Cruz v. New York

24 F. Supp. 3d 299, 2014 WL 2547516, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 77568
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. New York
DecidedJune 6, 2014
DocketNo. 13-CV-6131 EAW
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 24 F. Supp. 3d 299 (Cruz v. New York) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cruz v. New York, 24 F. Supp. 3d 299, 2014 WL 2547516, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 77568 (W.D.N.Y. 2014).

Opinion

DECISION AND ORDER

ELIZABETH A. WOLFORD, District Judge.

INTRODUCTION

Pro se Plaintiff, an inmate at Southport Correctional Facility (“SCF”), brings this action against the State of New York and Department of Corrections (“DOC”) officials pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging violations of the Eighth Amendment and New York State law. (Dkt. 1). Specifically, Plaintiff asserts the following causes of action: (1) a first cause of action against the individual correction officer defendants, S. Waters and C. Clark, alleging violations of the Eighth Amendment; (2) a second cause of action against the State of New York and the “Supervisory Defendants” (New York State DOC Commissioner Brian Fischer, DOC Superintendent Thomas Griffin, and DOC Deputy Superintendent of Security M. Sheahan), also alleging violations of the Eighth Amendment; (3) a third cause of action for assault and battery against the individual correction officer defendants S. Waters and C. Clark, and against New York State based on the doctrine of respondeat superior, and (4) a fourth cause of action for “negligent hiring/training/retention” against the State of New York and the Supervisory Defendants. (Dkt. 1).

Presently before the Court is Defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint in part pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). (Dkt. 14). Defendants move to dismiss all causes of action- except for the first cause of action against the individual correction officer defendants. (Dkt. 1 & 14). For the reasons set forth below, Plaintiffs second cause of action for violation of the Eighth Amendment is dismissed as to Defendants New York State and Brian Fischer in his official capacity. Plaintiffs third cause of action for assault and battery and his fourth cause of action for negligent hiring, training, and retention also are dismissed. However, Defendants’ motion is denied to the extent it seeks dismissal of Plaintiffs second cause of action against Brian Fischer in his individual capacity, ás well as Thomas Griffin and M. Sheahan.

[303]*303 BACKGROUND

Plaintiff alleges that, on September 17, 2011, he was housed in the Special Housing Unit (“SHU”) at SCF. (Dkt. 1 at ¶¶ 1, 19-20). At approximately 7:40 a.m. on that day, Plaintiff was preparing for recreation in B-block and had mechanical restraints applied to his wrists. (Id. at ¶ 20). After Plaintiff was handcuffed and shackled, Correction Officer defendant S. Waters (“Officer Waters”) allegedly “forcefully struck” Plaintiff in the head from behind, causing Plaintiff to collapse to the ground. (Id. at ¶ 21). While Plaintiff was lying on the ground, Officer Waters and Corrections Officer defendant C. Clark (“Officer Clark”) allegedly kicked Plaintiff in the ribs, face, head, back, legs, arms and torso. (Id.). Plaintiff alleges that he vomited three times during the “examination” after the beating and suffered visible injuries to his head, face, and back. (Id. at ¶ 22). Plaintiff was transferred via ambulance to Arnot Ogden Medical Emergency where he was diagnosed with a facial contusion, head injury, bruised ribs, facial swelling, and abrasions and bruises on his back, head, and body. (Id.). Plaintiff alleges that he continues to suffer physical and emotional injuries as a result of the assault by Officers Waters and Clark. (Id. at ¶ 23).

Plaintiff filed his complaint on January 28, 2013, alleging violations against the State of New York; former Commissioner of the New York State DOC, Brian Fischer, in his individual and official capacity; former Superintendent of SCF, Thomas Griffin, in his individual capacity; former Deputy Superintendent of Security at SCF, M. Sheahan, in his individual capacity; Officer Waters, in his individual capacity; and Officer Clark, in his individual capacity. (Id. at ¶¶ 9-14).1 The complaint alleges four causes of action, including a first cause of action for violations of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 pursuant to the Eighth Amendment against Officers Waters and Clark; a second cause of action for violations of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 pursuant to the Eighth Amendment against the Supervisory Defendants (Brian Fischer, Thomas Griffin, and M. Sheahan); a third cause of action for assault and battery against Officers Waters and Clark and against Defendant New York State under the doctrine of respondeat superior; and a fourth cause of action for negligent hiring, training, and retention against New York State and the Supervisory Defendants. (Id. at 9-13).

Plaintiffs basis for his claims against the State of New York and the Supervisory Defendants is that they, in their supervisory capacities, are responsible for promulgating, implementing, and overseeing policies relating to the conduct of DOC personnel and overseeing the implementation of security cameras at SCF. (Id. at ¶¶ 9-12). Plaintiff further alleges that New York State and the Supervisory Defendants “tolerated and were deliberately indifferent to a pattern and practice of staff brutality and retaliation.... ” (Id. at ¶ 30). Plaintiff alleges that the State and Supervisory Defendants were aware of corrections officers’ use of excessive force against inmates through DOC’s “elaborate reporting system” and through complaints to the Commissioner, grievances, the inspector general, and department reports. (Id. at ¶¶ 15-18).

Plaintiff submitted a motion to amend his complaint on November 15, 2013, and the motion was filed on December 3, 2013. (Dkt. 13). Defendants filed this motion to dismiss the complaint in part on December 3, 2013. (Dkt. 14). United States District [304]*304Judge Charles J. Siragusa initially denied Plaintiffs motion to amend because Plaintiff failed to submit a proposed amended complaint. (Dkt. 16). Judge Siragusa subsequently converted Plaintiffs motion, which was filed before Defendants filed their motion to dismiss, to a motion to extend the time for filing an amended complaint as of right under Fed.R.Civ.P. 16, and extended Plaintiffs time to file an amended complaint to February 3, 2014. (Dkt. 18). Plaintiff never filed an amended complaint but instead moved for a default judgment as to Defendants Clark and Waters. (Dkt. 24). Plaintiffs motion for a default judgment was denied because Defendants Clark and Waters had moved to dismiss the complaint on December 3, 2013, which was prior to the time their answers were due on December 10 and 11, 2013. (Dkt. 25).

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
24 F. Supp. 3d 299, 2014 WL 2547516, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 77568, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cruz-v-new-york-nywd-2014.