Ceneus v. Talkin et al
Filing
6
ORDER granting 5 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis: For the reasons set forth in the attached Order, Ceneus's application to proceed in forma pauperis is granted solely for the purpose of this Order and the Complaint is dismissed. The Clerk is respectfully directed to close the case. Ordered by Judge John Gleeson on 7/10/2012. (Sheketoff, Julia)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
DUDLEY CENEUS,
Plaintiff,
- versus SANFORD TALKIN, Attorney at Law, and
IVAN A. VOGEL,
ORDER
12-CV-2737
Defendants.
JOHN GLEESON, United States District Judge:
Plaintiff, Dudley Ceneus, currently incarcerated at Gouverneur Correctional
Facility, brings this pro se complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against his former criminal
defense attorneys. Ceneus requests to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”), and I grant that
request solely for the purpose of this Order. For the reasons discussed herein, I dismiss the
Complaint.
BACKGROUND
According to the Complaint, Ceneus was represented by Sanford Talkin and Ivan
Vogel in a criminal matter. Compl. at 4. In the course of their representation of Ceneus, Talkin
and Vogel “filed only three pieces of boiler plate documents upon the court . . . [and] Talkin took
all of [Ceneus’s] money.” Id. As a result of defendants’ poor legal representation of him,
Ceneus lost his money, housing, business, and cat. Id. Ceneus contends that Talkin and Vogel
deprived him of effective assistance of counsel, in violation of the Sixth Amendment, for which
he seeks $750,000 in damages. Compl. at 4-5. He also asks the Court to bar Talkin and Vogel
from practicing law. Compl. at 5.
DISCUSSION
A.
Standard of Review
In reviewing the Complaint, I am mindful that Ceneus is proceeding pro se and
that his pleadings should be liberally construed and held “to less stringent standards than formal
pleadings drafted by lawyers.” Hughes v. Rowe, 449 U.S. 5, 9 (1980) (quoting Haines v. Kerner,
404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972) (internal quotation marks omitted); accord Erickson v. Pardus, 551
U.S. 89, 94 (2007); Harris v. Mills, 572 F.3d 66, 72 (2d Cir. 2009). Nevertheless, I am required
to dismiss sua sponte an IFP action if I determine it “(i) is frivolous or malicious; (ii) fails to
state a claim on which relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant
who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).
B.
Analysis
Because the Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, I
am required to dismiss it. A § 1983 action is properly brought only against a person acting under
color of state law. 42 U.S.C. § 1983; Am. Mfrs. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Sullivan, 526 U.S. 40, 49-50
(1999). Defense attorneys, including public defenders, do not act under color of state law when
“performing a lawyer’s traditional functions as counsel to a defendant in a criminal proceeding.”
Polk County v. Dodson, 454 U.S. 312, 325 (1981); Rodriguez v. Weprin, 116 F.3d 62, 65-66 (2d
Cir. 1997). Accordingly, Ceneus’s § 1983 claims against his defense attorneys are hereby
dismissed. 1
CONCLUSION
For the reasons discussed herein, the Complaint is dismissed. The Court certifies
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal would not be taken in good faith and
therefore IFP status is denied for purpose of an appeal. Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S.
438, 444-45 (1962).
1
Insofar as Ceneus seeks to bring a legal malpractice claim rather than or in addition to his § 1983
claim, the Court lacks original subject matter jurisdiction to hear any such claim and declines to exercise
supplemental jurisdiction to hear it. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1332, 1367(c)(3).
2
So ordered.
John Gleeson, U.S.D.J.
Dated: July 10, 2012
Brooklyn, New York
3
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