Paul A. Engelmayer, District Judge.
This case stems from the issuance of an arrest warrant for Daniel Dervan Simpson in February 2003 on charges of petit larceny and third-degree robbery, and Simpson's arrest on that warrant nine years later, in January 2012. Simpson, pro se, brings this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Town of Warwick Police Department ("Warwick PD"), Detective Gary Sisco, and Detective Mary Maslanka, alleging unlawful search and seizure, false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and deliberate indifference to serious medical needs.
Defendants now move to dismiss Simpson's Second Amended Complaint ("SAC"), or, alternatively, for summary judgment. For the reasons that follow, the Court grants the motion for summary judgment in its entirety and dismisses this case.
On February 12, 2003, the Warwick PD received a call from one Gerard Degroat
The incident report states that Degroat had been backing out of a parking space on Main Street in Warwick when he rear-ended a blue Jeep that had pulled up behind him. Two black men exited the Jeep and approached his vehicle. The first was approximately six feet tall and had braided hair emerging from the front of his cap. The second was approximately 5'7' and also wore a cap. The first threatened to shoot Degroat if he did not surrender his money. Degroat gave the men $79, all the money he had, and drove away. A few moments later, he pulled over down the street and observed the men talking to a woman outside of Penra Liquor Store ("Penra"). Degroat then returned to the scene and wrote down the license plate number of the Jeep that his assailants had been driving. Degroat went home to call the police. Degroat's wife called Angela Storms, who worked at Penra, to notify her of the robbery. Incident Rep. 1-2.
On February 13, 2003, Degroat provided a sworn statement confirming the information in the incident report. See Maslanka Aff., Ex. B.
On February 18, 2003, Maslanka obtained a statement from Dalley. Maslanka Aff. ¶ 7; see id., Ex. D. Sisco, Maslanka's partner, was present when Maslanka interviewed Dalley. Sisco Aff. 1. Dalley stated the following: On February 12, 2003, Terrence Boone and Daniel Simpson had come to her home in Newburgh, New York, and the three of them drove with Dalley's children to Penra in Boone's mother's car. Dalley bought a bottle of liquor from the store while Simpson, Boone, and Dalley's children waited in the car. Dalley then waited in the car with her children while Simpson and Boone went into the store. When they returned, Boone informed Dalley that a man had hit their car and given them money so that they would not call the police. The group then went to Storms's house. After receiving a few phone calls,
On February 19, 2003, Maslanka obtained a voluntary statement from Boone. Maslanka Aff. ¶ 9; see id., Ex. E. Sisco was present for the interview. Sisco Aff. 1. Boone confirmed that he had been with Simpson, Dalley, and Dalley's children on February 12, 2003. Maslanka Aff., Ex. E, at 1. He gave this account: While Dalley was in the liquor store, a man backed into the car in which Boone, Simpson, and Dalley's kids were seated. Simpson and Boone got out to inspect the damage, and Boone told the man that he was going to call the police. The man asked Boone not to do so, and offered him and Simpson $50 to cover the damage. Boone accepted the money and the group went to Dalley's mother's house before going home. Id. at 1-2.
Maslanka made several unsuccessful attempts to locate Simpson, but was able to obtain a photograph of him from his DMV records. Maslanka Aff. ¶¶ 10-11. Maslanka incorporated the photograph into a six-photo lineup, which she presented to Degroat. Id. ¶ 11; see id., Ex. F, at 2. Degroat identified Simpson as the man who had robbed him. Id. ¶ 12; id., Ex. F, at 1. Using a separate photo lineup, Degroat identified Boone as his other assailant. See Sisco Aff. 1-2.
Based on Degroat's identifications of Simpson and Boone, and the statements by Degroat, Storms, Dalley, and Boone, Maslanka prepared criminal complaints and requests for felony arrest warrants for Simpson and Boone. Maslanka Aff. ¶ 13. The Warwick Village Court issued warrants for both men's arrests. Sisco Aff. 2. Simpson's warrant charged him with petit larceny, in violation of N.Y. Penal Law § 155.25, and third-degree robbery, in violation of N.Y. Penal Law § 160.05. Id., Ex. A. Simpson was not arrested at that time. Rather, the warrant for his arrest was turned over to Warwick warrant control officers, who would then make efforts to locate him. Sisco Aff. 2; Maslanka Aff. ¶ 13. Sisco later arrested Boone. Sisco Aff. 2.
On January 7, 2012,
The officers then
Upon being notified by the Kingston Police Department of Simpson's arrest, Officer James Feragola of the Warwick PD picked up Simpson and brought him to the Warwick police station. Sisco Aff. 2; Feragola Aff. 1; id., Ex. A. Shackles were used to secure Simpson's ankles and wrists while in transit, but were removed upon his arrival at the station. Simpson Depo. 86-88. At the station, Simpson was placed in a cell where he remained for approximately three hours before being brought before the Warwick Village Court for arraignment. Id. 87-88; Pl. 56.1, ¶ 47. Simpson attests that despite his repeated complaints of "severe pain," Pl. 56.1, ¶ 48, the Warwick officers refused to bring him to the hospital, and told him that he could get medical attention only once he arrived at the jail, Simpson Depo. 62-63, 88.
After his arraignment, Simpson was brought to the Orange County jail, where he was placed in a medical unit and given a wheelchair. Simpson Depo. 63-64; SAC ¶¶ 14-15. Simpson remained in jail for approximately two days before being released on bail. Simpson Depo. 93; SAC ¶ 15. Jailhouse officials gave Simpson crutches to take home upon discharge. Simpson Depo. 63; SAC ¶ 15.
On January 13, 2012, Simpson went to St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh. Simpson Depo. 64; see Pl. Supp. Aff. 2. After an X-ray, Simpson was informed that his leg was not broken and that "it didn't seem like there was anything real, real serious." Simpson Depo. 65-66. He was given a leg brace and pain medicine and told to keep his leg elevated. Id. 65-66, 95; Pl. Supp. Aff. 2, 5.
On March 30, 2013, the Orange County District Attorney dismissed the charges against Simpson because he had not been arrested or indicted within the statutory time period set by N.Y. Crim. Proc. Law § 30.30. Pl. Br. 5 (letter from ADA Kelly); Defs. 56.1, ¶ 56; Sisco Aff. 2.
On April 26, 2013, Simpson, proceeding in forma pauperis, filed a complaint against the State of New York, Orange County, the Warwick Village Court, and the Times Herald Record, alleging false arrest, false imprisonment, and defamation. Dkts. 2, 4. The case was assigned to the Honorable Loretta A. Preska, United States District Judge. On June 17, 2013, Chief Judge Preska dismissed Simpson's complaint, which she "construed liberally as being brought under § 1983," for, inter alia, failure to state a claim.
On July 2, 2013, Simpson filed an amended complaint against the Village of Warwick Police Department, the Times
On August 14, 2013, Chief Judge Preska dismissed all claims against the Times Herald Record, John Doe from the Times Herald Record, and, to the extent it was named as a defendant, the State of New York, Orange County. Dkt. 7, at 1-2. On August 21, 2013, Simpson's case was reassigned to this Court. On November 25, 2013, the Court directed the Clerk of Court to substitute the Warwick PD for the Village of Warwick Police Department as a defendant. Dkt. 14.
On February 26, 2014, pursuant to Valentin v. Dinkins, 121 F.3d 72 (2d Cir. 1997), the Court directed the Warwick PD to provide Simpson with the name and address of the "John Doe" police officer who prepared the police report referenced in Simpson's amended complaint, in order to effectuate service of that defendant. Dkt. 22. On March 18, 2014, counsel for the Warwick PD identified Maslanka and Sisco as the officers who prepared the report. Dkt. 25.
On May 5, 2014, Simpson filed the SAC. On May 28, 2014, the Honorable Gabriel W. Gorenstein, United States Magistrate Judge, amended the SAC's caption to add Maslanka and Sisco as defendants. Dkt. 35. On July 24, 2014, October 7, 2014, and October 23, 2014, the Warwick PD, Sisco, and Maslanka, respectively, answered. Dkts. 36, 45, 49.
During discovery, Simpson served defendants with requests for production of documents and interrogatories. See Dkts. 53, 54. On, March 30, 2015, defendants deposed Simpson by telephone. See Simpson Depo.
On April 17, 2015, defendants moved to dismiss the SAC under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c), or, in the alternative, for summary judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(c). Dkt. 64. Along with that motion, defendants filed: (1) a Rule 56.1 Statement, Defs. 56.1; (2) a memorandum of law in support, Defs. Br.; (3) an affidavit by defense counsel, Jockimo Aff., and attached exhibits; (4) an affidavit by Maslanka, Maslanka Aff., and attached exhibits; (5) an affidavit by Sisco, Sisco Aff., and an attached exhibit; and (6) an affidavit by Feragola, Feragola Aff., and an attached exhibit. Defendants also filed a notice informing Simpson of the requirements for opposing a motion for summary judgment. Dkt. 72.
On May 6, 2015, Judge Gorenstein granted Simpson leave to submit an amended document request to defense counsel. Dkt. 80. On May 27, 2015, Simpson filed: (1) a declaration in opposition to defendants' motion, Pl. Decl.; (2) a Rule 56.1 Statement, Pl. 56.1; (3) a statement of disputed factual issues, Dkt. 85; and (4) a memorandum of law in opposition to defendants' motion, Pl Br. In his opposition brief, Simpson, for the first time, requested leave to add Feragola as a defendant. Pl. Br. 3.
On June 11, 2016, defendants replied, Defs. Reply Br., and filed a supplemental
Because the parties have completed discovery and because defendants' motion is based on evidence outside the pleadings, the Court treats the motion as one for summary judgment.
To prevail on a motion for summary judgment, the movant must "show[] 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). The movant bears the burden of demonstrating the absence of a question of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).
To survive a summary judgment motion, the opposing party must establish a genuine issue of fact by "citing to particular parts of materials in the record." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1); see also Wright v. Goord, 554 F.3d 255, 266 (2d Cir.2009). "[A] party may not rely on mere speculation or conjecture as to the true nature of the facts to overcome a motion for summary judgment." Hicks v. Baines, 593 F.3d 159, 166 (2d Cir.2010) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). "Only disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law" will preclude a grant of summary judgment. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). In determining whether there are genuine issues of material fact, the Court is "required to resolve all ambiguities and draw all permissible factual inferences in favor of the party against whom summary judgment is sought." Johnson v. Killian, 680 F.3d 234, 236 (2d Cir.2012) (quoting Terry v. Ashcroft, 336 F.3d 128, 137 (2d Cir. 2003)).
Where the non-movant is a pro se litigant, his submissions must be construed to "raise the strongest arguments that they suggest." Triestman v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, 470 F.3d 471, 474 (2d Cir.2006) (per curiam) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). However, this forgiving standard "does not relieve [a pro se party] of his duty to meet the requirements necessary to defeat a motion for summary judgment." Jorgensen v. Epic/Sony Records, 351 F.3d 46, 50 (2d Cir.2003) (citation omitted).
Section 1983 provides redress for a deprivation of federally protected rights by persons acting under color of state law. 42 U.S.C. § 1983. To prevail on a § 1983 claim, a plaintiff must establish (1) the violation of a right, privilege, or immunity secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States (2) by a person acting under the color of state law. West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48, 108 S.Ct. 2250, 101 L.Ed.2d 40 (1988); Flagg Bros., Inc. v. Brooks, 436 U.S. 149, 155-57, 98 S.Ct. 1729, 56 L.Ed.2d 185 (1978).
To establish personal liability under § 1983, a plaintiff must show that the defendant was "personally or directly involved in the violation, that is, that there was `personal participation by one who ha[d] knowledge of the facts that rendered the conduct illegal.'" Harris v. Westchester Cty. Dep't of Corr., No. 06 Civ. 2011 (RJS), 2008 WL 953616, at *9 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 3, 2008) (quoting Provost v. City of Newburgh, 262 F.3d 146, 155 (2d Cir. 2001)); accord Farrell v. Burke, 449 F.3d 470, 484 (2d Cir.2006) ("It is well settled in this Circuit that personal involvement of defendants in alleged constitutional deprivations is a prerequisite to an award of damages under § 1983." (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)).
Personal involvement in a § 1983 violation may be shown by evidence that the defendant: (1) directly participated in the alleged violation; (2) failed to remedy the violation after learning about it; (3) created a policy or custom under which the violation occurred; (4) was grossly negligent in supervising subordinates who caused the unlawful condition or event; or (5) exhibited deliberate indifference by failing to act on information indicating that the violation was occurring. Colon v. Coughlin, 58 F.3d 865, 873 (2d Cir.1995); Washington v. Kelly, No. 03 Civ. 4638 (SAS), 2004 WL 830084, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 13, 2004).
Municipal liability in a § 1983 action may not be based on a theory of respondeat superior or vicarious liability. Monell v. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 691, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978). Rather, to hold a municipality liable under § 1983 for the unconstitutional actions of its employees, a plaintiff must prove that there was a municipal policy or custom that directly caused the plaintiff to be subjected to a constitutional violation. Wray v. City of New York, 490 F.3d 189, 195 (2d Cir.2007); see Amnesty Am. v. Town of W. Hartford, 361 F.3d 113, 125 (2d Cir.2004) ("[C]onstitutional torts committed by city employees without official sanction or authority do not typically implicate the municipality in the deprivation of constitutional rights, and therefore the employer-employee relationship is in itself insufficient to establish the necessary causation." (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)).
A plaintiff can establish the existence of a policy or custom by demonstrating:
Brandon v. City of New York, 705 F.Supp.2d 261, 276-77 (S.D.N.Y.2010) (collecting cases) (internal citations omitted); Calderon v. City of New York, 138 F.Supp.3d 593, 611-12, No. 14 Civ. 1082 (PAE), 2015 WL 5802843, at *14 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 5, 2015), reconsideration in part granted on other grounds, 2015 WL 6143711 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 19, 2015); Spears v. City of New York, No. 10 Civ. 3461 (JG), 2012 WL 4793541, at *11 (E.D.N.Y. Oct. 9, 2012).
The Court reads the SAC as raising five claims under § 1983: a Fourth Amendment
The ensuing analysis proceeds as follows: The Court first addresses which defendants may be sued for Simpson's § 1983 claims. Specifically, the Court considers (1) whether it is proper to permit Simpson, at this late stage of the litigation, to add Feragola as a defendant, and (2) whether the Warwick PD may be sued as an entity separate from the Town of Warwick ("Warwick"). Having answered both questions in the negative, the Court then assesses the viability of Simpson's claims against the three properly pled defendants: Maslanka, Sisco, and Warwick. For each claim, the Court considers first the personal liability of Maslanka and Sisco and then the municipal liability of Warwick. The Court holds that, based on the undisputed facts, all three defendants are entitled to summary judgment on each claim.
In his opposition brief, Simpson, for the first time, seeks leave to amend the SAC to join Feragola as a defendant. Pl. Br. 3. The Court will not permit such joinder at this late stage.
A plaintiff's request to amend his complaint to add new defendants is governed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 21, which permits the district court to add or drop a party "at any time, on just terms." Fed. R. Civ. P. 21; see Sly Magazine, LLC v. Weider Publ'ns L.L.C., 241 F.R.D. 527, 532 (S.D.N.Y.2007); Momentum Luggage & Leisure Bags v. Jansport, Inc., No. 00 Civ. 7909 (DLC), 2001 WL 58000, at *1-2 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 23, 2001). Under Rule 21, the Court "must consider judicial economy ..., as well as how the amendment would affect the use of judicial resources, the impact the amendment would have on the judicial system, and the impact [it] would have on each of the parties already named in the action." Momentum Luggage, 2001 WL 58000, at *2. The Court may deny leave to amend on the grounds, inter alia, of bad faith, undue delay or prejudice to the opposing party, or futility of amendment. Mackensworth v. S.S. Am. Merch., 28 F.3d 246, 251 (2d Cir.1994) (collecting cases); Sly Magazine, 241 F.R.D. at 532 (citing Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182, 83 S.Ct. 227, 9 L.Ed.2d 222 (1962)). "Leave to amend a complaint will generally be denied when the motion to amend is filed solely in an attempt to prevent the Court from granting a motion to dismiss or for summary judgment." Berman v. Parco, 986 F.Supp. 195, 217 (S.D.N.Y.1997) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
Here, it would be "unduly prejudicial to [defendants] for the Court to allow
Simpson's motion for leave to add Feragola as a defendant is, therefore, denied.
Unlike Feragola, the Warwick PD is named as a defendant in the SAC. But Simpson cannot sustain Monell claims against that entity because, as an "administrative arm" of Warwick, it "do[es] not have a legal identity separate and apart from the municipality and cannot sue or be sued" in its own name. Hall v. City of White Plains, 185 F.Supp.2d 293, 303 (S.D.N.Y.2002) (collecting cases); accord Polite v. Town of Clarkstown, 60 F.Supp.2d 214, 216 (S.D.N.Y.1999) ("[M]unicipal departments in [New York] ... are not amenable to suit, and no claims can lie directly against them.") (collecting cases).
Nonetheless, in light of Simpson's pro se status, and for the sake of completeness, the Court treats Simpson's claims against the Warwick PD as Monell claims against Warwick itself. See Daly v. Ragona, No. 11 Civ. 3836 (JFB), 2013 WL 3428185, at *10 (E.D.N.Y. July 9, 2013) (construing pro se plaintiff's claim against Nassau County Police Department as Monell claim against Nassau County). Warwick is not prejudiced by this approach because, as set forth below, the lack of any evidence of a policy, practice, or custom underlying the alleged constitutional violations compels a grant of summary judgment for the town on each of Simpson's claims.
Having determined which defendants are subject to suit, the Court now turns to the merits of Simpson's claims.
The SAC first challenges the search of Simpson's person by Kingston police officers in the early morning hours of January 7, 2012. Simpson claims he was searched without probable cause in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
Simpson does not dispute that the search was performed entirely by officers
This argument fails to salvage this claim. Even if the arrest warrant issued by the Warwick PD in 2003 were supported by less than probable cause, that would not supply a basis to charge the named Warwick defendants for a search performed by a completely separate police department nine years later. No facts have been elicited that establish the "personal involvement" of Maslanka, Sisco, Feragola, or, for that matter, any Warwick PD official, in the execution of the search as required for individual liability under § 1983. See Hicks v. City of Buffalo, 124 Fed.Appx. 20, 23-24 (2d Cir.2004) (summary order) (sheriff who was not personally involved in allegedly unlawful search and seizure and was not present when plaintiff's apartment was entered could not be held liable under § 1983). And, without an underlying violation by a Warwick official, there can be no municipal liability under § 1983. See City of Los Angeles v. Heller, 475 U.S. 796, 799, 106 S.Ct. 1571, 89 L.Ed.2d 806 (1986) (municipal liability requires that individual municipal agent committed an underlying constitutional violation).
All three defendants are, therefore, entitled to summary judgment on this claim.
In its third cause of action, the SAC alleges that defendants "deprived [Simpson] of his liberty" by issuing an arrest warrant based on false and unsubstantiated information and arresting Simpson on the basis of that information. SAC ¶ 36. The Court construes the SAC to thereby claim false arrest and false imprisonment in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
"A § 1983 claim for false arrest, resting on the Fourth Amendment right of an individual to be free from unreasonable seizures, including arrest without probable cause, is substantially the same as a claim for false arrest under New York law." Weyant v. Okst, 101 F.3d 845, 852 (2d Cir.1996), cert. denied, 528 U.S. 946, 120 S.Ct. 363, 145 L.Ed.2d 284 (1999) (internal citations omitted); accord Jenkins v. City of New York, 478 F.3d 76, 84 (2d Cir.2007). Under New York law, a plaintiff bringing a claim for false arrest must show that "(1) the defendant intended to confine [the plaintiff], (2) the plaintiff was conscious of the confinement, (3) the plaintiff did not consent to the confinement and (4) the confinement was not otherwise privileged." Singer v. Fulton Cty. Sheriff, 63 F.3d 110, 118 (2d Cir.1995) (quoting Broughton v. State of New York, 37 N.Y.2d 451, 456, 373 N.Y.S.2d 87, 335 N.E.2d 310, cert. denied, 423 U.S. 929, 96 S.Ct. 277, 46 L.Ed.2d 257 (1975)).
An arrest is privileged where the arresting officer had probable cause to arrest. See Jocks v. Tavernier, 316 F.3d 128, 135 (2d Cir.2003); Jenkins, 478 F.3d at 84 ("The existence of probable cause to arrest constitutes justification and is a complete defense to an action for false arrest, whether that action is brought under state law or under § 1983." (internal
The validity of an arrest does not depend on an ultimate finding of guilt or innocence. Pierson v. Ray, 386 U.S. 547, 555, 87 S.Ct. 1213, 18 L.Ed.2d 288 (1967); Wiltshire v. Wanderman, No. 13 Civ. 9169 (CS), 2015 WL 4164808, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. July 10, 2015) (that charges were later dropped is "irrelevant" to question of whether probable cause existed at time of arrest). Rather, "[w]hen determining whether probable cause exists courts must consider those facts available to the officer at the time of the arrest." Panetta v. Crowley, 460 F.3d 388, 395 (2d Cir.2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted) (emphasis in Crowley). The Court may determine, as a matter of law, whether probable cause existed where there is no dispute as to the pertinent events and the knowledge of the arresting officers. Weyant, 101 F.3d at 852.
Defendants do not dispute that Simpson has established the first three elements of his false arrest claim. They argue, however, that Maslanka and Sisco are entitled to summary judgment on this claim because there was probable cause for Simpson's arrest and detention. Defs. Br. 8-11; Defs. Reply Br. 7. Defendants are correct.
It is undisputed that neither Maslanka nor Sisco played any role in executing the warrant or arresting Simpson in January 2012. Rather, Maslanka's personal involvement in Simpson's arrest culminated in her preparation and submission of a criminal complaint and request for an arrest warrant in February 2003. See Maslanka Aff. ¶¶ 13-14.
Simpson raises two arguments challenging the finding of probable cause at that time. Neither has merit.
First, Simpson claims that the statements from lay witnesses on which the arrest warrant was sought were "unsubstantiated," "false," and "inaccurate." SAC ¶ 36. But Simpson does not dispute that (1) Degroat, the victim of the alleged robbery, gave police a sworn statement that he was forced to give money to "two black males" after he backed into their car, and that one of the men threatened to shoot him;
These facts, which were uncontradicted in 2003 when the police sought and obtained the arrest warrant, easily supply probable cause to arrest Simpson for the crimes charged in the warrant: petit larceny, see N.Y. Penal Law § 155.25 ("A person is guilty of petit larceny when he steals property."), and third-degree robbery, see N.Y. Penal Law § 160.05 ("A person is guilty of robbery in the third degree when he forcibly steals property."). Probable cause can be based solely on information obtained from an alleged victim or eyewitness to a crime. Martinez v. Simonetti, 202 F.3d 625, 634 (2d Cir.2000). As the Second Circuit has stated, "probable cause exists if a law enforcement officer `received [] information from some person, normally the putative victim or eyewitness, unless the circumstances raise doubt as to the person's veracity.'" Betts v. Shearman, 751 F.3d 78, 82 (2d Cir.2014) (quoting Panetta, 460 F.3d at 395).
Decisive here, Simpson has failed to point to any information available to Maslanka or Sisco at the time the warrant was sought that undermined the trustworthiness of Degroat, Storms, Dalley, or Boone. He argues only that the information relied on by Maslanka and Sisco was "inaccurate," and must have been "falsified" by the Warwick PD, because at the time of the alleged robbery, Simpson had never "placed foot in ... Warwick in his entire life." SAC ¶ 34; Simpson Depo. 142-43.
Second, in his opposition, Simpson argues, for the first time, that Maslanka and Sisco lacked probable cause to request a warrant for Simpson's arrest because they "shoul[]d have known that there was no possibility of prosecuting a case against [him] due to the [expiration of] the statute of limitations." Pl. Br. 2.
Simpson has, therefore, failed to raise an issue of fact as to whether Maslanka and Sisco had probable cause to seek a warrant for his arrest. Maslanka and Sisco are thus entitled to summary judgment on this claim.
Because probable cause for Simpson's arrest existed at the time the warrant was issued in 2003, a Monell claim against Warwick predicated on the unlawful issuance of the warrant cannot stand. See Heller,
As to Simpson's claim that the execution of his warrant in 2012 was unlawful due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, it, too, does not support a false arrest claim under Monell. The Court is not persuaded by Simpson's claim that the possible expiration of the statute of limitations barred the officers' finding of probable cause or made it wrongful for them to arrest Simpson based on the warrant.
Even assuming arguendo that Simpson had established that a Warwick
Here, the SAC does not contain a single allegation — even a conclusory one — that a policy or custom on the part of Warwick caused any of the alleged constitutional violations, and no evidence to that effect was adduced in discovery. The SAC does not so much as claim that there was an official or de facto policy of executing stale arrest warrants, or that such a custom may be inferred from repeated instances of similar misconduct. Nor does the SAC allege that Feragola, or any other official involved in the arrest, was a municipal policymaker. Rather, in his opposition brief, Simpson defends his Monell claims with the lone assertion that "[i]t was the [Warwick PD's] responsibility to proper[]ly supervise their subordinates and it would not have le[d] to this dilliberate [sic] indiffer[e]nce to my rights." Pl. Br. 3.
Inadequate supervision may serve as the basis for § 1983 liability only "where a policymaking official exhibits deliberate indifference to constitutional deprivations caused by subordinates, such that the official's inaction constitutes a `deliberate choice,' that acquiescence may `be properly thought of as a city policy or custom that is actionable under § 1983.'" Amnesty Am., 361 F.3d at 126 (quoting City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 388, 109 S.Ct. 1197, 103 L.Ed.2d 412 (1989) (internal quotation marks omitted)). Deliberate indifference "may be inferred where `the need for more or better supervision to protect against constitutional violations was obvious,' but the policymaker `fail[ed] to make meaningful efforts to address the risk of harm to plaintiffs.'" Cash v. Cty. of Erie, 654 F.3d 324, 334 (2d Cir.2011) (quoting Vann v. City of New York, 72 F.3d 1040, 1049 (2d Cir.1995); Reynolds v. Giuliani, 506 F.3d 183, 192 (2d Cir.2007)); accord Missel v. Cty. of Monroe, 351 Fed. Appx. 543, 546 (2d Cir.2009) (summary order).
Here, Simpson has come forth with no evidence tending to prove, even circumstantially, that Warwick policymakers were faced with an obvious need for heightened supervision of police officers. Simpson has not, for instance, pointed to a history of unlawful arrests, or a basis for
Warwick is thus entitled to summary judgment on Simpson's false arrest claim on the alternative ground that Simpson has failed to demonstrate a municipal policy or custom that is actionable under § 1983.
In his opposition to defendants' motion, Simpson asserts, for the first time, a malicious prosecution claim under the Fourth Amendment. He claims that Warwick officials maliciously instituted criminal proceedings against him by arresting him and presenting him for arraignment despite the ostensible expiration of the statute of limitations for the crimes with which he was charged. Pl. Br. 2-3. Defendants argue that Simpson should not be permitted to assert new allegations for the first time in opposition to a summary judgment motion. Defs. Reply Br. 1-4 (citing, inter alia, Kearney v. Cty. of Rockland, 373 F.Supp.2d 434, 440-41 (S.D.N.Y.2005) (rejecting allegations raised for first time in opposition to such a motion because "nothing in [plaintiff's] filing[s] put defendants on notice of this new allegation"); Jackson v. Onondaga Cty., 549 F.Supp.2d 204, 220 (N.D.N.Y.2008) (prohibiting pro se plaintiff from raising new allegations in opposition to summary judgment because doing so would "deprive Defendants of the fair notice envisioned by Fed. R. Civ. P. 8"); Rochester v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield, No. 98 Civ. 2436 (ILG), 2000 WL 1052064, at *6 (E.D.N.Y. June, 27, 2000) (refusing to consider new allegation on motion for summary judgment because "a failure to assert a claim until the last minute will inevitably prejudice the defendant")).
Defendants are correct that neither the SAC nor Simpson's earlier complaints include a malicious prosecution claim, mention the statute of limitations for the crimes charged in the warrant, or indicate that the expiration thereof vitiated probable cause for Simpson's arrest. See Defs. Br. 6 n.1; Pl. Reply Br. 2-3. Rather, as noted above, the SAC's false arrest claim (as in the prior complaints) is based entirely on the theory that the arrest warrant was issued on the basis of "false and inaccurate statements" by Degroat and the other witnesses. SAC ¶¶ 34, 36.
"A party generally may not `assert a cause of action for the first time in response to a summary judgment motion.'" LeBlanc v. United Parcel Serv., No. 11 Civ. 6983 (KPF), 2014 WL 1407706, at *17 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 11, 2014) (quoting Greenidge v. Allstate Ins. Co., 312 F.Supp.2d 430, 436-37 (S.D.N.Y.2004), aff'd, 446 F.3d 356, 361 (2d Cir.2006)); see also Malmsteen v. Universal Music Grp., Inc., 940 F.Supp.2d 123, 135 (S.D.N.Y. 2013) ("Because [Plaintiff] failed to include this claim in his Amended Complaint, instead
Here, the Court is skeptical that allegations in the SAC were "sufficient to place defendants on notice that [Simpson] intended to pursue" a malicious prosecution claim, Ragusa, 381 Fed.Appx. at 89.
To succeed on a malicious prosecution claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must establish the elements of a malicious prosecution claim under New York state law, as well as a violation of his rights under the Fourth Amendment. Manganiello v. City of New York, 612 F.3d 149, 160-61 (2d Cir.2010). Accordingly, the plaintiff must show that: (1) the defendant commenced or continued a criminal proceeding against the plaintiff; (2) the proceeding was terminated in the plaintiff's favor; (3) there was no probable cause for commencing the proceeding; (4) the proceeding was instituted with "actual malice"; and (5) there was a post-arraignment liberty restraint sufficient to implicate the plaintiff's Fourth Amendment rights. McKay v. City of New York, 32 F.Supp.3d 499, 511 (S.D.N.Y.2014) (quoting Rohman v. N.Y.C. Transit Auth., 215 F.3d 208, 215 (2d Cir.2000) (internal quotation marks omitted)); accord Droz v. McCadden, 580 F.3d 106, 109 (2d Cir.2009); Drummond v. Castro, 522 F.Supp.2d 667, 677 (S.D.N.Y. 2007). As with false arrest, "the existence of probable cause is a complete defense to a claim of malicious prosecution in New York." Savino v. City of New York, 331 F.3d 63, 72 (2d Cir.2003) (citation omitted).
As noted above, Simpson has not alleged, much less adduced evidence, that Maslanka or Sisco participated in any way in the execution of the arrest warrant or Simpson's arraignment in 2012. To the contrary, the record indicates that any involvement
The undisputed facts, therefore, do not support a finding that Maslanka or Sisco was personally involved in any malicious commencement of a criminal proceeding against Simpson. Maslanka and Sisco are thus entitled to summary judgment on this claim. See Carthew v. Cty. of Suffolk, 709 F.Supp.2d 188, 195 (E.D.N.Y.2010) (police commissioner could not be sued on malicious prosecution claim where plaintiff did not allege commissioner was personally involved in plaintiff's prosecution); Weiner, 90 F.Supp.3d at 46-47 (defendant was entitled to summary judgment on malicious prosecution claim because there was no evidence that she initiated or participated in the continuation of plaintiff's prosecution).
Like his false arrest claim, Simpson's malicious prosecution claim against Warwick fails on the dual grounds that Simpson has not established (1) a constitutional violation by any Warwick official, or (2) a municipal policy or custom that caused the alleged violation.
First, while it is undisputed that a criminal proceeding was instituted against Simpson and that this proceeding terminated in his favor, Simpson has not adduced any evidence that proves the third and fourth elements of his malicious prosecution claim. To support his claim, Simpson relies entirely on the letter of ADA Kelly, which states that "because there ha[d] been no Grand Jury action or arrest within the statutory time period set forth in CPL 30.30, there [was] no possibility of prosecuting" Simpson for the crimes charged in the warrant. Pl. Br. 5.
Moreover, the record is devoid of evidence supporting a finding that Feragola or any officer who participated in Simpson's arrest or arraignment did so with actual malice. Under New York law, malice means "that the defendant must have commenced the criminal proceeding due to a wrong or improper motive, something other than a desire to see the ends of justice served." Lowth v. Town of Cheektowaga, 82 F.3d 563, 573 (2d Cir.1996), amended (May 21, 1996) (quoting Nardelli v. Stamberg, 44 N.Y.2d 500, 502-03, 406 N.Y.S.2d 443, 377 N.E.2d 975 (1978)). ADA Kelly's statement that "due diligence in executing the warrant was [not] exercised [until] ... two years from the commencement of the criminal action," see Pl. Br. 5, does not support such a finding. To the contrary, the statement indicates only that warrant control officers began making efforts
Because Simpson has not shown that he was maliciously prosecuted, his claim of municipal liability is, a fortiori, meritless. See Harper, 2013 WL 432599, at *2 (Monell claim could not stand where plaintiff failed to state a claim for false arrest or malicious prosecution against any individual). And, even if Simpson had shown that a Warwick police officer violated his right to be free from malicious prosecution, his Monell claim would still fail because there is no record evidence on which to infer a policy or custom on the part of Warwick of executing stale arrest warrants. Warwick is thus entitled to summary judgment on this claim, as well.
Finally, the SAC raises an Eighth Amendment claim for deliberate indifference to serious medical needs, based on defendants' failure to provide Simpson with adequate treatment while he was in the custody of the Warwick PD. SAC ¶¶ 29-32. Defendants correctly point out that the Eighth Amendment applies only to convicted prisoners, whereas claims by pretrial detainees like Simpson are properly brought under the Fourteenth Amendment. Defs. Br. 21; see Caiozzo v. Koreman, 581 F.3d 63, 69 (2d Cir.2009) ("[A] claim for indifference to the medical needs of ... a pretrial detainee in state custody [is] properly brought under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment."). In his opposition, Simpson concedes that his cause of action derives from the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Pl. Br. 3. This distinction does not change the substantive analysis applicable to Simpson's claim, however: "Claims for deliberate indifference to a serious medical condition or other serious threat to the health or safety of a person in custody should be analyzed under the same standard irrespective of whether they are brought under the Eighth or Fourteenth Amendment." Caiozzo, 581 F.3d at 72; see also Brown v. Mullen, No. 12 Civ. 734 (PAE), 2013 WL 796530, at *4 n. 6 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 4, 2013).
The Eighth Amendment protects prisoners from "cruel and unusual punishment" caused by prison officials. U.S. Const. amend. VIII. But not every claim of inadequate medical care by an arrestee rises to the level of a constitutional violation. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 105, 97 S.Ct. 285, 50 L.Ed.2d 251 (1976). To establish an Eighth (or Fourteenth) Amendment violation arising out of inadequate access to medical care, "a prisoner must prove `deliberate indifference' to [his] serious medical needs.'" Chance v. Armstrong, 143 F.3d 698, 702 (2d Cir.1998) (quoting Estelle, 429 U.S. at 104, 97 S.Ct. 285).
This standard incorporates both objective and subjective elements: The objective component requires that "the alleged deprivation [] be sufficiently serious, in the sense that a condition of urgency, one that may produce death, degeneration, or extreme pain exists." Hathaway
Maslanka and Sisco are entitled to summary judgment on Simpson's deliberate indifference claim because, as stated above, the record shows that neither officer participated in Simpson's arrest or detention at the Warwick police station or Orange County jail. As such, there is no reason to believe that either officer was personally involved in, or even aware of, any alleged deprivation of medical care. Without evidence of personal involvement, a claim for damages under § 1983 cannot stand against these defendants. See Farrell, 449 F.3d at 484; Wright v. Smith, 21 F.3d 496, 501 (2d Cir.1994); Williams v. Smith, 781 F.2d 319, 323 (2d Cir.1986).
Simpson's deliberate indifference claim against Warwick fails for two independent reasons: (1) Simpson has not shown that any Warwick official violated his right to constitutionally adequate medical treatment; and (2) he has not adduced (or even alleged) evidence of a Warwick policy or custom of providing, or condoning the provision of, inadequate medical care to detainees.
As an initial matter, Simpson has failed to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to whether he suffered a sufficiently severe medical deprivation — the objective prong of his deliberate indifference claim. He alleges that immediately prior to his arrest, he hyperextended his left leg, causing him to experience considerable pain. SAC ¶¶ 9, 10; Simpson Depo. 59-62. He testified that during the three hours he was detained before his arraignment, Warwick police officers refused to take him to the hospital, despite his complaints that his "leg hurts really bad." Simpson Depo. 62-63; see also Pl 56.1, ¶¶ 47-48 ("[P]laintiff made constant complaints to ... Warwick officers of his severe pain and was ignored of his cries also plaintiff was clearly in pain as he coul[]d not even walk."). He argues that this delay in treatment constituted "negligen[ce] to [his] severe medical need," and "increased the affect [sic] of his injury." Pl. Br. 3; Pl. 56.1, ¶ 50.
Simpson further argues that the treatment he received at the Orange County jail — housing in a medical dormitory, a wheelchair for the duration of his detention, and crutches upon release — was inadequate and exacerbated his suffering. Simpson Depo. 64; Pl. Br. 3-4; Pl. 56.1, ¶ 51. In support, Simpson has submitted hospital records dated January 14, 2012, which indicate that, shortly after his release from the jail, Simpson was prescribed
These facts, even construed in the light most favorable to Simpson, do not rise to the level required to implicate the Eighth or Fourteenth Amendments. Courts in this Circuit have found no "serious medical need" in injuries complained of that were similar to or more serious than the injuries Simpson alleges.
Although the Court credits Simpson's assertion that he was in "excruciating pain," Simpson Depo. 66, "it is the particular risk of harm faced by the Plaintiff due to a challenged deprivation of care, rather than the severity of [his] underlying medical condition ... that is relevant." Cain v. Jackson, No. 05 Civ. 3914 (LAP), 2007 WL 2193997, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. July 27, 2007) (citing Smith, 316 F.3d at 186). Here, Simpson concedes that he was given a wheelchair and placed in a medical dormitory upon his arrival at the Orange County jail. Simpson Depo. 63-64; SAC ¶¶ 14-15. And he has adduced no evidence for his conclusory allegation that the three-hour delay in treatment while awaiting arraignment materially exacerbated his injury. See Bilal v. White, 494 Fed.Appx. 143, 145-46 (2d Cir.2012) (summary order) ("Even assuming that [plaintiff's] conditions could produce serious complications if neglected over sufficient time, there is no evidence that [plaintiff's] conditions worsened over the hours of delay here." (internal citation omitted)); Johnson, 2014 WL 5393181, at *9 (objective element not satisfied where plaintiff did not show "any adverse consequence resulting from the temporary deprivation of crutches"). The undisputed facts thus present a far cry from those in which courts have found a temporary delay in treatment to rise to the level of a constitutional violation.
Even if Simpson had shown that he was subject to a serious deprivation, his claim would fail because he has not demonstrated that any Warwick police officer or prison official acted with the "sufficiently culpable state of mind." Hathaway, 99 F.3d at 553. Simpson testified at his deposition that, despite his "consistent[] complain[ts]" of pain during his transport to, and detention at, the Warwick police station, he was told that he could not receive medical attention until he went to the Orange County jail. Simpson Depo. 83, 88. Moreover, he testified, the officers who transported him from Kingston to Warwick required him to wear shackles on his ankles and wrists because they believed that he was "faking" his injury. Id. at 89. Finally, he claimed, the officers required him to walk up the steps to the courthouse for his arraignment even though he "barely could walk." Id. at 63. Defendants deny that Simpson notified any Warwick officers about his pain, Defs. Br. 22-23, pointing to Feragola's attestation that "[a]t no time while ... Simpson was in [his] custody did he complain of pain or request medical attention," Feragola Aff. 2. But, even crediting Simpson's version of the facts, a reasonable factfinder could not find that Feragola or any other Warwick official "kn[e]w of and disregard[ed] an excessive risk to [Simpson's] health or safety." Hathaway, 37 F.3d at 66.
Decisive here, Simpson has offered no proof that any officer was actually aware of the severity, if any, of his injury. In fact, he admits that the swelling in his leg was not visible when he was at the Warwick police station, and that the officers believed he was faking his injury. Simpson Depo. 85, 89. Under these circumstances, the officers could have reasonably concluded that a three-hour delay in treatment would not pose an undue risk to Simpson's
Simpson's failure to demonstrate a violation of his Eighth or Fourteenth Amendment rights by any Warwick official necessarily defeats his claim of municipal liability. See Ferguson v. Cai, No. 11 Civ. 6181 (PAE), 2012 WL 2865474, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. July 12, 2012). Warwick is, therefore, entitled to summary judgment on this claim.
For the foregoing reasons, the Court grants defendants' motion for summary judgment in its entirety. The Court certifies, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith, and therefore, in forma pauperis status is denied for purposes of an appeal. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45, 82 S.Ct. 917, 8 L.Ed.2d 21 (1962). The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to enter judgment in accordance with this Order and to close this case.
SO ORDERED.
Moreover, Simpson's testimony that he was required to walk up steps to the courthouse does not support a finding that any officer intentionally engaged in conduct to exacerbate Simpson's pain or injury. Compare Covington v. Westchester Cty. Jail, No. 96 Civ. 7551 (SAS), 1997 WL 580697, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 18, 1997) (plaintiff raised issue of fact as to subjective prong where he alleged that officials "forced him to work without crutches and intentionally interfered with his prescribed medical treatment by confiscating his crutches and cane without cause"); with Walker v. Butler, 967 F.2d 176, 178 (5th Cir. 1992) (per curiam) (requiring prisoner with two ankle fractures to walk to hospital did not constitute deliberate indifference to medical needs); and Wandell v. Koenigsmann, No. 99 Civ. 8652 (WHP), 2000 WL 1036030, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. July 27, 2000) (deliberate indifference not shown where plaintiff did "not allege[] a situation where defendants maliciously took away crutches that a doctor had already prescribed.... The fact that plaintiff believes he should have been prescribed crutches earlier, i.e., immediately, may state a claim for medical malpractice, but does not rise to the level of a constitutional violation").
