Boyd v. Guthrie

• Court: District Court, S.D. New York
• Decided: February 15, 2024
• Docket: 7:22-cv-08549
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

‘USDC SDNY DOCUMENT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT ELECTRONICALLY FILED SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK | DOC #: _.. □ nnn nnn nn nn nnn nnn nnn nnn nn nnn nnn nn nnn nnn nnn nn nn nnn nnn nnn XK DATE FILED: _ 2/1 sma □ tt Nyjee Boyd, 7:22-CV-8549-NSR-VR Plaintiff, AMENDED -against- ORDER OF SERVICE Correction officer Charles Guthrie, et al., Defendants.

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VICTORIA REZNIK, United States Magistrate Judge: Plaintiff Nyjee Boyd, currently incarcerated in the Auburn Correctional Facility,' brings this pro se action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, seeking damages. (See ECF No. 2). His claims arise from events that allegedly occurred in the Sing Sing Correctional Facility while he was incarcerated there. (See id. at 26). Plaintiff's initial Complaint, filed in October 2022, raised claims against: (1) Correctional Officer Charles Guthrie; (2) Correctional Officer Asantewa K. Tulloch; (3) Correctional Sergeant Jose Candelario; (4) Correctional Officer Alexander; (5) Sing Sing Nurse Elizabeth Pemisi; (6) Sing Sing Disciplinary Hearing Officer “SORC [Marcia N.] Regisford”; (7) Sing Sing Superintendent Michael Capra; (8) Sing Sing Deputy Superintendent Elaine Velez; (9) Correctional Officer Vito G. Marsico; (10) Correctional Officer Rondy D. London; (11) Correctional Sergeant Martinez; (12) Correctional Officer Gonzalez; (13) Correctional Sergeant Gonzalez; (14) Correctional Officer Leon K. Lowe; and

' See Incarcerated Lookup, DEP’T OF CoRR. & CMTY. SUPERVISION, https://nysdoccslookup.doccs.ny.gov (search DIN 15-B-2063) (last visited Feb. 14, 2024). 2 All page numbers to documents filed on ECF refer to pdf pagination.

(15) Correctional Officer Felix Santiago Vasquez. (Id. at 1–3). By order dated October 11, 2022, the Court granted Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP), that is, without prepayment of fees.3 (ECF Nos. 1, 5). By order dated October 28, 2022, the Court directed the Clerk of Court to: (1) issue summonses for all Defendants, (2) complete the USM-285 forms with the addresses for all Defendants, and

(3) deliver all documents necessary to effectuate service on all Defendants to the U.S. Marshals Service. (ECF No. 7). Additionally, the Court directed Defendants to comply with S.D.N.Y. Local Rule 33.2. (Id.). On September 25, 2023, this action was referred to the undersigned for general pretrial supervision. (ECF No. 34). On December 6, 2023, the Court held a telephonic Status Conference, during which Plaintiff requested an extension of time to file an Amended Complaint. (ECF No. 49; 12/06/2023 Minute Entry). On December 18, 2023, Plaintiff filed his Amended Complaint, which adds four new defendants: (1) Albert T. Helms, of the Sing Sing Department of Security

Administration; (2) Marlyn Kopp, First Deputy Superintendent at Sing Sing; (3) Sing Sing DSS Babu Thumpayil; and (4) Correctional Sergeant David Brown. (ECF No. 51 at 43). DISCUSSION A. Service on the Newly-Added Defendants Because Plaintiff has been granted IFP status, he is entitled to rely on the Court and the U.S. Marshals to effect service of process. Walker v. Schult, 717 F.3d 119, 123 n.6 (2d Cir. 2013); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) (“The officers of the court shall issue and serve all

3 Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), a prisoner is not exempt from paying the full filing fee, even when the prisoner has been granted IFP status. Rather, the Court assesses and collects the filing fee through monthly installments. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1)–(2). process . . . in [IFP] cases.”); Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3) (providing that the Court must order the U.S. Marshals Service to effect service if the plaintiff is authorized to proceed IFP). To allow Plaintiff to effect service on all of the newly-added Defendants through the U.S. Marshals Service, the Clerk of Court is instructed to fill out a U.S. Marshals Service Process Receipt and Return form (USM-285 form) for each of the newly-added Defendants. The Clerk

of Court is further instructed to issue a summons for each of the newly-added Defendants and to deliver to the U.S. Marshals Service all the paperwork necessary for them to effect service upon all of the newly-added Defendants. Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure generally requires service of the summons and complaint to be completed within 90 days of the issuance of the summons. It is Plaintiff’s responsibility to request, if necessary, an extension of time for service. See Meilleur v. Strong, 682 F.3d 56, 63 (2d Cir. 2012). Plaintiff must also notify the Court in writing if his address changes, and the Court may dismiss the action if he fails to do so. B. Local Civil Rule 33.2

Local Civil Rule 33.2, which requires defendants in certain types of prisoner cases to respond to specific, court-ordered discovery requests, applies to this action. These discovery requests are available on the Court’s website under “Forms” and are titled “Plaintiff’s Local Civil Rule 33.2 Interrogatories and Requests for Production of Documents.” Within 120 days of service of the Amended Complaint, the newly-added Defendants must serve responses to these standard discovery requests. In their responses, they must quote each request verbatim.4 CONCLUSION The Court directs the Clerk of Court to issue summonses for all newly-added Defendants;

4 Plaintiff may request a copy of these discovery requests from the Pro Se Intake Unit. complete the USM-285 forms with the addresses for all of the newly-added Defendants; and deliver documents necessary to effect service on all of the newly-added Defendants to the U.S. Marshals Service. The Court directs the newly-added Defendants to comply with Local Civil Rule 33.2 within 120 days of service of the Amended Complaint. The Clerk of Court is directed to mail a copy of this order to Plaintiff. SO ORDERED. DATED: White Plains, New York February 15, 2024 YO (fale United States Magistrate Judge

DEFENDANT AND SERVICE ADDRESS

1. Albert T. Helms Department of Security Administration Sing Sing Correctional Facility 354 Hunter Street Ossining, New York 10562-5442

2. Marlyn Kopp First Deputy Superintendent Sing Sing Correctional Facility 354 Hunter Street Ossining, New York 10562-5442

3. DSS Babu Thumpayil Sing Sing Correctional Facility 354 Hunter Street Ossining, New York 10562-5442

4. Correctional Sergeant David Brown Sing Sing Correctional Facility 354 Hunter Street Ossining, New York 10562-5442