Cambisaca v. Ruhe

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

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JOSE CAMBISACA,

Plaintiff,

OPINION AND ORDER

-against-

17 Civ. 87(JCM)

P.O. CHRISTOPHER RUHE,

P.O. MARK RAMPOLLA, AND

SGT. JOHN ARNOLD,

Defendants.

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PlaintiffJose Cambisaca(“Plaintiff”)brought this civil rights actionpursuant to 42

U.S.C. § 1983 against Defendants Officer Christopher Ruhe, Officer Mark Rampolla and

Sergeant John Arnold (“Defendants”).(Docket Nos. 1, 35). Presently before the Court are

Defendants’ motions for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure. (Docket Nos. 53, 58). Plaintiff opposed Defendants’ motions and filed a cross-

motion for summary judgment. (Docket Nos. 65, 70). For the reasons set forth below,

Defendants’ motions for summary judgment are granted in part and denied in part,and Plaintiff’s

cross-motion for summary judgment is denied.1

I. BACKGROUND

A. Procedural Background

On January 6, 2017, Plaintiff commenced this action against Defendants Ruhe and

Rampolla seeking damages pursuant to Section 1983 formalicious prosecution, excessive

1This action is before this Court for all purposes on the consent of the parties, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c).

(Docket No. 18).

detention and due process violations. (Docket No. 1). On November 21, 2017, Plaintiff filed an

Amended Complaint namingSergeant Arnold as an additional defendant. (Docket No. 35).

Following the completion of discovery,Defendants Ruhe and Rampollafiled a motion for

summary judgment,(Docket No. 53), accompanied by a memorandum of law,(Docket No. 56),

an attorney declarationwithexhibits,(Docket No. 54), andastatement of facts pursuant to Local

Civil Rule 56.1,(Docket No. 55). Defendant Arnold filed a separate motion for summary

judgment, (Docket No. 58), a memorandum of law, (Docket No. 61), an attorney declaration

withexhibits, (Docket No. 60), anda Rule 56.1statement, (Docket No. 59).

Plaintifffiled anoppositionto Defendants’ motions and across-motion for summary

judgment, (Docket No. 65), accompanied by a memorandum of law, (Docket No. 66), an

attorney declarationwith exhibits, (Docket No. 69), and two counterstatements of facts pursuant

to Local Civil Rule 56.1,(Docket Nos. 67, 68). Defendants Ruhe and Rampolla filed a

memorandum of law in opposition to Plaintiff’s cross-motion, (Docket No. 70), an additional

attorney declaration, (Docket No. 71), and a Rule 56.1 counterstatement, (Docket No. 72).

Defendant Arnold submitted a memorandum of law in opposition to Plaintiff’s cross-motion,

(Docket No. 75),2 and a Rule 56.1 counterstatement, (Docket No. 76). Plaintiff filed a reply

memorandum of law. (Docket No. 77).

B. Facts

The following facts are gathered from the parties’ 56.1 statements and counterstatements,

the exhibits attached to the parties’ submissions,and the declarations submitted by the parties in

support of their contentions.3 The facts are construed in the light most favorable to the non-

2Defendant Arnold submitted a duplicative memorandum of law in opposition to Plaintiff’s cross-motion as a Rule

56.1 counterstatement. (CompareDocket No. 74, withDocket No. 75). This appears to be a filing error.

3All page number citations to the record refer to the ECF page number unless otherwise noted.

moving parties ineach motion for summary judgment. Wandering Dago, Inc. v. Destito,879

F.3d 20, 30 (2d Cir. 2018). The facts are not in dispute, unless otherwise noted.

i. Accident and Arrest

At all relevant times, Sergeant Arnold, Officer Rampolla and Officer Ruhe worked for

the Rye Brook Police Department. (Docket No. 67 at ¶¶1–4); (Docket No. 68 at ¶¶1–2). On

March 14, 2014, Sergeant Arnold received a report of a hit-and-run accident near Ellendale

Avenue and South Ridge Street while he was working as a desk shift supervisor.(Docket No. 67

at ¶¶ 6–8). Sergeant Arnold learnedthat two individuals fled the scene on foot following the

accident,(id. at ¶ 9), and dispatched Officers Ruhe, Rampolla and Asare to the scene, (id.at ¶¶

10–11). Following this, Sergeant Arnold transmitted by radio a description of the individuals

who fled as “two short Hispanic males, one wearing a blue hoodie, the other wearing a vest.” (Id.

at ¶ 15).

While Officers Ruhe, Rampolla and Asare responded to the sceneof the accident,

Sergeant Arnold prepared the blotter report, which documents theofficers’ response to the

incident. (Docket No. 67 at ¶¶ 12–14). After Officer Rampolla arrived, bystanders informed him

that the suspects fled behind a building on the corner of Ellendale Avenue and South Ridge

Street. (Docket No. 68 at ¶ 9). Officers Rampolla and Asare approached the building and found

a male individual near an embankment on the side of the building. (Id. at ¶¶ 10–11). Rye Brook

police officers radioed that the individual was wearing a blue jacket. (Docket No. 67 at ¶ 17).

The individual, who was later identified as Luis Chabla, appeared intoxicated and had a cut

above his eye. (Docket No. 68at ¶¶ 15–16, 18). Chabla did not understand Officer Rampolla’s

verbal commands. (Id.at ¶ 14). Anais Salcedo, the victim of the hit-and-run, informed Officer

Rampolla that Chablawas a passenger in the vehicle that struck her vehicle. (Id.at ¶ 17). At the

time, Salcedo did not provide a description of the driver of the vehicle to Officer Rampolla. (Id.

at ¶ 19). At 6:08 p.m., Officer Rampolla announced over the radiothat he detained Chabla, but

that they were still looking for the driver of the vehicle. (Docket No. 72at ¶ 134). Sergeant

Arnold learned from officers on the scene that the second suspect may have been an individual

named “Aucha Placido” who lived at 67 Poningo Street in Port Chester, New York. (Docket No.

67 at ¶ 19). Sergeant Arnold documented this in his blotter report and requested that a Port

Chester police officer respond to that residence. (Id.at ¶¶ 21–22); (Docket No. 60-5).

Officer Jonathan Rubin, who worked for the Port Chester Police Department, arrivedon

the scene and spoke to Chablain Spanish. (Rubin Dep.4 at 13). Chabla stated that the driver’s

name was “Manuel Albarracin.” (Id. at 15–18). Officer Rubin conveyed Chabla’s statements to

Rye Brook police officers on the scene. (Id.at 13–15,23–24). Officer Rubin does not recall the

names of the officers that were standing with Chabla when he translated Chabla’s statements.

(Docket No. 68 at ¶¶ 26–27). The parties dispute whether Officers Ruhe and Rampolla were

present when Officer Rubin translated Chabla’s statement. (Docket No. 68 at ¶¶ 34–44); (Docket

No. 72 at ¶¶ 135–40).

At 6:34 p.m., Officer Rampolla told Sergeant Arnold over the radio that Officer Rubin

spoke Spanish, that they had the name of the second suspect, and that Officer Asare had the

spelling of the name. (Docket No. 72 at ¶ 142). However, Officer Asare does not recall

receiving any information from Chabla through Officer Rubin. (Asare Dep.5 at 10–12). Sergeant

4Refers to Officer Rubin’sdeposition transcript. (Docket No. 69-6). Citations to deposition transcripts refer to the

deposition page rather than the ECF page number.

5Refers to Officer Asare’sdeposition transcript. (Docket No. 69-5).

Arnold noted in the blotter report that “Port Chester P.D. advised they have received different

info, different name and address, due to passenger speaking Spanish.” (Docket No. 67 at ¶ 26).

At 7:10 p.m., Salcedo spoke withSergeant Arnold by telephone and informed him that

shefound the second suspect on the ground outside a library onWestchester Avenue. (Docket

No. 67 at ¶¶38–42). Officers Rampolla, Ruhe and Asare were dispatched to the library, (Docket

No. 68 at ¶¶ 48–49), where they found Salcedo,Plaintiff, and a Port Chester police officer, (id. at

¶¶ 51–53). Salcedo confirmed that she recognized Plaintiff, who was on a stretcher, as the

second suspect and the driver of the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run. (Id. at ¶ 58). Salcedo

told Officer Ruhe that she recognized Plaintiff as the driver based on his appearance and because

she remembered that the driver’s jacket had lettering on the back. (Docket No. 72 at ¶ 156). At

the time, Plaintiff was wearing a cream-coloredsweatshirt and an Oakland Raiders jacket with

no lettering on the back. (Cambisaca Dep.6 at 11); (Docket No. 69-7 at 4–5); (Docket No. 72 at ¶

157). However, Officer Ruhe was unable to see whether Plaintiff’s jacket had lettering onthe

back because Plaintiff was already on the stretcherwhen he arrived. (Ruhe Dep.7 at 37). In

addition, theofficers were unable to communicate with Plaintiff, who appeared intoxicated.

(Docket No. 68 at ¶¶ 62, 65). Earlier in the day, Plaintiff was drinking alcohol at his home,

walked to a liquor store, purchased a bottle of vodka,drank it, and passed out near the Port

Chester library on Westchester Avenue. (Docket No. 72 at ¶ 150). The only identification

Plaintiff had on his person was a Bank of America debit card, which had the name “Jose

Cambisaca.”(Docket No. 67 at ¶ 58); (Docket No. 68at ¶ 60).

6Refers to Jose Cambisaca’sdeposition transcript. (Docket No. 69-1).

7Refers to Officer Ruhe’sdeposition transcript. (Docket No. 69-2).

At 7:58 p.m., Officer Ruhearrested Plaintiff for driving while intoxicated and leaving the

scene of an accident that caused personal injury.8 (Docket No. 67 at ¶¶ 53–55). Officer

Rampolla accompanied Plaintiff in an ambulance to White Plains Hospital. (Docket No. 68 at ¶¶

61, 67–68). Officer Rampolla attempted to interview Plaintiff in the ambulance. (Id.). However,

Plaintiff was unresponsive. (Id.). Plaintiff woke up in the hospital in handcuffs and was

informed that he was under arrest. (Docket No. 67 at ¶¶ 85–87). Thereafter, Plaintiff was

transported from the hospital to the police station. (Id.at ¶ 88).

Following Plaintiff’s arrest, Salcedo went to the Rye Brook police station with Officer

Ruhe to provide a written statement. (Docket No. 67 at ¶¶ 48–50). At 8:22 p.m., Salcedo signed

herstatement, which statedin relevant part:

After I left the scene of the accident at around 7:08 P.M. I was driving on

Westchester Ave when I saw a police car do a U turn and the officer began to talk

to a [H]ispanic male who I recognized as the driver of the vehicle that hit me. I

pulled to the side of the road and told the Port Chester officer that the man he was

talking to was the driver. The [H]ispanic male was laying on the ground and I

recognized his face and he was wearing the same clothes that I saw him in earlier,

the black jacket with cream colored sleeves . . . The male [H]ispanic who was

placed in the ambulance was the driver of the car that hit me. The driver is now

known to me as Jose Nicolas Cambisaca.

(Id. at ¶¶ 51–52). Salcedo’s statement also noted that the driver’s jacket had lettering on

the back. (Docket No. 60-6).

At 8:27 p.m., Officer Rubin called Sergeant Arnold and told him that“thepassenger

of the vehicle gave us the name of Manuel Albarracin as the driver.” (Docket No. 67 at ¶¶

56–57). Officer Rubin stated that he photographed Plaintiff at the library and went to a

residence associated with Manuel Albarracin. (Id. at ¶¶ 61–63). Officer Rubin further

informed Sergeant Arnold that he showed the photograph of Plaintiff to a man who

8Officers Ruhe and Rampolla state that Sergeant Arnold made the decision to arrest Plaintiff. (Docket No. 68 at ¶

61).

identified himself as Manuel Albarracin’s brother. (Id.at ¶ 65). The man did not recognize

the photograph of Plaintiff and statedthat Manuel Albarracin had been deported. (Id.at ¶¶

66, 68).

At 9:09 p.m., Sergeant Arnold ran Manuel Albarracin’s name through an eJustice

program to searchfor further identifying information. (Docket No. 67 at ¶ 74). The search

yielded a home address at 32 Martin Place in Port Chester, (id. at ¶ 75), which was the

residence that Officer Rubin visited, (id. at ¶ 72). Sergeant Arnold placed the eJustice

search result in the case file to be sent to the District Attorney’s Office. (Id. at ¶ 76).

However, Sergeant Arnold did not include Manuel Albarracin’s name or his conversation

with Officer Rubinin the blotter report. (Id. at ¶ 77).

ii. Further Investigation

Afteran arrest is made by the Rye Brook Police Department, arrest paperwork is

generated, reviewed by a supervisor,and forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office. (Docket

No. 67 at ¶ 109). Officer Ruhe prepared the case report in connection with Plaintiff’s arrest,

(Docket No. 76 at ¶ 164), which Sergeant Arnold reviewed and signed, (Id. at ¶ 191). Officer

Rampolla executedasupplemental narrative to Officer Ruhe’s case report. (Docket No. 69-16).

The case report provided a narrative of Plaintiff’s arrest, including Salcedo’s identification. (Id.).

However, it didnot includeChabla’s identification of Manuel Albarracin as the driveror Officer

Rubin’s conversation with Manuel Albarracin’s brother.9 (Id.). In addition to the arrest

paperwork, the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run was secured. (Docket No. 68 at ¶ 74). A

business card for “Albarracin Landscaping” with Manuel Albarracin’s contact informationwas

9The document is titled “New York State Incident Report,” but wasidentified as the “case report” during Officer

Ruhe’s deposition. (Docket No. 69-2 at 33).

recovered from the vehicleand provided to the District Attorney’s Office.(Docket No. 68 at ¶

102); (Docket No. 69-11); (Docket No. 76 at ¶ 145).

Between 2014 and 2016, Rye Brook Police Lieutenant Eugene Matthews respondedto

requests for audio recordings from the District Attorney’s Office. (Docket No. 67 at ¶¶ 106–08).

On July 2, 2014, Lieutenant Matthews created a disc containing digital audio copies of the radio

transmissions and phone calls that occurred during Plaintiff’s arrest, which he forwardedto the

District Attorney’s Office. (Id.at ¶¶ 113–15). However, the disc did not contain anaudio

recording of the communication between Sergeant Arnold and Officer Rubin discussing

Chabla’s identification of Albarracin. (Id. at ¶ 116). The radio communication in which Officer

Rubin conveyed this information to Sergeant Arnold was never provided to the District

Attorney’s Office. (Id.at ¶ 229).

In March 2014, Assistant District Attorney (“ADA”) Hedayati was assigned to Plaintiff’s

prosecution. (Docket No. 76 at ¶ 212). Sergeant Arnold spoke with an ADAthree days after

Plaintiff’s arrest. (Docket No. 76 at ¶ 203). During this conversation, Sergeant Arnold did not

inform the ADA that Chabla identified Manuel Albarracin as the driver. (Id.).ADA Hedayati

testified at her deposition that she was unaware that Chabla identified Albarracin as the driver of

the vehicle. (Id.at ¶ 214).

In December 2015, ADA Calvi was assigned to Plaintiff’s prosecution. (Docket No. 76 at

¶ 213). ADA Calvi testified that shebecameaware of the name Manuel Albarracin between

December 2015 and September 2016. (Calvi Dep.10 at 26–27). However, she does not

remember how she became familiar with Albarracin’s name. (Id.at 26, 93–95). ADA Calvi

10Refers to ADA Michelle Calvi’s deposition transcript. (Docket No. 69-17).

testified that she never heard the radio communication between Sergeant Arnold and Officer

Rubin while prosecuting Plaintiff. (Docket No. 76 at ¶ 231). December 14, 2015 was the earliest

date that the audio recordings of the radio communications were disclosed to Plaintiff’s defense

attorney. (Id. at ¶ 227); (Docket No. 72 at ¶ 222). ADA Calvi testified that she spoke with

Officer Rubinafter she was assigned to Plaintiff’s prosecution. (Calvi Dep. at 75–76). The

record does not provide the details of ADA Calvi’s conversation with Officer Rubin. However,

ADA Calvi stated that there was nothing in the police paperwork provided to the District

Attorney’s Office documenting Chabla’s identification of Albarracin as the driver of the vehicle

involved in the hit-and-run. (Docket No. 76 at ¶ 218).

iii. Criminal Proceedings

Officer Ruhe prepared and signed the charging documents, which charged Plaintiff with

driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident, unlicensed operation of a vehicle,

criminal mischief, and reckless endangerment. (Docket No. 76 at ¶ 200). On March 15, 2014,

Plaintiff was arraigned,and bail was set at $2,500. (Docket No. 67 at ¶¶ 89–91). Plaintiff asked

a friend to withdraw money from Plaintiff’s bank to pay bail. (Id.at ¶¶ 95–96). However, the

friend was unable to make a withdrawal because the bank was closed. (Id. at ¶ 97). On March

17, 2014, the United States Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) issued an “Immigration

Detainer –Notice of Action” instructing the Westchester County Jail to maintain custody of

Plaintiff for up to 48 hours after which he would have otherwise been released. (Id.at ¶¶ 100–

02). Additionally, DHS issued a Warrant for Arrest of Alien against Plaintiff. (Id. at ¶ 103).

During a state court hearingon March 4, 2015, Salcedotestified about the circumstances

of the hit-and-run and her identification of Plaintiff as the driver of the car. (Docket No. 54-14 at

10–12).11 Officer Rampolla also testified about the circumstances surrounding Plaintiff’s arrest.

(Id.at 39). Following cross-examination and oral arguments, the state court determined

Salcedo’s identification was sufficient to establish “reasonable cause” to arrest Plaintiff. (Id.at

61). On October 15, 2014, Plaintiff’s bail was reduced to $500. (Docket No. 68 at ¶ 128).

Plaintiff never paid bail and spent approximately seven and one-half months in jail. (Docket No.

67at ¶ 104).

Plaintiff retained Michael Litman, Esq. to represent him in November 2015. (Docket No.

76 at ¶ 236). On January 4, 2016, Litman emailed ADA Calvi with information regarding

Manuel Albarracin.12 (Docket No. 54-19). Litman engagedthe services of a private investigator,

who confirmed that Albarracin was the owner of the vehicle involved in the accident for which

Plaintiff was charged. (Docket No. 76 at ¶¶ 239, 243). On February 29, 2016, Litman emailed

this information to ADA Calvi. (Docket No. 54-20). On September 29, 2016, Plaintiff was

acquitted of all charges following a jury trial. (Docket No. 67 at ¶124).

II. SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD

Under Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the moving party bears the

burden of demonstrating that it is entitled to summary judgment. SeeHuminski v. Corsones, 396

F.3d 53, 69 (2d Cir. 2005). The Court must grant summary judgment “if 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); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322

(1986). A genuine dispute as to a material fact “exists for summary judgment purposes where

the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could decide in the non-movant’s favor.” Beyer v.

11Refers to the criminal hearing transcript, dated March 4, 2015.

12Albarracin’s surname is spelled “Alvarracin” and “Alvarracion” in the email.

Cnty. of Nassau, 524 F.3d 160, 163 (2d Cir. 2008); see alsoAnderson v. Liberty Lobby,Inc., 477

U.S. 242, 247–48 (1986). “A fact is material if it might affect the outcome of the suit under the

governing law.”Casalino v. N.Y. State Catholic Health Plan, Inc., No. 09 Civ. 2583(LAP), 2012

WL 1079943, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 30, 2012) (internal quotation and citation omitted).

In reviewing a motionfor summary judgment, the Court “must draw all reasonable

inferences in favor of the [non-moving] party” and “must disregard all evidence favorable to the

moving party that the jury is not required to believe.” Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Products,

Inc.,530 U.S. 133, 150–51 (2000). TheCourt may not weigh the evidence or determine the truth

of the matter, but rather conducts “the threshold inquiry of determining whether there is the need

for a trial.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 250.

The moving party bears the initial burden of “demonstrating the absence of a genuine

issue of material fact.” Holcomb v. Iona Coll., 521 F.3d 130, 137 (2d Cir. 2008)(citing Celotex,

477 U.S. at 323). If the moving party meets this initial burden, the burden then shifts to the non-

moving party to “present evidence sufficient to satisfy every element of the claim.” Id. “The

non-moving party is required to ‘go beyond the pleadings’ and ‘designate specific facts showing

that there is a genuine issue for trial,’” id.(citing Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324; Anderson, 477 U.S. at

249–50), and “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). If

the non-moving party fails to establish the existence of an essential element of the case on which

it bears the burden of proof at trial, summary judgment must be granted. Celotex, 477 U.S. at

322–23.

Parties moving for and opposing summary judgment in the Southern District of New

Yorkmust also submit short and concise statements of facts, supported by evidence that would

be admissible at trial. Local Civ. R.56.1. The opposing party must specifically controvert the

moving party’s statement of material facts, or the moving party’s facts will be deemed admitted

for purposes of the motion. Local Civ. R.56.1(c); T.Y. v. N.Y.C.Dep’t of Educ., 584 F.3d 412,

418 (2d Cir. 2009)(“A nonmoving party’s failure to respond to a Rule 56.1 statement permits the

court to conclude that the facts asserted in the statement are uncontested and admissible.”).

However, uncontested facts cannot be deemed true simply by virtue of their assertionin a Local

Rule 56.1 statement; the Court is free to disregard the assertionin the absence of citations or

where the cited materials do not support the factual assertions in the statements.Holtz v.

Rockefeller & Co., 258 F.3d 62,73(2d Cir. 2001). Nevertheless, the Court is “not required to

consider what the parties fail to point out.” Monahan v. N.Y.C. Dep’t of Corr., 214 F.3d 275, 292

(2d Cir. 2000)(internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

III. DISCUSSION

A. Malicious Prosecution

All parties seek summary judgment on Plaintiff’s malicious prosecution claim.

Defendants Ruhe and Rampolla argue that: (i) probable cause existed to arrest and prosecute

Plaintiff, (ii)probable cause was not vitiatedbetween Plaintiff’s arrest and prosecution; (iii) the

officers did not act with malice; and (iv) they are entitled to qualified immunity. (Docket No. 56

at 11–17, 31).13 Sergeant Arnold echoes Officers Ruhe and Rampolla’s arguments and further

contends that he did not initiateor continue Plaintiff’s prosecution. (Docket No. 61 at 12–16,

13Refers to Officers Ruhe and Rampolla’s memorandum of law in support of their motion for summary judgment.

Citations to the parties’ briefs refer to the ECF page number.

20).14 Plaintiff opposes Defendants’ motions and maintains that he has conclusively established

a claim for malicious prosecution as a matter of law. (Docket No. 66 at 14–32).15

To prevail on a Section 1983 malicious prosecution claim, a plaintiff must show: “(i) the

commencement or continuation of a criminal proceeding against [him]; (ii) the termination of the

proceeding in [his] favor; (iii) that there was no probable cause for the proceeding; and (iv) that

the proceeding was instituted with malice.”Mitchell v. City of New York, 841 F.3d 72, 79 (2d

Cir. 2016) (internal quotation marks omitted). Here, thereis no dispute that Plaintiff’s criminal

proceedings were terminated in his favor. Plaintiff was acquitted of all criminal charges

following a jury trial. Moreover, Officers Ruhe and Rampolla do not arguethat they lacked

personal involvement in initiating or continuing Plaintiff’s prosecution. However, the parties

dispute the remaining elements of Plaintiff’s malicious prosecution claim.

i. TheInitiation Requirement

“[T]here is a presumption that a prosecutor exercises independent judgment in deciding

whether to initiate and continue a criminal proceeding.” Espada v. Schneider, 522 F. Supp. 2d

544, 553 (S.D.N.Y. 2007)(internal quotation marks and citation omitted). However, a plaintiff

asserting a malicious prosecution claim may overcome that presumption by “demonstrating that

the defendant played an active role in the prosecution, such as giving advice and encouragement

or importuning the authorities to act.”Id.(internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

“Where the defendant in a malicious prosecution action is a police officer, courts have

found a triable issue of fact as to the initiation element where thedefendant-officer brought

formal charges and had the person arraigned, filled out complaining and corroborating affidavits,

14Refers to Sergeant Arnold’s memorandum of law in support of his motion for summary judgment.

15Refers to Plaintiff’s joint memorandum of law in opposition to Defendants’ motions for summary judgment and in

support of his cross-motion for summary judgment.

swore to and signed a felony complaint, or created false information and forwarded it to

prosecutors.” Alcantara v. City of New York, 646 F. Supp. 2d 449, 457–58 (S.D.N.Y. 2009)

(internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Furthermore, “[t]he ‘initiation’ requirement is

met when the plaintiff can establish that police officers forwarded statements to a prosecutor

without sharing that the statements were suspect,” Dufort v. City of New York, 874 F.3d 338, 353

(2d Cir. 2017), or “by withholding material exculpatory evidence from the prosecutor.” Stukes v.

City of New York, No. 13-CV-6166(NGG)(VVP), 2015 WL 1246542, at *9 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 17,

2015); seeCostello v. Milano, 20 F. Supp. 3d 406, 415 (S.D.N.Y. 2014)(“A police officer can

also initiate a prosecution by . . . withholding material information from a prosecutor.”).

Here, Plaintiff has presented sufficient evidence to rebut the presumption that the District

Attorney’s Office exercised independent judgment in deciding whether to initiate and continue

Plaintiff’s prosecution. While Sergeant Arnold did not signthe criminal complaint or

corroborating affidavits, he spoke with an ADA about Plaintiff’s arrest three days afterthe arrest

and did not disclose Chabla’s statement at that time. (Docket No. 76 at ¶ 203). Furthermore,

Sergeant Arnold’s blotter report, which provided a written narrative of the incident,omitted this

exculpatory evidence. The blotter report noted Salcedo’s identification of Plaintiff as the driver,

but failed to include or memorialize Chabla’s identification of Albarracineven though Sergeant

Arnold was aware of this fact. (Docket No. 60-5); (Rubin Dep. at 13–15,23–24). Chabla’s

statement was undoubtedly material to Plaintiff’s prosecution and was consistent with the name

found on the business card inside the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run. See Richards v. City of

New York, No. 97 Civ. 7990 (MBM), 2003 WL 21036365, at *14 (S.D.N.Y. May 7, 2003)

(noting that where an officer did not discloseexculpatory eyewitness testimony tothe District

Attorney’s Office, there was sufficient evidence to support the inference that police officers

withheld material information). Moreover, neither ADA Hedayati nor ADA Calvi were aware of

Chabla’s identification throughout Plaintiff’s prosecution. (Docket No. 76 at ¶¶ 214, 218). Thus,

the Court cannot conclude that Sergeant Arnold disclosed “all material information within his

knowledge,”Rohman v. N.Y.C. Transit Auth., 215 F.3d 208, 217 (2d Cir. 2000)(internal

quotation marks and citation omitted), and correspondingly, that helacked the requisite personal

involvement in initiating or continuing Plaintiff’s criminal prosecution.

ii. Probable Cause and Malice

Defendants contend that probable cause existed to arrest and prosecute Plaintiff, while

Plaintiff argues that there was no probable cause. “[T]he existence of probable cause is a

complete defense to a claim of malicious prosecution.” Savino v. City of New York, 331 F.3d 63,

75 (2d Cir.2003). While related,“the probable cause inquiries for false arrest and malicious

prosecution are distinct.” Thomas v. City of New York, 562 F. App’x 58, 60 (2d Cir. 2014)

(summary order). For claims of false arrest, “‘probable cause to arrest exists when the officers

have knowledge or reasonably trustworthy information of facts and circumstances that are

sufficient to warrant a person of reasonable caution in the belief that the person to be arrested has

committed or is committing a crime.’” Dufort, 874 F.3d at 348 (quoting Weyant v. Okst, 101

F.3d 845, 852 (2d Cir. 1996)). Generally, “[p]robable cause to arrest is a defense to a malicious

prosecution claim unless, after the arrest, additional facts come to light that vitiate the probable

cause.” Smith v. City of New York, 388 F. Supp. 2d 179, 186 (S.D.N.Y. 2005).

“The probable cause standard in the malicious prosecution context is slightly higher than

the standard for false arrest cases.” Stansbury v. Wertman, 721 F.3d 84, 95 (2d Cir. 2013). “In

the malicious prosecution context, probable cause is the totality of ‘facts and circumstances as

would lead a reasonably prudent person to believe the plaintiff guilty.’” Soto v. City of New York,

132 F. Supp. 3d 424, 452 (E.D.N.Y. 2015) (quoting Stanbury, 721 F.3d at 95). “This inquiry

considers the facts known or reasonably believed at the time the prosecution was initiated, and

not at the time of arrest. Id.(internal quotation marks and citation omitted). “Ultimately,

whether probable cause exists ‘depends on the totality of the circumstances’ of each case, and is

not susceptible to ‘precise definition or quantification into percentages.’” Dufort, 874 F.3d at 348

(quotingMaryland v. Pringle, 540 U.S. 366, 371 (2003)).

Here, the Court finds that Defendants lawfully arrested Plaintiff based on Salcedo’s

identification.16 “An arresting officer advised of a crime by a person who claims to be the

victim, and who has signed a complaint or information charging someone with the crime, has

probable cause to effect an arrest absent circumstances that raise doubts as to the victim’s

veracity.” Singer v. Fulton Cty. Sheriff, 63 F.3d 110, 119 (2d Cir. 1995). Salcedo, the victim of

the hit-and-run, recognizedPlaintiff and identified him to the officers as the driver of the vehicle

that hit her car. Plaintiff argues that probable cause did not exist because Officers Ruhe and

Rampolla were present when Chabla, the passenger in the vehicle, identified Albarracin as the

driver. However, “[t]he Second Circuit has held consistently that conflicting accounts of a crime

do not vitiate theprobable cause established by an eyewitness identification or alleged victim of

a crime.” Crews v. Cty. of Nassau, 996 F. Supp. 2d 186, 205(E.D.N.Y. 2014) (citing Panetta v.

Crowley, 460 F.3d 388, 395–96 (2d Cir. 2006)); see Curley v. Vill. of Suffern, 268 F.3d 65, 70

(2d Cir.2001) (finding probable cause to arrest despite conflicting accounts of arrestee and two

eyewitnesses, where eyewitnesses’statements inculpated arrestee); Pawlicki v. City of Ithaca,

993 F. Supp. 140, 145 (N.D.N.Y. 1998) (“Even when an arresting officer is faced with

16Both the Complaint and Amended Complaint appear to raise a false imprisonment claim. (Docket No. 1 at 9);

(Docket No. 35 at 14). The parties do not address this claim in their motion papers. However, to the extent Plaintiff

intended to bring a false imprisonment claim, it is dismissedbecause Defendants had probable cause to arrest

Plaintiff. See Betts v. Shearman, 751 F.3d 78, 82 (2d Cir. 2014) (“Probable cause is a complete defense to a

constitutional claim of false arrest and false imprisonment.”) (citationsomitted).

competing accounts from different eyewitnesses, an officer is entitled to make an arrest based on

believing the testimony of one side or the other. . ..”). Importantly, at the time of the arrest, the

officers could not see the back of Plaintiff’s jacket, nor did theyhaveenoughinformation to

questionthe veracity of Salcedo’s identification.

However, the Court finds that a triable issue of fact exists as to whether Defendants were

entitled to continue torely on Salcedo’s identification in initiating and continuing Plaintiff’s

prosecution. “[E]ven when probable cause is present at the time of arrest, evidence could later

surface which would eliminate that probable cause.” Lowth v. Town of Cheektowaga, 82F.3d

563, 571 (2d Cir. 1996) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). However, “[i] n order

for probable cause to dissipate, the groundless nature of the charges must be made apparent by

the discovery of some intervening fact.”Id. “The defendants are not obliged to exonerate

plaintiff or uncover exculpatory evidence, but the ‘failure to make a further inquiry when a

reasonable person would have done so may be evidence of lack of probable cause.’” Lawrence v.

City Cadillac, No. 10 Civ.3324(PKC), 2010 WL 5174209, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 9, 2010)

(quoting Lowth, 82 F.3d at 571).

Here, Officer Rubin spoke to Sergeant Arnold about Chabla’s statement after Plaintiff’s

arrest. Plaintiffwas arrested at approximately 7:58 p.m., and Officer Rubin informed Sergeant

Arnold that Chabla identified Albarracin as the driver of the vehicle at approximately 8:27 p.m.

Standing alone, this fact does not vitiate probable cause because the officers were still entitled to

rely on Salcedo’s identification over Chabla’s identification. See Curley,268 F.3dat 70.

However, there is evidence that Defendants withheld Chabla’s identification from the District

Attorney’s Office.17 Withholding exculpatory evidence supports a finding of a lack of probable

cause to prosecute. See Crews, 996 F. Supp. 2d at 208.

Moreover,the accuracy of Salcedo’s identification was undermined by information

uncovered after Plaintiff’s arrest. Salcedobased heridentification of Plaintiff on her recollection

that the driver of the vehicle,who ran away following the accident,wore a black jacket with

lettering on the back. However, Plaintiff’s jacket did not have lettering on the back. Officer

Ruhe was unableto see the back of Plaintiff’s jacket during the arrest because Plaintiff was on a

stretcher. But Plaintiff’s jacket was recovered and photographed following his arrest. In

addition, police recovered a business card from the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run with

Manuel Albarracin’s name and contact information.18 These additional discrepancies,viewed

with all reasonable inferences drawn in Plaintiff’s favor,challengedthe reliabilityof Salcedo’s

identificationandbolstered Chabla’s identification,necessitatingfurther investigation. See

Manganiello v. City of New York, 612 F.3d 149, 161 (2d Cir. 2010) (“the failure to make a

further inquiry when a reasonable person would have done so may be evidence of lack of

probable cause.”)(internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Accordingly, a reasonable

jury could findthat the information discovered after Plaintiff’s arrest vitiatedthe accuracyof

Salcedo’s identificationand, by extension, probable cause.19 SeeCrews, 996 F. Supp.2d at 207–

17 While Officers Ruhe and Rampolla contend that they werenotinformed of Sergeant Arnold’s conversation with

Officer Rubin, (Docket No. 72 at ¶ 160), there is evidence that they had “the name of the guy” that had driven the

vehicle that caused the accidentand it was not Plaintiff,(id.at ¶ 142).

18Officers Ruhe and Rampolla claim that they were not aware that Albarracin’s business card was recovered from

the vehicle. (Docket No. 70 at 6). However, Albarracin’s business card was vouchered and placed in Officer Ruhe’s

case file. (Ruhe Dep. at 39–40).

19Defendants Ruhe and Rampolla argue that Plaintiff’s malicious prosecution claim is belied by his criminal

defense attorney’s statementthat Albarracin’s identity did not vitiate probable cause. (Docket No. 10). Even if

Plaintiff’s criminal defense attorney’s admissionstood for the proposition that Chabla’s statement did not vitiate

probable cause, it is a conclusory fact that cannot be considered on summary judgment. See BellSouth

Telecommc’ns, Inc. v. W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn., 77 F.3d 603, 615 (2d Cir.1996) (“[U]ltimate or conclusory facts

and conclusions of law. . . cannot be utilized on a summary judgment motion.”).

08 (denying summary judgment on plaintiff’s malicious prosecution claim where post-arrest

evidence undermined victim’s prior identification). Conversely,Plaintiff is not entitled to

summary judgment as a matter of law. If the evidence and corresponding inferences areviewed

in a light favorabletothe Defendants, the record does not conclusively establish that Defendants

lacked probable cause to prosecute Plaintiff. This issue can only be resolved by evaluating all

the evidence,and the credibility of the witnesses, which is the role of the jury.20 See Anderson v.

Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986) (holding that “the weighing of evidence, and the

drawing of legitimate inferences from the facts are jury functions, not those of a judge” on a

motion for summary judgment).

Defendants also contend that there is no evidence of malice.Plaintiff disagrees and

argues that the record conclusively establishes that Defendants acted with malice. “Under New

York law, malice does not have to be actual spite or hatred, but requires only 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.” Dufort, 874 F.3d at 353 (internal quotation

marks omitted). Here, a reasonable jury could conclude that Defendants acted with malice by

failing to discloseChabla’s identification. Sergeant Arnold, for example, noted both Salcedo’s

identification of Plaintiff and the identification of anotherindividual named “Aucha Placido”in

the blotter report, but not Chabla’s statement. Moreover, “‘the existence of malice may be

inferred from a finding that defendants lacked probable cause to initiate criminal proceedings.’”

20Defendants assertthat their liability should be limited to whenthe prosecutor decided to continue with Plaintiff’s

prosecution after she: (i) received Manuel Albarracin’s name, (ii) spoke with Officer Rubin, (iii) received the audio

recordings of the radio communications, and (iv) obtained additional information from Plaintiff’s criminal defense

attorney. (Docket No. 70 at 9, n. 2); (Docket No. 75 at 6). These examples occurred at different times during

Plaintiff’s prosecution and do not provide a definitive benchmark tocap Defendants’ liability. Furthermore, the

audio recordingin which Officer Rubin identified Manuel Albarracin as the driver to Sergeant Arnold was never

provided to the District Attorney’s Office. (Docket No. 67 at ¶ 229). Nor do the cited occurrencesconclusively

establish that the prosecutor was made aware that Chabla identified Albarracin as the driver of the vehicle.

However, this issue may be briefed more fully in a motion in limine.

Minter v. Cty.of Westchester, No. 08 Civ. 7726(WHP), 2011 WL 856269, at *9 (S.D.N.Y. Jan.

20, 2011) (quoting Rounesville v. Zahl, 13 F.3d 625, 631 (2d Cir. 1994)). “Accordingly, where

probable cause cannot be determined on summary judgment, the same generally holds true on

the issue of malice.” Id. Conversely, a jury could reasonably accept Defendants’ belief that they

were looking for the same person despite receiving different names. (Docket No. 61 at 6). Thus,

the issue of malice must be resolved by the jury.

iii. Qualified Immunity

Defendants assert that they are entitled to qualified immunity, but expend little effort

arguing this point. (See Docket No. 56 at 31); (Docket No.61at 20); (Docket No. 70 at 29);

(Docket No. 75 at 10). “Qualified immunity shields police officers acting in their official

capacity from suits for damages . . . unless their actions violate clearly-established rights of

which an objectively reasonable official would have known.” Jones v. Parmley, 465 F.3d 46, 55

(2d Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). “The Supreme Court has

established a two-part inquiry to determine when a district court should hold that the doctrine of

qualified immunity bars a suit against government officials: (1) the court must first consider

whether the facts alleged, when taken in the light most favorable to the party asserting the injury,

demonstrate a violation of a constitutional right; and (2) the court must then consider whether the

officials’ actions violated clearly established statutory orconstitutional rights of which a

reasonable person would have known.” Id.

Sergeant Arnold argues that “no court has previously determined that the failure to write

the name of another suspect, but including that suspect’s name in productionof records to the

District Attorney” violates a clearly established right. (Docket No. 61 at 21). Sergeant Arnold’s

omission is not merely the failure to write down a suspect’s name. Rather, failing to include an

eyewitness statement identifying another individual as the perpetrator of the crimeis

quintessential suppression of exculpatory evidence. And the constitutional right to be free from

prosecution based on suppressedexculpatory evidence was clearly established at the time of

Plaintiff’s pretrial detention.See Ying Li v. City of New York, 246 F. Supp. 3d 578, 642

(E.D.N.Y. 2017).

Defendants also contend that arguable probable cause existed to prosecute Plaintiffand,

therefore, theyare entitled to qualified immunity. “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.” Escalera v.

Lunn, 361 F.3d 737, 743 (2d Cir. 2004) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

However, “[i]t is well settled that qualified immunity would not exist if a plaintiff proved that a

police officer intentionally withheld exculpatory information from prosecutors.” Crews, 996 F.

Supp. 2d at 216n.23. Moreover, while qualified immunity “ordinarily should be decided by the

court, that is true only in those cases where the facts concerning the availability of the defense

are undisputed; otherwise, jury consideration is normally required.” Oliveira v. Mayer, 23 F.3d

642, 649 (2d Cir. 1994) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Here, outstanding issues

of facts exist regarding Defendants’ conduct,what information was made knownto them, and

whether they intentionally withheld Chabla’s statement. Thus, the Court is precluded from

findingqualified immunity on this issue.

Accordingly, the Court denies the parties’ motions for summary judgment on Plaintiff’s

malicious prosecution claim.

B. Excessiveand Prolonged Detention

Plaintiff argues that Defendants violated his Fourth Amendment right to be free from

excessive detention by failing to disclose Chabla’s identification of Albarracin as the driver of

the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run. (Docket No. 66 at 32–38). Defendants maintain that: (i)

the withheld evidence did not conclusively establish Plaintiff’s innocence, (ii) the evidence was

not readily available, (iii) theirconduct did not “shock the conscience,”and (iv) theyhad no

personal involvement in setting Plaintiff’s bail. (Docket No. 56at 17–30); (Docket No. 61at 17–

20).

“To prevail on a claim of excessive detention (or ‘Russoclaim’), a plaintiff must

demonstrate‘(1) that he has a right to be free from continued detention stemming from law

enforcement officials’mishandling or suppression of exculpatory evidence, (2) that the actions

of the officers violated that right, and (3) that the officers’conduct shocks the conscience.’”

Harewood v. Braithwaite, 64 F. Supp. 3d 384, 401–02 (E.D.N.Y. 2014) (quotingRusso v. City of

Bridgeport, 479 F.3d 196, 209 (2d Cir.2007)). “The relevant factors to consider in determining

whether a plaintiff's Fourth Amendment right to be free from excessive detention was violated

are: (1) the length of time the plaintiff was incarcerated; (2) the ease with which the exculpatory

evidence in the defendant officers’possession could have been checked; and (3) the alleged

intentionality of the defendants’behavior.” Id.at 402. “The state of mind of a government

defendant is an integral aspect of any ‘shock the conscience’standard. . .‘deliberate

indifference’—but not negligence—can support a finding of liability in situations where the

government owes a special duty of care to those in its charge.” Russo, 479 F.3d at 210.

Viewing the record in a light most favorable to Plaintiff, a jury could reasonably infer

that Defendants did not forward exculpatory evidence to the District Attorney’s Office.See

supra Point III.A.ii. In addition, Plaintiff was detained for over seven months. However,

Plaintiffhas not established the third element of a Russoclaim—that Defendants’ conduct

“shocks the conscience.” The facts here are distinguishable from Russo. Russo was arrested for

a robbery at a gas station after a cashier identified him from a photo array. Russo,479 F.3d at

199–203. The robbery was recorded by a security camera, which showed that the robber’s

forearms did not have any tattoos. Id.at 199–200. Russo, however, had “prominent tattoos on

his forearms.” Id.at 200. Following his arrest, Russo asked the officers to check the security

footage to determine whether the robberhad any tattoos. Id. In an attempt to evoke a confession

from Russo, the officers falselyrepresented that the footage, which was under their exclusive

control,showed that the robberhad tattoos.Id. Moreover, the officers in Russo actively hid the

only copy of the exculpatory videotape. Takingall of this into consideration, the SecondCircuit

found that the record“wouldreadily support a jury finding of either intentional violation of, or

deliberate indifference to, Russo’s constitutional rights.”Id. at 210.

Here,unlike Russo, “the facts here do not support a finding of intentionality on the part of

[D]efendants.”Nelson v. Hernandez, 524 F. Supp. 2d 212, 225 (E.D.N.Y. 2007). Defendants did

not affirmatively misrepresent the substance of Chabla’s statement, nor did theyactively hide

Chabla’s statement from Plaintiff. For example, Sergeant Arnold included Albarracin’s eJustice

search in the case file. While this did not connect Albarracin to Chabla’s statement, it indicates

that Sergeant Arnold was not intentionally hiding Albarracin’s identity. In addition, the record

indicates that Defendants did not have exclusive control over the audio recordings of the radio

communications that relayed Chabla’s identification of the driver. (Docket No. 67 at ¶¶ 106–08,

113–16); see Nzegwu v. Friedman, No. 10-CV-02994 CBA RML, 2014 WL 1311428, at *13

(E.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2014), aff’d, 605 F. App’x 27 (2d Cir. 2015) (finding that defendants’

behavior did not shock the conscience where the exculpatory evidence in question was not in

defendants’ exclusive possession). Taken as a whole, this behavior does not “shockthe

conscience.”

Moreover, the exculpatory evidence at issue here is testimonial, while the evidence in

Russowas nontestimonial surveillance footage. See Wilson v. City of New York, 480 F. App’x

592, 595 (2d Cir. 2012)(summary order) (distinguishing Russowhere “[h]ere, most of the

evidence was testimonial, and while the evidence was conflicting, some of it specifically

identified [plaintiff] as a non-shooter accomplice.”). The surveillance footage in Russo was

easily verifiable and affirmatively established Russo’s innocence, whereas Chabla’s statement

did not. See Jackson v. City of New York, 29 F.Supp.3d 161, 178 (E.D.N.Y. 2014) (“Russohas

been narrowly construed to involve situations where a law enforcement official has mishandled

or suppressed readily available exculpatory evidence. . ..”); Nelson,524 F. Supp. 2d at 225

(dismissing Russoclaim where plaintiff argued that defendants could have concluded that he was

not the perpetrator “had defendants done a thorough and proper investigation into the complete

information they had”). Thus, the record does not support alevel of intentionality or deliberate

indifference necessary to establish behavior that shocks the conscience. See Sanders v. City of

New York, No. 12 CV 113(PKC)(LB), 2015 WL 1469514, at *19 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 7, 2015), report

and recommendation adopted,2015WL 1469506 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 30, 2015)(dismissing Russo

claim where defendants failed to forward an exculpatory security video, but plaintiff did not

establish that the failure to produce the video shocked the conscience).

Accordingly, Defendants’ motion for summary judgment onPlaintiff’s Russo claim is

granted and Plaintiff’s cross-motion for summary judgment on this claim is denied.21

21Because the Court has found as a matter of law that Defendants’ conduct does not shock the conscience, the Court

need not reach Defendants’ remainingarguments.

C. Due Process Violation

Plaintiff claims that Defendants violated his due process rights under the Fourteenth

Amendment by failing to turn overChabla’s statement as Bradymaterial.22 “‘The basic rule of

Bradyis that the Government has a constitutional duty to disclose favorable evidence to the

accused where such evidence is ‘material’ either to guilt or to punishment.’”Ambrose v. Cityof

New York, 623 F. Supp. 2d 454, 467 (S.D.N.Y. 2009)(quoting United States v. Coppa, 267 F.3d

132, 139 (2d Cir.2001)). “Because Bradyand its progeny are grounded in the Due Process

Clauses of the Constitution, the essential purpose of the rules enunciated in these cases is to

protect a defendant’s right to a fair trial by ensuring the reliability of any criminal verdict against

him.”Id.(internal quotation marks omitted). To establish a Bradyviolation, Plaintiff must show

that: “(1) the Government, either willfully or inadvertently, suppressed evidence; (2) the

evidence at issue is favorable to the defendant; and (3) the failure to disclose this evidence

resulted in prejudice.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted).

Plaintiff’s Bradyclaim fails as a matter of law because the failure to disclose Chabla’s

statement did not result in prejudice. Thejury verdict acquitting Plaintiff of the criminal charges

resulting from his arrest “negates any violation of his Bradyrights and extinguishes any Section

1983 due process claim that might arise from Defendants’ alleged suppression of exculpatory

evidence.” Ambrose, 623 F. Supp. 2d at 471; see McClean v. Cty. of Westchester, No. 17-CV-

4492 (CS), 2018 WL 6329420, at *18 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 3, 2018) (“Courts have categorically

rejected denial of a right to fair trial claims based on Bradyviolations where the plaintiff was not

22The Amended Complaint identifies both the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. (Am. Compl., Docket No. 35 at ¶

84). However, “because the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause applies only to the federal government,

[Plaintiff’s] due process claims arise solely from the Fourteenth Amendment.”LaForgia v. Hoch, No. 15-CV-8589

(KMK), 2018 WL 4682019, at *4n.2(S.D.N.Y. Sept. 28, 2018) (citing Dusenbery v. United States, 534 U.S. 161,

167 (2002)).

convicted in the underlying criminal trial.’””). Moreover, “the fact that suppression of Brady

material could prevent a defendant from securing an earlier favorable termination of his or her

case is not considered as a potential source of ‘prejudice’ within the meaning of the Brady rule.”

Ambrose, 623 F. Supp. 2d at 472; see Poventud v. City of New York, 750 F.3d 121, 133 (2d Cir.

2014) (“the remedy for a Brady violation is vacatur of the judgment of conviction and a new trial

in which the defendant now has the Brady material available to her.”). Thus, because Plaintiff

was acquitted at trial “he cannot establish that, had the exculpatory or impeachment evidence not

been suppressed, there is a reasonable probability that the verdict would have been different.”

McClean, 2018 WL 6329420 at *18.

Accordingly, Plaintiffs due process claim based on Defendants’ alleged Brady violation

is dismissed as a matter of law.

IV. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, Defendants’ motion for summary judgment is granted in part

and denied in part. Plaintiffs cross-motion for summary judgment is denied. The only claim

that remains is Plaintiff’s malicious prosecution claim against Defendants. The Clerk is

respectfully requested to terminate the pending motions. (Docket Nos. 53, 58, 65).

Dated: July 3, 2019

White Plains, New York

SO ORDERED:

Nutty OC. In Cad

JUDITH C. McCARTHY

United States Magistrate Judge

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