Davidson v. Department of Corrections

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK WILLET DAVIDSON, Plaintiff, 20 Civ. 9500 (LGS) -against- NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF ORDER CORRECTIONS et al., Defendants. LORNA G. SCHOFIELD, United States District Judge: WHEREAS, pro se Plaintiff filed a Second Amended Complaint (“SAC”) alleging violations of 19 U.S.C. § 1983 arising from the conditions of his confinement at the Vernon C. Bain Center (“VCBC”) (Dkt. No. 12). The SAC requested: (1) that Plaintiff be released from custody due to the risks of COVID-19; (2) that the VCBC be limited to 50% of its capacity and social distancing enforced generally and in Plaintiff’s dormitory and (3) damages. WHEREAS, Plaintiff subsequently filed a letter motion requesting the Court immediately grant the relief requested in his SAC, which the Court construed as a motion for preliminary injunctive relief (Dkt. No. 13). WHEREAS, a preliminary injunction is only available for irreparable harms -- actual and imminent injuries that cannot be remedied through money damages. See Faiveley Transp. Malmo AB v. Wabtec Corp., 559 F.3d 110, 116 (2d Cir. 2009); accord In re Citibank Aug. 11, 2020 Wire Transfers, No. 20 Civ. 6539, 2021 WL 1905002, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. May 12, 2021). Plaintiff’s request for an injunction granting monetary damages as a remedy thus cannot be granted. WHEREAS, the New York State Department of Correction’s public records show that on May 26, 2021, Plaintiff was transferred from the Vernon C. Bain Center to the Downstate Correctional Facility, which Defendants represent is not under their control (Dkt. No. 32). Due to this transfer, Plaintiff cannot show an imminent injury due to conditions at the VCBC that justifies immediate injunctive relief. Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that Plaintiff's requests for injunctive relief at Dkt. No. 13 are denied. The Court certifies under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith, and therefore in forma pauperis status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. Cf Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962) (holding that an appellant demonstrates good faith when he seeks review of a nonfrivolous issue). The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to mail a copy of this order to pro se Plaintiff at: Willet Davidson DIN 21A0603 Downstate Correctional Facility 121 Red Schoolhouse Road Box F Fishkill, NY 12524

Dated: June 7, 2021 New York, New York <

LORNA G. SCHOFIEL UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE