Banks v. Roe et al

Filing 4

MEMORANDUM OPINION Regarding Venue. Signed by Magistrate Judge Keith F. Giblin on 8/2/17. (tkd, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
BEAUMONT DIVISION
FREDERICK BANKS

§

VS.

§

ADRIAN ROE, ET AL.

§

CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:17cv304

MEMORANDUM OPINION REGARDING VENUE
Plaintiff Frederick Banks, an inmate currently confined at the Northeast Ohio Correctional
Center in Youngstown, Ohio, proceeding pro se, brings this lawsuit against Adrian Roe, Mark R.
Hornak, Robert Cessar, Soo Song, Sean Langford, Robert Werner, Scott Smith, Mike Pompeo, the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Central Intelligence Agency.
The above-styled action was referred to the undersigned magistrate judge pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 636 and the Local Rules for the Assignment of Duties to the United States Magistrate Judge
for findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations for the disposition of the case.
Factual Background
Liberally interpreted, plaintiff’s complaint is construed as asserting that the defendants have
intentionally delayed a criminal prosecution to keep him confined beyond his maximum term of
confinement.

Plaintiff seeks declaratory relief and monetary damages in the amount of

$55,000,000.00.
Analysis
The Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. §1981, et seq., under which this case is brought, does not
contain a specific venue provision. Accordingly, venue in civil rights cases is controlled by 28

U.S.C. § 1391. Jones v. Bailey, 58 F.R.D. 453 (N.D. Ga. 1972), aff’d per curium, 480 F.2d 805 (5th
Cir. 1973).
When, as in this case, jurisdiction is not founded solely on diversity of citizenship, 28 U.S.C.
§ 1391 provides that venue is proper only in the judicial district where the defendants reside or in
which the claim arose. Plaintiff’s claims arose in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In accordance with 28
U.S.C. § 118, Pittsburg is located within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Western District of

.
Pennsylvania. Further, the defendants reside in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where the claims arose.
As Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is located in the Western District of Pennsylvania, venue in the
Eastern District of Texas is not proper. When venue is not proper, the court “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). This case should be transferred to the United States District Court
for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Division. An appropriate order so providing
will be entered by the undersigned.

SIGNED this the 2nd day of August, 2017.

____________________________________
KEITH F. GIBLIN
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

2