Percefull v. Barly et al

Filing 3

ORDER transferfing case to the Western District of Arkansas, Hot Springs Division. The case is hereby immediately transferred to the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. Signed by Judge Billy Roy Wilson on 10/25/11. (kpr)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
PINE BLUFF DIVISION

RICHARD PERCEFULL,
ADC #148005
V.

PLAINTIFF
5:11CV00271 BRW

BARLY, Lieutenant,
Malvern Police Department, et al.

DEFENDANTS

TRANSFER ORDER
Plaintiff, Richard Percefull, is a prisoner in the Cummins Unit of the Arkansas
Department of Correction. He has filed a pro se § 1983 Complaint alleging that
Defendants violated his constitutional rights, in several respects, during his July 2009
arrest and subsequent prosecution in Hot Spring County for manufacturing marijuana.
See docket entry #2; see also Percefull v. State,

S.W.3d

(Ark. App. May 25,

2011) (slip opinion to be published) (affirming Plaintiff’s conviction on appeal).
The federal venue statute provides that, in a case that is not based on diversity
jurisdiction, venue is proper in the judicial district where “any defendant resides” or
“a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred.” See
28 U.S.C. § 1391(b). Ten of the eleven Defendants reside in Hot Spring County.1
Similarly, the events giving rise to Plaintiffs’ claims occurred in Hot Spring County.

1

The remaining Defendant, Camden Chief of Police William Okeef, resides in
Ouachita County, which is in the Western District of Arkansas.

Hot Spring County is located in the Hot Springs Division of the United States
District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. The Court concludes that the
interest of justice will best be served by transferring the case to that federal court. See
28 U.S.C. § 1406(a) (providing that 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”).
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT this case is hereby IMMEDIATELY
TRANSFERRED to the United States District Court for the Western District of
Arkansas, Hot Springs Division.
Dated this 25th day of October, 2011.

/s /Billy Roy Wilson
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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