Hennings v. Greene

District Court, S.D. New York

Hennings v. Greene

Trial Court Opinion

VUNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK VELYN A. HENNINGS, Plaintiff, 25-CV-1107 (LTS) -against- TRANSFER ORDER SGT. GREENE; EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PAVIC; JOHN DOE; JANE DOE, Defendants. LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN, Chief United States District Judge: Plaintiff, who resides in Brooklyn, New York, brings this pro se action invoking the Court’s federal question jurisdiction. She alleges that Defendants violated her rights in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. Named as Defendants are Sergeant Greene, Executive Director Pavic, and two unidentified transit officers. Plaintiff indicates that all four defendants work at the Broadway Junction Station in Brooklyn, New York. For the following reasons, this action is transferred to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. 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 (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. For venue purposes, 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 Defendants violated her rights in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. She does not plead the residence of any of the defendants, but she asserts that the alleged events giving rise to her claims occurred at Defendants’ workplace in Brooklyn, Kings County, which falls within the Eastern District of New York. See

28 U.S.C. § 112

. Because it is unknown

where Defendants reside, it is unclear whether venue is proper under Section 1391(b)(1) in either this District or in the Eastern District of New York. Even if the Court did assume that all the defendants reside in New York, and at least one defendants resides in this District, making venue proper here under Section 1391(b)(1), because the events giving rise to Plaintiff’s claims occurred in Brooklyn, venue would also be proper under Section 1391(b)(2) in the Eastern District of New York. Under

28 U.S.C. § 1404

(a), even if a case is filed in a jurisdiction where venue is proper, a court may transfer the case to any other district where it might have been brought “[f]or the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice.”

28 U.S.C. § 1404

(a). In determining whether transfer is appropriate, courts consider the following ten factors: (1) the

convenience of witnesses; (2) the convenience of the parties; (3) the locus of operative facts; (4) the availability of process to compel the attendance of the unwilling witnesses; (5) the location of relevant documents and the relative ease of access to sources of proof; (6) the relative means of the parties; (7) the forum’s familiarity with the governing law; (8) the weight accorded to the plaintiff’s choice of forum; (9) trial efficiency; and (10) the interest of justice, based on the totality of circumstances. Keitt v. N.Y. City,

882 F. Supp. 2d 412, 459-60

(S.D.N.Y. 2011); see also N.Y. Marine and Gen. Ins. Co. v. LaFarge No. Am., Inc.,

599 F.3d 102, 112

(2d Cir. 2010) (setting forth similar factors). Under Section 1404(a), transfer appears to be appropriate in this case. The underlying events occurred in Brooklyn, New York, where (1) Plaintiff resides, (2) Defendants are employed, and (3) the likely location of all relevant documents and witnesses. The Eastern District of New York appears to be a more convenient forum for this action. Accordingly, the

Court transfers this action to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

28 U.S.C. § 1404

(a); see D.H. Blair & Co. v. Gottdiener,

462 F.3d 95, 106

(2d Cir. 2006) (“District courts have broad discretion in making determinations of convenience under Section 1404(a) and notions of convenience and fairness are considered on a case-by-case basis.”). CONCLUSION The Clerk of Court is directed to transfer this action to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. 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, under

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: April 1, 2025 New York, New York /s/ Laura Taylor Swain LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN Chief United States District Judge

Reference

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