Bickham v. Copes

Filing 4

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS re 1 Complaint filed by Milton L Bickham, Objections to R&R due by 6/7/2006. Signed by Judge Sally Shushan.(ijg, )

Bickham v. Copes

Doc. 4

Case 2:06-cv-02581-PB

Document 4

Filed 05/25/2006

Page 1 of 3

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA MILTON L. BICKHAM VERSUS WARDEN COPES REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION This matter was referred to the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge to conduct a hearing, including an Evidentiary Hearing, if necessary, and to submit proposed findings and recommendations for disposition pursuant to Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) and (c), § 1915e(2), and § 1915A, and as applicable, Title 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c)(1) and(2). Upon review of the entire record, the Court has determined that this matter can be disposed of without an Evidentiary Hearing. I. Factual Summary At the time he filed the instant suit, plaintiff, Milton L. Bickham ("Bickham"), was confined in the Pine Prairie Correctional Center in Pine Prairie, Louisiana. Plaintiff submitted this pro se and in forma pauperis1 civil rights complaint pursuant to Title 42 U.S.C. § 1983, against the Warden at CIVIL ACTION NO. 06-2581 SECTION "S"(1)

The Court directed the Clerk by separate Order to file this complaint without prepayment of a filing fee. However, the application for pauper status is deferred to the Western District of Louisiana for determination and collection pursuant to Title 28 U.S.C. § 1915.

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Dockets.Justia.com

Case 2:06-cv-02581-PB

Document 4

Filed 05/25/2006

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Pine Prairie Correctional Center, challenging the alleged unconstitutional conditions of confinement, including disciplinary action and legal mail issues. He requests monetary compensation. II. The General Venue Statute Title 42 U.S.C. § 1983 does not contain a specific venue provision. Venue, however, is determined under Title 28 U.S.C. § 1391, also known as the General Venue Statute. See Jones v. Bales, 58 F.R.D. 453 (N.D. Ga. 1972), aff'd, 480 F.2d 805 (5th Cir. 1973). The General Venue Statute at § 1391(b) provides that a civil action wherein jurisdiction is not founded solely on diversity of citizenship may, except as otherwise provided by law, be brought only in a 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 (3) any defendant may be found, if there is no district in which the action may otherwise be brought. Pursuant to Title 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a) and § 1404(a), a district in which venue is wrong may transfer a case to another district or division in which venue is proper, if such transfer is in the interest of justice. Balawajder v. Scott, 160 F.3d 1066, 1067 (5th Cir. 1999). Having reviewed the record, the Court finds that venue in the Eastern District of Louisiana is improper. III. Proper Venue Bickham states a cause of action arising out of alleged unlawful conditions existing at the Pine Prairie Correctional Center. He names the Warden of that facility as a defendant. Pine Prairie Correctional Center is located in Pine Prairie, Louisiana, in Evangeline Parish, which is within the territory of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Title 28 U.S.C. § 98 (c). Bickham does not allege any legal or factual basis to maintain venue in the Eastern District

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Case 2:06-cv-02581-PB

Document 4

Filed 05/25/2006

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of Louisiana. Therefore, the Court finds that it is in the interest of justice and fairness to the parties that this civil action be transferred to the Western District of Louisiana for further consideration.2 IV. Recommendation It is therefore RECOMMENDED that the captioned matter be TRANSFERRED to the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. A party's failure to file written objections to the proposed findings, conclusions, and recommendation in a magistrate judge's report and recommendation within ten (10) days after being served with a copy shall bar that party, except upon grounds of plain error, from attacking on appeal the unobjected-to proposed factual findings and legal conclusions accepted by the district court, provided that the party has been served with notice that such consequences will result from a failure to object. Douglass v. United Services Automobile Association, 79 F.3d 1415, 1430 (5th Cir. 1996). New Orleans, Louisiana, this 25th day of May, 2006.

____________________________________ SALLY SHUSHAN UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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The recommendation of transfer is not an indication that the claims presented have merit.