Afshar Shandiz v. State of Texas (S.D.N.Y. 2024). · Go Syfert
Afshar Shandiz v. State of Texas (S.D.N.Y. 2024). Book View Copy Cite
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Afshar Shandiz
v.
State of Texas
1:24-cv-03237.
District Court, S.D. New York.
May 3, 2024.
Unknown

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ALI AFSHAR SHANDIZ, Plaintiff, 24-CV-3237 (LTS) -against- TRANSFER ORDER STATE OF TEXAS; OFFICER FUSILIER, Defendants. LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN, Chief United States District Judge: Plaintiff, a resident of New York, New York, brings this pro se action under the court’s federal question jurisdiction, alleging that Defendants violated his constitutional rights in Austin, Texas. Named as Defendants are the State of Texas and Officer Fusilier, who Plaintiff alleges is a police officer employed in Austin, Texas. For the following reasons, the Court transfers this action under 28 U.S.C. § 1406 to the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. DISCUSSION Under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b), 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 any defendant is subject to the court’s personal jurisdiction with respect to such action. Under Section 1391(c), a “natural person” resides in the district where the person is domiciled, and an “entity with the capacity to sue and be sued” resides in any judicial district where it is subject to personal jurisdiction with respect to the civil action in question. See 28 U.S.C. § 1391(c)(1), (2). Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Officer Fusilier falsely arrested him in Austin, Texas. (ECF 1 ¶ III.) He does not plead the residence of Officer Fusilier, only asserting that the alleged events giving rise to his claims occurred in Austin, which is located in Travis County. Because Officer Fusilier is employed in Austin, where the alleged events occurred, from the face of the

complaint, it is clear that venue is not proper in this Court under Section 1391(b)(1), (2). Under 28 U.S.C. § 1406, if a plaintiff files a case in the wrong venue, 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). Plaintiff’s claims arose in Austin, Travis County, Texas, which is in the Western District of Texas. See 28 U.S.C. § 124(d). Accordingly, venue lies in the Western District of Texas, 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2), and in the interest of justice, the Court transfers this action to the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a). CONCLUSION The Clerk of Court is directed to transfer this action to the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. Whether Plaintiff should be permitted to proceed further

without prepayment of fees is a determination to be made by the transferee court. A summons shall not issue from this Court. This order closes this case. The Court certifies, pursuant to 28 U.S.C § 1915(a)(3), that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith, and therefore in forma pauperis status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962). SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 1, 2024 New York, New York

/s/ Laura Taylor Swain LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN Chief United States District Judge