Monroe v. Rabsatt

110 F. Supp. 3d 485, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 81177, 2015 WL 3866269
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. New York
DecidedJune 22, 2015
DocketNo. 14-CV-6118 EAW
StatusPublished

This text of 110 F. Supp. 3d 485 (Monroe v. Rabsatt) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Monroe v. Rabsatt, 110 F. Supp. 3d 485, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 81177, 2015 WL 3866269 (W.D.N.Y. 2015).

Opinion

DECISION AND ORDER

ELIZABETH A. WOLFORD, District Judge.

BACKGROUND

Petitioner Christopher Monroe (“Petitioner”), acting pro se, seeks relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, alleging that his conviction of third degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and other related charges in Wayne County Court, State of New York, on October 5, 2009, was unconstitutionally obtained. (Dkt. 1 at 1). Petitioner argues that his arrest was not supported by probable cause, and that therefore his statement to the police and evidence seized incident to the arrest should have been suppressed. (Id. at 4-5).

On March 31, 2014, this Court granted Petitioner leave to proceed in forma pau-peris but directed Petitioner to provide information indicating why his petition was not untimely under the one year statute of limitations provided by 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1). (Dkt. 5). Petitioner responded on April 9, 2014 (Dkt. 6), and on July 9, 2014, this Court issued a decision finding that “Petitioner raises sufficient factual questions to warrant further development of the issue of equitable tolling of the one year statute of limitations” (Dkt. 7 at 2).

In that order, the Court directed Respondent to file and serve an answer within 90 days of the entry of the order accompanied by a memorandum of law specifically addressing the equitable tolling issue. (Id. at 4). Respondent was further directed to supply the Court with any records or documents related to underlying state or appellate court proceedings. (Id. at 3-4). The order also stated that Respondent could file a motion for a more definite statement or motion to dismiss within 30 days of the filing of the order, which would extend Respondent’s time to answer by 14 days. (Id. at 4).

On October 22, 2014, Respondent filed a docket entry entitled a “Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings.” (Dkt. 9). This submission was untimely, and Respondent did not address the equitable tolling issue in his memorandum of law or incorporate records from the underlying proceedings in accordance with this Court’s order.

Accordingly, in an order dated October 30, 2014, this Court denied Respondent’s “Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings” and directed Respondent to file an answer [487]*487and memorandum of law including: (1) a discussion of the equitable tolling, issue; (2) the information and supporting materials requested by this Court’s order of July 9, 2014; and (3) any affirmative defenses pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b). (Dkt. 10).

On November 14, 2014, Respondent filed his answer and supporting memorandum of law. (Dkt. 12). On December 3, 2014, the Court received the Wayne County Court transcript of the underlying proceedings. Petitioner was given an opportunity to respond to Respondent’s memorandum of law by December 31, 2014, but Petitioner has failed to respond to date. (Dkt. 14).

For the following reasons, the Court finds that Petitioner’s petition is barred by the statute of limitations, and equitable tolling does not apply. In addition, Petitioner’s petition should be denied on substantive grounds. As a result, the petition is dismissed.

DISCUSSION

A. Equitable Tolling

Under 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1), a habeas corpus petition must be filed within one year from:

(A) the date on which the judgment became final by the conclusion of direct review or the expiration of the time for seeking such review;
(B) the date on which the impediment to filing an application created by State action in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States is removed, if ■ the applicant was prevented from filing by such State action;
(C) the date on which the constitutional right asserted was initially recognized by the [United States] Supreme Court,if the right has been newly recognized by the Supreme Court and made retroactively applicable to cases on collateral review; or
(D)the date on which the factual predicate . of the claim or claims presented could have been discovered through the exercise of due diligence.

Id.

Petitioner states that he was sentenced on October 5, 2009, and appealed the sentence to the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, with his conviction affirmed by the Fourth Department on March 25, 2011. (Dkt. 6). Petitioner alleges that his attorney failed to file leave to appeal to the New York Court of Appeals, and that upon learning of this failure, Petitioner filed a writ of error coram nobis alleging ineffective assistance of counsel that was denied by the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, on June 7, 2013. (Id.). Petitioner’s request for leave to appeal to the New York Court of Appeals was denied on January 22, 2014. (Id.). Petitioner filed the instant habeas petition on March 5, 2014. (Dkt. 1). Petitioner asserts that his § 2244(d)(1) time should run from January 22, 2014, which would make his filing of the habeas petition on March 5, 2014, a timely filing. (Dkt. 6).

Petitioner is mistaken that his attorney did not file a motion for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals denied leave to appeal Petitioner’s criminal conviction on July 6, 2011. See People v. Monroe, 17 N.Y.3d 808, 929 N.Y.S.2d 568, 953 N.E.2d 806 (2011). As a result, it would seem that Plaintiffs current petition is time-barred because it was filed more than one year after July 6, 2011, when the Court of Appeals denied Plaintiffs initial application for leave to appeal.

However, this Court determined on July 9, 2014, that there appeared to be a factual question as to whether equitable tolling should apply because “it is unclear whether petitioner’s attorney notified him that leave to appeal was filed, and further, if petitioner was notified that leave to ap[488]*488peal was then denied.” (Dkt. 7 at 2). As the Court recognized: “ ‘Where a petitioner, through no fault of his own, first learns of the outcome of a final appeal after the time for seeking habeas has expired, equitable tolling is appropriate.’ ” (Id.) (quoting Vasquez v. Greiner, 68 F.Supp.2d 307, 310 (S.D.N.Y.1999)).

Respondent notes that he is unable to speak to Petitioner’s knowledge of the fact that his appellate counsel, Mary Davidson, Esq., sought leave to appeal to the Court of Appeals' or that the request was denied. (Dkt. 12-1 at 2). Counsel for Respondent reached out to Ms. Davidson, who was “uncomfortable” speaking about her client. (Id.).

By Court order dated December 5, 2014, Petitioner was given an opportunity to respond to Respondent’s answer. (Dkt. 13). Petitioner failed to respond. Since Petitioner has failed to establish the appropriateness of equitable tolling, it appears that the petition is plainly barred on statute of limitations grounds.

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

Related

People v. Ketcham
712 N.E.2d 1238 (New York Court of Appeals, 1999)
Vasquez v. Greiner
68 F. Supp. 2d 307 (S.D. New York, 1999)
People v. Monroe
953 N.E.2d 806 (New York Court of Appeals, 2011)
People v. Glover
23 A.D.3d 688 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2005)
People v. Flowers
59 A.D.3d 1141 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2009)
People v. Monroe
82 A.D.3d 1674 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2011)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
110 F. Supp. 3d 485, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 81177, 2015 WL 3866269, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/monroe-v-rabsatt-nywd-2015.