Young v. Rios et al

Filing 53

OPINION AND ORDER by Judge Ronald A. White, transferring case to the Western District of Oklahoma. (case terminated) (acg, Deputy Clerk) [Transferred from Oklahoma Eastern on 6/11/2015.]

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
EASTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
GEORGE SOLER YOUNG,
Plaintiff,
v.
HECTOR RIOS, et al.,
Defendants.

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No. CIV 15-127-RAW-SPS

OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiff, an inmate in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections
(“DOC”) who is incarcerated at Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, Oklahoma,
brings this action under the authority of 42 U.S.C. § 1983, seeking relief for constitutional
violations allegedly occurring at Lawton Correctional Facility (“LCF”), a private prison in
Lawton, Oklahoma. The defendants are LCF Warden Hector Rios, GEO Corrections Vice
President Reed Smith, GEO Group, Inc., DOC Director Robert Patton, and 17 additional
LCF officials.
Plaintiff alleges he was subjected to physical and sexual assault and battery while in
hand restraints at LCF. The defendants also allegedly have retaliated against him, deprived
him of the ability to exhaust administrative remedies, withheld food, tampered with his mail,
confiscated his property, conspired to transfer him, and placed his life in danger by putting
him in the general population for fabricated reasons. He further asserts he needs medical,
dental, and eye care, as well as placement in the protective custody unit.
Upon review of plaintiff's complaint, it appears that proper venue does not lie in this
district. The majority of the defendants are citizens of the Western District of Oklahoma.
See 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(1). In addition, a substantial part of the alleged events or omissions
giving rise to plaintiff’s claims occurred at LCF, which is located within the territorial
jurisdiction of the Western District of Oklahoma. See 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2). Therefore,
this action hereby is transferred in the interest of justice to the United States District Court

for the Western District of Oklahoma. See 28 U.S.C. § 1631.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 11th day of June 2015.

Dated this 11th day of June, 2015.
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