Summary
holding that liberal pleading standard available for pro se litigants "no longer applies now that Plaintiff is represented by counsel"
Summary of this case from Almazon v. JPMorgan Chase BankOpinion
13-cv-3315(NSR)
05-29-2014
LLEWELLYN ANGELO WILLIAMS, Plaintiff, v. THE CITY OF NEW ROCHELLE, THE CITY OF NEW ROCHELLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, SERGEANT DANIEL CONCA, SERGEANT JOHN INZEO, SERGEANT KYLE WILSON, POLICE OFFICER ADAM CASTIGLIA, POLICE OFFICER EDWARD SILLER, Defendants.
OPINION AND ORDER
NELSON S. ROMÁN, United States District Judge:
Plaintiff Llewellyn Angelo Williams ("Plaintiff") commenced the instant action against the City of New Rochelle, City of New Rochelle Police Department, Sergeant Daniel Conca, Sergeant John Inzeo, Sergeant Kyle Wilson, Police Officer Adam Castiglia, and Police Officer Edward Siller (collectively, "Defendants"), asserting federal claims under the Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Defendants now move, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), to dismiss any and all claims raised in Plaintiff's fourth amended complaint that rose on or before October 6, 2011 based upon a General Release executed by Plaintiff. Defendants also move pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(e) requiring the Plaintiff to provide a more definite statement of the remaining claims occurring after October 6, 2011. For the following reasons, Defendants' motions are granted.
On October 6, 2011, Plaintiff, the City of New Rochelle, the New Rochelle Police Department, and various police officers executed a General Release whereby Plaintiff released and discharged the City of New Rochelle, the New Rochelle Police Department, and various police officers from any and all claims he "ever had, now have or which hereafter can, shall or may, have for, upon or by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever from the beginning of the world to the day of the date of this RELEASE including without limitation those arising from incidents which occurred on JUNE 25, 2005 and JANUARY 9, 2006." Def. Motion, Ex. C.
Plaintiff initiated this case pro se on May 16, 2013 and subsequently retained counsel. Plaintiff filed a fourth amended complaint on December 12, 2013. Plaintiff alleges events, in part, that pre-date his general release of October 6, 2011. For example, he challenges the 2008 award of the City of New Rochelle's contract with Safeway Towing and that "the awarding of contracts by the City of New Rochelle was not advertised." (See Fourth Amended Complaint, para. III, subparagraph C.) Plaintiff's counsel filed a notice of appearance on March 28, 2014.
On May 20, 2014, Defendants moved to dismiss any claims occurring prior to October 6, 2011 by virtue of Plaintiff's General Release. Defendants also moved for a more definite statement.
In his opposition, Plaintiff's counsel asserts that none of the claims asserted in the fourth amended complaint occurred before October 6, 2011. (Opp. at para. 3.) With respect to Defendants' motion for a more definite statement of the remaining claims in the fourth amended complaint, Plaintiff's counsel argues that such is unnecessary because the claims "raised by Plaintiff in the Fourth Amended Complaint are not indefinite or vague, but are very specific as to dates, times, places and the police officers involved." (Opp. at para. 6.)
II. MOTION STANDARDS
On a motion to dismiss for "failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted," Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), dismissal is proper unless the complaint "contain[s] sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to 'state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'" Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)); accord Hayden v. Paterson, 594 F.3d 150, 160 (2d Cir. 2010). "Although for the purposes of a motion to dismiss [a court] must take all of the factual allegations in the complaint as true, [it is] 'not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation.'" Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555). "While legal conclusions can provide the framework of a complaint, they must be supported by factual allegations." Id. at 679.
When there are well-pleaded factual allegations in the complaint, "a court should assume their veracity and then determine whether they plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief." Id. A claim is facially plausible when the factual content pleaded allows a court "to draw a reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Id. at 678. Ultimately, determining whether a complaint states a facially plausible claim must be "a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense." Id. at 679. When determining the plausibility of a complaint, "[i]n addition to allegations in the complaint itself, the Court may consider documents attached as exhibits and documents incorporated by reference in the complaint." Lesesne v. Brimecome, 918 F. Supp. 2d 221, 223 (S.D.N.Y. 2013) (citing Halebian v. Berv, 644 F.3d 122, 131 n.7 (2d Cir. 2011); Chapman v. N.Y. State Div. for Youth, 546 F.3d 230, 234 (2d Cir. 2008)).
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(e), a party may move for a more definite statement of a pleading if the pleading "is so vague or ambiguous, that the party cannot reasonably prepare a response." Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(e). The movant must "point out the defects complained of and the details desired." Id. As a general matter, Rule 12(e) motions are disfavored because they can be used as a tool for delay. See, e.g., In re European Rail Pass Antitrust Litig., 166 F.Supp.2d 836, 844 (S.D.N.Y. 2001). But where "the movant shows that there actually is a substantial threshold question that may be dispositive, such as a critical date," a more definite statement may be warranted. 5C Charles A. Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice & Procedure § 1376 at 336 (3d ed. 2004); accord Casanova v. Ulibarri, 595 F.3d 1120, 1125 (10th Cir. 2010) ("[T]he preferable procedure when a specific date could support a dispositive defense motion is to require the plaintiff to provide a more definite statement under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(e).").
III. DISCUSSION
As a preliminary matter, all of Plaintiff's claim against the New Rochelle Police Department are dismissed. See East Coast Novelty Co. v. City of New York, 781 F.Supp. 999, 1010 (S.D.N.Y. 1992) ("As an agency of the City, the Police Department is not a suable entity [for suit under § 1983]."); see also Fanelli v. Town of Harrison, 46 F.Supp.2d 254, 257 (S.D.N.Y. 1999).
The General Release served as full and complete settlement of a separate state court action that Plaintiff filed against the City of New Rochelle, the New Rochelle Police Department, and various police officers. Plaintiff does not allege that he signed the General Release involuntarily or under duress. Plaintiff's sole argument against Defendants' motion to dismiss is that the fourth amendment complaint does not make allegations arising before the General Release of October 6, 2011. Accordingly, he appears to concede that any claims arising before October 6, 2011 are invalid. The General Release is a valid, enforceable legal document. See Bormann v. AT & T Commc'ns, Inc., 875 F.2d 399, 402-03 (2d Cir. 1989). Therefore, any of Plaintiff's current claims arising before October 6, 2011 are barred.
Plaintiff filed his fourth amended complaint pro se. As a pro se litigant, Plaintiff's pleadings were held to "less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers." Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520, 92 S.Ct. 594, 30 L.Ed.2d 652 (1972). However, this standard no longer applies now that Plaintiff is represented by counsel. Plaintiff's counsel denies that Plaintiff's fourth amended complaint is insufficiently definite. Given that Plaintiff now faces a higher pleading standard because he has retained counsel, the Court grants Plaintiff leave to file a fifth amended complaint. Plaintiff's fifth amended complaint should omit the New Rochelle Police Department, claims pre-dating October 6, 2011, and more particularize the remaining claims.
IV. CONCLUSION
Defendants' motion to dismiss and motion for a more definite statement are GRANTED. Plaintiff should file a fifth amended complaint by June 30, 2014.
The Clerk of Court is respectfully requested to terminate this motion (Doc. No. 37). Dated: May 29, 2014
White Plains, New York
SO ORDERED:
__________
NELSON S. ROMÁN
United States District Judge