Schiller v. City of New York

245 F.R.D. 112, 73 Fed. R. Serv. 631, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39225, 2007 WL 1498059
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedMay 23, 2007
DocketNos. 04 Civ. 7922(KMK)(JCF), 04 Civ. 7921(KMK)(JCF)
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 245 F.R.D. 112 (Schiller v. City of New York) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Schiller v. City of New York, 245 F.R.D. 112, 73 Fed. R. Serv. 631, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39225, 2007 WL 1498059 (S.D.N.Y. 2007).

Opinion

[113]*113 MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

JAMES C. FRANCIS IV, United States Magistrate Judge.

These are two of many eases concerning the arrests of protestors during the Republican National Convention (the “RNC”) in New York City in 2004. Following the RNC, the New York Civil Liberties Union (the “NYCLU”) disseminated a questionnaire seeking information about alleged police misconduct during demonstrations that accompanied the convention. After about 80 lawsuits were filed, including these two cases in which the plaintiffs are represented by the NYCLU, the City of New York and the individual defendants (collectively, the “City”) subpoenaed documents from the NY-CLU, including the completed questionnaires. While the NYCLU produced some documents, it declined to disclose the questionnaires, contending that they are immune [114]*114from discovery on the basis of the attorney-client privilege and the First Amendment. Accordingly, the City has now moved pursuant to Rule 45(c)(2)(B) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for an order enforcing the subpoena and requiring the NYCLU to disclose the documents at issue. For the reasons that follow, the City’s motion is granted.

Background

The NYCLU is an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union. (Declaration of Donna Lieberman dated Feb. 22, 2007 (“Lieberman Decl”), ¶ 2). It is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to defending the constitutional rights of individuals. (Lieberman Decl., ¶ 2). To further this mission, the NYCLU engages in different modes of advocacy, including litigation, lobbying of government agencies, and publication of investigative reports on government practices that may pose a threat to civil liberties. (Lieberman Deck, ¶¶ 3, 4). The NYCLU has on several occasions challenged policies of the City and of the New York City Police Department (the “NYPD”) concerning the treatment of protestors at demonstrations. See, e.g., United for Peace and Justice v. City of New York, 323 F.3d 175 (2d Cir.2003); Stauber v. City of New York, Nos. 03 Civ. 9162, 03 Civ. 9163, and 03 Civ. 9164, 2004 WL 1593870 (S.D.N.Y. July 16, 2004).

In advance of the RNC, the NYCLU lobbied the NYPD, hoping to convince it to adopt certain practices in connection with the demonstrations that were anticipated. (Lieberman Deck, ¶ 9). It later represented groups seeking permits to demonstrate and distributed handbooks instructing protestors what to do in the event they were arrested. (Lieberman Deck, ¶¶ 10, 11). The NYCLU also determined that it would issue a report addressing police practices and interactions with demonstrators during the convention. (Lieberman Deck, ¶ 12). When the RNC began, the NYCLU used observers to monitor police conduct. (Lieberman Deck, ¶ 14). As it began receiving complaints, the NY-CLU routed them to an attorney who reviewed them to determine the appropriate response. (Lieberman Deck, ¶ 15). In some instances, the NYCLU referred persons who had been arrested to the National Lawyers Guild for individual representation, and in other cases it approached government officials directly, seeking relief on behalf of groups of protestors. (Lieberman Deck, ¶ 16). Ultimately, the NYCLU instituted these two cases.

On September 3, 2004, the NYCLU transmitted a questionnaire through an e-mail list that it maintains. (Lieberman Deck, ¶ 17). It also made the form available on its website and at its offices. (Lieberman Deck, ¶ 17). This questionnaire was entitled “NYCLU Pier 57 Intake Form,” and it provided space for the respondent to provide pedigree information; a description of any interaction with police personnel; information about use of force, questioning, or searches conducted by the police; a description of the conditions at Pier 57 where arrestees were processed and detained; the nature of any criminal charges; and an indication whether the respondent had been issued a desk appearance ticket. (Letter of Curt P. Beck dated Jan. 26, 2007 (“Beck 1/26/07 Letter”), Exh. A). The introduction to the forms states, “[t]he information you provide will help the NYCLU and other legal organizations document the policies and practices of the NYPD that interfere with lawful protest, so that we can effectively advocate for change.” (Beck 1/26/07 Letter, Exh. A). Furthermore, it directs the respondent to “indicate whether you wish your report to be kept confidential.” (Beck 1/26/07 Letter, Exh. A). According to the NYCLU, the questionnaire served a dual purpose: to assist in the determination whether to institute litigation and to provide information for a report on police conduct at the RNC. (Lieberman Deck, ¶ 17). In all, the NYCLU received more than 260 responses. (Declaration of Palyn Hung dated Feb. 22, 2007 (“Hung Deck”), ¶ 13; Lieberman Deck, ¶ 18). “As a result of the accounts it received following the [convention,” the NYCLU filed this litigation. (Lieberman Deck, ¶20). In addition, it issued a report entitled “Rights and Wrongs at the RNC,” which describes interactions between the police and protestors during the convention and makes recommendations for changes in tactics used by the NYPD at mass demonstrations. (Lieberman Deck, ¶ 21 & Exh. 6). The report contains a statistical summary of the complaints re[115]*115ceived as well as unattributed excerpts from the questionnaires. (Lieberman Decl., ¶21 & Exh. 6). The NYCLU indicates that it received permission from the person surveyed before quoting a questionnaire answer directly. (Lieberman Decl., ¶21). It disseminated the report to public officials, NY-CLU supporters, and the news media. (Lieberman Decl., ¶ 22).

On November 8, 2006, the City served a subpoena on the NYCLU, seeking a variety of documents including the questionnaires. (Beck 1/26/07 Letter, Exh. B; Hung Decl., ¶ 14). The NYCLU submitted a response on November 17, 2006, produced certain responsive documents, and identified relevant photographs and videotapes. (Hung Decl., ¶ 15). On December 11, 2006, it provided a privilege log asserting the attorney-client privilege with respect to each of the questionnaires. (Beck 1/26/07 Letter, Exh. C; Hung Decl., ¶¶ 16-27). On December 21, 2006, outside counsel for the NYCLU sent a letter to counsel for the City contending that the questionnaires were also protected from discovery by a First Amendment privilege. (Letter of Helene M. Freeman dated Dee. 21, 2006 (“Freeman 12/21/06 Letter”), attached as Exh. 1 to Declaration of Helene M. Freeman dated Feb. 22, 2007, at 2). Thereafter, the City filed the current motion.

Discussion

A. Attorney-Client Privilege

Rule 501 of the Federal Rules of Evidence provides:

Except as otherwise required by the Constitution of the United States or provided by Act of Congress or in rules prescribed by the Supreme Court pursuant to statutory authority, the privilege of a witness ... shall be governed by the principles of the common law as they may be interpreted by the courts of the United States in the light of reason and experience. However, in civil actions and proceedings, with respect to an element of a claim or defense as to which State law supplies the rule of decision, the privilege of a witness ... shall be determined in accordance with State law.

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Bluebook (online)
245 F.R.D. 112, 73 Fed. R. Serv. 631, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39225, 2007 WL 1498059, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/schiller-v-city-of-new-york-nysd-2007.