Fabian v. Bukowski et al

Filing 43

DECISION AND ORDER: ORDERED, that the Fabian's Motion (Dkt. No. 31 ) for default judgment is GRANTED in part. ORDERED, that judgment enter for Fabian against Bukowski in the amount of $400,000. Signed by Senior Judge Lawrence E. Kahn on 10/30/17. (alh, )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
RAMON FABIAN,
Plaintiff,
-against-

9:16-CV-878 (LEK/DEP)

MICHAEL BUKOWSKI, Corrections
Officer, individually and in his official
capacity, et al.,
Defendants.

DECISION AND ORDER
I.

INTRODUCTION
This matter is before the Court on the issue of damages following entry of default against

Michael Bukowski, a former corrections officer with the New York State Department of
Corrections and Community Supervision (“DOCCS”). Dkt. No. 22 (“Entry of Default”). Plaintiff
Roman Fabian seeks a default judgment and compensatory damages of $800,000 for physical and
emotional injuries he claims to have suffered as a result of Bukowski’s use of excessive force.
Dkt. Nos. 31 (“Motion”), 40-2 (“DeSimone Affirmation”) at 2. For the following reasons, the
Motion is granted in part.
II.

BACKGROUND
In July 2014, Plaintiff became an inmate at Ulster Correctional Facility. Dkt. No. 1

(“Complaint”) ¶ 17. Several days after Fabian arrived at Ulster, Bukowski was conducting a
morning head count and yelled at Fabian, telling him to “shut up.” Id. After the head count,
Bukowski took Fabian to an area of the prison outside the view of other inmates and without
camera coverage. Id. Bukowski ordered Fabian to face a wall with his arms outstretched and legs

spread open. Id. Then, from behind, Bukowski kicked Fabian between the legs. Id. Fabian
collapsed; despite Bukowski’s orders to get up, Fabian had to crawl back to his cubicle in the
dormitory. Id.
Fabian remained on the floor of his cubicle for almost an hour before reporting to the
mess hall for lunch. Id. A sergeant then sent him to the facility’s medical unit, which in turn
loaded him into a van and drove him to a hospital in Albany. Id. The attack had ruptured Fabian’s
right testicle, a part of which was subsequently removed by doctors in emergency surgery. Id.
¶¶ 2, 17. Because of the attack, Bukowski was eventually charged with misdemeanor assault and
fired from his job with DOCCS. Id. ¶ 10.
Fabian commenced this action on July 18, 2016, alleging constitutional and state-law tort
claims against Bukowski and other defendants who are no longer parties to the case. Id.
¶¶ 10–11. Bukowski has not answered or otherwise appeared in this action, and the Clerk of the
Court noted his default on October 20, 2016. Default. Fabian then moved for a default judgment
against Bukowski on November 29, 2016. Mot.
In a Memorandum-Decision and Order dated April 25, 2017, the Court withheld decision
on Fabian’s Motion,“[b]ecause Fabian included no evidence or argument as to the appropriate
amount of damages.” Dkt. No. 32 (“April Order”) at 13. The Court ordered Fabian to provide
additional briefing and materials in support of his Motion. Id. at 14. Fabian filed such materials
on August 21, 2017, Dkt. No. 38, but again the Court withheld decision on the Motion, because
Fabian failed to provide sufficient particularity regarding the amount and types of damages to
which he is allegedly entitled, Dkt. No. 39 (“September Order”) at 4. Therefore, the Court again
requested that he file supplemental briefing and materials in support of his Motion. Fabian
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provided these materials on October 12, 2017. Dkt. Nos. 40 (“Letter Brief”), 40-1 (“Fabian
Declaration”), DeSimone Affirmation, 40-3 (“Albany Medical Records”), 40-4 (“DOCCS
Medical Records”).
In these latest filings, Plaintiff has narrowed his request for damages to compensatory
damages “in the amount of $800,000 . . .; $400,000 for past pain and suffering and $400,000 for
future pain and suffering.” DeSimone Affirmation at 2. Fabian alleges that he “experienced
extreme pain and suffering” due to Bukowski’s acts, “which continues to this day.” Fabian Decl.
at 2. He has submitted authenticated medical records in support of his claims. See Albany Med.
Records at 1; DOCCS Med. Records at 1–2.1
III.

LEGAL STANDARD
“Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55 provides a two-step process that the Court must

follow before it may enter a default judgment against a defendant.” Elec. Creations Corp. v.
Gigahertz, Inc., No. 12-CV-1423, 2013 WL 3229125, at *3 (N.D.N.Y. June 25, 2013) (quoting
Robertson v. Doe, No. 05-CV-7046, 2008 WL 2519894, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. June 19, 2008)). “First,
under Rule 55(a), when a party fails to ‘plead or otherwise defend . . . the clerk must enter the
party’s default.’” Id. (alteration in original) (quoting Robertson, 2008 WL 2519894, at *3).
Second, under Rule 55(b)(2), “the party seeking default judgment is required to present its
application for entry of judgment to the court.” Id. (quoting Robertson, 2008 WL 2519894,
at *3).

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The cited page numbers for these documents were generated by the Court’s electronic
filing system (“ECF”).
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“When a default is entered, the defendant is deemed to have admitted all of the wellpleaded factual allegations in the complaint pertaining to liability. . . .” Bravado Int’l Grp. Merch.
Servs., Inc. v. Ninna, Inc., 655 F. Supp. 2d 177, 188 (E.D.N.Y. 2009) (citing Greyhound
Exhibitgroup, Inc. v. E.L.U.L. Realty Corp., 973 F.2d 155, 158 (2d Cir. 1992)). Nevertheless,
“judgment against a defaulting party should be granted only after careful examination of the
moving party’s claim by the district court . . . . Indeed, a defendant’s default does not in itself
warrant a court in entering a default judgment because there must be a sufficient basis in the
pleadings for the judgment entered.” Amador v. Galbreath, No. 10-CV-6702, 2013 WL 1755784,
at *2 (W.D.N.Y. Apr. 24, 2013) (quoting Bianco v. Seaway Indus. Servs, Inc., No. 03-CV-84,
2004 WL 912916, at *1 (W.D.N.Y. Apr. 1, 2004)). “The Court . . . must review the allegations in
the complaint to determine if the elements of each claim have been adequately plead.” Colon v.
City of New York, No. 09-CV-8, 2012 WL 691544, at *4 (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 9, 2012), adopted by
2012 WL 686878 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 2, 2012). “The burden is on the plaintiff to establish its
entitlement to recovery.” Bravado Int’l, 655 F. Supp. 2d at 189.
Under Rule 55, damages in a default judgment may be determined by the court through a
hearing. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2); see also Greyhound, 973 F.2d at 158 (“Damages, which are
neither susceptible of mathematical computation nor liquidated as of the default, usually must be
established by the plaintiff in an evidentiary proceeding in which the defendant has the
opportunity to contest the amount.”). However, a hearing is not necessary when the court relies
“upon detailed affidavits and documentary evidence, supplemented by the District Judge’s
personal knowledge of the record,” to calculate a damage award. Tamarin v. Adam Caterers, Inc.,
13 F.3d 51, 54 (2d Cir. 1993). “[E]ven upon default, a court may not rubber-stamp the non4

defaulting party’s damages calculation, but rather must ensure that there is a basis for the
damages that are sought.” United States v. Hill, No. 12-CV-1413, 2013 WL 474535, at *1
(N.D.N.Y. Feb. 7, 2013) (alteration in original) (quoting Overcash v. United Abstract Grp., Inc.,
549 F. Supp. 2d 193, 196 (N.D.N.Y. 2008)); see also Braccia v. D’Blass Corp.,
No. 08-CV-08927, 2011 WL 2848146, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Jun. 13, 2011) (“When assessing
damages, a court cannot rely on the plaintiff’s statement of damages; rather damages must be
established ‘with reasonable certainty.’” (quoting Transatlantic Marine Claims Agency, Inc. v.
Ace Shipping Corp., 109 F.3d 105, 111 (2d Cir. 1997))), adopted by 2011 WL 2848202
(S.D.N.Y. Jul. 18, 2011). Such assessment “must be based on admissible evidence.” Braccia,
2011 WL 2848146, at *3 (citing Smith v. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, 262 F. Supp. 2d 217,
224 (S.D.N.Y. 2003)).
In addition, under Rule 54(c), “a default judgment must not differ in kind from, or exceed
in amount, what is demanded in the pleadings.” “By limiting damages to what is specified in the
demand for judgment, [Rule 54(c)] ensures that a defendant who is considering default can look
at the damages clause, satisfy himself that he is willing to suffer judgment in that amount, and
then default without the need to hire a lawyer.” Pauta v. Aena Mech. Corp., No. 11-CV-6374,
2014 WL 3855025, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Jul. 25, 2014) (quoting Silge v. Merz, 510 F.3d 157, 160
(2d Cir. 2007)). While a plaintiff is not required “to have demanded a sum certain [in the
complaint] in order to recover on default,” Ames v. STAT Fire Suppression, Inc., 227 F.R.D.
361, 362 (E.D.N.Y. 2005), the plaintiff must provide sufficient certainty in the motion for default
judgment to afford defendant a fair opportunity to object, see Pauta, 2014 WL 3855025, at *2

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(“Before that default judgment, Pauta served Aena with the motion for default judgment which
demanded sums certain and afforded Aena an opportunity to object.”).
IV.

DISCUSSION
Based on Bukowski’s default, Fabian’s testimony, and the submission of medical records

that corroborate such testimony, Fabian is entitled to a default judgment and compensatory
damages for the use of force against him. Fabian has alleged that Bukowski, acting under the
color of state law, maliciously and sadistically applied force against him in order to cause harm
rather than to maintain or restore discipline, and such force caused significant injury. Compl.
¶¶ 10, 17; see Wright v. Goord, 554 F.3d 255, 268 (2d Cir. 2009) (describing the “subjective”
and “objective” components of a prisoner’s Eighth Amendment excessive force claim). These
allegations, which must be deemed admitted in light of Bukowski’s default, are sufficient to
entitle Fabian to a default judgment with respect to his § 1983 excessive force claim.2
“When a plaintiff has been the subject of excessive force by a state actor, he is entitled to
recover damages to compensate him for any actual loss suffered as a result of the violation.”
Byrnes v. Angevine, No. 12-CV-1598, 2015 WL 3795807, at *6 (N.D.N.Y. Jun. 17, 2015) (citing
Atkins v. City of New York, 143 F.3d 100, 103 (2d Cir. 1998)). “The ultimate goal in awarding
compensatory damages is to make a plaintiff whole.” Id. (citing Hollis v. City of Buffalo, 28
F. Supp. 2d 812, 826 (W.D.N.Y. 1998)). “In awarding compensatory damages, the Supreme
2

While Fabian has also alleged various state law claims against Bukowski, including
battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress, Compl. ¶¶ 41–51, “the measure of
damages is the same under Section 1983 and under the state law claims,” Colon, 2012 WL
691544, at *10. Damages provided pursuant to § 1983 are typically sufficient to compensate
plaintiffs for their injuries. Id.; see also Dixon v. Agbai, No. 15-CV-850, 2016 WL 3702749, at
*2 (S.D.N.Y. Jul. 8, 2016), adopted by 2016 WL 5660246 (S.D.N.Y. Sep. 28, 2016). Therefore,
the Court will not address Fabian’s state law claims.
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Court has mandated that there be proof of actual injuries resulting from the deprivation of a
constitutional right; damages may not be awarded based upon the abstract value of the right
itself.” Colon, 2012 WL 691544, at *10 (citing Carey v. Piphus, 435 U.S. 247, 266 (1978)). “In
determining the amount of compensatory damages to appropriately award, a court should
consider amounts awarded in similar cases.” Byrnes, 2015 WL 3795807, at *6 (citing Hollis, 28
F. Supp. 2d at 826).
Here, Fabian has submitted admissible evidence documenting the actual injuries that he
suffered due to Bukowski’s actions. See Albany Med. Records at 41 (describing the surgery
required to repair Fabian’s “right testicular rupture”). However, despite the fact that Fabian had
three opportunities to submit evidence in support of his damages claim, he failed to submit all
but cursory information regarding his current condition; Fabian did not provide any corroboration
for his statement that the pain and suffering he experienced on July 22, 2014, “continues to this
day.” Fabian Decl. at 2; cf. Amador, 2013 WL 1755784, at *2 (describing testimony of Plaintiff’s
doctor regarding ongoing psychological injuries); Ortiz v. Lasker, No. 08-CV-6001, 2010 WL
3476017, at *2 (W.D.N.Y. Aug. 30, 2010) (describing Plaintiff’s testimony regarding ongoing
psychological injuries and corroborated treatment plan). In fact, the DOCCS Medical Records,
dated May 15, 2015, do not describe any ongoing health problems or mental health concerns.
E.g., DOCCS Med. Records at 4–5, 15.
With respect to the grievous injury that Fabian suffered on July 22, 2014, “[t]he amounts
awarded in excessive-force cases against police and corrections officers within this circuit run the

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gamut.” Byrnes, 2015 WL 3795807, at *8. In addition to the cases submitted by Plaintiff,3 the
Court has reviewed compensatory damages awards in other comparable cases involving injuries
to male genitalia that did not cause infertility or long-term sexual dysfunction and has determined
that Fabian’s request for $400,000 for past pain and suffering is appropriate. See, e.g.,
Dominguez v. Fixrammer Corp., 656 N.Y.S.2d 111, 113 (Sup. Ct. 1997) (awarding $485,660 for
past pain and suffering to plaintiff who required surgery to remove one testicle after workplace
injury); Wagner v. Kenific, 557 N.Y.S.2d 650, 653 (App. Div. 1990) (awarding $375,000 for
past pain and suffering to plaintiff whose genitals were burned by an exploding urinal).
However, as described above, Fabian has not presented any substantiated evidence
regarding his ongoing pain and suffering. Therefore, the Court denies his request for an
additional $400,000 to compensate for future pain and suffering. Cf. Dominguez, 656 N.Y.S. 2d
at 115–16 (awarding plaintiff de minimis damages for future pain and suffering, because his
doctor “testified that there was no injury to the penis, removal of the damaged testicle removed
the pain of the testicle, plaintiff could sustain an erection, and loss of the testicle did not affect
normal penile blood flow affecting sexual performance . . . ”).
V.

CONCLUSION
Accordingly, it is hereby:
ORDERED, that the Fabian’s Motion (Dkt. No. 31) for default judgment is GRANTED

in part; and it is further

3

The Court notes that Plaintiff’s counsel failed to provide proper citations for these
cases, Dkt. No. 38-1 at 2, making the Court’s research more difficult.
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ORDERED, that judgment enter for Fabian against Bukowski in the amount of
$400,000; and it is further
ORDERED, that the Clerk of the Court shall serve copies of this Decision and Order on
all parties in accordance with the Local Rules.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED:

October 30, 2017
Albany, New York

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