Jones v. Shiro et al

Filing 5

MEMORANDUM & ORDER. Plaintiff's 2 request to proceed in forma pauperis is granted. Plaintiff's claims against Commissioner Schriro and Warden Clemons are dismissed, and no summons shall issue as to those defendants. Plain tiff's remaining claims against Captain Holmes shall proceed. The United States Marshal Service is directed to serve the summons, complaint, and this Order upon the remaining defendant without prepayment of fees. A courtesy copy of the same pa pers shall be mailed to the Corporation Counsel for the City of New York. The Court certifies, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that any appeal would not be taken in good faith; therefore, in forma pauperis status is denied for purpose of an appeal. SO ORDERED by Senior Judge Allyne R. Ross, on 11/30/2011. C/mailed. (Latka-Mucha, Wieslawa)

, '-Ii" :,;~;::1"
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

'" NOV 3 0 2011

-------------------------------------------------------------x
PARIS JONES,
Plaintiff,

NOT FOR ELECTRONIC OR
PRINT PUBLICATION

-againstMEMORANDUM & ORDER
DORA S[C]HRIRO, Commissioner, N. Y.C.
Department of Corrections; WILLIAM CLEMONS ,
Warden; Capt. HOLMES,
Defendants.

--------------------------------------------------------------x
ROSS, United States District Judge:
Plaintiff Paris Jones, currently incarcerated at Rikers Island, brings this pro se civil rights
action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiffs request to proceed in forma pauperis, pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 1915, is granted. For the reasons discussed below, plaintiffs claims against
Commissioner Dora Schriro and Warden William Clemons are dismissed. Plaintiffs remaining
claims against Captain Holmes shall proceed.
STANDARD OF REVIEW

A district court "shall review, before docketing, if feasible or, in any event, as soon as
practicable after docketing, a complaint in a civil action in which a prisoner seeks redress from a
governmental entity or officer or employee ofa governmental entity." 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Upon
review, a district court shall dismiss a prisoner's complaint sua sponte if the complaint is "(I)
frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or (2) seeks
monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief." Id.; Liner v. Goord, 196 F.3d
132, 134 & n.l (2d Cir. 1999) (noting that, under the Prisoner Litigation Reform Act, sua sponte
1

*

BROOKLYN OFFIce
II-CV-5490 (ARR)

y

f)

Ir-

dismissal of frivolous prisoner complaints is not only permitted but also mandatory); see also
Tapia-Ortiz v. Winter, 185 F.3d 8, 11 (2d Cir. 1999). The Court construes plaintiffs pro se
pleadings liberally particularly because they allege civil rights violations. Erickson v. Pardus, 551
U.S. 89,94 (2007); Sealed Plaintiffv. Sealed Defendant #1,537 F.3d 185,191 (2d Cir. 2008).

DISCUSSION
Plaintiff alleges that on August 12, 2011, Captain Holmes, "confiscated footwear and
without following procedures did not issue any property rec[ ei]pts." Compl. at 4, ~ IV. Plaintiff
seeks "reimburs[e]ment for property taken and penalty afforded to the party for not following
procedure." Compl. at 5, ~ V.
'''It is well settled in this Circuit that personal involvement of defendants in alleged

constitutional deprivations is a prerequisite to an award of damages under § 1983. '" Farrell v.
Burke, 449 F.3d 470, 484 (2d Cir. 2006) (quoting Wright v. Smith, 21 F.3d 496,501 (2d Cir.
1994»; see also Blyden v. Mancusi, 186 F.3d 252, 264 (2d Cir. 1999). Thus, a plaintiff must
"allege a tangible connection between the acts of a defendant and the injuries suffered." Bass v.
Jackson, 790 F .2d 260, 263 (2d Cir. 1986). Moreover, liability under § 1983 cannot be generally
imposed on a supervisor solely based on his position because there is no respondeat superior or
vicarious liability under § 1983. In Ashcroft v. Iqbal, the Supreme Court held that "[b ]ecause
vicarious liability is inapplicable to Bivens and § 1983 suits, a plaintiff must plead that each
Government-official defendant, through the official's own individual actions, has violated the
Constitution." 129 S.Ct. 1938, 1948 (2009). Here, plaintiff fails to allege facts to support a claim
that Commissioner Dora Schriro's or Warden William Clemons' own actions violated plaintiffs
civil rights to make them liable under § 1983, and the complaint must be dismissed with respect to
those defendants.
2

-'

CONCLUSION
Plaintiff s request to proceed in fonna pauperis is granted. plaintiff s claims against
Commissioner Schriro and Warden Clemons are dismissed, and no summons shall issue as to
those defendants. Plaintiff s remaining claims against Captain Holmes shall proceed.
The United States Marshal Service is directed to serve the summons, complaint, and this
Order upon the remaining defendant without prepayment of fees. A courtesy copy of the same
papers shall be mailed to the Corporation Counsel for the City of New York. The Court certifies,
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that any appeal would not be taken in good faith; therefore, in
fonna pauperis status is denied for purpose of an appeal. Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S.
438, 444-45 (1962).

/S/

SO ORDERED.

ALLYNE R(ROSSZ:S
United States District Judge

Dated: November 30, 2011
Brooklyn, New York

3

SERVICE LIST:

Plaintiff:
Paris Jones
# 241-10-08951
RoNoDoC. / Adolescent Reception and Detention Center
11-11 Hazen Street
East Elmhurst, NY 11370