GARY L. SHARPE, Chief District Judge.
Plaintiff Frederick J. Neroni commenced this action against defendants Carl F. Becker, "in his individual capacity and in his official capacity as Delaware County Surrogate's Court Justice and as Acting Supreme Court Justice, Delaware County," and the State of New York, alleging judicial bias and unconstitutional application of state laws in an underlying and ongoing state action. (Compl., Dkt. No.1 ¶ 4; Am. Compl., Dkt. No. 12, Attach. 2 ¶ 4.) Pending are defendants' motion to dismiss, (see Dkt. No. 7), and Neroni's motion seeking leave to amend his Complaint and for partial summary judgment, (see Dkt. No. 12). For the reasons that follow, Neroni's motion to amend is granted and his Amended Complaint is deemed filed, his motion for partial summary judgment is denied, and defendants' motion to dismiss is granted.
This action is predicated on purported personal vendettas, judicial improprieties, and the unconstitutional application of New York statutes in an underlying civil action in which Neroni is presently a defendant. (See Am. Compl. ¶¶ 1-28.) In the underlying state case, the children of a former Neroni client brought suit against him in Delaware County, alleging, inter alia, violation of N.Y. Judiciary Law § 487.
At the time the instant action was commenced, Justice Becker presided over the underlying state claim in his role as Acting Supreme Court Justice. (See Am. Compl. ¶¶ 8, 44.) Neroni insists, however, that Justice Becker fosters a decades-old bias against him, as evidenced by a litany of personal and professional acts of animus, including: prejudging damages while acting as Surrogate Court Judge; allowing opposing litigants to ignore legal requirements; disparaging Neroni in private and in open court; using body language to show disfavor to Neroni's legal arguments; coaching opposing counsel; unlawfully financing the underlying state action through the award of fees in a Surrogate Court proceeding; and hiding transcripts. (See id. ¶¶ 16-26, 45, 47, 58-106.) After the instant action was commenced, however, Justice Becker recused himself from the state action. (See id. ¶ 56A; Dkt. No. 7, Attach. 1 at 1.)
On August 6, 2012, Neroni filed an Order to Show Cause seeking various forms of preliminary and permanent injunctive relief. (See Dkt. No. 4.) After the court denied that request, Justice Becker and the State of New York moved to dismiss Neroni's Complaint pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) and (6). (See Dkt. No. 7.) In response, Neroni moved to amend his Complaint and for partial summary judgment. (See Dkt. No. 12.)
The standard of review under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) and 56 are well settled and will not be repeated here. For a full discussion of those standards, the court refers the parties to its prior decisions in Ellis v. Cohen & Slamowitz, LLP, 701 F.Supp.2d 215, 218 (N.D.N.Y. 2010) and Wagner v. Swarts, 827 F.Supp.2d 85, 92 (N.D.N.Y. 2011), respectively.
Defendants contend that the abstention doctrine set forth in Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1971), mandates dismissal of Neroni's constitutional challenges.
In furtherance of the principles of comity and federalism, "Younger generally prohibits courts from taking jurisdiction over federal constitutional claims that involve or call into question ongoing state proceedings so as to avoid unnecessary friction." Spargo v. N.Y. State Comm'n on Judicial Conduct, 351 F.3d 65, 75 (2d Cir. 2003) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Specifically, Younger mandates abstention "when: (1) there is a pending state proceeding, (2) that implicates an important state interest, and (3) the state proceeding affords the federal plaintiff an adequate opportunity for judicial review of his or her federal constitutional claims." Id. Although Younger abstention originated in relation to criminal prosecutions, it has since been extended to the civil context. See Ankenbrandt v. Richards, 504 U.S. 689, 705 (1992).
Even where the Younger elements are met, "a federal court may still intervene in state proceedings if the plaintiff demonstrates bad faith, harassment or any other unusual circumstance that would call for equitable relief." Spargo, 351 F.3d at 75 n.11. To invoke the "bad faith" exception, "the federal plaintiff must show that the state proceeding was initiated with and is animated by a retaliatory, harassing, or other illegitimate motive." Diamond "D" Const. Corp. v. McGowan, 282 F.3d 191, 199 (2d Cir. 2002). Invocation of the "unusual circumstances" exception is appropriate only where "the state court [is] incapable of fairly and fully adjudicating the federal issues before it." Kugler v. Helfant, 421 U.S. 117, 124 (1975).
Here, the pending state proceeding implicates regulation of attorney conduct, which is undoubtedly an important state interest. See Anonymous v. Ass'n of the Bar of the City of N.Y., 515 F.2d 427, 432 (2d Cir. 1975). Furthermore, Neroni makes no argument that he is or was precluded from raising his constitutional challenges in the underlying state proceeding. (See Dkt. No. 12, Attach. 1 at 17-19.) Instead, he argues that to do so would be "an exercise in futility" because "New York state courts have too much of an [sic] reputational interest invested in ruling against" him, and that "too many careers and public embarrassment are on the line for the state courts to budge and admit to clear
To the extent that this claim is an attempt to invoke the "unusual circumstances" exception to Younger, it fails. Neroni has provided nothing beyond speculation and conjecture which would inspire in the court any inkling that the state court is incapable of "fairly and fully adjudicating the federal issues" raised. Kugler, 421 U.S. at 124. Additionally, Neroni's concerns of prejudice by Justice Becker are assuaged by his recusal, and Neroni's contention that, in the wake of that recusal, the "New York State Supreme Court continues to assign to [his] cases disqualified judges" is supported only by irrelevant and conclusory speculation. (Am. Compl. ¶ 56A.) As such, Neroni has failed to meet his burden of establishing the applicability of a Younger exception.
Accordingly, because each of the Younger elements is satisfied, and neither exception applies, the court must abstain from consideration of, and therefore dismiss, Neroni's constitutional claims.
In addition to redress for alleged constitutional infirmities, Neroni seeks both prospective and retrospective injunctive relief relating to Justice Becker. (See Am. Compl. ¶ 106.) These claims, too, require dismissal.
First, despite Justice Becker's recusal in the underlying action, Neroni requests that he be "permanently enjoined from presiding over cases where [Neroni] is a party." (Id.) A party seeking permanent injunctive relief "must demonstrate (1) irreparable harm . . . and (2) actual success on the merits." Ognibene v. Parkes, 671 F.3d 174, 182 (2d Cir. 2011). "Irreparable harm is an injury that is not remote or speculative but actual and imminent, and for which a monetary award cannot be adequate compensation." Tom Doherty Assocs., Inc. v. Saban Entm't, Inc., 60 F.3d 27, 37 (2d Cir. 1995) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Plainly, Neroni's pleadings fail to satisfy either prong, and defendants' motion to dismiss is granted as to this request.
Next, Neroni requests that "all [of Justice] Becker's decisions in cases where [Neroni] was a party [be] voided." (Am. Compl. ¶ 106.) Because the Eleventh Amendment "prohibits an action in federal court seeking retrospective relief against a State," this claim is also dismissed.
Accordingly, Neroni's requests that Justice Becker be permanently enjoined from presiding over cases in which he is a party, and that any decision made by Justice Becker in a case in which he was formerly a party be voided, are dismissed.
In requesting dismissal of Neroni's claims, defendants seek costs and reasonable attorneys' fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988. (See Dkt. No. 7, Attach. 1 at 16.) Because defendants did not provide any documentation upon which the court could quantify costs or attorneys' fees, however, this request is denied with leave to renew.