Barrineau v. Sub Sea International, Inc.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

COBB, District Judge.

Before the court is the defendant’s motion to dismiss for improper venue, or in the alternative, for change of venue. Special venue rules apply to a Jones Act action such as this one. These venue provisions are found within the substantive law itself at 46 U.S.CApp. § 688.

I. VENUE IS PROPER

Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, an admiralty or maritime suit is not treated as a civil action for purposes of the general venue provisions. See Fed. R.Civ.P. 9(h), and Fed.R.Civ.P. 82. Instead, Section 688 of Title 46 controls: “Jurisdiction in such…