Blakes v. Baker

Filing 2

ORDER TRANSFERRING CASE to Eastern District of Arkansas. Signed by District Judge Arthur J. Tarnow. (DPer) [Transferred from mied on 11/22/2011.]

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
ROSEMARY BLAKES,
Plaintiff,
v.

Case Number: 2:11-cv-15109
Honorable Arthur J. Tarnow

JOE BAKER,
Defendant.
_____________________________/
ORDER TRANSFERRING CASE TO THE UNITED STATES
DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
Before the Court is Plaintiff Rosemary Blakes’s civil rights complaint, filed under
42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff is an Arkansas state prisoner currently incarcerated by the
Arkansas Department of Corrections at the McPherson Women’s Unit in Newport,
Arkansas. Plaintiff alleges that she has been falsely arrested. The incidents described
occurred in West Memphis, Arkansas. The named defendant is a police officer.
The proper venue for civil actions in which jurisdiction is not based on diversity of
citizenship is the judicial district where: (1) any defendant resides if all defendants reside
in the same state; (2) a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim
occurred or a substantial part of the property in question is situated; or (3) any defendant
may be found if there is no other district in which plaintiff may bring the action. 28
U.S.C. § 1391(b). Public officials “reside” in the county where they serve. See O’Neill v.
Battisti, 472 F.2d 789, 791 (6th Cir. 1972). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a), a district

court may transfer a civil action to any other district where it might have been brought for
the convenience of the parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice.
Having reviewed the complaint, the Court finds that the United States District
Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, located at 600 West Capitol Avenue in Little
Rock, Arkansas, is a more appropriate forum for this action. Defendant is incarcerated in
Newport, Arkansas, which is in Jackson County, Arkansas, for purposes of the present
complaint. See 28 U.S.C. § 102(b).
Accordingly, the Court ORDERS the Clerk of the Court to transfer this case to the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, located at 600 West
Capitol Avenue in Little Rock, Arkansas 72201. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b) and 1404(a).

s/Arthur J. Tarnow
ARTHUR J. TARNOW
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
DATED: November 22, 2011

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