ROMEO WILLIAMS v. JOHN DOE #1, Correctional Officer, et al.

District Court, N.D. New York·Decided July 31, 2026·No. 9:25-cv-01503·Unknown

Opinion

9UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

ROMEO WILLIAMS,

Plaintiff, 9:25-1503 (ECC/MJK) v.

JOHN DOE #1, Correctional Officer, et al.,

Defendants.

APPEARANCES:

ROMEO WILLIAMS Plaintiff, pro se 14-B-2281 Green Haven Correctional Facility P.O. Box 4000 Stormville, NY 12582

ELIZABETH C. COOMBE United States District Judge DECISION AND ORDER I. INTRODUCTION On October 27, 2025, pro se plaintiff Romeo Williams ("plaintiff") commenced this action by submitting a complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 ("Section 1983), with an application to proceed in forma pauperis ("IFP"). Dkt. No. 1 ("Compl."); Dkt. No. 3 ("IFP Application"). The complaint asserted claims related to plaintiff's confinement in the custody of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision ("DOCCS"). See generally Compl. By Decision and Order filed on April 7, 2026 (the "April 2026 Order"), this Court granted plaintiff's IFP Application and reviewed the sufficiency of the complaint in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b). Dkt. No. 8. On the basis of that review, the Court dismissed plaintiff's complaint for failure to state a claim. Id. In light of plaintiff's pro se status, the Court provided plaintiff with an opportunity to amend his complaint. Id.

On July 14, 2026, plaintiff filed an amended complaint. Dkt. No. 11 ("Am. Compl."). II. SUFFICIENCY OF AMENDED COMPLAINT A. Legal Standard The legal standard governing the dismissal of a pleading for failure to state a claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915A was discussed at length in the April 2026 Order and will not be restated in this Decision and Order. See Dkt. No. 8 at 2-4. B. Summary of Amended Complaint With the amended complaint, plaintiff identifies the following individuals as new defendants: Correctional Officer Scott A. Hamburg ("Hamburg"), Correctional Officer Joseph A. Russo ("Russo"), Correctional Officer Robert P. Deep ("Deep"), Correctional Officer

Megan Lamonica ("Lamonica"), Correctional Officer Cory J. Murphy ("Murphy"), Correctional Officer J. Charles ("Charles"), Correctional Officer N. Vitale ("Vitale"), Correctional Officer Banks ("Banks"), Sergeant Lorraine S. Butler ("Butler"), and Nurse Shirley Dionne ("Dionne").1 See Am. Compl. at 1. The amended complaint also includes allegations against previously named defendants Correctional Officers Jason C. Waters ("Waters"), Ryan A. Giordano ("Giordano"), Jamie J. Napoli ("Napoli"), and Josiah R. Millington ("Millington"). See id. The complaint does not include any claims against Correctional Officer John Doe #1,

1 The Clerk of the Court is directed to amend the Docket Report to include these defendants. who was named as a defendant in the original complaint.2 See id. The following facts are set forth as alleged by plaintiff in his amended complaint. On May 27, 2022, plaintiff was housed in the Residential Mental Health Unit ("RMHU") at Marcy Correctional Facility ("Marcy C.F."). Am. Compl. at 2. Between 10:20 a.m. and

10:45 a.m., plaintiff was in his cell, A-1-3, "sitting on the toilet" when the cell door opened and the defendants "rushed" into his cell. Id. Plaintiff stood up and attempted to pull his pants on when Hamburg hit him with "some sort of armored riot shield causing [plaintiff] to fall backwards flipping over [. . .] the toilet." Id. at 3-4, 16. Banks, Napoli, and Butler sprayed plaintiff with "O/C spray" and kicked plaintiff while he was on the cell floor trying to protect himself from "strikes." Id. at 4, 18-19. Russo and Waters sprayed, kicked, and punched plaintiff and Lamonica "laid the weight of her body across plaintiff's legs" and pinned plaintiff to the floor. Am. Compl. at 4, 16-18. Giordano punched, kicked, sprayed, and hit plaintiff with his radio. Id. at 17. Plaintiff did not resist. Id. at 4. Plaintiff was restrained with handcuffs and shackles. Am. Compl. at 5. Millington

punched and kicked plaintiff with a metal object while plaintiff was restrained. Id. at 16-17. Murphy "dragged" plaintiff to the cell door, kicked him, and "pulled on the leg restraint chains. Id. at 5, 18. Plaintiff was moved to the Residential Crisis Treatment Program area and put in a "scalding hot shower," while still restrained. Id. at 5-6. Vitale, Charles, and Deep continued to assault and beat plaintiff for "2-3 minutes." Am. Compl. at 6. Deep kicked plaintiff in the genital area and held plaintiff's head under "scalding" water. Id. at 17. Vitale brought plaintiff to his feet by "grabbing and jacking" his arms up by the handcuffs. Id. Charles put his hand in plaintiff's pants and "digitally penetrated [plaintiff's] anal cavity with his finger." Id. at 19.

2 The Clerk of the Court is directed to amend the Docket Report to terminate this defendant. Vitale escorted plaintiff to the strip frisk area. Am. Compl. at 7. While plaintiff was in the strip frisk area, Dionne came into the room and told plaintiff, "you're not going to die" and directed officers to return plaintiff to his cell. Id. at 7-8. Dionne did not provide any medical attention and "doctored up plaintiff's medical reports to suggest that plaintiff's injuries were

superficial." Id. at 8-9. Plaintiff returned to his cold cell without clothing or running water. Am. Compl. at 9-10. Plaintiff was beaten again by unknown officers. Id. at 10. As Dionne walked by plaintiff's cell, he called out to her for medical attention. Id. Dionne denied his request. Id. Plaintiff remained in the cell, with only a smock. Am. Compl. at 11. Lamonica refused to provide a food tray. Id. Butler fabricated a report accusing plaintiff of having a weapon in his cell, covering his windows, and assaulting officers. Am. Compl. at 14-15, 20. As a result, plaintiff was sentenced to an additional term of incarceration. Id. at 15. At approximately 4:20 p.m., plaintiff was transferred to Mohawk Correctional Facility

("Mohawk C.F."). Am. Compl. at 11. Plaintiff was transferred again from Mohawk C.F. to Coxsackie Correctional Facility ("Coxsackie C.F.") where plaintiff was examined, via Tele- Health, by a doctor affiliated with Albany Medical Center. Id. at 12. Plaintiff was immediately transported to the emergency room to "address [his] medical condition/needs as a result of the assault." Id. Plaintiff received an eye patch, sutures over his eyes, and was diagnosed with a contusion. Id. at 13. Construing the amended complaint liberally3, plaintiff alleges the following: (1) Eighth Amendment excessive force and failure-to-intervene claims; (2) Eighth Amendment deliberate medical indifference claim; (3) Eighth Amendment claims related to conditions in

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ROMEO WILLIAMS v. JOHN DOE #1, Correctional Officer, et al., (N.D.N.Y. 2026).

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