Opinion
No.: 4:17-CV-1722
09-27-2017
PATRICK DAVIS, Plaintiff, v. JANET PEARSON, ET AL., Defendants.
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MEMORANDUM OPINION
I. BACKGROUND
Patrick Davis, an inmate presently confined at the State Correctional Institution, Houtzdale, Pennsylvania (SCI-Houtzdale), filed this pro se civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Accompanying the Complaint is an in forma pauperis application. Service of the Complaint has not yet been ordered.
Davis completed this Court's form application to proceed in forma pauperis and authorization to have funds deducted from his prison account. --------
Named as Defendants are the following SCI-Houtzdale employees: Health Care Administrator Janet Pearson, Employment Officer Susan McQuillen, Principal Michelle McMullen and Doctor Naji. Plaintiff alleges that during his ongoing SCI-Houtzdale confinement he has been denied adequate medical care and denied an educational exemption. As relief, Davis seeks compensatory and punitive damages as well as declaratory and injunctive relief.
II. DISCUSSION
Title 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b) 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 (3) if there is no district in which an action may otherwise be brought as provided in this section, any judicial district in which a defendant is subject to the court's personal jurisdiction with respect to such action brought.
Plaintiff and the Defendants are all located at SCI-Houtzdale and all of the alleged events occurred at SCI-Houtzdale. SCI-Houtzdale is located within both Clearfield County, Pennsylvania and the confines of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. See 28 U.S.C. § 118(c). Plaintiff even alleges that the Western District is the appropriate forum for his action. See Doc. 1, ¶ 2. For whatever reason, the matter was filed in this Court.
It is equally well settled that a court may transfer any civil action for the convenience of the parties or witnesses, or in the interest of justice, to any district where the action might have been brought. 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). The United States Supreme Court in Hoffman v, Blaski, 363 U.S. 335, 343 (1960), recognized that under § 1404(a), a civil action may be transferred by a district court to another district court where that action may have been brought by the plaintiff.
Based on the location of Plaintiff, the named Defendants, and the nature of Davis' allegations, it is apparent that the convenience of the parties and the interests of justice would be best served by transferring this matter to the judicial district where the Plaintiff is incarcerated, the Defendants are located, and the underlying events transpired.
Since the Western District of Pennsylvania is that proper forum, this matter will be transferred to the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a).
An appropriate Order will enter.
BY THE COURT:
/s/_________
Matthew W. Brann
United States District Judge