UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
BARRY HANSELMAN, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
vs. ) Case No. 3:23-cv-02824-GCS
)
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF )
CORRECTIONS, )
)
Defendant. )
ORDER TRANSFERRING CASE
SISON, Magistrate Judge:
Plaintiff Barry Hanselman filed this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1983 in the
Southern District of Illinois on August 16, 2023. (Doc. 1). His complaint alleges violations
of his constitutional rights while incarcerated at Graham Correctional Facility
(“Graham”) in Montgomery County, Illinois. Id.
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1391, a civil lawsuit may be filed 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
(3) a judicial district in which any defendant is subject to the court’s personal jurisdiction
with respect to the action, if there is no district in which the action may otherwise be
brought. When a case is filed in the wrong judicial district, the district court shall dismiss
the case or, if it is in the interest of justice, transfer the case to a district where it could
have been brought. See 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a). “[A] court may sua sponte transfer a case for
improper venue.” MB Financial Bank, N.A. v. Walker, 741 F. Supp. 2d 912, 915 (N.D. Ill.
2010).
Here, the only remaining Defendant in this case is the Illinois Department of
Corrections, and all the events giving rise to Plaintiff's claims occurred at Graham in
Montgomery County, Illinois, which is in the Central District of Illinois. See 28 U.S.C. § 93.
Thus, the Court finds that the Central District of Illinois is the appropriate forum for
hearing and adjudicating this action and that it is in the interest of justice to transfer this
case to that district. Accordingly, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b) and 1406(a), IT IS
ORDERED that this action is TRANSFERRED to the United States District Court for the
Central District of Illinois for such further proceedings as that Court may deem
appropriate.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: May 21, 2025. □ hee Seon by
Stlnt 0. Dee ate: 2025.05.21
16:32:09 -05'00'
GILBERTC.SISON
United States Magistrate Judge
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