Collins v. Nassau County Correctional Center

Filing 5

ORDER: GRANTING 2 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. This action is consolidated with action 11cv5663 for all purposes, including trial, to proceed under docket number 11-cv-5663, with leave to move to sever the actions for the purpo se of any trial on the issue of damages within ten (10) days following the close of discovery in this consolidated action. The Clerk of the Court shall: (1) amend the caption of the lead case in accordance with this Order, (2) administratively close the actions assigned docket numbers other than the lead docket number, with leave to reopen as set forth herein and (3) forward to the United States Marshal for the Eastern District of New York copies of the summonses, complaints, and this order for service upon all named defendants without prepayment of the filing fee. When any pro se action relating to the subject matter of this consolidated action is hereafter filed in this Court, the Clerk of the Court shall: (1) assign such action a new cas e number (newly-filed action) to proceed before the undersigned and Magistrate Judge William D. Wall; (2) docket this order in each newly-filed action; (3) consolidate each newly-filed action with the consolidated action and make an appropriate entry on the consolidated actions docket so indicating; (4) mail a copy of this order to the plaintiff in the newly-filed action and so indicate on the consolidated actions docket; and (5) administratively close each newly-filed action. Any party to a new ly-filed action, i.e., the plaintiff filing the newly-filed action and any named defendant therein, may move to sever any claim raised in such newly-filed action that was not raised in the previous thirty-three (33) actions within thirty (30) days af ter the Clerk of the Court mails the plaintiff filing the newly-filed action a copy of this order, or they will be deemed to have waived their right to seek severance, except as otherwise provided herein, i.e., for trial on the issues of damages. Any plaintiff of a newly-filed action with a severed claim may proceed with such claim after the resolution of this consolidated action by moving to have the newly filed action reopened within thirty (30) days of the entry of judgment in this consolidat ed action, or the severed claim will be deemed voluntarily withdrawn. The United States Marshal Service shall serve the summonses and complaints, together with a copy of this order, upon defendants without prepayment of the filing fee. The Clerk of t he Court shall serve notice of entry of this order upon all parties in accordance with Rule 5(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including mailing a copy of this order to each plaintiffs address of record pursuant to Rule 5(b)(2)( C). The Co urt certifies pursuant to 28 U.S.C., Section 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this Order would not be taken in good faith and therefore in forma pauperis status is denied for the purpose of any appeal. Ordered by Judge Sandra J. Feuerstein on 2/13/12. C/M to pro se plaintiff(s) by first class mail. (Mahon, Cinthia)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

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WALTER LEE ANDERSON,

Plaintiff,
-against-

11-CV-5663(SJF)(WDW)

MR. SPIZZIOTA, individually and in his
official capacity as Sheriff of Nassau County,
"JOHN DOE" and "JANE DOE," Nassau County
Corrections, and NASSAU COUNTY
CORRECTION OFFICERS,
Defendants.

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SHAWN PETERSON,

Plaintiff,
11-CV-6200 (SJF)(WDW)

-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, individually and in his official
capacity as Nassau County Sheriff, "JOHN DOE,"
individually and in his official capacity as Warden of
Nassau County Jail, and "JOHN DOE," individually
and in his official capacity as Superintendent of
Nassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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ORDER

LAWRENCE MASON,

Plaintiff,
11-CV-6216 (SJF)(WDW)

-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, as Sheriff ofNassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden ofNassau County Jail, and
"JOHN DOE,'' Superintendent ofNassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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CECIL MYERS,

Plaintiff,
-against-

11-CV-6224 (SJF)(WDW)

MICHAEL SPOSATO, individually and in his official
capacity as Sheriff of Nassau County, "JOHN DOE,"
individually and in his official capacity as Warden of
Nassau County Jail, and "JOHN DOE," individually
and in his official capacity as Superintendent of
Nassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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TYRONE STEVENS,
Plaintiff,
11-CV-6225 (SJF)(WDW)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, individually and in his official
capacity as Sheriff ofNassau County, "JOHN DOE,"
individually and in his official capacity as Warden of
Nassau County Jail, and "JOHN DOE," individually
and in his official capacity as Superintendent of
Nassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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RAFAEL ROSARIO,

Plaintiff,
11-CV-6226 (SJF)(WDW)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, individually and in his official
capacity as Sheriff of Nassau County, "JOHN DOE,"
individually and in his official capacity as Warden of
Nassau County Jail, and "JOHN DOE," individually
and in his official capacity as Superintendent of
Nassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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PAUL DAIL,

Plaintiff,
11-CV-6227 (SJF)(WDW)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, as Sheriff of Nassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden ofNassau County Jail, and
"JOHN DOE," Superintendent of Nassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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JOHN VALLEJOS,

Plaintiff,
11-CV-6228 (SJF)(WD W)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, as Sheriff of Nassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden ofNassau County Jail, and
"JOHN DOE," Superintendent ofNassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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DARRYL ELLERBE,

Plaintiff,
11-CV-6231 (SJF)(WDW)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, Sheriff of Nassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden ofNassau County, and
"JOHN DOE," Superintendent ofNassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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ERICK ORTIZ,

Plaintiff,
11-CV-6233 (SJF)(WDW)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, as Sheriff of Nassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden ofNassau County Jail, and
"JOHN DOE," Superintendent of Nassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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BARNEY RIVERA,

Plaintiff,
11-CV-6245 (SJF)(WDW)

-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, individually and in his official
capacity as Sheriff of Nassau County, "JOHN DOE,"
individually and in his official capacity as Warden of
Nassau County Jail, and "JOHN DOE," individually
and in his official capacity as Superintendent of
Nassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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BENJAMIN CRAWLEY,

Plaintiff,
11-CV-6246 (SJF)(WDW)

-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, individually and in his official
capacity as Sheriff of Nassau County, "JOHN DOE,"
individually and in his official capacity as Warden of
Nassau County Jail, and "JOHN DOE," individually
and in his official capacity as Superintendent of
Nassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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JOHNNIE FLOYD,

Plaintiff,
11-CV-6247 (SJF)(WDW)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, as Sheriff of Nassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden ofNassau County Jail, and
"JOHN DOE," Superintendent of Nassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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VINCENTE OLIVA,

Plaintiff,
-against-

11-CV-6261 (SJF)(WDW)

MICHAEL SPOSATO, individually and in his official
capacity as Sheriff of Nassau County, "JOHN DOE,"
individually and in his official capacity as Warden of
Nassau County, and "JOHN DOE," individually
and in his official capacity as Superintendent of
Nassau County,
Defendants.

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ALE){ANDER GIL,

Plaintiff,
11-CV -6262 (SJF)(WDW)

-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, individually and in his official
capacity as Sheriff ofNassau County, ''JOHN DOE,"
individually and in his official capacity as Warden of
Nassau County, and ''JOHN DOE," individually
and in his official capacity as Superintendent of
Nassau County,
Defendants.

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CHRISTOPHER BRIGGS,

Plaintiff,
11-CV-6263 (SJF)(WDW)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, as Sheriff of Nassau County,
''JOHN DOE," Warden of Nassau County Jail, and
"JOHN DOE," Superintendent of Nassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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JOSEPH MICKENS,

Plaintiff,
11-CV-6265 (SJF)(WDW)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, as Sheriff ofNassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden of Nassau County Jail, and
"JOHN DOE," Superintendent ofNassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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ARTHUR EILLIS,

Plaintiff,
11-CV-6266 (SJF)(WDW)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, as Sheriff of Nassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden of Nassau County Jail, and
"JOHN DOE," Superintendent ofNassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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RICKEY LYNCH,

Plaintiff,
11-CV-6267 (SJF)(WDW)

-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, individually and in his official
capacity as Sheriff ofNassau County, "JOHN DOE,"
individually and in his official capacity as Warden of
Nassau County, "JOHN DOE," individually and in
his official capacity as Superintendent ofNassau
County, and COUNTY OF NASSAU,
Defendants.

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KEVIN HERNANDEZ,

Plaintiff,
11-CV-6268 (SJF)(WDW)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, Sheriff of Nassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden ofNassau County, and
"JOHN DOE," Superintendent ofNassau County,
Defendants.

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JOSE MOLINA,

Plaintiff,
11-CV-6286 (SJF)(WDW)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, as Sheriff of Nassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden ofNassau County Jail, and
"JOHN DOE," Superintendent of Nassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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JAVON STEVEN GAMBLE,

Plaintiff,
11-CV-6325 (SJF)(WDW)
-against"JOHN/JANE DOE," Nassau County Sheriffs Dept.,
"JOHN/JANE DOE," Nassau University Medical Center,
and OFFICER DE STEFFANO, Nassau County
Sheriffs Dept.,
Defendants.

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NELSON CONTRERAS,

Plaintiff,
12-CV-0159 (SJF)(WDW)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, Sheriff of Nassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden of Nassau County, and
"JOHN DOE," Superintendent ofNassau County,
Defendants.

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GENRI ACOSTA,

Plaintiff,
12-CV-0160 (SJF)(WD W)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, Sheriff ofNassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden ofNassau County Jail, and
"JOHN DOE," Superintendent ofNassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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OTONIEL CASTILLO RECINOS,

Plaintiff,
12-CV-0161 (SJF)(WD W)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, Sheriff of Nassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden ofNassau County Jail, and
"JOHN DOE," Superintendent ofNassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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VIDAL ESPINAL,

Plaintiff,
12-CV-0162 (SJF)(WDW)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, Sheriff of Nassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden of Nassau County, and
"JOHN DOE," Superintendent of Nassau County,
Defendants.

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LUIS UMPIERRE,

Plaintiff,

12-CV-0181 (SJF)(WDW)

-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, as SheriffofNassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden, "JOHN DOE," Superintendent
of Jail, and "JANE DOE," Armour CorrectiOnal
Health, Inc. of Jail,
Defendants.

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DION DELGADO,

Plaintiff,
12-CV-0183 (SJF)(WDW)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, Sheriff of Nassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden ofNassau County Jail, and
"JOHN DOE," Superintendent of Nassau County,
Defendants.

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RONNIE DUREN,

Plaintiff,
12-CV-0451 (SJF)(WDW)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, Sheriff, and "JOHN DOE 1-3,"
Officers,
Defendants.

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CHARLES RAYMOND MCCLENDON,
Plaintiff,

12-CV-0452 (SJF)(WDW)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, Nassau County Sheriff,
Defendant.

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CHRISTFUL FOUSE,

Plaintiff,
12-CV-0644 (SJF)(WDW)
-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, Sheriff of Nassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden ofNassau County Jail, and
"JANE DOE," Superintendent of Nassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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RHAMEL LAWSON,
Plaintiff,
12-CV-0645 (SJF)(WDW)

-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, Sheriff ofNassau County,
"JOHN DOE," Warden ofNassau County Jail, and
"JOHN DOE," Superintendent ofNassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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BASTIEN GERARD,
Plaintiff,
12-CV-0638 (SJF)(WDW)

-againstMICHAEL SPOSATO, "JOHN DOE," Warden of
Nassau County Jail, and "JOHN DOE," Superintendent
ofNassau County Jail,
Defendants.

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FEUERSTEIN, District Judge:
Between November 16, 2011 and the date of this order, the thirty-three (33) incarcerated

prose plaintiffs named above filed separate complaints pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 ("Section
1983") challenging the prison conditions at the Nassau County Correctional Center ("NCCC"),
accompanied by, inter alia, applications to proceed in forma pauperis. Plaintiffs' financial
status, as set forth in their declarations in support of their applications to proceed in forma

pauperis, quality them to commence the actions without prepayment of the filing fee.
Accordingly, plaintiffs' respective applications to proceed in forma pauperis are granted.

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I.

Consolidation of Actions
In their complaints and/or amended complaints, plaintiffs allege, inter alia: (1) the

existence of unhealthy, unsanitary and/or hazardous conditions at the NCCC, including (a)
unclean showers, sinks, toilets and cells, (b) faulty plumbing, (c) cells that are too cold, (d) bug
and mouse infestation and (f) poorly prepared, unsanitary and unwholesome meals; (2) that their
grievances and/or complaints about those conditions were ignored; and (3) that they are being
housed with an inmate who has "full blown AIDS disease," which poses an unreasonable risk of
harm to their health and safety. In addition, plaintiff Ronnie Duren ("Duren") contends, inter

alia, that certain "John Doe" corrections officers "bang[] the cell doors daily at 6:30a.m. as a
means of waking inmates" and that gates are banged throughout the day "which is very loud and
violent," (Duren Compl.,, IV); and plaintiff Charles Raymond McClendon ("McClendon")
alleges that the roof is leaking at the NCCC and that "medical and dental evaluations aren't being
met in a timely matter [sic]," (McClendon Compl.,, IV).
Rule 42(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that "[i]f actions before the
court involve a common question of law or fact, the court may: * * * consolidate the actions; or
issue any other orders to avoid unnecessary cost or delay." See Devlin v. Transwrtation
Communications Intern. Union, 175 F.3d 121, 130 (2d Cir. 1999). District courts have broad
discretion to determine whether consolidation is appropriate, see Johnson v. Celotex Corp., 899
F.2d 1281, 1284-1285 (2d Cir. 1990), and may consolidate actions under Rule 42(a) sua sponte.
See Devlin, 175 F.3d at 130. Consolidation "should be prudently employed as a valuable and
important tool of judicial administration, * * *, invoked to expedite trial and eliminate
unnecessary repetition and confusion." Devlin, 17 5 F .3d at 130 (internal quotations and citations

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omitted). Nonetheless, although considerations of judicial economy generally favor
consolidation, "(c]onsiderations of convenience and economy must yield to a paramount concern
for a fair and impartial trial." Johnson, 899 F.2d at 1285; see also Devlin, 175 F.3d at 130
("[E]fficiency cannot be permitted to prevail at the expense of justice

* * *.")

In determining

whether consolidation is appropriate, the court must consider:
Whether the specific risks of prejudice and possible confusion are overborne by
the risk of inconsistent adjudications of common factual and legal issues, the
burden on parties, witnesses, and available judicial resources posed by multiple
lawsuits, the length of time required to conclude multiple suits as against a single
one, and the relative expense to all concerned of the single-trial, multiple-trial
alternatives.
Johnson, 899 F.2d at 1285 (internal quotations and citations omitted).
All thirty-three (33) actions were recently filed and have not yet proceeded to discovery;
all of the complaints allege similar unsanitary and hazardous conditions existing at the NCCC,
indeed, many of the complaints and/or amended complaints are virtually identical; and there will
be minimal, if any, prejudice or confusion to the parties in consolidating these actions.
Therefore, in the interests of judicial economy and efficiency, and to minimize the expense and
. burden on all parties in prosecuting and defending multiple lawsuits, the thirty-three (33) actions
are consolidated for all pretrial purposes and for trial, which will be bifurcated on the issue of
liability and damages, with leave for any party to seek to sever the actions for the purpose of any
trial on the issue of damages within ten (10) days following the close of discovery in this

consolidated action. The actions will henceforth proceed under docket number 11-cv-5663 (the
"lead case"), all papers filed in these actions shall henceforth bear only the lead case docket
number, the caption of this consolidated action shall be amended in accordance with this Order

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and the actions assigned docket numbers other than the lead docket number shall be
administratively closed with leave to reopen for the purpose of any trial on the issue of damages.

II. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, it is hereby:
ORDERED that plaintiffs' respective applications to proceed in forma pauperis are
granted; and it is further,
ORDERED that the thirty-three (33) above-designated actions are consolidated for all
purposes, including trial, to proceed under docket number 11-cv-5663 (..the consolidated
action"), with leave to move to sever the actions for the purpose of any trial on the issue of
damages within ten (10) days following the close of discovery in this consolidated action; and
it is further,
ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall: (1) amend the caption ofthe lead case in
accordance with this Order, (2) administratively close the actions assigned docket numbers other
than the lead docket number, with leave to reopen as set forth herein and (3) forward to the
United States Marshal for the Eastern District ofNew York copies of the summonses,
complaints, and this order for service upon all named defendants without prepayment of the
filing fee; and it is further,
ORDERED that when any prose action relating to the subject matter of this consolidated
action is hereafter filed in this Court, the Clerk of the Court shall: (1) assign such action a new
case number ("newly-filed action") to proceed before the undersigned and Magistrate Judge

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William D. Wall; 1 (2) docket this order in each newly-filed action; (3) consolidate each newlyfiled action with this consolidated action and make an appropriate entry on the consolidated
action's docket so indicating; (4) mail a copy of this order to the plaintiff in the newly-filed
action and so indicate on the consolidated action's docket; and (5) administratively close each
newly-filed action; and it is further,
ORDERED that any party to a newly-filed action, i.e., the plaintiff filing the newly-filed
action and any named defendant therein, may move to sever any claim raised in such newly-filed
action that was not raised in the previous thirty-three (33) actions within thirty (30) days after
the Clerk of the Court mails the plaintiff filing the newly-filed action a copy of this order,
or they will be deemed to have waived their right to seek severance, except as otherwise provided
herein, i.e., for trial on the issue of damages. Any plaintiff of a newly-filed action with a severed
claim may proceed with such claim after the resolution of this consolidated action by moving to
have the newly-filed action reopened within thirty (30) days of the entry of judgment in this
consolidated action, or the severed claim will be deemed voluntarily withdrawn; and it is
further,
ORDERED that the United States Marshal Service shall serve the summonses and
complaints, together with a copy of this order, upon defendants without prepayment of the filing
1

The actions consolidated herein, and any newly-filed action hereunder, are deemed
"related" only to the extent that they relate to the subject matter of this consolidated action. Any
future civil action commenced by any of the prose plaintiffs in this consolidated action and any
newly-filed action hereunder shall not be deemed "related" within the meaning of Local Civil
Rule 50.3.l(e)(2) and, thus, shall not be automatically assigned to the undersigned unless such
plaintiff has filed an action unrelated to the subject matter of this consolidated action that was
previously assigned to me. Rather, any such future actions shall be either randomly assigned or
automatically assigned to the district judge who presided over any prior action filed by such
plaintiff.
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fee; and it is further,
ORDERED that pursuant to Rule 77(d)(l) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the
Clerk of the Court shall serve notice of entry of this order upon all parties in accordance with
Rule 5(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including mailing a copy of this order to each
plaintiffs address of record pursuant to Rule 5(b)(2)(C).
The Court certifies pursuant to 28 U.S. C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this Order
would not be taken in good faith and therefore in forma pauperis status is denied for the purpose
of any appeal. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438,444-45,82 S. Ct. 917,8 L. Ed.2d
21 (1962).

SO ORDERED.

s/ Sandra J. Feuerstein

Sandra J. Feuerstein
United States District Judge
Dated:

February 13, 2012
Central Islip, New York

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