Opinion
2:22-CV-404-WHA-SMD [WO]
07-19-2022
THOMAS GADDIS, #149 870, Plaintiff, v. KELLEY JONHSON, et al., Defendants.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE
STEPHEN M. DOYLE, CHIEF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
I. INTRODUCTION
Pro se Plaintiff Thomas Gaddis, an inmate incarcerated at the Elmore Correctional Facility in Elmore, Alabama, filed this Complaint on a form used by inmates for filing 42 U.S.C. § 1983 actions. He names as the defendant Police Chief Kelley Johnson, District Attorney Steven Giddens, Judge Chad Woodruff, Sheriff Jimmy Kilgore, and the 29th Judicial Circuit of Talladega County, Alabama. For relief, Gaddis request injunctive relief and an investigation of his Complaint by state and federal law enforcement officials. Doc. 1. Upon review, the Court finds this case should be transferred to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama under 28 U.S.C. § 1391 and 28 U.S.C. § 1404.
Upon filing the Complaint, Gaddis filed a motion in support of a request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. Doc. 2. The assessment and collection of any filing fees, however, should be undertaken by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.
II. DISCUSSION
A 42 U.S.C. § 1983 “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 (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). The law further provides that “[f]or the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice, a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district . . . where it might have been brought . . .” 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). The actions described in Gaddis' Complaint occurred or are occurring in Talladega County, Alabama, which is located in the Northern District of Alabama. Gaddis identifies no defendants who reside in the Middle District of Alabama, describes no events or omissions giving rise to his claims that have occurred in this district, and identifies no other basis for proper venue here. Therefore, under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b), the proper venue for this action is the Northern District of Alabama, and it is due to be transferred under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a).
In transferring this case, the Court makes no determination with respect to the merits of the claims presented in the Complaint.
III. CONCLUSION
Accordingly, the undersigned Magistrate Judge RECOMMENDS this case be TRANSFERRED to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b) and 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a).
It is ORDERED that by August 2, 2022, the parties may file objections to this Recommendation. The parties must specifically identify the factual findings and legal conclusions in the Recommendation to which objection is made. Frivolous, conclusive or general objections will not be considered by the Court. This Recommendation is not a final order and, therefore, it is not appealable.
Failure to file written objections to the proposed findings and recommendations in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) will bar a party from a de novo determination by the District Court of legal and factual issues covered in the Recommendation and waive the right of the party to challenge on appeal the District Court's order based on unobjected-to factual and legal conclusions accepted or adopted by the District Court except upon grounds of plain error or manifest injustice. Nettles v. Wainwright, 677 F.2d 404 (5th Cir. 1982); 11TH Cir. R. 3-1. See Stein v. Reynolds Sec., Inc., 667 F.2d 33 (11th Cir. 1982); see also Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc).