MICHAEL P. SHEA, District Judge.
Plaintiff Henry J. Yorzinski, Jr. ("Plaintiff"), who proceeds pro se, brings this action for damages and other relief against New Haven Police Officer Jeffrey Fletcher ("Fletcher"), Federal Protective Service (FPS) Inspector James Imbert ("Imbert"), and private security supervisor Joseph Carlino ("Carlino") for an alleged violation of his Federal and state constitutional rights arising from his attempt to carry a firearm into the Giamo Federal Building in New Haven. Only Imbert and Carlino were served; therefore, the claim against Fletcher was dismissed [Dkt. #46] under Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(m) for failure to serve within 120 days of filing the Complaint. Imbert and Carlino have moved to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6). Because Carlino, as a private actor, cannot be liable for Federal or state constitutional torts, his Motion to Dismiss [Dkt. #28] is GRANTED. Because Imbert is protected from any claim under the Second Amendment by the doctrine of qualified immunity, Imbert's Motion to Dismiss that claim is GRANTED. Because questions of fact remain as to some of Plaintiff's Fourth Amendment claims against Imbert, his Motion to Dismiss [Dkt. #34] is DENIED with respect to two of those claims and GRANTED with respect to the remaining Fourth Amendment claim. Because Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of the Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388, 91 S.Ct. 1999, 29 L.Ed.2d 619 (1971), which allows certain constitutional tort actions to be brought against federal officials, does not authorize injunctive relief, Plaintiff's claims for injunctive relief are dismissed.
Plaintiff's Amended Complaint alleges the following facts. On August 19, 2011, while carrying a firearm, Plaintiff attempted to enter the Giamo Federal Building on Court Street in New Haven, Connecticut to apply for Social Security disability benefits. (Am. Compl. § C at 2.) The Court takes judicial notice that the Federal
The Amended Complaint refers to attached "Supporting Facts" and appends documents including Fletcher's New Haven Police Department incident report ("Fletcher Report") and an FPS report that appears to have been prepared by Imbert ("Imbert Report").
After Plaintiff was "released" ten minutes later, he took the elevator to the SSA's office. (Am. Compl. § C at 2.) Plaintiff alleges that while he was in the SSA office, Imbert and Carlino left the Federal Building and walked "approximately 100 yards" to what they assumed was Plaintiff's motorcycle and conducted a search of the motorcycle. (Id.) Imbert and Carlino then found a firearm (Plaintiff does not specify where) and alerted the New Haven Police Department. (Id.)
The Imbert Report notes that while searching the immediate area of Plaintiff's motorcycle, Imbert recovered a Colt .45-caliber handgun "next to two air conditioning compressors stuffed into a potato chip bag." (Imbert Report at 2.) According to Fletcher's report, the gun contained a fully loaded magazine and one round in the chamber. (Fletcher Report at 3.)
Fletcher, "along with Imbert and Carlino," then went back inside the Federal Building and arrested Plaintiff while he was speaking with a Social Security agent. (Am. Compl. § C at 2.) Fletcher searched Plaintiff's person and informed Plaintiff that he would be issued a summons for reckless endangerment. (Id.) Fletcher then confiscated Plaintiff's Connecticut Permit to Carry Pistols and Revolvers (id.), and charged Plaintiff with violating Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-63 (reckless endangerment,
Plaintiff alleges that the acts of each defendant were "intentional and inspired by malice" and have caused him emotional distress and the loss of (1) personal property, (2) his Connecticut pistol permit, and (3) "the Constitutional rights herein described." (Id.) In addition to damages, he seeks injunctive relief in the form of an order requiring each defendant to send a letter to the Connecticut Commissioner of Public Safety, or other appropriate authority, "explaining in detail their UNLAWFUL acts that resulted in the revocation of my permit and strongly recommending the reinstatement of the plaintiff's CT state pistol permit." (Id.)
A motion to dismiss challenges the sufficiency of the complaint. On a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), the court must determine whether the complaint states "enough facts to state a claim for relief that is plausible on its face." Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). The court accepts all of the complaint's factual allegations as true, but disregards those that are conclusory as well as any legal conclusions. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). Plaintiff must "plausibly suggest," not merely allege, that he is entitled to relief. Id. at 679-80, 129 S.Ct. 1937. "[P]leadings of a pro se plaintiff must be read liberally and should be interpreted to `raise the strongest arguments that they suggest.'" Graham v. Henderson, 89 F.3d 75, 79 (2d Cir.1996) (citing Burgos v. Hopkins, 14 F.3d 787, 790 (2d Cir.1994)).
Carlino moves to dismiss the claims against him, arguing that because he was a private citizen working for a private security firm during the events alleged in the Complaint, he cannot be held liable for violations of federal constitutional rights and that the pendent Connecticut claim against him should also be dismissed. The Court agrees.
The Court must first consider whether, during the events in question, Carlino was a private employee, because Bivens liability does not extend to private employees. See Minneci v. Pollard, ___ U.S. ___, 132 S.Ct. 617, 623, 181 L.Ed.2d 606 (2012). Plaintiff argues in his Memorandum of Law in Objection to Carlino's Motion to Dismiss [Dkt. #29-1] that because "FPS contract security guards are delegated authority by FPS to protect federal property," Carlino is an "agent of FPS" or a "federal agent." (Id. at 3.) While Plaintiff points out that the Fletcher Report lists Carlino as "Supervisor Dept. Homeland Security," (Id. at 4; Fletcher Report at 1), and Carlino does not directly address this fact in his brief, Plaintiff admits in his Motion to Deny Security of Costs [Dkt. #23] that Carlino was employed by a firm called "C and D Security." ("Carlino's legal costs are being covered by his employer at the time of the incurred liability (C and D Security).") (Emphasis added.) "Facts admitted by a party are judicial admissions that bind that party throughout the litigation." Hoodho v. Holder, 558 F.3d 184, 191 (2d Cir.2009). See also Purgess v. Sharrock, 33 F.3d 134,
Carlino states that his employer during the events alleged, C & D Enterprises, Inc., is indeed a private entity. (See Carlino's Br. [Dkt. #28-1] at 3.) A review of cases where C & D has been a party supports this conclusion. See, e.g., Logan v. SecTek, Inc., 632 F.Supp.2d 179, 181-82 (D.Conn.2009) (referring to "C & D Security Management, Inc." as "the federal government's new contractor" for security at Hartford's Cotter Federal Building); Dobson v. City and County of Denver, 81 F.Supp.2d 1080, 1082, 1082 n. 3 (D.Colo. 1999) (referring to "C & D Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a/C and D Bonded Security Service, Inc." as an entity employing security guards). The Court concludes that when Carlino allegedly violated Plaintiff's constitutional rights, he worked for a private firm, not a governmental entity, and was not a federal agent for purposes of Bivens liability. See Minneci, 132 S.Ct. at 623 (2012) (explaining that the Court had previously rejected the argument that a private firm, "like a federal employee, is a federal agent."). As explained below, Carlino therefore cannot be liable for the federal constitutional torts Plaintiff alleges.
In Bivens, the United States Supreme Court recognized an implied federal cause of action for damages against individual federal agents arising out of their violation of certain constitutionally-protected rights. 403 U.S. at 389, 91 S.Ct. 1999. Although Bivens itself involved a violation of the Fourth Amendment, which Plaintiff alleges here, later cases extended the holding to provide relief for federal officials' violations of the Fifth and Eighth Amendments. See Davis v. Passman, 442 U.S. 228, 99 S.Ct. 2264, 60 L.Ed.2d 846 (1979) (Fifth Amendment); see also Carlson v. Green, 446 U.S. 14, 100 S.Ct. 1468, 64 L.Ed.2d 15 (1980) (Eighth Amendment). Bivens liability has not been extended to violations of the Second Amendment.
Plaintiff urges the Court to extend Bivens liability beyond governmental actors to a private individual. The Supreme Court has rejected extending Bivens liability to that extent. For instance, the Court declined to extend Bivens liability to a private corporation operating a halfway house under a contract with the Bureau of Prisons for an alleged violation of an inmate's constitutional rights. Corr. Servs. Corp. v. Malesko, 534 U.S. 61, 63, 122 S.Ct. 515, 151 L.Ed.2d 456 (2001). The Malesko court pointed out that in the thirty years after Bivens was decided, the Court had extended its application only twice, to "provide a cause of action against individual officers alleged to have acted unconstitutionally... and to provide a cause of action for a plaintiff who lacked any alternative remedy for harms caused by an individual officer's unconstitutional conduct." Id. at 69, 122 S.Ct. 515 (emphasis in original).
Over a decade after Malesko, the Court again declined to extend Bivens, this time to employees of a private prison who allegedly violated plaintiff's Eighth Amendment rights. Minneci v. Pollard, ___ U.S. ___, 132 S.Ct. 617, 620, 181 L.Ed.2d 606 (2012). The Supreme Court's analysis in Minneci is instructive here. In Minneci, a federal inmate claimed that private prison employees violated his Eighth Amendment rights by denying him appropriate medical care. Id. at 620-21. Explaining that a Bivens remedy was unavailable against the individual private defendants, the Court distinguished prior cases in which it had allowed a Bivens remedy. Id. at 623 (citing Carlson, 446 U.S. at 25, 100 S.Ct. 1468). The Court stated that "a critical difference" between cases where Bivens liability applied and those where it did not was "employment
The Court also cited the existence of "alternative, existing process[es]" for relief in denying a Bivens remedy. Id. at 623-26 (emphasizing that where "the conduct [alleged] is of a kind that typically falls within the scope of traditional state tort law ... the prisoner must seek a remedy under state tort law. We cannot imply a Bivens remedy in such a case."). The Court noted that a state-law remedy "and a potential Bivens remedy need not be perfectly congruent.... Rather, in principle, the question is whether, in general, state tort law remedies provide roughly similar incentives for potential defendants to comply with the [Constitution] while also providing roughly similar compensation to victims of violations." Id. at 625. State law may provide more or less relief than a Bivens action and still be "roughly similar." Id.
The Second Circuit has advised against extending Bivens, cautioning that Bivens liability "is an extraordinary thing that should rarely if ever be applied in `new contexts.'" Arar v. Ashcroft, 585 F.3d 559, 571 (2d Cir.2009) (affirming dismissal of Bivens claim against federal officials in the extraordinary rendition context). Applying Minneci, other courts in this Circuit have declined to recognize Bivens liability against private defendants, largely in the context of claims against employees of private prisons. See e.g., La Ford v. Geo Group, Inc., No. 13-CV1978, 2013 WL 2249253 (E.D.N.Y. May 22, 2013) (dismissing inmate's Bivens complaint against private prison employee); Watson v. Zerillo, No. 14-CV-02591, 2014 WL 2566910 (E.D.N.Y. Jun. 6, 2014) (same); Brooks v. Sposato, No. 11-CV-2598, 2012 WL 6756944 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 26, 2012) ("plaintiff does not appear to have a viable federal claim under any set of facts against the [private prison facility] defendants"); Young v. Tryon, No. 12-CV-6251, 2013 WL 2471543, at *5 n. 6 (W.D.N.Y. Jun. 7, 2013) (construing pro se inmate's Section 1983 and Privacy Act claim as being against a federal prison employee because "[i]f she were not a federal employee, [plaintiff] could not pursue a Bivens action against her"); but see Espinoza v. Zenk, No. 10-CV-427, 2013 WL 1232208, at *9-10 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 27, 2013) (denying motion to dismiss inmate's Fifth and First Amendment claims against private prison where New York common law causes of action would be inadequate alternatives).
Connecticut law is adequate to provide relief for Plaintiff's alleged injury, and such relief would be "roughly similar" to that available under Bivens. See Minneci, 132 S.Ct. at 625. As Carlino points out in his brief ([Dkt. #28-1] at 13), Connecticut recognizes causes of action for false arrest or imprisonment, see, e.g., Berry v. Loiseau, 223 Conn. 786, 614 A.2d 414, 432 (1992), negligent infliction of emotional distress, see, e.g., Perodeau v. City of Hartford, 259 Conn. 729, 792 A.2d 752, 763 (2002), intentional infliction of emotional distress, see, e.g., Appleton v. Bd. of Educ., 254 Conn. 205, 757 A.2d 1059, 1062 (2000), and replevin, see, e.g., Keller v. Beckenstein, 305 Conn. 523, 46 A.3d 102, 109 (2012). Plaintiff has not alleged that he is somehow prevented from bringing such a claim against Carlino in Connecticut state court. Indeed, Plaintiff understands the availability of state-law remedies, as he has joined a Connecticut constitutional claim against all defendants in this action.
In his Motion to Dismiss [Dkt. #34], Imbert argues that, as a government official, he is protected from suit by the doctrine of qualified immunity as to Plaintiff's allegations of Second and Fourth Amendment violations. As to Plaintiff's allegation of a Second Amendment violation, the Court GRANTS Imbert's Motion to Dismiss. As to Plaintiff's allegation of three Fourth Amendment violations, the Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Imbert's Motion to Dismiss.
The doctrine of qualified immunity shields "government officials performing discretionary functions" from civil damages liability as long as "their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known." Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818, 102 S.Ct. 2727, 73 L.Ed.2d 396 (1982). The qualified immunity doctrine involves a two-step analysis: a plaintiff must plead "facts showing (1) that the official violated a statutory or constitutional right, and (2) that the right was `clearly established' at the time of the challenged conduct." Wood v. Moss, ___ U.S. ___, 134 S.Ct. 2056, 2066-67, 188 L.Ed.2d 1039 (2014) (quoting Ashcroft v. al-Kidd, ___ U.S. ___, 131 S.Ct. 2074, 2080, 179 L.Ed.2d 1149 (2011)); see also Betts v. Shearman, 751 F.3d 78, 82-83 (2d Cir.2014) (applying standard). The qualified immunity doctrine protects "all but the plainly incompetent or those who knowingly violate the law." Hunter v. Bryant, 502 U.S. 224, 229, 112 S.Ct. 534, 116 L.Ed.2d 589 (1991). Where a defendant may be protected by qualified immunity, that defense should be resolved as early as possible because it provides immunity from suit. Savino v. City of New York, 331 F.3d 63, 72 (2d Cir.2003). Although the qualified immunity inquiry requires a two-prong analysis, courts are not required to approach the prongs in any particular order, or, indeed, to reach both prongs at all. Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 236, 129 S.Ct. 808, 172 L.Ed.2d 565 (2009) (abandoning the mandate from Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 121 S.Ct. 2151, 150 L.Ed.2d 272 (2001), that courts approach the constitutional inquiry first).
The Court first considers whether the Second Amendment right Plaintiff claims Imbert violated was clearly established on the date Plaintiff was arrested. When determining whether a right was clearly established, a court must define the right in question in a "particularized... sense." Brosseau v. Haugen, 543 U.S. 194, 198-99, 125 S.Ct. 596, 160
The Second Amendment, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, "protects the right to keep and bear arms for the purpose of self-defense." McDonald v. City of Chicago, 561 U.S. 742, 130 S.Ct. 3020, 3026, 177 L.Ed.2d 894 (2010). The Supreme Court's decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570, 128 S.Ct. 2783, 171 L.Ed.2d 637 (2008), which established the current interpretation of the Second Amendment as protecting an individual's right to carry firearms, contains a critical caveat:
Heller, 554 U.S. at 626, 128 S.Ct. 2783 (emphasis added). The limitation on an individual's right to bear arms has been announced repeatedly in this Circuit. See, e.g., Kachalsky v. County of Westchester, 701 F.3d 81, 99 (2d Cir.2012) ("Plaintiffs admit and Heller strongly suggests [that] the state may ban firearm possession in sensitive places, presumably on the ground that it is too dangerous to permit the possession of firearms in those locations...."); United States v. Decastro, 682 F.3d 160, 165 (2d Cir.2012) ("Heller disclaims any reading that calls into question (among other things) laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings....") (internal quotations omitted); Shew v. Malloy, 994 F.Supp.2d 234, 244 n. 38 (D.Conn.2014) (quoting Heller passage above); Montalbano v. Port Auth. of N.Y. & N.J., 843 F.Supp.2d 473, 481 (S.D.N.Y. 2012) (same). Thus, Plaintiff did not have a clearly established constitutional right to carry his firearm into the Giamo Federal Building.
Nor did Plaintiff have a clearly established statutory right to bring his firearm into the building. Plaintiff relies on 18 U.S.C. § 930(d)(3), which is part of a criminal statute that expressly forbids the possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a federal facility. Plaintiff relies on § 930(d)(3) because it provides an exception to criminal liability for "the lawful carrying of firearms or other dangerous weapons in a Federal facility incident to hunting or other lawful purposes." (Am. Compl. § C at 2; Pl.'s Br. [Dkt. #38-1] at 2-3.) Plaintiff's argument is unavailing. Section 930 is a criminal statute under which Plaintiff has not been charged, and subsection (d)(3) merely provides an exception to criminal liability in limited circumstances — it does not create an independent statutory right to carry a
Even if subsection (d)(3) could be construed as creating a statutory right to possess a firearm in a federal facility, such a right would be limited to possession "incident to hunting or other lawful purposes." There is very little case law exploring the scope of "other lawful purposes" as it pertains to this statute. One federal court has discussed, and rejected, an argument similar to Plaintiff's, although in the criminal context. See United States v. De la Cruz-Bancroft, Cr. No. 09-MJ-319, 2010 WL 8752034, at *2-3 (D.N.M. Jan. 4, 2010) (holding that 18 U.S.C. § 930(d)(3) creates an exemption from criminal liability where an individual carries a firearm not only lawfully, but "for a lawful purpose that is related to the federal facility") (emphasis added). Since the contours of subsection (d)(3) are not "clearly established," Imbert is immune from liability arising out of his violation of any "right" secured by the subsection.
Plaintiff had no clearly established right under either the Second Amendment or 18 U.S.C. § 930(d)(3) to carry a firearm into a federal building under the circumstances alleged in this case. Imbert therefore has qualified immunity as to Plaintiff's Second Amendment claim and his Motion to Dismiss [Dkt. #34] is GRANTED as to that claim.
The Fourth Amendment protects the "right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures." U.S. Const. Amend. IV. Plaintiff appears to allege violations of his clearly established Fourth Amendment protections in relation to (1) his re-entry into the Federal Building, (2) the search for his handgun, and (3) his arrest by the New Haven Police Department. (See Am. Compl. § C at 2.)
There is a clearly-established right to be free from unreasonable seizures of one's person by law enforcement. See, e.g., Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 9, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968) ("No right is more sacred, or is more carefully guarded, by the common law, than the right of every individual to the possession and control of his own person, free from all restraint or interference of others, unless by clear and unquestionable authority of law.") (internal quotations omitted). Plaintiff alleges that after he re-entered the Giamo Federal Building and passed through the metal detector, he "approached officer Imbert to discuss [his] experience at the screening point and was immediately placed under arrest by officer Imbert."
The Imbert Report, on the contrary, explains that upon re-entering the building, Plaintiff "became agitated, and started ranting that his [S]econd [A]mendment rights were being violated by him not being able to bring his gun into the building, he became more outraged, and loud to the point the others in the lobby were concerned." (Imbert Report at 2.) This suggests
Nonetheless, the Amended Complaint, together with the attached exhibits, does not make clear the exact circumstances of Plaintiff's re-entry into the Federal Building and any stop that followed. Therefore, the Court believes that the issue is more appropriately resolved on a motion for summary judgment, and Imbert's Motion to Dismiss is DENIED as to any alleged Fourth Amendment violation occurring on Plaintiff's re-entry into the Federal Building. If Imbert wishes to move for summary judgment on this issue, he may incorporate by reference his prior briefing.
The Amended Complaint may also be construed as alleging that because Fletcher later arrested him "along with Imbert," Imbert is liable for a Fourth Amendment violation arising out of that arrest. (Am. Compl. § C at 2.) While there is a clearly established right to be free from unreasonable seizures, as Imbert notes in his brief, "Plaintiff does not plead that Inspector Imbert was personally involved in his arrest," (Imbert's Br. [Dkt. #34-1] at 12), only that he was "with" Fletcher. An allegation of Imbert's mere presence during Plaintiff's arrest, absent Imbert's personal involvement, is insufficient to state a violation of Plaintiff's Fourth Amendment right even if the arrest was wrongful. See Colon v. Coughlin, 58 F.3d 865, 873 (2d Cir.1995) (affirming summary judgment in Section 1983 damages claim for defendants who were not personally involved in the alleged constitutional deprivation). Imbert's Motion to Dismiss [Dkt. #34] as to Plaintiff's arrest by Officer Fletcher is GRANTED.
There is a clearly established constitutional right to be free from unreasonable searches of one's property, including vehicles, by government officials. See, e.g., United States v. Chadwick, 433 U.S. 1, 15-16, 97 S.Ct. 2476, 53 L.Ed.2d 538 (1977) (holding that warrant was required to search arrestee's locked footlocker once it was seized by police); United States v. Howard, 489 F.3d 484, 492 (2d Cir.2007) (applying automobile exception to search warrant requirement). Plaintiff argues in his brief that "Imbert's search for [his] firearm under authority of federal law was an illegal act." (Pl.'s Br. [Dkt. #38-1] at 8.) The Imbert Report is vague as to the investigation near Plaintiff's motorcycle. Although the report states that "[w]e found Yorzinski's motorcycle parked adjacent to the building" and "searched the immediate area," (Imbert Report at 2), it does not clarify whether Imbert searched inside any compartments on Plaintiff's motorcycle or how far the gun was found from the motorcycle (see id.). The Fletcher Report is also unhelpful in this regard. It states cryptically that "Carlino and Inspector Imbert went to the area where they observed Yorzinski last standing and located" the gun, and that "Yorzinski did not deny he did not [sic] place the gun in a bag and hide adjacent to his motorcycle he operated to Court Street." (Fletcher Report at 3.) While the Imbert Report states that "New Haven Police Evidence Detectives arrived and photographed the location of the found weapon, and its location to the building[] and Yorzinski's motorcycle, and the accessibility of the weapon to anyone on the street," neither party attached photographs to his brief.
Because the Court cannot conclude from the Amended Complaint or the attached materials whether Plaintiff's motorcycle was actually searched, the Court believes
Plaintiff seeks both damages and injunctive relief in this action (see Am. Compl. § F at 4), but under Bivens, a court may only award money damages, not injunctive relief, to a prevailing party. See Polanco v. U.S. DEA, 158 F.3d 647, 652 (2d Cir.1998) (stating that "a Bivens action... [is] ... (by definition) a claim for money damages, whereas [plaintiff] seeks equitable relief.") Therefore, even if Plaintiff prevails against Imbert in this action, the Court is unable to award any injunctive relief, such as ordering that Imbert write a letter to the Connecticut Commissioner of Public Safety concerning Plaintiff's pistol permit. (See Am. Compl. § F at 4.) The claim for injunctive relief is therefore dismissed.
Carlino's Motion to Dismiss [Dkt. #28] is GRANTED in full. Imbert's Motion to Dismiss [Dkt. #34] is GRANTED as to any alleged Second Amendment violation and as to any Fourth Amendment violation arising out of Plaintiff's arrest by Officer Fletcher. Imbert's Motion is DENIED as to (1) the alleged violation of Plaintiff's Fourth Amendment rights upon his reentry into the Giamo Federal Building and (2) the alleged search of Plaintiff's motorcycle.
IT IS SO ORDERED.