CATHY SEIBEL, District Judge.
Before the Court are Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment, (Doc. 82), Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, (Doc. 74), and Plaintiff's Motion in Limine, (Doc. 73). For the following reasons, Defendant's Motion is GRANTED and Plaintiff's Motions are DENIED.
The following facts are based upon the parties' Local Civil Rule 56.1 statements and supporting materials, and are undisputed except as noted. I set forth only those facts relevant to my decision.
Defendant is a Trooper with the New York State Police. (Knudsen Decl. Ex. A ("D's Aff."), at ¶ 1.)
According to Defendant, the following occurred: At about 8:25 pm, he observed the green Toyota and noticed that the passenger side headlight was out. (Id. ¶ 3.) Defendant then stopped the vehicle and asked Plaintiff, who was driving it, for his license and registration. (Id.) When speaking with Plaintiff, Defendant immediately detected an odor of alcohol on his breath, and noticed that Plaintiff had red, watery eyes. (Id.) Defendant asked Plaintiff how much he had had to drink, and Plaintiff admitted that he drank two beers earlier in the day. (Id.) Defendant then asked Plaintiff to exit his vehicle. (Id. ¶ 4.) When Plaintiff exited his vehicle, Defendant noticed a container of yellow liquid on the floor in front of the driver's seat and that Plaintiff's fly was open. (Id.) In response to Defendant's question as to what was in the container, Plaintiff stated that it was urine. (Id.) Defendant then frisked Plaintiff and conducted field sobriety tests. (Id. ¶¶ 4-5.) Before each field sobriety test, Plaintiff objected that he was too tired to perform what was requested of him. (Id. ¶ 5.) Due to Plaintiff's complaint of a "crooked back," Defendant did not require Plaintiff to perform two of the field sobriety tests — the walk and turn and the one leg stand tests. (Id.) Plaintiff failed the other five field sobriety tests — horizontal gaze nystagmus, Romberg balance, finger to nose, finger count, and reciting the alphabet. (Id.; Knudsen Decl. Ex. D, at 3.) Defendant then arrested Plaintiff and brought him to the Monroe State Police Barracks. (D's Aff. ¶ 5.)
Plaintiff disputes much of Defendant's account. First, Plaintiff argues that Defendant could not have seen a nonfunctioning headlight, because both of his car's headlights were working and, even if a headlight was out, that would not have justified the traffic stop because the sun had not yet set. (P's 56.1 ¶ 2.)
The events at the State Police Barracks are not in dispute. There, another Trooper, Douglas Tinirello, administered a breathalyzer test. (D's Aff. ¶ 6; see Knudsen Decl. Ex. D, at 2.) The test indicated that Plaintiff had a blood alcohol content ("BAC") of .08 percent. (D's Aff. ¶ 6.) Plaintiff argues that the breathalyzer results were unreliable, and that Defendant knew they were unreliable, for the following reasons: "a) The calibrations were way off. b) Me informing him that [asthma] medications cause false positives for Breathalyzers, thus I required my blood drawn which he refused. c) Fact that the machine couldn't have been properly working as it never printed out from its internal printer[, which produces] the ONLY reliable verifiable result that can be certified as true, as any 8 ½ by 11 print out externally can be deemed false by alteration." (P's 56.1 ¶ 7.) After receiving the results of the breathalyzer test, Defendant gave Plaintiff misdemeanor tickets for driving with a BAC of .08 percent or more, and driving while intoxicated, in violation of N.Y. Vehicle & Traffic Law ("VTL") §§ 1192(2) and (3), respectively, and a traffic infraction ticket for not having two functioning headlights, in violation of VTL § 375(2)(a)-1. (D's Aff. ¶ 6; Knudsen Decl. Ex. D, at 4-6.)
Plaintiff filed this action on May 16, 2012, asserting several state and federal claims against several individuals, Orange County and the Orange County District Attorney. On September 16, 2013, the Court granted motions to dismiss as to all claims except for the state and Section 1983 malicious prosecution claims against Defendant. (See Doc. 56.) Plaintiff and Defendant both now move for summary judgment on these claims. (Docs. 74, 82.)
Summary judgment is appropriate when "the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). "[T]he dispute about a material fact is `genuine' . . . if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). A fact is "material" if it "might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law . . . . Factual disputes that are irrelevant or unnecessary will not be counted." Id. On a motion for summary judgment, "[t]he evidence of the non-movant is to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in his favor." Id. at 255. The movant bears the initial burden of demonstrating the absence of a genuine issue of material fact, and, if satisfied, the burden then shifts to the non-movant to present evidence sufficient to satisfy every element of the claim. Holcomb v. Iona Coll., 521 F.3d 130, 137 (2d Cir. 2008) (citing Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323-24 (1986)). "The mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the [non-movant's] position will be insufficient; there must be evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the [non-movant]." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252. Moreover, the non-movant "must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts," Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986), and he "may not rely on conclusory allegations or unsubstantiated speculation," Fujitsu Ltd. v. Fed. Express Corp., 247 F.3d 423, 428 (2d Cir. 2001) (internal quotation marks omitted).
"A party asserting that a fact cannot be or is genuinely disputed must support the assertion by . . . citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations (including those made for purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials . . . ." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(A). Where, as here, affidavits are used to support or oppose the motion, they "must be made on personal knowledge, set out facts that would be admissible in evidence, and show that the affiant . . . is competent to testify on the matters stated." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(4); see Major League Baseball Props., Inc. v. Salvino, Inc., 542 F.3d 290, 310 (2d Cir. 2008). In the event a party "fails to properly address another party's assertion of fact as required by Rule 56(c), the court may," among other things, "consider the fact undisputed for purposes of the motion" or "grant summary judgment if the motion and supporting materials — including the facts considered undisputed — show that the movant is entitled to it." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)(2), (3).
Because Plaintiff is proceeding pro se, the Court must read his papers liberally and construe them "to raise the strongest arguments that they suggest." McPherson v. Coombe, 174 F.3d 276, 280 (2d Cir. 1999) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Plaintiff's Section 1983 and state-law malicious prosecution claims require him to establish the elements of a malicious prosecution claim under New York law. See Manganiello v. City of N.Y., 612 F.3d 149, 160-61 (2d Cir. 2010). These elements are "(1) the commencement or continuation of a criminal proceeding against the plaintiff, (2) the termination of the proceeding in favor of the accused, (3) the absence of probable cause for the criminal proceeding and (4) actual malice." Smith-Hunter v. Harvey, 95 N.Y.2d 191, 195 (2000) (internal quotation marks omitted).
"[T]he existence of probable cause is a complete defense to a claim of malicious prosecution in New York," Savino v. City of N.Y., 331 F.3d 63, 72 (2d Cir. 2003), but the defendant must have possessed probable cause as to each offense charged, see Posr v. Doherty, 944 F.2d 91, 100 (2d Cir. 1991). "In the context of a malicious prosecution claim, probable cause under New York law is the knowledge of facts, actual or apparent, strong enough to justify a reasonable man in the belief that he has lawful grounds for prosecuting the defendant in the manner complained of." Rounseville v. Zahl, 13 F.3d 625, 629 (2d Cir. 1994) (internal quotation marks omitted); see Michaels v. City of N.Y., No. 10-CV-2666, 2011 WL 570125, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 16, 2011) ("[P]robable cause is evaluated under an objective standard," under which "courts look to the information available to the law enforcement officer . . . and consider the totality of the circumstances.") (internal quotation marks omitted).
Plaintiff's claims relating to the VTL §§ 1192(2) and (3) charges must be dismissed because Defendant possessed probable cause to charge him with these offenses. VTL § 1192(2) prohibits "operat[ing] a motor vehicle while [an individual] has .08 of one per centum or more by weight of alcohol in the person's blood." N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 1192(2). VTL § 1192(3) prohibits "operat[ing] a motor vehicle while in an intoxicated condition." Id. § 1192(3).
The following facts are undisputed and provided the requisite probable cause: Defendant was informed that a fellow officer observed Plaintiff driving erratically and that Plaintiff was approaching the construction zone on State Route 17. Defendant observed Plaintiff's vehicle approaching that zone, pulled Plaintiff over and asked Plaintiff to exit his car. After Plaintiff exited his car, Plaintiff — by his own admission — walked in an uncoordinated manner. Defendant then arrested Plaintiff and brought him to the State Police Barracks, where Plaintiff submitted to a breathalyzer that revealed a BAC of .08%. Defendant then wrote Plaintiff a ticket for misdemeanor violations of VTL §§ 1192(2) and (3). By the time Defendant wrote these tickets, the above facts were sufficient to establish probable cause to charge Plaintiff with violating VTL §§ 1192(2) and (3). See Costello v. Milano, No. 12-CV-7216, 2014 WL 1794886, at *11 (S.D.N.Y. May 6, 2014) (probable cause to charge plaintiff with violating VTL §§ 1192(2) and (3) where breathalyzer revealed "BAC was .08 percent and Plaintiff failed three field sobriety tests") (collecting cases). Indeed, it is hard to imagine what more than an observation of erratic driving and a test showing a BAC of .08 percent could be required.
At the very least, even if Defendant did not possess probable cause to charge Plaintiff with violating VTL §§ 1192(2) and (3), he would be entitled to qualified immunity because these facts support a finding of arguable probable cause. See Jean v. Montina, 412 F. App'x 352, 354 (2d Cir. 2011) (summary order) (defendant entitled to qualified immunity from malicious prosecution if facts supported arguable probable cause to charge, which "exists where, accounting for any new information learned subsequent to an arrest, `it was not manifestly unreasonable for [the defendant officer] to charge [the plaintiff]' with the crime in question") (alterations in original) (quoting Lowth v. Town of Cheektowaga, 82 F.3d 563, 572 (2d Cir. 1996)); Amore v. Novarro, 624 F.3d 522, 536 (2d Cir. 2010) ("Arguable probable cause exists if either (a) it was objectively reasonable for the officer to believe that probable cause existed, or (b) officers of reasonable competence could disagree on whether the probable cause test was met.") (internal quotation marks omitted). Indeed, removing potentially inebriated drivers from the roadways and enforcing drunk-driving laws involve decisions for which fear of liability ought not to "unduly inhibit officials in the discharge of their duties." Provost v. City of Newburgh, 262 F.3d 146, 160 (2d Cir. 2001) (internal quotation marks omitted). On these facts, it cannot be said that Defendant's "judgment was so flawed that no reasonable officer would have made a similar choice," Lennon v. Miller, 66 F.3d 416, 425 (2d Cir. 1995), and so Defendant would be entitled to qualified immunity even if he lacked probable cause to charge. The malicious prosecution claim is thus subject to dismissal on this alternative ground.
Plaintiff, however, argues that the breathalyzer test could not have formed the basis of probable cause for several reasons. Plaintiff contends that the traffic stop and his arrest were unsupported by probable cause, which would have mandated suppression of the results of the subsequent breathalyzer test at any criminal trial, and thus prohibits Defendant from relying on the breathalyzer results in connection with Plaintiff's malicious prosecution claim. (See P's Opp. 7-10.) I will assume that the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine applies.
In addition to the fruit of the poisonous tree argument, Plaintiff contends that there were several issues with the breathalyzer test — the calibrations "were way off" because the machine had not been recalibrated within six months of Plaintiff's breathalyzer, Plaintiff's asthma medications caused a false positive, and the machine did not generate a printout of the results — each of which would have prevented a reasonable officer from believing the results would be admissible in a criminal trial. (See P's 56.1 ¶ 7; Memorandum of Law in Support of Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, ("P's Mem."), (Doc. 75), at 8; P's Motion in Limine 7.) These arguments merit little discussion. First, Plaintiff's assertion about the timeframe within which a breathalyzer must be calibrated for its results to be admissible misstates the law. See People v. Boscic, 15 N.Y.3d 494, 500 (2010) ("[T]here has been no strict six-month calibration rule . . . . Rather, the admissibility of breath-alcohol analysis results remains premised on the People's ability to demonstrate, among other requirements, that the device was in proper working order when it was used to test an accused.") (internal quotation marks omitted). Moreover, Plaintiff presents no evidence that the breath-alcohol analysis equipment in the machine was not in proper working order, or that a reasonable officer in Defendant's position would have believed that it was not in proper working order. Second, Plaintiff has cited to no New York case, and I have found none, that rejects a breathalyzer test solely because the defendant was on asthma medication. Plaintiff likewise presents no evidence as to what he told Defendant about any recent use of his inhaler, so even assuming that a reasonable officer would not rely on a breathalyzer result for somebody who recently used an inhaler, there is no evidence as to what Defendant knew about Plaintiff's inhaler use on the day of this incident. Moreover, even if Defendant were aware that Plaintiff had used an inhaler that could have affected the breathalyzer test, "probable cause does not require that the police rule out innocent explanations for the suspect's activities." Carthew v. Cnty. of Suffolk, 709 F.Supp.2d 188, 199 (E.D.N.Y. 2010) (collecting cases). Finally, Plaintiff does not present any evidence to support his assertion that Defendant could only rely on a printout generated by the breathalyzer, rather than the results that appeared on the screen of the breathalyzer.
Accordingly, Defendant possessed probable cause or arguable probable cause to charge Plaintiff with violating VTL §§ 1192(2) and (3), and his malicious prosecution claim as to these charges must be dismissed.
VTL § 375(2)(a)-1 requires, among other things, that all motor vehicles activate two functioning headlights 30 minutes after sunset. See N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 375(2)(a)-1. The parties dispute whether Plaintiff had two functioning headlights on the date of this incident, and, if he did not, whether he was pulled over less than 30 minutes after sunset.
I need not delve into these factual disputes, because violation of VTL § 375(2)(a)-1 is a traffic infraction, "not a criminal offense, [and] the traffic court proceeding is civil in nature, a regulatory rather than a `criminal proceeding.' Therefore, the first element of the malicious prosecution claim cannot be met." Standt v. City of N.Y., 153 F.Supp.2d 417, 434 (S.D.N.Y. 2001); accord Topolski v. Cottrell, No. 11-CV-1216, 2012 WL 3264927, at *6 (N.D.N.Y. Aug. 9, 2012); Harley v. Suffolk Cnty. Police Dep't, No. 09-CV-2897, 2012 WL 642431, at *8 n.5 (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 28, 2012); see also N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 155 ("A traffic infraction is not a crime and the punishment imposed therefor shall not be deemed for any purpose a penal or criminal punishment . . . ."); Beck v. City of N.Y., No. 12-CV-9231, 2014 WL 80544, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 3, 2014) ("[T]raffic infractions are civil [rather than criminal] violations.") (collecting cases). Plaintiff's malicious prosecution claim as to his ticket for violating VTL § 375(2)(a)-1 must, therefore, be dismissed.
For the foregoing reasons, Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED and Plaintiff's Motions are DENIED. The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to terminate the pending Motions, (Docs. 73, 74, 82), enter judgment for Defendant, and close the case.
Despite the clear dictates of Local Civil Rule 56.2, Defendant failed to send such a notice to Plaintiff. (See Memorandum of Law to Deny Trooper Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment, ("P's Opp."), (Doc. 79), at 4-5.) "[T]he failure of a litigant who moves for summary judgment to provide a pro se party with notice of the requirements of [Fed. R. Civ. P. 56] will result in [denial] of the [motion for] summary judgment, no matter how meritorious, unless the movant shows (or it is obvious to the court) that the pro se was aware of this rule's requirements." Ortiz-Alvear v. United States, 21 F. App'x 27, 28 (2d Cir. 2001) (summary order) (internal quotation marks and alterations omitted). Where, as here, the pro se litigant submits "extensive documentation . . . [and] conten[ds] that issues of material fact properly resolved by a jury should prevent entry of summary judgment against him," it is obvious that the pro se litigant "understood the nature and consequences of summary judgment," and the failure to send the Local Civil Rule 56.2 Notice is harmless. Hafez v. City of Schenectady, 524 F. App'x 742, 743 (2d Cir. 2013) (summary order). Indeed, that Plaintiff pointed out Defendant's failure to comply with Local Civil Rule 56.2 demonstrates Plaintiff's understanding of the information that would have been included in such a notice. Accordingly, Defendant's failure to send the Local Civil Rule 56.2 Notice does not mandate denial of Defendant's Motion.