DeJohn v. United States Department of Agriculture

Filing 3

ORDER Transferring Case, signed by Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on 11/22/17. Case Transferred to Central District of California. (Gonzalez, R)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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MICHAEL W. DEJOHN,

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Case No. 1:17-cv-01558-AWI-SKO

Plaintiff,
ORDER TRANSFERRING CASE
v.

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE,
Defendant.
_____________________________________/

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On November 21, 2017, Plaintiff Michael W. DeJohn, proceeding pro se, filed a complaint
against the United States Department of Agriculture, along with an application to proceed in forma
pauperis. (Docs. 1, 2.) The complaint purports to allege claims pursuant to the Federal Tort
Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b), for damage done to Plaintiff’s septic tanks during a firefighting
effort in Los Angeles County. (Doc. 1 at 4-5.) Plaintiff also resides in Los Angeles County.
The federal venue statute requires that a civil action, other than one based on diversity
jurisdiction, be brought only in “(1) a judicial district in which any defendant resides, if all

1 defendants are residents of the State in which the district is located; (2) a judicial district in which
2 a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred, or a substantial part
3 of property that is the subject of the action is situated; or (3) if there is no district in which an
4 action may otherwise be brought as provided in this section, any judicial district in which any
5 defendant is subject to the court’s personal jurisdiction with respect to such action.” 28 U.S.C. §
6 1391(b).
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In this case, Defendant is located outside the geographical boundaries of this district.

8 Moreover, the claim apparently arose in Los Angeles County, which is in the Central District of
9 California. Therefore, Plaintiff's claim should have been filed in the United States District Court
10 for the Central District of California. In the interest of justice, a federal court may transfer a
11 complaint filed in the wrong district to the correct district. See 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a); Starnes v.
12 McGuire, 512 F.2d 918, 932 (D.C. Cir. 1974).
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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this matter is transferred to the United

14 States District Court for the Central District of California. In light the foregoing, this Court has
15 not ruled on Plaintiffs’ request to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 2).
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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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November 22, 2017

/s/

Sheila K. Oberto

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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