Opinion
10-CV-6603-CJS
08-15-2012
JOVAN FLUDD, Plaintiff, v. BRIAN FISCHER, et al., Defendants.
For Plaintiff: Jovan Fludd, pro se Wende Correctional Facility For Defendants: Gary Levine, A.A.G. of Counsel New York State Office of the Attorney General
DECISION & ORDER
APPEARANCES
For Plaintiff: Jovan Fludd, pro se
Wende Correctional Facility
For Defendants: Gary Levine, A.A.G. of Counsel
New York State Office of the Attorney General
INTRODUCTION
Siragusa, J. Plaintiff Jovan Fludd filed this pro se action seeking relief under 28 U.S.C. § 1983. The case is now before the Court on Plaintiff's motion for temporary restraining order, January 27, 2012, ECF No. 29. The Court held oral argument on the pending motion via video conference on July 11, 2012. After considering the papers filed and hearing oral argument via video conference, Plaintiff's application is denied.
DISCUSSION
Plaintiff commenced this action against eleven defendants at Wende Correctional Facility, including Deputy Superintendent Thomas Sticht ("Sticht"). Plaintiff maintains, inter alia, that the defendants have unconstitutionally interfered with his mail.
In connection with this action, Plaintiff alleges that non-parties to the suit, Sergeant Darren McGuire and Corrections Officers Paul Londono and Michael Reuse, retaliated against him for filing the lawsuit against Sticht. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that the non-parties tampered with his mail and "went a step further by demanding that petitioner perform the sexual act of masturbating before the officers along with allowing McGuire and Londono perform [sic] oral sex on petitioner." Pl.'s Aff. ¶ 4, Jan. 27, 2012, ECF No. 29. Plaintiff contends that such acts of harassment have occurred on more than twenty occasions since the filing of the suit in 2010. According to Plaintiff, the non-parties were acting as "goons," or agents of Sticht.
Plaintiff filed motion for temporary restraining order "to cease the retaliatory actions against the petitioner in the form of mail tampering and sexual harassment" on January 27, 2012, ECF No. 29.
Assuming arguendo that the Court does have jurisdiction over the non-parties, the Court nonetheless must deny Plaintiff's application for temporary restraining order. As clarified during video conference, what Plaintiff is really seeking is to be removed from Wende Correctional Facility. The nature of such a request reflects mandatory injunctive relief, and not a temporary restraining order. The standard for granting injunctive relief is higher in situations such as this where the injunction sought "will alter, rather than maintain, the status quo." Mitchell v. Goord, No. 06-CV-6197, 2007 WL 925540, at *1 (W.D.N.Y. March 23, 2007) (quoting Tom Doherty Ass'n v. Saban Entm't, Inc., 60 F.3d 27, 33-34 (2d Cir. 1995)). Where the injunction is properly characterized as mandatory, "the moving party must make a clear or substantial showing of likelihood of success." Id. Considering Plaintiff makes no accusations of retaliation in his Complaint, Plaintiff has failed to demonstrate entitlement to mandatory injunctive relief.
During the video conference, when the Court attempted to clarify the legal issues regarding the relief sought for the Plaintiff, Plaintiff became belligerent and shouted profane accusations at the Court.
During video conference, the Court recommended to Plaintiff that he make an application to amend the Complaint to include the new allegations. Plaintiff, however, contentiously represented his unwillingness to take advantage of the Court's suggestion.
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CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, Plaintiff's motion for injunctive relief is denied. The Court will issue a separate order regarding Defendant's motion to dismiss and for summary judgment.
IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: August 15, 2012
Rochester, New York
ENTER:
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CHARLES J. SIRAGUSA
United States District Judge