Williamson v. Department of Corrections, State of Louisiana et al

Filing 4

ORDER AND REASONS. ORDERED that the instant matter be TRANSFERRED to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. Case transferred to District of Middle Louisiana. Signed by Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Wilkinson, Jr.(gec, )[Transferred from Louisiana Eastern on 3/29/2013.]

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
MARVIN M. WILLIAMSON, JR.

CIVIL ACTION

VERSUS

NO. 13-539

LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS, JAMES LEBLANC

SECTION “J”(2)

ORDER AND REASONS
Pro se plaintiff Marvin M. Williamson, Jr. is an inmate currently incarcerated in
the Concordia Parish Work Release Facility in Vidalia, Louisiana. He filed the captioned
lawsuit in forma pauperis1 pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Louisiana
Department of Corrections and its Secretary, James LeBlanc. Plaintiff alleges that the
Department is denying him parole eligibility under state law, thus depriving him of a
constitutionally protected liberty interest without due process of law. He seeks injunctive
relief. Record Doc. No. 1 (Complaint).
Because 42 U.S.C. § 1983 contains no specific venue provision, venue is
determined under 28 U.S.C. § 1391, also known as the general venue statute. Jones v.
Bales, 58 F.R.D. 453 (N.D. Ga. 1972), aff'd, 480 F.2d 805 (5th Cir. 1973). Section
1391(b) provides in pertinent part:

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The court has instructed the clerk of court by separate order to file this complaint without
prepayment of a filing fee. Ruling on the application for pauper status is deferred to the United States
District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.

A civil action may be brought in (1) a judicial district in which any
defendant resides, if all defendants are residents of the State in which the
district is located; (2) a judicial district in which a substantial part of the
events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred, . . . or (3) if there is
no district in which an action may otherwise be brought as provided in this
section, any judicial district in which any defendant is subject to the court’s
personal jurisdiction with respect to such action.
28 U.S.C. §§ 1406(a) and 1404(a) allow transfer of a case from one district to
another district or division in which venue is proper, for the convenience of parties and
witnesses and in the interest of justice. For example, a magistrate judge’s transfer of a
prisoner’s case to the district in which his claims allegedly arose has been held proper by
the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Balawajder v. Scott, 160 F.3d
1066, 1067 (5th Cir. 1999).
Plaintiff is challenging actions by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections
and its Secretary James LeBlanc. The events forming the factual basis of plaintiff’s
claim occurred within the Middle District of Louisiana. No defendant is alleged to reside
in or is located within the Eastern District of Louisiana. Venue is not proper in the
Eastern District of Louisiana. On the other hand, venue appears proper in the Middle
District of Louisiana and the interests of justice dictate that this case be transferred, rather
than being dismissed on grounds of improper venue. A magistrate judge is authorized
to transfer to another district a complaint asserting claims based upon events occurring
in that district. Balawajder, 160 F.3d at 1067. Accordingly,

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It is therefore ORDERED that the instant matter be TRANSFERRED to the
United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.

27th
New Orleans, Louisiana, this _________ day of March, 2013.

JOSEPH C. WILKINSON, JR.
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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