K.W. v. City of New York

275 F.R.D. 393, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88260, 2011 WL 3555842
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedAugust 9, 2011
DocketNo. 11-CV-00388
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 275 F.R.D. 393 (K.W. v. City of New York) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
K.W. v. City of New York, 275 F.R.D. 393, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88260, 2011 WL 3555842 (E.D.N.Y. 2011).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM, ORDER & JUDGEMENT

JACK B. WEINSTEIN, Senior District Judge:

Table of Contents

I. Introduction...............................................................396

II. Facts.....................................................................396

A. November 25,2009, Incident.............................................396

B. Prior Incidents of Bullying..............................................396

C. Complaints to Officials..................................................397

[396]*396D. January 8, 2010, Incident................................................397

III. Law......................................................................397

A. Motion to Dismiss Standard.............................................397

B. Due Process Claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 ...............................397

1. Substantive Due Process ............................................398

2. Procedural Due Process.............................................398

3. Liability of NYPD and School Safety..................................398

4. Municipal Liability..................................................398

C. Equal Protection Claim.................................................398

D. Claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1985 and § 1986 ................................399

IV. Application of Facts to Law ........................'.........................399

A. Substantive Due Process Claims .........................................399
B. Equal Protection Claims................................................399

C Claims under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1985 and 1986 .................................400

D. State Law Claims......................................................400
V. Conclusion ......................... ......................................400
I. Introduction

The issue presented is the extent to which a public school’s failure to protect students from peer classroom bullying violates the constitution. This conduct can prevent a child from being educated appropriately. Critical are the facts. In most instances the matter of relief is best left to state procedures and substantive law since it is state and local government that carries the main burden of educating our children. See, e.g., T.K. v. N.Y. City Dep’t of Educ., No. 10-CV-00752, 2011 WL 1579510 (E.D.N.Y.2011) (bullying may require response from state). K.W., acting through her mother, alleges that during the 2009-2010 school year, she experienced “bullying” at the hands of another kindergartner at P.S. 151, a New York City public school. She claims a violation of her constitutional rights. See 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1985, and 1986. Pendent state causes of action include denial of right to education and negligent hiring, supervision, and retention practices.

Defendants are the City of New York, the New York City Department of Education (“DOE”), New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), New York City Office of School Safety (“School Safety”), and the following persons in their individual and official capacities: former Chancellor Joel Klein, Superintendent Philip Composto, P.S. 151 Principal Jason Goldner, P.S. 151 Assistant Principals Maria Psaradakis and Anthony Bentivegna, KW.’s teacher Ms. Laziridis, and the P.S. 151 Parent Coordinator, Nadia Ryan.

The facts alleged are assumed to be true. Defendants move to dismiss for failure to state a claim. For the reasons stated below, the motion is granted.

II. Facts
A. November 25, 2009, Incident

About November 25, 2009, a classmate cut off one of K.W.’s braids with a pair of scissors taken from a student’s desk. Compl. ¶ 18

B. Prior Incidents of Bullying

A classmate had “pulled” all of the beads out of KW.’s hair, Id. at ¶24, and had “shoved and elbowed” her. Id. at ¶ 26. This child had repeatedly taken K.W.’s lunch. Id. at ¶ 28.

Neither the defendant principal nor school teachers and administrators took action when these incidents were reported. The principal had characterized them as “child’s play.” Id. at ¶ 27.

K.W. was allegedly so traumatized that she was “in fear for her safety every day she went to school” and was “very apprehensive and resistant to going to school.” Id. at ¶ 37. There is no contention that K.W. missed a single school day.

[397]*397C. Complaints to Officials

In December 2009, plaintiff reported the November 25, 2009, incident to school administrators, who indicated that they would investigate. Id. at ¶¶ 31-32. The teacher reported that she was unaware that an incident had occurred. Id. at ¶33. Plaintiff also complained at New York emergency number, “311,” and to the NYPD concerning the hair cutting. Id. at ¶35. The NYPD did not believe that the incident warranted a report or further action. Id. at ¶ 35. The school took no steps to resolve the matter. Id.

D. January 8, 2010, Incident

In January 2010, a classmate again cut off one of KW.’s hair braids. Id. at ¶ 42. The scissors were from the teacher’s desk. Transfer of K.W. to another school — which had previously been denied — was sought by plaintiff. The request was granted. Id. at ¶ 45.

III. Law
A. Motion to Dismiss Standard

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (F.R.C.P) 12(b)(6) allows dismissal of claims when the pleading party has failed “to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.” In ruling on a 12(b)(6) motion, “a court must accept the plaintiffs factual allegations as true, drawing all reasonable inferences in plaintiffs favor.” Clark Street Wine & Spirits v. Emporos Sys. Corp., 754 F.Supp.2d 474, 479 (E.D.N.Y.2010). “To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009) (quoting

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Bluebook (online)
275 F.R.D. 393, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88260, 2011 WL 3555842, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kw-v-city-of-new-york-nyed-2011.