Bordock v. Eufaula City of et al

Filing 4

ORDER re 1 Complaint filed by Laurie Bordock. This action is transferred to the United States District for the Eastern District of Oklhaoma. Signed by Honorable David L. Russell on 12/22/16. (jw)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
LAURIE BRODOCK,
Plaintiff,
v.
CITY OF EUFAULA, COUNTY OF
MCINTOSH,
Defendants.

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

Case No.: CIV-16-1448-R

ORDER
Plaintiff, appearing pro se, has filed this action in the Western District of Oklahoma,
seeking damages for alleged violations of her civil rights by the City of Eufaula, located in
McIntosh County. In the Civil Cover Sheet accompanying her Complaint, Plaintiff identifies
McIntosh County as her place of residence. The Complaint contains no allegations against any
resident of the geographical area comprising the Western District of Oklahoma, nor does it
allege that any act or omission underlying Plaintiff’s claims occurred within this district or
involved any property located here.
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1391, a civil action may be brought only in certain judicial
districts. The statute provides that 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 a substantial part of property that
is the subject of the action is situated; or

1

(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. §1391(b)(1)-(3). In this case, no defendant resides in this judicial district, and the
allegations are based on occurrences in McIntosh County, located in the Eastern District of
Oklahoma. There is no contention that the claims involve property located in this judicial
district. Accordingly, the Complaint shows that venue is improper in the Western District of
Oklahoma.
Where the Court concludes upon review of the Complaint that venue is improper, it
“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.” 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a). Where, as here, the defendant has
not yet been served, the Court may, in lieu of dismissal, sua sponte transfer the action pursuant
to § 1406(a), if doing so is in the interest of justice. Trujillo v. Williams, 465 F.3d 1210, 12221223 (10th Cir. 2006).
The Court concludes that, rather than dismissing this case and requiring Plaintiff to file
it in the proper forum, transfer to the Eastern District of Oklahoma is proper. Plaintiff has also
filed a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis and this matter should also be decided by
the transferee court.
Accordingly, the Clerk of this Court is directed to take the necessary action to transfer
this case to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 22nd day of December, 2016.

2