Cinema Art Theater, Inc. v. City of Troy

810 F. Supp. 2d 489, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95992, 2011 WL 3841473
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedAugust 26, 2011
DocketNo. 1:09-cv-413 (GLS*RFT)
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 810 F. Supp. 2d 489 (Cinema Art Theater, Inc. v. City of Troy) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cinema Art Theater, Inc. v. City of Troy, 810 F. Supp. 2d 489, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95992, 2011 WL 3841473 (N.D.N.Y. 2011).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER

GARY L. SHARPE, District Judge.

I. Introduction

Plaintiff Cinema Art Theater, Inc., an adult movie theater, commenced this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 1982, 1983, 1985, and 1988 alleging violations of its constitutional rights in connection with defendants’ removal of its marquee. (2d Am. Compl., Dkt. No. 36.) Pending is defendants’ motion for summary judgment, (Dkt. No. 63), and the Theater’s cross-motion for partial summary judgment, (Dkt. No. 66). For the reasons that follow, defendants’ motion is granted in part and denied in part, and the Theater’s cross-motion is denied.

II. Background

Until its closure in 2006 for alleged violations of the Troy City Code, the Cinema Art Theater, Inc., a New York corporation, was in the business of showing adult movies and selling adult novelty items at its property at 285-289 River Street, Troy, New York. (Defs. SMF ¶ 1, Dkt. No. 63:2; PI. Resp. Mem. of Law at 2, Dkt. No. 66:2.) Jan DeGroote is the sole shareholder and president of the Theater. (See Defs. SMF ¶ 1, Dkt. No. 63:2.)

On April 13, 2006, defendants Russ Reeves, City Engineer for the City of Troy, and Thomas O. Garrett, Fire Chief for the City of Troy, visited the Theater to investigate alleged complaints that bricks and masonry were falling in the rear of the building. (See id. at ¶¶ 2, 4.) During the investigation, which was comprised of a visual inspection lasting approximately thirty minutes, Reeves claims to have no[493]*493ticed that the Theater’s marquee, which overhangs a heavily-traveled pedestrian sidewalk, was showing signs of deterioration. (See id. at ¶ 6.) In an April 13 letter detailing his observations, Reeves stated as follows:

Using the Fire Department Aerial Tower Truck, we evaluated the front marquee signage and attachments. There is evidence of moisture penetration in flashed and caulked joints.... There are two deteriorated and rusted wire cables that are supporting the marquee and the signage.... The cables are attached to the building with a single bolt into the masonry joint as shown. The additional chain attachment ... is not in tension and is offering no supplemental support to the wider portion of the marquee and sign. This methodology of attachment is inadequate and in addition to the structural components that are supporting this marquee are deteriorated. For public safety, we have closed off the westerly sidewalk with in [sic] this marquee area along River St. and are requiring you to remove this marquee within a twenty-four hour period; otherwise, the City will remove it and invoice you accordingly with a fíne and an issue to appear in court.

(Kindlon Aff., Ex. F, April 13 Letter at 4-5, Dkt. No. 66:10.) According to defendants, this letter was delivered to the building manager at the Theater that day and was also “sent to [DeGroote] via facsimile.” (Defs. SMF ¶ 6, Dkt. No. 63:2.) A copy of the letter was also “ec’ed” to, among others, Troy Mayor Henry Tutunjian. (See Kindlon Aff., Ex. F, April 13 Letter at 6, Dkt. No. 66:10.) In addition to delivering the letter, defendants further claim that Reeves personally spoke with DeGroote that day, informing him of the condition of the marquee. (See Defs. SMF ¶¶ 6-7, Dkt. No. 63:2.) According to De-Groote, however, he never received a copy of the April 13 letter or had any conversation with Reeves or with any other City of Troy employee as to the condition or removal of the marquee. (See Pl. Resp. SMF ¶ 7, Dkt. No. 66:1; Pl. Resp. Mem. of Law at 3, Dkt. No. 66:2.) Instead, De-Groote claims he received notice of the situation on the evening of April 13, when he “received a telephone call from his then-attorney Michael Deal, who explained that the City of Troy was going to demolish the marquee the next day.” (PI. Resp. Mem. of Law at 4, Dkt. No. 66:2.)

The next day, April 14, defendants claim that a contractor hired by DeGroote came to City Hall and met with Reeves and his staff. (See Defs. SMF ¶8, Dkt. No, 63:2). According to defendants, “the contractor refused to identify himself, sign for the necessary permit to begin work on the marquee or to cooperate with city officials in giving them the necessary information to fill out the permit form.” (See id. at ¶ 8.) Reeves testified that based on these actions he “determined that the repair work would not begin on the marquee within the specified 24 hour period.” (Id. at ¶ 9.) Thus, he explained, “in order to assure the safety of the public, and given the nature of the situation, [he] gave the order to remove the marquee from the building.” (Id.) DeGroote denies ever “retaining] or sending] a contractor to pick up a permit from City Hall.” (PL Resp. SMF ¶ 8, Dkt. No. 66:1.)

In line with his decision, Reeves directed Fire Chief Garrett to arrange for a demolition company to remove the marquee on April 14, which Garrett did. (See Defs. SMF ¶ 11, Dkt. No. 63:2.) That day, however, prior to the marquee’s removal, De-Groote hired two engineers — Micheál J. Kenneally of Shamrock Engineering P.C. and Neil Wiesel of Ryan-Biggs Associates, P.C. — to inspect the structural integrity of the marquee. (Kindlon Aff., Exs. H & I, Dkt. Nos. 66:12 & 66:13.) Upon arrival at [494]*494the Theater that morning, the engineers initially observed that there were no barricades in place to prevent the public from walking below the marquee. (See id.) With respect to their inspection of the marquee itself, the engineers were able to observe through a hole in the Theater’s ceiling that the marquee appeared to be supported by at least one steel beam. (See id.) Based on this and other observations, the engineers concluded that the chains and wires noted by the City of Troy in its report as indicating structural instability were likely not required for the structural integrity of the marquee. (See id.) As to the cables, for example, Mr. Kenneally stated that while “the cables were assumed to support the signage and the marquee, upon actually inspecting the structure, it would have been apparent that the sign was independent structure and therefore, the cables only supported a portion of the load.” (Kindlon Aff., Ex. I at 2, Dkt. No. 66:13.) And with respect to the chains, Mr. Kenneally stated that his “observation indieate[d] that chains were not intended to be or at the very least, not acting as structural elements, but rather decorations,” explaining that “[i]f the chains were required for the continued structural integrity of the Marquee, they would have been taught [sic] [, which they were not,] and the Marquee would have been significantly out of level[, which it was not].” (Id. at 2-3.) Ultimately, Mr. Kenneally opined that “the Marquee was structurally sound and in absolutely no danger of failure or collapse, partial or otherwise.” (Id.)

Mr.

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810 F. Supp. 2d 489, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95992, 2011 WL 3841473, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cinema-art-theater-inc-v-city-of-troy-nynd-2011.