Dickinson v. New York State Commission of Corrections et al
Filing
18
DECISION AND ORDER: ORDERED that in accordance with the Second Circuit's Mandate, plaintiff's Notice of Appeal (construed as a request to reopen the time to appeal pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(6)) is GRANTED. ORDERED that the Clerk shall notify the Clerk of the Second Circuit of this Decision and Order; no further notice of appeal is required from plaintiff. Signed by Senior Judge Thomas J. McAvoy on 6/9/17. (served as directed)(alh, )
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
SHANNON C. DICKINSON,
Plaintiff,
9:16-CV-0898
(TJM/CFH)
v.
NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION
OF CORRECTION; et al.,
Defendants.
APPEARANCES:
SHANNON C. DICKINSON
16-A-4567
Plaintiff, pro se
Shawangunk Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 700
Wallkill, NY 12589
THOMAS J. McAVOY
Senior United States District Judge
DECISION and ORDER
I.
INTRODUCTION
Pro se plaintiff Shannon C. Dickinson commenced this action in July 2016, during his
confinement at the Warren County Correctional Facility. See generally Dkt. No. 1.1 Upon
review of the complaint in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(ii) and 28 U.S.C. §
1915A(1), this Court concluded that plaintiff's claims that his constitutional rights were
violated when his grievance appeals to the New York Commission of Correction ("COC")
1
Plaintiff's earlier filed action asserting claims against Warren County and several County officials and
employees arising out of the conditions of his confinement at that facility is pending. See Dickinson v. York,
9:16-CV-0152 (LEK/DEP) (N.D.N.Y. filed Feb. 10, 2016).
were not properly investigated and timely responded to were not cognizable in this Section
1983 action and were subject to dismissal. See Dkt. No. 5 ("August Order"). Judgment of
dismissal was duly entered by the Clerk. Dkt. No. 6.
Plaintiff's Notice of Appeal from the August Order and Judgment was duly filed by the
Clerk as of October 17, 2016. See Dkt. No. 9.2
In a Mandate issued on June 2, 2017, the Second Circuit, hav ing determined that
plaintiff's "notice of appeal was untimely filed," remanded the case to this Court with
instructions "to construe Dickinson’s notice of appeal as a motion to reopen under Federal
Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a)(6) and to consider whether such motion should be
granted." Dkt. No. 17 at 1-2.
II.
DISCUSSION
Rule 4(a)(1) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure provides with certain
exceptions not relevant in this action, that a notice of appeal in a civil action must be filed
with the district court clerk within 30 days "after entry of the judgment or order appealed
from." Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1). Rule 4(a)(6) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure
provides that a district court may reopen the time for appeal if the following conditions are
satisfied:
(A) the court finds that the moving party did not receive notice
under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 77(d) of the entry of the
judgment or order sought to be appealed within 21 days after
entry;
(B) the motion is filed within 180 days after the judgment or
2
Plaintiff filed both a Notice of Appeal dated Oct. 4, 2016 (Dkt. No. 11), and a Request for Leave to
Amend Appeal dated Oct. 11, 2016 (Dkt. No. 9). Both submissions were mistakenly filed with the Second Circuit
Court of Appeals; as instructed by the Clerk of that Court, the Notice of Appeal was filed here as of the date it
was received by the Second Circuit. See Dkt. No. 9-1; Dkt. No. 11-1.
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order is entered or within 14 days after the moving party receives
notice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 77(d) of the entry,
whichever is earlier; and
(C) the court finds that no party would be prejudiced.
Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(6). If the foregoing conditions are met, the appeal period may be
reopened for a period of 14 days from the date of the order reopening the time for appeal.
Id. The Second Circuit has stated that
[t]o qualify under subdivision (6), the movant must establish: (1)
that he was entitled to notice of the entry of the judgment; (2) that
he did not receive such notice from the clerk or any party within
21 days of its entry; (3) that no party would be prejudiced by the
extension; and (4) that he moved within 180 days of entry of the
judgment or within [14] days of his receipt of such notice,
whichever is earlier.
See Avolio v. County of Suffolk, 29 F.3d 50, at 52 (2d Cir. 1994).
According to the docket in this action, the Clerk served the Judgment on plaintiff on
August 23, 2016, by mail addressed to him at his address of record. See Dkt. No. 6.
However, as stated by plaintiff in his September 13, 2016 letter to the Clerk inquiring about
the status of this action, plaintiff had not received any "response" from the Court since filing
his complaint. Dkt. No. 7. By Order of this Court filed September 29, 2016, the Clerk was
directed to send plaintiff a second copy of the August Order and Judgment. Dkt. No. 8.
Plaintiff states that he received these documents on October 4, 2017. Dkt. No. 11 at 3-4.
Plaintiff's Notice of Appeal was dated that same day; his Request for Leave to Amend
Appeal is dated October 11, 2016. See Dkt. Nos. 9, 11.
Based upon this information, the Court is satisfied that plaintiff did not receive notice
of entry of the Judgment within 21 days of the date it was entered. Plaintiff's Notice of
Appeal was filed within 14 days from his receipt of notice of entry of Judgment and within 180
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days from the entry of Judgment. There is no basis in the record upon which this Court could
conclude that the opposing party would be prejudiced if the time to appeal is reopened.
Accordingly, the conditions set forth in Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(6) are deemed satisfied.
In accordance with the Mandate, plaintiff's request to reopen the time to appeal is granted.
The Clerk shall notify the Clerk of the Second Circuit of this Decision and Order; no further
notice of appeal is required from plaintiff. See Mandate at 2 ("Jurisdiction over the appeal
will be automatically restored to this Court, without the need for a new notice of appeal, upon
notification to the Clerk of Court within 30 days of the district court’s decision.").
III.
CONCLUSION
WHEREFORE, it is hereby
ORDERED that in accordance with the Second Circuit's Mandate, plaintiff's Notice of
Appeal (construed as a request to reopen the time to appeal pursuant to Fed. R. App. P.
4(a)(6)) is GRANTED; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk shall notify the Clerk of the Second Circuit of this Decision
and Order; no further notice of appeal is required from plaintiff; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk shall serve a copy of this Decision and Order on plaintiff and
notify the Clerk of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals of this Decision and Order.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: June 9 , 2017
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