“Monell expressly prohibits respondeat superior liability for municipalities” (citations omitted)
How later courts described this case
- “Monell expressly prohibits respondeat superior liability for municipalities” (citations omitted)
- “As a general matter, states enjoy sovereign immunity from suit in federal court, even if the claim arises under federal law.” (citing U.S. Const. amend. XI)
- “[U]nder Section 1983, states are not even considered “persons” subject to liability.” (citing Will v. Michigan Dep’t of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 70 (1989) (“We hold that neither a State nor its officials acting in their official capacities are ‘persons’ under § 1983.”)
- dismissing claim against Lynbrook Police Department
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
------------------------------------X
KASHON K. SQUIRE,
Plaintiff,
MEMORANDUM & ORDER
-against- 23-CV-2401(JS)(ST)
(“Squire I”)
SUFFOLK 1ST PRESENT [SIC] POLICE,
DULE LATIFE,
Defendants.
------------------------------------X
KASHON K. SQUIRE,
Plaintiff,
-against- 23-CV-2402(JS)(ST)
(“Squire II”)
RAYMOND NEW, MATHEW CORR,
Defendants.
------------------------------------X
KASHON K. SQUIRE,
Plaintiff,
-against- 23-CV-2491(JS)(ST)
(“Squire III”)
SHAQUAISUR BROOKS, SUFFOLK POLICE 1ST
PRESENT [SIC], PATHWAYS TO REABILATIONS
[SIC], SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK STATE,
Defendants.
------------------------------------X
APPEARANCES
For Plaintiff: Kashon K. Squire, pro se
23-B-0588
Mid-State Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 2500
Marcy, New York 13403
For Defendants: No appearances.
SEYBERT, District Judge:
Presently before the Court are the applications to
proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) filed by incarcerated pro se
plaintiff Kashon K. Squire (“Plaintiff”) in the above-captioned
cases. (IFP Apps., ECF No. 2, in each case.) For the reasons
that follow, Plaintiff’s IFP applications are GRANTED; however,
each Complaint is DISMISSED for failure to allege a plausible claim
for relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B), 1915A(b).
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff is no stranger to this Court. Prior to filing
the present three Complaints, Plaintiff had six previous in forma
pauperis complaints dismissed by this Court for failure to
prosecute.1 Each of the present Complaints is sparse and is
1 See:
(a) Squire v. Brooks, et al., No. 20-CV-3641(JS)(ST), Order
(E.D.N.Y. Oct. 27, 2020) (dismissed case without prejudice
pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b));
(b) Squire v. Brooks, et al., No. 20-CV-4122(JS)(ST), Order
(E.D.N.Y. Nov. 17, 2020) (dismissed case without prejudice
pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b));
(c) Squire v. 1st Present [sic] Police, et al., No. 20-CV-
4300(JS)(ST), Order (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 17, 2020) (dismissed
case without prejudice pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b));
(d) Squire v. Suffolk County, et al., No. 20-CV-4659(JS)(ST),
Memo & Order (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 20, 2020) (dismissed case
without prejudice pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b));
(e) Squire v. State of NY, et al., No. 22-CV-5756(JS)(ST),
Elec. Order (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 21, 2022) (dismissed case
without prejudice pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b)); and
(f) Squire v. Suffolk County, et al., No. 22-CV-7299(JS)(ST),
Elec. Order (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 2, 2023) (dismissed case without
prejudice pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b)), appeal
dismissed, No. 23-0198 (2d Cir. Mar. 23, 2023) (see ECF
submitted on the Court’s form complaint for civil rights actions
under Section 1983.2
I. Complaint under Docket No. 23-CV-2401 (“Squire I”)
This Complaint names the “Suffolk 1st Present Police”,
which the Court understands to be the Suffolk County Police
Department’s First Precinct (“First Precinct”), and Dule Latife
(“Latife”). In its entirety, Plaintiff alleges that, in 2013, his
home was shot 18 time then about a week later
I was shot and told to die by the responding
officers as well they told that they would not
call medic and interfered with medical care
for my injuries. I went to police in 2018
because I neve new the person name who shot me
found out his name and they said they are not
going to arrest him.
(Squire I Compl., ECF No. 1, at ¶ II.) In the space that calls
for any injuries suffered, Plaintiff wrote: “shot and the bullets
hit my lungs and it almost collapse and I have a bullet in my leg
and a cut down my chest.” (Id., ¶ II.A.) For relief, Plaintiff
“would like the police that responded fired and my medical bills
paid and $150,000 for damages to my body and pain and suffering.
I’m trying to sue for failr to protect and failr to prosecute.”
(Id., ¶ III.)
No. 14 in E.D.N.Y. Case Docket).
2 Excerpts from the Complaints are reproduced here exactly as they
appear in the original. Errors in spelling, punctuation, and
grammar have not been corrected or noted.
II. Complaint under Docket No. 23-CV-2402 (“Squire II”)
This Complaint names as defendants Raymond New (“New”),
who is identified as a staff member of the shelter located at 129
Clinton Avenue in Bay Shore, New York, and Police Officer Mathew
Corr (“Officer Corr”); in said Complaint, Plaintiff alleges that,
on August 18, 2022, he:
was sleep in my bed on 8-18-22 at 8:39 AM when
Raymond New came into my room wakeing me up to
talk to me about calling police. He harassed
me out of my sleep and I got up and closed my
door and he clamed his hand got closed in the
door but it didn’t he called police and they
tried to look me up but I felt I did nothing
wrong due to the fact that he unlocked my door
without knocking it was early and I was
statled out of my sleep. Im being held and
keep getting set up on charges. I’m being
harassed there violating my 8th Amendment.
When I get free ther starting something else
to lock me up.
(Squire II Compl., ECF No. 1, at ¶ II.) Where prompted for
a description of any injuries suffered, or medical treatment
required, Plaintiff left the space blank. (Id., ¶ II.A.)
The relief sought by Plaintiff via this Complaint is his
release from custody and to “have charges droped.” (Id., ¶
III.)
III. Complaint under Docket No. 23-CV-2491
(“Squire III”)
Like Plaintiff’s Squire I Complaint, this Complaint
names the First Precinct, as well as adds Shaquaisur Brooks
(“Brooks”), “Pathways to Reabilitations” (“Pathways”), Suffolk
County, and New York State as defendants. In its entirety,
Plaintiff alleges that, “sometime in 2018” at 96 Ohio in Medford,
New York:
I Kashon Squire was living at 96 Ohio Medford
Root 112 the people there had problems with my
spouse then there where people cross the
street taking pitchers of our home. My truck
happened to get tampered with and takein by
the state police. My spouse comes to me and
tell me the people at the shelter tell her to
set me up on charges they start a fight and I
felt the mother was in on it me and the mother
have been waring for coustody of my kids dss
shelter starts a fight to justify the other on
coustody then when that don’t work they move
in my home and start a fight. I also feel
that they tried to start a fight with Linda
hope then justify a order of protect then my
spouse leaving me to believe she has something
to do with me getting shot.
(Squire III Compl., ECF No. 1, ¶ II.) Although Plaintiff does not
allege any injuries (id. ¶ II.A), for relief, he requests that
someone “pay for my truck being tampered with, full coustody of my
kids and payed for time in jail and payed for and pay for negligence
from dss A hate crime pay for me being shot.” (Id. ¶ III.)
DISCUSSION
I. Plaintiff’s In Forma Pauperis Applications are Granted
The Court finds that Plaintiff is qualified by his
financial status to commence these three actions without
prepayment of the filing fees. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1).
Therefore, Plaintiff’s IFP applications in Squire I, Squire II,
and Squire III are GRANTED.
II. Legal Standards
A. Consideration of the Complaint
Under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915, 1915A
Section 1915 requires a district court to dismiss an in
forma pauperis complaint if the action is frivolous or malicious,
fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks
monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.
See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)-(iii), 1915A(b). An action is
frivolous as a matter of law when, inter alia, it is based on an
“indisputably meritless legal theory” or when it “lacks an arguable
basis in law . . . or [when] a dispositive defense clearly exists
on the face of the complaint.” Livingston v. Adirondack Beverage
Co., 141 F.3d 434, 437 (2d Cir. 1998). The Court is required to
dismiss the action as soon as it makes such a determination. See
28 U.S.C. § 1915A; Avant v. Miranda, No. 21-CV-0974, 2021 WL
1979077, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. May 18, 2021).
Courts are obliged to construe the pleadings of a pro se
plaintiff liberally and to interpret them to raise the “strongest
[claims] that they suggest.” Triestman v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons,
470 F.3d 471, 474 (2d Cir. 2006) (cleaned up); Harris v. Mills,
572 F.3d 66, 72 (2d Cir. 2009). However, the complaint must plead
sufficient facts to “state a claim to relief that is plausible on
its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007).
“A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual
content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference
that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft
v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citations omitted). The
plausibility standard requires “more than a sheer possibility that
a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Id. While “detailed factual
allegations” are not required, “[a] pleading that offers ‘labels
and conclusions’ or ‘a formulaic recitation of the elements of a
cause of action will not do.’” Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at
557). Further, a pleading that only “tenders naked assertion[s]
devoid of further factual enhancement” will not suffice. Id. at
678 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
Consequently, a court may dismiss a complaint that is “so confused,
ambiguous, vague or otherwise unintelligible that its true
substance, if any, is well disguised.” Salahuddin v. Cuomo, 861
F.2d 40, 42 (2d Cir. 1988); Tawfik v. Georgatos, No. 20-CV-5832,
2021 WL 2953227, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. July 14, 2021) (Seybert, J.).
B. Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) provides that a
pleading must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim
showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” FED. R. CIV. P.
8(a)(2); Swierkiewicz v. Sorema, N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 512 (2002).
“Each allegation must be simple, concise, and direct.” FED. R.
CIV. P. 8(d)(1). However, the short and plain statement must be
“sufficient to give the defendants fair notice of what the
plaintiff’s claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Jones
v. Nat’l Commc’ns & Surveillance Networks, 266 F. App’x 31, 32 (2d
Cir. 2008) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
Indeed, pleadings must give “‘fair notice of what the
plaintiff’s claim is and the grounds upon which it rests’” in order
to enable the opposing party to answer and prepare for trial, and
to identify the nature of the case. Dura Pharms., Inc. v. Broudo,
544 U.S. 336, 346 (2005) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 335 U.S. 41,
47 (1957)), overruled in part on other grounds by Twombly, 550
U.S. at 544, 557 (a pleading that offers “labels and conclusion”
or “naked assertion[s]” devoid of “further factual enhancement”
does not satisfy Rule 8).
C. Section 1983
Section 1983 provides that:
Every person who, under color of any statute,
ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of
any State . . . subjects, or causes to be
subjected, any citizen of the United
States . . . to the deprivation of any rights,
privileges, or immunities secured by the
Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the
party injured . . . .
42 U.S.C. § 1983.
To state a claim under Section 1983, a plaintiff must
“allege that (1) the challenged conduct was attributable at least
in part to a person who was acting under color of state law and
(2) the conduct deprived the plaintiff of a right guaranteed under
the Constitution of the United States.” Rodriguez v. Shoprite
Supermarket, No. 19-CV-6565, 2020 WL 1875291, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. Apr.
15, 2020) (Seybert, J.) (internal quotation marks and citation
omitted). Pursuant to New York Law, Section 1983 claims are
governed by a three-year statute of limitations. See Wheeler v.
Slanovec, No. 16-CV-9065, 2019 WL 2994193, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. July 9,
2019) (instructing that federal claims pursuant to Section 1983
are governed by the applicable state’s statute of limitations for
personal injury torts and that “federal courts in New York apply
a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury actions to
[Section] 1983 claims” (citations omitted)).
III. Application of 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915, 1915A
Applying these standards to Plaintiff’s Complaints, even
with the special solicitude afforded to pro se pleadings, it is
readily apparent that Plaintiff’s Section 1983 claims are not
plausible for the reasons that follow.
A. State Action
As noted above, to state a plausible Section 1983 claim,
a plaintiff must allege that the challenged conduct was committed
by a person acting under color of state law. Thus, private parties
are generally not liable under Section 1983 because such liability
may only be imposed upon wrongdoers “who carry a badge of authority
of a State and represent it in some capacity, whether they act in
accordance with their authority or misuse it.” Nat’l Collegiate
Athletic Ass’n v. Tarkanian, 488 U.S. 179, 191 (1988) (citation
omitted).
To the extent that Plaintiff seeks to impose Section
1983 liability upon Latife, New, Brooks, and Pathways, they are
not alleged to be state actors; even affording the pro se
Complaints a liberal construction, there are no facts upon which
the Court can rely to reasonably conclude that these defendants
are anything other than purely private parties. Accordingly,
Plaintiff’s Section 1983 claims against Latife, New, Brooks, and
Pathways fail3 and are, therefore, DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)-(ii), 1915A(b)(1).4
B. Claims Against the First Precinct
“‘[U]nder New York law, departments that are merely
administrative arms of a municipality do not have a legal identity
3 Although liability may be imposed under Section 1983 upon private
individuals who are not state actors pursuant to a conspiracy or
joint-actor theory, see Ciambriello v. County of Nassau, 292 F.3d
307, 324-25 (2d Cir. 2002) (“a private actor acts under color of
state law when the private actor is a willful participant in joint
activity with the State or its agents” (internal quotation marks
and citations omitted)), these exceptions are inapplicable given
the factual allegations set forth in the Complaints.
4 Further, it appears that Plaintiff’s Section 1983 claims in
Squire I and Squire III are well outside the three-year statute of
limitations given that the challenged conduct is alleged to have
occurred in 2013 and 2018, respectively. Plaintiff’s Squire I
Complaint was filed on March 27, 2023, and his Squire III Complaint
was filed on March 30, 2023. However, the Court need not reach
this issue given the substantive defects in his claims warranting
dismissal.
separate and apart from the municipality and therefore, cannot sue
or be sued.’” DeSouza v. 1st Precinct, No. 12-CV-0821, 2012 WL
956186, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 14, 2012) (Seybert, J.) (quoting Davis
v. Lynbrook Police Dep’t, 224 F.Supp.2d 463, 477 (E.D.N.Y. 2002)
(dismissing claim against Lynbrook Police Department)); citing
Carthew v. County of Suffolk, 709 F. Supp. 2d 188, 194 (E.D.N.Y.
2010) (holding Suffolk County police department is an
administrative arm of the County and, thus, lacks the capacity to
be sued)); Barreto v. Suffolk County, No. 10–CV-0028, 2010 WL
301949, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 20, 2010) (Seybert, J.) (holding local
police departments, such as the Suffolk County police department,
are administrative arms of the County without the capacity to sue
or be sued).
Here, the 1st Precinct is an arm of the municipality,
Suffolk County, and thus lacks the capacity to be sued. Therefore,
Plaintiff’s claims against the 1st Precinct are not plausible and
are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§
1915(e)(2)(B)(i)-(ii), 1915A(b)(1).
C. Claims Against Suffolk County
It is well-established that a municipality, like the
County, cannot be held liable under Section 1983 on a respondeat
superior theory. See Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs. of N.Y. City,
436 U.S. 658, 691 (1978); Agosto v. N.Y.C. Dep’t of Educ., 982
F.3d 86, 98 (2d Cir. 2020) (“Monell expressly prohibits respondeat
superior liability for municipalities” (citations omitted)).
Rather, to state a claim against a municipality under Section 1983,
“‘the plaintiff is required to show that the challenged acts were
performed pursuant to a municipal policy or custom.’” Tafolla v.
County of Suffolk, No. 17-CV-4897, 2021 WL 3675042, at *10
(E.D.N.Y. Aug. 19, 2021) (Seybert, J.) (quoting Littlejohn v. City
of N.Y., 795 F.3d 297, 314 (2d Cir. 2015)). To establish the
existence of a municipal policy or custom, the plaintiff must
allege:
(1) the existence of a formal policy which is
officially endorsed by the municipality; (2)
actions taken or decisions made by municipal
policymaking officials, i.e., officials with
final decisionmaking authority, which caused
the alleged violation of the plaintiff’s civil
rights; (3) a practice so persistent and
widespread as to practically have the force of
law or that was so manifest as to imply the
constructive acquiescence of senior policy-
making officials; or (4) that a policymaking
official exhibited deliberate indifference to
constitutional deprivations caused by
subordinates.
Avant v. Miranda, No. 21-CV-0974, 2021 WL 1979077, at *3 (E.D.N.Y.
May 18, 2021) (Seybert, J.) (cleaned up).
Here, when liberally construing the Squire III
Complaint, there are no factual allegations that a municipal policy
or custom existed which caused the alleged constitutional
deprivations of which Plaintiff complains. (See Squire III Compl.
in toto.) Similarly, there are no allegations from which the Court
can reasonably construe a plausible Section 1983 claim against
Suffolk County. Thus, Plaintiff’s Section 1983 claims against
Suffolk County are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE pursuant to 28
U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(b) and 1915A(b). Further, Plaintiff is
GRANTED leave to file an Amended Complaint to address the pleading
deficiencies identified herein regarding his claims against
Suffolk County.
D. Claims Against New York State
“Under the Eleventh Amendment, a state and its agencies
are generally immune from suit in federal court.” Williams v.
N.Y.S. Off. of Mental Health, No. 10-CV-1022, 2014 WL 1311405, at
*5 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2014). Neither of the two exceptions to
this rule, i.e., “an explicit and unequivocal waiver of immunity
by a state or a similarly clear abrogation of the immunity by
Congress,” id., apply here. First, “Section 1983 does not abrogate
the Eleventh Amendment immunity of the States.” Id. Second, New
York has not waived its immunity from suit. See Harrison v. New
York, 95 F. Supp. 3d 293, 314 (E.D.N.Y. 2015) (“It is well
established that New York State has not waived its sovereign
immunity from Section 1983 claims.” (internal quotation marks, and
citation omitted)). Therefore, the State is entitled to Eleventh
Amendment immunity from Plaintiff’s Section 1983 claims. See,
e.g., KM Enters., Inc. v. McDonald, 518 F. App’x 12, 13 (2d Cir.
Apr. 30, 2013) (“As a general matter, states enjoy sovereign
immunity from suit in federal court, even if the claim arises under
federal law.” (citing U.S. Const. amend. XI)).
Moreover, New York State is not a “person” within in the
meaning of Section 1983. See Carter v. New York, 316 F. Supp. 3d
660, 667 (S.D.N.Y. 2018) (“[U]nder Section 1983, states are not
even considered “persons” subject to liability.” (citing Will v.
Michigan Dep’t of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 70 (1989) (“We hold
that neither a State nor its officials acting in their official
capacities are ‘persons’ under § 1983.”)). Accordingly,
Plaintiff’s Section 1983 claims against New York State are not
plausible and are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§§ 1915(e)(2)(B), 1915A(b).
E. Claims Against Officer Corr
To state a claim for relief under Section 1983 against
an individual defendant, a plaintiff must allege the personal
involvement of the defendant in the alleged constitutional
deprivation. See Farid v. Elle, 593 F.3d 233, 249 (2d Cir. 2010).
In Iqbal, the Supreme Court held that “[b]ecause vicarious
liability is inapplicable to . . . [Section] 1983 suits, a
plaintiff must plead that each Government-official defendant,
through the official’s own individual actions, has violated the
Constitution.” 556 U.S. at 676. A complaint based upon a
violation under Section 1983 that does not allege the personal
involvement of a defendant fails as a matter of law and should be
dismissed. See Johnson v. Barney, 360 F. App’x 199, 201 (2d Cir.
2010).
Here, although Plaintiff names Officer Corr in the
caption and in the “Defendants” section of the Squire II Complaint,
there are no factual allegations against him. Indeed, even upon
a liberal construction, there are no facts from which the Court
can reasonably construe conduct or inaction attributable to
Officer Corr. (See Squire II Compl., in toto.) Further, given
that the relief sought by Plaintiff, i.e., his release from custody
and having the charges against him dropped, is relief which Officer
Corr cannot provide, Plaintiff’s claims against Officer Corr must
be dismissed.5 See, e.g., Moultrie v. Wright, No. 21-CV-3925, 2021
WL 3372031, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 3, 2021) (dismissing Section 1983
claims against police officers “because Plaintiff does not allege
any facts showing that anything that [they] personally did or
failed to do violated Plaintiff’s rights”). Accordingly,
Plaintiff’s claims against Officer Corr are DISMISSED WITHOUT
PREJUDICE pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2) (b)(ii); 1915A(b).
Further, Plaintiff is GRANTED leave to file an Amended Complaint
to address the pleading deficiencies identified herein regarding
5 To the extent Plaintiff seeks to be released from custody and
have the charges against him dropped, the Court is without
authority to grant such relief in a Section 1983 civil action.
The exclusive avenue to challenge the fact or duration of
Plaintiff’s custody is via a properly exhausted petition seeking
a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.
his claims against Officer Corr.
IV. State Law Claims
Given the dismissal of Plaintiff’s federal claims, the
Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over any
state law claims. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3) (“The district courts
may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over a
claim . . . if . . . the district court has dismissed all claims
over which it has original jurisdiction . . . .”); Carnegie-Mellon
Univ. v. Cohill, 484 U.S. 343, 350 n.7 (1988) (“[I]n the usual
case in which all federal-law claims are eliminated before trial,
the balance of factors to be considered under the pendent
jurisdiction doctrine -- judicial economy, convenience, fairness,
and comity -- will point toward declining to exercise jurisdiction
over the remaining state-law claims.”). Plaintiff may pursue any
valid state law claims that may be construed from these Complaints
in state court.
V. Leave to Amend
Given the Second Circuit’s guidance that a pro se
complaint should not be dismissed without leave to amend unless
amendment would be futile, see Cuoco v. Moritsugu, 222 F.3d 99,
112 (2d Cir. 2000), the Court has carefully considered whether
leave to amend is warranted. Given that the defects in Plaintiff’s
claims against Latife, New, Brooks, Pathways, the First Precinct,
and New York State are substantive and could not be cured with
better pleading, leave to amend these claims is DENIED. Further,
to the extent that Plaintiff seeks to be released from custody and
to have the charges against him dropped, the Court is without
authority to grant such relief in a civil action brought pursuant
to Section 1983. As noted, the exclusive avenue to challenge the
fact or duration of Plaintiff’s custody is via a properly exhausted
petition seeking a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
2254. Thus, leave to amend the Complaints to seek such relief is
DENIED.
However, regarding his claims against Officer Corr and
against Suffolk County, Plaintiff is GRANTED leave to file Amended
Complaints in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
and the guidance set forth herein within 30 days from the date of
this order. Any Amended Complaint shall be clearly labeled
“Amended Complaint” and shall bear the same Docket Number as the
originally filed Complaint. Further, because an Amended Complaint
will completely replace the originally filed Complaint, it must
include all factual allegations and claims that Plaintiff seeks to
pursue in that case. For clarity: If Plaintiff seeks to amend
his claims against Officer Corr, he must file an Amended Complaint
in Squire II, Case No. 22-CV-2402, which will completely replace
his original Squire II Complaint; and, if Plaintiff seeks to amend
his claims against Suffolk County, he must file an Amended
Complaint in Squire III, Case No. 22-CV-2491, which will completely
replace his original Squire III Complaint.
PLAINTIFF IS WARNED that if he does not file any Amended
Complaints within 30 days from the date of this Order, judgment
will enter and those cases will be closed without further notice.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that
Plaintiff’s IFP applications in Squire I, Squire II, and Squire
III (ECF No. 2 in each case) are GRANTED; and
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Section 1983
claims against Latife, New, Brooks, Pathways, the First Precinct,
and New York State are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE pursuant to 28
U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B), 1915A for failure to state a claim upon
which relief may be granted and as frivolous;6 and Plaintiff’s
Section 1983 claims against Officer Corr and Suffolk County are
DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§§ 1915(e)(2)(B), 1915A for failure to state a claim upon which
relief may be granted and as frivolous; and
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, as a result, the Squire I Case,
No. 22-CV-2401, is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE, and Judgment shall
enter accordingly; and
6 An action is deemed frivolous as a matter of law when, inter
alia, it “lacks an arguable basis in law. . . .” Livingston, 141
F.3d at 437. Here, for the reasons set forth above, the Squire I,
Squire II, and Squire III Complaints lack an arguable basis in
law; thus, they are frivolous.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff is GRANTED LEAVE TO
FILE AMENDED COMPLAINTS in Squire II and Squire III only and in
accordance with the guidance set forth above, within 30 days from
the date of this Order. Any Amended Complaint shall be clearly
labeled “Amended Complaint” and shall bear the same case number as
the originally filed Complaint, i.e., Squire II, No. 23-CV-
2402(JS)(ST), and/or Squire III, No. 23-CV-2491(JS)(ST).
Plaintiff is WARNED: If an Amended Complaint is not filed within
30 days from the date of this Order, judgment will enter and the
Squire II and/or Squire III cases will be closed; and
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(a)(3), any appeal from this Order would not be taken in
good faith and therefore in forma pauperis status is DENIED for
the purpose of any appeal. See Coppedge v. United States, 369
U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962); and
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall
mail a copy of this Memorandum & Order to the pro se Plaintiff and
include the notation “Legal Mail” on the envelope.
SO ORDERED.
/s/ JOANNA SEYBERT
Joanna Seybert, U.S.D.J.
Dated: July 5, 2023
Central Islip, New York