Humphrey v. Syracuse Police Department et al

Filing 8

ORDER adopting 5 Report and Recommendations. The complaint is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) for failure to state a claim as against defendants SYRACUSE POLICE DEPARTMENT and CITY HALL and DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJ UDICE under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i-ii) for failure to state a claim as against defendant CITY OF SYRACUSE. Plaintiff has THIRTY (30) DAYS from the date of this Order to submit a proposed amended complaint that complies with the Report-Recommendation and this Order or this case will be closed. Signed by Judge Brenda K. Sannes on 11/29/17. (Copy served on plaintiff via regular and certified mail)(rjb, )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
___________________________________________
JOHN JAY HUMPHREY,
Plaintiff,
v.

5:17-CV-1088 (BKS/ATB)

SYRACUSE POLICE DEPARTMENT, et al.,
Defendants.
___________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
John Jay Humphrey
Syracuse, New York
Plaintiff, pro se
Hon. Brenda K. Sannes, United States District Court Judge
MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER
I.

Introduction
Plaintiff pro se John Jay Humphrey brought this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging

generally that the defendants have failed to equally enforce sections 375 and 1202 of the New
York State Vehicle & Traffic Law. (Dkt. No. 1). Plaintiff claims that the defendants have failed
to enforce these laws in poor neighborhoods, and that he has been injured attempting to avoid
garbage in the roads, illegally parked vehicles, and potholes. (Id.). On October 16, 2017, United
States Magistrate Judge Andrew T. Baxter issued a Report-Recommendation and Order
recommending that the complaint be dismissed with prejudice under 28 U.S.C. §
1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) for failure to state a claim as against defendants Syracuse Police Department
and City Hall, and that the complaint be dismissed without prejudice under 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(i-ii) for failure to state a claim as against defendant City of Syracuse. (Dkt. No.

5, at 13). Plaintiff has filed a timely objection to the Report-Recommendation. (Dkt. No. 6).
For the reasons set forth below, the Report-Recommendation is adopted in its entirety.
II.

Standard of Review
This court reviews de novo those portions of the Magistrate Judge’s findings and

recommendations that have been properly preserved with a specific objection. Petersen v.
Astrue, 2 F. Supp. 3d 223, 228–29 (N.D.N.Y. 2012); 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). Findings and
recommendations as to which there was no properly preserved objection are reviewed for clear
error. Id. “A proper objection is one that identifies the specific portions of the [Report and
Recommendation] that the objector asserts are erroneous and provides a basis for this assertion.”
Kruger v. Virgin Atlantic Airways, Ltd., 976 F. Supp. 2d 290, 296 (E.D.N.Y. 2013) (citation
omitted). Properly raised objections must be “specific and clearly aimed at particular findings”
in the Report. Molefe v. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, 602 F. Supp. 2d 485, 487 (S.D.N.Y. 2009).
Findings and recommendations as to which there was no properly preserved objection are
reviewed for clear error. Id. “To the extent . . . that the party makes only conclusory or general
arguments . . . the Court will review the Report strictly for clear error.” DiPilato v. 7-Eleven,
Inc., 662 F Supp. 2d 333, 339 (S.D.N.Y. 2009).
III.

Discussion
In his Report, Magistrate Judge Baxter concluded that the Syracuse Police Department

and City Hall should be dismissed with prejudice because a department of a municipality cannot
be sued independently under § 1983. (Dkt. No. 5, at 5). With respect to the City of Syracuse,
Magistrate Judge Baxter found that the complaint failed to adequately allege a “policy” of the
City that has caused the alleged violation of his constitutional rights as required by Monell v.
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Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658 (1978). (Id. at 5–6). Magistrate Judge Baxter noted that
“poverty,” standing alone, is not a suspect classification with respect to plaintiff’s equal
protection claim, citing to Harris v. McRae, 448 U.S. 297 (1980), and determined that the
complaint failed to state an equal protection claim. (Id. at 6–10). Finally, Magistrate Judge
Baxter concluded that plaintiff had failed to allege facts plausibly suggesting that he has the
requisite injury necessary for constitutional standing. (Id. at 11–12).
As best as the Court can discern, plaintiff objects to Magistrate Judge Baxter’s reliance
on Harris v. McRae, 448 U.S. 297, 323 (1980) regarding suspect classifications, and to the
recommendation that City Hall be dismissed with prejudice. 1 Having reviewed these objections
de novo, the Court finds that both are without merit. “The Supreme Court has consistently held
that poverty without more is not a suspect classification.” Woe v. Cuomo, 729 F.2d 96, 103–104
(2d Cir. 1984) (citing Harris v. McRae, 448 U.S. 297, 323 (1980)). The Court agrees with
Magistrate Judge Baxter’s reasoning regarding the Equal Protection Clause, and his conclusion
that the complaint fails to state an equal protection claim. (Dkt. No. 5, at 9–10). And, as set
forth in the Report, plaintiff may not sue a department of the City of Syracuse separately from
the City. Bailey v. New York City Police Dep’t, 910 F. Supp. 116, 117 (E.D.N.Y. 1996). The
Court has reviewed the remainder of the Report for clear error and found none, and therefore
adopts the Report in its entirety.
WHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, it is hereby

1

Magistrate Judge Baxter correctly assumed that the facts in the complaint are true, (Dkt. No. 5 at 2–4),
and plaintiff has not raised any objection to that portion of the Report. The Court has not therefore
addressed the various factual assertions plaintiff now makes in his objection.

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ORDERED that Magistrate Judge Baxter’s Report-Recommendation (Dkt. No. 5) is
ADOPTED in all respects; and it is further
ORDERED that the complaint is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE under 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) for failure to state a claim as against defendants SYRACUSE POLICE
DEPARTMENT and CITY HALL; and it is further
ORDERED that that the complaint is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE under 28
U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i-ii) for failure to state a claim as against defendant CITY OF
SYRACUSE, and it is further
ORDERED that plaintiff has THIRTY (30) DAYS from the date of this Order to submit
a proposed amended complaint that complies with the Report-Recommendation and this Order;
and it is further
ORDERED that if plaintiff files a proposed amended complaint within the time allotted
or within any approved extension of time, the proposed amended complaint be returned to
Magistrate Judge Baxter for further review; and it is further
ORDERED that if plaintiff does not file a proposed amended complaint within the time
allotted, the complaint is dismissed with prejudice and the Clerk is directed to enter Judgment
without further Order of the Court.

IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: November 29, 2017
Syracuse, New York

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