. We find this argument to be without merit. The definition of jurisdiction in 29 U.S.C. Sec. 161(2) refers to any district court. Venue is necessarily defined as the appropriate district court to file an action. See 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1391 (naming the appropriate district courts where venue would be correct). Where 29 U.S.C. Sec. 161(2) defines jurisdiction in a specific district court, it is also specifying venue. 16 Every court that has addressed the subpoena enforcement provisions for other federal agencies with statutes worded similarly to 29 U.S.C. Sec. 161 has concluded that venue and jurisdiction are synonymous for these statutes. See e.g., FTC v. Cockrell, 431 F.Supp. 558, 560 (D.D.C.1977); SEC v. Smith, 1992 WL 67832 at 7 (N.D.Ill.1992); United States v. Wilfred American Education Corp., 1987 WL 10501 at 11 (D.D.C.1987) (Department of Education subpoena); United States v. Tesoro Petroleum Corp., 503 F.Supp. 868, 873 (D.D.C.1980) (considering the Department of Energy's venue choice to be identical to jurisdiction); see also FTC v. Jim Walter Corp., 651 F.2d 251 (5th Cir.1981) (considered whether jurisdiction and venue was appropriate without distinguishing between them). Because we have already held that jurisdiction was proper, venue is also proper. 17 Line argues that the general venue requirements of 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1391 determines the proper venue. We disagree. The provisions of 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1391 apply except as otherwise provided by law. See 29 U.S.C. Sec. 1391(a) & (b). [W]here Congress has dealt with a particular venue problem ... broader language in a general statute will not overcome this even though literally applicable. Bruns, Nordeman & Co. v. American National Bank & Trust Co., 394 F.2d 300, 303 (2nd Cir.) cert. denied, 393 U.S. 855, 89 S.Ct. 97, 21 L.Ed.2d 125 (1968); see also, Stonite Products Co. v. Lloyd Co., 315 U.S. 561, 562-67, 62 S.Ct. 780, 781-83, 86 L.Ed. 1026 (1942). In this case, Congress created a specific venue requirement for NLRB enforcement actions in enacting 29 U.S.C. Sec. 161. We therefore hold that the general venue requirements of 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1391 are not applicable in NLRB subpoena enforcement actions.