STEWART D. AARON, United States Magistrate Judge:
Plaintiffs, Jasmine Bridgeforth, Delano Broadus and David Fairfax ("Plaintiffs"), move to compel production of nine Internal Affairs Bureau ("IAB") files and to re-open
Plaintiffs bring this action, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1988, and the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, alleging false arrest, fabrication of evidence and failure to intervene against a group of individual members of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD"). See Am. Compl., filed Apr. 29, 2016 (ECF No. 18), ¶¶ 1, 59-81. Plaintiffs also bring a claim against the City under Monell v. Dep't of Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978), alleging, among other things, that it failed to properly train and supervise its employees. Id. at ¶¶ 76-81; Monell, 436 U.S. at 690-91, 98 S.Ct. 2018 (to hold a municipality liable as a "person" under § 1983, plaintiffs must show that a policy or practice of that entity caused the deprivation of their federal rights); see also Brown v. City of Oneonta, New York, 235 F.3d 769, 790 (2d Cir. 2000) (Section 1983 claims against municipal entities, must show that the entity's "policy or custom... played a part in the violation of federal law") (internal quotations omitted).
During discovery, in pursuit of their Monell claim, Plaintiffs sought production of IAB and other disciplinary files from Defendants. Specifically, in March 2017, Plaintiffs requested nine IAB files regarding two of the individual defendants. Defs.' Resp. to Pls.' Letter Mot. Ex. A, filed Dec. 19, 2017 (ECF No. 74). On June 22, 2017, Plaintiffs were permitted to inspect the "summary reports" associated with these files at the Office of Corporation Counsel. Defs.' Resp. to Pls.' Letter Mot., filed Dec. 19, 2017 (ECF No. 74), at 2.
Plaintiffs' filed the current Letter-Motion on December 14, 2017. Plaintiffs seek compliance with the Court's October 20, 2017 Order and also seek a deposition of the City, pursuant to Rule 30(b)(6), regarding the acronyms and abbreviations contained in the files, departmental complaint-recording practices and departmental investigative and record-retention practices. Pls.' Letter Mot., filed December 14, 2017 (ECF No. 70), at 1, 3. The Letter-Motion was referred to Magistrate Judge Aaron on December 15, 2017, and oral argument was held on December 21, 2017. On December 22, 2017, Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment, and accompanying papers. Defs.' Mot. Summ. J. (ECF Nos. 76-83). Plaintiffs' response to Defendants' motion is due by January 31, 2018. Order (ECF No. 71).
Plaintiffs are skeptical that the 27 pages produced by Defendants represent the entirety of the nine IAB files and contend that more documents must exist based on the information contained in the summary reports. Plaintiffs argue that such discovery is relevant to their Monell claim. In response, Defendants maintain that no additional documents exist. Defs.' Resp. to Pls.' Letter Mot., filed Dec. 19, 2017 (ECF No. 74), at 2 ("upon information and belief, there are
In the circumstances presented, it seems plausible that additional documents comprising the IAB files exist or at one time existed. Thus, this Court hereby orders that Defendants shall conduct a diligent search for the nine IAB files at issue — including without limitation by consulting with knowledgeable individuals in the NYPD and any other relevant City agencies, and by searching all sources where such documents likely would be located — and produce all documents located as a result of such search. Given the impending deadline for Plaintiffs to respond to Defendants' summary judgment motion, such production shall be made no later than January 15, 2018.
Plaintiffs also seek by their motion to take a Rule 30(b)(6) deposition of the City with respect to the acronyms and abbreviations contained in the files, departmental complaint-recording practices, and departmental investigative and record-retention practices. Defendants argue that such discovery is "irrelevant, disproportional to the needs of this case, and untimely." Defs.' Resp. to Pls.' Letter Mot., filed Dec. 19, 2017 (ECF No. 74), at 3. As an alternative, Defendants offered to furnish an affidavit concerning the efforts to locate the IAB files. Id. During oral argument, Defendants also agreed to consider producing a glossary of terms used in the IAB reports to aid Plaintiffs in their review of those documents.
Where, as here, a party is seeking to re-open discovery, the party bears the burden of showing good cause. See Bakalar v. Vavra, 851 F.Supp.2d 489, 493 (S.D.N.Y. 2011). Courts also consider (1) whether trial is imminent, (2) whether the request is opposed, (3) whether the non-moving party would be prejudiced, (4) whether the moving party was diligent in obtaining discovery within the guidelines established by the court, (5) the foreseeability of the need for additional discovery in light of the time allowed for discovery by the district court, and (6) the likelihood that the discovery will lead to relevant evidence. Id. at 493.
Given the pendency of Defendants' summary judgment motion, the Court
The Court finds that the affidavit or declaration offered by Defendants is sufficient for Plaintiffs to oppose Defendants' summary judgment motion. Unless all nine requested IAB files are located and produced, Defendants shall furnish a declaration or affidavit from a person with knowledge regarding the efforts made by the City to locate the subject files, as well as the results of such efforts. If it is determined that any responsive documents previously existed, but were destroyed, the timing and circumstances of the destruction shall be explained in the declaration or affidavit.
Further, Defendants' counsel shall meet and confer with Plaintiffs' counsel regarding the provision to Plaintiffs of a glossary of terms used in the IAB documents for which Plaintiffs need clarification. If a satisfactory resolution is not reached, Plaintiffs may renew their motion to compel a glossary to be produced.
In light of these remedies, the Court finds that the Rule 30(b)(6) deposition is not needed at this time. However, if Plaintiffs still believe that the Rule 30(b)(6) deposition is necessary to oppose Defendants' motion, they can seek before the District Court to make the showing required by Rule 56(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to defer a summary disposition against them.
For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiffs' Letter-Motion (ECF No. 70) is granted in part and denied in part. It is hereby Ordered that, no later than January 15, 2018, Defendants shall: