# DeRocha

> District Court, N.D. New York · July 17, 2026

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/11407257

## Case

- **Full name:** Matthew DeRocha v. Syracuse Police
- **Court:** District Court, N.D. New York
- **Decided:** July 17, 2026
- **Opinion:** 100trialcourt
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/11407257

## Opinion text

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
_______________________________________________

MATTHEW DEROCHA,
Plaintiff,

v. 5:26-cv-0699
(BKS/CBF)

SYRACUSE POLICE,
Defendant.
_______________________________________________

APPEARANCES:

MATTHEW DEROCHA
Plaintiff, pro se
6159 Crestview Dr.
North Syracuse, NY 13212

CARLA B. FREEDMAN, United States Magistrate Judge
REPORT-RECOMMENDATION AND ORDER
I. INTRODUCTION
The Clerk has sent to the Court for review pleadings submitted by pro se plaintiff
Matthew DeRocha (“Plaintiff”). Dkt. Nos. 1, 6. Plaintiff also seeks leave to proceed in forma
pauperis (“IFP”). Dkt. No. 2.
II. IFP APPLICATION
Plaintiff has not paid the filing fee for this action and seeks leave to proceed IFP. Dkt.
No. 2. Upon review, Plaintiff’s IFP application demonstrates economic need. See id. Therefore,
he is granted permission to proceed IFP.1

1 Although his IFP application has been granted, Plaintiff will still be required to pay fees that he
may incur in this action, including copying and/or witness fees.
III. BACKGROUND
Plaintiff commenced this action by filing a complaint on April 10, 2026, utilizing this
District’s form civil rights complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See generally, Dkt. No. 1.2
The complaint listed one Defendant, “Syracuse police officers.” Id. at 1. The pleading alleges,

in full, “I was arrested on 8/25/2023 by the Syracuse police charged with criminal contempt first
and Har[a]ssmen[t,] the charges are pending in Syracuse before Judge Ann Magneralli
unindicted.” Id. at 2.3 On May 22, 2026, Plaintiff submitted a letter containing the docket
numbers of three cases he had commenced, (1) 5:26-CV-00696, (2) 5:26-CV-00697, and (3)
5:26-CV-00699, indicating “the claims submitted are [sic] for corrected as the police
individually and involved in arrests of myself from August 2023 - July 2025” and that he
planned to “submit police reports and facts cause of action and relief and use the same case files
if that’s ok.” Dkt. No. 5 at 1 (cleaned up).
Plaintiff filed an amended complaint in this action on July 8, 2026. See generally, Dkt.
No. 6. The amended complaint lists one defendant, “Offic[e]r Albolino” a “police officer for

SPd.” Id. at 1. Plaintiff avers “Officer Albolino and his partner both arrested me purposely to
harm me or menace me for menacing 2nd and weapon 3rd possession exhibiting police
misconduct toward myself the arrest is felony and from the month of July of year 2025.” Id. at 2
(cleaned up).

2 Citations to Plaintiff’s submissions will refer to the pagination generated by CM/ECF, the
Court’s electronic filing system. Unless otherwise indicated, excerpts from the record are
reproduced exactly as they appear in the original and errors in spelling, punctuation, and
grammar have not been corrected.
3 On April 16, 2026, the matter was reassigned to the undersigned by Text Order for all further
proceedings. Dkt. No. 4.
The amended complaint lists three causes of action: (1) false arrest, (2) false
imprisonment, and (3) “malicious prosecution police misconduct and negligence.” Id. at 3
(cleaned up). With regard to relief, Plaintiff requests “punitive damages of 1 million monetary
damages of 1 million and economic damages bail holding lost of time stuff.” Id. at 4.

IV. LEGAL STANDARD
Section 1915 of Title 28 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); Livingston v. Adirondack Beverage Co., 141 F.3d 434, 437 (2d
Cir. 1998). The Court must also dismiss a complaint, or portion thereof, when the Court lacks
subject matter jurisdiction. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3) (“If the court determines at any time that
it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction, the court must dismiss the action.”).
While the law mandates dismissal on any of these grounds, the Court is obliged to
construe pro se pleadings liberally, Harris v. Mills, 572 F.3d 66, 72 (2d Cir. 2009), and interpret

them to raise the “strongest arguments that they suggest.” Triestman v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons,
470 F.3d 471, 474-75 (2d Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted, emphasis in
original). A claim is frivolous when it “lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact.” Neitzke
v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989), abrogated on other grounds Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly,
550 U.S. 544 (2007); see also Livingston, 141 F.3d at 437 (“[A]n action is ‘frivolous’ when
either: (1) the factual contentions are clearly baseless . . . or (2) the claim is based on an
indisputably meritless legal theory.”).
Additionally, when reviewing a complaint, a court may look to the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure. See, e.g., Cole v. Smrtic, No. 1:24-CV-00847 (MAD/CFH), 2024 WL 4870495, at *2
(N.D.N.Y. Nov. 21, 2024) (explaining, “special solicitude for pro se pleadings has its limits,
because pro se pleadings still must comply with . . . the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure . . . .”)
(internal quotations and citation omitted), report and recommendation adopted, 2025 WL
247901 (N.D.N.Y. Jan. 21, 2025). To survive dismissal for failure to state a claim, a complaint

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). This short and plain statement of the claim must be “plausible on its
face.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570. “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).
In determining whether a complaint states a claim upon which relief may be granted, “the
court must accept the material facts alleged in the complaint as true and construe all reasonable
inferences in the plaintiff’s favor.” Hernandez v. Coughlin, 18 F.3d 133, 136 (2d Cir. 1994)
(citations omitted). However, “the tenet that a court must accept as true all of the allegations
contained in a complaint is inapplicable to legal conclusions.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.

“Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory
statements, do not suffice.” Id.
Moreover, a court should not dismiss a pro se complaint “without granting leave to
amend at least once when a liberal reading of the complaint gives any indication that a valid
claim might be stated.” Gomez v. USAA Fed. Sav. Bank, 171 F.3d 794, 795 (2d Cir. 1999)
(citation and internal quotation marks omitted). However, an opportunity to amend is not
required where “the problem with [the plaintiff’s] causes of action is substantive” such that
“better pleading will not cure it.” Cuoco v. Moritsugu, 222 F.3d 99, 112 (2d Cir. 2000).
V. ANALYSIS
Here, even afforded a liberal construction, Plaintiff’s amended complaint is wholly
conclusory and fails to state a claim. See generally, Dkt. No. 6. Therefore, the undersigned
recommends Plaintiff’s pleadings be dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) for failure

to state a claim.
Plaintiff commenced this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which “establishes a cause
of action for ‘the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution
and laws’ of the United States.” German v. Fed. Home Loan Mortg. Corp., 885 F. Supp. 537,
573 (S.D.N.Y.) (citing Wilder v. Virginia Hosp. Ass’n, 496 U.S. 498, 508 (1990) (quoting 42
U.S.C. § 1983)). To state a valid claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege the challenged
conduct: (1) was attributable to a person acting under color of state law; and (2) deprived the
plaintiff of a right, privilege, or immunity secured by the Constitution or laws of the United
States. Whalen v. Cnty. of Fulton, 126 F.3d 400, 405 (2d Cir. 1997). “Section 1983 itself creates
no substantive rights; it provides only a procedure for redress for the deprivation of rights

established elsewhere.” Sykes v. James, 13 F.3d 515, 519 (2d Cir. 1993) (citing City of
Oklahoma City v. Tuttle, 471 U.S. 808, 816 (1985)).
“The [Second Circuit]’s ‘special solicitude’ for pro se pleadings has its limits, because
pro se pleadings still must comply with . . . the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.” Lewis v. New
York State Bd. of Elections, No. 8:24-CV-00849 (GTS/CFH), 2024 WL 4910561, at *4
(N.D.N.Y. Sept. 30, 2024) (additional quotations and citations omitted), report and
recommendation adopted, 2024 WL 4689022 (N.D.N.Y. Nov. 6, 2024). A complaint that fails to
comply with the Federal Rules’ pleading requirements “presents far too a heavy burden in terms
of defendants’ duty to shape a comprehensive defense and provides no meaningful basis for the
Court to assess the sufficiency of their claims,” and may properly be dismissed by the Court.
Gonzales v. Wing, 167 F.R.D. 352, 355 (N.D.N.Y. 1996); see also, e.g., Gosier v. Collins, No.
6:23-CV-1485 (DNH/TWD), 2024 WL 1016392, at *2 (N.D.N.Y. Mar. 8, 2024), report and
recommendation adopted, 2024 WL 1307035 (N.D.N.Y. Mar. 27, 2024).

Under Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a pleading must contain, inter alia,
“a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief . . . .” Fed.
R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). “The purpose of this Rule is to give fair notice of the claim being asserted so
as to permit the adverse party the opportunity to file a responsive answer, prepare an adequate
defense and determine whether the doctrine of res judicata is applicable.” Flores v. Graphtex,
189 F.R.D. 54, 55 (N.D.N.Y. 1999) (internal quotations and citations omitted). Additionally,
Rule 10(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides “[a] party must state its claims or
defenses in numbered paragraphs, each limited as far as practicable to a single set of
circumstances . . . . If doing so would promote clarity, each claim founded on a separate
transaction or occurrence—and each defense other than a denial—must be stated in a separate

count or defense.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(b). This rule serves “to provide an easy mode of
identification for referring to a particular paragraph in a prior pleading[.]” Flores, 189 F.R.D. at
55 (internal quotations and citation omitted).
A claim for false arrest or false imprisonment “rest[s] on the Fourth Amendment right of
an individual to be free from unreasonable seizures, including arrest without probable cause . . .
.” Weyant v. Okst, 101 F.3d 845, 852 (2d Cir. 1996) (citing Lennon v. Miller, 66 F.3d 416, 423
(2d Cir. 1995)); see also, e.g., Kirby v. Abraham, No. 5:24-CV-0522 (BKS/TWD), 2024 WL
4906112, at *4 (N.D.N.Y. Oct. 25, 2024), report and recommendation adopted, 2024 WL
4905131 (N.D.N.Y. Nov. 27, 2024). “Such claims are one and the same because ‘[f]alse arrest
and false imprisonment overlap; the former is a species of the latter.’” Kirby, 2024 WL
4906112, at *4 (quoting Wallace v. Kato, 549 U.S. 384, 388 (2007)) (additional citation
omitted). “A section 1983 claim for false arrest is substantially the same as a claim for false
arrest under New York law.” Jenkins v. City of New York, 478 F.3d 76, 84 (2d Cir. 2007) (citing

Weyant, 101 F.3d at 852). Accordingly, to state a claim for false arrest and imprisonment, “a
plaintiff 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.” Savino v. City of New York, 331 F.3d 63, 75 (2d Cir.
2003) (citing Bernard v. United States, 25 F.3d 98, 102 (2d Cir. 1994)). “An arrest is privileged
if it is based on probable cause.” Kirby, 2024 WL 4906112, at *5 (citing Jenkins, 478 F.3d at
84).
“In order to prevail on a § 1983 claim against a state actor for malicious prosecution, a
plaintiff must show a violation of his rights under the Fourth Amendment . . . and must establish
the elements of a malicious prosecution claim under state law.” Manganiello v. City of New

York, 612 F.3d 149, 160-61 (2d Cir. 2010) (citations omitted). “To establish a malicious
prosecution claim under New York law, a plaintiff must prove ‘(1) the initiation or continuation
of a criminal proceeding against plaintiff; (2) termination of the proceeding in plaintiff’s favor;
(3) lack of probable cause for commencing the proceeding; and (4) actual malice as a motivation
for defendant’s actions.’” Id. at 161 (quoting Murphy v. Lynn, 118 F.3d 938, 947 (2d Cir.
1997)).
Here, Plaintiff’s claims of false arrest, false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution are
wholly conclusory. See generally, Dkt. No. 6. The amended complaint contains no allegations
suggesting the Defendant lacked probable cause to arrest him. See Dkt. No. 6 at 2; see also, e.g.,
Kirby, 2024 WL 4906112, at *5 (recommending dismissal where the plaintiff “alleges in wholly
conclusory fashion he was subject to a false arrest and false imprisonment. He alleges no facts
related to his arrest suggesting there was no probable cause for his arrest.”). Additionally, the
amended complaint contains no allegations of any continuation of a criminal proceeding against

the Plaintiff beyond his arrest or the termination of such proceedings in Plaintiff’s favor. See
Dkt. No. 6 at 2.
Moreover, the amended complaint entirely fails to specify where the events underlying
Plaintiff’s claims occurred.4 Accordingly, Plaintiff’s amended complaint should be dismissed
for failure to state a claim. However, in deference to Plaintiff’s pro se status, the undersigned
recommends the action be dismissed without prejudice to allow Plaintiff the opportunity to cure
these defects.
The Court advises Plaintiff that should he be permitted to amend his complaint, any
amended pleading he submits to this Court must comply with Rules 8 and 10 of the Federal

4 Furthermore, the undersigned notes Plaintiff’s claims may be barred by Heck v. Humphrey. See
Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 486-87 (1994) (holding, “in order to recover damages for
allegedly unconstitutional conviction or imprisonment, or for other harm caused by actions
whose unlawfulness would render a conviction or sentence invalid, a § 1983 plaintiff must prove
that the conviction or sentence has been reversed on direct appeal, expunged by executive order,
declared invalid by a state tribunal authorized to make such determination, or called into
question by a federal court’s issuance of a writ of habeas corpus, 28 U.S.C. § 2254. A claim for
damages bearing that relationship to a conviction or sentence that has not been so invalidated is
not cognizable under § 1983.”). “Courts have held that a plaintiff ‘cannot pursue a civil rights
claim based on false arrest and malicious prosecution while criminal charges are still pending
against him in State Court.’” Mitchell v. Kindlon, No. 9:25-CV-0602 (MAD/TWD), 2025 WL
1951849, at *5 (N.D.N.Y. July 16, 2025) (quoting Singleton v. State of N.Y., 1998 WL 438530,
at *2 (S.D.N.Y. July 31, 1998)), reconsideration denied sub nom., Mitchell v. Blain-Lewis, 2025
WL 3136383 (N.D.N.Y. Nov. 10, 2025); see also, e.g., Hardie v. City of Albany, No. 1:18-CV-
0470 (GLS/CFH), 2018 WL 4026736, at *5 (N.D.N.Y. Aug. 22, 2018) (“If there are charges that
are pending or if plaintiff pleaded guilty to the charges/has been convicted of the charges, the
potential claims for false arrest and false imprisonment may be barred by Heck v. Humphrey.”),
report and recommendation adopted, 2018 WL 4288614 (N.D.N.Y. Sept. 7, 2018).
Rules of Civil Procedure. Any such amended pleading should specifically identify the legal
theory or theories that form the basis for his claim. Plaintiff is cautioned that no portion of his
prior complaints shall be incorporated into any amended pleading by reference. Any amended
complaint submitted by Plaintiff must set forth all of the claims he intends to assert against the

Defendant and must demonstrate that a case or controversy exists between the Plaintiff and the
Defendant which Plaintiff has a legal right to pursue and over which this Court has jurisdiction.
Of course, Plaintiff may also pursue his claims in state court if appropriate.
VI. CONCLUSION
WHEREFORE, it is hereby
ORDERED that Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis (Dkt. No. 2) is
GRANTED, and it is
RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff’s complaint (Dkt. No. 1) and amended complaint (Dkt.
No. 6) be DISMISSED without prejudice; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk provide to Plaintiff a copy of this Report-Recommendation

and Order, along with copies of the unpublished decisions cited herein in accordance with the
Second Circuit decision in Lebron v. Sanders, 557 F.3d 76 (2d Cir. 2009) (per curiam).5
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), the parties have fourteen (14) days within which to
file written objections to the foregoing report.6 Such objections shall be filed with the Clerk of

5 Many of the unpublished decisions cited herein have been provided to Plaintiff with the Report-
Recommendation and Order issued in DeRocha v. Syracuse Police Department et al, No. 5:26-
CV-00696 (BKS-CBF). Thus, additional copies of those same cases will not be provided here.
6 If you are proceeding pro se and are served with this Report-Recommendation and Order by
mail, three additional days will be added to the fourteen-day period, meaning that you have
seventeen days from the date the Report-Recommendation and Order was mailed to you to serve
and file objections. Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(d). If the last day of that prescribed period falls on a
Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then the deadline is extended until the end of the next day
that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a)(1)(C).
the Court. FAILURE TO OBJECT TO THIS REPORT WITHIN FOURTEEN (14) DAYS
WILL PRECLUDE APPELLATE REVIEW. Roldan vy. Racette, 984 F.2d 85 (2d Cir. 1993)
(citing Small v. Sec’y of Health and Human Servs., 892 F.2d 15 (2d Cir. 1989)); 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: July 17, 2026
Syracuse, New York ZB. AM We,
Carla B. Freedman
U.S. Magistrate Judge

10

2024 WL 4906112
Only the Westlaw citation is currently available.
United States District Court, N.D. New York.
David L. KIRBY, III, Plaintiff,
v.
Mamoun ABRAHAM,1 Defendant.
1 For reasons discussed below, the Clerk is directed to update the docket to substitute “Mamoun Abraham” for Defendant
John Doe.
5:24-cv-0522 (BKS/TWD)
|
Signed October 25, 2024
Attorneys and Law Firms
DAVID L. KIRBY, III, Plaintiff, pro se, 05002304, Onondaga County Justice Center, 555 South State Street, Syracuse, NY
13202.
REPORT-RECOMMENDATION AND ORDER
THÉRÈSE WILEY DANCKS, United States Magistrate Judge
I. INTRODUCTION
*1 On April 15, 2024, pro se Plaintiff David L. Kirby, III, commenced this action by filing a complaint naming the Syracuse
Police Department as the sole defendant. Dkt. No. 1. Plaintiff did not pay the Court's filing fee or file a motion to proceed in
forma pauperis (“IFP”), and the Court administratively closed the case. Dkt. No. 2. Plaintiff subsequently submitted a complete
application to proceed IFP, and the case was reopened. Dkt. Nos. 3, 4, 5. On June 14, 2024, the undersigned granted Plaintiff's
EFP application and performed an initial review of the complaint. Dkt. No. 6. On June 24, 2024, Plaintiff filed an amended
complaint. Dkt. No. 7. In light of Plaintiff's amended complaint, the Court terminated the pending Report-Recommendation,
and referred the action back to the undersigned for an initial review of the amended complaint.2 Dkt. No. 9.
2 The Court will also consider the two letters, Dkt. Nos. 10 and 11, filed by Plaintiff. See Dkt. No. 12.
II. SUFFICIENCY OF THE AMENDED COMPLAINT
Because Plaintiff is proceeding IFP and is a prisoner suing one or more government employees, his amended complaint must
be reviewed in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b).3
3
See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(c) (“As used in this section, the term ‘prisoner’ means any person incarcerated or detained in
any facility who is accused of, convicted of, sentenced for, or adjudicated delinquent for, violations of criminal law or
the terms and conditions of parole, probation, pretrial release, or diversionary program.”). Prisoners are not exempt from
paying the full filing fee even when they have been granted permission to proceed IFP. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1); see
also Cash v. Bernstein, No. 09-CV-1922, 2010 WL 5185047, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 26, 2010) (“Although an indigent,
incarcerated individual need not prepay the filing fee at the time of filing, he must subsequently pay the fee, to the extent
v. City of New York, 607 F.3d 18, 21 (2d Cir. 2010)).
A. Relevant Legal Standard
The Court shall dismiss a complaint in a civil action if it is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim on 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);
28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b).
A claim is frivolous when it “lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact.” Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989),
abrogated on other grounds by Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007); see also Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 33
(1992) (holding that “a finding of factual frivolousness is appropriate when the facts alleged rise to the level of the irrational or the
wholly incredible”); Livingston v. Adirondack Beverage Co., 141 F.3d 434, 437 (2d Cir. 1998) (“[A]n action is ‘frivolous’ when
either: (1) the factual contentions are clearly baseless ... or (2) the claim is based on an indisputably meritless legal theory.”).
*2 To survive dismissal for failure to state a claim, a complaint 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). This short and plain statement of the claim must be “plausible on
its face.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570. “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). The statement of the claim must do more than present “an unadorned, the-defendant-harmed-me accusation.” Id.
It must “give the defendant fair notice of what the claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555
(internal punctuation and citations omitted); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2).
In determining whether a complaint states a claim upon which relief may be granted, “the court must accept the material facts
alleged in the complaint as true and construe all reasonable inferences in the plaintiff's favor.” Hernandez v. Coughlin, 18 F.3d
133, 136 (2d Cir. 1994). “[T]he tenet that a court must accept as true all of the allegations contained in a complaint is inapplicable
to legal conclusions.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. “Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere
conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Id.
In reviewing a pro se complaint, the court has a duty to show liberality toward pro se litigants, see Nance v. Kelly, 912 F.2d 605,
606 (2d Cir. 1990) (per curiam), and should exercise “extreme caution ... in ordering sua sponte dismissal of a pro se complaint
before the adverse party has been served and both parties (but particularly the plaintiff) have had an opportunity to respond.”
Anderson v. Coughlin, 700 F.2d 37, 41 (2d Cir. 1983) (internal citations omitted).
Generally, before the Court dismisses a pro se complaint or any part of the complaint sua sponte, the Court should afford the
plaintiff the opportunity to amend at least once; however, leave to re-plead may be denied where any amendment would be
futile. Ruffolo v. Oppenheimer & Co., 987 F.2d 129, 131 (2d Cir. 1993).
B. Summary of the Amended Complaint4
4 Plaintiff utilized the Court's form complaint for civil rights actions under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Citations to Plaintiff's
amended complaint will be to the pagination generated by CM/ECF, the Court's electronic filing system. Unless
otherwise indicated, excerpts from the record are reproduced exactly as they appear in the original and errors in spelling,
punctuation, and grammar have not been corrected.
Plaintiff brings this action against Defendant John Doe, a Syracuse Police Officer. Dkt. No. 7. In the “Statement of Facts”
section, Plaintiff states, in full:
John Doe hit me with his police car while he was off-duty working as an security guard. The results of
me getting hit by car my neck, arm on right side and upper body collarbone was hurting very bad. I had
to walk to court holding my arm in my left hand after being deny an arm slang by Justice Center medical
staff. Also after that I was placed in handcuffs. Also John Doe illegally searched me which is violating
my rights 4th Amendment he searched me after hitting me with car and placing me in handcuffs. Then
I was sent to hospital. And that is false arrest and false imprisonment.
Id. at 4. Plaintiff lists his first claim as “excessive force” and his second claim as “unconstitutional conditions of confinement.”
Id. at 5. Plaintiff seeks monetary damages. Id.
On July 2, 2024, Plaintiff filed a letter stating, “Officer Mamoun Abraham was the officer that struck me with deadly force using
his car off-duty knowing that he was not supposed to do that.” Dkt. No. 10. On August 14, 2024, Plaintiff filed another letter,
stating, in part, “Brandon Hanks used excessive force, violated my 4th Amendment right by his unreasonable search which led
to false arrest and false imprisonment because my rights were violated and no probable cause to arrest me.”5 Dkt. No. 11.
5 At the top of the letter, Plaintiff lists three civil action numbers: 5:21-cv-886, 5:24-cv-124, and 5:24-cv-522. Dkt. No.
11. Thus, the letter was filed in all three of Plaintiff's cases. The Clerk's Office and the Court should not be tasked
with determining which case Plaintiff's filing should be filed in. In this District, if a litigant has more than one action
pending, any paper filed in a case must contain and relate to one civil action number unless the civil actions have been
consolidated by the Court. Any motion or other papers purporting to relate to more than one action will not be accepted
for filing and may be stricken by the Court. N.D.N.Y. L.R. 10.1(c)(1). On August 15, 2024, Plaintiff was advised by Text
Order in Kirby v. Hanks, 5:24-cv-0124 (MAD/ML), proper case identification is required for all filings, which should
include a case number, case name, and what relief Plaintiff is seeking.
III. ANALYSIS
*3 Plaintiff brings this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (“Section 1983”), which establishes a cause of action for “ ‘the
deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws’ of the United States.” German v.
Fed. Home Loan Mortg. Corp., 885 F. Supp. 537, 573 (S.D.N.Y. 1995) (citing Wilder v. Virginia Hosp. Ass'n, 496 U.S. 498,
508 (1990) (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 1983)) (footnote omitted). “Section 1983 itself creates no substantive rights, [but] ... only
a procedure for redress for the deprivation of rights established elsewhere.” Sykes v. James, 13 F.3d 515, 519 (2d Cir. 1993)
(citation omitted).
To state a valid claim under Section 1983, a plaintiff must allege that the challenged conduct: (1) was attributable to a person
acting under color of state law; and (2) deprived the plaintiff of a right, privilege, or immunity secured by the Constitution or
laws of the United States. Whalen v. Cnty. of Fulton, 126 F.3d 400, 405 (2d Cir. 1997).
A. Defendant John Doe
The Court has reviewed Dkt. No. 10, wherein Plaintiff has identified the Doe defendant by name. Therefore, the Court construes
Dkt. No. 10 as a request to substitute the name of “Mamoun Abraham” for John Doe, which is granted. While piecemeal
pleadings are generally not accepted by the Court, an exception will be made since the letter was filed while the amended
complaint was still under initial review. The amended complaint will be deemed to name Mamoun Abraham in place of John
Doe and the Court will conduct its initial review accordingly.6
action numbers, the submission does not include a caption and, based upon the allegations in the letter, it is not clear
which action Plaintiff intended this letter to supplement, the Court does not construe Dkt. No. 11 as a request to amend
the amended complaint. Moving forward, Plaintiff is advised he may not attempt to amend his pleadings in a piecemeal
manner. See L.R. 15.1.
B. Color of State Law
By its terms, Section 1983 applies only where the defendant acts “under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or
usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia.” 42 U.S.C. § 1983; Kern v. City of Rochester, 93 F.3d 38, 43 (2d
Cir. 1996) (“[A] plaintiff must allege a violation of rights secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States, and that such
violation was committed by a person acting under the color of state law.”). A “defendant in a § 1983 suit acts under color of
state law when he abuses the position given to him by the State.” West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 49-50 (1988). By contrast, “acts
of officers in the ambit of their personal pursuits are plainly excluded.” United States v. Giordano, 442 F.3d 30, 42-43 (2d Cir.
2006) (quoting Screws v. United States, 325 U.S. 91, 111 (1945) (plurality opinion)).
“[T]here is no bright line test for distinguishing ‘personal pursuits’ from activities taken under color of law.” Pitchell v. Callan,
13 F.3d 545, 548 (2d Cir. 1994). A defendant acts under color of state law for the purposes of Section 1983 when he exercises
a power “possessed by virtue of state law and made possible only because the wrongdoer is cloaked with the authority of state
law.” Colombo v. O'Connell, 310 F.3d 115, 117-18 (2d Cir. 2002) (citation omitted). The “focus” of the color of law inquiry is
on “whether there was an abuse or misuse of a power conferred upon [the state employee] by state authority,” and “look[s] to
the nature of the officer's act, not simply his duty status.” Pitchell, 13 F.3d at 548-49.
*4 Courts therefore “look at a variety of factors, including, inter alia, whether the officer: (1) was off-duty; (2) identified
himself as an officer of the law; (3) was in uniform; (4) was authorized to make an arrest at the time; (5) was carrying handcuffs;
(6) was carrying any weapons; (7) flashed a police badge; and (8) placed the plaintiff under arrest or otherwise detained her.”
Cotz v. Mastroeni, 476 F. Supp. 2d 332, 372 (S.D.N.Y. 2007). An individual engaging in conduct as a private actor can still be
liable under Section 1983, but only if he “is a willful participant in joint action with the State or its agents.” Dennis v. Sparks,
449 U.S. 24, 27-28 (1980). “Conclusory allegations that [the] private individual conspired or took concerted action with state
actors will not suffice” to establish this element. Lienau v. Garcia, No. 12-CV-6572, 2013 WL 6697834, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Dec.
19, 2013) (citation and internal punctuation omitted).
Mindful of the Second Circuit's instruction that a pro se plaintiff's pleadings must be liberally construed, see, e.g., Sealed
Plaintiff v. Sealed Defendant, 537 F.3d 185, 191 (2d Cir. 2008), the Court assumes for purposes of initial review that defendant
Abraham was acting under color of state law.
C. Excessive Force
As noted above, Plaintiff lists excessive force as his first claim. Dkt. No. 7 at 5. “ ‘[A]ll claims that law enforcement officers
have used excessive force ... in the course of an arrest, investigatory stop, or other seizure of a free citizen should be analyzed
under the Fourth Amendment and its reasonableness standard.’ ” Ketcham v. City of Mount Vernon, 992 F.3d 144, 148-49 (2d
Cir. 2021) (quoting Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 395 (1989) (emphasis and internal quotation marks omitted)). Examining
the reasonableness of the force used “requires careful attention to the facts and circumstances of each particular case, including
[1] the severity of the crime at issue, [2] whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officers or others,
and [3] whether [the suspect] is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight.” Id. (quoting Graham, 490
U.S. at 396). An officer may not constitutionally employ “a degree of force beyond that which is warranted by the objective
circumstances of an arrest.” Cugini v. City of New York, 941 F.3d 604, 612 (2d Cir. 2019). Additionally, “[w]hile handcuffs must
be reasonably tight to be effective, overly tight handcuffing may constitute excessive force.” Lynch ex rel. Lynch v. City of Mt.
Vernon, 567 F. Supp. 2d 459, 468 (S.D.N.Y. 2008).
623 F.3d 90, 99 n.5 (2d Cir. 2010). But “ ‘[n]ot every push or shove’ amounts to a Fourth Amendment violation. Indeed, a ‘de
minimis use of force will rarely suffice to state a Constitutional claim.’ ” Acosta v. City of New York, No. 11 Civ. 856, 2012 WL
1506954, at *10 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 26, 2012) (citing Romano v. Howarth, 998 F.2d 101, 105 (2d Cir. 2005)).
Here, Plaintiff's explanation of the alleged incident with defendant Abraham is conclusory and vague. He has not listed a date
on which he was “struck” by the police vehicle and has not described any facts surrounding the alleged incident. Thus, Plaintiff
has not provided “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that he is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2).
Accordingly, the Court recommends dismissal of the excessive force claim without prejudice for failure to state a claim upon
which relief may be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915(A).
D. False Arrest and False Imprisonment
Liberally construed, Plaintiff alleges he was subjected to “false arrest and false imprisonment.” Dkt. No. 7 at 4. A claim for false
arrest or false imprisonment “rest[s] on the Fourth Amendment right of an individual to be free from unreasonable seizures,
including arrest without probable cause ....” Weyant v. Okst, 101 F.3d 845, 852 (2d Cir. 1996) (citing Lennon v. Miller, 66 F.3d
416, 423 (2d Cir. 1995)). Such claims are one and the same because “[f]alse arrest and false imprisonment overlap; the former
is a species of the latter.” Wallace v. Kato, 549 U.S. 384, 388 (2007); see also Jenkins v. City of New York, 478 F.3d 76, 88 n. 10
(2d Cir. 2007) (“False arrest is simply false imprisonment accomplished by means of an unlawful arrest.”) (citation omitted).
*5 “A section 1983 claim for false arrest is substantially the same as a claim for false arrest under New York law.” Jenkins,
478 F.3d at 84 (citing Weyant, 101 F.3d at 852). Accordingly, to state a claim for false arrest and imprisonment, “a plaintiff
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.” Savino v. City of New York,
331 F.3d 63, 75 (2d Cir. 2003) (citing Bernard v. United States, 25 F.3d 98, 102 (2d Cir. 1994)) (internal punctuation omitted).
An arrest is privileged if it is based on probable cause. 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.”) (internal punctuation and citations omitted).
“In general, 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.” Weyant, 101 F.3d at 852.
Here, Plaintiff alleges in wholly conclusory fashion he was subject to a false arrest and false imprisonment. He alleges no facts
related to his arrest suggesting there was no probable cause for his arrest. Further, to the extent that Plaintiff may be claiming
that the alleged unlawful search led to his arrest and, thus, the arrest was unlawful, said claim does not set forth a cognizable
false arrest claim because the “fruit of poisonous tree” doctrine applied in criminal cases to exclude evidence derived from
an unlawful act—e.g., an unlawful search or seizure—does not apply to § 1983 actions. See Tinsdale v. Hartley, 442 F. Supp.
3d 569, 573 (W.D.N.Y. 2020) (citing, inter alia, DiMascio v. City of Albany, 205 F.3d 1322 (Table), No. 99-7653, 2000 WL
232053, at *1 (2d Cir. 2000) (“We have held ... that the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine is inapplicable to civil § 1983
actions.” (internal punctuation omitted))).
Therefore, the Court recommends dismissal of Plaintiff's false arrest or false imprisonment claim without prejudice for failure
to state a claim upon which relief may be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915(A).
E. Illegal Search
Plaintiff also alleges he was searched “illegally” by defendant Abraham. Dkt. No. 7 at 4. The Fourth Amendment protects
individuals “against unreasonable searches and seizures.” U.S. Const. amend. IV. “A warrantless search is ‘per se unreasonable ...
subject to only a few specifically established and well-delineated exceptions.’ ” United States v. Elliott, 50 F.3d 180, 185 (2d
Nevertheless, there are limitations upon the scope of an appropriate search incident to an arrest. See Vernonia Sch. Dist. 47J
v. Acton, 515 U.S. 646, 652 (1995). Indeed, whether a search incident to an arrest was lawful turns upon whether such search
was reasonable. Id. The permissibility of a search “is judged by balancing its intrusion on the individual's Fourth Amendment
interests against its promotion of legitimate governmental interests.” Skinner v. Ry. Labor Executives’ Ass'n, 489 U.S. 602, 619
(1989).
Here, the Court finds Plaintiff's allegations regarding the alleged illegal search are entirely conclusory and insufficient to plead a
plausible cause of action. Plaintiff merely alleges that defendant Abraham “searched me which is violating my rights,” Dkt. No.
7 at 4, “but fails to support this assertion with any supporting factual allegations.” Lautman v. Vill. of Saugerties, N.Y., No. 1:13-
CV-00264 (MAD), 2014 WL 1653189, at *6 (N.D.N.Y. Apr. 23, 2014) (citing First Nationwide Bank v. Gelt Funding Corp.,
27 F.3d 763, 771 (2d Cir. 1994)); see also Cannon v. Wood, No. 9:10-cv-1332 (GTS/RFT), 2011 WL 7071100, *7 (N.D.N.Y.
Aug. 12, 2011) (dismissing the plaintiff's illegal search claim where the plaintiff merely “states in a conclusory fashion that he
was subjected to an illegal search” and the complaint was “devoid of any factual allegations to support this claim”).
*6 Accordingly, the Court recommends dismissal of Plaintiff's illegal search claim without prejudice for failure to state a claim
upon which relief may be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915(A).
F. Conditions of Confinement
Plaintiff lists “unconstitutional conditions of confinement” as his second claim. Dkt. No. 7 at 5. Even when liberally construed,
it is entirely unclear to the Court what “conditions” Plaintiff claims are “unconstitutional” or who was personally involved in
the constitutional violation or when and where the alleged deprivation occurred. Accordingly, the Court recommends dismissal
of Plaintiff's condition of confinement claim without prejudice for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915(A).
G. Rule 10
Plaintiff refers to the “Justice Center medical staff” in the body of the amended complaint. See Dkt. No. 7 at 4. Rule 10(a) of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that, “the title of the complaint must name all the parties.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(a). A
party not named in the caption of the complaint is not a party to the action. Abbas v. U.S., No. 10-CV-0141, 2014 WL 3858398,
at *2 (W.D.N.Y. Aug. 1, 2014) (holding that the failure to name the individual defendants against whom the plaintiff intends
to assert claims makes it “infeasible for the Court to determine which of the individual officers mentioned in the body of the
complaint should be deemed to be defendants to which claims”).
Accordingly, the Court does not construe any claims in the amended complaint to be asserted against the Justice Center medical
staff. See Whitley v. Krinser, No. 06-CV-0575, 2007 WL 2375814, at *1 (W.D.N.Y. Aug. 15, 2007) (“If people are not also
named in the caption of the [ ] complaint, they will not be defendants in the case.”).
Even if the amended complaint was liberally construed to assert a Fourteenth Amendment medical indifference claim against the
Justice Center medical staff, the claim would fail for two reasons. First, “[p]leadings that do not differentiate which defendant
was involved in the unlawful conduct are insufficient to state a claim.” Ying Li v. City of New York, No. 15-CV-1599, 2017
WL 1208422, at *6 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2017); see also Wright v. Orleans Cnty., No. 14-CV-0622, 2015 WL 5316410, at *13
(W.D.N.Y. Sept. 10, 2015) (noting in a Section 1983 case that “[g]roup pleading is insufficient for purposes of Rule 8(a)(2) which
requires a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief (citation and internal punctuation
omitted)); Holmes v. Allstate Corp., No. 11-CV-1543, 2012 WL 627238, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 27, 2012) (“Rule 8(a) is violated
where a plaintiff, by engaging in ‘group pleading,’ fails to give each defendant fair notice of the claims against it.”); see, e.g.,
Little v. Mun. Corp., 51 F. Supp. 3d 473, 493-94 (S.D.N.Y. 2014) (dismissing without prejudice excessive force claim asserted
against “members of the ‘Special Search Team’ and ‘ESU Officers’ ” and noting that, “[t]o the extent that [plaintiff] does not
he choose to do so).
*7 Second, to state a Fourteenth Amendment medical indifference claim, a detainee “must meet two requirements: (1) that
Plaintiff[ ] had a serious medical need ..., and (2) that the Defendants acted with deliberate indifference to such needs.” Charles
v. Orange Cnty., 925 F.3d 73, 86 (2d Cir. 2019) (citing Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 105 (1976); and Darnell v. Pineiro, 849
F.3d 17, 29 (2d Cir. 2017)). A detainee's medical need is “sufficiently serious” where it “contemplates a condition of urgency
such as one that may produce death, degeneration, or extreme pain.” Charles, 925 F.3d at 86 (citing Hathaway v. Coughlin,
99 F.3d 550, 553 (2d Cir. 1996)). To satisfy the deliberate indifference requirement, a pretrial detainee “can allege either that
the defendants knew that failing to provide the complained of medical treatment would pose a substantial risk to his health or
that the defendants should have known that failing to provide the omitted medical treatment would pose a substantial risk to
the detainee's health.” Id. at 87 (emphasis in original).
Here, even if Plaintiff had alleged a defendant's personal involvement, Plaintiff's sparse allegations do not satisfy either prong of
a plausible deliberate indifference to medical needs claim. Plaintiff's conclusory allegation that “I had to walk to court holding
my arm in my left hand after being deny an arm slang by Justice Center medical staff is insufficient given that the Second
Circuit has made clear that “mere disagreement over the proper treatment does not create a constitutional claim.” Chance, 143
F.3d at 703. “Nor does the fact that an inmate might prefer an alternative treatment, or feels that he did not get the level of
medical attention he preferred.” Sonds v. St. Barnabas Hosp. Corr. Health Servs., 151 F. Supp. 2d 303, 311 (S.D.N.Y. 2001)
(citing Dean v. Coughlin, 804 F.2d 207, 215 (2d Cir. 1986)).
Thus, dismissal without prejudice would also be warranted for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915(A).
IV. CONCLUSION
For these reasons, the Court recommends Plaintiff's amended complaint be dismissed in its entirely for failure to state a claim
upon which relief may be granted. In recognition of his pro se status, the Court also recommends Plaintiff be granted leave to
file a second amended complaint to cure the deficiencies identified above.7 See Ruffolo, 987 F.2d at 131.
7 If the District Court adopts this Report-Recommendation, the second amended complaint must comply with Rules 8
and 10 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Any second amended complaint should contain all factual allegations
relevant to Plaintiff's claims, including, when possible, the dates, times, and places of the alleged underlying acts, as
well as each individual who committed each alleged wrongful act, and the paragraphs should be correctly numbered.
Any second amended complaint should allege facts demonstrating the personal involvement of any named defendant.
See Wright v. Smith, 21 F.3d 496, 501 (2d Cir. 1994). Any second amended complaint will replace the existing amended
complaint and must be a wholly integrated and complete pleading that does not rely upon or incorporate by reference
any pleading or document previously filed with the Court. See Jeanty v. Sciortino, No. 6:22-CV-319 (BKS/TWD), 2023
WL 2931863, *14 (N.D.N.Y. Apr. 13, 2023).
WHEREFORE, it is hereby
ORDERED that the Clerk provide the Superintendent of the facility, designated by Plaintiff as his current location, with a
copy of Plaintiff's inmate authorization (Dkt. No. 4), and notify the official that this action has been filed and that Plaintiff is
required to pay the Northern District of New York the statutory filing fee of $350.00 in installments, over time, pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 1915;8 and it is further
8 Plaintiff will also be required to pay fees he may incur in this action, including copying and/or witness fees.
Clerk's Office; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk update the docket to substitute Mamoun Abraham for John Doe; and it is further
RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff's amended complaint (Dkt. No. 7) be DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915(A) for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; and it is further
RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff be granted leave to file a second amended complaint that cures the deficiencies identified in
this Report-Recommendation; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk provide Plaintiff a copy of this Report-Recommendation and Order, along with copies of the
unpublished decisions cited herein in accordance with the Second Circuit decision in Lebron v. Sanders, 557 F.3d 76 (2d Cir.
2009) (per curiam).
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), Plaintiff has fourteen (14) days within which to file written objections to the foregoing
report.9 Such objections shall be filed with the Clerk of the Court. FAILURE TO OBJECT TO THIS REPORT WITHIN
FOURTEEN (14) DAYS WILL PRECLUDE APPELLATE REVIEW. Roldan v. Racette, 984 F.2d 85 (2d Cir. 1993) (citing
Small v. Sec'y of Health and Human Servs., 892 F.2d 15 (2d Cir. 1989)); 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72.
9
If you are proceeding pro se and are served with this Report-Recommendation and Order by mail, three additional
days will be added to the fourteen-day period, meaning that you have seventeen days from the date the Report-
Recommendation and Order was mailed to you to serve and file objections. Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(d). If the last day of that
prescribed period falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then the deadline is extended until the end of the next
day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a)(1)(C).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
All Citations
Not Reported in Fed. Supp., 2024 WL 4906112
End of Document © 2026 Thomson Reuters. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.
2024 WL 4905131
Only the Westlaw citation is currently available.
United States District Court, N.D. New York.
David L. KIRBY, III, Plaintiff,
v.
Mamoun ABRAHAM, Defendant.
5:24-cv-522 (BKS/TWD)
|
Signed November 27, 2024
Attorneys and Law Firms
Plaintiff pro se: David L. Kirby, III, 05002304, Onondaga County Justice Center, 555 South State Street, Syracuse, NY 13202.
MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER
Brenda K. Sannes, Chief United States District Judge:
*1 Plaintiff David L. Kirby, III brought this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Syracuse Police Department and sought
leave to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”). (Dkt. Nos. 1, 3). This matter was referred to United States Magistrate Judge Therese
Wiley Dancks who, on June 14, 2024, granted Plaintiff's application to proceed IFP and issued a Report-Recommendation,
recommending that Plaintiff's complaint be dismissed with prejudice and without leave to amend as to the Syracuse Police
Department, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915(A), but with leave to file an amended complaint. (Dkt.
No. 6). Plaintiff did not file objections to the Report-Recommendation, but instead filed an amended complaint. (Dkt. No. 7).
On June 26, 2024, this Court issued a text order terminating the recommendations in the Report-Recommendation as moot and
recommitting the matter to Magistrate Judge Dancks for an initial review of the amended complaint. (Dkt. No. 9). On October
25, 2024, Magistrate Judge Dancks issued a Report-Recommendation recommending that Plaintiff's amended complaint be
dismissed without prejudice pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915(A) for failure to state a claim upon
which relief may be granted, and that Plaintiff be granted leave to file a second amended complaint. (Dkt. No. 15). Magistrate
Judge Dancks informed Plaintiff that he had fourteen days within which to file written objections to the Report under 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b)(1), and that the failure to object to the Report within fourteen days would preclude appellate review. (Id. at 16). No
objections to the Report-Recommendation have been filed.
As no objections to the Report-Recommendation have been filed, and the time for filing objections has expired, the Court
reviews the Report-Recommendation for clear error. See Petersen v. Astrue, 2 F. Supp. 3d 223, 228–29 (N.D.N.Y. 2012); Fed.
R. Civ. P. 72(b) advisory committee's note to 1983 amendment. Having reviewed the Report-Recommendation for clear error
and found none, the Court adopts the Report-Recommendation in its entirety.
For these reasons, it is hereby
ORDERED that the Report-Recommendation (Dkt. No. 15) is ADOPTED; and it is further
ORDERED that the amended complaint (Dkt. No. 7) is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND WITH LEAVE TO
AMEND; and it is further
amended complaint must be a complete pleading which will replace the current complaint in total and must comply with the
directions in the Report-Recommendation (Dkt. No. 15, at 14–15, n. 7); and it is further
ORDERED that if Plaintiff files a timely second amended complaint, it shall be referred to Magistrate Judge Dancks for review;
and it is further
ORDERED that if Plaintiff fails to file a timely second amended complaint, the Clerk shall close this case without further
order; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk serve a copy of this Order on Plaintiff in accordance with the Local Rules.
*2 IT IS SO ORDERED.
All Citations
Not Reported in Fed. Supp., 2024 WL 4905131
End of Document © 2026 Thomson Reuters. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/11407257. Public record. Not legal advice.