JOSEPH F. BIANCO, District Judge.
Plaintiff Raheem Crews ("plaintiff") brought this action against defendants the County of Nassau (the "County"), Officer Ronald Annarumma ("Off. Annarumma"), and Detective Nicholas Lemma ("Det. Lemma") under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and state law for violations of his rights stemming from his arrest, detention, and prosecution for a robbery he did not commit. A jury trial on plaintiff's claim against Off. Annarumma for battery under state law, Det. Lemma for malicious prosecution under federal and state law,
Presently before the Court is plaintiff's timely motion pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(a) to set aside the verdict and for a new trial. Plaintiff raises two grounds for relief: (1) the verdict on the Monell claim was against the weight of the evidence, which plaintiff contends established that the County failed to adequately train or supervise its personnel on the handling of exculpatory evidence;
For the following reasons, the Court denies plaintiff's motion to set aside the verdict and for a new trial in its entirety. Specifically, with respect to the Monell claim, Det. Lemma testified repeatedly that he was aware of his duty to disclose the exculpatory information that plaintiff had been incarcerated at the time of the robbery of which he had been accused and, thus, could not have committed the robbery. Det. Lemma openly admitted he failed to disclose the exculpatory information to plaintiff, plaintiff's attorney in his criminal proceeding, the District Attorney's Office, and/or his supervisors at the Nassau County Police Department ("NCPD"), despite knowing that he was required to do so, and ascribed his failure to do so to caseload, tiredness, and other general excuses. Based on that testimony alone, it would have been more than reasonable for the jury to conclude that any failure to train or supervise on the part of the County was not a proximate cause of plaintiff's injuries, given that Det. Lemma unequivocally stated that he knew the proper course of action, but simply failed to take it. Second, with respect to the damages award, plaintiff argues that the $175,000 award in this case fails to adequately compensate him for the 125 days he was wrongfully detained because the ratio of dollars to hours (or days) spent in jail fails to meet a reasonable threshold, based on comparisons to other cases. The cases cited by plaintiff in support of this argument, however, do not support such a formulaic analysis. Courts do not review jury awards in cases like these — involving obviously subjective noneconomic damages, such as emotional harm and loss of liberty — to ensure conformity with some
In short, having presided over the trial, the Court concludes that the verdict as to the Monell claim was not against the weight of the evidence, and the compensatory damages award did not materially deviate from a reasonable amount of compensation given the circumstances.
Plaintiff filed his complaint on May 25, 2006. Defendants moved for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c) on June 14, 2007. The Court granted in part and denied in part that motion on December 27, 2007. See generally Crews v. Cnty. of Nassau, No. 06-CV-2610 (JFB)(WDW), 2007 WL 4591325 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 27, 2007). The County defendants moved for summary judgment on July 11, 2011, and Det. Lemma moved for summary judgment on July 20, 2011. Plaintiff cross-moved for summary judgment against Det. Lemma on September 15, 2011. After hearing oral argument on the motions, the Court allowed further discovery and supplemental briefing by the parties, followed by additional oral argument. On February 11, 2014, the Court granted in part and denied in part the motions by the County defendants and Det. Lemma, and denied the motion by plaintiff. See generally Crews v. Cnty. of Nassau, 996 F.Supp.2d 186 (E.D.N.Y.2014).
From March 9 through March 23, 2015, this Court held a jury trial. The jury found in favor of defendants Off. Annarumma and the County on the battery and Monell claims, respectively, and found in favor of plaintiff on the malicious prosecution claims against Det. Lemma, awarding plaintiff $175,000 in compensatory damages and no punitive damages. Plaintiff timely moved to set aside the verdict and for a new trial pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(a) on May 8, 2015. Defendants filed oppositions to the motion on June 15, 2015. Plaintiff replied on July 1, 2015. Defendants filed surreplies on July 22 and July 23, 2015. The Court heard oral argument on July 29, 2015. The matter is fully submitted.
A court may grant a new trial in a jury case for any of the reasons "for which a new trial has heretofore been granted in an action at law in federal court." Fed. R.Civ.P. 59(a). The decision whether to grant a new trial under Rule 59 "is `committed to the sound discretion of the trial judge.'" Stoma v. Miller Marine Servs., Inc., 271 F.Supp.2d 429, 431 (E.D.N.Y. 2003) (quoting Metromedia Co. v. Fugazy, 983 F.2d 350, 363 (2d Cir.1992)). Thus, "[a] new trial may be granted [ ] when the jury's verdict is against the weight of the evidence." DLC Mgmt. Corp. v. Town of Hyde Park, 163 F.3d 124, 133 (2d Cir. 1998).
With respect to damages, it is well settled that, pursuant to Rule 59, a trial judge has the discretion to grant a new trial if the verdict is against the weight of the evidence, and "[t]his discretion includes overturning verdicts for excessiveness and ordering a new trial without qualification, or conditioned on the verdict winner's refusal to agree to a reduction (remittitur)." Gasperini v. Ctr. for Humanities, Inc., 518 U.S. 415, 433, 116 S.Ct. 2211, 135 L.Ed.2d 659 (1996); accord Rangolan v. Cnty. of Nassau, 370 F.3d 239, 244 (2d Cir.2004); Bracey v. Bd. of Educ. of City of Bridgeport, 368 F.3d 108, 117 (2d Cir.2004). As the Second Circuit has instructed, "[w]here there is no particular discernable error, we have generally held that a jury's damage award may not be set aside as excessive unless `the award is so high as to shock the judicial conscience and constitute a denial of justice.'" Kirsch v. Fleet Street, Ltd., 148 F.3d 149, 165 (2d Cir.1998) (quoting O'Neill v. Krzeminski, 839 F.2d 9, 13 (2d Cir.1988)). However, if the trial judge identifies a specific error, "the court may set aside the resulting award even if its amount does not `shock the conscience.'" Id. In reviewing a claim that a jury's damages award was excessive, the court must "accord substantial deference to the jury's determination of factual issues." Martell v. Boardwalk Enters., 748 F.2d 740, 750 (2d Cir.1984). Moreover, "the trial judge is not called upon to say whether the amount is higher than he [or she] personally would have awarded." Dagnello v. Long Island R.R., 289 F.2d 797, 806 (2d Cir.1961).
The compensatory damages in this case, however, were awarded based on the finding of liability on parallel federal and state law claims. "A federal court, in reviewing the amount of damages awarded on a state law claim, must apply New York law." Patterson v. Balsamico, 440 F.3d 104, 119 (2d Cir.2006) (citing Gasperini, 518 U.S. at 430-31, 116 S.Ct. 2211 and Cross v. N.Y.C. Transit Auth., 417 F.3d 241, 258 (2d Cir.2005)). "New York law provides that the appellate division `reviewing a money judgment ... in which it is contended that the award is excessive or inadequate ... shall determine that an award is excessive or inadequate if it deviates materially from what would be reasonable compensation.'" Id. (alterations
"To determine whether an award `deviates materially from what would be reasonable compensation,' New York state courts look to awards approved in similar cases." Id. at 425, 116 S.Ct. 2211. These awards, however, are "not binding but instructive." In re Joint E. & S. Dist. Asbestos Litig., 9 F.Supp.2d 307, 311 (S.D.N.Y.1998); see also Senko v. Fonda, 53 A.D.2d 638, 639, 384 N.Y.S.2d 849 (N.Y.App.Div.1976) (stating that prior awards are not binding but that they "may guide and enlighten the court and in a sense, may constrain it"). "[The § 5501(c)] standard requires a court to determine a reasonable range and to take corrective action when the particular jury award deviates materially from that range." Peterson v. Cnty. of Nassau, 995 F.Supp. 305, 321 (E.D.N.Y.1998).
Although N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 5501(c) requires "closer court review than the common-law `shock the conscience' test," Gasperini, 518 U.S. at 429, 116 S.Ct. 2211, "[d]ue to the uncertainties in calculating [non-economic] damage awards, New York courts have consistently held that deference to the jury's findings is required" in reviewing a jury's award. Cantu v. Flanigan, 705 F.Supp.2d 220, 227 (E.D.N.Y. 2010); see also Levine v. E. Ramapo Cent. Sch. Dist., 192 A.D.2d 1025, 1026, 597 N.Y.S.2d 239 (N.Y.App.Div.1993) (stating that "considerable deference should be accorded to the interpretation of the evidence by the jury").
According to plaintiff, the verdict should be set aside and a new trial held for two reasons: (1) the verdict on the Monell claim was against the weight of the evidence, which plaintiff contends established that the County failed to adequately train or supervise its personnel on the handling of exculpatory evidence; and (2) the compensatory damages award failed to adequately compensate plaintiff for the length of time he was wrongfully detained. The Court addresses each argument in turn and, for the reasons set forth below, denies the requested relief.
A municipal entity may be held liable under Section 1983 where the plaintiff demonstrates that the constitutional violation complained of was caused by a municipal "policy or custom." Monell v. Dep't of Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 694, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978) (noting that municipal policy must be the "moving force of the constitutional violation"); see also Patterson v. Cnty. of Oneida, N.Y., 375 F.3d 206, 226 (2d Cir.2004). "The policy or custom need not be memorialized
A Monell claim can only succeed, though, if a plaintiff can "prove that the municipality was, in the language of the statute, the `person who ... subjected, or cause[d] [him] to be subjected,' to the deprivation of constitutional rights." Vippolis v. Haverstraw, 768 F.2d 40, 44 (2d Cir.1985) (alterations in original). In other words, with respect to causation, for a plaintiff to prove municipal liability under § 1983, "[a]t the very least there must be an affirmative link between the policy and the particular constitutional violation alleged." City of Oklahoma City v. Tuttle, 471 U.S. 808, 823, 105 S.Ct. 2427, 85 L.Ed.2d 791 (1985).
Here, plaintiff argues that the verdict was against the weight of the evidence because the testimonial evidence from NCPD detective witnesses, other than Det. Lemma, established that the County provided no training to its police officers on how to handle exculpatory evidence. Plaintiff, in essence, argues that this purportedly uncontroverted testimony clearly substantiated the Monell claim against the County.
Even assuming arguendo that this testimony demonstrated a failure to train employees constituting a policy, custom, or practice on the part of the County, the plaintiff also had the burden of proving beyond a preponderance of the evidence that his constitutional injury was caused by that failure to train. In the briefing and at oral argument, plaintiff did not address the manner in which it proved causation, and seemingly assumed that the connection between the purported failure to train and the injury to plaintiff was implied by the existence of the County's purported failure to train. (See Pl.'s Reply, ECF No. 349, at 2 ("Mr. Crews' requests for a new trial against Defendant County lies [sic] on the grounds that based on the weight of the evidence adduced during the trial, a verdict finding of no liability against Defendant County was not supported, and clearly would result in a miscarriage of justice in that the Detectives that testified did not just state that they did not remember training on handling exculpatory evidence, they were clear that they had not been provided such training. This is were [sic] the Jury was in error in making its find [sic] as to the County. Further, the County's attempt to continue to argue that it is unconnected to and is separate and apart from Lemma is subject to several levels of evaluation given
This testimony clearly vitiates plaintiff's evidence in support of causation for his Monell claim. Plaintiff did not offer any other evidence to draw an "affirmative link" between the failure to train and his constitutional injury; indeed, it seems clear that he cannot prove the connection through evidence other than Det. Lemma's testimony, given the circumstances of this case where plaintiff's injury hinged solely on the failure of Det. Lemma (and Det. Lemma alone) to disclose the alibi evidence of which only he was aware. Moreover, the Court notes that Det. Lemma's testimony on this topic was far from self-serving. In fact, Det. Lemma cast more of the blame on himself in so testifying, as opposed to ascribing his failings to the County for not properly instructing him on how to handle exculpatory information. Therefore, there is no basis to conclude that the jury improperly disregarded the testimony by the other witnesses regarding a lack of training by the County, because, if they accepted Det. Lemma's testimony as credible, it was entirely reasonable for the jury to conclude that even if there had been a lack of training, it had no direct injurious effect on plaintiff. "Where the jury resolved conflicting versions of events in favor of one party, a new trial is appropriate only where one `conflicting account is so inherently implausible as to tax credulity, or there is independent evidence in the trial record' such that finding for one party, instead of another, would `lead to a miscarriage of justice.'" Finn-Verburg v. N.Y. State Dep't of Labor, 165 F.Supp.2d 223, 228 (N.D.N.Y. 2001) (quoting Ricciuti v. N.Y.C. Transit Auth., 70 F.Supp.2d 300, 308 (S.D.N.Y. 1999)). That is not the case here.
Accordingly, having carefully considered plaintiff's arguments in light of the trial record, the Court concludes that the jury's verdict on the Monell claim was not against the weight of the evidence, and, thus, a new trial is not warranted on this
Plaintiff argues that a new trial should also be granted because the $175,000 compensatory damage award by the jury inadequately compensated him for the 125 days he spent wrongfully incarcerated.
The Court finds this argument unpersuasive. First, the law in the Second Circuit is clear that, in cases involving wrongful confinement, damages for a plaintiff's loss of liberty are "separable from damages recoverable for such injuries as physical harm, embarrassment, or emotional suffering." Kerman v. City of New York, 374 F.3d 93, 125 (2d Cir.2004). "Thus, a verdict that a plaintiff should not receive more than nominal damages for physical injury, economic loss, or mental suffering does not foreclose a more substantial award for his loss of liberty." Id. Although loss of liberty is therefore compensable separate from any related emotional harm or embarrassment, this principle does not mean that there is some
The question, then, is whether the award in this case deviated materially from what would be reasonable compensation, given the circumstances of this case.
Under these circumstances, it is clear that the jury's award of $175,000 was not inadequate. In arriving at a reasonable range of damages, the Court has considered the cases proffered by plaintiff. See, e.g., Ismail v. Cohen, 899 F.2d 183, 185-87 (2d Cir.1990) ($650,000 in compensatory damages where plaintiff was unjustly confined for sixty hours and then tried and acquitted on three criminal counts, where defendant police officer "gave materially false testimony and admitted that, although he never even read the criminal complaint, he had sworn to its accuracy"); Sulkowska v. City of New York, 129 F.Supp.2d 274, 285, 308 (S.D.N.Y.2001) ($275,000 award for a plaintiff wrongfully detained for less than a day but who suffered from PTSD and was "severely, and perhaps permanently, injured"). Based on the Court's examination of other roughly similar cases, however, the range is far broader and easily encompasses the award in this case. See King v. Macri, 993 F.2d 294, 297 (2d Cir.1993) ($75,000 award was reasonable for plaintiff who was incarcerated for two months, subjected to regular strip searches, and stood trial for the false charges); McClellan v. Smith, No. 02-CV-1141 (GLS/DRH), 2009 WL 3587431 (N.D.N.Y. Oct. 26, 2009) ($150,000 in compensatory damages for plaintiff who was falsely imprisoned for seven days and maliciously prosecuted for over a year); Jackson v. State of New York, 2009 WL 6810548 (N.Y.Ct.Cl. Dec. 21, 2009) ($125,000 award for individual wrongfully imprisoned for 105 days in a facility where he had previously suffered a sexual assault, causing him great emotional distress); Sanabria v. State, 29 Misc.3d 988, 908 N.Y.S.2d 527, 532-33 (N.Y.Ct.Cl.2010) (awarding $20,000 in damages to individual falsely imprisoned for 91 days because the court did not credit the testimony regarding mental anguish in part because "claimant has previously served extensive periods of incarceration," which diminished any emotional harm); Johnson v. State, 155 Misc.2d 537, 588 N.Y.S.2d 722, 725 (N.Y.Ct.Cl.1992) ($40,000 in compensation for claimant wrongfully imprisoned for 747 days based, in part, on the claimant's extensive criminal history which reduced any damage to his reputation, humiliation, or pain). The jury award of $175,000 clearly does not deviate materially from this reasonable range.
Therefore, plaintiff's motion for a new trial on the grounds that the damages award was insufficient is denied.
For the foregoing reasons, the Court concludes that plaintiff has failed to set forth any grounds that warrant the setting aside of the verdict and a new trial. Accordingly, the Court denies plaintiff's motion pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59.
SO ORDERED.