9-1, 4 (attesting that Defendants' witnesses live in Valdosta and that, "[u]pon information and belief," relevant documentary evidence is also located there). 976, 979 (N.D. Ala. 1984)). Thus, it appears that the inconvenience of litigating in this District substantially outweighs the inconvenience of litigating in the Middle District, and, therefore, this factor weighs in favor of transfer. ABOUT Taylor Eakin + Brian Bell. Taylor Eakin lied and claimed to have starting dating three months after the murder in hopes of legitimizing the Bell's alibi. However, where there is no single locus of the operative facts, this factor is neutral and does not support a transfer. Hall told The Valdosta Daily Times that, after he was handcuffed and agreed to talk to the agents without a lawyer, he was driven two hours to Macon, Ga., and interrogated for four hours. Dkt. Where things stand in the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial. In determining where "a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred," "[o]nly the events that directly give rise to a claim are relevant." Id. ; however, Plaintiffs' closely aligned witnesses are presumed to be more willing to travel and, as such, carry less weight in evaluating the convenience of the witnesses, see Ramsey, 323 F. Supp. 2d at 1358 (citing Intergraph Corp. v. Stottler, Stagg & Assocs., 595 F. Supp. Based on the foregoing, Defendants' Motion to Dismiss or Transfer Venue, or in the Alternative, Motion for More Definite Statement (dkt. 13, pp. Moore announced Oct. 31, 2013, that he was leading an investigation into the Johnsons death. at 5-7. Id. Pa. Sept. 21, 2012) ("In defamation cases, it is not enough that the plaintiff may have suffered harm in a particular district . 9, pp. 'Injury in conjunction with another event, however, may make a district a proper venue.'" Nos. Thus, the Court considers the reports only for this limited purpose in ruling on the instant Motion. No. Furthermore, the Court has no reason to believe that Plaintiffs would not receive a fair trial in the transferee court. Id. 'in having localized controversies decided at home.'" Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. morgan creek winery weddings; real rose petals for wedding; plus size dressy tunics for weddings; molly whitehall wedding. See id. Based on the information before the Court, the Court cannot conclude that either party is financially better able to litigate in this District or in the Middle District. 13, pp. As a result, only Section 1391(b)(2) remains at issue. See Dkt. Taylor Eakin lied and claimed to have starting dating three months after the murder in hopes of legitimizing the Bell's alibi. See England v. ITT Thompson Indus. 28 U.S.C. The Bells countersued and also filed libel and defamation suits against Ebony magazine and a freelance journalist for portraying their sons as murderers. Even so, the only ties to the Southern District of Georgia are the publication of the article, which Plaintiffs acknowledge occurred nationwide, and the alleged harm to Taylor Eakin's reputation, which Plaintiffs concede was "certainly suffered . 602 ("A witness may testify to a matter only if evidence is introduced sufficient to support a finding that the witness has personal knowledge of the matter. A court "must not disturb the plaintiff's choice of forum unless that choice is clearly outweighed by other considerations." It appears, therefore, that this factor is neutral and does not weigh in favor of either party. Keep up to date with this page for any petitions or updates from the Johnson family. Duckworth, 768 F. Supp. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Spanx, Inc., 2013 WL 5636684, at *5. 7:14-CV-1244-LSC, 2015 WL 225495, at *11 (N.D. Ala. Jan. 16, 2015) (stating that the amendment "clarif[ied] that venue is authorized in any district in which a substantial part of the events or omissions" occurred, "not only in 'the' single district in which the weight of the contacts underlying the claim was deemed to preponderate" (citations omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting 28 U.S.C. Corp., 656 S.E. AFC Franchising, 2016 U.S. Dist. 1, 1. . It adds that the Bells have been "subjected to a steady stream of threats while a cloud of suspicion hangs over them.". at 1479). Id. 1981)). See id. See Dkt. Plaintiffs' evidence, however, indicates only that prospective jurors in Valdosta may be familiar with Taylor Eakin and the circumstances giving rise to this case. It states that Taylor Eakin, Brian Bell's girlfriend, confessed to sleeping with Kendrick Johnson. Moreover, Plaintiffs lived in Valdosta when these events took place. We can't thank you enough View by We're sorry. Bell's father Rick was a retired FBI officer who allegedly orchestrated the removal of Johnson's organs and had them replaced with newspaper to hide evidence and other injuries. "I had no idea what was going on," she said. Where things stand in the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial. INFORMATION Open discussion about the Crime Junkie podcast. 13, pp. Rather, it appears that transferring this case to the Middle District would promote both trial efficiency and the interests of justice. Bell threatened Johnson and later killed him. Barynia Backeljauw + Abhinav Tandon. "In those instances, no party is particularly inconvenienced by a transfer. See 28 U.S.C. at 7-8; see, e.g., id. Where conflicts exist between the allegations in the complaint and the evidence outside of the pleadings, the court "must draw all reasonable inferences and resolve all factual conflicts in favor of the plaintiff." 1988). Taylor Eakin & Brian Bell Taylor and Brian Bell wedding registry | July 03, 2022 Hello sweet friends and family. Id. . "The question of whether a transfer is appropriate depends upon two inquires: (1) whether the action might have been brought in the proposed transferee court, and (2) whether [certain] convenience factors are present to justify the transfer." The agents arrived simultaneously at the home of Rick and Karen Bell; the college dormitory room of their son, Brian; the Valdosta State dorm room of their other son; Brandon; the home of former Lowndes High student Ryan Hall; the college dorm room of another former Lowndes student and current Valdosta State student, Taylor Eakin, and the Valdosta home of Eakins parents between 4 and 5 a.m. The Lowndes County Sheriff's Department has stood by its finding that Johnson's death was accidental and maintains that one of the Bell brothers -- Branden -- was not on their high school's campus when Johnson was last seen alive, and that Brian Bell was in another part of the building. CV 211-193, 2012 WL 3886094, at *1 (S.D. at 4, 30-45 (citing O.C.G.A. at 16 (alterations in original). See Dkt. Relationship between Taylor Eakin and Kendrick Johnson It was rumored that Brian Bell was angry with Kendrick Johnson because he had a relationship with Taylor Eakin. 2d at 1355 (citing Haworth, Inc., 821 F. Supp. at 18, Ex. Masthead. Dkt. As a result, trial efficiency weighs in favor of transferring this case to the Middle District. In January 2013, Kendrick Johnson, a 17-year-old black student, was found dead in a rolled-up wrestling mat at Lowndes High. 1981)). Because the Court finds, for the reasons discussed above, that a substantial part of the relevant events occurred in the Southern District of Georgia, this District is an equally eligible venue for Plaintiffs' claims. Similarly persuasive on this point is that, as Defendants point out, adequate procedural measures exist for screening out any potentially biased jurors at the jury selection stage, even in cases that have become the subject of national headlines. Last month, federal authorities. An autopsy conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation agreed, citing asphyxiation as the cause of death. ", "His death was at his own hands, and we're very sorry for what happened to him because him and Brian were best friends.". Jaycee Perry + Reese Hill. Id. McRae v. Perry, No. I. They are not looking for evidence of a murder. In addition, Plaintiffs aver that the author of the e-mail recanted her story in an article published in the Valdosta Daily Times on March 27, 2014. 18, 2007) (excluding statements in newspaper articles, on the basis that "the blanket statement in a form affidavit sworn by someone other than the authors of the articles presented" was insufficient to establish "that the reporters actually had personal knowledge of each and every fact reported in the articles" so as to take the statements outside the definition of hearsay). Eakin's family gasped, "Oh, no," as Jorgensen ruled from the bench. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Dkt. In a defamation case, relevant documentary evidence includes "that which was used in preparation of the allegedly defamatory report and pertinent documents maintained by nonparties." 1:03-CV-1709-BBM, 2003 WL 24129779, at *2 (N.D. Ga. Sept. 16, 2003). 2d at 1355 (citing Haworth, Inc., 821 F. Supp. Co., 840 F.2d at 855. 1391(b)(2). Based on the Court's decision to transfer this case to another venue, the Court declines to consider the portion of Defendants' Motion calling for an evaluation of Plaintiffs William Joel Eakin's and Nora Kay Eakin's claims on the merits. 3:09-CV-93 (CDL), 2009 WL 4893588, at *4 (M.D. No. The incident sparked racial strife in the community and gained national attention when Florida State withdrew a football scholarship offer to Bell, who is white. See Fed. Id. Between August 12, 2013, and April 9, 2014, Johnson Publishing published a series of fifteen articles in Ebony Magazine, and on the Ebony Web site, twelve of which were written by Rosen. On Tuesday at 3.30am, U.S. marshals served a search warrant at the homes of Brian and Branden Bell as well as their parents' The Bell brothers were classmates of Kendrick Johnson, who was. Id. Contrary to Defendants' assertions, the Court finds that venue is proper in the Southern District of Georgia, Brunswick Division because a "substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise" to Plaintiffs' libel and slander claims occurred in this District. See Jenkins Brick Co., 321 F.3d at 1371. AGSouth Genetics LLC v. Terrell Peanut Co., No. 4-10. The articles chronicled the events surrounding the death of LCHS sophomore Kendrick Johnson ("KJ"), who was found dead inside of a rolled-up gym mat in the school's old gym on January 10, 2013. Current FBI agent Rick Bell, the father of Brian and Branden Bell, is a member of the organization. In January 2013, Taylor Eakin was a sophomore at LCHS and dated Brian Bell, who was also a sophomore and played football at LCHS. Kravitz, 2012 WL 4321985, at *4 (citing DaimlerChrysler Corp., 2000 WL 822449, at *6); see, e.g., Santa's Best Craft, LLC v. Janning, No. Pursuant to Section 1391(b)(2), venue lies in "a judicial district in which a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred." For these reasons, the locus of operative facts lies in Valdosta, and this factor heavily weighs in favor of transferring this case to that venue. 1996) (quoting Howell v. Tanner, 650 F.2d 610, 616 (5th Cir. 93 C 2937, 1993 WL 443403, at *2 (N.D. Ill. Oct. 29, 1993))). While courts afford a considerable amount of deference to a plaintiff's choice of forum, Robinson, 74 F.3d at 260, the plaintiff's choice of forum "is entitled to less weight when none of the parties resides there," Ramsey, 323 F. Supp. Is that it?. 13, pp. There were two confession statements floating around, which made national news," reads the petition. As such, the language of Section 1391(b)(2) "contemplates some cases in which venue will be proper in two or more districts." Press Ass'n v. Stuart, 427 U.S. 539, 554 (1976), and Mayola, 623 F.2d at 997). But Brian told WSB-TV that the school bus fight was "so small," he "can't even remember" what it was about. Under the sentence, Eakin will be transferred to an adult prison at age 18. 9) is GRANTED in part, DENIED in part, and REMAINS PENDING in part as follows: the portion urging a dismissal of this case based on improper venue is DENIED; the portion requesting a transfer of this case to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Valdosta Division is GRANTED; and the portion seeking a dismissal of Plaintiffs' individual claims for failure to state a claim, as well as the portion requesting a more definite statement, REMAIN PENDING for resolution in the transferee court. rally in memory of their son, Kendrick Johnson, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, in Atlanta. at pp. Defendants have carried their burden of demonstrating that the balance of the foregoing factors substantially weighs in favor of transferring this case. 1391(b)(2). . 9, pp. See Seltzer v. Omni Hotels, No. Nevertheless, according to Plaintiffs, Defendants proceeded to publish the article written on the basis of this e-mail on April 9, 2014. Duckworth v. Med. 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story", Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads, Top Dems push Fox News to stop promoting "propaganda" about 2020 election. Moreover, as Plaintiffs point out, Defendants could mitigate this expense by not requiring their witnesses to travel for depositions. Moreover, because the harm from an online defamatory statement can occur in any place where the website or forum is viewed, no one forum should be expected to stand out as a particularly strong candidate for venue."). The local sheriff's department ruled the 17-year-old Johnson's January 10, 2013 a freak accident, saying he fell head-first into an upright mat in the gymnasium at Lowndes High School in Valdosta while trying to retrieve a shoe, and became trapped. No. at 3, 5, 7. Pergo, Inc., 2003 WL 24129779, at *3 (quoting Gulf Oil Corp. v. Gilbert, 330 U.S. 501, 509 (1947)). See 28 U.S.C. Defendants do not address this factor in arguing for a venue transfer, see generally id., and Plaintiffs concede that this Court and the court in the Middle District are equally familiar with Georgia defamation law, see dkt. Greely v. Lazer Spot, Inc., No. Plaintiffs allege that the details in the KJ articles, as well as the public reports of the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office interviews, were sufficient to reveal their daughter's identity. No. 10-11. After FSU withdrew its offer to Brian Bell, the linebacker struggled to find another school where he could play football. According to the warrants, the search was designed to obtain evidence of witness tampering, not murder. Dkt. 9-10; Dkt. "The Sheriff's Office and Lowndes County have fully cooperated and provided them with the requested information," Jim Elliott, who represents the sheriff's department as the attorney for Lowndes County, told Crimesider Thursday. Johnson Publishing sells Ebony Magazine and other publications nationwide, including in the Southern District of Georgia, and runs the Web site www.ebony.com ("Ebony Web site"), which is accessible in the Southern District of Georgia. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Because it appears that Plaintiffs offer these reports not for their truth but rather for the fact of their publication, this evidence is relevant to Plaintiffs' publicity argument and does not fall within the definition of hearsay. at Ex. at 1356-57 (citing McNair, 279 F. Supp. 10-17 (alterations in original) (quoting 28 U.S.C. No. In a footnote, Defendants state that the "same reasons" discussed with regard to the "convenience of the parties" factor support finding that a trial in the Middle District of Georgia "would be less strenuous on the relative means necessary to adjudicate this case." 7-8 (citing DeLong Equip. 02 C 9529, 2003 WL 21504522, at *2 (N.D. Ill. June 30, 2003) (finding that "a substantial part of the events" giving rise to the plaintiff's defamation claim occurred in the district "where the allegedly defamatory statement [was] published" and where "the injury (if any) from the defamation was incurred"). 2d 561, 568 (D. Vt. 2004)); see also TruServ Corp. v. Neff, 6 F. Supp. The search warrants for the Bells residence in the Jacksonville, Fla., area; the Eakins residence in Valdosta and Taylor Eakins dorm room specified the agents were looking for the transmission of any information about witnesses and the grand jury investigation into the death of Johnson. 9, pp. See Ramsey, 323 F. Supp. CV 411-096, 2012 WL 170154, at *2 (S.D. no. no. Dkt. so pervades or saturates the community as to render virtually impossible a fair trial by an impartial jury drawn from that community." Courts also consider "the inherent interest . See id. In fact, he was missing from all of the social media platforms. CIV.A. While Plaintiffs do not specifically state that any particular person in the Southern District of Georgia actually accessed the online article or radio or television shows, the Court can reasonably infer from Plaintiffs' allegations that Defendants' allegedly defamatory statements were communicated, and thus published, to at least one person in the Southern District of Georgia. . 9, p. 13; see also Dkt. No. 17-19. Paul Threlkeld, an attorney representing the Bell family, as well as the family of 18-year-old Taylor Eakin - Brian Bell's girlfriend - told 48 Hours' Crimesider on Thursday that warrants were. . WILLIAM JOEL EAKIN and NORA KAY EAKIN, as Guardians of TAYLOR REEDABETH EAKIN, Plaintiffs, v. FREDERIC A. ROSEN; and JOHNSON PUBLISHING COMPANY, LLC, Defendants. (emphasis added) (quoting 28 U.S.C. Dkt. Johnson's family, however, insisted there was foul play involved and had their son's body exhumed for a second autopsy. . #KendrickJohnson" Capital Corp. Merch. Moreover, Plaintiffs' willingness to accept any inconvenience of their own witnesses, see dkt. Fla. 2010)). Pinson v. Rumsfeld, 192 F. App'x 811, 817 (11th Cir. "They can ridicule me and they can say whatever they want. No. U.S. Zarach v. Atlanta Claims Ass'n, 231 Ga.App. No. See id. tending to injure the reputation of the person and exposing him to public hatred, contempt or ridicule." No. . 13, pp. Taylor Eakin lied and claimed to have starting dating three months after the murder in hopes of legitimizing the Bell's alibi. Plaintiffs summarize the contents of the article as follows: Plaintiffs further allege that the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office interviewed the author of the anonymous e-mail, as well as other persons mentioned in the e-mail. 492, 501 (N.D. Ga. 1989)). 2d at 1311, and Matt v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., 74 F. Supp. "I want everyone to know the truth," Branden Bell told WSB-TV in an on-camera interview. First published on July 23, 2015 / 12:59 PM. Id. Taylor Eakin, Brian Bell's girlfriend, was 16 when she was called before a federal grand jury in April 2014. 1, 8, 15. 1985) (citing Murphy v. Florida, 421 U.S. 794, 798-99 (1975), Rideau v. Louisiana, 373 U.S. 723, 726-27 (1963), and Mayola v. Alabama, 623 F.2d 992, 997 (5th Cir. 2d 820, 822 (Ga. 2008) (citing Kurtz v. Williams, 371 S.E. 1, 7, 16, 18; Dkt. . Dkt. Moreover, Plaintiffs focus on a perceived prejudice from the jury pool in Valdosta and the immediately surrounding areas, see, e.g., id. As discussed in Subpart II.A, most of the key witnesses to testify in this case reside in Valdosta, Georgia. 51-5-4. LEXIS 76944, at *10 (N.D. Ga. May 10, 2012). See, e.g., id. 1:00 Two and a half years ago, Brian Bell, a former football star at Lowndes High School in Valdosta Ga., first was investigated in the death of a classmate. at 9-10, 16. 1, 25-26, 28. But the line of questioning was intense. Spanx, Inc., 2013 WL 5636684, at *2. See Coleman, 778 F.2d at 1490 (quoting Mayola, 623 F.2d at 997). Brian Bell is a 6-2, 218-pound Outside Linebacker from Valdosta, GA. Timeline 2015 Jan 16, 2015: O. . Defendants are correct in that, "in the context of defamation and other non-physical torts, courts generally hold that venue under [S]ection 1391[(b)](2) is proper in the district where the injured party resides and the defamatory statements were published." O.C.G.A. See Pergo, Inc., 2003 WL 24129779, at *3 (quoting Gulf Oil Corp., 330 U.S. at 509). E. Touchton has no personal knowledge of the statements in the newspaper article, given that she did not write it, and has no specialized knowledge of the jury selection process. Fla. 2004); see also Simbaqueba, 2010 WL 2990042, at *2. 17-19. The residence of 18-year-old Taylor Eakin, Brian Bell's girlfriend, was also searched, according to Paul Threlkeld, an attorney representing the Bell and Eakin families, and, according to the Valdosta Times, the home of 19-year-old Ryan Hall was searched as well. See Dkt. He does not appear to have an Instagram account. Ctr., Inc., 403 F. Supp. (citing Pfeiffer v. Insty Prints, No. 9) is GRANTED in part, DENIED in part, and REMAINS PENDING in part: it is granted as to Defendants' request to transfer this case to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Valdosta Division; it is denied to the extent that Defendants urge a dismissal of this case based on improper venue; and it remains pending insofar as Defendants move for a dismissal of Plaintiffs' individual claims for failure to state a claim, and move for a more definite statement. Fla. Aug. 27, 2008) ("Nevertheless, the Court must conduct the venue analysis with an eye to the difficulties posed by applying [S]ection 1391[(b)](2) to a case in which the 'wrong' does not center on physical acts or omissions. 99-5581, 2000 WL 822449, at *6 (E.D. Dkt. No. Hall, 19, told The Valdosta Daily Times he was at his residence when agents knocked on his door, pushed their way inside and handcuffed him. Dkt. No. Sept. 30, 2010). 2d 1350, 1357 (N.D. Ga. 1998)). at 7. The Location of Relevant Documents and the Relative Ease of Access to Sources of Proof. Id. "The 'locus of operative facts' has been interpreted as the place where events and actors material to proving liability are located." A (copy of one such article). Plaintiffs further maintain that there is no basis in fact for Defendants' suggestions regarding their daughter's relationship with KJ, knowledge about his death, and participation in a conspiracy to cover up his murder. 2d 1290, 1311 (M.D. at p. 2 n.2, and Plaintiffs should be compelled to provide a more definite statement as to their slander claim, id. Duckworth, 768 F. Supp. 1391(b) (1976) (amended 1990)). No. 1, 5-6, 32, 40; see also Kravitz, 2012 WL 4321985, at *4 ("[V]enue is proper in a district in which the allegedly defamatory statement was published, particularly if injury was suffered in the same district." 2d 1261, 1268 (S.D. B. 2d 467, 470 (E.D. Plaintiff has consistently stated that she and Brian Bell did not begin dating until sometime after KJ's death. Here, Plaintiffs' choice of forum is entitled to some weight, though minimal because the Southern District of Georgia is not the home forum of any party. While perhaps Plaintiffs could dispute the value of having these premises available for a jury view, "the fact that a jury view is impossible if the trial is held in [this District] weighs in favor of transferring the case." 15-21. However, he is enrolled at a school and hopes to play this fall. Corp. v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Plaintiff asserts that the "Answers" article is libelous per se because the article falsely accuses her of engaging in a sexual relationship with Kendrick Johnson. Courts traditionally afford considerable deference to a plaintiff s choice of forum, disturbing it only where it is "clearly outweighed by other considerations." Nevertheless, the venue analysis under Section 1391(b)(2) generally requires a greater level of relevant activities by the defendants than the "minimum contacts" analysis for personal jurisdiction. Pa. 1999)). Indeed, the witnesses would be required to travel 122 miles each way between Valdosta and Brunswick, for each day on which their testimonies might be needed at trial. Thus, as Defendants acknowledge, see dkt. See Dkt. R. Evid. Brian Bell has also stated that he killed Kendrick Johnson multiple times over the phone. As such, it appears that transferring this action to the Middle District of Georgia, Valdosta Division will result in less travel and expense and decrease the burden on the many witnesses who live in the Valdosta area. See Dkt. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 105-2710, 2006 WL 3191178, at *2 (N.D. Ga. Oct. 31, 2006)). of Santa Ana, Inc. v. New Frontier Media, Inc., 761 F. Supp. Federal prosecutor Michael Moore convened a grand jury last year after brushing aside the findings of local and state law enforcement agencies that ruled Johnsons death was an accident, and federal authorities opened a murder investigation. Information as to the circumstances surrounding KJ's deathin particular, the events alleged in the anonymous e-mailmay shed light on the truth or falsity of Defendants' statements as well as Defendants' knowledge in making these statements. An autopsy conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation agreed, citing asphyxiation as the cause of death. Id. "); Fed. Spanx, Inc. v. Times Three Clothier, LLC, No. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Plaintiffs aver that venue is proper as to Rosen, because "he also published the defamatory statements in this matter for profit in the Southern District . No. 2d 790, 792 (N.D. Ill. 1998) ("The test is not whether a majority of the activities pertaining to the case were performed in a particular district, but whether a substantial portion of the activities giving rise to the claim occurred in the particular district." Several factors may be relevant to this inquiry: "access to evidence, availability of witnesses, the cost of obtaining witnesses, the possibility of a jury view [of relevant premises], and all other practical problems that make trial of a case easy, expeditious and inexpensive." Presently before the Court is Defendants' fully briefed Motion to Dismiss or Transfer Venue, or in the Alternative, Motion for More Definite Statement. 2006). 2003). As such, Defendants have not sustained their burden of establishing that the availability of process to compel unwilling witnesses to attend trial favors transferring this case to another venue. First, considering the totality of the circumstances, it appears that this case would be resolved more expeditiously in the Middle District of Georgia, Valdosta Division. 48 Hours' Crimesider has also learned that the U.S. Attorney's Office this week sought access to Lowndes County Sheriff's Office e-mails regarding the Kendrick Johnson investigation. Hall since has retained an attorney, Byron Watson, who did not return a phone call asking for a comment. 9, pp. . The agents took items from the house but did not give him a list of what they took, Hall told the Times. "[C]ourts routinely transfer cases when the principal events occurred and the principal witnesses are located in another district." 13, p. 11. Contact This case is due to be TRANSFERRED to the Middle District of Georgia, Valdosta Division. The second statement was from Ryan Anthony Domek-Hernandez, who is a friend of Branden Bell, which stated that when he went to Branden Bell's apartment in Florida, Branden Bell had told him that Brian Bell killed Kendrick Johnson by striking his neck with a 45 pound weight/dumbbell after they began arguing over Taylor Eakin (attached photo).