Kenney v. Clay

172 F. Supp. 3d 628, 2016 WL 1156747, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37535
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedMarch 23, 2016
Docket6:11-CV-790 (DNH/ATB)
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 172 F. Supp. 3d 628 (Kenney v. Clay) 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
Kenney v. Clay, 172 F. Supp. 3d 628, 2016 WL 1156747, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37535 (N.D.N.Y. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM-DECISION and ORDER

DAVID N. HURD, United States' District Judge

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION... 632

II. BACKGROUND... 632

III. LEGAL STANDARDS... 635.

1. Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment.. .635

A. Fifth Amendment Right Against Self-Incrimination... 636

i. Absolute Immunity.. .637

ii. Qualified Immunity... 637.

B. State Tort Claims... 638

i. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress... 638

ii. Negligent Infliction of .Emotional Distress.. .638

C. Punitive Damages.: .638

D. Remaining Claims... 639

. 2. Plaintiffs Motion to Amend the Complaint.. .639

III. DISCUSSION... 639

1. Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment... 639

A. ■ Fifth Amendment Claim — Third Cause of Action... 639

i. Absolute Immunity.. .640

ii. Qualified Immunity...640

B. State Tort Claims — Sixth Cause of Action... 641
C. Punitive Damages.. .641
D. Remaining Claims — Fourth and Seventh Causes of Action... 642

2. Plaintiffs Motion to Amend the Complaint.. .642

IV. CONCLUSION... 644

[632]*632I. INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Derek Kenney brought this action pursuant: to 42 U.S.C § 1983, alleging that defendants, Gloversville Police Department (“GPD”) officers and the city itself, violated his civil rights. At issue is defendants’ motion for summary judgment and plaintiffs cross-motion to amend the complaint.

Defendants collectively moved for summary judgment, requesting dismissal of the complaint in its entirety. .Plaintiff opposed, but consented to dismissal of his federal and state law claims ,for false arrest; federal and state law claims for malicious prosecution; all claims against defendant retired GPD Officer James Lorenzoni; and any Monell claim against defendant retired GPD Officer Edgar Beaudin. See ECF No. 91.

Defendants have moved for summary judgment as to plaintiffs third cause of action, in which he alleges that his right against self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment was violated; his fourth cause of action, a Monell claim against the City of Gloversville; his sixth cause of action, alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress claims against all remaining defendants; and his seventh cause of action, alleging negligent supervision and retention of an employee against Officer Beaudin and the City of Gloversville. ECF No. 70. Defendants likewise raise absolute and qualified immunity defenses, and seek dismissal of plaintiffs state law tort claims and request for punitive damages. Id. As a result of defendant’s motion, plaintiff made a cross-motion to amend the complaint. ECF No. 83. Oral arguments were heard in Útica, New York.

II. BACKGROUND

Prior to this action, plaintiff was no stranger to the Gloversville Police Department (“GPD”). In fact, he concedes that he been arrested more times that he can recall. Plaintiffs Statement of Material Facts, ECF No. 74, 2 (“PL’s Stmt. M. F.”).1 Defendants paint plaintiff as “a long-time, homeless transient of the City of Gloversville with an extensive violent criminal history.” Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 70, 10 (“Defs.’ Mtn. Summ. J.). Plaintiff maintains that he is “affectionately known as the “Town Drunk.” Plaintiffs Opposition to the Motion for Summary Judgement, ECF No. 75, 7 (“PL’s Opp. Mtn. Summ. J.”). Further arguing that his numerous arrests were for “minor offenses” while intoxicated, such as disorderly conduct and assaulting garbage cans. Id.

With this relationship between plaintiff and GPD in mind, the story of this case began around 11:59 p.m. on July 6, 2010, when GPD was notified that an unresponsive man was on the front lawn of 143 Bleecker Street in Gloversville. Defs.’ Mtn. Summ. J., 12. Police responded to find a decedent, Brian Morrison, face down in a pool of blood -with a small puncture wound on the right side of his chin. Id. The area was secured as a homicide scene. Id.

Plaintiff, visibly intoxicated, arrived at the scene shortly thereafter. PL’s Stmt. M. F., 6. He attempted the cross the police tape, but GPD stopped plaintiff, directing him to bypass the crime scene and proceed to his destination. Id. Defendants contend that plaintiff was “combative” and lingered at the crime for more than thirty minutes. Id. When he did leave the immediate vicinity, he went around the block, continued to [633]*633watch the scene and smoked marijuana while drinking a beer. Id.

From July 7 through July 9, 2010, defendants collected statements from self-proclaimed eye witnesses and persons who had interacted with plaintiff on the night of the murder. Of note, one such eye witness claimed that he saw plaintiff attack the decedent in the head at the location of the crime scene. Defendants’ Statement of .Material Facts, EOF No. 70-23, ¶45 (“Defs.’ Stmt. M. F.”).‘ And the mother of plaintiffs son and girlfriend of six years, Rebecca Abraham reportedly told the police that plaintiff left her apartment at 166 Bleecker Street in an angry and intoxicated state on the night of Morrison’s murder. Pl.’s Stmt. M. F., 9.2 Defendants collected other statements, including one from plaintiffs brother-in-law Edward Sherry, in which Sherry averred that plaintiff allegedly admitted to murdering the decedent. Id. at 10. After confirming whether the eye witness would have been able to see plaintiff commit the murder from his front porch as he had reported, defendants concluded that they had reason to believe that they eye witness’s story was credible. Defs.’ Stmt. M. F., ¶¶ 61-68.

- With such incriminating information gathered from plaintiffs associates and a purported' eye witness to the crime, GPD determined an interview with plaintiff was appropriate. Thus, on the afternoon of July 9, 2010, GPD located plaintiff at a friend’s home and sought to question him regarding the homicide. Pl.’s Stmt. M: F., 13. And from this point onward, the parties dispute nearly all relevant facts. When the police found plaintiff, he was drinking a beer, but the parties contest whether he was visibly intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription anti-psychotic medications. Id. Plaintiff later stated that he had consumed “approximately seventy (70) beers, eight (8) glasses of gin, and smoked marijuana and crack” before the police took him to the station for questioning. Defs.’ Stmt. M. F„ ¶ 133; PL’s Stmt. M.F. 36.

Defendants contend that plaintiff was coherent, walked on his own, communicated clearly, followed all commands and was able to understand every aspect of the transport to' the station and the interview. Defs.’ Stmt. M. F., ¶¶ 72-76.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
172 F. Supp. 3d 628, 2016 WL 1156747, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37535, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kenney-v-clay-nynd-2016.