Riverhead Park Corp. v. Cardinale

881 F. Supp. 2d 376, 2012 WL 3062135, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 104586
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedJuly 26, 2012
DocketNo. 07-CV-4133 (ADS)(ARL)
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 881 F. Supp. 2d 376 (Riverhead Park Corp. v. Cardinale) 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
Riverhead Park Corp. v. Cardinale, 881 F. Supp. 2d 376, 2012 WL 3062135, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 104586 (E.D.N.Y. 2012).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION AND ORDER

SPATT, District Judge.

The Plaintiffs Riverhead Park Corp. (“RPC”), Stanley Blumenstein, and Laurence Oxman commenced this action against the Town of Riverhead (“Town”) and, individually, against Philip Cardinale, George Bartunek, Barbara Blass, Leroy E. Barnes, Dawn C. Thomas, and Rose Sanders (“the Defendants”) pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and 42 U.S.C. § 1985, alleging conspiracy and violations of the Plaintiffs’ procedural due process rights, substantive due process rights, and equal protection rights under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. The Defendant Thomas now moves for summary judgment pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (“Fed. R. Civ. P.”) 56, dismissing the Complaint insofar as it asserts allegations against her individually. The Plaintiffs oppose this motion. In addition, the Plaintiffs cross-move to amend the Complaint to add state law and § 1983 malicious prosecution claims and to withdraw and eliminate causes of action for equal protection and conspiracy.

For the reasons set forth below, Defendant Thomas’ motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint against her individually is granted, and the Plaintiffs’ cross-motion to amend the Complaint is granted with respect to the withdrawal of claims and denied with respect to the addition of claims.

I. BACKGROUND

A. The Initial Dispute

The Plaintiffs are the former owners of a thirteen (13) acre parcel of land (“the Parcel”) located on the south side of County Route 58, in the Town of Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York. The Defendants are the Town of Riverhead and sev[378]*378eral of its board members and employees. Defendant Thomas is the Town Attorney.

On January 9, 2004, the Plaintiffs completed the purchase of the Parcel for the sum of $825,000. At the time of the purchase, the Parcel was located in the Town of Riverhead’s Industrial A zoning use district, which prohibited retail use but permitted agricultural use. However, the Town of Riverhead had recently adopted a Comprehensive Plan which recommended that most of the town, including the Parcel, be rezoned to Business Center, which permitted retail use and prohibited agricultural use. The rezoning took effect on October 12, 2004, when the Local Law was filed with the New York Secretary of State. The parties dispute whether the Town Board was required by Town Code § 44-6(B)(5) to submit the proposed zoning change to the Farmland Preservation Committee for review prior to enacting it.

On either October 1, 2004 (according to the Defendants) or October 2, 2004 (according to the Plaintiffs), the Plaintiffs began clearing the Parcel of trees and vegetation and filling the wetlands. On October 4th, 2004, the Plaintiffs were served with a Stop Work Order (“SWO”) for the clearing of land without a permit, citing a violation of Town Code § 52-8.2 “Land Clearing Permits.” The SWO was signed by the Defendant Thomas. The Plaintiffs continued to clear and fill the land at least through October 5, 2004. On October 5 and October 7, 2004, the Plaintiffs were served with two additional Stop Work Orders, signed by the Defendant Barnes. The Plaintiffs were also issued a number of summonses by the Town.

B. The State Court Action

On October 22, 2004, the Town commenced an action, Town of Riverhead v. Riverhead Park Corp., Index No. 25539/2004 (N.Y.Sup.Ct.), before the Honorable Justice Joseph Farnetti, (“the State Action”) against the Plaintiffs in the Supreme Court of Suffolk County. Also on October 22, 2004, the Town obtained a Temporary Restraining Order (“TRO”) preventing the Plaintiffs from any further clearing, filling, or agricultural practices on the Parcel. The TRO remained in place until March 31, 2008, when the Town’s motion for a preliminary injunction was denied by Justice Farnetti. On October 5, 2010, Justice Farnetti granted the motion by the Plaintiffs (the defendants in the state action) for summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that the Town lacked capacity to sue without a Town Board resolution authorizing the suit, which had not occurred.

The Town moved to vacate, reargue, and renew the decision. The motion was denied by Justice Farnetti on October 13, 2011, on the ground that the Town had failed to present new or overlooked facts or law sufficient to overturn the order. In the interim period, the Plaintiff RPC filed for bankruptcy, and the Parcel was subsequently sold by the mortgagee pursuant to the bankruptcy proceedings on October 18, 2010.

C. The Present Action

On October 3, 2007, the Plaintiffs commenced the present suit, pursuing causes of action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and 42 U.S.C. § 1985, alleging conspiracy and violations of the Plaintiffs’ procedural due process rights, substantive due process rights, and equal protection rights under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. The Plaintiffs allege that the Defendants violated their rights through the issuance of the SWOs and summonses; the enactment of a zoning change without prior submission to the Farmland preservation committee; the Town’s allegedly selective enforcement of the Town Code against the Plaintiffs; and an alleged conspiracy to [379]*379deprive the Plaintiffs of the use of their property. The Plaintiffs allege each cause of action against every Defendant. On October 10, 2011, the Defendant Thomas moved for summary judgment pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 56 dismissing the complaint against her individually. The Plaintiffs oppose the motion, and on November 21, 2011, the Plaintiffs cross-moved to amend the complaint to add state law and § 1983 malicious prosecution claims based on the State Action and to withdraw and eliminate the causes of action for equal protection and conspiracy. The Defendants oppose the Plaintiffs’ cross-motion.

II. DISCUSSION

A. As to the Plaintiffs’ Cross Motion to Amend

1. Legal Standard on a Motion to Amend

As an initial matter, because they seek to add claims based on events that occurred after the filing of the complaint, the Plaintiffs’ motion is more properly classified as one for leave to serve a supplemental pleading under Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(d) (“Rule 15(d)”). Rule 15(d) states in relevant part that “the court may, on just terms, permit a party to serve a supplemental pleading setting out any transaction, occurrence, or event that happened after the date of the pleading to be supplemented.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(d). As a general matter, Rule 15(d) “reflects a liberal policy favoring a merit-based resolution of the entire controversy between the parties.” Witkowich v.

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
881 F. Supp. 2d 376, 2012 WL 3062135, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 104586, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/riverhead-park-corp-v-cardinale-nyed-2012.