Sachs v. Cantwell et al
Filing
135
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER: For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiffs motion for spoliation sanctions is DENIED.The Court dismisses the John Doe Defendants #1-4 from the case, as they were not identified before the close of discovery. The City Defendan ts motion for summary judgment on Plaintiffs state law and § 1983 claims of false arrest, malicious prosecution, and excessive use of force in handcuffing Plaintiff is GRANTED. The City Defendants motion for summary judgment on Plaintiffs Monell claim is GRANTED. The City Defendants motion for summary judgment on Plaintiffs claims that Defendant Musa used excessive force in effecting her arrest is DENIED.The Private Defendants motion for summary judgment on Plaintiffs malicious prosecution and negligent retention claims is GRANTED. The Private Defendants motion for summary judgment on Plaintiffs assault and battery claims against Sagendorf, S&W Operating, and Fourth Wall is DENIED.The Clerk of Court is directed to close the motions at docket numbers 77, 88 and 94. (Signed by Judge J. Paul Oetken on 9/4/2012) (js)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
--------------------------------------------------------------X
:
JENNIFER SACHS,
:
Plaintiff,
:
:
-against:
:
WILLIAM CANTWELL, et al.,
:
Defendants. :
:
------------------------------------------------------------- X
10 Civ. 1663 (JPO)
MEMORANDUM
OPINION AND ORDER
J. PAUL OETKEN, District Judge:
Plaintiff Jennifer Sachs (“Plaintiff”) filed this lawsuit asserting various claims arising out
of an incident that occurred in March 2009 at the bar of Wollensky’s Grill in Manhattan.
Plaintiff brings suit against the City of New York, Police Officer William Cantwell, Police
Officer Joseph Musa, Police Officer Alexandra Paquette, and John Doe Police Officers #1-3
(collectively, the “City Defendants”); and against Patrick Ford, Aaron Sagendorf, John Doe #4
(referred to by the parties as “Mike”), Smith & Wollensky Operating Corporation (“S&W
Operating”), and Fourth Wall Restaurants, LLC (“Fourth Wall”) (collectively, the “Private
Defendants”).
Plaintiff asserts the following claims against the City Defendants: constitutional claims
under 28 U.S.C. § 1983 against all of the City Defendants for false arrest, malicious prosecution,
and excessive use of force in violation of her constitutional rights; state law assault and battery
claims against Officer Musa for using excessive force during Plaintiff’s arrest; state law false
arrest claims against Officer Cantwell, Officer Musa, and John Doe Officers #1-3; state law
1
malicious prosecution claims against all of the Defendant Police Officers; and a Monell claim
against the City of New York.
Plaintiff asserts the following claims against the Private Defendants: assault and battery
claims against Defendants Sagendorf, John Doe #4 (“Mike”), S&W Operating, and Fourth Wall;
malicious prosecution claims against all of the Private Defendants; and negligent retention
claims against S&W Operating and Fourth Wall.
The City Defendants and the Private Defendants have each collectively moved for
summary judgment on all claims against them. (Dkt. Nos. 88, 94.)
Plaintiff has moved for sanctions based on the alleged spoliation of evidence on the part
of the Private Defendants and City Defendants Officers Cantwell, Musa, and Paquette. (Dkt. No.
77.) Both sets of defendants have opposed her motion.
For the reasons set forth below, the Court denies Plaintiff’s motion for spoliation of
evidence sanctions. The Court denies summary judgment on Plaintiff’s assault and battery and
excessive use of force claims against City Defendant Officer Musa (both under state law and
under § 1983) and Plaintiff’s state law assault and battery claims against Private Defendants
Sagendorf, S&W Operating, and Fourth Wall. The Court dismisses the claims against John Doe
Officers #1-3 and against John Doe #4. The Court grants summary judgment to the defendants
on all other claims.
2
I.
Background
A.
Facts 1
The case before the Court stems from an altercation that occurred on the night of March
2-3, 2009 at Wollensky’s Grill (“Wollensky’s”), located at East 49th Street and Third Avenue,
New York, New York. (Complaint, Dkt. No. 1, (“Compl.”) at 1.) That evening, Plaintiff
Jennifer Sachs was a patron of the bar at Wollensky’s. (Private Defendant’s Statement of
Undisputed Facts Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 56.1, Dkt. No. 100, (“Private Defs. 56.1 Stmt.”) ¶
4.) Defendant Smith & Wollensky Operating Corporation (“S&W Operating”) owns
Wollensky’s and Defendant Fourth Wall Restaurants, LLC (“Fourth Wall”) manages and
employs those who work there. Defendant Aaron Sagendorf was employed by Fourth Wall as a
manager at Wollensky’s and Defendant Patrick Ford was employed by Fourth Wall as a
bartender at Wollensky’s. (Id. at ¶ 2-3.)
The exact relationship among Wollensky’s, S&W Operating, Fourth Wall, and the
Private Defendant employees is unclear from the record. The Private Defendants contend that
S&W Operating “does not employ or supervise” Sagendorf or Ford, and that they are employed
only by Fourth Wall. (Id. ¶ 1.) However, there is no dispute that Fourth Wall is S&W
Operating’s agent for the purposes of running Wollensky’s.
1.
The Dispute Between Plaintiff and Defendant Ford
Sachs arrived at the bar at about 12:30 a.m. on March 3, 2009. While at the bar, Ford
served Sachs one or two glasses of wine. Sachs asserts that she had nothing else to drink that
night besides the two glasses of wine. (Declaration of Steve Stavridis in Support of Motion for
1
The following facts are drawn from the parties’ statements of undisputed facts and other submissions filed in
connection with the motions for summary judgment.
3
Summary Judgment (“Stavridis Dec.”), Ex. K, Deposition of Jennifer Sachs, Dkt. No. 92,
(“Sachs Dep.”) at 160.) Sachs claims that the altercation began when Ford propositioned her,
and she refused. (Compl. ¶¶ 24-26.) Ford asserts that the altercation began when he cut her off
from further drinking. (Affidavit of John Mulcahy in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment,
Dkt. No. 95 (“Mulcahy Aff.”), Ex. F (“Ford Dep.”) at 26.) Neither side disputes that just before
1:30 a.m., Plaintiff angrily threw a glass water pitcher at Ford, which subsequently broke into
pieces behind the bar. 2 (City Defendants’ Statement of Undisputed Facts Pursuant to Local Civil
Rule 56.1, Dkt. No. 91, (“City Defs. 56.1 Stmt.”) ¶¶ 10-11.) Ford contends that the pitcher hit
him in the side of the head and bounced off, but Plaintiff disputes that the pitcher ever hit Ford.
(Ford Dep. at 26, 29; Plaintiff’s Rule 56.1 Statement in Opposition to City of New York et al.
Motion to Dismiss, Dkt. No. 112, (“Pl. 56.1 Resp. - City Defs.”) ¶¶ 10-11.)
The parties disagree sharply as to what happened next.
2.
The Dispute Between Plaintiff and Defendant Sagendorf
a.
Plaintiff’s Version
Plaintiff alleges that after throwing the pitcher, she walked to the door of Wollensky’s
and opened it. At that point, Sagendorf and a patron named “Mike” 3 grabbed her and pulled her
back inside the vestibule of the restaurant. She claims that they then pushed, pulled, and
scratched her and slammed down her hand when she used her cell phone to dial 911. Plaintiff
2
In a later submission to the Court after the motions were fully briefed, Plaintiff denied for the first time that she
threw a pitcher at all, and stated that “S&W doesn’t even serve pitchers to its[] patrons.” (Dkt. No. 134 at 26.)
However, the Court does not find this (unsworn) statement credible or supported by the evidence in the record.
3
Plaintiff claims that “Mike” is the name of the bar patron who assaulted her, and believes that Wollensky’s or its
employees know who he is or have information that could help identify him. Sagendorf asserts that he does not
know the patron. Plaintiff asserts that in the tape of her 911 call, she can hear Sagendorf shouting “Mike! Mike!
Stay on your knees!” (Plaintiff’s Memorandum in Support of Motion for Spoliation of Evidence, Dkt. No. 78 (“Pl.
Spol. Mem.”), Ex. L, Jennifer Sachs Affidavit.)
4
successfully dialed 911 shortly after 1:30 a.m. Plaintiff claims that at that point either Sagendorf
or Mike knocked Plaintiff on the head, throwing her to the ground, where she blacked out. At
around 1:34 a.m., Sachs alleges that she lay on the ground in the vestibule while Mike punched
her hand and shouted “you fucking Jew” at her. (Compl. ¶ 32.)
b.
The Private Defendants’ Version
The Private Defendants present a very different description of the course of events.
Sagendorf asserts that after hearing the pitcher break, he turned to find Plaintiff raising her wine
glass as if to throw it at Ford. (Stavridis Dec., Ex. M (“Sagendorf Dep.”), at 33.) Sagendorf
approached Plaintiff, asked her to leave, and held her by the shoulder to escort her to the
vestibule exit. Sagendorf asserts that, once in the vestibule, Plaintiff began assaulting him by
striking him in the face with her open hand and kicking him in the groin. (Sagendorf Dep. at 3438.) To avoid being kicked, Sagendorf contends that he grabbed Plaintiff’s kicking leg, at which
time Plaintiff fell to the ground. Sagendorf then used his knee to pin her to the ground. (Id. at
38-39.)
Police recordings show that at approximately 1:32 a.m., while on the ground being
pinned down by Sagendorf, Plaintiff called 911. (Sagendorf Dep. at 39; City Defs. 56.1 Stmt. ¶
5.) Sagendorf directed Ford also to call 911. According to the police records, Ford’s call came
in at 1:33 a.m. 4 (City Defs. 56.1 Stmt. ¶ 5.) Sagendorf asserts that after the call, he let Plaintiff
stand up, but that when she tried to kick him again, he again caught her leg, causing her to fall.
He pinned her down the final time by sitting on her legs. (Sagendorf Dep. at 40.) At that time,
4
In a subsequent submission to the Court, Plaintiff goes to great lengths to argue that the 911 calls were made at
slightly different times. (See Dkt. No. 134.) The Court does not find Plaintiff’s arguments persuasive, and, in any
event, the precise order and timing of the phone calls is not material to the Court’s analysis of the viability of
Plaintiff’s claims in light of the evidence in the record.
5
Sagendorf says that a male patron entered the vestibule and helped him subdue Plaintiff by
holding her wrists. (Id. at 47-48, 62-63.) Sagendorf admits that, in the course of restraining
Plaintiff, he heard the patron call Sachs “a fucking Jew” more than once. Sagendorf states that
he told the patron to leave at that point. (Id. at 92-94.) Sagendorf restrained Plaintiff until the
police arrived.
3.
The Dispute Between Plaintiff and the Defendant Police Officers
The parties agree that as a result of the 911 calls, at around 1:34 a.m., Officers Cantwell,
Paquette and Musa received a radio dispatch reporting a dispute in progress at Wollensky’s.
(Stavridis Dec., Ex. N, Declaration of William Cantwell (“Cantwell Dec.”), ¶ 4; City Defs. 56.1
Stmt. ¶ 5.) Officer Cantwell arrived a minute or two before Officers Musa and Paquette, who
arrived on the scene at approximately 1:35 a.m. (City Defs. 56.1 Stmt. ¶¶ 5, 7, 8; Stavridis Dec.,
Ex. N, Declaration of Alexandra Paquette (“Paquette Dec.”), ¶ 5.) Plaintiff’s recollection of her
interactions with the officers sharply differs from the account of the City Defendants.
a.
Plaintiff’s Version
Plaintiff alleges that around 1:35 a.m., Officer Cantwell and three other John Doe officers
arrived and witnessed Mike beating her and calling her “a fucking Jew.” (Compl. ¶ 33.)
Plaintiff contends that these officers did not intervene or speak to her at all. (Id.) When officers
Musa and Paquette arrived a minute later, Plaintiff contends that they saw Mike and Sagendorf
still on top of her. (Sachs Dep. at 147.) Plaintiff claims that upon Officer Cantwell’s order to
“book her,” Officer Musa handcuffed Plaintiff’s already-injured hands and wrists. (Compl. ¶¶
34-36.) Plaintiff alleges that Musa then took her outside Wollensky’s, where she asked why she
was being arrested. Musa told her to “shut up” and kicked the back of her knee to the ground,
6
breaking her knee, and kicked her head. Plaintiff claims that she then blacked out again.
(Compl. ¶¶ 37-38; Sachs Dep. at 153-157.) She claims that when she regained consciousness at
around 2:00 a.m., she was being taken into the Bellevue Hospital emergency room. (Compl. ¶
40; Sachs Dep. at 158-160.)
b.
The Defendant Police Officers’ Version
In contrast, Officer Cantwell contends that when he arrived, he saw Plaintiff on the
ground being restrained by Sagendorf. It is undisputed that Sagendorf informed Cantwell that
Plaintiff became rowdy after being cut off by the bartender and that he was trying to restrain her
because she had become violent. (Sagendorf Dep. at 86; Cantwell Dec. ¶ 5.) Officers Musa and
Paquette arrived moments later. Cantwell spent about ten minutes interviewing Ford, Sagendorf,
and at least three patrons about the incident, and transferred his notes to Paquette. (Cantwell
Dec. ¶ 7.) Cantwell’s interviews with the patrons substantiated the descriptions of the events
given by Ford and Sagendorf. (Paquette Dec. ¶ 8.) Cantwell then left the premises.
Officers Musa and Paquette both spoke with Plaintiff and determined based on her
belligerent demeanor and slurred speech that she was intoxicated. (Paquette Dec. ¶ 9; Stavridis
Dec. Ex. N, Declaration of Joseph Musa (“Musa Dec.”), ¶ 6.) The officers spoke with Ford and
witnessed the broken glass from the pitcher. They also spoke with Sagendorf and observed a red
mark on his face, which he stated was caused by Plaintiff’s striking him. (Paquette Dec. ¶¶ 6-7;
Musa Dec. ¶ 5.) Plaintiff told the officers that the staff and patrons had attacked her and called
her a Jew. (Musa Dec. ¶ 6; Paquette Dec. ¶ 9.) The officers state that they observed no signs of
assault on Plaintiff except that she complained that her left hand hurt, and that they could not
ascertain a reason that the staff and patrons would have assaulted her. (Id.)
7
At around 1:55 a.m., Defendants Musa and Paquette made the decision to arrest Plaintiff.
(City Defs. 56.1 Stmt. ¶ 19.) They placed her in handcuffs and escorted her to the police vehicle.
Officers Musa and Paquette contend that, along the way, Plaintiff began screaming and kicking,
making it necessary for each officer to restrain her by holding her arms on either side as they
walked. (Paquette Dec. ¶ 11; Musa Dec. ¶ 8.) Officers Musa and Paquette assert that Plaintiff
did not complain of tight handcuffs at any time. (Musa Dec. ¶ 8.) After placing Plaintiff in the
vehicle, the two officers assert that Plaintiff attempted to kick out the rear windows. (Musa Dec.
¶ 9; Paquette Dec. ¶ 12.) Plaintiff was then transported to the police precinct for processing.
(Paquette Dec. ¶ 12.) When Plaintiff complained of pain in her left fingers, Paquette requested
emergency medical services (“EMS”) personnel to come to the precinct. EMS then transported
Plaintiff to Bellevue Hospital at about 2:34 a.m. (Paquette Dec. ¶¶ 13-14.) After being dischargd
from Bellevue Hospital at 4:30 a.m., Sachs was taken back to the precinct for arrest processing.
(Paquette Dec. ¶ 15.)
4.
The Hospital Visits
It is undisputed that on the night of the incident, Sachs was transported to Bellevue
Hospital, where she was examined and treated for swelling and abrasions on her left hand.
(Compl. ¶ 40; Sachs Dep. at 158-160; Paquette Dec. ¶¶ 13-14; Stavridis Dec. Ex. H.)
The day after the incident, March 4, 2009, Sachs went to Lenox Hill Hospital, where she
was treated for a fractured patella. (Stavridis Dec., Ex. I.) However, the City Defendants’
purported medical expert examined Plaintiff’s medical record and formed a different medical
opinion. Defendants’ expert found that Sachs exhibited no signs of trauma to her kneecap and
8
that the x-rays in fact reflect that the problems with her patella were congenital. (See Stavridis
Dec., Ex. J, Expert Report by Dr. Ramesh Gidumal.)
B.
Procedural History
1.
Criminal Court Action
On the same day as her arrest, March 3, 2009, Jennifer Sachs was arraigned in New York
City Criminal Court and charged with assault in the third degree and disorderly conduct.
(Private Defs. 56.1 Stmt. ¶ 6.) Two days after the incident, Sagendorf went to the District
Attorney’s office, where he read the complaint and signed a supporting deposition. (Defendants’
Memorandum in Opposition to Motion for Spoliation of Evidence, Dkt. No. 81 (“Private Defs.
Spol. Opp.”), Ex. G.)
Both charges against Plaintiff were dismissed on August 24, 2009 pursuant to New York
Criminal Procedure Law § 30.30, which mandates that the prosecutor be ready for trial in a class
A misdemeanor case within 90 days of the commencement of the action. (Private Defs. 56.1
Stmt. ¶ 7)
2.
State Court Action
On March 10, 2009, Plaintiff filed in New York State Supreme Court a Request for
Judicial Intervention, seeking an Order to show cause to obtain pre-action discovery.
Specifically, she sought an order directing Respondents Smith & Wollensky
Restaurant/Wollensky’s Grill and The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group, Inc. to “produce
for inspection and copying any and all surveillance tapes and/or video tapes prepared in the
regular course of business regarding the events” of the night of March 2-3 “in order to preserve
evidence, to prevent spoliation, and in order to identify the appropriate individuals in order that
9
petitioner might be able to prepare a proper caption in the event of litigation herein.” (Pl. Spol.
Mem., Ex. B.) The court issued an order to show cause why it should not order the respondents
to produce these materials. (Id., Ex. A.) Sometime thereafter (although the record is not clear
when) an attorney for the respondents submitted an affirmation in response to the order to show
cause stating that “[t]he respondent has no opposition to the order sought by the petitioner
regarding the preservation of any video from the security surveillance cameras . . . assuming that
any such video was in fact recorded on the day and at the time of the incident in question and, if
any, was maintained as of March 17, 2009, the date that the Order to Show Cause was served
upon the respondent.” (Id., Ex. C.)
The court entered an order “on default” on July 16, 2009. (Id., Ex. F.) That order
provided that the respondents should preserve “any and all surveillance tapes and/or videotapes”
pertaining to the incident, as well as “any and all accident, incident reports, or other records
identifying the individuals involved in the assault . . . and any witnesses thereto . . . .” (Id.) On
July 28, 2009, the parties entered into a stipulation stating that Smith & Wollensky Restaurant
Group, Inc. would respond to the order within thirty days of the stipulation, and “as to those
items where respondent is unable to comply, [would] submit an affidavit from an individual with
knowledge to that effect.” (Id., Ex. H.)
Sometime after September 2, 2009, the respondents submitted a “Response” to the
Supreme Court’s order, stating, inter alia: “INCIDENT REPORT – There is no report prepared
in the ordinary course of business . . . regarding the incident involving Jennifer Sachs.” (Private
Defs. Spol. Opp., Ex. K.) Sagendorf also submitted an affidavit stating that an electrical problem
on the evening of March 2-3, 2009 rendered the security cameras inoperative, and that no video
10
footage of the incident was available. He also described in general terms the patrons of
Wollensky’s that evening, but stated that the respondents “do[] not have any record which would
reveal their names or addresses.” (Id., Ex. L.)
3.
Current Action
Plaintiff filed the instant lawsuit on March 2, 2010, bringing various claims against the
City Defendants and the Private Defendants related to the March 3, 2009 incident. The case was
initially assigned to Judge Richard Sullivan. Pursuant to Judge Sullivan’s August 17, 2011
Order, discovery in this matter closed on October 28, 2011. (See Dkt. No. 60.) On October 14,
2011, the case was reassigned to the undersigned pursuant to this District’s Rules for the
Division of Business Among District Judges governing the reassignment of cases to new district
judges. (Dkt. No. 68.)
On November 28, 2011, Plaintiff moved for spoliation of evidence sanctions against the
Private Defendants and Officers Cantwell, Musa, and Paquette. (Dkt. No. 77.) On December
16, 2011, the Private Defendants opposed Plaintiff’s motion for spoliation of evidence sanctions.
(Dkt. No. 81.)
The Private Defendants moved for summary judgment on all four claims against them on
January 11, 2012. (Dkt. No. 94.)
The City Defendants moved for summary judgment on all six claims against them on
January 9, 2012 (Dkt. No. 88), and filed their opposition to Plaintiff’s motion for spoliation of
evidence sanctions on January 11, 2012 (Dkt. No. 98).
After the instant motions were fully briefed, Plaintiff’s attorney moved to withdraw as
counsel. The Court granted that motion on July 12, 2012. (Dkt. No. 128.)
11
Proceeding pro se, Plaintiff contacted the Court and requested permission to submit
additional documents and evidence that she was not able to submit in connection with the
motions due to what she claimed were conflicts between her and her attorney. In an effort to
ensure that the Court’s decision was based on as complete a record as possible, the Court granted
Plaintiff permission to submit this material. On August 1, 2012, Plaintiff submitted a variety of
addenda to her submissions in connection with the motion, including unsworn addenda to her
Rule 56.1 statements that did not contain references to any evidence in the record. She raised
new allegations for the first time in these submissions, including, for example, that she did not
throw a glass pitcher at Ford, because Wollensky’s does not serve pitchers to its patrons.
The Court does not find that Plaintiff’s new allegations are credible or are supported by
the record. In addition, the new argumentation and unsworn testimony go beyond the additional
“documents and evidence” that the Court granted Plaintiff permission to file. (Dkt. No. 128.) In
any event, the Court has reviewed the Plaintiff’s additional submission and has considered it for
what it is worth on these motions.
II.
Motion for Spoliation Sanctions
Plaintiff has moved for spoliation sanctions against Private Defendants S&W Operating,
Fourth Wall, Sagendorf, and Ford for destroying receipts, invoices, reservation logs, and
surveillance videotapes; and against City Defendants Officers Cantwell, Musa, and Paquette for
failing to secure the surveillance videotape at the scene. Plaintiff requests that the Court strike
any and all claims or defenses that would have been resolved by the destroyed evidence, deny
summary judgment as to any and all claims that would be affected by the existence of the tapes
as to the Private Defendants and the City Defendants, include an adverse inference jury
12
instruction, assess attorney’s fees, expenses, and costs, and order a default judgment against the
Private Defendants, along with any other relief the Court may deem proper.
A.
Applicable Law
A federal district court may sanction a party for spoliation of evidence in violation of a
court order under Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(b). See West v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 167 F.3d 776,
779 (2d Cir. 1999); John B. Hull, Inc. v. Waterbury Petroleum Prods., Inc., 845 F.2d 1172, 1176
(2d Cir. 1988). Even absent violation of a court order, a district court may sanction a party for
spoliation of evidence in the exercise of the court’s “inherent power to control litigation.” West,
167 F.3d at 779.
Whether the court sanctions a party for violation of a court order or as part of its inherent
power to control litigation, a party seeking sanctions for the spoliation of evidence must establish
three elements: (1) that the party having control over the evidence had an obligation to preserve
it at the time it was destroyed; (2) that the records were destroyed with a culpable state of mind;
and (3) that the destroyed evidence was relevant to the party’s claim or defense such that a
reasonable trier of fact could find that it would support that claim or defense. Zubulake v. UBS
Warbug LLC, 229 F.R.D. 422, 430 (S.D.N.Y. 2004) (citations omitted). The obligation to
preserve evidence arises “where a party is on notice that litigation is likely to be commenced.”
Rutgerswerke AG & Frendo S.p.A. v. Abex Corp., No. 93 Civ. 2914, 2002 WL 1203836, at *13
(S.D.N.Y. June 4, 2002) (citation and quotation marks omitted). A defendant destroys evidence
with a culpable state of mind when the defendant destroys it negligently, intentionally, or
willfully. Zubulake, 229 F.R.D. at 431. When the destruction is negligent, the defendant must
prove that the evidence was relevant and favorable to the party seeking the sanctions. Id. In
13
contrast, when evidence is destroyed intentionally or willfully, that fact alone is sufficient to
demonstrate relevance and favorability. Id. at 430-31.
Additionally, “for sanctions to be appropriate, it is a necessary, but insufficient, condition
that the sought-after evidence actually existed and was destroyed.” Farella v. City of New York,
No. 05 Civ. 5711, 2007 WL 193867, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 25, 2007). Although there is not a
well-established standard of proof for a finding that the “destroyed evidence” existed, courts
routinely have declined to infer that evidence existed when presented with only circumstantial
supporting evidence. Specifically with regard to video recordings, courts have found that the
mere presence of a video camera does not establish that the camera was in place to record at the
time, nor does its presence establish that any recording was made at the time of the incident. See
Mohammed v. Delta Air Lines, Inc., No. 08 Civ. 1405, 2011 WL 5553827, at *7 (E.D.N.Y. June
8, 2011); United States v. Perez–Velazquez, 488 F. Supp. 2d 82, 85 (D.P.R. 2007) (“[T]here has
been no spoliation of evidence, as there is no proof that the surveillance camera found in Pérez’
apartment was connected to a recording device.”); Kreyn v. Gateway Target¸ No. CV-05-3175,
2006 WL 3732463, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 17, 2006) (“As to the videotapes, the defendant flatly
asserts that the stationery aisle of the defendant’s premises [was] not videotaped on the day of
the accident. . . . The testimony by one of the defendant’s employees that there are videotape
cameras throughout the store does not establish that there was a videotape camera at the
stationery aisle and that it was operating at the time of the accident such that a videotape was
ever made, much less destroyed.”).
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B.
Application of Law to Facts
1.
The Private Defendants
Plaintiff argues that Private Defendants S&W Operating, Fourth Wall, Sagendorf and
Ford (1) destroyed or lost material evidence, specifically video surveillance tapes, as well as
credit card receipts, invoices, and reservation logs that may help identify witnesses to the
incident, and (2) did so in violation of a state court order to preserve the evidence.
Plaintiff’s argument refers to the New York Supreme Court order issued on July 16, 2009
by Justice Richard Braun. 5 The order, issued to respondents Smith & Wollensky Restaurant and
The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group, Inc., provided that the respondents should preserve
“all surveillance tapes and/or videotapes” pertaining to the incident as well as “any accident,
incident reports, or other records identifying the individuals involved in the assault . . . and any
witnesses thereto . . . .” (Pl. Spol. Mem., Ex. F.)
a.
The Video Surveillance Tape
Plaintiff argues that the Private Defendants were once in possession of a video
surveillance tape of the altercation in the vestibule and intentionally destroyed it. Plaintiff
contends that, if produced, the tape would have corroborated her version of the events. As
evidence of its existence, Plaintiff submits a handwritten note by police at the scene that there
was “video available.” (Id., Ex. M.) Plaintiff also submits an unsworn letter from one of her
5
Plaintiff asserts that the state court entered “a default judgment” against the defendants in the state court action.
(Pl. Spol. Mem. at 2.) Plaintiff’s characterization of the state court action is inaccurate. The state court entered its
order to preserve evidence on default because Defendants did not show cause as to why the Court should not enter
the order. (Pl. Spol. Mem., Ex. F.)
15
lawyers stating that she visited Wollensky’s after the incident and saw a video camera pointing at
the vestibule, where some of the events took place. (Id., Ex. E.)
For their part, the Private Defendants submit evidence that a power failure prevented their
surveillance system from making any recordings during the time of the altercation. In a sworn
affidavit, Sagendorf explains that “[t]here was a loss of power or a ‘brownout’ in the Grill during
the evening of March 2, 2009. I became aware of this event because the lights dimmed and then
returned to normal. Later, I saw ConEd workers working in the street nearby. Unbeknownst to
me, the server for the surveillance cameras shut down in the brownout and did not reboot until
our technology manager arrived for work the next morning.” (Private Defs. Spol. Opp., Ex. C ¶¶
10-11.) The Private Defendants also submit sworn statements from the Technology Manager for
Fourth Wall that the cameras were non-functional and did not record any tape from
approximately 11:30 p.m. on March 2, 2009 to 8:30 a.m. on March 3, 2009. (Id., Ex. B.) This
testimony is accompanied by corroborating print-outs from the surveillance system’s server
activity logs. (Id., Ex. B1-B2.) Additionally, Sagendorf testifies that had the surveillance system
been operational, no video would have been made of the incident, as “both cameras were aimed
at the bar and the area behind the bar.” (Id., Exhibit C, ¶ 8.)
Plaintiff asks the Court to reject the Private Defendants’ “power failure” explanation on
the ground that it is incredible. 6 However, the Private Defendants have submitted sworn
6
As part of this theory, Plaintiff claims that Sagendorf admitted in his deposition that there was “a ‘backup’ system
in place for the recorder should a catastrophe occur.” (Pl. Spol. Mem. at 5.) Plaintiff mischaracterizes Sagendorf’s
testimony. The exchange during the deposition went as follows:
Q: “So, what type of camera is it?”
A: “Video camera.”
Q: “With tape or -- ”
A: “I believe they have DVD hard drive backup.”
16
testimony and evidence to support that testimony, while Plaintiff has submitted no evidence that
would call the defendants’ explanation into question. First, the fact that a camera might
currently point at the vestibule of Wollensky’s, per Plaintiff’s lawyer’s observations, does not
mandate a conclusion that the camera was present at the time of the incident. Second, even
assuming that a camera was pointed toward the vestibule at the time of the incident, Plaintiff has
not presented evidence that the camera was attached to a functioning recording device or that a
recording was actually created. Based on the evidence before it, the Court cannot infer that a
surveillance video ever existed, let alone was destroyed.
Accordingly, because Plaintiff has not established that the tape existed, the Court denies
Plaintiff’s motion for spoliation sanctions for destruction of a video surveillance tape.
b.
The Paper Evidence
Plaintiff also moves for spoliation sanctions pertaining to certain paper evidence,
specifically credit card receipts from the night of March 2-3, 2009 and other documents that may
have helped to identify third party witnesses to the incident.
The Court was initially not satisfied with the Private Defendants’ response to the motion
for sanctions with regard to this evidence. Accordingly, the Court convened telephone
conferences with the parties on August 7 and 15, 2012, to address whether the receipts for that
(Private Defs. Spol. Opp., Ex. N, at 56.) Defendants explain that “[i]n other words, Sagendorf said he believed that
images were recorded (when the recording system was in operation) on a ‘DVD hard drive back-up.’ He said
nothing about a ‘backup system’ that existed in case ‘a catastrophe should occur.’” (Private Defs. Spol. Opp. at 7.)
Roger McDyer, the technology manager, confirms that there was no separate back-up system. (Id., Ex. B.) This
explanation is consistent with a plain reading of Sagendorf’s deposition testimony.
Plaintiff also points out that Defendants have submitted testimony and evidence that is contradictory in other minor
respects. It is true that at various points, Defendants have asserted that video surveillance tape is generally kept for
one versus two weeks or described the electrical failure as a “brown out” or “power surge.” Defendants have also
asserted that there was no camera pointed toward the vestibule, which is contrary to Plaintiff’s lawyer’s direct
observations. These contradictions do not, however, prove that there was in fact a camera pointed toward the
vestibule that evening, nor do the contradictions prove that a functioning recording device was hooked up to the
camera.
17
evening ever existed, and if so, whether they had been produced, or were destroyed or otherwise
unavailable.
At the telephone conference on August 15, 2012, counsel for the Private Defendants
stated that she had located the credit card receipts from March 2 and 3, 2009 and had produced
them to Plaintiff. Plaintiff stated that the receipts did not identify any witnesses to the incident
that she did not already know about.
Thus, although the severely late production of this evidence is not excusable, Plaintiff
was not harmed by it.
Accordingly, sanctions for spoliation of evidence are not appropriate with regard to this
evidence.
2.
The City Defendants
Plaintiff has moved for spoliation sanctions against City Defendants Officer Cantwell,
Officer Musa, and Officer Paquette, arguing that they were alerted to the existence of the
surveillance tapes while at the scene, and then intentionally or negligently violated their duty to
view and/or to secure the security tape. The City Defendants oppose Plaintiff’s motion.
Because Plaintiff has not demonstrated that this evidence ever existed in the first
instance, the City Defendants could not have had an obligation to view the tape or secure it. In
any event, even assuming the tape existed, spoliation sanctions are applicable only when a party
loses or destroys evidence, not when he or she fails to collect it. Carroll v. City of New York,
287 A.D.2d 430, 730 N.Y.S.2d 548, 550 (2d Dep’t 2001) (stating that police’s alleged failure to
collect evidence at the scene of an accident could not be the basis for spoliation sanctions).
18
Therefore, the Court denies Plaintiff’s motion for spoliation sanctions against the City
Defendants.
III.
Summary Judgment Standard
A motion for summary judgment may not be granted unless all of the submissions taken
together show “that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled
to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); see El Sayed v. Hilton Hotels Corp., 627
F.3d 931, 933 (2d Cir. 2010). “The moving party bears the burden of establishing the absence of
any genuine issue of material fact.” Zalaski v. City of Bridgeport Police Dep’t, 613 F.3d 336,
340 (2d Cir. 2010) (citing Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986)). The movant may
discharge this burden by demonstrating to the Court that there is an absence of evidence to
support the non-moving party’s case on an issue on which the non-movant has the burden of
proof. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323. In opposing a motion for summary judgment, the non-moving
party may not rely on “conclusory allegations or unsubstantiated speculation,” Scotto v. Almenas,
143 F.3d 105, 114 (2d Cir. 1998), or on mere denials or unsupported alternative explanations of
its conduct. See SEC v. Grotto, No. 05 Civ. 5880, 2006 WL 3025878, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 24,
2006). Rather, the non-moving party must set forth significant, probative evidence on which a
reasonable fact-finder could decide in its favor. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242,
256-57 (1986).
In deciding a motion for summary judgment, a court must “construe the facts in the light
most favorable to the non-moving party and must resolve all ambiguities and draw all reasonable
inferences against the movant.” Brod v. Omya, Inc., 653 F.3d 156, 164 (2d Cir. 2011) (citation
and quotation marks omitted). “If, as to the issue on which summary judgment is sought, there is
19
any evidence in the record from any source from which a reasonable inference could be drawn in
favor of the nonmoving party, summary judgment is improper.” Chambers v. TRM Copy Ctrs.
Corp., 43 F.3d 29, 37 (2d Cir. 1994).
IV.
City Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment
Plaintiff asserts claims against the City Defendants under both state law and the
Constitution. The standards for establishing Plaintiff’s state law claims against the City
Defendants significantly overlap with the standards for establishing the equivalent claims as
constitutional violations under Section 1983. See, e.g., Davis v. Rodriguez, 364 F.3d 424, 433
(2d Cir. 2004) (“In analyzing § 1983 claims for unconstitutional false arrest, we have generally
looked to the law of the state in which the arrest occurred.”); Weyant v. Okst, 101 F.3d 845, 852
(2d Cir. 1996) (“A § 1983 claim for false arrest, resting on the Fourth Amendment right of an
individual to be free from unreasonable seizures, including arrest without probable cause, is
substantially the same as a claim for false arrest under New York law.” (internal citations
omitted)); Cunningham v. United States, 472 F. Supp. 2d 366, 383 (E.D.N.Y. 2007) (“Once it
has been determined that there was probable cause for arrest, the question [whether a police
officer can be liable for assault and battery in the course of effecting an arrest] becomes whether
the force used to effectuate the arrest was excessive.” (citation omitted)). Thus, the Court
analyzes both sets of claims simultaneously, noting where there are any differences between the
two types of claims.
A.
Claims Against John Does #1-3
The Court dismisses John Doe Police Officers #1-3 from the case without prejudice for
failure to prosecute, as Plaintiff did not identify the John Doe Defendants by the end of
20
discovery. “Where discovery has closed and the Plaintiff has had ample time and opportunity to
identify and serve John Doe Defendants, it is appropriate to dismiss those Defendants without
prejudice.” Delrosario v. City of New York, No. 07 Civ. 2027, 2010 WL 882990, at *5
(S.D.N.Y. Mar. 4, 2010) (citing Coward v. Town and Village of Harrison, 665 F. Supp. 2d 281,
300-01 (S.D.N.Y. 2009); Jeanty v. County of Orange, 379 F. Supp. 2d 533, 536 n. 3 (S.D.N.Y.
2005)).
B.
False Arrest Claim
Plaintiff brings both state law and constitutional claims for false arrest against Officers
Cantwell and Musa. Cantwell and Musa move for summary judgment.
1.
Applicable Law
To succeed on a false arrest claim, a plaintiff must show that “(1) the defendant intended
to confine him, (2) the plaintiff was conscious of the confinement, (3) the plaintiff did not
consent to the confinement and (4) the confinement was not otherwise privileged.” Jocks v.
Tavernier, 316 F.3d 128, 134-35 (2d Cir. 2003) (citation and quotation marks omitted). Whether
a claim is brought under New York law or § 1983, “[t]he existence of probable cause to arrest
constitutes justification and is a complete defense to an action for false arrest . . . .” Covington v.
City of New York, 171 F.3d 117, 122 (2d Cir. 1999) (quoting Weyant, 101 F.3d at 852).
Probable cause “is based upon whether the facts known by the arresting officer at the
time of the arrest objectively provided probable cause to arrest.” Jaegly v. Couch, 439 F.3d 149,
153 (2d Cir. 2006) (citing Devenpeck v. Alford, 543 U.S. 146, 153 (2004)). An officer has
probable cause to arrest when he or she has “knowledge or reasonably trustworthy information of
facts and circumstances that are sufficient to warrant a person of reasonable caution in the belief
21
that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing a crime.” Id. at 152 (quoting
Weyant, 101 F.3d at 852); see also United States v. Ceballos, 812 F.2d 42, 50 (2d Cir. 1987).
The Second Circuit has held that it is “well-established” that a law enforcement officer has
probable cause to arrest if he has “received his information from some person, normally the
putative victim or eyewitness.” Martinez v. Simonetti, 202 F.3d 625, 634 (2d Cir. 2000) (citation
and quotation marks omitted); accord Panetta v. Crowley, 460 F.3d 388, 395 (2d Cir. 2006).
The refusal of police officers to investigate exculpatory statements made by the arrestee
before arresting that person based on probable cause does not defeat probable cause to arrest.
See id. at 395-96; see also Torchinsky v. Siwinski, 942 F.2d 257, 264 (4th Cir. 1991); Dukes v.
City of New York, 879 F. Supp. 335, 343 (S.D.N.Y. 1995); Grant v. City of New York, 848 F.
Supp. 1131, 1135 (S.D.N.Y. 1994); Steiner v. City of New York, 920 F. Supp. 333, 338
(E.D.N.Y. 1996). The function of law enforcement officers is to “apprehend those suspected of
wrongdoing, and not to finally determine guilt through a weighing of the evidence.” Crowley,
460 F.3d at 396 (quoting Krause v. Bennett, 887 F.2d 362, 372 (2d Cir. 1989)) (internal
quotation marks omitted). Police officers who have probable cause to arrest “have no duty to
investigate an exculpatory statement of the accused,” nor are they “required to adjudicate
disputed issues of fact on the spot.” Mistretta v. Prokesch, 5 F. Supp. 2d 128, 135 (E.D.N.Y.
1998). If probable cause exists, a police officer is “not required to explore and eliminate every
theoretically plausible claim of innocence before making an arrest.” Ricciuti v. N.Y.C. Transit
Auth., 124 F.3d 123, 129 (2d Cir. 1997) (citing Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 145-46
(1979)).
22
2.
Application of Law to Facts
Under New York Penal Law, a person is guilty of assault in the third degree when “[w]ith
intent to cause physical injury to another person, [s]he causes such injury to such person or to a
third person . . . .” N.Y. Penal Law § 120.00(1). A person is guilty of disorderly conduct when,
“with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk
thereof . . . [sh]e engages in fighting or in violent, tumultuous or threating behavior . . . .” N.Y.
Penal Law § 240.20(1).
The following facts are undisputed: (1) Ford told the officers that Plaintiff had hit his
head with a glass pitcher after he cut her off and Plaintiff had assaulted Sagendorf by kicking
him and slapping him; (2) Sagendorf told the officers that Plaintiff had slapped and kicked him;
(3) Officer Cantwell confirmed the reports of the employees by interviewing patrons who backed
up the employees’ version of the events; (4) Officers Musa and Paquette witnessed the broken
glass on the bar floor from the broken water pitcher; (5) Officers Musa and Paquette directly
observed the red mark on Sagendorf’s face, which Sagendorf indicated was a result of Plaintiff’s
slapping him; and (6) Plaintiff’s speech was slurred in the presence of the officers.
Taken together, these facts were sufficient to establish beyond genuine dispute probable
cause to believe that Plaintiff had committed the crimes of assault and disorderly conduct. The
officers received testimony from purported victims of Plaintiff’s alleged conduct. The officers
then corroborated those statements by interviewing other witnesses and investigating the
physical evidence at the scene.
Plaintiff argues that the police officers did not have probable cause because when they
arrived, Plaintiff was being beaten by Sagendorf and “Mike.” (Sachs Dep. at 147.) Even
23
construing the facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, and assuming arguendo that the
police officers did observe Mike and Sagendorf punching Plaintiff, 7 there was still probable
cause to arrest her. At most, seeing Mike and Sagendorf beating Plaintiff may have provided the
officers with probable cause to arrest Mike and Sagendorf as well. However, probable cause to
arrest other people involved in the dispute does not undermine the probable cause to arrest
Plaintiff, where, as here, probable cause to arrest is independently supported. Once an officer
has probable cause to arrest a person suspected of wrongdoing, the officer is not required to
explore “every theoretically plausible claim of innocence before making [the] arrest.” Ricciuti,
124 F.3d at 129.
Because a finding of probable cause for arrest is a complete bar to a false arrest claim, the
Court grants summary judgment for the City Defendants on Plaintiff’s false arrest claim. 8
B.
Malicious Prosecution Claim
Plaintiff alleges that Officer Cantwell, Officer Paquette and Officer Musa are liable for
malicious prosecution under state law and § 1983. The City Defendants move for summary
judgment dismissing these claims.
7
Although Plaintiff alleges in her complaint that Cantwell observed Mike actually punching Plaintiff and yelling at
her, she does not put any evidence in the record to support this allegation. (See Compl. ¶¶ 32-33.)
8
Defendants also argue that Officers Musa and Paquette are entitled to qualified immunity because they can show
“arguable probable cause.” “[I]n the context of a qualified immunity defense to an allegation of false arrest, the
defending officer need only show ‘arguable’ probable cause.” Martinez, 202 F.3d at 634; see also Robison v. Via,
821 F.2d 913, 921 (2d. Cir. 1987) (holding that qualified immunity is warranted if officers of reasonable competence
could disagree on whether the probable cause test was met). Because the Court has found that the officers arresting
Plaintiff had objective probable cause, a fortiori, the officers also had “arguable probable cause,” and are entitled to
qualified immunity on this claim.
24
1.
Applicable Law
To succeed on a malicious prosecution claim, a plaintiff must show: “(1) that the
defendant initiated a prosecution against the plaintiff, (2) that the defendant lacked probable
cause to believe the proceeding could succeed, (3) that the defendant acted with malice, and (4)
that the prosecution was terminated in the plaintiff's favor.” Rohman v. New York City Transit
Auth., 215 F.3d 208, 215 (2d Cir. 2000) (citation and quotation marks omitted); see also
DiBlasio v City of New York, 102 F.3d 654, 657 (2d Cir. 1996) (citing Heck v. Humphrey, 512
U.S. 477 (1994)). “In order to allege a cause of action for malicious prosecution under § 1983,
[Plaintiff] must assert, in addition to the elements of malicious prosecution under state law, that
there was (5) a sufficient post-arraignment liberty restraint to implicate the plaintiff's Fourth
Amendment rights.” Rohman, 215 F.3d at 215 (citing Murphy v. Lynn, 118 F.3d 938, 944-46 (2d
Cir. 1997)).
“Once probable cause to arrest is established, a claim for malicious prosecution is barred
unless plaintiff can demonstrate that at some point subsequent to the arrest, additional facts came
to light that negated probable cause.” Smith v. City of New York, No. 04 Civ. 3286, 2010 WL
3397683, at *9 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 27, 2010) (citation and quotation marks omitted). The Second
Circuit has noted that “even when probable cause is present at the time of the arrest, evidence
could later surface which would eliminate that probable cause.” Lowth v. Town of Cheektowaga,
82 F.3d 563, 571 (2d Cir. 1996) (citation and quotation marks omitted). Probable cause
dissipates when “the groundless nature of the charges [are] made apparent by the discovery of
some intervening fact.” Id.
25
2.
Application of Law to Facts
There is no dispute that the City Defendants initiated a prosecution against Plaintiff, or
that the prosecution was terminated in her favor. Nevertheless, the Court grants summary
judgment because the Defendant Police Officers had probable cause to arrest Plaintiff for the
crimes charged and Plaintiff has not pointed to an intervening fact that would make the allegedly
groundless nature of the assault and disorderly conduct charges apparent. Because Plaintiff’s
claim fails on this prong, the Court need not address whether the City Defendants acted with
malice or whether there was a sufficient post-arraignment liberty restraint.
Plaintiff argues that the officers should have been alerted to the groundless nature of the
assault and disorderly conduct charges when hospital staff noted that Plaintiff appeared alert, not
intoxicated. However, probable cause to charge a person with assault or disorderly conduct does
not turn on whether the prosecuted person was sober or intoxicated at the time of his or her
arrest. See N.Y. Penal Law §§ 120.00, 240.20. Thus, Plaintiff’s alleged sobriety at the time of
the incident does not undermine the probable cause to arrest her, nor does it reveal that the
charges of assault and disorderly conduct were groundless. The officers still had probable cause
to prosecute Plaintiff based on the statements made by alleged victims Ford and Sagendorf and
the evidence observed at the scene. One of the alleged victims, Sagendorf, also submitted a
supporting deposition after Plaintiff was arraigned on the charges. (City Defs. 56.1 Stmt. ¶ 23.)
Because there is no evidence of an intervening fact that would make the charges groundless, the
Court concludes that there is no genuine issue as to the Defendant Police Officers’ probable
cause to prosecute Plaintiff for the alleged crimes. Accordingly, the Court grants the City
Defendants’ motion for summary judgment on Plaintiff’s malicious prosecution claim.
26
C.
Assault and Battery / Excessive Force Claims
Plaintiff asserts claims for assault and battery against Officer Musa based on his alleged
use of excessive force in arresting Plaintiff by kicking her knee, breaking her knee, throwing her
to the ground, and kicking her head. Plaintiff also alleges a “tight handcuffs” claim of excessive
use of force against Officer Musa. The City Defendants move for summary judgment on these
claims.
1.
Applicable Law
Under New York law, “[a]n ‘assault’ is an intentional placing of another person in fear of
imminent harmful or offensive contact. A ‘battery’ is an intentional wrongful physical contact
with another person without consent.” United Nat’l Ins. Co. v. Waterfront New York Realty
Corp., 994 F.2d 105, 108 (2d Cir. 1993). “Under New York Penal Law § 35.30, an officer ‘may
use physical force when and to the extent [she or] he reasonably believes such to be necessary to
effect the arrest.’” Lederman v. Adams, 45 F. Supp. 2d 259, 268 (S.D.N.Y. 1999). Thus, “[o]nce
it has been determined that there was probable cause for arrest, the question before the court
becomes whether the force used to effectuate the arrest was excessive.” Cunningham, 472 F.
Supp. 2d at 383 (citations omitted). “If the force used against plaintiff was more than necessary
under all the circumstances, then plaintiff is entitled to recover.” Id. (citations omitted).
Plaintiff also alleges that her Fourth Amendment rights were violated by Officer Musa’s
excessive use of force in effecting her arrest. “The Fourth Amendment prohibits the use of
unreasonable and therefore excessive force by a police officer in the course of effecting an
arrest.” Tracy v. Freshwater, 623 F.3d 90, 96 (2d Cir. 2010). “When determining whether
police officers have employed excessive force in the arrest context, the Supreme Court has
27
instructed that courts should examine whether the use of force is objectively unreasonable ‘in
light of the facts and circumstances confronting them, without regard to [the officers’]
underlying intent or motivation.’” Jones v. Parmley, 465 F.3d 46, 61 (2d Cir. 2006) (quoting
Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 397 (1989)). In evaluating reasonableness, the court is to
“consider the facts and circumstances of each particular case, including the crime committed, its
severity, the threat of danger to the officer and society, and whether the suspect is resisting or
attempting to evade arrest.” Thomas v. Roach, 165 F.3d 137, 143 (2d Cir. 1999) (citing Graham,
490 U.S. at 396). “Additionally, on an excessive force claim a plaintiff must present sufficient
evidence to establish that the alleged use of force is objectively sufficiently serious or harmful
enough to be actionable.” Washpon v. Parr, 561 F. Supp. 2d 394, 406 (S.D.N.Y. 2008) (citation
and quotation marks omitted). “A de minimis use of force will rarely suffice to state a
Constitutional claim.” Id. at 407 (quoting Romano v. Howarth, 998 F.2d 101, 105 (2d Cir.
1993)).
Courts apply a separate standard to claims for excessive force in the use of handcuffs.
While handcuffs must be reasonably tight to be effective, handcuffs that are overly tight may
constitute an excessive use of force on the part of the officer using them. Lynch ex rel. Lynch v.
City of Mount Vernon, 567 F. Supp. 2d 459, 468 (S.D.N.Y. 2008). “[I]n evaluating the
reasonableness of handcuffing, a court is to consider evidence that: 1) the handcuffs were
unreasonably tight; 2) the defendants ignored the [plaintiff s] pleas that the handcuffs were too
tight; and 3) the degree of injury to the wrists.” Id. (quoting Esmont v. City of New York, 371 F.
Supp. 2d 202, 215 (E.D.N.Y. 2005)) (emphasis in original). The last factor is particularly
important. While the application of tight handcuffs alone can give rise to a cause of action under
28
§ 1983, “the plaintiffs must suffer some form of injury from the tight handcuffs in order for such
a claim to be actionable.” Vogeler v. Colbath, No. 04 Civ. 6071, 2005 WL 2482549, at *9
(S.D.N.Y. Oct. 6, 2005) (citing Simpson v. Saroff, 741 F.Supp. 1073, 1078 (S.D.N.Y. 1990)
(excessive force claim proper when tight handcuffing lead to bloody wrist and scarring)).
Among courts in this circuit, there is “consensus” that “tight handcuffing does not constitute
excessive force unless it causes some injury beyond temporary discomfort.” Lynch, 567 F. Supp.
2d at 468-69 (citing inter alia Bratton v. New York State Div. of Parole, No. 05 Civ. 950, 2008
WL 1766744, at *9-10 (N.D.N.Y. Apr. 14, 2008) (concluding that the plaintiff did not meet the
injury requirement even though the plaintiff had submitted county jail medical records showing
he experienced swelling and bruising of the wrists lasting three weeks as a result of
handcuffing); Hamlett v. Town of Greenburgh, No. 05 Civ. 3215, 2007 WL 119291, at *3
(S.D.N.Y. Jan. 17, 2007) (concluding that “brief numbness” resulting from handcuffing does not
meet the injury requirement); Golio v. City of White Plains, 459 F. Supp. 2d 259, 265 (S.D.N.Y.
2006) (denying summary judgment to defendants because plaintiff alleged swelling apparent to
the naked eye and lasting nerve damage as a result of the cuffing); Vogeler, 2005 WL 2482549,
at *9-10 (dismissing claim where plaintiffs failed to establish “any measurable harm” from the
handcuffing); Wilder v. Vill. of Amityville, 288 F. Supp. 2d 341, 344 (E.D.N.Y. 2003)
(“Plaintiff’s allegation of sore, yet uninjured, wrists simply does not rise to the level of objective
excess that reasonable police officers would consider to be unlawful conduct in an arrest
situation. Plaintiff’s claim of excessive force fails.”)).
29
2.
Application of Law to Facts
a.
Excessive Force in Performing the Arrest
It is apparent from the record that there are genuine issues of material fact precluding
summary judgment on Plaintiff’s excessive force claim. Plaintiff alleges that she was not
resisting arrest, and that Officer Musa “kicked the back of her knee, breaking it, and then threw
her to the ground and kicked her head.” (Compl. ¶ 116.) Plaintiff also submits hospital records
for treatment of injuries she allegedly suffered during the incident.
The City Defendants submit testimony that Plaintiff violently resisted arrest, and Officers
Musa and Paquette deny that either of them, at any time, struck, kicked, or punched Plaintiff.
They also argue that the hospital records contain contradictions, and submit a purported expert
report stating that the knee treatment was a result of a congenital defect, and not due to the
injury. Finally, the City Defendants argue that Plaintiff has contradicted herself in her
allegations and testimony, pointing out that in an affidavit filed in connection with the state court
action to preserve evidence, Plaintiff appeared to suggest that her knee injuries were caused by
the alleged assault by Sagendorf and “Mike.” (See Stavridis Dec., Ex. O.)
The Court finds that the potential inconsistencies in the medical records are insufficient
to eliminate any genuine issue of fact as to whether Plaintiff was seriously injured as a result of
Officer Musa’s actions during her arrest. In addition, although Plaintiff’s affidavit in the state
action states that she was assaulted by a patron and employee of Wollensky’s, and that she was
injured “[a]s a result of this occurrence,” this statement is not inconsistent with her contention
that she was also injured by Officer Musa.
30
Ultimately there is a dearth of evidence in the record that would conclusively establish
exactly how much force was used and whether that force was objectively reasonable. The
ultimate determination will depend in large part on the credibility of the witnesses. However,
“[a]ssessments of credibility and choices between conflicting versions of the events are matters
for the jury, not for the court on summary judgment.” Jeffreys v. City of New York, 426 F.3d
549, 553-54 (2d Cir. 2005) (citing Rule v. Brine, Inc., 85 F.3d 1002, 1011 (2d Cir.1996)).
b.
Excessive Force in Handcuffing
Even if the Court accepts for purposes of this motion that Plaintiff’s handcuffs were
unreasonably tight, Plaintiff cannot succeed on her claim because she has not alleged or shown
that she suffered some sort of injury as a result of the handcuffing. Plaintiff avers the tightness
of the handcuffs caused swelling of her wrists so that her wrists remained swollen twenty-four
hours later. (Sachs Dep. at 167.) Nonetheless, Plaintiff does not show that she sought medical
attention for the injury to her wrists any time after the incident, even though she was taken by
EMS to Bellevue Hospital the night of the incident, and visited Lenox Hill Hospital for knee pain
the day after. (See Declaration of Scott Turner in Opposition to City of NY’s Motion to Dismiss,
Dkt. No. 107, Exs. 1-2.) Twenty-four hour swelling of the wrists does not rise to the level of
injury necessary to sustain an excessive use of force claim for tight handcuffs. Thus, the Court
grants summary judgment to Defendant Musa on Plaintiff’s tight handcuffs claim against him.
D.
“Failure to Train” Monell Claim
Plaintiff asserts a municipal liability claim against the City of New York under Monell v.
Department of Social Services, 436 U.S. 658, 690-91 (1978), and 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff
alleges that the City of New York maintained “customs, policies, and practices regarding the
31
supervision and/or training of NYPD officers that led to deprivations of Plaintiff’s rights under
the . . . United States Constitution.” (Compl. ¶ 165.)
1.
Applicable Law
To bring a general Monell claim, “[t]he plaintiff must first prove the existence of a
municipal policy or custom in order to show that the municipality took some action that caused
his injuries beyond merely employing the misbehaving officer. Second, the plaintiff must
establish a causal connection—an ‘affirmative link’—between the policy and the deprivation of
his constitutional rights.” Vippolis v. Village of Haverstraw, 768 F.2d 40, 44 (2d Cir. 1985)
(citing Oklahoma City v. Tuttle, 471 U.S. 808, 824, 824 n.8 (1985) (plurality opinion)). “In other
words, a municipality may not be found liable simply because one of its employees committed a
tort.” Roe v. City of Waterbury, 542 F.3d 31, 36 (2d Cir. 2008) (citing Bd. of County Comm’rs v.
Brown, 520 U.S. 397, 405 (1997)).
A plaintiff may also bring a municipal liability claim under Monell where a government’s
failure to adequately train and supervise employees results in a constitutional violation and
reflects a “deliberate indifference” to the constitutional rights of those with whom the employees
will come into contact. City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 388-89 (1989); Walker v. City of
New York, 974 F.2d 293, 297-98 (2d Cir. 1992); Richardson v. City of New York, No. 04 Civ.
05314, 2006 WL 3771115, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 21, 2006).
There are four requirements that a plaintiff must meet in order to survive summary
judgment on a failure to train Monell claim. “First, the plaintiff must show that a policymaker
knows ‘to a moral certainty’ that her employees will confront a given situation. . . . Second, the
plaintiff must show that the situation either presents the employee with a difficult choice of the
32
sort that training or supervision will make less difficult or that there is a history of employees
mishandling the situation. . . . [Third], the plaintiff must show that the wrong choice by the city
employee will frequently cause the deprivation of a citizen’s constitutional rights.” Walker, 974
F.2d at 297-98; see also Richardson, 2006 WL 3771115, at *5. Finally, “at the summary
judgment stage, plaintiffs must identify a specific deficiency in the city’s training program and
establish that that deficiency is closely related to the ultimate injury, such that it actually caused
the constitutional deprivation.” Id. at *5 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
2.
Application of Law to Facts
Plaintiff’s Monell claim fails as a matter of law. While Plaintiff has alleged in her
complaint in general terms that the City of New York maintained policies or customs that led to
the deprivation of her civil and constitutional rights, Plaintiff has not put into the record any
evidence to support her claim. As the City Defendants point out, Plaintiff has not identified
specifically the custom, policy, or practice that led to the deprivation of her civil rights, nor has
she adduced any evidence to establish a link between a policy or practice and the alleged
deprivation of her civil or constitutional rights. Furthermore, Plaintiff has not offered any
evidence as to any of the prongs of her more specific failure to train claim. Accordingly, the
Court grants summary judgment to the City of New York on Plaintiff’s Monell claim.
V.
Private Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment
A.
Plaintiff’s Claims Against John Doe #4 (“Mike”)
Plaintiff has brought malicious prosecution, assault, and battery claims against John Doe
#4, to whom the parties refer as “Mike.” However, “Mike” has never been positively identified
or served. Accordingly, the Court dismisses without prejudice Plaintiff’s claims against John
33
Doe #4 for the same reasons that it has dismissed Plaintiff’s claims against John Doe Officers
#1-3.
B.
Assault and Battery Claims
The Private Defendants have moved for summary judgment on Plaintiff’s assault and
battery claims against Defendant Sagendorf and against Defedants S&W Operating and Fourth
Wall vicariously.
1.
Plaintiff’s Claims Against Sagendorf
As explained previously, “[a]n ‘assault’ is an intentional placing of another person in fear
of imminent harmful or offensive contact. A ‘battery’ is an intentional wrongful physical contact
with another person without consent.” United Nat’l Ins. Co. v. Waterfront N.Y. Realty Corp.,
994 F.2d 105, 108 (2d Cir. 1993).
There is ample evidence in the record demonstrating that there are genuine disputes of
material fact as to precisely what happened at Wollensky’s on the night of the incident. The two
sides offer sharply differing characterizations of the events that led up to the incident, and what
exactly happened during the incident. With very little objective evidence in the record to
substantiate one side’s story over the other, resolving these disputes will depend in large part on
the credibility of the witnesses. Thus, this question is one for the jury, and cannot be resolved on
summary judgment. Jeffreys, 426 F.3d at 553-54.
2.
Vicarious Liability Claims Against S&W Operating and Fourth Wall
Plaintiff asserts vicarious liability claims against S&W Operating and Fourth Wall for
Defendant Sagendorf’s alleged assault and battery of Plaintiff. Defendants have moved for
summary judgment, arguing (1) that S&W Operating is merely the owner of Wollensky’s Grill
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and does not “employ” Sagendorf for purposes of vicarious liability, and (2) that Fourth Wall,
though admittedly Sagendorf’s employer, cannot be held liable for any tortious actions taken by
Sagendorf because he was acting outside the scope of his employment.
a.
Applicable Law
“It is well established that traditional vicarious liability rules ordinarily make principals
or employers vicariously liable for acts of their agents or employees in the scope of their
authority or employment.” Meyer v. Holley, 537 U.S. 280, 285 (2003) (citing Burlington
Industries, Inc. v. Ellerth, 524 U.S. 742, 756 (1998) (“An employer may be liable for both
negligent and intentional torts committed by an employee within the scope of his or her
employment.”)). Under New York law, “an employer may be vicariously liable for an
intentional tort committed by an employee if the employee was acting within the scope of
employment at the time the tort was committed.” Dean v. City of Buffalo, 579 F. Supp. 2d 391,
410-411 (W.D.N.Y. 2008) (citing inter alia Riviello v. Waldron, 47 N.Y.2d 297, 418 N.Y.S.2d
300, 391 N.E.2d 1278, 1281 (1979)); see also Adams v. New York City Transit Auth., 88 N.Y.2d
116, 643 N.Y.S.2d 511, 666 N.E.2d 216, 218 (1996) (“[A]s a general rule, employers are held
vicariously liable for their employees’ torts only to the extent that the underlying acts were
within the scope of employment.”). There can be no vicarious liability where the employee or
agent committed the tort “solely for personal motives unrelated to the furtherance of the
employer’s business.” Dean, 579 F. Supp. 2d at 410-11 (quoting Vega v. Northland Mktg.
Corp., 289 A.D.2d 565, 566, 735 N.Y.S.2d 213, 214 (2d Dep’t 2001)) (internal quotation marks
omitted); see also Vega v. Fox, 457 F. Supp. 2d 172, 184 (S.D.N.Y. 2006) (holding that courts
should look to whether “employee was engaged in the furtherance of the employer’s enterprise at
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the time of the employee’s wrongdoing, and the employer was or could have been exercising
some control over the employee’s activities” (quoting Longin v. Kelly, 8275 F. Supp. 196, 20102 (S.D.N.Y. 1995)). In considering whether a particular act falls within an employee’s scope of
employment, New York courts look to five factors:
[1] the connection between the time, place and occasion for the act,
[2] the history of the relationship between employer and employee
as spelled out in actual practice, [3] whether the act is one
commonly done by such an employee, [4] the extent of departure
from normal methods of performance; [5] and whether the specific
act was one that the employer could reasonably have anticipated.
Haybeck v. Prodigy Services Co., 944 F. Supp. 326, 329 (S.D.N.Y. 1996) (quoting Riviello, 47
N.Y.2d 297, 418 N.Y.S.2d 300, 391 N.E.2d at 1281). New York courts “generally place greater
emphasis” on the last factor. Adorno v. Corr. Services Corp., 312 F. Supp. 2d 505, 517
(S.D.N.Y. 2004). In determining whether one is an employee (whose acts can be the basis for
vicarious liability) or an independent contractor (whose acts cannot), the critical factor is the
degree of the employer’s “[c]ontrol of the method and means by which the work is to be done.”
Gitchell v. Corby, 64 A.D.3d 1163, 881 N.Y.S.2d 783, 785 (2009) (quoting Gfeller v. Russo, 45
A.D.3d 1301, 846 N.Y.S.2d 501, 502 (4th Dep’t 2007)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
b.
Application of Law to Facts
There is a genuine issue of fact as to whether Sagendorf was acting within the scope of
his duties in allegedly assaulting and battering Plaintiff. The Private Defendants contend that
Sagendorf could not have been acting within the scope of his employment by touching Plaintiff
in any way, as Sagendorf was employed only “as a manager, not as a bouncer or security guard.”
(Private Defendants’ Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment, Dkt.
No. 96, (“Private Defs. Mem.) at 12-13; see also Mulcahy Aff., Ex. L, Dkt. No. 96, (“Hart
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Affidavit”) ¶ 8.) But there can be little doubt that Sagendorf approached Plaintiff in his capacity
as manager of Wollensky’s to escort her out of the bar, and that such actions are ones that the
employer of the manager of a bar should reasonably anticipate. Plaintiff points out that
Sagendorf testified in his deposition that he had to deal with unruly customers from time to time.
(See Sagendorf Dep. at 13, 14, 21.) The New York Court of Appeals has specifically held that
the assault of an unruly patron by a bartender to protect his employer’s property and to maintain
order on the premises was within the scope of his employment. Sims v. Bergamo, 3 N.Y.2d 531,
169 N.Y.S.2d 449, 147 N.E.2d 1, 2-3 (1957). Whether Sagendorf’s actions at some point
crossed the line beyond the boundaries of his employment duties is not a fact that can be
resolved as a matter of law on this record.
Disputes of fact also preclude summary judgment on the vicarious liability of S&W
Operating. Although Sagendorf was not employed by S&W Operating, it is well settled that
“[v]icarious liability may be based on proof of an agency relationship.” Teer v. Queens-Long
Island Med. Grp., P.C., 303 A.D.2d 488, 755 N.Y.S.2d 430, 432 (2d Dep’t 2003). Drawing
inferences in the non-moving party’s favor, as the Court must, it is reasonable to infer from the
evidence in the record that S&W Operating did have a significant degree of control over how its
agent, Fourth Wall, managed the restaurants that it owned. Accordingly, the Court cannot
conclude as a matter of law that S&W Operating is not liable for the actions of the employees of
Wollensky’s.
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C.
Malicious Prosecution Claim
Plaintiff asserts a malicious prosecution claim against Defendants Sagendorf, Ford, S&W
Operating, and Fourth Wall Restaurants. The Private Defendants move for summary judgment
on this claim.
1.
Applicable Law
As stated above, in order to bring a malicious prosecution claim, a plaintiff must prove,
inter alia, that the defendant “initiated” a prosecution against the plaintiff. Rohman, 215 F.3d at
215. In this context, “initiation” is a term of art. Id. at 217. As New York courts have
recognized, it is well settled that “a civilian complainant, by merely seeking police assistance or
furnishing information to law enforcement authorities who are then free to exercise their own
judgment as to whether an arrest should be made and criminal charges filed, will not be held
liable for false arrest or malicious prosecution.” Dikler v. City of New York, No. 07 Civ. 5984,
2009 WL 1562846, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. May 26, 2009) (quoting Du Chateau v. Metro-North
Commuter R.R. Co., 253 A.D.2d 128, 688 N.Y.S.2d 12, 15 (1st Dep’t 1999)). A plaintiff may
defeat the “presumption that a prosecutor exercises independent judgment in deciding whether to
initiate and continue a criminal proceeding,” by showing that “the defendant played an active
role in the prosecution, such as giving advice and encouragement or importuning the authorities
to act.” Espada v. Schneider, 522 F. Supp. 2d 544, 553 (S.D.N.Y. 2007) (citation omitted). New
York courts have explained that “[t]he defendant must have affirmatively induced the officer to
act, such as taking an active part in the arrest and procuring it to be made or showing active,
officious and undue zeal, to the point where the officer is not acting of his own volition.” Mesiti
v. Wegman, 307 A.D.2d 339, 340, 763 N.Y.S.2d 67, 69 (2d Dep’t 2003) (citation and quotation
38
marks omitted); see also Maskantz v. Hayes, 39 A.D.3d 211, 832 N.Y.S.2d 566, 569 (1st Dep’t
2007) (“A malicious prosecution defendant must do more than merely report a crime to police
and cooperate in its prosecution . . . .”).
2.
Application of Law to Facts
It is undisputed that Ford’s involvement with the authorities consisted of calling 911 to
report that Plaintiff had thrown a water pitcher and answering the police officers’ questions when
they arrived. Ford did not go to the police station, district attorney’s office, or to court and did
not affirmatively induce any officer or prosecutor to act to the point that the officer was not
acting of his or her own volition. Though Sagendorf reported his version of the events to the
police and signed a deposition supporting the Criminal Court complaint against Plaintiff, this
also falls short of “showing active, officious and undue zeal, to the point where the officer is not
acting of his own volition.” Mesiti, 307 A.D.2d 339, 763 N.Y.S.2d at 69. There is no evidence
that Defendants S&W Operating and Fourth Wall took part in any aspect of initating the
prosecution against Plaintiff beyond the fact that Fourth Wall employees called 911 and made
reports to the police. Accordingly, because Plaintiff has not established a genuine issue as to any
of the Private Defendants’ having “initiated” a prosecution against her, summary judgment is
granted to the Private Defendants on Plaintiff’s malicious prosecution claim.
D.
Negligent Retention
Finally, Plaintiff brings a negligent retention claim against S&W Operating and Fourth
Wall for the alleged negligent retention of Aaron Sagendorf as an employee.
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1.
Applicable Law
To maintain a claim of negligent retention, “in addition to the standard elements of
negligence,” a plaintiff must show: “(1) that the tort-feasor and the defendant were in an
employee-employer relationship; (2) that the employer ‘knew or should have known of the
employee’s propensity for the conduct which caused the injury’ prior to the injury’s occurrence;
and (3) that the tort was committed on the employer’s premises or with the employer’s chattels.”
Ehrens v. Lutheran Church, 385 F.3d 232, 235 (2d Cir. 2004) (quoting Kenneth R. v. Roman
Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, 229 A.D.2d 159, 354 N.Y.S.2d 791, 793 (2d Dep’t 1997))
(internal citations omitted). For example, in Ehrens, the Defendant asserted that it was “unaware
that [the employee] had ever engaged in, or been accused of engaging in” the type of conduct
which caused the injury—sexual misconduct. Id. The Second Circuit found that the district
court had properly awarded summary judgment when the plaintiff “failed to counter [the
defendant’s] assertion with admissible evidence from which a reasonable juror could infer that
the defendants, at any time prior to the relevant incident, knew or should have known of [the
employee’s] propensity to assault minors or otherwise to engage in inappropriate sexual
conduct.” Id.
2.
Application of Law to Facts
In the complaint, Plaintiff alleges that S&W Operating and Fourth Wall had notice of
Sagendorf’s alleged propensity to violence because Sagendorf (1) had a “propensity for
aggressive conduct towards patrons”; (2) had a “tendency to act violently towards patrons”; and
(3) had “acted violently towards patrons on prior occasions.” (Compl. ¶¶ 231-33.) However,
Plaintiff has failed to adduce any evidence to support this claim. Plaintiff asserts that Sagendorf
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had acted inappropriately toward her on a previous occasion, but Plaintiff does not contend that
the incident was a violent one in any traditional sense. (Mulcahy Aff., Ex. M (“Sachs Dep. II”),
at 277-78 (stating that Sagendorf once rubbed against her breasts inappropriately and “tried to
make it look like it was an accident”).) To the contrary, Plaintiff was asked in her deposition
whether she could tell of “any violent acts towards patrons that she knows of” that were
committed by Sagendorf. She replied, “No, I can’t. . . . No, I can’t do that at this time, no.”
(Sachs Dep. II at 290.)
Defendants, for their part, put in evidence that they were not, and are not, aware of any
violent incidents involving Sagendorf. Thomas Hart, the general manager of both Wollensky’s
and Smith & Wollensky’s Restaurant for 27 years, averred that “Sagendorf has never been
disciplined or reprimanded for any sort of violent, aggressive, anti-social or other inappropriate
behavior toward patrons or anyone else while on the job.” (Hart Affidavit ¶ 9.) Sagendorf, in
his affidavit, confirms this. (Mulcahy Aff., Ex. D ¶ 10.)
Because Plaintiff has failed to show any genuine dispute that Defendants knew or should
have known of Sagendorf’s propensity to engage in violent conduct, Plaintiff’s negligent
retention claim fails. The Court thus grants summary judgment to the Private Defendants on this
claim.
VI.
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff’s motion for spoliation sanctions is DENIED.
The Court dismisses the John Doe Defendants #1-4 from the case, as they were not
identified before the close of discovery.
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The City Defendants’ motion for summary judgment on Plaintiff’s state law and § 1983
claims of false arrest, malicious prosecution, and excessive use of force in handcuffing Plaintiff
is GRANTED. The City Defendants’ motion for summary judgment on Plaintiff’s Monell claim
is GRANTED. The City Defendants’ motion for summary judgment on Plaintiff’s claims that
Defendant Musa used excessive force in effecting her arrest is DENIED.
The Private Defendants’ motion for summary judgment on Plaintiff’s malicious
prosecution and negligent retention claims is GRANTED. The Private Defendants’ motion for
summary judgment on Plaintiff’s assault and battery claims against Sagendorf, S&W Operating,
and Fourth Wall is DENIED.
The Clerk of Court is directed to close the motions at docket numbers 77, 88 and 94.
SO ORDERED.
Dated: New York, New York
September 4, 2012
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