UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS EL PASO DIVISION
LORENZA L. HODGES, § Plaintiff, § v. § § EP-24-CV-00407-KC L.A. FITNESS INTERNATIONAL, et al., § Defendants. § ORDER
The Court considers the appropriate venue for the above-captioned Title VII employment discrimination case. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1404, “[f]or the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice, a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division where it might have been brought.” 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) (emphasis added). This Court finds that the Eastern District of Texas is a more appropriate venue for Plaintiff’s claims given that the events giving rise to the action occurred in Plano, Texas. For the following reasons, this Court ORDERS that this action be transferred from the El Paso Division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas to the Sherman Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a).1 I. BACKGROUND This is a Title VII pro se employment discrimination case where Plaintiff Lorenza Hodges (“Plaintiff”) alleges discrimination based on race, sex, and prior complaints of discrimination.
1 District Courts in the Fifth Circuit are permitted to sua sponte transfer a case under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). See Jarvis Christian College v. Exxon Corp., 845 F.2d 523, 528 (5th Cir. 1988) (holding that district court may sua sponte transfer action pursuant to 28 USC § 1404(a)); Jones v. Baptist Cmty. Servs., No. CV H- 24-2416, 2024 WL 3277387 (S.D. Tex. July 2, 2024) (transferring a Title VII case sua sponte to Northern District of Texas under 1404(a)). Pl.’s Compl. 28–30, ECF No. 1-2. Plaintiff is a former employee at L.A. Fitness International on 3701 West President George Bush Highway, Plano, Texas 75075, and asserts that he was subject to workplace discrimination between August 28, 2023, and January 5, 2024. Id. 28–29. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that on August 21, 2023, he was called the n-word and a co-worker made n-word jokes in his presence. Id. 4. Plaintiff also alleges that on October 1, 2021, co-workers
sexually harassed Plaintiff by putting a sign that said “women working” in the men’s locker room. Id. 5. Plaintiff states that when he approached the co-workers about the sign, the co-workers were laughing and making inappropriate sexual jokes. Id. On November 19, 2024, this Court submitted a questionnaire to Plaintiff to determine the appropriate venue for Plaintiff’s employment discrimination claim. Questionnaire, ECF No. 2. On December 3, 2024, Plaintiff submitted his responses to the questionnaire. Pl.’s Resp., ECF No. 5. Considering the Plaintiff’s answers in the questionnaire and his allegations in the Complaint, the Court finds that the Eastern District of Texas is the appropriate venue for Plaintiff’s claim under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a).
II. LEGAL STANDARD Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, under which Plaintiff pursues his employment discrimination claim, has a special venue provision. Specifically, it provides that a Title VII employment discrimination claim “may be brought in any judicial district in the State in which the unlawful employment practice is alleged to have been committed.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f)(3) (emphasis added). In other words, venue for Title VII actions “is not limited to the judicial district in which the alleged unlawful acts occurred, but is appropriate in any judicial district in the state in which the alleged unlawful acts occurred” E.E.O.C. v. Mustang Mobile Homes, Inc., 88 F. Supp. 2d 722, 724 (W.D. Tex. 1999) (citation omitted). This venue provision expressly incorporates 28 U.S.C. § 1404. See In re Horseshoe Ent., 337 F.3d 429, 433 (5th Cir. 2003) (“We note that the last sentence of this special venue provision makes express cross-reference to §[] 1404 … of Title 28 indicating clearly Congress’ intention that the provisions of §[] 1404 … would also be applicable in this case.”). Under 28 U.S.C. § 1404, “[f]or the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of
justice, a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division where it might have been brought.” 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). The determination of “convenience” turns on several private and public interest factors, none of which is given dispositive weight. In re Volkswagen of Am., Inc., 545 F.3d 304, 315 (5th Cir. 2008). The private factors include: “(1) the relative ease of access to sources of proof; (2) the availability of compulsory process to secure the attendance of witnesses; (3) the cost of attendance for willing witnesses; and (4) all other practical problems that make trial of a case easy, expeditious and inexpensive.” Id. (citing Piper Aircraft Co. v. Reyno, 454 U.S. 235, 241 n.6 (1981)). The public concerns include: “(1) the administrative difficulties flowing from court congestion; (2) the local interest in having localized interests
decided at home; (3) the familiarity of the forum with the law that will govern the case; and (4) the avoidance of unnecessary problems of conflict of laws or the application of foreign law.” Id. In the instant case, Plaintiff could bring his employment discrimination claim in the Western District of Texas under Title VII’s special venue provision. However, considering the private and public factors under 28 U.S.C. § 1404, this Court finds that the Eastern District of Texas is a more appropriate venue. III. ANALYSIS a. Plaintiff could have brought his Title VII employment discrimination claim in the Western District of Texas. The Title VII special venue provision provides that a Title VII employment discrimination claim “may be brought in any judicial district in the State in which the unlawful employment practice is alleged to have been committed.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f)(3). Here, Plaintiff alleges that the employment discrimination occurred in Plano, Texas. Compl. 28–29. Because the Eastern District of Texas is located in Texas—the State where the unlawful employment practice is alleged
to have occurred—Plaintiff may bring his employment discrimination claim in the Western District of Texas. b. Considering the private and public factors of 28 U.S.C. § 1404
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS EL PASO DIVISION
LORENZA L. HODGES, § Plaintiff, § v. § § EP-24-CV-00407-KC L.A. FITNESS INTERNATIONAL, et al., § Defendants. § ORDER
The Court considers the appropriate venue for the above-captioned Title VII employment discrimination case. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1404, “[f]or the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice, a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division where it might have been brought.” 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) (emphasis added). This Court finds that the Eastern District of Texas is a more appropriate venue for Plaintiff’s claims given that the events giving rise to the action occurred in Plano, Texas. For the following reasons, this Court ORDERS that this action be transferred from the El Paso Division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas to the Sherman Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a).1 I. BACKGROUND This is a Title VII pro se employment discrimination case where Plaintiff Lorenza Hodges (“Plaintiff”) alleges discrimination based on race, sex, and prior complaints of discrimination.
1 District Courts in the Fifth Circuit are permitted to sua sponte transfer a case under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). See Jarvis Christian College v. Exxon Corp., 845 F.2d 523, 528 (5th Cir. 1988) (holding that district court may sua sponte transfer action pursuant to 28 USC § 1404(a)); Jones v. Baptist Cmty. Servs., No. CV H- 24-2416, 2024 WL 3277387 (S.D. Tex. July 2, 2024) (transferring a Title VII case sua sponte to Northern District of Texas under 1404(a)). Pl.’s Compl. 28–30, ECF No. 1-2. Plaintiff is a former employee at L.A. Fitness International on 3701 West President George Bush Highway, Plano, Texas 75075, and asserts that he was subject to workplace discrimination between August 28, 2023, and January 5, 2024. Id. 28–29. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that on August 21, 2023, he was called the n-word and a co-worker made n-word jokes in his presence. Id. 4. Plaintiff also alleges that on October 1, 2021, co-workers
sexually harassed Plaintiff by putting a sign that said “women working” in the men’s locker room. Id. 5. Plaintiff states that when he approached the co-workers about the sign, the co-workers were laughing and making inappropriate sexual jokes. Id. On November 19, 2024, this Court submitted a questionnaire to Plaintiff to determine the appropriate venue for Plaintiff’s employment discrimination claim. Questionnaire, ECF No. 2. On December 3, 2024, Plaintiff submitted his responses to the questionnaire. Pl.’s Resp., ECF No. 5. Considering the Plaintiff’s answers in the questionnaire and his allegations in the Complaint, the Court finds that the Eastern District of Texas is the appropriate venue for Plaintiff’s claim under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a).
II. LEGAL STANDARD Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, under which Plaintiff pursues his employment discrimination claim, has a special venue provision. Specifically, it provides that a Title VII employment discrimination claim “may be brought in any judicial district in the State in which the unlawful employment practice is alleged to have been committed.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f)(3) (emphasis added). In other words, venue for Title VII actions “is not limited to the judicial district in which the alleged unlawful acts occurred, but is appropriate in any judicial district in the state in which the alleged unlawful acts occurred” E.E.O.C. v. Mustang Mobile Homes, Inc., 88 F. Supp. 2d 722, 724 (W.D. Tex. 1999) (citation omitted). This venue provision expressly incorporates 28 U.S.C. § 1404. See In re Horseshoe Ent., 337 F.3d 429, 433 (5th Cir. 2003) (“We note that the last sentence of this special venue provision makes express cross-reference to §[] 1404 … of Title 28 indicating clearly Congress’ intention that the provisions of §[] 1404 … would also be applicable in this case.”). Under 28 U.S.C. § 1404, “[f]or the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of
justice, a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division where it might have been brought.” 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). The determination of “convenience” turns on several private and public interest factors, none of which is given dispositive weight. In re Volkswagen of Am., Inc., 545 F.3d 304, 315 (5th Cir. 2008). The private factors include: “(1) the relative ease of access to sources of proof; (2) the availability of compulsory process to secure the attendance of witnesses; (3) the cost of attendance for willing witnesses; and (4) all other practical problems that make trial of a case easy, expeditious and inexpensive.” Id. (citing Piper Aircraft Co. v. Reyno, 454 U.S. 235, 241 n.6 (1981)). The public concerns include: “(1) the administrative difficulties flowing from court congestion; (2) the local interest in having localized interests
decided at home; (3) the familiarity of the forum with the law that will govern the case; and (4) the avoidance of unnecessary problems of conflict of laws or the application of foreign law.” Id. In the instant case, Plaintiff could bring his employment discrimination claim in the Western District of Texas under Title VII’s special venue provision. However, considering the private and public factors under 28 U.S.C. § 1404, this Court finds that the Eastern District of Texas is a more appropriate venue. III. ANALYSIS a. Plaintiff could have brought his Title VII employment discrimination claim in the Western District of Texas. The Title VII special venue provision provides that a Title VII employment discrimination claim “may be brought in any judicial district in the State in which the unlawful employment practice is alleged to have been committed.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f)(3). Here, Plaintiff alleges that the employment discrimination occurred in Plano, Texas. Compl. 28–29. Because the Eastern District of Texas is located in Texas—the State where the unlawful employment practice is alleged
to have occurred—Plaintiff may bring his employment discrimination claim in the Western District of Texas. b. Considering the private and public factors of 28 U.S.C. § 1404, the Eastern District of Texas is a more appropriate forum. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1404, “[f]or the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice, a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division where it might have been brought.” 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). The determination of “convenience” turns on several private and public interest factors, none of which is given dispositive weight. Volkswagen, 545 F.3d at 315. Examining the private factors, the second and third factors favor transfer to the Northern District of Texas. Examining the public factors, the first two factors favor transfer to the Northern District of Texas. The Court considers each factor in turn. i. Private factors
1. “ease of access to sources of proof” The first factor focuses on the location of “documents and physical evidence relating to the [case].” Volkswagen, 545 F.3d at 316. This factor weighs in favor of transfer where the current district lacks any evidence relating to the case. See id. Here, Plaintiff does not indicate where the relevant evidence is located. Questionnaire 4. Accordingly, this factor is neutral. 2. “availability of compulsory process” The second factor focuses on “the availability of compulsory process to secure the attendance of witnesses.” Volkswagen, 545 F.3d at 315. A court can compel “a person to attend a trial, hearing, or deposition” held “within 100 miles of where the person resides” or is employed. Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(c)(1)(a). Here, Plaintiff alleges that “ex-employee Charlie Winn” could testify to Plaintiff’s alleged employment discrimination. Compl. 30. Because this witness
is employed in Plano, Texas and Plano, Texas is approximately 650 miles from El Paso, Texas, this factor favors transfer to the Eastern District of Texas. 3. “cost of attendance of willing witnesses” The third factor focuses on “the cost of attendance for willing witnesses.” Volkswagen, 545 F.3d at 315. “When the distance between an existing venue for trial ... and a proposed venue under § 1404(a) is more than 100 miles, the factor of inconvenience to the witnesses increases in direct relationship to the additional distance to be traveled.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). Here, the distance between the El Paso Division of the Western District of Texas and the Sherman Division of the Eastern District of Texas is approximately 650 miles. Accordingly,
this factor also favors transfer to the Eastern District of Texas. 4. “all other practical problems” The fourth factor considers “all other practical problems that make trial of a case easy, expeditious and inexpensive.” In re TikTok, Inc., 85 F.4th 352, 362 (5th Cir. 2023) (citing Volkswagen, 545 F.3d at 315)). Courts find that the fourth factor is neutral when a case is in its early stages. See Le v. Lockheed Martin Corp., No. 4:22-CV-1071, 2023 WL 8719441, at *6 (E.D. Tex. Dec. 18, 2023) (“The case is in the early phases of litigation, with a scheduling order not in place. The Court finds that this factor is neutral.”). Here, the instant case is in the early phases of litigation because the case has not advanced beyond Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis motion. Thus, the Court finds this factor to be neutral. ii. Public factors
1. “administrative difficulties from court congestion” The fifth factor considers “the administrative difficulties flowing from court congestion.” Volkswagen, 545 F.3d at 315. This factor normally weighs against transfer when the “case appears to be timely proceeding to trial before the” transferee district. In re TikTok, Inc., 85 F.4th at 363. Here, the case is not “timely proceeding to trial” because the case has not advanced beyond Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis motion. Accordingly, this factor weights in favor of transfer to the Eastern District of Texas. 2. “local interest” The sixth factor considers “the local interest in having localized interests decided at home.” Volkswagen, 545 F.3d at 315. This factor focuses on “the significant connections between a particular venue and the events that gave rise to a suit.” Def. Distributed v. Bruck, 30 F.4th 414, 435 (5th Cir. 2022). “Indeed, the place of the alleged wrong is one of the most important factors in venue determinations.” Id. (citation modified). Here, the alleged employment discrimination occurred at Plaintiff’s former workplace in Plano, Texas. Thus, this factor favors transfer to the Eastern District of Texas.
3. “familiarity of forum with governing law” The seventh factor most “commonly applies where the destination venue is in a different State—in which case that State's familiarity with the applicable law would be especially probative to the transfer analysis.” In re Planned Parenthood Fed'n of Am., Inc., 52 F.4th 625, 632 n.5 (5th Cir. 2022). Here, because the destination venue, the Eastern District of Texas, is not in a different State from the Western District of Texas, this factor is neutral. 4. “avoidance of unnecessary problems of conflict of laws or application of foreign law” The eighth factor focuses on “the avoidance of unnecessary problems of conflict of laws [or in] the application of foreign law.” Volkswagen, 545 F.3d at 315. Here, because this case does not involve conflict of laws or foreign law, this factor is also neutral. In sum, several factors weigh in favor of transfer to the Eastern District of Texas. Examining these factors affirms that the relevant witnesses to this case are in the Eastern District of Texas. Moreover, the Eastern District of Texas has a “local interest” in deciding localized issues of alleged discrimination at home. In other words, “[t]he Western District of Texas ... is [many] miles away from the vast majority of relevant witnesses, and is wholly unconnected to the underlying dispute.” Jn re TikTok, Inc., 85 F.4th at 366. For these reasons, the Court finds that the Eastern District of Texas is the appropriate venue for this case.
IV. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, this Court ORDERS that this action be transferred from the El Paso Division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas to the Sherman Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a).
It is FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall MAIL, by certified mail, a copy of this Order to Plaintiff.
SIGNED and ENTERED this 29th day of August 2025.
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MIGUEI?A. TORRES UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE