Long v. Mendoza
1:25-cv-00149
E.D. Tex.
Nov 14, 2025
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CHRISTOPHER LONG VS. OSCAR MENDOZA

CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:25-cv-149

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS BEAUMONT DIVISION

November 14, 2025

PageID #: 8

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

Plaintiff Christopher Long, an inmate at the Hodge Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division, proceeding pro se, filed this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Oscar Mendoza.

Discussion

When, as in this case, jurisdiction is not founded solely on diversity of citizenship, 28 U.S.C. § 1391 provides that venue is proper only in the judicial district where the defendants reside or in which the claim arose. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a), for the convenience of parties and witnesses and in the interests of justice, a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division where it could have been brought.

The actions allegedly taken by the defendant took place at the Hodge Unit, which is located in Cherokee County, Texas. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 124(c)(1), Cherokee County is in the Tyler Division of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas rather than in the Beaumont Division. Plaintiff‘s claims therefore arose in the Tyler Division. In addition, the defendant does not appear to reside in the Beaumont Division. The court has considered the circumstances and determined that the interest of justice would be served if this matter were transferred to the division of the court in which plaintiff‘s claims arose.

It is accordingly

ORDERED that this civil rights action is TRANSFERRED to the Tyler Division of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

SIGNED this 14th day of November, 2025.

Zack Hawthorn

United States Magistrate Judge