Smith v. Hamilton et al, No. 1:2010cv04089 - Document 6 (S.D.N.Y. 2010)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER: The Clerk of Court shall transfer this case to the District Court for the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Signed by Judge Denise L. Cote on 7/1/10) Copies Mailed by Chambers.(db)
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Smith v. Hamilton et al Doc. 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK -----------------------------------------X : IDA SMITH, : Plaintiff, : : -v: : CHARLES HAMILTON Sr., Licensed Surveyor, : PAUL HOFFMAN, JANE HOFFMAN-WALKER, and : GLORIA MCGOWAN, : Defendants. : : -----------------------------------------X 10 Civ. 4089 (DLC) MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER DENISE COTE, District Judge: On May 18, 2010, pro se plaintiff Ida Smith ( Smith ) filed her complaint seeking to have a survey map of real property in the U.S. Virgin Islands ( USVI ) registered at the Cadastral s Office in the USVI; to have the Court determine the boundary lines of property in the USVI; to remove a mandate placed on the USVI property; and monetary damages of $29,312,250. All defendants are alleged to be citizens of St. Thomas in the USVI. The complaint grounded subject matter jurisdiction on diversity of citizenship. On June 8, the Court issued an Order to Show Cause why the case should not be transferred to the District Court of the U.S. Virgin Islands. In an affidavit filed June 25, Smith stated that she was in the process of amending her complaint to add a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim. She also implied that she would not receive fair and impartial treatment in a USVI court. Dockets.Justia.com Venue is governed by 28 U.S.C. § 1391. Under that statute, if subject matter jurisdiction is based on diversity of citizenship of the parties, a case may be brought only in (1) a judicial district where any defendant resides, if all defendants reside in the same State, (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) a judicial district in which any defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction at the time the action is commenced, if there is no district in which the action may otherwise be brought. 28 U.S.C. § 1391(a) (emphasis supplied). If the civil action is based on a question of federal law, such as a § 1983 claim, the case may be brought only in (1) a judicial district where any defendant resides, if all defendants reside in the same State, (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) a judicial district in which any defendant may be found, if there is no district in which the action may otherwise be brought. 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b) (emphasis supplied). The plaintiff has not alleged any facts to justify venue in the Southern District of New York, even if the complaint is amended to allege a § 1983 claim. Smith has alleged that all defendants reside in the USVI and that the dispute revolves 2
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