Summary
recommending dismissal of claims against the clerk of the court for her acts that assist a judge in the performance of his or her judicial duties based on the doctrine of quasi-judicial immunity
Summary of this case from Bulluck v. Broome Cnty. Sector Dep't of Corr. & SupervisionOpinion
3:24-CV-0067 (AMN/ML)
04-19-2024
DAVID J. CAMPBELL, Plaintiff, v. CITY OF BINGHAMTON, NY, City of New York; JARED M. KRAHAM, The Mayor of Binghamton, New York; BINGHAMTON POLICE DEP'T, A Department of Binghamton, New York; CHIEF JOSEPH ZIKUSKI, Chief of Binghamton Police Dep't; DETECTIVE BRYAN SOSTOWSKI, A Detective of Binghamton Police Dep't; BROOME COUNTY, A County of New York; BROOME COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, A Dep't of Broome County; JUDITH E. OSBURN, Chief Clerk of Broome County Supreme Courts and County Courts; HONORABLE JUDGE JOSEPH A. CAWLEY, A 6th Dist. Judge of Broome County; and UNKNOWNS, Defendants.
DAVID JOHN CAMPBELL Plaintiff, Pro Se
DAVID JOHN CAMPBELL Plaintiff, Pro Se
ORDER AND REPORT-RECOMMENDATION
MIROSLAV LOVRIC, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
The Clerk has sent a complaint in the above captioned action together with an amended application to proceed in forma pauperis and letter motion, filed by David John Campbell (“Plaintiff”) to the Court for review. (Dkt. Nos. 1, 5, 6.) For the reasons discussed below, I (1) grant Plaintiff's amended in forma pauperis application (Dkt. No. 5), (2) recommend that
Plaintiff's Complaint (Dkt. No. 1) be dismissed (a) in part with leave to amend, and (b) in part without leave to amend, and (3) recommend that Plaintiff's Letter Request/Motion (Dkt. No. 6) be denied as moot.
I. INTRODUCTION
Construed as liberally as possible, Plaintiff's Complaint alleges that his rights were violated by Defendants City of Binghamton, Jared M. Kraham, Binghamton Police Department, Chief Joseph Zikuski, Detective Bryan Sostowski, Broome County, Broome County Clerk's Office, Judith E. Osburn, Honorable Judge Joseph A. Cawley, and Unknown(s) (collectively “Defendants”). (See generally Dkt. No. 1.)
The court must interpret pro se complaints to raise the strongest arguments they suggest. Soto v. Walker, 44 F.3d 169, 173 (2d Cir. 1995) (quoting Burgos v. Hopkins, 14 F.3d 787, 790 (2d Cir. 1994)).
As best as the undersigned can decipher, the Complaint alleges that on January 13, 2023, Plaintiff attempted to report a crime against his private property and vehicle in Binghamton, New York. (Dkt. No. 1 at 4.) The Complaint alleges that when Binghamton police officer Mushalla (not a party to this action) responded to Plaintiff's report, he seized items from Plaintiff's home. (Id.) The Complaint alleges that on January 17, 2023, Defendant Sostowski sought judicial intervention and obtained two TERPOs and two ERPOs without proper notice or due process. (Id. at 4-5.) The Complaint alleges that all orders have since expired and Defendants have not returned Plaintiff's seized property. (Id. at 5.)
New York law provides for the issuance of a temporary emergency risk protection order (“TERPO”) “upon a finding that there is probable cause to believe the respondent is likely to engage in conduct that would result in serious harm to himself, herself or others.” N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 6342(1). In addition, New York law provides for the issuance of a final emergency risk protection order (“ERPO”) upon a finding by “clear and convincing evidence, that the respondent is likely to engage in conduct that would result in serious harm to himself, herself or others.” N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 6343(2).
Based on these factual allegations, Plaintiff asserts the following two causes of action: (1) a claim that Defendant Cawley conspired with Defendant Sostowski to deprive Plaintiff of his due process rights; (2) a claim that Defendant Sostowski extorted Plaintiff by obtaining a second TERPO and seizing Plaintiff's wife's rifle and ammunition without just cause. (Dkt. No. 1 at 57.) As relief, Plaintiff seeks, inter alia, (1) a declaration that Defendants violated Plaintiff's and his wife's constitutional rights, (2) removal of Defendants from their positions with an apology to the community, Plaintiff, and his wife for their actions, (3) compensatory damages in the amount of $20,000 per item seized from Plaintiff's residence per day beginning on January 13, 2024, and continuing until the present day, (4) punitive damages in the amount of $2,000,000, and (5) an order that Defendants “be added to BRADY LIST.” (Dkt. No. 1 at 7-9.)
II. PLAINTIFF'S AMENDED APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS
When a civil action is commenced in a federal district court, the statutory filing fee, currently set at $405, must ordinarily be paid. 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a). A court is authorized, however, to permit a litigant to proceed in forma pauperis status if a party “is unable to pay” the standard fee for commencing an action. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). After reviewing Plaintiff's amended in forma pauperis application (Dkt. No. 5), the Court finds that Plaintiff meets this standard. Therefore, Plaintiff's amended application to proceed in forma pauperis is granted.
The language of that section is ambiguous because it suggests an intent to limit availability of in forma pauperis status to prison inmates. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1) (authorizing the commencement of an action without prepayment of fees “by a person who submits an affidavit that includes a statement of all assets such prisoner possesses”). The courts have construed that section, however, as making in forma pauperis status available to any litigant who can meet the governing financial criteria. Hayes v. United States, 71 Fed.Cl. 366, 367 (Fed. Cl. 2006); Fridman v. City of N.Y., 195 F.Supp.2d 534, 536 n.1 (S.D.N.Y. 2002).
Plaintiff is reminded that, although his application to proceed in forma pauperis has been granted, he is still required to pay fees that he may incur in this action, including copying and/or witness fees.
III. LEGAL STANDARD FOR INITIAL REVIEW OF THE COMPLAINT
“Notwithstanding any filing fee, or any portion thereof, that may have been paid, the court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that . . . the action . . . (i) is frivolous or malicious; (ii) fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).
In determining whether an action is frivolous, the court must consider whether the complaint lacks an arguable basis in law or in fact. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989). Dismissal of frivolous actions is appropriate to prevent abuses of court process as well as to discourage the waste of judicial resources. Neitzke, 490 U.S. at 327; Harkins v. Eldridge, 505 F.2d 802, 804 (8th Cir. 1974); see Fitzgerald v. First East Seventh Street Tenants Corp., 221 F.3d 362, 364 (2d Cir. 2000) (a district court “may dismiss a frivolous complaint sua sponte even when the plaintiff has paid the required filing fee[.]”); see also Pflaum v. Town of Stuyvesant, Columbia Cnty., N.Y., 11-CV-0335, 2016 WL 865296, at *1, n.2 (N.D.N.Y. Mar. 2, 2016) (Suddaby, C.J.) (finding that the Court had the power to address and dismiss additional theories of the plaintiff's retaliation claim sua sponte because those theories were so lacking in arguable merit as to be frivolous).
In order to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, a complaint must contain, inter alia, “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2). The requirement that a plaintiff “show” that he or she is entitled to relief means that a complaint “must contain 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) (emphasis added) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 [2007]). “Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for relief . . . requires the . . . court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense....[W]here the well-pleaded facts do not permit the court to infer more than the mere possibility of misconduct, the complaint has alleged-but it has not shown-that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679 (internal citation and punctuation omitted).
“In reviewing a complaint . . . the court must accept the material facts alleged in the complaint as true and construe all reasonable inferences in the plaintiff's favor.” Hernandez v. Coughlin, 18 F.3d 133, 136 (2d Cir. 1994) (citation omitted). However, “the tenet that a court must accept as true all of the allegations contained in a complaint is inapplicable to legal conclusions. Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.
Courts are “obligated to construe a pro se complaint liberally.” Harris v. Mills, 572 F.3d 66, 72 (2d Cir. 2009); see also Nance v. Kelly, 912 F.2d 605, 606 (2d Cir. 1990) (per curiam) (reading the plaintiff's pro se complaint “broadly, as we must” and holding that the complaint sufficiently raised a cognizable claim). “[E]xtreme caution should be exercised in ordering sua sponte dismissal of a pro se complaint before the adverse party has been served and [the] parties . . . have had an opportunity to respond.” Anderson v. Coughlin, 700 F.2d 37, 41 (2d Cir. 1983).
IV. ANALYSIS
In addressing the sufficiency of a plaintiff's complaint, the court must construe his pleadings liberally. Sealed Plaintiff v. Sealed Defendant, 537 F.3d 185, 191 (2d Cir. 2008).
Having reviewed Plaintiff's Complaint with this principle in mind, I recommend that it be dismissed.
A. Claims Against Defendant Judge Cawley
I recommend that Plaintiff's claims against Defendant Judge Cawley be dismissed based on the doctrine of judicial immunity.
Under this doctrine, judges are absolutely immune from suit for claims seeking damages for any actions taken within the scope of their judicial responsibilities. See Mireles v. Waco, 502 U.S. 9, 11-12 (1991). Generally, “acts arising out of, or related to, individual cases before [a] judge are considered judicial in nature.” Bliven v. Hunt, 579 F.3d 204, 210 (2d Cir. 2009). “[E]ven allegations of bad faith or malice cannot overcome judicial immunity.” Bliven, 579 F.3d at 209.
Judicial immunity does not apply when a judge takes action outside his or her judicial capacity, or when a judge takes action that, although judicial in nature, is taken “in the complete absence of all jurisdiction.” Mireles 502 U.S. at 11-12; see also Bliven, 579 F.3d at 209-10 (describing actions that are judicial in nature). However, “the scope of [a] judge's jurisdiction must be construed broadly where the issue is the immunity of the judge.” Stump v. Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, 356 (1978).
Plaintiff asserts claims that appear to arise from the efforts of Defendant Judge Cawley, in his capacity as a Broome County Court Judge, to assess whether Plaintiff was a danger to himself or others. Defendant Judge Cawley is therefore immune from suit under the doctrine of judicial immunity. As a result, I recommend that Plaintiff's claims against Defendant Cawley in his individual capacity be dismissed based on the doctrine of judicial immunity.
Moreover, I recommend that Plaintiff's claims against Defendant Cawley in his official capacity be dismissed pursuant to the Eleventh Amendment. See Sundwall v. Leuba, 28 Fed.Appx. 11, 12 (2d Cir. 2001) (citing K & A Radiologic Tech. Servs., Inc. v. Comm'r of the Dep't of Health, 189 F.3d 273, 278 (2d Cir. 1999)) (holding that “state officers, if sued in their official capacities, are immunized from suit by private citizens under the Eleventh Amendment.”); King v. New York State, 23-CV-3421, 2023 WL 5625440, at *4 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 31, 2023) (citing Thomas v. Martin-Gibbons, 857 Fed.Appx. 36, 37 (2d Cir. 2021) (affirming dismissal of pro se Section 1983 claims against the State of New York and a state court judge in his official capacity based on Eleventh Amendment immunity)) (“Eleventh Amendment immunity extends to state officials acting in their official capacities, including state court judges.”); Aron v. Becker, 48 F.Supp.3d 347, 366-67 (N.D.N.Y. 2014) (McAvoy, J.) (dismissing the plaintiff's claims against a state court judge in his official capacity based on the doctrine of Eleventh Amendment immunity).
B. Claims Against Defendant Broome County Clerk's Office
“The Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution bars suits against a state in federal court unless that state has consented to the litigation or Congress has permissibly enacted legislation specifically overriding the state's immunity.” Russell v. Dunston, 896 F.2d 664, 667 (2d Cir.1990) (citations omitted); see also Bd. of Trustees of Univ. of Ala. v. Garrett, 531 U.S. 356, 363 (2001).
Defendant Broome County Clerk's Office is immune from suit under the Eleventh Amendment because it is an arm of the State of New York. See Gollomp v. Spitzer, 568 F.3d 355, 366 (2d Cir. 2009) (finding that the New York State Unified Court System, of which a county court is a part, is an “arm of the State,” and therefore entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity); Manko v. Steinhardt, 11-CV-5430, 2012 WL 213715, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 24, 2012) (dismissing claim against the Kings County Supreme Court of the State of New York Clerk's Office because it was barred by Eleventh Amendment immunity as an arm of the State of New York).
As a result, I recommend that Plaintiff's claims against Defendant Broome County Clerk's Office be dismissed as it is immune pursuant to the Eleventh Amendment.
C. Claims Against Defendant Binghamton Police Department
Defendant Binghamton Police Department-which is merely a department of municipal Defendant City of Binghamton, NY-is not amenable to suit. See White v. Syracuse Police Dep't, 18-CV-1471, 2019 WL 981850, at *3 (N.D.N.Y. Jan. 7, 2019) (Peebles, M.J.) (citing Krug v. Cnty. of Rennselaer, 559 F.Supp.2d 223, 247 (N.D.N.Y. 2008) (McAvoy, J.); Turczyn ex rel. McGregor v. City of Utica, 13-CV-1357, 2014 WL 6685476, at *2 (N.D.N.Y. Nov. 26, 2014) (Sharpe, J.); Hoisington v. Cnty. of Sullivan, 55 F.Supp.2d 212, 214 (S.D.N.Y. 1999) (“Under New York law, a department of a municipal entity is merely a subdivision of the municipality and has no separate legal existence. Therefore, municipal departments like the Department of Social Services are not amenable to suit and no claims lie directly against the Department.”)) (“Although a municipality is subject to suit pursuant to section 1983, see Monell v. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 690 (1978), a municipal . . . department does not have the capacity to be sued as an entity separate from the municipality in which it is located.”), report and recommendation adopted, 2019 WL 974824 (N.D.N.Y. Feb. 28, 2019) (Suddaby, C.J.). As a result, I recommend that Plaintiff's claims against Defendant Binghamton Police Department be dismissed because it is not an entity amenable to suit.
D. Claims Against Defendant Judith E. Osburn
Absolute immunity extends to nonjudicial officers who perform acts that “are integrally related to an ongoing judicial proceeding.” Mitchell v. Fishbein, 377 F.3d 157, 172-73 (2d Cir. 2004). Plaintiff's Complaint identifies Defendant Osburn as “Chief Clerk of Broome County Supreme Courts and County Courts.” (Dkt. No. 1 at 4.) Quasi-judicial immunity protects court clerks and sheriffs from suit “for performance of tasks which are judicial in nature and an integral part of the judicial process.” Garcia v. Hebert, 08-CV-0095, 2013 WL 1294412, at *12 (D. Conn. Mar. 28, 2013) (quoting Rodriguez v. Weprin, 116 F.3d 62, 66 (2d Cir. 1997)), aff'd, 594 Fed.Appx. 26 (2d Cir. 2015) (summary order), cert. denied, No. 14-9720 (Oct. 5, 2015).
As a result, I recommend that Plaintiff's claims against Defendant Osburn in her individual capacity be dismissed, because she is immune from suit. See Leftridge v. Judicial Branch, 22-CV-0411, 2023 WL 4304792, at *9 (D. Conn. June 30, 2023) (dismissing the plaintiff's claims against the state court clerks of court based on the doctrine of quasi-judicial immunity where “their alleged actions arose out of or related to [plaintiff]'s child support and child custody proceedings.”); Braithwaite v. Tropea, 23-CV-1431, 2023 WL 4207907, at *4 (E.D.N.Y. June 27, 2023) (citing Jackson v. Pfau, 523 Fed.Appx. 736, 737-38 (2d Cir. 2013) (affirming dismissal pursuant to Section 1915(e)(2)(B) of pro se plaintiff's Section 1983 claims against the Chief Clerks of several state courts based on the doctrine of judicial immunity)) (dismissing as frivolous the plaintiff's claims against the clerk of the court because he was entitled to absolute immunity); Mendez v. Johnson, 22-CV-6811, 2022 WL 3587600, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 22, 2022) (citing inter alia, Chmura v. Norton, Hammersley, Lopez & Skokos Inverso PA, 17-CV-2164, 2018 WL 2138631, at *2 (D. Conn. May 9, 2018) (extending judicial immunity to a clerk of court); Manko v. Ruchelsman, 12-CV-4100, 2012 WL 4034038, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 10, 2012) (same)) (noting that courts have routinely granted judicial immunity to “government officials, including clerks of court and other court employees, for their acts that assist a judge in the performance of his or her judicial duties.”).
In the alternative, I recommend that Plaintiff's claims against Defendant Osburn be dismissed because the Complaint fails to allege the personal involvement of her in any alleged constitutional deprivation, which is a prerequisite to an award of damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Wright v. Smith, 21 F.3d 496, 501 (2d Cir. 1994) (quoting Moffitt v. Town of Brookfield, 950 F.2d 880, 885 (2d Cir. 1991)). Here, although Plaintiff names Defendant Osburn as a party to the action, the body of the Complaint lacks any allegations of wrongdoing by her. (See generally Dkt. No. 1.) As a result, I recommend that, in the alternative, Plaintiff's claims against Defendant Osburn be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).
Moreover, I recommend that Plaintiff's claims against Defendant Osburn in her official capacity as Chief Clerk of Broome County Supreme Court and County Courts be dismissed because the Broome County Supreme Court and County Courts are an arm of the New York state court system and New York State is immune from suit pursuant to the Eleventh Amendment. Braithwaite, 2023 WL 4207907, at *4 (collecting cases) (holding that the plaintiff's claims against the Chief Clerk of the Suffolk County Court in his official capacity are barred by the Eleventh Amendment).
E. Claims Against Defendants Kraham, Zikuski, and Unknown(s)
The Complaint failed to allege the personal involvement of Defendants Kraham, Zikuski, and Unknown(s) in any alleged constitutional deprivation, which is a prerequisite to an award of damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Wright v. Smith, 21 F.3d 496, 501 (2d Cir. 1994) (quoting Moffitt v. Town of Brookfield, 950 F.2d 880, 885 (2d Cir. 1991)); see Bass v. Jackson, 790 F.2d 260, 263 (2d Cir. 1986) (holding that in order to prevail on a section 1983 cause of action against an individual, a plaintiff must show “a tangible connection between the acts of a defendant and the injuries suffered.”); Provost v. City of Newburgh, 262 F.3d 146, 155 (2d Cir. 2001) (internal quotation marks omitted) (“[D]irect participation as a basis of liability in this context requires intentional participation in the conduct constituting a violation of the victim's rights by one who knew of the facts rendering it illegal.”). The Second Circuit has made clear that “there is no special rule for supervisory liability,” and a “plaintiff must plead and prove ‘that each Government-official defendant, through the official's own individual actions, had violated the Constitution.'” Tangreti v. Bachmann, 983 F.3d 609, 618 (2d Cir. 2020). Here, although Plaintiff names Defendants Kraham, Zikuski, and Unknown(s) as defendants, the body of the Complaint lacks any allegations of wrongdoing by them. (See generally Dkt. No. 1.) As a result, I recommend that Plaintiff's claims against Defendants Kraham, Zikuski, and Unknown(s) be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).
F. Claims Against Defendants City of Binghamton and Broome County
The Complaint fails to allege facts plausibly suggesting that municipal Defendants City of Binghamton and Broome County violated Plaintiff's constitutional rights through the execution of their policies. See Monell v. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 694 (1978) (outlining the limited circumstances under which a municipality may be liable under Section 1983 and holding that only when the municipality, through the execution of its policies, actually deprives an individual of his constitutional rights, is it liable for the injury); see also Connick v. Thompson, 563 U.S. 51, 61 (2011) (holding that official policy includes the decisions of a government's lawmakers, the acts of policymaking officials, and practices that are so widespread as to “practically have the force of law.”). A municipality may not be held liable solely because it employs a tortfeasor. Los Angeles Cnty., Cal. v. Humphries, 562 U.S. 29, 36 (2010).
Here, there is no basis for municipal liability alleged in the Complaint. Plaintiff essentially complains of discrete incidents, during which an officer or officers employed by Defendants City of Binghamton and Broome County did not act properly. There is no indication that Plaintiff can assert a policy or custom which would support municipal liability based on these facts. In addition, none of Plaintiff's allegations reflect a failure to train or “deliberate indifference” to the rights of persons who would come into contact with employees of Defendants City of Binghamton and Broome County.
As a result, I recommend that Plaintiff's claims against Defendants City of Binghamton and Broome County be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. See Flagg v. NYS Division of Parole, 19-CV-0886, 2019 WL 5002215, at *5 (N.D.N.Y. Aug. 15, 2019) (Baxter, M.J.) (citing DeCarlo v. Fry, 141 F.3d 56, 61 (2d Cir. 1998)) (“A single incident, particularly if it involved individuals below the policy-making level is insufficient to state a Monell claim.”), report and recommendation adopted, 2019 WL 4963112 (N.D.N.Y. Oct. 8, 2019) (McAvoy, J.).
G. Claims Against Defendant Sostowksi
First, the undersigned recommends that, to the extent the Complaint is construed as asserting an “extortion” claim against Defendant Sostowski, it be dismissed. (Dkt. No. 1 at 6.) The Complaint's bare heading stating “ Extortion ” under the second cause of action, is simply a legal conclusion that fails to suggest a plausible legal claim. (Dkt. No. 1 at 6.) Moreover, “the claim[] for . . . extortion . . . [is] not [a] cognizable civil claim[].” Murphy v. Certain, 217 A.D.3d 455, 456 (N.Y.App.Div. 1st Dep't 2023) (citing Arts4All, Ltd. v. Hancock, 5 A.D.3d 106, 111 (N.Y.App.Div. 1st Dep't 2004); Minnelli v. Soumayah, 41 A.D.3d 388, 388-89 (N.Y.App.Div. 1st Dep't 2007), lv dismissed 9 N.Y.3d 1028 (N.Y. 2008)); see Perez v. de la Cruz, 09-CV-0264, 2013 WL 2641432, at *13-14 (S.D.N.Y. June 12, 2013) (holding that “the law simply does not recognize a civil claim premised on tortious extortion.”).
Second, to the extent that the Complaint is construed as asserting a procedural due process claim, I recommend it also be dismissed.
To sustain a procedural due process claim under the Fourteenth Amendment, a plaintiff must allege “that he: (1) had a protected liberty or property interest and (2) was deprived of that interest without due process.” Johnson v. City of New York, 16-CV-2879, 2018 WL 1175139, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 5, 2018) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted); Roman-Malone v. City of New York, 11-CV-8560, 2013 WL 3835117, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. July 25, 2013) (“To state a claim for a violation of procedural due process, Plaintiff must allege that [ ]he was deprived [of] a protected interest in liberty or property, without adequate notice or opportunity to be heard.”). “Deprivation of property by a state actor, whether intentional or negligent, does not give rise to a claim under [Section] 1983 so long as the law of that state provides for an adequate postdeprivation remedy and the deprivation was the result of a ‘random and unauthorized' act.” David v. N.Y.P.D. 42nd Precinct Warrant Squad, 02-CV-2581, 2004 WL 1878777, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 23, 2004) (collecting cases); see also Davis v. New York, 311 Fed.Appx. 397, 400 (2d Cir. 2009) (summary order); Johnson, 2018 WL 1175139, at *3.
Here, the Complaint does not allege that the deprivation of Plaintiff's firearms was due to an established state procedure (see generally Dkt. No. 1), nor are there any facts plausibly “suggesting that there is any infirmity in the established procedures used by [the New York State Courts] in seizing property from [Plaintiff] at the time [the TERPO and ERPOs were issued].” Watts v. N.Y.C. Police Dep't, 100 F.Supp.3d 314, 329 (S.D.N.Y. 2015). Therefore, “when a plaintiff brings a procedural due process claim ‘[b]ased on random unauthorized acts by state employees,' the state satisfies procedural due process requirements so long as it provides a meaningful post-deprivation remedy.” Ahmed v. Town of Oyster Bay, 7 F.Supp.3d 245, 254 (E.D.N.Y. 2014) (citing Hellenic Am. Neighborhood Action Comm. v. City of New York, 101 F.3d 877, 880 (2d Cir. 1996)). “Accordingly, the only remaining question is whether New York has provided an adequate post-deprivation remedy.” Watts, 100 F.Supp.3d at 329.
The undersigned finds that New York has adequate post-deprivation remedies that Plaintiff could have used to retrieve his personal belongings-or to receive monetary compensation in the event that his belongings were lost. Winters v. New York, 20-CV-8128, 2020 WL 6586364, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 9, 2020) (citing Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 517, 533 (1984); Marino v. Ameruso, 837 F.2d 45, 47 (2d Cir. 1988); Love v. Coughlin, 714 F.2d 207, 208-09 (2d Cir. 1983)). Plaintiff's “failure to take advantage of the state procedures does not convert his cause of action into a constitutional due process claim.” Watts v. New York City Police Dep't, 100 F.Supp.3d 314, 329 (S.D.N.Y. 2015).
As a result, I recommend that Plaintiff's claims against Defendant Sostowski be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.
V. OPPORTUNITY TO AMEND
Generally, a court should not dismiss claims contained in a complaint filed by a pro se litigant without granting leave to amend at least once “when a liberal reading of the complaint gives any indication that a valid claim might be stated.” Branum v. Clark, 927 F.2d 698, 704-05 (2d Cir. 1991); see also Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a)(2) (“The court should freely give leave when justice so requires.”). An opportunity to amend is not required, however, where “the problem with [the plaintiff's] causes of action is substantive” such that “better pleading will not cure it.” Cuoco v. Moritsugu, 222 F.3d 99, 112 (2d Cir. 2000); see also Cortec Indus. Inc. v. Sum Holding L.P., 949 F.2d 42, 48 (2d Cir. 1991) (“Of course, where a plaintiff is unable to allege any fact sufficient to support its claim, a complaint should be dismissed with prejudice.”). Stated differently, “[w]here it appears that granting leave to amend is unlikely to be productive, . . . it is not an abuse of discretion to deny leave to amend.” Ruffolo v. Oppenheimer & Co., 987 F.2d 129, 131 (2d Cir. 1993); accord, Brown v. Peters, 95-CV-1641, 1997 WL 599355, at *1 (N.D.N.Y. Sept. 22, 1997) (Pooler, J.).
See also Carris v. First Student, Inc., 132 F.Supp.3d 321, 340-41 n.1 (N.D.N.Y. 2015) (Suddaby, C.J.) (explaining that the standard set forth in Gomez v. USAA Fed. Sav. Bank, 171 F.3d 794, 796 (2d Cir. 1999)-that the Court should grant leave to amend “unless the court can rule out any possibility, however unlikely it might be, that an amended complaint would be successful in stating a claim”-is likely not an accurate recitation of the governing law after Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007)), rev'd on other grounds, 682 Fed.Appx. 30.
Here, an amended pleading cannot cure the defects outlined above with respect to Plaintiff's claims against Defendants (1) Crawley, Osburn, and Broome County Clerk's Office, because they are immune from suit, and (2) Binghamton Police Department because it is not an entity amenable to suit. As a result, I recommend that the claims against those defendants be dismissed without prejudice but without leave to amend.
Although I have serious doubts about whether Plaintiff can replead to assert actionable claims against Defendants (1) Kraham, (2) Zikuski, (3) Unknown(s), (4) City of Binghamton, and (5) Broome County, given that this is the Court's first review of Plaintiff's pleading, out of an abundance of caution and in light of Plaintiff's status as a pro se litigant, I recommend that he be permitted leave to amend.
If Plaintiff chooses to file an amended complaint, he should note that the law in this circuit clearly provides that “‘complaints relying on the civil rights statutes are insufficient unless they contain some specific allegations of fact indicating a deprivation of rights, instead of a litany of general conclusions that shock but have no meaning.'” Hunt v. Budd, 895 F.Supp. 35, 38 (N.D.N.Y. 1995) (McAvoy, J.) (quoting Barr v. Abrams, 810 F.2d 358, 363 (2d Cir. 1987)); accord Pourzancvakil v. Humphry, 94-CV-1594, 1995 WL 316935, at *7 (N.D.N.Y. May 22, 1995) (Pooler, J.). Therefore, in any amended complaint, Plaintiff must clearly set forth facts that give rise to the claims, including the dates, times, and places of the alleged underlying acts, and each individual who committed each alleged wrongful act. In addition, the revised pleading should allege facts demonstrating the specific involvement of any of the named defendants in the constitutional deprivations alleged in sufficient detail to establish that they were tangibly connected to those deprivations. Bass v. Jackson, 790 F.2d 260, 263 (2d Cir. 1986). Finally, Plaintiff is informed that any such amended complaint will replace the existing complaint, and must be a wholly integrated and complete pleading that does not rely upon or incorporate by reference any pleading or document previously filed with the Court. See Shields v. Citytrust Bancorp, Inc., 25 F.3d 1124, 1128 (2d Cir. 1994) (“It is well established that an amended complaint ordinarily supersedes the original and renders it of no legal effect.”).
VI. PLAINTIFF'S LETTER REQUEST/MOTION
On March 26, 2024, Plaintiff filed a Letter Request/Motion. (Dkt. No. 6.) To the extent that the Court adopts the recommendations contained herein which recommend dismissal of the Complaint, I recommend that Plaintiff's Letter Request/Motion be dismissed as moot.
In the alternative, as best as the undersigned can glean from Plaintiff's Letter Request/Motion, Plaintiff is merely requesting that the Court rule on his motion for IFP. (Dkt. No. 6.) This Order and Report-Recommendation rules on Plaintiff's amended IFP application and thus, Plaintiff's Letter/Motion is moot.
ACCORDINGLY, it is
ORDERED that Plaintiff's amended application to proceed in forma pauperis (Dkt. No. 5) is GRANTED; and it is further respectfully
RECOMMENDED that the Court DISMISS WITH LEAVE TO REPLEAD
Plaintiff's Complaint (Dkt. No. 1) to the extent that it asserts claims against Defendants (1) Kraham, (2) Zikuski, (3) Unknown(s), (4) City of Binghamton, and (5) Broome County, because it is fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B); and it is further respectfully
RECOMMENDED that the Court DISMISS WITHOUT PREJUDICE BUT
WITHOUT LEAVE TO REPLEAD Plaintiff's Complaint (Dkt. No. 1) to the extent that it asserts claims against Defendants (1) Crawley, Osburn, and Broome County Clerk's Office, because they are immune from suit, and (2) Binghamton Police Department because it is not an entity amenable to suit, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B); and it is further respectfully
RECOMMENDED that the Court DENY Plaintiff's Letter Request/Motion (Dkt. No. 6) as moot; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall file a copy of this Order and ReportRecommendation on the docket of this case and serve a copy upon the parties in accordance with the local rules.
The Clerk shall also provide Plaintiff with copies of all unreported decisions cited herein in accordance with Lebron v. Sanders, 557 F.3d 76 (2d Cir. 2009) (per curiam).
NOTICE: Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), the parties have fourteen days within which to file written objections to the foregoing report. Such objections shall be filed with the Clerk of the Court. FAILURE TO OBJECT TO THIS REPORT WITHIN FOURTEEN DAYS WILL PRECLUDE APPELLATE REVIEW . 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) (Supp. 2013); Fed.R.Civ.P. 6(a), 6(d), 72; Roldan v. Racette, 984 F.2d 85 (2d Cir. 1993) (citing Small v. Sec'y of Health and Human Servs., 892 F.2d 15 (2d Cir. 1989)).
If you are proceeding pro se and served with this report, recommendation, and order by mail, three additional days will be added to the fourteen-day period, meaning that you have seventeen days from the date that the report, recommendation, and order was mailed to you to serve and file objections. Fed.R.Civ.P. 6(d). If the last day of that prescribed period falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then the deadline is extended until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. Fed.R.Civ.P. 6(a)(1)(C).