Disability Rights New York v. Wise

171 F. Supp. 3d 54, 2016 WL 1090579, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 35008
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedMarch 18, 2016
Docket1:15-cv-32 (GLS/CFH)
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 171 F. Supp. 3d 54 (Disability Rights New York v. Wise) 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
Disability Rights New York v. Wise, 171 F. Supp. 3d 54, 2016 WL 1090579, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 35008 (N.D.N.Y. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER

Gary L. Sharpe, United States District Judge

I. Introduction

Plaintiff Disability Rights New York (DRNY) commenced this action against defendants Jeff Wise, in his official capacity as Executive Director of the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs (hereinafter “the Justice Center”), and Robin A. For-shaw, in her official capacity as General Counsel of the Justice Center, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Act,1 and the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 20002 (hereinafter “the DD Act”). (See generally Compl., Dkt. No. 1.) Pending is defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim. (Dkt. No. 10.)3 For the reasons that follow, defendants’ motion is denied.

II. Background4

In order to ensure that the rights of individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities are protected, the PAI-MI and DD Acts condition certain federal funding for states on the establishment of protection and advocacy (hereinafter “P & A”) systems. See 42 U.S.C. §§ 10801(b)(1),10803, 15001(b)(2), 15043(a)(2)(A); Disability Advocates, Inc. v. N.Y. Coal, for Quality Assisted Living, Inc., 675 F.3d 149, 152-53 (2d Cir.2012); Conn. Office of Prot. & Advocacy for Pers. with Disabilities v. Hartford Bd. of Educ., 355 F.Supp.2d 649, 654 (D.Conn.2005), aff'd, 464 F.3d 229 (2d Cir.2006). DRNY, an independent nonprofit organization, is New York’s designated P & A agency. (Compl. ¶¶ 1, 7-9.) The Justice Center, an agency within the New York State Executive Department, is charged with investigating reported incidents of abuse, neglect, or injury of persons with disabilities. (Id. ¶¶ 19-20.) Under the PAIMI and DD Acts, DRNY has the authority to review the records of individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities under certain circumstances,5 including reports prepared [56]*56by agencies charged with investigating alleged incidents of abuse, neglect, and injury of such individuals. (Id. ¶¶ 12-13, 15); see 42 U.S.C. §§ 10806(b)(3)(A), 15043(c)(2). When DRNY makes a request for access to such records, such records must be provided promptly. (Compl. ¶ 17); see 42 U.S.C. § 15043(a)(2)(J)(i) (requiring that requested records be provided not later than three business days after the P & A system makes a written request); 42 C.F.R. § 51.41(a) (“Access to records shall be extended promptly to all authorized agents of a P & A system.”). If access to such records is delayed or denied, DRNY must be promptly provided with a written statement of reasons for the denial. (Compl. ¶ 18); see 42 C.F.R. § 51.43; 45 C.F.R. § 1386.26.

In November 2012, F.S., an individual who suffered from a mental illness, committed suicide in a facility operated by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS). (Compl. ¶¶ 26-27.) In October 2014, DRNY reviewed a redacted version of an investigatory report completed by a predecessor agency of the Justice Center, which concluded that F.S. received inadequate mental health treatment during his incarceration. (Id. ¶¶ 26, 28-29, 31.) The information contained in the redacted report caused DRNY to determine it had probable cause to believe that F.S. was abused and neglected while in the custody of DOCCS. (Id. ¶ 31.) Based on that belief, DRNY requested that the Justice Center provide it with “a complete, unredacted copy of the investigatory records relating to F.S.” (Id. ¶ 32.) DRNY again requested ' F.S.’ records on two subsequent occasions, but never received a response from the Justice Center. (Id. ¶¶ 34-35.)

In October 2013, DRNY received a complaint of abuse of L.B., who suffers from a mental illness and resided at a facility operated by the New York State Office of Mental Health. (Id. ¶¶ 36, 38.) On three separate occasions beginning in November 2013, DRNY requested that the Justice Center provide it with records regarding the alleged abuse of L.B. (Id. ¶¶39, 41, 43.) In March 2014, the Justice Center responded to DRNY, explaining that it had not yet completed its investigation into the alleged abuse of L.B. (Id. ¶ 44.) After contacting the Justice Center on three more occasions, and providing a signed release from L.B. authorizing the release of the requested records, in October 2014, DRNY received the Justice Center’s report, which had been “heavily” redacted. (Id. ¶¶ 45, 47-48, 50, 52-53.)

In October 2013, DRNY also received a complaint of abuse and neglect of A.T., a minor with a developmental disability who resided in a facility licensed by the Office of Child and Family Services and approved by the New York State Education Department. (Id ¶¶ 54, 56.) DRNY requested “all documents related to the Justice Center’s investigation of the alleged abuse and neglect of A.T.” in April 2014. (Id. ¶ 57.) After providing a signed consent form from A.T.’s guardian authorizing the release of the requested records, the Justice Center provided DRNY “heavily” redacted documents. (Id. ¶¶ 58-60.)

In March 2014, DRNY received a complaint of abuse and neglect of R.T., a person with a developmental disability who resided in a facility licensed by the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. (Id. ¶¶ 61-63.) On March 20, 2014, DRNY requested “information regarding the steps the Justice Center took to investigate the alleged abuse and neglect,” and the Justice Center responded, on April 18, 2014, that it had not yet completed its investigation. (Id. ¶¶ 64-65.) Thereafter, DRNY contacted the Justice Center numerous times in April, May, and June 2014, by phone and mail, [57]*57requesting an update on the status of the investigation and providing a release signed by R.T.’s guardian, authorizing release of the investigative file. (Id ¶¶ 66, 68, 70, 73-74.) DRNY received no response to these requests until October 9, 2014, at which time the Justice Center provided “heavily” redacted documents. (Id. ¶¶ 67, 69, 72, 75-76.)

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171 F. Supp. 3d 54, 2016 WL 1090579, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 35008, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/disability-rights-new-york-v-wise-nynd-2016.