Dukes v. City of New York

879 F. Supp. 335, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2606, 1995 WL 100786
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedMarch 7, 1995
Docket92 Civ. 7275 (PKL)
StatusPublished
Cited by48 cases

This text of 879 F. Supp. 335 (Dukes v. City of New York) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dukes v. City of New York, 879 F. Supp. 335, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2606, 1995 WL 100786 (S.D.N.Y. 1995).

Opinion

*338 OPINION AND ORDER

LEISURE, District Judge:

This is an action brought by Marvel Dukes (“Dukes”), pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (“§ 1983”), for false arrest and malicious prosecution in violation of plaintiffs constitutional rights. Plaintiff sues certain named police officers and the City of New York (the “City”) in this action. 1 Defendants now move for summary judgment on the following grounds: (1) probable cause existed to support plaintiffs arrest; (2) plaintiff cannot prove that his prosecution was motivated by malice, ill will or spite; (3) plaintiff cannot plead or prove a violation of § 1983 on the basis of a failure to investigate; (4) detective Morgan is entitled to immunity; and (5) plaintiff cannot show municipal liability. For the reasons stated below, defendants’ motion is granted.

BACKGROUND

The facts important to the instant motion are largely undisputed and are also susceptible of a succinct summarization. On July 15, 1990, plaintiff attended a party at which a fight ensued. See Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (“Defendant Mem.”) at 2. While trying to stop the altercation, Darryl Mecca (“Mecca”) was shot in the head and later died from his wounds. Id. The party was videotaped by the host. Id. at 2.

The police investigating the incident canvassed the area and obtained a description of the shooter. Defendant Mem. at 3. Detective Ronald Morgan (“Morgan”), who was assigned to the case on the morning of July 16,1990, brought Cory Haynes (“Haynes”), a witness to the shooting, to the police precinct. Id. at 4. While there, Haynes viewed the videotape and identified plaintiff as the shooter. Id. Morgan prepared a photo array, and on July 21, 1990, Haynes identified plaintiff, from the photo array, as the shooter. Id. at 5.

On July 27,1990, Morgan brought plaintiff to the precinct. Defendant Mem. at 6. They arrived at approximately 1:00 p.m. Id. Plaintiff declined to give a statement to Morgan, other than to state that he had not killed Mecca. Id. At approximately 4:30 p.m., plaintiff appeared in a lineup, from which he was again identified by Haynes as the shooter. Id.

Plaintiff’s parents arrived at the precinct some time in the afternoon of July 27, 1990, and plaintiff maintains that they were told by Morgan that, if they brought witnesses to the precinct, he would interview those witnesses. Plaintiffs Memorandum in Opposition to Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (“Plaintiff Mem.”) at 6. Plaintiff further contends that when his parents returned with several witnesses, after the lineup had been conducted, Morgan refused to speak with the witnesses. Id.

On July 27, 1990, at 8:00 p.m., in the presence of Morgan, plaintiff made a statement to an Assistant District Attorney (“ADA”). Plaintiff Mem. at 6. He stated that he was innocent, that “Calvin” had killed Mecca, and he described the incident and named some witnesses to the shooting. Id. at 7. In addition, plaintiff confirmed that he was present at the party where the shooting occurred, that he was present at the altercation when Mecca was shot, that he stood directly in front of Mecca, that Mecca fell against him after being shot, that he had blood on his clothes, and that he fled the scene of the murder. Defendant Mem. at 8.

At approximately 9:00 p.m., plaintiff was formally charged with Mecca’s death. Plaintiff Mem. at 7. Plaintiff was arraigned on July 28, 1990, and was later indicted for the murder of Mecca. Defendant Mem. at 8. Morgan closed the investigation on July 28, 1990. Plaintiff Mem. at 7. Other than testifying before the grand jury, at a pretrial hearing, and at trial, Morgan had no further involvement in the prosecution of plaintiff. Defendant Mem. at 8.

*339 In June 1992, after being held in custody for about two years, plaintiff was acquitted of the murder of Mecca, and on October 5,1992, plaintiff brought the instant action. Id.

DISCUSSION

I. The Standard for Summary Judgment

Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that summary judgment “shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); see also Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2509-10, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); Lang v. Retirement Living Pub. Co., 949 F.2d 576, 580 (2d Cir.1991). Summary judgment “is appropriate only ‘after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails' to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.’ ” Thornton v. Syracuse Sav. Bank, 961 F.2d 1042, 1046 (2d Cir.1992) (quoting Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322, 106 S.Ct. at 2552); accord Irvin Indus., Inc. v. Goodyear Aerospace Corp., 974 F.2d 241, 245 (2d Cir.1992).

“In deciding whether to grant summary judgment all inferences drawn from the materials submitted to the trial court are viewed in a light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. The nonmovant’s allegations are taken as true and it receives the benefit of the doubt when its assertions conflict with those of the movant.” Cruden v. Bank of New York, 957 F.2d 961, 975 (2d Cir.1992). “Only when no reasonable trier of fact could find in favor of the nonmoving party should summary judgment be granted.” Id.; accord Taggart v. Time, Inc., 924 F.2d 43, 46 (2d Cir.1991); see also Lang, 949 F.2d at 580 (“In determining how a reasonable jury would decide, the court must resolve all ambiguities and draw all inferences against the moving party.”); Binder v. Long Island Lighting Co., 933 F.2d 187

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Bluebook (online)
879 F. Supp. 335, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2606, 1995 WL 100786, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dukes-v-city-of-new-york-nysd-1995.