Watts v. County of Colusa
- Nathanael Cousins
- 5:24-cv-01789
- U.S. District Court · Northern District of California
- 2
In Watts v. County of Colusa, Judge Cousins transferred the civil-rights case to the Eastern District of California because venue was improper.
Quinton Watts's civil-rights case was moved from the Northern District of California to the Eastern District of California; the opinion did not decide the underlying claims.
What happened
In Watts v. County of Colusa, Quinton Watts, a former prisoner representing himself, sued Colusa County under a federal civil-rights law. He sought damages for alleged rights violations during criminal proceedings in Colusa County.
The court said the events occurred in Colusa County, which is in the Eastern District of California. It therefore concluded that the case belonged in that district rather than the Northern District of California.
Judge Nathanael M. Cousins transferred the case to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. The clerk was directed to terminate all pending motions and transfer the entire case file.
The detailed version
- Watts v. County of Colusa · No. 5:24-cv-01789
- Nathanael Cousins
- Mar. 27, 2024
Background
Quinton Watts, identified as a former prisoner, filed a civil-rights complaint without a lawyer under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the County of Colusa. The complaint sought damages for alleged violations of his rights during criminal proceedings in Colusa County.
Venue Analysis
The court determined that the complained-of acts occurred in Colusa County. Because Colusa County lies within the Eastern District of California, the court concluded that venue—the proper federal district for the case—was in the Eastern District rather than the Northern District of California. The court also stated that, if Watts were to file a petition challenging his state conviction, the traditional venue would likewise be the district of conviction or sentencing, which is Colusa County.
Disposition
The court transferred the case to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California under 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a). The clerk was ordered to terminate all pending motions and transfer the entire file. Judge Nathanael M. Cousins signed the order. The opinion did not decide the merits of Watts's civil-rights allegations.
Read the full 2-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.