Trimm v. New York State Dept. of Corr's and Community Services

Opinion

USDC SDNY UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DOCUMENT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ELECTRONICALLY FILED DOC #: DUSTIN TRIMM, DATE FILED: 95/03/2024 Plaintiff, -against- NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND COMMUNITY 24-CV-2737 (NSR) SUPERVISION ACTING COMMISSIONER DANIEL F MARTUSCELLO III; NEW YORK ORDER OF SERVICE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COMMISSIONER CAROL A. MORSE; GREEN HAVEN SUPERINTENDENT MARK MILLER; BILLIE TUOHY (RN), Defendants.

NELSON S. ROMAN, United States District Judge: Plaintiff, who currently is incarcerated at Green Haven Correctional Facility, brings this action, pro se, under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that Defendants denied him adequate medical care. By order dated April 26, 2024, the Court granted Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”), that is, without prepayment of fees. ! STANDARD OF REVIEW The Court must dismiss a complaint, or portion thereof, that is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B), 1915A(b); see Abbas v. Dixon, 480 F.3d 636, 639 (2d Cir. 2007). The Court must also dismiss a complaint when the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3). While the law mandates dismissal on any

' Prisoners are not exempt from paying the full filing fee even when they have been granted permission to proceed IFP. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1).

of these grounds, the Court is obliged to construe pro se pleadings liberally, Harris v. Mills, 572 F.3d 66, 72 (2d Cir. 2009), and interpret them to raise the “strongest [claims] that they suggest,” Triestman v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, 470 F.3d 471, 474-75 (2d Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted) (emphasis in original).

DISCUSSION A. New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) The Eleventh Amendment bars from federal court all suits by private parties against a state unless the state consents to such a suit or Congress has validly abrogated its immunity. See Bd. of Trs. v. Garrett, 531 U.S. 356, 363-64 (2001); Pennhurst State Sch. & Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89, 98-100 (1984). A state’s immunity extends to state agencies such as DOCCS, which is an arm of the State of New York. See Alabama v. Pugh, 438 U.S. 781, 782 (1978) (per curiam); Dube v. State Univ. of New York, 900 F.2d 587, 594-95 (2d Cir. 1990). Because neither the State of New York nor its agencies have consented to be sued in federal court under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and Congress has not abrogated the state’s immunity, see Trotman v. Palisades Interstate Park Comm’n, 557 F.2d 35, 40 (2d Cir. 1977), Plaintiff’s claims

against DOCCS are dismissed as barred by the Eleventh Amendment. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(iii). B. Superintendent Bennett, Nurse Practitioners Paige-Connier and Armbruster, and Dr. Gusman Because Plaintiff has been granted permission to proceed IFP, he is entitled to rely on assistance from the Court and the U.S. Marshals Service to effect service.2 Walker v. Schult, 717

2Although Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure generally requires that a summons be served within 90 days of the date the complaint is filed, Plaintiff is proceeding IFP and could not have effected service until the Court reviewed the complaint and ordered that any F.3d. 119, 123 n.6 (2d Cir. 2013); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) (“The officers of the court shall issue and serve all process . . . in [IFP] cases.”); Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3) (the court must order the Marshals Service to serve if the plaintiff is authorized to proceed IFP)). To allow Plaintiff to effect service on Defendants New York State Department of

Corrections and Community Supervision Acting Commissioner Daniel F Martuscello III; New York State Department of Health Commissioner Carol A. Morse; Superintendent Mark Miller; and Billie Tuohy (RN) through the U.S. Marshals Service, the Clerk of Court is instructed to fill out a U.S. Marshals Service Process Receipt and Return form (“USM-285 form”) for Defendants. The Clerk of Court is further instructed to issue summonses and deliver to the Marshals Service all the paperwork necessary for the Marshals Service to effect service upon Defendants. If the complaint is not served within 90 days after the date summonses are issued, Plaintiff should request an extension of time for service. See Meilleur v. Strong, 682 F.3d 56, 63 (2d Cir. 2012) (holding that it is the plaintiff’s responsibility to request an extension of time for

service). Plaintiff must notify the Court in writing if his address changes, and the Court may dismiss the action if Plaintiff fails to do so. CONCLUSION The Court dismisses Plaintiff’s claims against the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(iii).

summonses be issued. The Court therefore extends the time to serve until 90 days after the date any summonses issue. The Clerk of Court is instructed to: (1) issue summonses for Defendants New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Acting Commissioner Daniel F Martuscello III; New York State Department of Health Commissioner Carol A. Morse; Superintendent Mark Miller; and Billie Tuohy (RN), complete the USM-285 forms with the

address for Defendants, and deliver all documents necessary to effect service to the U.S. Marshals Service; and (2) mail an information package to Plaintiff. The Clerk of Court is further directed to mail a copy of this Order to pro se Plaintiff at the address listed on ECF and to show service on the docket. SO ORDERED. Dated: May 3, 2024 White Plains, New York NELSON S. ROMÁN United States District Judge DEFENDANTS AND SERVICE ADDRESSES Acting Commissioner Daniel F Martuscello III New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Harriman State Campus, Bldg. #2 1220 Washington Avenue Albany, N.Y. 12226-2050 Commissioner Carol A. Morse New York State Department of Health Harriman State Campus, Bldg. #2 1220 Washington Avenue Albany, N.Y. 12226-2050 Mark Miller Superintendent Green Haven Correctional Facility 594 Route 216 Stormville, N.Y. 12582 Billie Tuohy, RN Green Haven Correctional Facility Green Haven Correctional Facility 594 Route 216 Stormville, N.Y. 12582