28 U.S.C. § 1391 : US Code - Section 1391: Venue generally

Search 28 U.S.C. § 1391 : US Code - Section 1391: Venue generally

(a) A civil action wherein jurisdiction is founded only on
diversity of citizenship may, except as otherwise provided by law,
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.
(b) A civil action wherein jurisdiction is not founded solely on
diversity of citizenship may, except as otherwise provided by law,
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.
(c) For purposes of venue under this chapter, a defendant that is
a corporation shall be deemed to reside in any judicial district in
which it is subject to personal jurisdiction at the time the action
is commenced. In a State which has more than one judicial district
and in which a defendant that is a corporation is subject to
personal jurisdiction at the time an action is commenced, such
corporation shall be deemed to reside in any district in that State
within which its contacts would be sufficient to subject it to
personal jurisdiction if that district were a separate State, and,
if there is no such district, the corporation shall be deemed to
reside in the district within which it has the most significant
contacts.
(d) An alien may be sued in any district.
(e) A civil action in which a defendant is an officer or employee
of the United States or any agency thereof acting in his official
capacity or under color of legal authority, or an agency of the
United States, or the United States, may, except as otherwise
provided by law, be brought in any judicial district in which (1) a
defendant in the action resides, (2) 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) the plaintiff resides if no real property is
involved in the action. Additional persons may be joined as parties
to any such action in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure and with such other venue requirements as would be
applicable if the United States or one of its officers, employees,
or agencies were not a party.
The summons and complaint in such an action shall be served as
provided by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure except that the
delivery of the summons and complaint to the officer or agency as
required by the rules may be made by certified mail beyond the
territorial limits of the district in which the action is brought.
(f) A civil action against a foreign state as defined in section
1603(a) of this title may be brought -
(1) in any 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;
(2) in any judicial district in which the vessel or cargo of a
foreign state is situated, if the claim is asserted under section
1605(b) of this title;
(3) in any judicial district in which the agency or
instrumentality is licensed to do business or is doing business,
if the action is brought against an agency or instrumentality of
a foreign state as defined in section 1603(b) of this title; or
(4) in the United States District Court for the District of
Columbia if the action is brought against a foreign state or
political subdivision thereof.
(g) A civil action in which jurisdiction of the district court is
based upon section 1369 of this title may be brought in any
district in which any defendant resides or in which a substantial
part of the accident giving rise to the action took place.