Opinion
1:11-CV-1526
12-03-2012
THE POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION OF THE NEW YORK STATE TROOPERS, INC., THOMAS H. MUNGEER, individually and as President of the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Police, Inc., DANIEL M. ROMANO, MARK ROBILLARD, ROLAND J. RUSSELL, JOHN P. MORETTI JR, RICKY D. PALACIOS, ROBERT WELSH, and FREDERICK W. SCHEIDT and on Behalf of Themselves and All Others Similarly Situated, Plaintiff, v. THE STATE OF NEW YORK, ANDREW M. CUOMO, individually, and in his official capacity as Governor of the State of New York, NEW YORK STATE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT, PATRICIA A. HITE, individually, and in her official capacity as Acting Commissioner, New York State Civil Service Department, NEW YORK STATE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, CAROLINE W. AHL and J. DENNIS HANRAHAN, individually, and in their official capacities as Commissioners of the New York State Civil Service Commission, ROBERT L. MEGNA, individually, and in his official capacity as Director of the New York State Division of the Budget, and THOMAS P. DiNAPOLI, individually, and in his official capacity as Comptroller of the State of New York, and NEW YORK STATE AND LOCAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM, Defendants.
POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION of NYS TROOPERS, INC. Attorneys for Plaintiffs OFFICE OF STEPHEN G. DeNIGRIS OF COUNSEL: Richard E. Mulvaney, Esq. Stephen G. DeNigris, Esq. Attorneys for Plaintiffs ERIC T. SCHNEIDERMAN Attorney General of the State of New York Attorney for Defendants Charles J. Quackenbush, Esq. Asst. Attorney General
(MAD/CRH)
APPEARANCES:
POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION
of NYS TROOPERS, INC.
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
OFFICE OF STEPHEN G. DeNIGRIS
OF COUNSEL:
Richard E. Mulvaney, Esq. Stephen G. DeNigris, Esq.
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
ERIC T. SCHNEIDERMAN
Attorney General of the State of New York
Attorney for Defendants
Charles J. Quackenbush, Esq.
Asst. Attorney General
Mae A. D'Agostino, U.S. District Judge:
MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER
INTRODUCTION
Plaintiffs commenced the within action alleging that defendants unilaterally increased the percentage of contributions that plaintiffs, active and retired employees, are required to pay for health insurance benefits in retirement and violated the Contracts Clause and Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution, impaired plaintiffs' contractual rights under the terms of their Collective Bargaining Agreement, and violated state law. Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief, declaratory judgments and monetary damages. Presently before the Court is defendants' motion to dismiss plaintiffs' complaint pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). (Dkt. No. 14). Plaintiffs have opposed the motion. (Dkt. No. 18).
On December 29, 2011, Chief United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe issued an Order pursuant to General Order #12 of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. The within action was deemed "related" to nine other actions filed in this Court. (Dkt. No. 4). Defendants filed the same motion to dismiss in each action. Each set of plaintiffs filed separate briefs in opposition to the motion. While the matters involve the same defendants and overlapping claims, the Court finds that they are sufficiently distinguishable in terms of the class of plaintiffs and facts to warrant separate Memorandum-Decisions and Orders.
BACKGROUND
The background information is taken from the complaint and is presumed true for the purposes of this motion only. This does not constitute a factual finding by the Court.
Plaintiff New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association (" NYSTPBA") is the collective bargaining representative for members of the Division of State Police including Troopers, Sergeants, Lieutenants, Captains and Majors. Plaintiff Thomas H. Mungeer is the President of NYSTPBA and an active employee of the State of New York receiving benefits through the New York State Health Insurance Program ("NYSHIP") and is a vested member of the New York State Police and Fireman's Retirement System ("PFRS"). Plaintiffs John P. Moretti and Mark Robillard are active employees of the State of New York and members of NYSTPBA and receive benefits through NYSHIP. Plaintiffs Roland J. Russell ("Russell"), Ricky D. Palacios ("Palacios"), Daniel M. Romano ("Romano"), Robert Welsh ("Welsh"), Frederick W. Scheidt ("Scheidt") are former State employees, former members of NYSTPBA and retirees covered by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement between NYSTPBA and the State of New York who receive benefits through NYSHIP. During the relevant time, defendant Patricia Hite ("Hite") was Acting Commissioner of the Civil Service Department and Acting President of the Civil Service Commission. Defendants Caroline W. Ahl ("Ahl") and J. Dennis Hanrahan ("Hanrahan") were members of the Civil Service Commission. Defendant Robert Megna ("Megna") was the Director of the New York State Division of the Budget. Defendant Thomas P. DiNapoli ("DiNapoli") was the Comptroller of the State of New York and responsible for the administration of the New York State and Local Retirement System including the monthly payment of pensions to eligible retired State employees, less any deductions for the payment of retiree health insurance premium costs.
The Amended Complaint does not indicate when plaintiffs retired.
Article XI of the New York State Civil Service Law ("CSL") provides for a statewide health insurance plan for eligible State employees and retired State employees known as the New York State Health Insurance Plan ("NYSHIP" or "Empire Plan"). New York Civil Service Law § 167(1) assigns the State contribution rate towards the cost of health insurance premium or subscription charges for the coverage of State employees and retired State employees enrolled in NYSHIP. Prior to 1983, the State was required to pay the full cost of premium or subscription charges for the coverage of State employees and retired State employees enrolled in NYSHIP. Chapter 14 of the Laws of 1983 amended Civil Service Law § 167(1)(a) to limit the amount that the State was required to pay towards the cost of premium or subscription charges for the coverage of State employees and retired State employees enrolled in NYSHIP, by providing that the State was required to contribute only ninety percent (90 %) of the cost of such premium or subscription charges for the coverage of State employees and retired State employees retiring on or after January 1, 1983. The State would continue to contribute seventy-five percent (75 %) for dependent coverage for State employees and retired State employees.
The Governor's Program Bill Memorandum regarding the 1983 amendment provided:
The State and the employee organizations representing State workers have agreed to a reduction of the State's contribution for the premium or subscription charges for employees enrolled in the statewide health insurance plan.
Between 1983 and 2011, Civil Service Law § 167(8) provided, inter alia,
[n]otwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, where and to the extent that an agreement between the state and an employee organization entered into pursuant to article fourteen of this chapter so provides, the state cost of premium or subscription charges for eligible employees covered by such agreement may be increased pursuant to the terms of such agreement.
NYSTPBA and the State of New York entered into a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and Interest Arbitration Award effective April 1, 2007 through March 31, 2011. Article 11 of the CBA governs the coverage of Health, Dental and Prescription Drug Insurance. Section 11.1 of the CBA provides:
Relevant portions of the CBA are annexed to the Amended Complaint.
The State shall continue to provide all the forms and extent of coverage as defined by the contracts in force on March 31, 1995, or as modified by the Tripartite Arbitration Panel Awards covering the periods 1995-1999, 1999-2001, 2001-2003, and 2003-2007 Collective Bargaining Agreement unless specifically modified or replaced pursuant to this agreement.
Section 11.10 of the 2007-2011 NYSTPBA CBA is entitled Premium Contribution and provides:
(a) The State agrees to pay 90 percent of the cost of individual coverage and 75 percent of dependent coverage, provided under the Empire Plan. The State shall pay 90 percent for individual prescription drug coverage and 75 percent for dependent prescription drug coverage under the Empire Plan.
(b) The State agrees to pay 90 percent of the cost of individual coverage and 75 percent of dependent coverage, toward the hospital/medical/mental health and substance abuse components of each HMO, not to exceed, 100 percent of its dollar contribution for those components under the Empire Plan. The State will pay 90 percent of the cost of individual prescription drug coverage and 75 percent of the cost of dependent prescription drug coverage under the Health Maintenance Organizations.
On August 17, 2011, the legislature passed Chapter 491 of the Laws of 2011 ("Chapter 491"). Chapter 491 amended § 167(8) and replaced the word "increased" with the word "modified". The amendment further provided:
The president [of the Civil Service Commission], with the approval of the director of the budget, may extend the modified state cost of premium or subscription charges for employees or retirees not subject to an agreement referenced above and shall promulgate the necessary rules or regulations to implement this provision.
In August 2011, the New York State Civil Service Department issued an Empire Plan Special Report announcing the implementation of new reduced State contribution rates in NYSHIP for New York State Retirees, Vestees and Dependent Survivors and Employees of the State of New York designated as Management/Confidential (M/C) and Legislature employees.
On September 21, 2011, defendant Hite requested defendant Megna's approval to extend the modified contribution rates. On September 22, 2011, Megna approved the extension of modified contribution rates.
On October 1, 2011, defendants implemented new reduced State contribution rates which resulted in a two percent (2 %) reduction in the State contribution rates for Individual coverage, from ninety percent (90 %) to eighty-eight percent (88 %), and Dependent Coverage, from seventy-five percent (75 %) to seventy-three percent (73 %), for enrolled State retirees, including NYSTPBA retirees, who retired on or after January 1, 1983.
Defendants approved and filed emergency regulations to implement the reduction in State contribution rates effective October 1, 2011, and a further reduction in State contribution rates for employees retiring from State service on or after January 1, 2012, including NYSTPBA members, which will result in a six percent (6 %) reduction in the State contribution rates for individual coverage from ninety percent (90 %) to eighty-four percent (84 %) and dependent coverage from seventy-five percent (75 %) to sixty-nine percent (69 %) for those retirees retiring from a title Salary Grade 10 or above, from a position equated to Salary Grade 10 or above, or for those who retire from a position which is not allocated or equated to a Salary Grade, based upon the wages or salary paid as compared to the salary schedule set forth in the CSEA Agreement.
On January 21, 2012, plaintiffs filed an Amended Complaint (Dkt. No. 8) asserting causes of action for impairment of contract in violation of the United States Constitution and New York State Constitution, violation of due process, violation of civil rights pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and breach of contract. Plaintiffs also claim that Civil Service Law § 167(8) is unconstitutional as applied and assert that defendants Hite and Megna lacked authority under § 167(8) to approve and implement the reduction in State contribution rates. Plaintiffs seek judgment pursuant to Article 78 of the New York Civil Practice Laws and Rules. Plaintiffs commenced this action against the individual defendants in both their individual and official capacities.
DISCUSSION
Standard on a Motion to Dismiss under 12(b)(1)
In contemplating a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), the Court must "accept as true all material factual allegations in the complaint[.]" Atl. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Balfour MacLaine Int'l Ltd., 968 F. 2d 196, 198 (2d Cir.1992). The Court may consider evidence outside the pleadings, e.g ., affidavit(s), documents or otherwise competent evidence. See Kamen v. Am. Tel. & Tel. Co., 791 F.2d 1006, 1011 (2d Cir.1986); Antares Aircraft v. Fed. Rep. of Nigeria, 948 F.2d 90, 96 (2d Cir.1991). "The standards for considering a motion to dismiss under Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) are substantively identical." Lerner v. Fleet Bank, N.A., 318 F.3d 113, 128 (2d Cir. 2003).
Defendants move for dismissal pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) arguing that the Eleventh Amendment precludes the Court from obtaining subject matter jurisdiction over the following claims: (1) all of plaintiffs' claims against the State of New York and its agencies; (2) plaintiffs' claims against defendants in their official capacities; and (3) plaintiffs' Article 78 cause of action. Defendants also allege that the principals of the Younger doctrine require abstention in this matter.
I. Eleventh Amendment
The Eleventh Amendment provides that "[t]he Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State." State Emp. Bargaining Agent Coalition v. Rowland, 494 F.3d 71, 95 (2d Cir. 2007) (citing U.S. Const. amend. XI). The Eleventh Amendment bars federal courts from exercising subject matter jurisdiction over claims against states absent their consent to such a suit or an express statutory waiver of immunity. See Pennhurst State Sch. & Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89, 90-100 (1984); see also Huminski v. Corsones, 386 F.3d 116, 133 (2d Cir. 2004) (citation omitted). Although the plaintiff generally bears the burden of proving subject matter jurisdiction, the entity claiming Eleventh Amendment immunity bears the burden to prove such. See Woods v. Rondout Valley Cent. Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ., 466 F.3d 232, 237 (2d Cir. 2006).
Section 1983 imposes liability for "conduct which 'subjects, or causes to be subjected' the complainant to a deprivation of a right secured by the Constitution and laws." Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 370-71 (1976) (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 1983). It is well-settled that states are not "persons" under section 1983 and, therefore, Eleventh Amendment immunity is not abrogated by that statute. See Will v. Mich. Dep't. of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 71 (1989).
A. Federal Claims against State of New York, New York State Civil Service Department, New York State Civil Service Commission and New York State and Local Retirement System
Regardless of the type of relief sought, the Eleventh Amendment bars this Court from assuming jurisdiction over plaintiffs' claims asserted against the State of New York and its agencies. When the state or one of its "arms" is the defendant, sovereign immunity bars federal courts from entertaining lawsuits against them "regardless of the nature of the relief sought." Pennhurst, 465 U.S. at 100. In this case, the State has neither waived its immunity, nor has Congress exercised its power to override Eleventh Amendment immunity. Accordingly, plaintiffs' claims against the State of New York, New York State Civil Service Department, New York State Civil Service Commission and New York State and Local Retirement System are dismissed. See McGinty v. New York, 251 F.3d 84, 100 (2d Cir. 2001) (dismissing the claims against the Retirement System for lack of subject matter jurisdiction based upon the Eleventh Amendment).
B. Federal Claims Against State Officials in their Official Capacity
Plaintiffs also assert claims against defendants Cuomo, Hite, Ahl, Hanrahan, Megna and DiNapoli in their official capacities. Eleventh Amendment immunity extends to state officials sued in their official capacities for retrospective relief. See Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 166 (1985). Actions for damages against a state official in his or her official capacity are essentially actions against the state, and will be barred by the Eleventh Amendment unless: (1) Congress has abrogated immunity, (2) the state has consented to suit, or (3) the Ex parte Young doctrine applies. See Will, 491 U.S. at 71. In this matter, the issues presented before this Court involve the third exception.
In Ex Parte Young, 209 U.S. 123 (1908), the Supreme Court established an exception to state sovereign immunity in federal actions where an individual brings an action seeking injunctive relief against a state official for an ongoing violation of law or the Constitution. This doctrine provides "a limited exception to the general principle of sovereign immunity [that] allows a suit for injunctive relief challenging the constitutionality of a state official's actions in enforcing state law under the theory that such a suit is not one against the State, and therefore not barred by the Eleventh Amendment." Ford v. Reynolds, 316 F.3d 351, 354-55 (2d Cir. 2003). Under the doctrine, a suit may proceed against a state official in his or her official capacity, notwithstanding the Eleventh Amendment, when a plaintiff, "(a) alleges an ongoing violation of federal law and (b) seeks relief properly characterized as prospective." See In re Deposit Ins. Agency, 482 F.3d 612, 618 (2d Cir. 2007) (quotations and citations omitted); see also Santiago v. New York State Dep't of Corr. Serv., 945 F.2d 25, 32 (2d Cir. 1991) (holding that such claims, however, cannot be brought directly against the state, or a state agency, but only against state officials in their official capacities).
In Edelman v. Jordan, 415 U.S. 651, 653 (1974), the Supreme Court expanded upon Ex Parte Young and held that even when a plaintiff's requested relief is styled as an injunction against a state official, if "the action is in essence one for recovery of money from the state, the state is the real, substantial party in interest and is entitled to invoke its sovereign immunity from suit even though individual officials are nominal defendants." Retroactive relief is that relief "measured in terms of a monetary loss resulting from a past breach of a legal duty on the part of the defendant state officials" regardless of how the relief is fashioned. Id. at 668. "Prospective relief includes injunctive relief that bars a state actor from engaging in certain unconstitutional acts or abates ongoing constitutional violations as well as the 'payment of state funds as a necessary consequence of compliance in the future with a substantive federal question determination.'" Id. The "general criterion for determining when a suit is in fact against the sovereign is the effect of the relief sought, namely, would the relief abate an ongoing violation or prevent a threatened future violation of federal law?" Id. In Edelman, the majority concluded:
It is one thing to tell [a state official] that he must comply with the federal standards for the future if the state is to have the benefit of federal funds in the program he administers. It is quite another thing to order the [state official] to use state funds to make reparation for the past. The latter would appear to us to fall afoul of the Eleventh Amendment if that basic constitutional provision is to be conceived of as having any force.Id. at 695. (quotation omitted).
In order to determine whether the Ex parte Young exception allows plaintiffs' suit against the officials, this Court must first determine whether the complaint alleges an ongoing violation of federal law and second, whether plaintiffs seek relief properly characterized as prospective. See Verizon Md., Inc. v. Pub. Serv. Comm'n of Md., 535 U.S. 635, 645 (2002)). "[T]o successfully avoid the Eleventh Amendment bar, a plaintiff must prove that a defendant's violation of federal law is of an ongoing nature as opposed to a case 'in which federal law has been violated at one time or another over a period of time in the past.'" Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 277-78 (1986). The inquiry for determining whether an "ongoing violation" exists is, "does the enforcement of the law amount to a continuous violation of plaintiffs constitutional rights or a single act that continues to have negative consequences for plaintiffs." New Jersey Educ. Ass'n v. New Jersey, No. 11-5024, 2012 WL 715284, at *4 (D.N.J. Mar. 5, 2012).
Defendants argue that Eleventh Amendment immunity extends to state officials but fail to address the Ex Parte Young exception. Here, plaintiffs argue that a "straightforward inquiry" reveals that plaintiffs have alleged a violation of federal law. Plaintiffs allege that defendant officials are engaged in enforcing Chapter 491 of the Laws of 2011, a law that is contrary to federal law because it impairs their rights under Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution. Plaintiffs also allege that officials are implementing a state statute that violates federal due process. An allegation that state officials are enforcing a law in contravention of controlling federal law is sufficient to allege an ongoing violation of federal law for the purposes of Ex parte Young. See Chester Bross Const. Co. v. Schneider, No. 12-3159, 2012 WL 3292849, at *6 (C.D. Ill. Aug. 10, 2012) (citing Verizon Md., Inc., 535 U.S. at 645). Thus, plaintiffs have satisfied the first prong of Ex Parte Young.
With respect to the nature of the relief sought, plaintiffs seek monetary, injunctive and declaratory relief. The Court will address each request for relief in turn.
1. Monetary Relief
Plaintiffs seek an order requiring defendants to "reimburse the plaintiffs and all other similarly situated retirement eligible members and former members of NYSTPBA, all monies in an amount necessary to make them whole against the State defendants implementation of reduced health insurance contribution rates;" costs and reasonable attorneys fees. Am. Cplt. at ¶¶ 27, 29, 31, 32, 36, 37 and 38.
Plaintiffs cite to Milliken v. Bradley, 433 U.S. 267 (1977) as support for their claims for monetary damages. In the Milliken case, the district court ordered implementation of student assignment plans and educational components in the areas of reading, in-service teacher training, testing and counseling to effectuate desegregation. The Supreme Court discussed the "prospective-compliance" exception which permits federal courts to enjoin state officials to conform their conduct to requirements of federal law notwithstanding a direct and substantial impact on the state treasury. Id. at 289. In Milliken, there was no money award in favor of the respondent or any member of his class. The Court explained that the case "simply does not involve individual citizens' conducting a raid on the state treasury for an accrued monetary liability." Id. Instead, the decree required state officials to eliminate a segregated school system. Id. The Court reasoned that
[t]hese programs were not, and as a practical matter could not be, intended to wipe the slate clean by one bold stroke, as could a retroactive award of money in Edelman. Rather, by the nature of the antecedent violation, which on this record caused significant deficiencies in communications skills — reading and speaking — the victims of Detroit's de jure segregated system will continue to experience the effects of segregation until such future time as the remedial programs can help dissipate the continuing effects of past misconduct. Reading and speech deficiencies cannot be eliminated by judicial fiat; they will require time, patience, and the skills of specially trained teachers. That the programs are also 'compensatory' in nature does not change the fact that they are part of a plan that operates prospectively to bring about the delayed benefits of a unitary school system. We therefore hold that such prospective relief is not barred by the Eleventh Amendment.Id. at 290.
The facts and relief sought in Milliken are clearly distinguishable from those at hand and thus, the Court is not persuaded that the holding supports plaintiffs' claims herein. To the extent plaintiffs seek monetary relief against defendants acting in their official capacity as agents of the State, such claims are barred by the Eleventh Amendment. See Fulton v. Goord, 591 F.3d 37, 45 (2d Cir. 2009) (holding that "in a suit against state officials in their official capacities, monetary relief (unlike prospective injunctive relief) is generally barred by the Eleventh Amendment") (citation omitted).
2. Injunctive Relief
Plaintiffs also seek an injunction: (1) prohibiting the defendants from taking further actions impairing the contract between the plaintiffs and the State; (2) enjoining State defendants from implementing the reduced State contribution rates for retired State employees and prohibiting the irreparable constitutional injury; (3) enjoining defendants from further breach of the CBA; (4) enjoining defendant from further breach of the plaintiff's contract rights; and (5) enjoining State defendants from implementing reduced rates for health insurance. Am. Cplt. at ¶¶ 27, 29, 30, 33, 34, 37 and 38. As discussed supra, defendants did not address Ex Parte Young or the inapplicability/applicability of the doctrine herein. Defendants do not claim that plaintiffs seek improper injunctive relief that is retrospective or designed to compensate for a past violation of federal law. Moreover, defendants did not present any argument regarding the impact such an injunction would have on the state treasury. To the extent that plaintiffs seek prospective injunctive relief against defendants, plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged such claims and thus, based upon the purview of Ex Parte Young, dismissal is not warranted. Finch v. New York State Office of Children and Family Serv., 499 F. Supp. 2d 521, 538 (S.D.N.Y. 2007).
3. Declaratory Judgment
Plaintiffs seek the following declaratory judgments:
a. that the State defendants' actions are unconstitutional in violation of the Contract Clause of Article I, §10 of the United States Constitution;
b. requiring defendants to rescind the illegal reduced state contribution rates;
c. that the State defendants' actions are unconstitutional in violation of the New York State Constitution, Article I, §6;
d. that the State defendants' actions violated the plaintiffs and all similarly situated retirement eligible members and retired former members of NYSTPBA, constitutional rights in violation of their Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment Due Process rights under the United States Constitution;
e. that the State defendants' actions in administratively approving, extending and implementing increases in the contribution rates that retired State employees are required to pay for health insurance benefits in retirement are, ultra vires, without lawful authority, unauthorized pursuant to New York Civil Service Law § 167(8), and null and void;
f. that the State defendants breached the 2007-2009 NYSTPBA CBA and prior Agreements and Awards; and
g. that the State defendants' actions in administratively approving, extending and implementing increases in the contribution rates that retired State employees are required to pay for health insurance benefits in retirement violated plaintiffs' contract rights established pursuant to Civil Service Law § 167(8), as amended by Chapter 14 of the Laws of 1983, and by the State's longstanding practices.
Declaratory judgments form part of the injunctive relief allowed for under Ex Parte Young. See Tigrett v. Cooper, No. 10-2724, 2012 WL 691892, at *6 (W.D. Tenn. Mar. 2, 2012). However, declaratory relief is not permitted under Ex Parte Young when it would serve to declare only past actions in violation of federal law: retroactive declaratory relief cannot be properly characterized as prospective. Id.; Green v. Mansour, 474 U.S. 64, 74 (1985) (holding that the Eleventh Amendment bars retrospective declaratory relief against state officials); New Jersey Educ. Ass'n, 2012 WL 715284, at *5 (holding that a request for a declaratory judgment holding that portions of a statute are unconstitutional is "nothing more than an indirect way of forcing the State to abide by its obligations as they existed before the enactment of the Act and therefore, essentially a request for specific performance" and, thus, not permitted).
In this matter, to the extent plaintiffs seek declaratory relief regarding the State defendants' past conduct, such claims must be dismissed because the Eleventh Amendment "does not permit judgments against state officers declaring that they violated federal law in the past." Finch, 499 F. Supp. 2d at 538 (citing Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Auth. v. Metcalf & Eddy, Inc., 506 U.S. 139, 146 (1993)); see also Nat'l Audubon Soc'y, Inc. v. Davis, 307 F.3d 835, 847-48 (9th Cir. 2002) (noting that retrospective declaratory relief would declare that the State Defendants committed constitutional violations in the past; prospective relief would declare that likely future actions are unconstitutional).
However, plaintiffs' also request an Order requiring defendants to rescind the illegal reduced state contribution rates. See Verizon Md., 535 U.S. at 645 ("The prayer for injunctive relief - that state officials be restrained from enforcing an order in contravention of controlling federal law - clearly satisfies our 'straightforward inquiry.'"). As this request, to the extent that plaintiffs seek prospective declaratory relief, that relief is not barred by the Eleventh Amendment.
To summarize, the Eleventh Amendment deprives this Court of jurisdiction over all of plaintiffs' claims against the State of New York, New York State Civil Service Department, New York State Civil Service Commission and New York State and Local Retirement System and plaintiffs' claims for monetary damages against defendants in their official capacities. Jurisdiction remains over plaintiffs' claims for prospective injunctive and declaratory relief and against defendants Cuomo, Hite, Ahl, Hanrahan, Megna and DiNapoli in their official capacities.
C. New York State Law Contractual Impairment Claims Against Defendants in their Official Capacities
Defendants also move for dismissal of plaintiffs' state law contractual impairment claim asserted against defendants in their official capacity. The jurisdiction of a federal court to entertain supplemental state law claims under 28 U.S.C § 1367 does not override Eleventh Amendment immunity. "Supplemental jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a) does not constitute a congressional abrogation of the Eleventh Amendment granting district courts the power to adjudicate pendent state law claims." Nunez v. Cuomo, No. 11-CV-3457, 2012 WL 3241260, at *20 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2012) (citations omitted). The Eleventh Amendment bars suits in federal courts seeking relief, whether prospective or retroactive, against state officials for their alleged violations of state law. See Pennhurst, 465 U.S. 89, 106. The Ex parte Young doctrine is inapplicable where the officials are alleged to have violated state law. Local 851 of Int'l Bhd. of Teamsters v. Thyssen Haniel Logistics, Inc., 90 F. Supp. 2d 237, 247 (E.D.N.Y. 2000) (citing Pennhurst, 465 U.S. at 104-06). However, the Eleventh Amendment does not bar a suit when an official has allegedly acted entirely outside her state-delegated authority in a manner that violates federal law. See Florida Dep't of State v. Treasure Salvors, Inc. 458 U.S. 670, 696-697 (1982); Pennhurst, 465 U.S. at 101, n.11. In Treasure Salvors, Inc., the Supreme Court held as follows
[A]ction of an officer of the sovereign (be it holding, taking or otherwise legally affecting the plaintiff's property) that is beyond the officer's statutory authority is not action of the sovereign, a suit for specific relief against the officer is not barred by the Eleventh Amendment. This conclusion follows inevitably from Ex parte Young. If conduct of a state officer taken pursuant to an unconstitutional state statute is deemed to be unauthorized and may be challenged in federal court, conduct undertaken without any authority whatever is also not entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity.Id. at 696. A state officer acts ultra vires when he acts beyond the scope of his statutory authority, or pursuant to authority deemed to be unconstitutional. Id.
Here, plaintiffs must establish that defendants acted "without any authority whatsoever" under state law. Sherwin-Williams Co. v. Crotty, 334 F. Supp. 2d 187, 196 (N.D.N.Y. 2004). Plaintiffs allege that the state claims arise out of ultra vires acts by defendants Hite and Megna:
Defendant Hite, in her capacity as "Acting Commissioner" of the Civil Service Department, and "Acting President" of the Civil Service Commission, has not filed an oath of office as Commissioner or President.Am. Cplt. at ¶¶ 102-105, 140-141.
Defendant Hite, in her capacity as "Acting President" of the Civil Service Commission, has not attended or voted at any official meeting of the Civil Service Commission.
Defendant Hite lacks authority pursuant to Civil Service Law 167(8) to extend modified State contribution rates to retired State employees and unrepresented State employees, as proposed in her September 21, 2011 letter to defendant Budget Director Megna.
As a result of defendant Hite's lack of authority, defendant Megna lacked authority on September 22, 2011, to approve the extension of modified State contribution rates to retired State employees and unrepresented State employees pursuant to Civil Service Law 167(8).
Other than for purposes of purportedly extending the modified State contribution rates challenged herein or purportedly authorizing the filing of emergency regulations with the Secretary of State necessary to implement the extension of modified State contribution rates challenged herein, defendant Hite has not otherwise purported to act in an official capacity as either "Acting President" or "President" of said Commission.
Based upon the vacancy in the office of President of the Civil Service Commission, and defendant Hite's failure to perform all of the duties, functions and responsibilities of the President of the Civil Service Commission, "Acting" or otherwise, State defendants Hite and Megna lacked authority under the provisions of the Civil Service Law § 167(8), or otherwise, to approve and implement the aforesaid reduction in State contribution rates for retired State employees.
Plaintiffs also allege that, "defendants' implementation of the aforesaid reduced State contribution rates for retirees is not based upon an extension of the terms contained in the CSEA Agreement, and is therefore ultra vires, without lawful authority, unauthorized pursuant to Civil Service Law 167(8), null and void." Id. at ¶ 144. At this stage of the litigation, plaintiffs have sufficiently plead the ultra vires exception to the Eleventh Amendment and thus, defendants' motion to dismiss based upon lack of subject matter jurisdiction over the state law claims is denied.
D. Federal Claims Against Defendants in their Individual Capacities
Plaintiffs assert § 1983 claims for monetary damages, injunctive relief and declaratory judgment against defendants Cuomo, Hite, Ahl, Hanrahan, Megna and DiNapoli, individually. Suits against state officials in their personal capacity are not barred by the Eleventh Amendment, even for actions required by their official duties, Hafer v. Melo, 502 U.S. 21, 27-28 (1991) (holding that state officials may be personally liable for actions taken in their official capacity); however, such actions may be subject to dismissal on other grounds. Here, defendants argue that legislative immunity divests this Court of jurisdiction over plaintiffs' claims against the individual defendants in their individual capacities. However, legislative immunity is a personal defense that may be asserted in the context of a challenge under Rule 12(b)(6) and is not proper for review as a jurisdictional bar under Rule 12(b)(1). See State Emp., 494 F.3d at 82, n.4. Accordingly, that portion of defendants' motion will be discussed infra.
II. Seventh Cause of Action for Judgment Pursuant to Article 78 of the New York Civil Practice Laws and Rules
Defendants move to dismiss plaintiffs' claims under N.Y.C.P.L.R. Article 78, arguing that, to the extent that plaintiffs are challenging official interpretations of CSL § 167(8), defendants' promulgations or regulations, and the propriety of the Civil Service President's appointment, New York State has not empowered the federal courts to entertain these actions. Plaintiffs contend that the Article 78 claims are predicated on the federal constitutional claims and derive from a common nucleus of operative fact. Therefore, plaintiffs argue that this Court has the discretion to exercise pendent jurisdiction over these claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367.
Section 1367 provides that a court "may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction" if there are "compelling reasons for declining jurisdiction." 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c), (c)(4). "There does not appear to be a consensus in this Circuit as to whether courts may, in their discretion, hear Article 78 claims under the rubric of supplemental jurisdiction." Minima v. New York City Emp. Retirement Sys., No. 11-CV-2191, 2012 WL 4049822, 8 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 17, 2012) (citing Clear Wireless L.L.C. v. Bldg. Dep't of Lynbrook, No. 10-CV-5055, 2012 WL 826749, at *9 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 8, 2012) (noting that "it is doubtful . . . that claims under Article 78 are even amenable to a district court's supplemental jurisdiction"); see also Morningside Supermarket Corp. v. New York State Dep't of Health, 432 F. Supp. 2d 334, 346 (S.D.N.Y. 2006) (refusing to exercise jurisdiction over the plaintiffs Article 78 cause of action for an order annulling a Department of Health for an error of law, and as arbitrary and capricious). The "overwhelming majority of district courts confronted with the question . . . have found that they are without power to do so or have declined to do so." Clear Wireless, 2012 WL 826749, at *9 (quoting Coastal Commc'ns Serv., Inc. v. City of New York, 658 F. Supp. 2d 425, 459 (E.D.N.Y. 2009)); see also DeJesus v. City of New York, no. 10-CV-9400, 2012 WL 569176, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 21, 2012) (holding that Article 78 is a procedure, not a cause of action).
However, "[e]ven assuming that a federal district court could properly exercise supplemental jurisdiction over an Article 78 claim, the court has 'discretion under 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c) to determine whether to hear th[ose] claims.'" Morningside Supermarket Corp., 432 F. Supp. 2d at 346 (citing Briarpatch Ltd., L.P. v. Phoenix Pictures, Inc., 373 F.3d 296, 309 (2d Cir. 2004)).
In Morningside, the court held that
[f]ederal courts in New York agree that "Article 78 proceedings were designed for the state courts, and are best suited to adjudication there." Moreover, "state law does not permit [these] proceedings to be brought in federal court." These are compelling reasons to decline supplemental jurisdiction over Morningside's third cause of action, and there is nothing exceptional about Morningside's claim that would justify deviation from the well-reasoned and essentially unanimous position of New York district courts on this issue.Id. (internal citations omitted).
Here, plaintiffs seek to have this Court "annul" defendants' actions pursuant to Article 78. The caselaw on this issue is decidedly in defendants' favor. While it is true that the federal claims and state-law issues arise out of the same operative set of facts, this Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over plaintiffs' Article 78 claim because to do so would require this Court to interpret state law before the New York State courts have an opportunity to analyze and resolve the issues. See Support Ministries For Persons with AIDS, Inc. v. Vill. of Waterford, N.Y., 799 F. Supp. 272, 280 (N.D.N.Y. 1992) (holding that "there is no reason for th[e] court to embroil itself in a dispute between the State and a local government and to make this novel and potentially extremely significant interpretation of state law"). The Court has reviewed the holding in Yonkers Racing Corp. v. City of Yonkers, 858 F.2d 855 (2d Cir. 1988), a case cited by the plaintiffs in related cases and finds the holding unpersuasive based upon the facts herein. In Yonkers, the Second Circuit noted that the case "presented exceptional circumstances" and opted to exercise jurisdiction over the plaintiffs' Article 78 claim. The Yonkers holding has been cited as the exception, not the rule. See Coastal Commc'ns, 658 F. Supp. 2d at 459; see also Kelly v. City of Mount Vernon, 344 F. Supp. 2d 395, 407 (S.D.N.Y. 2004).
In Cartegena v. City of New York, 257 F. Supp. 2d 708, 709 (S.D.N.Y. 2003), another case cited by the plaintiffs in the related action, the district court exercised jurisdiction over the Article 78 claims only after the parties withdrew their jurisdictional objections and consented.
Here, plaintiffs have not persuaded this Court that this case presents such extreme facts. Based upon the circumstances herein, the Court finds that this specific state-created civil action should not be brought in federal court. Accordingly, the Court follows the "essentially unanimous position of the New York district Courts" and declines to exercise jurisdiction over plaintiffs' Seventh Cause of Action. See Morningside, 432 F. Supp. 2d at 347. III. Younger Doctrine
A federal court's obligation to adjudicate claims within its jurisdiction is "virtually unflagging." New Orleans Pub. Serv., Inc. v. Council of City of New Orleans, 491 U.S. 350, 359 (1989) (holding that "abstention remains the exception, not the rule"). The Younger doctrine "espouse[s] the policy that a federal court should not interfere with a pending state judicial proceeding in which important state interests are at stake." Wisoff v. City of Schenectady, No. 07-CV-34, 2009 WL 606139, at *6 (N.D.N.Y. Mar., 2009) (citing, inter alia, Middlesex County Ethics Comm. v. Garden State Bar Ass'n, 457 U.S. 423, 431-432 (1982)). In the Second Circuit, courts applying Younger abstention "must determine (1) whether there is an ongoing state proceeding; (2) whether an important state interest is involved; and (3) whether the federal plaintiff has an adequate opportunity for judicial review of his constitutional claims during or after the proceeding." Univ. Club v. City of New York, 842 F.2d 37, 40 (2d Cir.1988) (internal citations omitted)).
Generally, Younger is not applied against those not party to the pending state proceedings. Hindu Temple Soc'y of N. Am. v. Supreme Court of State of New York, 335 F. Supp. 2d 369, 375 (E.D.N.Y. 2004). However, the Second Circuit has held that, "[i]n certain circumstances, Younger may apply to the claims of third-parties who are not directly involved in any pending state proceeding." Spargo v. N.Y. State Comm'n on Judicial Conduct, 351 F.3d 65, 82 (2d Cir.2003). "[A]lthough plaintiffs should not 'automatically be thrown into the same hopper for Younger purposes,' there may be 'some circumstances in which legally distinct parties are so closely related that they should all be subject to the Younger considerations which govern any one of them.'" Hindu Temple, 335 F. Supp. 2d at 375. (quoting, inter alia, Doran v. Salem Inn, Inc., 422 U.S. 922, 928 (1975)). "Courts have consistently recognized while '[c]ongruence of interests is not enough,' by itself, to warrant abstention, where the plaintiffs' interests are so inextricably intertwined that 'direct interference with the state court proceeding is inevitable,' Younger may extend to bar the claims of plaintiffs who are not parties to the pending state proceeding." Spargo, 351 F.3d at 82 (holding that two plaintiffs [political supporters of a state judge, the third plaintiff] presented First Amendment challenges with legal claims that were sufficiently intertwined with the judge's state claims in that the case presented one of the narrow circumstances in which Younger applies to those not directly involved in the state court action)(citations omitted). While plaintiffs may seek similar relief or present parallel challenges to the constitutionality of a state statute or policy, absent other factors establishing interwoven legal interests, Younger will not bar the federal action. Spargo, 351 F.3d at 83. "Where courts have applied Younger abstention to non-parties, those courts have limited the doctrine's application to instances where the non-parties 'seek to directly interfere with the pending [state] proceeding.'" Citizens for a Strong Ohio v. Marsh, 123 Fed. Appex. 630, 635 (6th Cir. 2005) (quoting Spargo, 351 F.2d at 85).
In a recent decision from the Eastern District, Donohue v. Mangano, No. 12-CV-2568, 2012 WL 3561796 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 20, 2012), the defendants argued that the Younger doctrine mandated abstention based upon an action in Supreme Court, Nassau County for injunctive and declaratory relief that was filed by one of the three sets of plaintiffs. The plaintiffs not involved in the state action argued that Younger did not extend to their claims because they were not a party to the ongoing state court proceedings. See Id. at *12. The court held that while it was unlikely that the plaintiffs' interests were inextricably intertwined for the purposes of Younger, it declined to definitively rule on that issue. See Id. Rather, the court held that the relief sought by the plaintiffs in the state court action was remedial rather than coercive. See Id. at *13. The court, relying upon holdings in other Circuits, reasoned that a "coercive" action is a state-initiated enforcement action in which the plaintiff does not have a choice to participate and one in which the federal plaintiff is the state court defendant. See Id. In contrast, a "remedial" proceeding is one in which the plaintiff initiated an option to seek a remedy for the state's wrongful action and to vindicate a wrong inflicted by the state. With that reasoning, the Court held that the Nassau County action was "clearly remedial" and not the type of parallel state court proceeding requiring abstention under Younger. See id. at *13-*14.
Here, as in Donohue, defendants' arguments in support of abstention are imprecise. Defendants argue that the Court should abstain from hearing this matter based upon a civil matter currently pending in Albany County but offer no further analysis or argument in favor of Younger. In the Albany County action, the petitioner, Retired Public Employees Association ("RPEA"), filed a petition pursuant to Article 78 against defendants herein. The petitioners, retirees from State service prior to October 1, 2011, petitioned for an order declaring the administrative implementation of an increase in the percentage of contributions by State retirees and/or their dependents based upon CSL § 167(8) invalid, null and void. The petitioners are also seeking an order declaring the emergency regulation filed on October 1, 2011 invalid, null and void, and are further seeking injunctive relief and a refund. On February 24, 2012, the respondents filed a motion to dismiss. Defendants argue that the RPEA case involves the same claims/issues presented herein and a facial challenge to CSL § 167(8).
Based upon the record and this Court's independent research, the motion to dismiss is still pending.
The Court has reviewed the RPEA pleadings annexed to defendants' motion. Defendants do not dispute that plaintiffs herein are not a party in the state proceeding. Therefore, for the Younger doctrine to apply herein, defendants must establish that plaintiffs and the RPEA petitioners' interests are "inextricably intertwined." Defendants have failed to demonstrate that plaintiffs' interests are so closely related that abstention is warranted. In the state action, petitioners have not asserted a contractual impairment claim based upon a CBA. Defendants have not established that plaintiffs' interests will interfere with the state court proceeding, nor has it been established that plaintiffs have an adequate opportunity for judicial review of their federal claims in the pending state court action. Moreover, the state court action does not contain claims against defendants in their individual capacities. Courts have made clear that the Younger doctrine should be applied sparingly and cautiously to federal plaintiffs not parties to an ongoing state action. Accordingly, this Court finds that the parties and their claims are not "so closely related" to require Younger abstention.
Because the Court finds that defendants have failed to establish the first Younger factor, the Court need not discuss the issue of whether the relief sought by the RPEA petitioners is "remedial" or "coercive."
Standard on a Motion to Dismiss under 12(b)(6)
A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure tests the legal sufficiency of the party's claim for relief and pleadings without considering the substantive merits of the case. Global Network Commc'ns v. City of New York, 458 F.3d 150, 155 (2d Cir. 2006); Patane v. Clark, 508 F.3d 106, 111-12 (2d Cir. 2007). In considering the legal sufficiency, a court must accept as true all well-pleaded facts in the pleading and draw all reasonable inferences in the pleader's favor. See ATSI Commc'ns, Inc. v. Shaar Fund, Ltd., 493 F.3d 87, 98 (2d Cir.2007) (citation omitted). This presumption of truth, however, does not extend to legal conclusions. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citation omitted). "Generally, consideration of a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) is limited to consideration of the complaint itself" unless all parties are given a reasonable opportunity to submit extrinsic evidence. Faulkner v. Beer, 463 F.3d 130, 134 (2d Cir.2006). In ruling on a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), a district court generally must confine itself to the four corners of the complaint and look only to the allegations contained therein. Robinson v. Town of Kent, N.Y., No. 11 Civ. 2875, 2012 WL 3024766, at *3-4 (S.D.N.Y. July 24, 2012) (citing Roth v. Jennings, 489 F.3d 499, 509 (2d Cir. 2007)).
To survive a motion to dismiss, a party need only plead "a short and plain statement of the claim," see Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a) (2), with sufficient facts "to 'sho[w] that the pleader is entitled to relief[.]'" Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 557 (2007) (quotation omitted). Under this standard, the pleading's "[f]actual allegations must be enough to raise a right of relief above the speculative level," see id. at 555 (citation omitted), and present claims that are "plausible on [their] face." Id. at 570. "The plausibility standard is not akin to a 'probability requirement,' but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully." Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. (citation omitted). "Where a complaint pleads facts that are 'merely consistent with' a defendant's liability, it 'stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility of entitlement to relief. '" Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557). Ultimately, "when the allegations in a complaint, however true, could not raise a claim of entitlement to relief," Twombly, 550 U.S. at 558, or where a plaintiff has "not nudged [its] claims across the line from conceivable to plausible, the [ ] complaint must be dismissed[.]" Id. at 570.
I. Claims Against Officials in their Individual Capacity and Legislative Immunity
"[L]egislators are absolutely immune from suit in their individual capacities for "all actions taken 'in the sphere of legitimate legislative activity.'" Bogan v. Scott-Harris, 523 U.S. 44, 54 (1998). Legislative immunity only protects municipal officers from civil liability when they are sued in their personal capacities, and not when sued in their official capacities. Baines v. Masiello, 288 F. Supp. 2d 376, 383 (W.D.N.Y. 2003) (citations omitted). Legislative immunity may bar claims for money damages, injunctions and declaratory relief brought against state and local officials in their personal capacities. State Emp., 494 F.3d at 82 (citation omitted); Bogan, 523 U.S. 44, 54 (1998). "Whether an act is legislative turns on the nature of the act, rather than on the motive or intent of the official performing it." Christian v. Town of Riga, 649 F. Supp. 2d 84, 103 -104 (W.D.N.Y. 2009) (holding that legislative immunity shields an official from liability if the act in question was undertaken "in the sphere of legitimate legislative activity") (quotation omitted).
Two factors are relevant to determining whether a defendant's acts are within that sphere: (1) whether the actions were an integral part of the legislative process; and (2) whether the actions were legislative "in substance" and "bore the hallmarks of traditional legislation." Bogan, 523 U.S. at 54-56. Such traditional legislation includes "policymaking decisions implicating budgetary priories and services the government provides to it's constituents." Id. Legislative immunity applies to acts within the "legislative sphere" even where the conduct, "if performed in other than legislative contexts, would in itself be unconstitutional or otherwise contrary to criminal or civil statutes.'" Doe v. McMillan, 412 U.S. 306, 312-13 (1973) (quotation omitted).
Before defendants in the instant case can invoke legislative immunity, defendants have the burden of establishing both of the following: (1) that the acts giving rise to the harm alleged in the complaint were undertaken when defendants were acting in their legislative capacities under the functional test set forth in Bogan; and (2) that the particular relief sought would enjoin defendants in their legislative capacities, and not in some other capacity in which they would not be entitled to legislative immunity. State Emp., 494 F.3d at 89; see also Canary v. Osborn, 211 F.3d 324, 328 (6th Cir. 2000) (holding that the burden is on the defendants to establish the existence of absolute legislative immunity).
Here, defendants argue that by issuing the regulations, they were fulfilling discretionary, policymaking functions implicating State budgetary priorities. As discussed supra, plaintiffs claim that defendants acts were ultra vires, without authority and null and void. Cplt. at ¶¶ 102-105, 140-141, 144. Taking the allegations in the complaint as true, as the Court must do on a motion to dismiss, plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged that defendants Hite and Megna were acting beyond the scope of their authority as public officials. Drawing all reasonable inferences in plaintiffs' favor, the Court finds that the allegations are sufficiently pled to defeat defendants' motion, at this stage of the litigation. See Collin County, Tex. v. Homeowners Ass'n for Values Essential to Neighborhoods (HAVEN), 654 F. Supp. 943, 949 (N.D. Tex. 1987) (the plaintiffs allegations that the defendant's actions were "ultra vires" in character and that they acted outside of their capacities as public officials arguably "deprives the defendants of Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal based upon an absolute immunity defense"). At this stage of the litigation, based upon the sparse record, the Court cannot state as a matter of law, that defendants are entitled to legislative immunity. See Phillips v. Town of Brookhaven, 216 A.D.2d 374, 375 (2d Dep't 1995) ("[i]t cannot be determined on the instant record that the individual defendants were acting exclusively in a legislative capacity, which is required for immunity to attach"); see also Moxley v. Town of Walkersville, 601 F. Supp. 2d 648, 662 (D. Md. 2009) (holding that "the doctrine of legislative immunity is not uniquely asserted on motions to dismiss). This ruling does not prevent defendants from renewing their motion with respect to the applicability of the doctrine of legislative immunity after sufficient discovery and development of the record.
II. Contract Clause
Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution prohibits states from passing any law "impairing the Obligation of Contracts." While the language of the Contract Clause is absolute on its face, "[i]t does not trump the police power of a state to protect the general welfare of its citizens, a power which is 'paramount to any rights under contracts between individuals.'" Buffalo Teachers Fed'n v. Tobe, 464 F.3d 362, 367 (2d Cir. 2006)(holding that courts must accommodate the Contract Clause with the inherent police power of the state to safeguard the vital interests of its people) (quoting Allied Structural Steel Co. v. Spannaus, 438 U.S. 234, 241 (1978). To state a cause of action for violation of the Contract Clause, a complaint must allege sufficient facts demonstrating that a state law has "operated as a substantial impairment of a contractual relationship." Nunez v. Cuomo, 2012 WL 3241260, at *6 (E.D.N.Y. 2012) (citing Harmon v. Markus, 412 Fed. Appx. 420, 423 (2d Cir. 2011)). In this regard, there are three factors that the Court will consider: (1) whether a contractual relationship exists; (2) whether a change in law impairs that contractual relationship; and (3) whether the impairment is substantial. Harmon, 412 Fed. Appx. at 423. A state law that impairs a contractual obligation will not be deemed unconstitutional so long as: (1) it serves a demonstrated legitimate public purpose, such as remedying a general social or economic problem; and (2) the means chosen to accomplish the public purpose is reasonable and necessary. See Buffalo Teachers Fed'n, 464 F.3d at 368.
A. Existence of a Contractual Relationship In Vested Rights
Defendants argue that no express or implied contract obligates them to provide "optional health insurance with a perpetually fixed contribution rate." Rather, defendants contend that the CBA provided members with guarantees for the duration of the collective bargaining agreement only. Plaintiffs claim that the parties intended to establish a fixed rate of contributions to premiums for retiree health insurance as a vested, lifetime right under the PBA/State contracts.
"All courts agree that if a document unambiguously indicates whether retiree medical benefits are vested, the unambiguous language should be enforced." Am. Fed'n of Grain Millers, AFL-CIO v. Int'l Multifoods Corp., 116 F.3d 976, 980 (2d Cir. 1997) (citing, inter alia, UAW v. Yard-Man, Inc., 716 F.2d 1476, 1479 (6th Cir. 1983)). "It is a court's task to enforce a clear and complete written agreement according to the plain meaning of its terms, without looking to extrinsic evidence to create ambiguities not present on the face of the document" and a "mere assertion by a party that contract language means something other than what is clear when read in conjunction with the whole contract is not enough to create an ambiguity." New York State Court Officers Ass'n v. Hite, 851 F. Supp. 2d 575, 579-80 (S.D.N.Y. 2012) (citations omitted). There is a lack of consensus among the Circuits regarding the interpretation of documents that are ambiguous. Am. Fed'n, 116 F.3d at 980. Some Circuits have held that "when the parties contract for benefits which accrue upon achievement of retiree status, there is an inference that the parties likely intended those benefits to continue as long as the beneficiary remains a retiree." See Yardman, Inc., 716 F.2d at 1479. While the Yard-man "inference" was discussed by the Second Circuit in Am. Fed'n, the Court did not specifically adopt the holding. Specifically, the Court noted that
[w]hen documents are ambiguous, other circuits have disagreed as to whether at trial, there should be a presumption that retiree benefits areAm. Fed'n, 116 F.3d at 980, n. 3.
vested or that retiree benefits are not vested. Compare Yard-Man, 716 F.2d at 1482 (6th Cir.) (apparently presuming that retiree benefits are vested), with Bidlack, 993 F.2d at 608-09 (7th Cir.) (apparently presuming that retiree benefits are not vested). Because we conclude below that there is no need for a trial as the documents at issue in this case could not reasonably be interpreted as promising vested retiree benefits, we need not decide what presumption, if any, would be appropriate at trial.
Moreover, while extrinsic evidence may be used to interpret ambiguous CBAs, it may not be used to alter the meaning of unambiguous terms. Am. Fed'n, 116 F.3d at 981 (citations omitted). In Am. Fed'n, the Second Circuit concluded that, "to reach a trier of fact, an employee does not have to 'point to unambiguous language to support [a] claim. It is enough [to] point to written language capable of reasonably being interpreted as creating a promise on the part of [the employer] to vest [the recipient's] . . . benefits.'" Id. at 980 (citations omitted); Schonholz v. Long Island Jewish Med. Ctr., 87 F.3d 72, 78 (2d Cir. 1996) . A district court may not base its finding of ambiguity on the absence of language, and the court may only consider oral statements or other extrinsic evidence after it first finds language in the documents that may reasonably be interpreted as creating a promise to vest benefits. Id.; see also Parillo v. FKI Indus., Inc., 608 F. Supp. 2d 264 (D. Conn. 2009). A single sentence in plan documents can suffice to raise a question that requires resolution by a trier of fact. See Joyce, 171 F.3d at 134.
In this matter, the CBA creates a contractual relationship between plaintiffs, including active employees and retirees, and defendants. See Nunez, 2012 WL 3241260, at *6. Plaintiffs allege that pursuant to the terms of the CBA, "the health insurance benefits and contributions provided to plaintiffs constitute vested property rights." Am. Cplt. at ¶ 72. Plaintiffs allege that:
During all relevant times, prior to the enactment of Chapter 491 of the Laws of 2011, and the actions of the State defendants administratively approving, extending and implementing increases in the contributionAm. Cplt. at ¶¶ 54, 62.
rates that retired State employees are required to pay for health insurance benefits in retirement challenged by the plaintiffs herein, the State contribution rate towards the cost of health insurance premium or subscription charges for the coverage of State employees and retired State employees, and their dependents, enrolled in NYSHIP or an optional benefit plan thereunder, was: one-hundred percent(100%) for individual coverage for retired State employees who retired before January 1, 1983; ninety percent (90%) for individual coverage for State employees and retired State employees who retired after January 1, 1983; and, seventy-five percent (75%) for dependent coverage for State employees and retired State employees.
During all relevant times regarding the 2007-2009 NYSTPBA, including March 31, 2007, the State contribution rate towards the cost of health insurance premium or subscription charges for the coverage of State employees and retired State employees, and their dependents, enrolled in NYSHIP or an optional benefit plan thereunder, was established at: one-hundred percent (100%) for individual coverage for retired State employees who retired before January 1, 1983; ninety percent (90%) for individual coverage for State employees and retired State employees who retired after January 1, 1983; and, seventy-five percent (75%) for dependent coverage for State employees and retired State employees.
Plaintiffs allege that pursuant to the Taylor Law (Civil Service Law Article 14) and the specific terms of the CBA, the agreement to provide health coverage at the rates set forth in the CBA remains in full force and effect until a successor agreement or award. Am. Cplt. at ¶ 58. Plaintiffs further allege:
By its terms, §§ 11.1 and 11.10 of the 2007-2011 NYSTPBA CBA contractually obligated the State to continue to provide health insurance under NYSHIP, in effect on March 31, 2007, to State employees who are NYSTPBA members including the continuation of the State contribution rates set forth in paragraphs 54 and 62 above, until a successor collective bargaining agreement or interest award specifically modifies or replaces such terms.Am. Cplt. at ¶¶ 63-64.
By its terms, §§ 11.1 and 11.10 of the 2007-2009 NYSTPBA CBA contractually obligated the State to continue to provide health insurance under NYSTPBA, in effect on March 31, 2007, to retired State employees who were former NYSTPBA members including the
continuation of the State contribution rates in effect at the time of retirement, as set forth in paragraphs 54, 61 and 62 above.
In paragraph 61, plaintiffs cite to the plain language of the CBA:
(a) The State agrees to pay 90 percent of the cost of individual coverage and 75 percent of dependent coverage, provided under the Empire Plan. The State shall pay 90 percent for individual prescription drug coverage and 75 percent for dependent prescription drug coverage under the Empire Plan.
(b) The State agrees to pay 90 percent of the cost of individual coverage and 75 percent of dependent coverage, toward the hospital/medical/mental health and substance abuse components of each HMO, not to exceed, 100 percent of its dollar contribution for those components under the Empire Plan. The State will pay 90 percent of the cost of individual prescription drug coverage and 75 percent of the cost of dependent prescription drug coverage under the Health Maintenance Organizations.
Plaintiffs allege that this provision does not differentiate between active employees and retirees and does not indicate the duration for the contribution. Defendants do not point to any provision of the contract that differentiates between the classes of plaintiffs herein. Indeed, plaintiffs in this action consist of the Union, active members of the Union and former members of the Union. Plaintiffs Mungeer, Robillard and Moretti (active employees) argue that they are vested in the Police and Fireman's Retirement System and subject to the State's implementation of the reduction in contribution rates. The retired employees allege that they are covered by the terms of the CBA that were in effect at the time of their retirement insofar as it provides for the continuation of their health benefits. Defendants argue that the union only represents current employees, not retirees. However, defendants do not address the issue of whether the language of the CBA contemplates a vesting of benefits in employees who have yet to retire.
Plaintiffs further allege that based upon the CBA negotiations, Chapter 14 of the Laws of 1983, past practices and representations by the State, the State was contractually obligated to provide health insurance benefits at the rates set forth in paragraph 54, 61 and 62. Am. Cplt. at ¶ 66. Plaintiffs allegations identify written language capable of reasonably being interpreted as creating a promise to provide plaintiffs with a vested interest in perpetually fixed NYSHIP contribution.
Defendants argue that Sections 11.1 and 11.10 apply " for the duration of the CBA." However, the record, as it presently exists, does not support that conclusion. In the excerpts from the CBA annexed to the complaint, the court finds no such language or any other limiting language. See Professional Firefighters Ass'n of Omaha, Local 385 v. City of Omaha, 2010 WL 2426446, at *2 (D. Neb. 2010) (citing Am. Fed'n, 513 F.3d at 883) (the CBA did not contain the limitations expressed by the defendants and the defendants offered no law to support their claim). Defendants fail to submit any further argument in support of dismissal on this issue and cite to one case in support of the proposition that history cannot serve to bind the State to promises that it never made. See Aeneas McDonald Pol. Benevolent Ass'n v. City of Geneva, 92 N.Y.2d 326, 333 (1998). However, Aeneas is readily distinguishable from the facts at hand.
In Aeneas, the labor relationship between the City and the police department had been governed by collective bargaining agreements. However, none of the agreements addressed the issue of health benefits for retirees. This fact alone sets Aeneas apart from the instant case. Here, there is a CBA between defendants and plaintiffs that contains specific language addressing health benefits. See Della Rocco v. City of Schenectady, 252 A.D.2d 82, 84-85 (3d Dept. 1998) (distinguishing Aeneas because the action before the court contained a "continuum of collective bargaining contracts between defendant and plaintiffs, each containing identical clauses which provided for hospitalization and major medical coverage for retired members and their families").
Defendants also argue that plaintiffs do not have a statutorily implied right to a fixed amount toward retiree health insurance citing to a recent Southern District decision in New York State Court Officers Ass'n v. Hite, 851 F. Supp. 2d 575 (S.D.N.Y. 2012). Plaintiffs failed to respond to this argument and did not address the NYSCOA case in their Memorandum of Law. The NYSCOA, case was before the court on a motion for a preliminary injunction. The relevant language of their CBA provided, "[e]mployees . . . shall receive health and prescription drug benefits . . . at the same contribution level . . . that applies to the majority of represented Executive Branch employees." Id. at *577. The court held, "[t]he contract does not guarantee that Union members will receive health benefits at the rates set by Civil Service law § 167(1)." Id. at 579. Rather, "[i]t guarantees that they will receive benefits at the same rates as the majority of executive branch employees." Id. The court concluded that based upon the unambiguous terms of the contract, the plaintiffs contracted for the same health benefits as the executive branch employees. Id. Plaintiffs cited to Buffalo Teachers Fed'n in support of their claims but the court found that the, "clear contractual obligations . . . differ materially from the action at issue here." Id. at 580. The court also addressed plaintiffs' argument that section 167(1) itself created contractual rights. The court rejected that argument and reasoned, "defendants correctly note that courts are hesitant to read contractual rights into statutes because to do so would too easily preclude New York State from changing its policies." Id. at 582. The Court held, "[r]eading section 167 as a contract would improperly impair the ability of the Legislature to change its policies regarding its employees' health insurance plans." Id. Thus, the court held that because the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits, the motion for a preliminary injunction was denied. On August 12, 2012, the Second Circuit affirmed the lower court decision. New York State Court Officers Ass'n v. Hite, 475 Fed. Appx. 803 (2d Cir. 2012). The Second Circuit reviewed the district court's decision to deny a preliminary injunction and affirmed the order for "substantially the same reasons." However, the Court noted that "[w]e intimate no views on the ultimate merits as maybe developed upon a full trial." Id. at 805 n. 3.
After the Southern District Court issued the decision on the motion for a preliminary injunction, the case was transferred to the Northern District of New York. The matter is presently pending herein under Docket No.12-CV-532.
This Court has carefully reviewed the district court's decision in NYSCOA and the complaint in that case and finds that the NYSCOA case is distinguishable from this action. Factually, the CBA at issue herein contains specific written language that is reasonably interpreted as a promise to vest the benefits. Procedurally, the NYSCOA case is presently pending in this Court and contains three causes of action: (1) violation of the Contracts Clause of U.S. Constitution; (2) violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment; and (3) a request for a declaratory judgment that Civil Service Law 167 and the implementing regulations are unconstitutional as applied. See NYSCOA v. Hite, 12-CV-532, Dkt. No. 1. In the March 2012 decision, the district court did not dismiss any portion of the plaintiffs' complaint. The court only denied the application for a preliminary injunction. All three originally asserted causes of action are still pending. While the March 2012 decision in NYSCOA v. Hite is clearly relevant to the issues presented in this lawsuit, the district court's holding on the motion for a preliminary injunction is not controlling on this motion to dismiss. A motion for a preliminary injunction requires a different standard of proof than a motion to dismiss. See Lawrence v. Town of Brookhaven Dep't of Hous., Cmty. Dev. & Intergov. Affairs, No. 07-CV-2243, 2007 WL 4591845, at *13 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 26, 2007). "[U]nlike a preliminary injunction motion, dismissal pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) is not based on whether Plaintiff is likely to prevail, and all reasonable inferences must be viewed in a light most favorable to Plaintiff." Id. "In opposing a motion to dismiss, Plaintiff is not required to prove her case; she must simply establish that the allegations in the Complaint are sufficient to render her claims plausible." Id. (citing Iqbal, 490 F.3d at 158) (internal citation omitted). Accordingly, defendants' reliance upon the NYSCOA holding is misplaced at this stage of the litigation.
In the alternative, plaintiffs argue that should the Court deem the language of the statute ambiguous, extrinsic evidence demonstrates the parties' intent to contract for vested benefits. Such evidence includes the Bill Jacket to Chapter 14 of the Laws of 1983 and past practices and representations by the State. In addition, plaintiffs cite to various holdings from New York State courts and district court decisions in both this Circuit and others where the courts concluded, as a matter of law, that the subject CBA created vested, lifetime rights to unchanged health insurance benefits. At this juncture, the Court will not consider such extrinsic evidence and further, the Court is not compelled to follow the holdings of the cases cited by plaintiffs. Those actions involved motions for summary judgment and thus, a comprehensive analysis of the record and a vastly different standard of proof on both parties. See Myers, 244 A.D.2d at 845; Joyce, 171 F.3d at 133-34.
As discussed supra, the Court has found that plaintiffs have satisfied their burden to identify specific written language that is reasonably susceptible to interpretation as a promise to provide a perpetually fixed contribution rate. On a motion to dismiss, that is all that plaintiffs must establish. Consequently, at this stage of the litigation, plaintiffs have adequately pled the existence of a contractual right in perpetually fixed contributions to survive a motion to dismiss. However, the Court cannot make any conclusions as a matter of law with respect to this issue.
B. Substantial Impairment
Even assuming plaintiffs possessed a valid contractual interest in a perpetual NYSHIP contribution rate, defendants argue that they have not substantially impaired plaintiffs' rights. Defendants contend that the NYSHIP program is still in place and thus, defendants are fulfilling their contractual obligations. Moreover, defendants contend that the adjustment to the subsidy rate was a foreseeable variable and within the parties' reasonable expectations.
An impairment of a contract must be "substantial" for it to violate the Contract Clause. Energy Reserves Group, Inc. v. Kansas Power & Light Co., 459 U.S. 400, 411 (1983). Impairments that affect the terms upon which the parties have reasonably relied or that significantly alter the duties of the party are substantial. Allied Structural Steel Co., 498 U.S. at 245. The primary consideration in determining whether the state law has, in fact, operated as a substantial impairment is the extent to which reasonable expectations under the contract have been disrupted. Sanitation and Recycling Indus., Inc. v. City of New York, 107 F.3d 985, 993 (2d Cir. 1997) ("Impairment is greatest where the challenged government legislation was wholly unexpected"). "[A] law that provides only one side of the bargaining table with the power to modify any term of a contract after it has been negotiated and executed is perhaps the epitome of a substantial impairment." Donohue, 2012 WL 3561796, at *26 ("This far-reaching power [ ] can arguably be itself a substantial impairment to a contractual relationship") (citing Baltimore Teachers Union, Am. Fed'n of Teachers Local 340, AFL-CIO v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, 6 F.3d 1012, 1016 (4th Cir. 1993)).
In this matter, plaintiffs allege that the new reduced contribution rates resulted in an increase in the cost of health insurance for retirees, including NYSTPBA retirees, in the amount of twenty percent (20%) for individual coverage and eight percent (8%) for dependent coverage. Am. Cplt. at ¶ 91. Moreover, the six percent (6%) reduction in State contribution rates implemented on October 1, 2011, will result in an increase in the cost of health insurance for retirees in the amount of sixty percent (60%) for individual coverage and twenty-four percent (24%) for dependent coverage. Id. at ¶ 93. Plaintiffs further allege that the implementation of the reduced rate results in increases to the cost of health insurance for plaintiffs that is "not limited in duration." Id. at ¶ 117. Moreover, plaintiffs claim that the implementation "substantially impairs the contract rights of NYSTPBA, its members and former members." Id. at ¶ 119.
Defendants argue that CSL § 167(8) reflected "the lawmakers' understanding" that the cost of NYSHIP coverage was subject to adjustment. In support of this assertion, defendants rely upon extraneous documents not incorporated, mentioned or relied upon in the Amended Complaint. Thus, the Court will not consider the documents in the context of the within motion. Moreover, even assuming that the Legislature was aware of the possible changes in coverage and costs, defendants have not established, or even alleged, a similar understanding on the part of plaintiffs. To the contrary, Section 11.1 provides that coverage shall be paid, "unless specifically modified or replaced pursuant to this Agreement." To this end, plaintiffs allege that "[i]t was plaintiffs' intent and understanding that §§ 11.1 and 11.10 of the [ ] CBA contractually obligated the State to continue to provide health insurance benefits under NYSHIP, in effect on March 31, 2007, to State employees who are active NYSTPBA members and State retirees who were former NYSTPBA members, including the continuation of the State contribution rates set forth in paragraphs 54, 61 and 62 above, until a successor collective bargaining agreement or interest arbitration award specifically modifies or replaces such terms." Am. Cplt. at ¶¶ 65, 67, 68. Further allegations of plaintiffs' expectations are articulated throughout the complaint. Specifically, plaintiffs allege that the "State's longstanding practice and established course of conduct further establishes the parties' intent and the State's contractual obligation to provide for the continuation of health insurance benefits for retired State employees, including the continuation of [. . . ] rates in [. . . ] as set forth in paragraphs 66 and 74 above." Am. Cplt. at ¶ 71. Moreover, plaintiffs "reasonably relied upon the expectation that the State would continue to contribute towards their health insurance costs in retirement at the same contribution rates." Am. Cplt. at ¶ 118. Based upon the allegations in the complaint, language in the CBA and CSL § 167(8), plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged that the impairment was not reasonably expected.
Further, plaintiffs contend that pursuant to the "Taylor Law, terms and conditions of employment cannot be unilaterally changed by the State defendants absent collective bargaining or an interest award." Id. at ¶ 73. Moreover, plaintiffs claim that, "[t]he implementation of the aforementioned reduced State contribution rates . . . violated, impaired and continues to violate and impair Article 11 of the [ ] CBA, including but not limited to 11.1 and 11.10, as well as prior NYSTPBA collective bargaining agreements and interest arbitration awards, . . . Chapter 14 of the Laws of 1983, past State practice, and relevant documentation and representations made by the State." Id. at ¶ 97. Based upon the record as it currently exists, plaintiffs have pled sufficient facts supporting a plausible claim that the impairment to their contractual rights was substantial.
Defendants cite to Local 342, Long Island Pub. Serv. Emp., UMD, ILA, AFL-CIO v. Town Bd. of the Town of Huntington, 31 F.3d 1191, 1194 (2d Cir. 1994) in support of the argument that the law did not prevent the parties from fulfilling their obligations and thus, there was no substantial impairment. The Court has reviewed the holding and finds the facts vastly dissimilar from those at hand. Moreover, Local 342 was before the Southern District on a motion for a preliminary injunction which, as discussed supra, requires a different standard of proof than a motion to dismiss. Thus, at this stage of the litigation, given the factual and procedural differences, the Court is not compelled to abide by the holding in Local 342.
C. Legitimate Public Purpose and Reasonable and Necessary
When a state law constitutes substantial impairment, the state must show a significant and legitimate public purpose behind the law. See Energy Reserves Group, 459 U.S. at 411-12. A law that substantially impairs contractual relations must be specifically tailored to "meet the societal ill it is supposedly designed to ameliorate." Allied Structural Steel, 438 U.S. at 243. The Second Circuit has held, "[a] legitimate public purpose is one 'aimed at remedying an important general social or economic problem rather than providing a benefit to special interests."' Buffalo Teachers Fed'n, 464 F.3d at 368. "Courts have often held that the legislative interest in addressing a fiscal emergency is a legitimate public interest" however, "the purpose may not be simply the financial benefit of the sovereign." Id. (citation omitted). Moreover, "[a]lthough economic concerns can give rise to the [ ] use of the police power, such concerns must be related to 'unprecedented emergencies' such as mass foreclosures caused by the Great Depression." Id. "That a contract-impairing law has a legitimate public purpose does not mean there is no Contracts Clause violation. The impairment must also be one where the means chosen are reasonable and necessary to meet the stated legitimate public purpose." Id. at 369. On a motion to dismiss, the court is not bound to accept the legislature's justification for the public purpose. See Nat'l Educ. Ass'n -Rhode Island by Scigulinsky v. Retirement Bd. of Rhode Island Emp. Retirement Sys., 890 F. Supp. 1143, 1162 (D.R.I. 1995).
The "reasonable and necessary" analysis involves a consideration of whether the adjustment of the rights and responsibilities of contracting parties is based upon reasonable conditions and is of a character appropriate to the public purpose justifying the legislation's adoption. Am. Fed'n of State, County & Mun. Emps. v. City of Benton, Arkansas, 513 F.3d 874, 879-880 (8th Cir. 2008) (citing Energy Reserves Group, Inc., 495 U.S. at 412 (1983)). Before analyzing whether an act is reasonable and necessary, the courts must determine the degree of deference afforded to the legislature. Where the state impairs a public contract to which it is a party, the state's self-interest is at stake and, thus, the court will afford less deference to the state's decision to alter its own contractual obligations. United Auto, 633 F.3d at 45; see also Buffalo Teachers Fed'n, 464 F.3d at 369 (holding that "[w]hen a state's legislation is self-serving and impairs the obligations of its own contracts, courts are less deferential to the state's assessment of reasonableness and necessity"). "The relevant inquiry for the Court is to ensure that states neither 'consider impairing the obligations of [their] own contracts on a par with other policy alternatives' nor 'impose a drastic impairment when an evident and more moderate course would serve its purposes equally well,' nor act unreasonably 'in light of the surrounding circumstances.'" Donohue, 2012 WL 3561796, at *30 (citing U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 30-31). In this matter, the State is a party to the CBA, and, thus, the Court will afford less deference to the State's decisions.
"To be reasonable and necessary under less deference scrutiny, it must be shown that the state did not (1) 'consider impairing the . . . contracts on par with other policy alternatives' or (2) 'impose a drastic impairment when an evident and more moderate course would serve its purpose equally well,' nor (3) act unreasonably 'in light of the surrounding circumstances.'" Buffalo Teachers Fed'n, 464 F.3d at 371. Some factors to be considered under this inquiry include: "whether the act (1) was an emergency measure; (2) was one to protect a basic societal interest, rather than particular individuals; (3) was tailored appropriately to its purpose; (4) imposed reasonable conditions; and (5) was limited to the duration of the emergency." Donohue, 2012 WL 3561796, at *30 (citing, inter alia, Energy Reserves Grp., 459 U.S. at 410 n.11).
In a case in this district, Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn addressed the issue of reasonableness while affording "less deference" to the State's decisions. Donohue v. Patterson, 715 F. Supp. 2d 306, 322 (N.D.N.Y. 2010). The Donohue case involved an emergency appropriations bill which enacted unpaid furloughs, a wage freeze, and a benefits freeze on certain groups of state employees in contravention of a number of CBAs. Id. at 313. The "extender bill" expressly imposed the altered terms "[n]ot withstanding any other provisions of this section or of any other law, including article fourteen of this chapter, or collective bargaining agreement or other analogous contract or binding arbitration award." Id. at 314. The court assumed there was a legitimate public purpose and directed it's attention to the reasonableness issue. Judge Kahn noted that the defendants failed to present any showing of a substantial record of any legislative consideration of policy alternatives to the challenged bill:
Defendants do not, and evidently cannot, direct the Court to any legislative consideration of policy alternatives to the challenged terms in the bill; rather, the only support offered by Defendants for their assertion that the contractual impairment was not considered on par with other alternatives is a list of assorted expenditure decisions made by the State over the past two years, such as hiring freezes and delays of school aid. This will not do. That the State has made choices about funding and that a fiscal crisis remains today surely cannot, without much more, be sufficient justification for a drastic impairment of contracts to which the State is a party. Without any showing of a substantial record of considered alternatives the reasonableness and necessity of the challenged provisions are cast in serious doubt.Id. at 322.
Rather, the court noted that the defendants relied upon "generalities" and failed to demonstrate that they "did not impose a drastic impairment when a more moderate course was available." Id. The court addressed the affidavits submitted by the defendants in support of the motion and held as follows:
While Defendants have identified a fiscal emergency and note that state personnel comprise a significant source of state spending, their argument equates the broad public purpose of addressing the fiscal crisis with retrieving a specific level of savings attributed to the provisions. The two are not the same. Where reasonable alternatives exist for addressing the fiscal needs of the State which do not impair contracts, action taken that does impair such contracts is not an appropriate use of State power. In its submissions to the Court, theId. at 323.
State artificially limits the scope of alternatives for addressing the fiscal crisis to retrieving a certain amount of savings from unionized state employees. According to this view, the reasonableness and necessity of the challenged provisions is demonstrated simply because there is a fiscal crisis and Plaintiffs have not identified alternative sources from their own contracts for the same level of funding as that desired by the State. Plaintiffs are not charged with that responsibility. The desired savings need not come from state personnel in the amount identified by the State. Rather, the State must consider both alternatives that do not impair contracts as well as those which might do so, but effect lesser degrees of impairment.
Judge Kahn concluded that,
[m]ost importantly, the Court cannot ignore the conspicuous absence of a record showing that options were actually considered and compared, and that the conclusion was then reached that only the enacted provisions would suffice to fulfill a specified public purpose. While the Court would afford significant deference to a legislative judgment on an issue of this type where the State is not a party to the impaired contract, the Court cannot do so here — not only because the state is a contractual party but, far more critically, because actual legislative findings in support of the provision cannot be located; due to the take-it-or-leave nature of the extender bill, in conjunction with the Senate's contemporaneous and unanimous statement opposing the challenged provisions, there is no adequate basis before the Court on which it may be established that the provisions are reasonable and necessary.Id. at 323.
While a fiscal crisis is a legitimate public interest, defendants cannot prevail on a motion to dismiss the complaint with an argument limited to "emphasizing the State's fiscal difficulties." See Id. Broad reference to an economic problem simply does not speak to the policy consideration and tailoring that is required to pass scrutiny under plaintiffs' Contracts Clause challenge. Id.
At this stage of the litigation, all that is required is that plaintiffs plead a "cognizable claim for a remedy which may be proved at trial." See Henrietta D. v. Giuliani, No. 95-CV-0641, 1996 WL 633382, at *12 (E.D.N.Y. Oct. 25, 1996). Plaintiffs allege that nothing contained in Chapter 491, the Civil Service Department's August 2011 Empire Plan Special Report(s) or the emergency regulations identified a legitimate State purpose to reduce the State contribution rate for State retirees, or that the same was necessary and reasonable to accomplish said purpose. Am. Cplt. at ¶¶ 80, 120-121. On a motion to dismiss, the Court must accept these allegations as true. Thus, the Court finds that plaintiffs have pled sufficient facts suggesting that defendants actions were not reasonable and necessary.
While defendants rely upon the economic emergency, a resolution of the issues surrounding defendants' fiscal crisis and economic situation will involve questions not appropriately resolved on a motion for dismissal. See Nat'l Educ. Ass'n, 890 F. Supp. at 1164 (holding that a determination of the reasonableness of the defendants' actions based upon the economic crisis involving the Retirement System was premature on a motion to dismiss). Courts have held that, "[r]esolution of . . . whether the contract-impairing enactment was 'reasonable and necessary to serve an important public purpose' is not appropriate in the context of a motion to dismiss." JSS Realty Co., LLC v. Town of Kittery, Maine, 177 F. Supp. 2d 64, 70 (D. Me. 2001). Defendants argue that the amendment to CSL § 167 was for a legitimate public purpose based upon the State's economic emergency and fiscal crisis. Even assuming that the Court accepts that explanation as a legitimate purpose, defendants fail to demonstrate that the means chosen were necessary. Defendants do not explain why the language and provisions of Chapter 491 were selected and rather, rely upon the measures that the State refrained from enacting as a means of demonstrating reasonableness including the State's decision not to eliminate the NYSHIP program or rewrite CSL § 167 to prescribe more severe modifications. These assertions are unsupported by the record. Moreover, as Judge Kahn noted, listing the various ways that the State has attempted to "overhaul" the economy, i.e., prison consolidation, mergers of state agencies, and reforms to the juvenile system, without more, is insufficient justification for impairing State contracts. See Donohue, 715 F. Supp. 2d at 323.
To summarize, although defendants may prove otherwise upon completion of discovery and a motion for summary judgment, at this stage of the litigation, plaintiffs have met their burden and have alleged a plausible cause of action for a violation of the Contracts Clause. However, the parties are cautioned to appreciate the "distinction" between the Rule 12(b)(6) standard and the summary judgment standard. The burden on the non-movant is significantly different on a motion for summary judgment. "Even if the same relevant documents were considered at each stage, general facts [. . . ] receive consideration at summary judgment, but not in the Rule 12(b)(6) analysis." Werbowsky v. Am. Waste Serv., Inc., No. 97-4319, 1998 WL 939882, at *5 (6th Cir. Dec. 22, 1998) (holding that the Rule 12(b)(6) ruling was not a final judgment, and did not bind the district court at summary judgment). If presented with a motion for summary judgment, plaintiffs will face the burden of citing to facts in the record and "must go beyond the pleadings and come forth with genuine issues of fact for trial." See Connection Training Servs. v. City of Philadelphia, 358 Fed. Appx. 315, 318 (3d Cir. 2009).
II. Due Process
Initially, the Court is compelled to point out that both defendants and plaintiffs present nebulous arguments with respect to this claim. Plaintiffs simply claim that defendants violated their Fourteenth Amendment rights to be afforded adequate notice and a reasonable opportunity to be heard before being deprived of property to which they were lawfully entitled. Plaintiffs argue that they possessed sufficient collective bargaining and statutorily created contract rights and that defendants abolished the benefit without proper notice to plaintiffs. Defendants argue that plaintiffs do not have a legitimate claim of entitlement to a property interest in insurance cost percentages and, therefore, cannot sustain a claim under Due Process.
The Fourteenth Amendment provides, in relevant part, that "[n]o state shall . . . deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law." U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1. In order to demonstrate a violation of either substantive or procedural due process rights, the plaintiff must first demonstrate the possession of a federally protected property right to the relief sought. Puckett v. City of Glen Cove, 631 F. Supp. 2d 226, 236 (E.D.N.Y. 2009) (citing Lisa's Party City, Inc. v. Town of Henrietta, 185 F.3d 12, 16 (2d Cir. 1999)). Property interests "are created and their dimensions are defined by existing rules or understandings that stem from an independent source such as state law-rules or understandings that secure certain benefits and that support claims of entitlement to those benefits." Bd. of Regents of State Coll. v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564, 577 (1972) (holding that the plaintiff must have more than a unilateral expectation; the plaintiff must have a legitimate claim of entitlement to the benefit). The Second Circuit has held that, "[i]n order for a person to have a property interest in a benefit such as the right to payment under a contract, [h]e must have more than a unilateral expectation of it. He must, instead, have a legitimate claim of entitlement to it." Local 342, Long Island Pub. Serv. Emp., UMD, ILA, AFL-CIO v. Town Bd. of the Town of Huntington, 31 F.3d 1191, 1194 (2d Cir. 1994) (citations omitted). "When determining whether a plaintiff has a claim of entitlement, we focus on the applicable statute, contract or regulation that purports to establish the benefit." Martz v. Vill. of Valley Stream, 22 F.3d 26, 30 (2d Cir.1994).
"Courts have determined that in appropriate circumstances, contractual rights arising from collective bargaining agreement give rise to constitutional property right." Jackson v. Roslyn Bd. of Educ., 652 F. Supp. 2d 332, 341 (E.D.N.Y. 2009) (citing Ciambriello v. Cty. of Nassau, 292 F.3d 307, 314 (2d Cir. 2002). A "property interest in employment can be created by ordinance or state law." Winston v. City of New York, 759 F.2d 242, 247 (2d Cir. 1985) (holding that the plaintiffs' benefits were found in the New York State Constitution and vested in the plaintiffs by the terms of a statutory scheme). The Second Circuit has held that:
[i]n determining whether a given benefits regime creates a property interest protected by the Due Process Clause, we look to the statutes and regulations governing the distribution of benefits. Where those statutes or regulations meaningfully channel official discretion by mandating a defined administrative outcome, a property interest will be found to exist.Kapps v. Wing, 404 F.3d 105, 113 (2d Cir. 2005) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted). Courts in this circuit have held that statutory framework may create a property interest. See Kapps, 404 F.3d at 104; Basciano v. Herkimer, 605 F.2d 605 (2d Cir.1978) (holding that city administrative code created a property right in receipt of accident disability retirement benefits, where the code required officials to give benefits to applicants who met specified criteria)); see also Winston, 759 F.2d at 242; Sparveri v. Town of Rocky Hill, 396 F. Supp. 2d 214, 218 (D. Conn. 2005) (noting that the plaintiff claimed that her entitlement to the level of pension and healthcare benefits was rooted in the statutory pension scheme established by the Town Charter and Plan ordinance).
In the Amended Complaint, plaintiffs' Third Cause of Action contains allegations relating to due process. Plaintiffs allege that the implementation of the reduced contribution rates violate plaintiffs' rights to be afforded adequate notice and a reasonable opportunity to be heard before being deprived of property to which they were lawfully entitled. Am. Cplt. ¶ 132. Plaintiffs allege that their property rights are based, in part, upon statutory rights contained in Chapter 14 of the Laws of 1983. Id. at ¶ 131. While the Court cannot conclude as a matter of law that plaintiffs' possessed a property interest within the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment, plaintiffs have sufficiently articulated and pled due process violations to survive a motion to dismiss.
CONCLUSION
IT IS HEREBY
ORDERED that defendants' motion to dismiss plaintiffs' complaint (Dkt. No. 14) is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART; it is further
ORDERED that defendants' motion to dismiss plaintiffs' complaint as against the State of New York, New York State Civil Service Department, New York State Civil Service Commission and New York State and Local Retirement System is GRANTED. All claims against these defendants are dismissed; it is further
ORDERED that defendants' motion to dismiss plaintiffs' claims for monetary damages asserted against defendants Hite, Ahl, Hanrahan, Megna and DiNapoli in their official capacity is GRANTED; it is further
ORDERED that defendants' motion to dismiss plaintiffs' claims for injunctive and declaratory relief asserted against defendants Hite, Ahl, Hanrahan, Megna and DiNapoli in their official capacity is GRANTED only to the extent that such claims seek retrospective relief; it is further
ORDERED that defendants' motion to dismiss plaintiffs' Article 78 claims is GRANTED; it is further
ORDERED that defendants' motion is denied in all other respects.
IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: December 3, 2012
Albany, New York
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Mae A. D'Agostino
U.S. District Judge