Wright, Tania v. The Shalom Center of Interfaith Network of Kenosha County, Inc.

Filing 14

ORDER that defendant's motion to dismiss or transfer the case for improper venue, Dkt. #10 , is GRANTED in part. This case is TRANSFERRED to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Signed by District Judge James D. Peterson on 11/17/2021. (kmd),(ps) [Transferred from wiwd on 11/17/2021.]

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN

TANIA EVETTE WRIGHT,
Plaintiff,
v.

ORDER

THE SHALOM CENTER OF INTERFAITH
NETWORK OF KENOSHA COUNTY, INC.,

21-cv-280-jdp

Defendant.
Plaintiff Tania Evette Wright, appearing pro se, alleges that she was fired for
abandoning her job at the Shalom Center of Interfaith Network of Kenosha County despite
the Shalom Center approving her leave of absence. I granted Wright leave to proceed on claims
under the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Dkt. 4.
The Shalom Center has filed a motion to dismiss or transfer the case for improper venue.
Dkt. 10. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b), venue is proper where defendants reside or where the
events giving rise to the claim took place. A corporation resides in any district “within which
its contacts would be sufficient to subject it to personal jurisdiction.” Section 1391(d). A
declaration from Tamarra Coleman, the executive director of the center, states that it is located
in Kenosha (which is in the Eastern District of Wisconsin); that it operatives exclusively in
Kenosha County, serving food, shelter, and guidance to low-income and homeless people there;
and that the events described in Wright’s complaint occurred in Kenosha County. Dkt. 11.
Wright doesn’t dispute these assertions, instead arguing that the case should remain in the
Western District for statute-of-limitations purposes. See Dkt. 12.

Case 2:21-cv-01324-WED Filed 11/17/21 Page 1 of 2 Document 14

Given the undisputed facts regarding the Shalom Center’s location and the events in
the complaint, I conclude that venue is improper here in the Western District and I will grant
the Shalom Center’s motion. Wright’s concern about the statute of limitations is not a reason
to keep the case in this court. But Wright won’t have to start over with a new lawsuit: instead
of dismissing the case I will transfer it to the Eastern District. See 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a) (When
venue is improper, the court must dismiss the case, or if it is in the interest of justice, transfer
the case to any district where it could have been brought.).
That leaves an additional motion by each party. The Shalom Center has filed a motion
for a more definite statement. Dkt. 10. Wright asks for the court’s assistance in recruiting her
counsel. Dkt. 12. Given my transfer of the case for improper venue, it is appropriate to leave
those motions for the Eastern District to decide.

ORDER
IT IS ORDERED that defendant’s motion to dismiss or transfer the case for improper
venue, Dkt. 10, is GRANTED in part. This case is TRANSFERRED to the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Entered November 17, 2021.
BY THE COURT:
/s/
________________________________________
JAMES D. PETERSON
District Judge

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Case 2:21-cv-01324-WED Filed 11/17/21 Page 2 of 2 Document 14