MCKENNA v. TOWNSHIP OF SECAUCUS et al

Filing 42

OPINION. Signed by Judge Stanley R. Chesler on 4/14/14. (DD, )

NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

JOSEPH MCKENNA,
Plaintiff,
v.
TOWN OF SECAUCUS, SECAUCUS
POLICE DEPARTMENT, KIMBERLY
ELPHICK, and MARK SCHOCH,
Defendants.

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Civil Action No. 12-00884 (SRC)
OPINION

CHESLER, District Judge
This matter is before the Court on the motion for summary judgment filed by Defendants
Town of Secaucus, Secaucus Police Department, Kimberly Elphick, and Mark Schoch
(collectively, “Defendants”), pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(a). The Complaint
in this case arises from the issuance of two criminal summonses, which charge Plaintiff Joseph
McKenna (“Plaintiff”) with “Criminal Mischief” and “Falsifying an Address to Mislead a Public
Servant.” (Compl. ¶ 12.) The Complaint alleges three separate causes of action – a violation of
42 U.S.C. § 1983 premised upon what appears to be a poorly articulated Monell 1 municipal
liability claim; a violation of the New Jersey Civil Rights Act based on Defendants’ deliberate
indifference to “[P]laintiff’s rights . . . to be secure in his person from false arrest to liberty and
1

Defendants suggest the first cause of action sounds in Monell, and Plaintiff having failed to
suggest an alternative legal theory, the Court finds Defendants’ reading of the Complaint
reasonable. The Court notes that the first count may instead be one for malicious prosecution in
violation of § 1983. (See Compl. ¶ 25 (stating that Defendants acted to “coerce or oppress”
Plaintiff “either through an intentional malicious abuse of process or the issuance of process
without reason or probable cause”).) As will become clear, the abject lack of record evidence to
support any cause of action renders the classification of the first claim irrelevant.

due process of law and safety and personal security [sic]”; and a claim for malicious prosecution.
(See Compl. at 6.) Defendants move for summary judgment on all claims. Plaintiff has failed to
submit an opposition to the motion. 2
The burden shifting analysis that governs a Rule 56 motion is well-worn. Where the
non-moving party bears the burden of proof at trial, the moving party may discharge its burden at
summary judgment by “pointing out to the district court” “that there is an absence of evidence to
support the nonmoving party’s case.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 325 (1986). Once
this initial burden is satisfied, the nonmoving party can defeat the motion only by countering
with “specific facts which demonstrate that there exists a genuine issue for trial.” Siegel
Transfer, Inc. v. Carrier Express, Inc., 54 F.3d 1125, 1130-31 (3d Cir. 1995). Defendants’
argument as to all three claims is essentially the same – Plaintiff has adduced no facts to advance
his lawsuit, and judgment as a matter of law is appropriate. (See, e.g., Mov. Br. at 12 (regarding
Monell claim).)
In support of their motion, Defendants have submitted Plaintiff’s Answers to
Interrogatories, which indicate, inter alia, that Plaintiff has no knowledge of elements necessary
to his claims. (See, e.g., Grodeck Cert., Ex. C, at 5 (responding to question about the Township
of Secaucus’s alleged illegal “policy and custom” by stating that the allegation is “[u]nverifiable
by plaintiff at this time, pending discovery”).) Defendants further indicate that Plaintiff has
conducted no depositions (see Mov. Br. at 16), thus robbing the Court of any deposition
testimony that might create a genuine issue of material fact in this case. Finally, Defendants
offer the sworn interrogatory answers of Defendant Kimberly Elphick, a Secaucus police officer.
2

Pursuant to the motion calendar established by Local Civil Rule 78.1(a), Plaintiff’s opposition
was originally due on March 3, 2014. By letter Order dated March 5, 2014 this Court sua sponte
adjourned the motion an additional cycle to provide Plaintiff with another opportunity to file
opposition papers. [Docket Entry 41.] Plaintiff failed to response to this Order or take
advantage of the additional time.
2

Elphick’s answers provide an evidentiary basis for the filing of the criminal charges that appear
to have instigated this lawsuit. (See Grodeck Cert., Ex. E, at 3 (indicating that Plaintiff violated
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:28-3(b) by falsifying his mailing address).)
Mindful that a plaintiff’s failure to respond to a summary judgment motion is not by itself
a sufficient reason to grant summary judgment, the Court has reviewed Defendants’ arguments
and all relevant record evidence. See Anchorage Assocs. v. Virgin Islands Bd. of Tax Review,
922 F.2d 168, 175 (3d Cir. 1990). Based on this review, the Court concludes that there is no
evidence in the record to discredit Elphick’s explanation as to why criminal charges were filed
against Plaintiff. Indeed, after marshalling the limited record, and in light of Plaintiff’s failure
to submit any evidence, it is apparent that the record facts are simply insufficient to support any
claim in this case. In such a circumstance, where a party has failed “to make a showing
sufficient to establish the existence of . . . element[s] essential to that party’s case, and on which
that party will bear the burden of proof at trial,” Rule 56 “mandates the entry of summary
judgment.” See Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323. Defendants’ motion will therefore be granted, and
judgment entered in their favor on all claims.
An appropriate Order will be filed herewith.

s/ Stanley R. Chesler
STANLEY R. CHESLER
United States District Judge
Dated: April 14th, 2014

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