Mejia v. N.Y.P.D. et al

Filing 222

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER. For the reasons stated above, the Defendants' motions to dismiss are GRANTED. Plaintiff's claims against NYPH, Robinson, and Velez are DISMISSED with prejudice and without leave to replead. Plaintiff's Mon ell and state law claims against HHC are dismissed with prejudice and without leave to replead. Any residual federal claims asserted by Plaintiff against HHC survive. Plaintiff's claims against Thomas, Castro, Li, and Pierre are DISMISSED withou t prejudice and with leave to replead. The Court will set a schedule for service of any amended complaint during a conference to be scheduled by subsequent order. Plaintiff is not granted leave to serve an amended complaint in the interim. The Court requests that counsel for Defendant HHC provide Plaintiff with copies of unpublished cases cited in this decision pursuant to Local Rule of the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York 7.2. The Clerk of Court i s directed to terminate the motions pending at Dkt. Nos. 159, 183, and 211, and to mail a copy of this order to Plaintiff by certified mail and by regular, first class mail. SO ORDERED. re: 159 MOTION to Dismiss Sixth Amended Complaint. filed by Wilfredo Velez, New York Presbyterian Columbia Medical Center, Alicia Robinson, 183 MOTION to Dismiss filed by Lourdi Jean Pierre, George Thomas, Raymond C. Li, North Central Bronx Hospital, New York City Health & Hos pitals Corporation, 211 MOTION to Dismiss filed by Karen Castro. Raymond C. Li, Alicia Robinson, George Thomas, Wilfredo Velez, Karen Castro and Lourdi Jean Pierre terminated. (Signed by Judge Gregory H. Woods on 7/28/2019) (rjm). Transmission to Docket Assistant Clerk for processing.

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R A M Ó N Í SÍ D R O M EJÍ A,
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Pl ai ntiff,
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N. Y. P. D., et al.
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US D C S D N Y
D OC U ME NT
E L E C T R O NI C A L L Y FI L E D
D O C #: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
D A T E FI L E D: 0 7 / 2 8 / 2 0 1 9

1: 1 6- c v- 9 7 0 6- G H W
M E M O R A N D U M O PI NI O N
A N D OR DER

G R E G O R Y H. W O O D S, U nit e d St at es Distri ct J u d g e:
O n S e pt e m b er 1 0, 2 0 1 5, a m o bil e crisis t e a m (t h e “ M C T ”) w as s e nt t o pro se Pl ai ntiff R a m o n
M eji a’s a p art m e nt i n t h e Br o n x. T h e M C T e nt er e d Pl ai ntiff’s h o m e wit h his c o ns e nt t o i ns p e ct f or
h o usi n g c o d e vi ol ati o ns. S h ortl y t h er e aft er, Pl ai nt iff as k e d t h e m t o l e a v e his a p art m e nt. T h e M C T
l at er c all e d t h e N e w Y or k Cit y P oli c e D e p art m e nt (t he “ N Y P D ”) t o h a v e Pl ai ntiff r e m o v e d fr o m his
h o m e a n d tr a ns p ort e d t o t h e ps y c hi atri c d e p art m e nt at N ort h Br o n x H os pit al ( “ N B H ”), w h er e h e
w as i n v ol u nt ar y d et ai n e d f or si x d a ys a n d f or c e d t o t a k e ps y c h o a cti v e m e di c ati o n a g ai nst his will.
I n t his o pi ni o n, t h e C o urt e v al u at es t h e a d e q u a c y of t h e cl ai ms i n Pl ai ntiff’s Si xt h A m e n d e d
C o m pl ai nt ( “ 6

th

A C ”) a g ai nst M C T m e m b ers Ali ci a Ro bi ns o n ( “ R o bi ns o n ”) a n d Wilfr e d o V el e z

( “ V el e z ”), as w ell as N e w Y or k Pr es b yt eri a n H os pit al ( “ N Y P H ”), N e w Y or k Cit y H e alt h a n d
H os pit als C or p or ati o n ( “ H H C ”), a n d H H C e m pl o y e es G e or g e T h o m as, P C T ( “ T h o m as ”),
R a y m o n d C. Li, R N ( “ Li ”), L o ur di e J ea n Pi err e, R N ( “ Pi err e ”), a n d a s u b c o ntr a ct or w h o w or k e d as
a n urs e i n H H C, K ar e n C astr o ( “ C astr o ”). T h e 6 t h A C, as wit h t h e pri or c o m pl ai nts b ef or e it, is
c o nstr u e d t o all e g e vi ol ati o ns of Pl ai ntiff’s c o nstit uti o n al ri g hts u n d er 4 2 U. S. C. § 1 9 8 3 ( “ S e cti o n
1 9 8 3 ”), as w ell as st at e l a w cl ai ms.

B ef or e t h e C o urt ar e N Y P H’s, R o bi ns o n’s, V el e z’s, a n d H H C’s m oti o ns t o dis miss t h e
cl ai ms a g ai nst t h e m. Als o, b ef or e t h e C o urt ar e m oti o ns t o dis miss s er v e d b y t h e r e c e ntl y i d e ntifi e d
p arti es, T h o m as, Li, Pi err e, a n d C astr o. F or t h e r e as o ns t h at f oll o w, all of t h e p e n di n g m oti o ns t o
dis miss ar e G R A N T E D.
I.

Pr o c e d ur al Hi st or y
I n t his o pi ni o n, i n m a n y r es p e cts, t h e C o urt r etr e a ds a p at h t h at it h as w al k e d b ef or e.

Pl ai ntiff h as a m e n d e d his c o m pl ai nt fi v e ti m es, a n d t h e C o urt h as iss u e d t hr e e o pi ni o ns i n t h e c o urs e
of t his liti g ati o n, i n w hi c h t h e m aj orit y of t h e cl ai ms i n pri or v ersi o ns of t h e 6t h A C w er e dis miss e d.
Meji a v. D avis , N o. 1 6- c v- 9 7 0 6- G H W, 2 0 1 8 W L 3 3 3 8 2 9 ( S. D. N. Y. J a n. 8, 2 0 1 7) ( “Meji a I ”); Meji a v.
Ne w Yor k City He alt h & Hos ps. Cor p. , N o. 1 6- c v- 9 7 0 6- G H W, 2 0 1 8 W L 3 4 4 2 9 7 7 ( S. D. N. Y. J ul y 1 7,
2 0 1 8) ( “ Meji a II ”); Meji a v. Ro bi nso n , N o. 1 6- c v- 9 7 0 6- G H W, 2 0 1 8 W L 3 8 2 1 6 2 5 ( S. D. N. Y. A u g. 1 0,
2 0 1 8) ( “ Meji a III ”). T h e C o urt will n ot r eit er at e t h e f ull f a cts a n d pr o c e d ur al hist or y of t his c as e, a n d
i nst e a d ass u m es f a mili arit y wit h its pri or o pi ni o ns.
O n F e br u ar y 2 3, 2 0 1 8, t h e C o urt gr a nt e d Pl ai ntiff l e a v e t o s er v e his F o urt h A m e n d e d
C o m pl ai nt ( “ 4

th

A C ”), “f or t h e li mit e d p ur p os e of c orr e ctly i d e ntif yi n g t h e d ef e n d a nts n a m e d i n t h e

t hir d a m e n d e d c o m pl ai nt. ” Or d er, D kt. N o. 1 0 7; 4 t h A C, D kt. N o. 1 0 8. I n k e e pi n g wit h t h at or d er,
t h e T hir d A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt ( “ 3r d A C ”) a n d 4t h A C ar e i d e nti c al i n all ot h er r es p e cts. Co m p are 3 r d
A C, D kt. N o. 6 6 wit h 4t h A C.
O n S e pt e m b er 1 0, 2 0 1 8, i n t h e w a k e of t h e C o urt’s d e cisi o n i n Meji a III , Pl ai ntiff s er v e d his
Fift h A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt ( “ 5 t h A C ”), p ur p ort e dl y t o c ur e t h e d efi ci e n ci es i d e ntifi e d i n t h e C o urt’s
pri or o pi ni o ns. D kt. N o. 1 3 2. T h e 5 t h A C, h o w e v er, is disti n ctl y si mil ar t o t h e 4t h A C. Co m p are 5t h
A C, D kt. N o. 1 3 2 wit h 4t h A C, D kt. N o. 1 0 8. I n d e e d, t h e b o di es of t h e 4t h A C a n d t h e 5t h A C ar e
s u bst a nti v el y i d e nti c al. T h e o nl y diff er e n c es b et w e e n t h e 4 t h A C a n d t h e 5t h A C ar e as f oll o ws. I n
t h e 5t h A C, Pl ai ntiff i n cl u d e d a h a n d writt e n p a g e of a d diti o n al f a cts i n w hi c h h e pl e a d e d t h at ( 1)
2

t h er e ar e “ a b o ut t w o d o z e n ” m o bil e crisis t e ams i n N e w Y or k Cit y, w hi c h s er v e t h e Br o n x,
Br o o kl y n, M a n h att a n, a n d Q u e e ns; ( 2) m o bil e crisis t e a ms r es p o n d t o n o n- e m er g e n c y cris es, w hi c h
ar e n o n-lif e t hr e at e ni n g, n o n vi ol e nt sit u ati o ns, w hi c h d o n ot r e q uir e a n i m m e di at e r es p o ns e a n d ( 3)
m o bil e crisis t e a ms “ g e n er all y r es p o n d wit hi n 4 8 h o urs. ” 5

th

A C, 1 5- 1 6. B e y o n d t h os e pl e a di n gs,

Pl ai ntiff i n cl u d e d as e x hi bits t o t h e 5 t h A C, pri nt o uts of t w o w e bsit e dis c ussi n g m o bil e crisis t e a ms.
E x hi bit A is a pri nt o ut of a N e w Y or k Cit y m u ni ci p al w e bsit e t h at pr o vi d es i nf or m ati o n a b o ut
m o bil e crisis t e a ms, a n d t h e t y p es of sit u ati o ns t o w hi c h t h e y r es p o n d.

1

I d., E x. A. E x hi bit B is a

pri nt o ut of a n ot h er N e w Y or k Cit y m u ni ci p al w e bsi t e t h at als o pr o vi d es i nf or m ati o n a b o ut m o bil e
crisis t e a ms —i n cl u di n g, i n p erti n e nt p art, t h e cir c u mst a n c es i n w hi c h t h e N e w Y or k M e nt al H y gi e n e
L a w ( “ M H L ”) p er mits m o bil e crisis t e a ms t o dir e ct t h e N Y P D “t o t a k e a p ers o n t o a n e m er g e n c y
r o o m a g ai nst t h eir will. ” 2 I d., E x. B. Asi d e fr o m t h e a d diti o ns d es cri b e d a b o v e, t h e 5

th

A C is

i d e nti c al t o t h e 4t h A C.
O n S e pt e m b er 1 8, 2 0 1 8, t h e C o urt dir e ct e d H H C t o “ as c ert ai n t h e i d e ntit y a n d (if
a p pli c a bl e) b a d g e n u m b er of e a c h of t h e u ni d e ntifi e d i n di vi d u al d ef e n d a nts w h o m Pl ai ntiff s e e ks t o
s u e h er e a n d t h e a d dr ess w h er e e a c h of t h os e d ef e n d a nts m a y b e s er v e d. ” D kt. N o. 1 3 5. H H C
c o m pli e d o n S e pt e m b er 2 6, 2 0 1 8, pr o vi di n g i nf or m at i o n as t o D ef e n d a nts Li, Pi err e, T h o m as a n d
C astr o.

3

D kt. N o. 1 4 2. O n O ct o b er 1 8, 2 0 1 8, t h e C o urt gr a nt e d Pl ai ntiff l e a v e t o a m e n d t h e 5t h A C,

t o s u bstit ut e t h e n a m e d d ef e n d a nts f or t h e J o h n D o e d ef e n d a nts n a m e d i n t h e 5t h A C — n oti n g t h at
“[ o] h er t h a n t h e m o difi c ati o ns w arr a nt e d b y t h e a d diti o n of t h os e [ n e w] p arti es, Pl ai ntiff is n ot

1 E x hi bit A c a n als o b e f o u n d at: htt ps: / / w w w 1. n y c. g o v /sit e / d o h / h e alt h / h e alth-t o pi cs / crisis- e m er g e n c y-s er vi c es. p a g e
(l ast visit e d 7 / 1 9 / 1 9).

E x hi bit B c a n als o b e f o u n d at: htt ps: / / w w w 1. n y c. g o v /sit e / d o h / h e alt h / h e alt h-t o pi cs/ crisis- e m er g e n c y-s er vi c esm o bil e- crisis-t e a ms. p a g e (l ast visit e d 7 / 1 9 / 1 9).

2

H H C als o pr o vi d e d i nf or m ati o n as t o p ut ati v e d ef e n d a nt P e n el o p e Car mi c h a el, M. D. H o w e v er, t h e C o urt u n d erst a n ds
t h at Dr. Car mi c h a el h as n ot b e e n s er v e d. A c c or di n gl y, s h e is n ot a d ef e n d a nt.

3

3

a ut h ori z e d t o m a k e alt er ati o ns t o t h e [ 5 t h A C]. ” Or d er, D kt. N o. 1 5 2. Pl ai ntiff s er v e d his 6t h A C o n
O ct o b er 2 9, 2 0 1 8. 6

th

A C, D kt. N o. 1 5 4. Ot h er t h a n a d di n g D ef e n d a nts Li, Pi err e, T h o m as, a n d

C astr o t o t h e c a pti o n of t h e 6

th

A C, t h e 6t h A C is i d e nti c al t o t h e 5t h A C.4 I n d e e d, t h e c a pti o n of t h e

6 t h A C still na m es all of t h e pri or J o h n D o e d ef e n d a nts, as w ell as t h e n e wl y n a m e d d ef e n d a nts
w h os e i d e ntiti es w er e pr o vi d e d t o r e pl a c e c ert ai n J o h n D o e d ef e n d a nts.
m o difi c ati o ns t o t h e b o d y of t h e 6

th

Pl ai ntiff m a d e n o

A C — wit h t h e c o ns e q u e n c e t h at w hil e t h e c a pti o n n o w r ef ers t o

t h e n e wl y n a m e d d ef e n d a nts, t h e all e g ati o ns i n t h e 6 t h A C still r ef er t o n u m er o us J o h n D o e
d ef e n d a nts r at h er t h a n t h e n e wl y n a m e d d ef e n d a nts. See 6 t h A C, C a pti o n ( n a mi n g J o h n D o e N urs es
# 1- 5); ¶ 2 1 ( c o nt ai ni n g all e g ati o ns as t o “J o h n D o e N urs e # 1 ”); ¶ 2 3 ( c o nt ai ni n g all e g ati o ns as t o
“J o h n D o e N urs e # 5 ”). As dis c uss e d f urt h er b el o w, t his l e a v es t h e C o urt wit h i ns uffi ci e nt
i nf or m ati o n r e g ar di n g t h e s p e cifi c c o n d u ct t h at c ert ai n of t h e n e wl y n a m e d d ef e n d a nts m a y b e
all e g e d t o h a v e e n g a g e d i n.
B ef or e t h e C o urt ar e t hr e e m oti o ns t o dis miss.

T h e first w as s er v e d b y N Y P H o n b e h alf of

its elf a n d its e m pl o y e es, R o bi ns o n a n d V el e z, o n N o v e m b er 1 6, 2 0 1 8 ( “ N Y P H M ot. ”). D kt. N o.
1 5 9. Pl ai ntiff o p p os e d t h at m oti o n o n D e c e m b er 7, 2 0 1 9 ( “ O p p. t o N Y P H M ot. ”). D kt. N o. 1 7 2.
O n D e c e m b er 1 3, 2 0 1 9, t h e N Y P H D ef e n d a nts s u b mitt e d a r e pl y d e cl ar ati o n, w hi c h n ot e d t h at
Pl ai ntiff’s O p p ositi o n w as t h e s a m e d o c u m e nt h e h a d s u b mitt e d i n o p p ositi o n t o D ef e n d a nts
R o bi ns o n’s a n d V el e z’s ( b ut n ot N Y P H’s) m oti o n t o dis miss his 4

th

A C —t h e o nl y diff er e n c e b ei n g

t h at h e h a d w hit e d o ut t h e w or d “ F o urt h ” o n t h e first a n d s e c o n d p a g es, a n d r e pl a c e d it wit h a
h a n d writt e n “ Si xt h. ” N Y P H R e pl y, D kt. N o. 1 7 2.

Pl ai ntiff h as n ot o p p os e d N Y P H’s ar g u m e nts i n

f a v or of dis miss al of t h e cl ai ms a g ai nst it.
T h e s e c o n d m oti o n t o dis miss w as s er v e d o n O c t o b er 2 9, 2 0 1 8, b y H H C o n b e h alf of its elf
a n d its e m pl o y e es, Pi err e, Li, a n d T h o m as (t h e “ H H C M o t. ”). D kt. N o. 1 8 3. Pl ai ntiff o p p os e d t h at
4

P ut ati v e d ef e n d a nt C ar mi c ha el w as als o a d d e d t o t h e c a pti o n.

4

m oti o n o n F e br u ar y 1, 2 0 1 9 ( “ O p p. t o H H C M ot. ”) . D kt. N o. 1 9 5. H H C, Pi err e, Li a n d T h o m as
r e pli e d o n F e br u ar y 1 1, 2 0 1 9 ( “ H H C R e pl y ”). D kt. N o. 2 0 2.
T h e t hir d m oti o n t o dis miss w as fil e d b y D ef e n d a nt C astr o o n F e br u ar y 1 1, 2 0 1 9. As of t h e
d at e of t his o pi ni o n, Pl ai ntiff h as n ot o p p os e d t h at m oti o n.
All t hr e e m oti o ns ar e n o w b ef or e t h e C o urt a n d ri p e f or a dj u di c ati o n.
II.

St a n d ar d
“ T o s ur vi v e a m oti o n t o dis miss, a c o m pl ai nt m ust c o nt ai n s uffi ci e nt f a ct u al m att er, a c c e pt e d

as tr u e, t o ‘st at e a cl ai m t o r eli ef t h at is pl a usi bl e o n its f a c e.’ ” As hcroft v. I q b al , 5 5 6 U. S. 6 6 2, 6 7 8
( 2 0 0 9) ( q u oti n g Bell Atl. Cor p. v. T wo m bly , 5 5 0 U. S. 5 4 4, 5 7 0 ( 2 0 0 7)). “ A cl ai m h as f a ci al pl a usi bilit y
w h e n t h e pl ai ntiff pl e a ds f a ct u al c o nt e nt t h at all o ws t h e c o urt t o dr a w t h e r e as o n a bl e i nf er e n c e t h at
t h e d ef e n d a nt is li a bl e f or t h e mis c o n d u ct all e g e d. ” I d. ( citi n g T wo m bly , 5 5 0 U. S. at 5 5 6). It is n ot
e n o u g h f or a pl ai ntiff t o all e g e f a cts t h at ar e c o nsist e nt wit h li a bilit y; t h e c o m pl ai nt m ust “ n u d g e ”
cl ai ms “ a cr oss t h e li n e fr o m c o n c ei v a bl e t o pl a usi bl e. ” T wo m bly , 5 5 0 U. S. at 5 7 0. “ T o s ur vi v e
dis miss al, t h e pl ai ntiff m ust pr o vi d e t h e gr o u n ds u p o n w hi c h his cl ai m r ests t hr o u g h f a ct u al
all e g ati o ns s uffi ci e nt ‘t o r ais e a ri g ht t o r eli ef a b o v e t h e s p e c ul ati v e l e v el.’ ” A T SI Co m mc’ ns, I nc. v.
S h a ar F u n d, Lt d. , 4 9 3 F. 3 d 8 7, 9 8 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 7) ( q u oti n g T wo mbly , 5 5 0 U. S. at 5 5 5).
D et er mi ni n g w h et h er a c o m pl ai nt st at es a pl a usi bl e cl ai m is a “ c o nt e xt-s p e cifi c t as k t h at
r e q uir es t h e r e vi e wi n g c o urt t o dr a w o n its j u di ci al e x p eri e n c e a n d c o m m o n s e ns e. ” I q b al, 5 5 6 U. S.
at 6 7 9. T h e c o urt m ust a c c e pt all f a cts all e g e d i n t h e c o m pl ai nt as tr u e a n d dr a w all r e as o n a bl e
i nf er e n c es i n t h e pl ai ntiff’s f a v or. B urc h v. Pio neer Cre dit Recovery, I nc ., 5 5 1 F. 3 d 1 2 2, 1 2 4 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 8)
( p er c uri a m). H o w e v er,
‘[t] hr e a d b ar e r e cit als of t h e el e m e nts of a c a us e of a cti o n, s u p p ort e d b y m er e
c o n cl us or y st at e m e nts, d o n ot s uffi c e.’ A c o m pl ai nt m ust t h er ef or e c o nt ai n m or e
t h a n ‘ n a k e d ass erti o n[s] d e v oi d of f urth er f a ct u al e n h a n c e m e nt.’ Pl e a di n gs t h at
c o nt ai n ‘ n o m or e t h a n c o n cl usi o ns . . . ar e n ot e ntitl e d t o t h e ass u m pti o n of tr ut h’
ot h er wis e a p pli c a bl e t o c o m pl ai nts i n t h e c o nt e xt of m oti o ns t o dis miss.
5

DeJes us v. H F Mg mt. Servs., L L C , 7 2 6 F. 3 d 8 5, 8 7- 8 8 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 3) ( q u oti n g I q b al, 5 5 6 U. S. at 6 7 87 9). T h us, a c o m pl ai nt t h at off ers “l a b els a n d c o n cl usi o ns ” or “ n a k e d ass erti o n[s] ” wit h o ut “f urt h er
f a ct u al e n h a n c e m e nt ” will n ot s ur vi v e a m oti o n t o dis miss. I q b al, 5 5 6 U. S. at 6 7 8 ( citi n g T wo m bly ,
5 5 0 U. S. at 5 5 5, 5 5 7).
B e c a us e Pl ai ntiff is pr o c e e di n g pro se , t h e C o urt m ust li b er all y c o nstr u e Pl ai ntiff’s all e g ati o ns
a n d “i nt er pr et[ ] [t h e m] t o r ais e t h e st r o n g est ar g u m e nts t h at t h e y s u g g est. ” Triest m a n v. Fe d. B ure a u of
Priso ns , 4 7 0 F. 3 d 4 7 1, 4 7 4 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 6) ( p er c uri a m) (i nt er n al q u ot ati o n m ar ks a n d cit ati o n
o mitt e d); see also, e.g., Eric kso n v. P ar d us , 5 5 1 U. S. 8 9, 9 4 ( 2 0 0 7) ( “ A d o c u m e nt fil e d pro se is t o b e
li b er all y c o nstr u e d . . . . ” (i nt er n al q u ot ati o n m ar ks a n d cit ati o n o mitt e d)); Nielse n v. R a bi n , 7 4 6 F. 3 d
5 8, 6 3 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 4) ( “ W h er e . . . t h e c o m pl ai nt w as fil e d pro se , it m ust b e c o nstr u e d li b er all y t o r ais e
t h e str o n g est cl ai ms it s u g g ests. ”) ( q u oti n g W al ker v. Sc h ult , 7 1 7 F. 3 d 1 1 9, 1 2 4 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 3)).
N e v ert h el ess, “ dis miss al of a pro se c o m pl ai nt is a p pr o pri at e w h er e a pl ai ntiff h as cl e arl y f ail e d t o
m e et t h e mi ni m u m pl e a di n g r e q uir e m e nts. ”

R a h m a n v. Sc hriro , 2 2 F. S u p p. 3 d 3 0 5, 3 1 0 ( S. D. N. Y.

2 0 1 4) ( citi n g Ro drig ue z v. We pri n , 1 1 6 F. 3 d 6 2, 6 5 ( 2 d Cir. 1 9 9 7)).
III.

Cl ai m s A g ai n st N e w Y or k Pr e s b yt eri a n
It’ s E m pl o y e e s R o bi n s o n a n d V el e z 5

H o s pit al / C ol u m bi a M e di c al C e nt er a n d

I n Meji a I , t h e C o urt gr a nt e d N Y P H’s m oti o n t o dis miss t h e 3r d A C i n its e ntir et y. 2 0 1 8 W L
3 3 3 8 2 9, at * 1 1. Pl ai ntiff’s S e cti o n 1 9 8 3 cl ai ms a g ai nst N Y P H, w hi c h w er e b as e d o n a t h e or y of
dir e ct li a bilit y, w er e dis miss e d wit h pr ej u di c e a n d hi s st at e l a w cl ai ms f or f als e arr est, sl a n d er, a n d
m e di c al m al pr a cti c e w er e dis miss e d wit h pr ej u di c e. I d. A c c or di n gl y, t h e C o urt n e e d n ot r e visit
t h os e cl ai ms h er e. Pl ai ntiff’s Mo nell a n d st at e l a w n e gli g e n c e cl ai ms a g ai nst N Y P H, h o w e v er w er e
dis miss e d wit h o ut pr ej u di c e. I d.

5

T h e C o urt ass u m es f a mili arit y wit h C o urt’s pri or d e cisi o ns i n i n Meji a I a n d III , w hi c h ar e i n c or p or at e d b y r ef er e n c e.

6

O n A u g ust 1 0, 2 0 1 8, t h e C o urt iss u e d Meji a III , dis missi n g Pl ai ntiff’s S e cti o n 1 9 8 3 a n d st at e
l a w cl ai ms a g ai nst R o bi ns o n a n d V el e z. T h e C o urt e x pl ai n e d t h at n eit h er Pl ai ntiff’s S e cti o n 1 9 8 3
cl ai ms, n or his st at e l a w cl ai ms, w er e a d e q u at el y pl e a d e d. 2 0 1 8 W L 3 8 2 1 6 2 5, at * 4- 7. T h e vi a bilit y
of Pl ai ntiff’s f e d er al a n d st at e cl ai ms a g ai ns t R o bi ns o n a n d V el e z w er e ulti m at el y c o nti n g e nt o n
Pl ai ntiff a d e q u at el y pl e a di n g t h at eit h er R o bi ns o n or V el e z w er e st at e a ct ors, a n d as Pl ai ntiff h a d
f ail e d t o d o s o, his cl ai ms a g ai nst t h e m w er e dis miss e d wit h o ut pr ej u di c e. I d.
O n S e pt e m b er 1 0, 2 0 1 8, Pl ai ntiff fil e d his 5 t h A C, a n d o n O ct o b er 2 9, 2 0 1 8, h e s er v e d his 6t h
A C.

As dis c uss e d a b o v e, t h e 5

th

A C a n d 6t h A C ar e n e arl y i d e nti c al t o t h e 4t h A C, w hi c h is, i n t ur n,

n e arl y i d e nti c al t o t h e 3 r d A C. See § I, a b o v e. I n d e e d, t h e o nl y p erti n e nt a m e n d m e nt t o t h e 6 t h A C as
c o m p ar e d t o t h e 3 r d A C a n d 4t h A C o n w hi c h t h e C o urt h as alr e a d y r ul e d, is t h e a d diti o n of
a d diti o n al pl e a di n gs as t o t h e n at ur e of m o bil e cr isis t e a ms a n d Pl ai ntiff’s i n cl usi o n of pri nt o uts of
c ert ai n N e w Y or k Cit y m u ni ci p al w e b sit es dis c ussi n g m o bil e crisis t e a ms. As a r es ult, t h e C o urt is
f a c e d wit h a 6 t h A C w hi c h c o nt ai ns, as e x pl ai n e d b el o w, n o n e w p erti n e nt f a cts or all e g ati o ns w hi c h
c o ul d i m p a ct t h e C o urt’s pri or a n al ysis.
C o m p o u n di n g t h e déj à v u is t h e f a ct t h at Pl ai ntiff’s o p p ositi o n t o N Y P H’s m oti o n t o dis miss
is t h e s a m e d o c u m e nt h e s er v e d i n o p p ositi o n t o R o bi ns o n a n d V el e z’s m oti o n t o dis miss t h e 4t h
A C, wit h t h e w or d “f o urt h ” r e pl a c e d wit h t h e w or d “si xt h ” o n t h e first a n d s e c o n d p a g es. Co m p are
D kt. N o. 1 2 5 a n d D kt. N o. 1 7 2. T h e c o ns e q u e n c es of Pl ai ntiff’s f ail ur e t o pr o vi d e n e w bri efi n g ar e
t w o-f ol d. First, t h e C o urt h as b e e n pr es e nt e d wit h n o n e w ar g u m e nt as t o w h y Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai ms
a g ai nst R o bi ns o n a n d V el e z s h o ul d n ot b e dis miss e d. A n d s e c o n d, Pl ai ntiff h as f ail e d t o o p p os e
N Y P H’s m oti o n t o dis miss, as his o p p ositi o n, u ns ur prisi n gl y, o nl y p ert ai ns t o R o bi ns o n a n d V el e z,
n ot N Y P H.
A c c or di n gl y, t h e iss u e pr es e nt e d is w h et h er Pl ai ntiff’s i n cl usi o n of e xtr a i nf or m ati o n as t o
t h e n at ur e of m o bil e crisis t e a ms is s uffi ci e nt t o s ust ai n a n y of his r e m ai ni n g cl ai ms a g ai nst N Y P H,
7

R o bi ns o n, or V el e z, d es pit e t h e l a c k of a n y n e w ar g u m e nt ati o n i n s u p p ort of his p ositi o n. F or t h e
r e as o ns t h at f oll o w, t h e n e w i nf or m ati o n i n cl u d e d i n t h e 6 t h A C is i ns uffi ci e nt t o s ust ai n Pl ai ntiff’s
cl ai ms a g ai nst N Y P H, R o bi ns o n, a n d V el e z, w hi c h ar e dis miss e d.
E v e n c o nstr u e d li b er all y, t h e o nl y i nf or m ati o n pr es e nt e d i n t h e 6

th

A C w hi c h w as n ot

c o nt ai n e d i n Pl ai ntiff’s 3 r d A C a n d 4t h A C p ert ai ns t o t h e M C T. I n t h e 6t h A C, Pl ai ntiff has all e g e d
t h at m o bil e crisis t e a ms h a v e t h e p o w er t o dir e ct t h e r e m o v al of a p ers o n w h o a p p e ars t o b e
u n d er g oi n g a m e nt al h e alt h crisis t o a h os pit al, a n d h as dir e ct e d t h e C o urt t o m u ni ci p al w e bsit es
c o nfir mi n g t his a ut h orit y. T h e C o urt u n d erst a n ds t h at Pl ai ntiff i n cl u d e d t his i nf or m ati o n t o b olst er
his c o nt e nti o ns t h at N Y P H a n d its e m pl o y e es q u alif y as st at e a ct ors f or t h e p ur p os es of t his c as e.
H o w e v er, i n Meji a I a n d III, t h e C o urt s p e cifi c all y c o nsi d er e d t h e i m p a ct of N e w Y or k M e nt al
H y gi e n e L a w § 9. 5 8, w hi c h st at es, i n p erti n e nt p art:
[ a] p h ysi ci a n or q u alifi e d m e nt al h e alt h pr of essi o n al w h o is a m e m b er of a n a p pr o v e d
m o bil e crisis o utr e a c h t e a m s h all h ave t he po wer to re move, or . . . to direct t he re mov al of a ny
perso n to a hos pit al . . . f or t h e p ur p os e of e v al u ati o n f or a d missi o n if s u c h p ers o n
a p p e ars t o b e m e nt all y ill a n d is c o n d u cti n g hi ms elf or h ers elf i n a m a n n er w hi c h is
li k el y t o r es ult i n s eri o us h ar m t o t h e p ers o n or ot h ers.
Meji a I , 2 0 1 8 W L 3 3 3 8 2 9, at * 9 ( e m p h asis a d d e d); Meji a III , 2 0 1 8 W L 3 8 2 1 6 2 5, at * 5.
T h e C o urt w as a w ar e t h at t h e N e w Y or k M e nt al H y gi e n e L a w gr a nt e d t h e p o w er t o t h e
M C T t o dir e ct t h e r e m o v al of p ers o ns w h e n it d e ci d e d Meji a I a n d Meji a III, a n d e x pr essl y
c o nsi d er e d t h at iss u e i n t h os e d e cisi o ns. Pl ai ntiff’s a d diti o ns t o t h e 6 t h A C, w hi c h m er el y p oi nt t h e
C o urt t o i nf or m ati o n alr e a d y c o nsi d er e d i n its pri or o pi ni o ns, d o n ot w arr a nt r e c o nsi d er ati o n or
r e v al u ati o n of t h os e d e cisi o ns. A c c or di n gl y, f or t h e r e as o ns arti c ul at e d i n Meji a I a n d Meji a III ,
Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai ms a g ai nst N Y P H, R o bi ns o n, a n d V al e z ar e dis miss e d.

8

I V.

Cl ai m s A g ai n st H H C

6

I n Meji a II , t h e C o urt dis miss e d Pl ai ntiff’s Mo nell cl ai ms a g ai nst H H C wit h o ut pr ej u di c e d u e
t o his f ail ur e t o a d e q u at el y pl e a d a n y q u alif yi n g “ p oli c y or c ust o m. ” 2 0 1 8 W L 3 4 4 2 9 7 7, at * 1 2- 1 4.
T h e C o urt als o dis miss e d Pl ai ntiff’s st at e l a w cl ai ms a g ai nst H H C f or f aili n g t o s atisf y “t h e
r e q uir e m e nt of pl e a di n g ti m el y s er vi c e o n H H C. ” I d. at * 1 5. H o w e v er, t h e C o urt n ot e d t h at
“ Pl ai ntiff ass erts i n his o p p ositi o n t h at his c o m pl ai nt c a n als o b e r e a d t o r ais e a F o urt h A m e n d m e nt
cl ai m. D ef e n d a nts d o n ot m o v e t o dis miss t h at cl ai m. T h er ef or e, t o t h e e xt e nt t h at Pl ai ntiff’s
f o urt h a m e n d e d c o m pl ai nt c a n b e r e a d t o ass ert a F o urt h A m e n d m e nt cl ai m, or a n y ot h er f e d er al
cl ai m, t h os e cl ai ms s ur vi v e. ” I d. at * 6.
As dis c uss e d a b o v e, t h e o nl y m o difi c ati o ns t o t h e 6

th

A C r el at e t o t h e M C T. T h er e is n o

all e g ati o n, h o w e v er, t h at H H C h as a n y r el ati o ns hi p wi t h t h e M C T. N o M C T m e m b er is all e g e d t o
b e a n e m pl o y e e of H H C, n or is H H C all e g e d t o h a v e a n y c o n n e cti o n t o t h e M C T pr o gr a m. I n d e e d,
t h e 6t h A C is d e v oi d of a n y all e g ati o ns of a c o n n e cti o n b et w e e n t h e M C T a n d H H C, w hi c h t h e
C o urt c o ul d c o nsi d er i n li g ht of t h e 6

th

A C. A c c or di n gl y, Pl ai ntiff’s m o difi c ati o n t o t h e C o m pl ai nt

i n t h e 6t h A C h a v e n o i m p a ct o n, n or e v e n c o n n e cti o n t o, t h e C o urt’s a n al ysis i n Meji a II . As
Pl ai ntiff h as f ail e d t o a m e n d his pl e a di n g t o a c c o u nt f or t h e C o urt’s a n al ysis i n Meji a II , t h e C o urt’s
pri or r uli n g c o ntr ols. F or t h e s a m e r e as o ns arti c ul at e d i n Meji a II , Pl ai ntiff’s Mo nell cl ai m a n d st at e
l a w cl ai ms a g ai nst H H C ar e dis miss e d.7
H o w e v er, H H C h as n ot pr o vi d e d a n y ar g u m e nt ati o n as t o a n y r esi d u al f e d er al cl ai ms, s u c h
as a p ot e nti al F o urt h A m e n d m e nt cl ai m, ass ert e d b y Pl ai ntiff. A c c or di n gl y, t o t h e e xt e nt a n y s u c h
cl ai ms e xist, t h e y s ur vi v e. 8
6

T h e C o urt ass u m es f a mili arit y wit h C o urt’s pri or d e cisi o ns i n i n Meji a II , w hi c h is i n c or p or at e d b y r ef er e n c e.

7

T his r uli n g has n o i m p a ct o n t h e clai ms a g ai nst Dr. S c h e ar t h at s ur vi v e d Mejia II .

T h e C o urt t a k es n o p ositi o n o n t h e e xist en c e or vi a bilit y of a n y s u c h cl ai ms. H o w e v er, i n t h e a bs e n c e of bri efi n g o n
t his iss u e, t h e C o urt, a g ai n, d e cli n es t o dis miss a n y r esi d u al f e d er al cl ai ms a g ai nst H H C
8

9

V.

Cl ai m s a g ai n st H H C’ s E m pl o y e e s
A) Cl ai m s a g ai n st T h o m a s
F or t h e r e as o ns t h at f oll o w, Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai ms a g ai nst T h o m as ar e dis miss e d.
1. B a c k gr o u n d
W hil e G e or g e T h o m as is n a m e d i n t h e c a pti o n of t h e 6

th

A C, t h e b o d y of t h e 6t h A C n e v er

us es his n a m e. N o n et h el ess, as G e or g e T h o m as w as t h e o nl y or d erl y w h os e i d e ntit y w as pr o vi d e d
b y H H C p urs u a nt t o t h e C o urt’s V ale nti n

or d er, a n d o nl y o n e J o h n D o e Or d erl y is n a m e d i n t h e 6t h

A C, t h e C o urt u n d erst a n ds t h at r ef er e n c es t o J o h n D o e Or d erl y # 1 i n t h e 6
T h o m as. A c c or di n gl y, t h e o nl y all e g ati o ns i n t h e 6

th

th

A C r ef er t o D ef e n d a nt

A C w hi c h p ert ai n t o D ef e n d a nt T h o m as ar e

c o nt ai n e d i n p ar a gr a p h 2 3 of t h e 6 t h A C, w hi c h st at es, i n p erti n e nt p art: “ W hil e i n t h e h os pit al, J o h n
D o e Or d erl y # 1 w o ul d r e g ul arl y t ell Pl ai ntiff t h at h e h a d t o t a k e t h e pills pr es cri b e d b y Dr. M ar k A.
S c h e ar. Pl ai ntiff w as n ot gi v e n t h e o pti o n t o r ef us e t o t a k e t h e m e di c ati o n, a n d h e w as f or c e d t o
t a k e it. ” 6t h A C ¶ 2 3. E v e n li b er all y c o nstr u e d, Pl ai ntiff h as n ot all e g e d t h at T h o m as i n v ol u nt aril y
c o m mitt e d hi m, or t h at T h o m as w as d eli b er at el y i n diff er e nt t o his m e di c al n e e ds. R at h er, li b er all y
c o nstr ui n g pro se Pl ai ntiff’s c o m pl ai nt, Pl ai ntiff h as all eg e d a S e cti o n 1 9 8 3 d u e pr o c ess cl ai m a g ai nst
T h o m as f or f or c e d m e di c ati o n, t h e gr a v a m e n of w hi c h is t h at w h e n T h o m as all e g e dl y t ol d Pl ai ntiff
t h at Pl ai ntiff “ h a d ” t o t a k e his m e di c ati o n, h e c a us e d Pl ai ntiff t o t a k e ps y c h o a cti v e m e di c ati o n
a g ai nst his will t h o u g h t hr e ats a n d i nti mi d ati o n. F or t h e r e as o ns t h at f oll o w, Pl ai ntiff h as
i n a d e q u at el y pl e a d e d t h at cl ai m.
2. Di s c u s si o n
T h e C o urt ass u m es f a mili arit y wit h t h e l e g al st a n d ar d f or t h e s u bst a nti v e d u e pr o c ess cl ai m
of f or c e d m e di c ati o n as arti c ul at e d i n Meji a II.

2 0 1 8 W L 3 4 4 2 9 7 7, at * 4- 1 0. 9

At t h e ti m e of Meji a II ,

As a m u ni ci p al c or p or ati o n, H H C a n d its e m pl o y e es ar e st at e a ct ors f or p ur p os es of t h e C o urt’s S e cti o n 1 9 8 3 a n al ysis.
I d. at * 8

9

10

D ef e n d a nt T h o m as h a d n ot y et b e e n n a m e d as a d ef e n d a nt. A c c or di n gl y, t h e C o urt di d n ot
c o nsi d er t h e all e g e d cl ai m a g ai nst hi m. T h e iss u e n o w b ef or e t h e C o urt is w h et h er T h o m as’s all e g e d
st at e m e nts t o Pl ai ntiff ris e t o t h e l e v el of a d u e pr o c ess vi ol ati o n.
Pl ai ntiff c o nt e n ds t h at T h o m as’s st at e m e nts w er e t hr e ats, w hi c h ulti m at el y c a us e d Pl ai ntiff
t o t a k e m e di c ati o n a g ai nst his will.

H o w e v er, T h o m as’s all e g e d c o n d u ct d o es n ot ris e t o t h e l e v el of

“s h o c ki n g t h e c o ns ci e n c e ” as r e q uir e d t o a d e q u a t el y pl e a d a s u bst a nti v e d u e pr o c ess cl ai m. I d.
P h ysi c al c o nt a ct is n ot r e q uir e d f or a n all e g ati o n of f or c e d m e di c ati o n t o c o nstit ut e a d u e
pr o c ess vi ol ati o n. Rol a n d v. Mc Mo n agle , N o. 1 2- c v- 6 3 3 1-J P O, 2 0 1 5 W L 5 9 1 8 1 7 9, at * 4 ( S. D. N. Y.
O ct. 9, 2 0 1 5) ( “ T h e F o urt e e nt h A m e n d m e nt pr o hi bi ts pris o n offi c ers fr o m usi n g t h e t hr e at of
vi ol e n c e t o c o m p el a n i n m at e t o i n g est a dr u g , p arti c ul arl y w h er e n o m e di c al pr of essi o n al h as
a ut h ori z e d f or c e d m e di c ati o n. ”). I n li g ht of t h e str o n g li b ert y i nt er est i n d e ci di n g w h et h er t o t a k e
m e di c ati o n, f or ci n g a p ers o n t o t a k e m e di c ati o n t hr o u g h t hr e ats a n d i nti mi d ati o n, e v e n a bs e nt a n y
p h ysi c al c o nt a ct, m a y c o nstit ut e a d u e pr o c ess vi ol ati o n if t h e cir c u mst a n c es “s h o c k[] t h e
c o ns ci e n c e. ” Meji a II , 2 0 1 8 W L 3 4 4 2 9 7 7, at * 8 ( q u oti n g Co u nty of S acr a me nto v. Le wis , 5 2 3 U. S. 8 3 3,
8 4 6- 4 7 ( 1 9 9 8)); see Rol a n d, 2 0 1 5 W L 5 9 1 8 1 7 9, at * 2.
E v e n li b er all y c o nstr u e d a n d a c c e pt e d as tr u e, Pl ai ntiff’s all e g ati o ns d o n ot ris e t o t h at l e v el.
Pl ai ntiff m er el y all e g es t h at T h o m as, a h os pit al or d erl y, t ol d Pl ai ntiff t h at h e h a d t o t a k e t h e
m e di c ati o n his d o ct or h a d pr es cri b e d. Pl ai ntiff d o es n ot all e g e t h at T h o m as t hr e at e n e d Pl ai ntiff i n
or d er t o c o m p el hi m t o t a k e t h e m e di c ati o n pr es cri b e d b y Dr. S c h e ar, n or e v e n t h at T h o m as h a d
a n y r e as o n t o k n o w t h at Pl ai ntiff o bj e ct e d t o t a ki n g his pr es cri b e d m e di c ati o n. St a n di n g al o n e,
T h o m as’s all e g e d st at e m e nt is f a ci all y n e utr al. H e m er el y i nf or m e d Pl ai ntiff t h at h e “ h a d t o t a k e t h e
m e di c ati o n ” — w hi c h is n ot, i n a n d of its elf, a t hr e at.
Pl ai ntiff a c k n o wl e d g es t his iss u e, b ut c o nt e n ds t h at i n t h e c o nt e xt of t h e h arr o wi n g
cir c u mst a n c es all e g e d, T h o m as’s w or ds h a d “ a m u c h m or e f or c ef ul i m p a ct [ o n Pl ai ntiff] t h a n h a d
11

t h e y b e e n s p o k e n u n d er ot h er l ess tr a u m ati c cir c u mst a n c es. ” O p p. t o H H C M ot. at 5. H o w e v er,
Pl ai ntiff h as n ot all e g e d t h at T h o m as w as a w ar e of, or r e as o n a bl y s h o ul d h a v e b e e n a w ar e of, t h e
c o nt e xt t h at a m plifi e d his w or ds’ c o er ci v e f or c e. I n d e e d, Pl ai ntiff h as n ot e v e n all e g e d t h at T h o m as
h a d a n y r e as o n t o b eli e v e t h at Pl ai ntif f o bj e ct e d t o t a ki n g his m e di c ati o n. See 1 4 N. Y. C. R. R. §
5 2 7. 8( c)( 1) ( “ P ati e nts w ho o bject t o a n y pr o p os e d m e di c al tr e at m e nt or pr o c e d ur e . . . m a y n ot b e
tr e at e d o v er t h eir o bj e cti o n e x c e pt as f oll o ws ”) ( e m p h asis a d d e d). A n d w hil e Pl ai ntiff h as all e g e d, i n
d et ail, t h e cir c u mst a n c es i n w hi c h h e w as p h ysi c all y f or c e d t o t a k e m e di c ati o n, h e h as n ot all e g e d
t h at T h o m as w as pr es e nt d uri n g, or ot h er wis e a w ar e of, t h os e e v e nts. See 6 t h A C ¶ ¶ 1 7- 2 9. N or h as
Pl ai ntiff all e g e d t h at T h o m as w as, or r e as o n a bl y s h o ul d h a v e b e e n, a w ar e t h at Pl ai ntiff was
i n v ol u nt aril y c o m mitt e d.
I n s u m, a c c e pti n g t h e pl e a d e d all e g ati o ns a g ai nst T h o m as as tr u e, T h o m as’s st at e m e nt t h at
Pl ai ntiff “ h a d ” t o t a k e his m e di c ati o n is n ot, i n a n d of its elf, a d u e pr o c ess vi ol ati o n. A bs e nt a n y
all e g ati o n t h at T h o m as t hr e at e n e d Pl ai ntiff t o c a us e hi m t o t a k e his m e di c ati o n, p h ysi c all y f or c e d
Pl ai ntiff t o t a k e his m e di c ati o n, or k n e w, or r e as o n a bl y s h o ul d h a v e k n o w n, of t h e cir c u mst a n c es
t h at gr a nt e d his st at e m e nt a d diti o n al c o er ci v e f orc e, Pl ai ntiff’s S e cti o n 1 9 8 3 cl ai m a g ai nst T h o m as is
n ot a cti o n a bl e. A c c or di n gl y, t h at cl ai m is dis miss e d.
I n Meji a II , t h e C o urt dis miss e d all st at e l a w cl ai ms a g ai nst H H C a n d Dr. S c h e ar d u e t o
Pl ai ntiff’s f ail ur e t o pl e a d c o m pli a n c e wit h § 7 4 0 1 of t h e N e w Y or k U n c o ns oli d at e d L a ws w hi c h s ets
f ort h m a n d at or y n oti c e r e q uir e m e nts a p pli c a bl e i n c as es s u c h as t his o n e. See Meji a II , 2 0 1 8 W L
3 4 4 2 9 7 7, at * 1 4- 1 5. Pl ai ntiff h as n ot r e m e di e d t h at iss u e i n t h e 6 t h A C. A c c or di n gl y, f or t h e s a m e
r e as o ns arti c ul at e d i n Meji a II , Pl ai ntiff’s st at e l a w cl ai ms a gai nst T h o m as ar e dis miss e d.

12

B) Cl ai m s a g ai n st N ur s e s Li, Pi err e, a n d C a str o

10

1. B a c k gr o u n d
T he 6

th

A C c a n b e c o nstr u e d t o all e g e t h at t h e H H C n urs es vi ol at e d Pl ai ntiff’s d u e pr o c ess

ri g hts b y f or ci bl y m e di c ati n g hi m wit h Ris p er d al, a n d p ossi bl y ot h er m e di c ati o ns, a n d f or wr o n gf ull y
h ol di n g hi m i n i n v ol u nt ar y c o m mit m e nt. T h e 6 t h A C all e g es t h at J o h n D o e N urs e # 1 h el d d o w n
Pl ai ntiff, s o t h at h e c o ul d b e f or c i bl y i nj e ct e d wit h t h e m e di c ati o n. 6t h A C ¶ 2 1. Pl ai ntiff als o cl ai ms
t h at “ a n urs e f or ci bl y i ns ert e d a n e e dl e i nt o Pl aintiff’s ar m a n d . . . i nj e ct e d Ris p er d al, a m e di c ati o n
i nt o Pl ai ntiff’s b o d y o v er Pl ai ntiff’s o bj e cti o n. ” I d. H e als o all e g es t h at “ ev er y ti m e h e p ass e d b y t h e
att e n di n g n urs e’s st ati o n, h e as k e d t o b e r el e as e d. T h at r e q u est w as d e ni e d. ” I d. at ¶ 2 2. Fi n all y, h e
all e g es t h at “J o h n D o e N urs e # 5 ” w o ul d t ell Pl ai nti ff t h at if h e di d n ot t a k e t h e pills s h e w o ul d
r e p ort it t o h er s u p er vis or a n d t h e s u p er vis or w o ul d s e n d t h e M al e a n d F e m al e N urs es t o r et ur n a n d
p h ysi c all y f or c e Pl ai ntiff t o t a k e t h e pills. ” I d. at ¶ 2 3. T h es e st at e m e nts r e pr es e nt t h e f ull e xt e nt of
Pl ai ntiff’s all e g ati o ns r e g ar di n g a n y n urs e.
W hil e t h e 6t h A C a d d e d Li, Pi err e, a n d C astr o (t h e “ N urs e D ef e n d a nts ”) t o t h e c a pti o n of
t h e 6t h A C, t h e b o d y of t h e 6t h A C r e m ai ns i d e nti c al t o Pl ai ntiff’s pr e vi o us c o m pl ai nts. N ot a bl y, t h e
6 t h A C d o es n ot s p e cif y w hi c h N urs e D ef e n d a nt is all e g e d t o h a v e t a k e n w hi c h all e g e d b a d a ct.
I nst e a d, t h e 6 t h A C r ef ers t o a cti o ns t a k e n b y J o h n D o e N urs es # 1 a n d # 5. A c c or di n gl y, t h e 6t h A C
r e m ai ns u n cl e ar as t o t h e all e g e d c o n d u ct ascri b e d t o e a c h of t h e D ef e n d a nt N urs es. 1 1

C astr o is n ot a n e m pl o y e e of H H C, b ut r at h er is a s u b c o ntr a ct or w h o is e m pl o y e d b y G ot ha m C o m p a ni es, I n c. Br.,
D kt. N o. 2 1 3 at 1 0. B e c a us e of t h e pl e a di n g d efi ci e n ci es p ert ai ni n g t o t h e N urs e D ef e n d a nts, t h e C o urt n e e d n ot d e ci d e
w h et h er C astr o is a “st at e a ct or ” u n d er S e cti o n 1 9 8 3.
10

A d di n g t o t h e c o nf usi o n, t h e b o d y of t h e c o m pl ai nt all eg es mis c o n d u ct b y N urs e # 1 a n d N urs e # 5, b ut d o es n ot
all e g e a n y f a cts p ert ai ni n g t o N urs es # 2- 4.
11

13

2. Di s c u s si o n
T he 6

th

A C d o es n ot s atisf y t h e r e q uir e m e nts of R ul e 8( a)( 2) of t h e F e d er al R ul es of Ci vil

Pr o c e d ur e b e c a us e it f ails t o pr o vi d e t h e N urs e D ef e n d a nts wit h a d e q u at e n oti c e of t h e cl ai ms
a g ai nst t h e m. A c c or di n gl y, f or t h e r e as o ns t h at f oll o w, t h os e cl ai ms ar e dis miss e d.
R ul e 8( a)( 2) r e q uir es t h at, i n or d er t o st at e a cl ai m, a c o m pl ai nt m ust i n cl u d e “ a s h ort a n d
pl ai n st at e m e nt of t h e cl ai m s h o wi n g t h at t h e pl e a d er is e ntitl e d t o r eli ef. ” As hcroft , 5 5 6 U. S. at 6 7 77 8; S al a h u d di n v. C uo mo , 8 6 1 F. 2 d 4 0, 4 1- 4 2 ( 2 d Cir. 1 9 8 8). O ne f u n cti o n of R ul e 8( a)( 2) is t o gi v e
d ef e n d a nts “‘f air n oti c e of w h at t h e pl ai ntiff’s cl ai m is a n d t h e gr o u n ds u p o n w hi c h it r ests’ i n or d er
t o e n a bl e t h e o p p osi n g p art y t o a ns w er a n d pr e p ar e f or tri al, a n d t o i d e ntif y t h e n at ur e of t h e c as e. ”
Mi d dleto n v. U. S. , 1 0- c v- 6 0 5 7-J F B- E T B, 2 0 1 2 W L 3 9 4 5 5 9, at * 2 ( E. D. N. Y. F e b. 7, 2 0 1 2) ( q u oti n g
D ur a P h ar ms., I nc. v. Bro u do , 5 4 4 U. S. 3 3 6, 3 4 6 ( 2 0 0 5)). “I n or d er t o m ai nt ai n [ his] cl ai ms p urs u a nt t o
S e cti o n 1 9 8 3, [ P]l ai ntiff m ust i d e ntif y i n di vi d u al st at e a ct or d ef e n d a nts w h o m [ h e] b eli e v es t o b e
r es p o nsi bl e f or t h e all e g e d d e pri v ati o n of [ his] ri g hts a n d i d e ntif y h o w e a c h of t h es e i n di vi d u als’
a cti o ns or o missi o ns c a us e d t h e all e g e d d e pri v ati o n. ” Jose p h v. N ass a u Co u nty Correctio n al F acility, 1 5c v- 7 0 1 0-J F B- A R L, 2 0 1 6 W L 3 0 3 3 7 2 5, at * 3 ( E. D. N. Y. M a y 2 6, 2 0 1 6) ( q u oti n g Morris v. N Y C H R A ,
1 3- c v- 1 8 4 5- R R M- M D G, 2 0 1 3 W L 3 1 4 8 6 6 4, at * 4 ( E. D. N. Y. J u n e 1 9, 2 0 1 3); see Mor a bito v. Bl u m, 5 2 8
F. S u p p. 2 5 2, 2 6 2 ( S. D. N. Y. 1 9 8 1) ( “It is w ell-s ettl e d t h at w h er e t h e c o m pl ai nt n a m es a d ef e n d a nt i n
t h e c a pti o n b ut c o nt ai ns n o all e g ati o ns i n di c ati n g h o w t h e d ef e n d a nt vi ol at e d t h e l a w or i nj ur e d t h e
pl ai ntiff, a m oti o n t o dis miss t h e c o m pl ai nt i n r e g ar d t o t h at d ef e n d a nt s h o ul d b e gr a nt e d. ”)
( q u ot ati o n m ar ks o mitt e d).
H er e, Pl ai ntiff f ails t o pl e a d f a cts i n his 6t h A C s uffi ci e nt t o est a blis h t h e s p e cifi c p ers o n al
i n v ol v e m e nt b y a n y of t h e D ef e n d a nt N urs es i n t h e all e g e d wr o n gf ul a cts. T h e C o urt’s O ct o b er 1 8,
2 0 1 8 or d er gr a nt e d Pl ai ntiff l e a v e t o “ m a k e t h e m o difi c ati o ns w arr a nt e d b y t h e a d diti o n of t h os e
[ n e wl y i d e ntifi e d] p arti es. ” D kt. N o. 1 5 2. Pl ai ntiff f ail e d t o m a k e t h e n e c ess ar y m o difi c ati o ns t o t h e
14

b o d y of t h e 6 t h A C, a n d i nst e a d, a d d e d t h e n a m es of t h e i de ntifi e d p arti es o nl y t o t h e c a pti o n of t h e
6 t h A C. Pl ai ntiff di d n ot r e pl a c e t h e r ef er e n c es t o J o h n D o e N urs es i n t h e b o d y of t h e c o m pl ai nt,
n or di d h e r e m o v e t h e fi v e J o h n D o e N urs es fr o m t h e c a pti o n. Still, li b er all y c o nstr u e d, t h e C o urt
u n d erst a n ds t h at Pl ai ntiff h as all e g e d t h at t hr e e of t h e fi v e J o h n D o e N urs es w er e C astr o, Li, a n d
Pi err e.
H o w e v er, e v e n li b er all y c o nstr u e d, t h e 6

th

A C d o es n ot a d e q u at el y pr o vi d e t h e N urs e

D ef e n d a nts wit h n oti c e of t h e cl ai ms a g ai nst t h e m. T h e 6

th

A C is d e v oi d of a n y p h ysi c al d es cri pt ors,

or ot h er i nf or m ati o n fr o m w hi c h e a c h N urs e D ef e n d a nt c o ul d d et er mi n e w h et h er Pl ai ntiff all e g e d
t h e m t o b e a n y p arti c ul ar J o h n D o e N urs e. T his pr o bl e m is w ors e n e d b y t h e f a ct t h at t h er e ar e
t hr e e N urs e D ef e n d a nts, b ut o nly t w o J o h n D o e N urs es ( # 1 a n d # 5) a g ai nst w h o m s p e cifi c
all e g ati o ns ar e m a d e. 1 2

A c c or di n gl y, at l e ast o n e of t h e D ef e n d a nt N urs es is n eit h er J o h n D o e N urs e

# 1 n or J o h n D o e N urs e # 5. As n o all e g ati o ns a g ai nst J o h n D o e N urs es # 2- 4 ar e s p e cifi e d i n t h e 6 t h
A C, it f oll o ws t h at Pl ai ntiff h as n ot all e g e d a n y cl ai ms a g ai nst at l e ast o n e of t h e N urs e D ef e n d a nts.
H o w e v er, t h e 6

th

A C d o es n ot c o nt ai n s uffi ci e nt d et ail fr o m w hi c h t o i nf er w hi c h cl ai ms ar e as t o

w hi c h N urs e D ef e n d a nt. As a r es ult, t h e 6

th

A C f ails t o p ut t h e N urs e D ef e n d a nts o n n oti c e of

“ w h at t h e pl ai ntiff’s cl ai m [ a g ai nst t h e m] is a n d t h e gr o u n ds u p o n w hi c h it r ests. ” Mi d dleto n , 2 0 1 2
W L 3 9 4 5 5 9, at * 2. A c c or di n gl y, Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai ms a g ai nst t h e N urs e D ef e n d a nts ar e dis miss e d as
i n a d e q u at el y pl e a d e d.1 3

T h e C o urt d o es n ot u n d erst a n d t hat t h e r ef er e n c es t o a cti o ns t a k e n b y “ n urs es ” ar e m a d e i n r ef er e n c e t o t h e J o h n
D o e N urs es. T hr o u g h o ut t h e 6 t h A C, Pl ai ntiff c o nsist e ntl y us es f ull u p p er c ase t o i d e ntif y D ef e n d a nts, a n d c o nsist e ntl y
us es t h e J o h n D o e c o n v e nti o n t o r ef er t o D ef e n d a nts w h o ha d n ot b e e n i d e ntifi e d as of t h e ti m e of t h e 4 t h A C.
A c c or di n gl y, e v e n li b er all y c o nstr u e d, t h e w or d “ n urs e s ” is n ot i nt er pr et e d t o r ef er t o D ef e n d a nts.
12

As all cl ai ms a g ai nst C astr o ha v e b e e n dis miss e d o n ot h er gr o u n ds, t h e C o urt n e e d n ot r e a c h h er c o nt e nti o ns t h at ( 1)
as a s u b c o ntr a ct or s h e is n ot a st at e a ct o r f or t h e p ur p os es of § 1 9 8 3 a n d ( 2) t h at t he st at ut e of li mit ati o ns has r u n as t o
a n y cl ai m a gai nst h er. I n t h e e v e nt t h at t h e st at ut e of li mit ati o ns iss u e b e c o m es p erti n e nt at a lat er p oi nt, t h e C o urt n ot es
t h at t h e C o urt h as n ot b e e n pr es e nt e d wit h a d e q u at e i nf or m ati o n t o d et er mi n e w h et h er Pl ai ntiff w as e ntitl e d t o e q uit a bl e
t olli n g. A n d as t o t h e cl ai m t h at C astr o’s s u b c o ntr a ct or st at us pr e v e nts h er fr o m b ei n g a st at e a ct or, C astr o’s st at us as a
s u b c o ntr a ct or is n ot pl e a d e d i n t h e 6 t h A C, a n d C astr o h as n ot pr o vi d e d t h e C o urt wit h a n y j ustifi c ati o n f or c o nsi d eri n g
t h at i nf or m ati o n d uri n g t h e m oti o n t o dis miss p h as e.
13

15

As a n alt er n ati v e t o dis miss al, Pl ai ntiff r e q u ests e arl y dis c o v er y i n or d er t o as c ert ai n w hi c h
N urs e D ef e n d a nt w as r es p o nsi bl e f or w hi c h all e g e d b a d a ct. F or t h e r e as o ns t h at f oll o w, t h at
r e q u est is d e ni e d.
N e w Y or k P u bli c H e alt h L a w § 1 8 st at es t h at, “ a h e alt h c ar e pr o vi d er s h all pr o vi d e a n
o p p ort u nit y, wit hi n t e n d a ys, f or [ a p ati e nt] t o i ns p e ct a n y p ati e nt i nf or m ati o n c o n c er ni n g or r el ati n g
t o t h e e x a mi n ati o n or tr e at m e nt of s u c h s u bj e ct i n t h e p oss essi o n of s u c h h e alt h c ar e pr o vi d er. ”
§ 1 8( 2)( a). A c c or di n gl y, Pl ai ntiff h as ha d t h e a bilit y t o a c c ess his m e di c al r e c or ds fr o m t h e d at e t his
c as e c o m m e n c e d, if n ot e arli er. See , Ke arse v. Li ncol n Hos p. , N o. 0 7- c v- 4 7 3 0- P A C-J C F, 2 0 0 9 W L
1 7 0 6 5 5 4, at * 3 ( S. D. N. Y. J u n e 1 7, 2 0 0 9) ( dis missi n g cl ai m a g ai nst J o h n D o e d o ct or b e c a us e Pl ai ntiff
h a d b ot h ti m e a n d a c c ess t o his o w n m e di c al r e c or d s t o i d e ntif y t h e p h ysi ci a n w h o tr e at e d hi m).
Pl ai ntiff h as n ot i n di c at e d t h at h e h as a c q uir e d t h os e r e c or ds, m u c h l ess t h at t h e y ar e i ns uffi ci e nt t o
pr o vi d e t h e i nf or m ati o n h e r e q uir es. F urt h er m or e, t h e C o urt a nti ci p at es t h at o n c e m oti o n t o
dis miss pr a cti c e h as c o n cl u d e d, t his c as e will pr o c e e d t o t h e dis c o v er y p h as e. D uri n g dis c o v er y,
Pl ai ntiff m a y r e q u est i nf or m ati o n as t o t h e D ef e n d a nt N urs es, if n e c ess ar y, a n d m a y m o v e t o f urt h er
a m e n d his C o m pl ai nt o n t h e b asis of t h at i nf or m ati o n, s u bj e ct t o a n y li mit ati o n o n a n y s u c h
a m e n d m e nts i m p os e d b y t h e C o urt. F or all t h es e r e as o ns, t h e C o urt d e cli n es t o gr a nt Pl ai ntiff t h e
r e q u est e d e arl y dis c o v er y.
VI.

Leave t o A me n d
F or t h e r e as o ns t h at f oll o w, t h e C o urt dis miss es Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai ms a g ai nst N Y P H a n d its

e m pl o y e es R o bi ns o n a n d V el e z, as w ell as his Mo nell a n d st at e l a w cl ai ms a g ai nst H H C, wit h
pr ej u di c e a n d wit h o ut l e a v e t o a m e n d. Als o, f or t h e r e as o ns t h at f oll o w, Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai ms a g ai nst t h e
N urs e D ef e n d a nts a n d T h o m as ar e dis miss e d wit h o ut pr ej u di c e a n d wit h l e a v e t o a m e n d.
“ Alt h o u g h distri ct j u d g es s h o ul d, as a g e n er al m att er, li b er all y p er mit pr o s e liti g a nts t o
a m e n d t h eir pl e a di n gs, l e a v e t o a m e n d n e e d n ot b e gr a nt e d w h e n a m e n d m e nt w o ul d b e f util e. ”
16

Terry v. I nc. Vill. of P atc hog ue , 8 2 6 F. 3 d 6 3 1, 6 3 3 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 6). “ W h er e it a p p e ars t h at gr a nti n g l e a v e
t o a m e n d is u nli k el y t o b e pr o d u cti v e . . . it is n ot a n a b us e of dis cr eti o n t o d e n y l e a v e t o a m e n d. ”
A pote x I nc. v. Acor d a T her a pe utics, I nc. , 8 2 3 F. 3 d 5 1, 6 2 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 6) ( q u oti n g R uffolo v. O p pe n hei mer &
Co. , 9 8 7 F. 2 d 1 2 9, 1 3 2 ( 2 d Cir. 1 9 9 3)).
As dis c uss e d a b o v e, Pl ai ntiff’s 6

th

A C di d n ot alt er t h e C o urt’s pri or r uli n gs as t o his cl ai ms

a g ai nst N Y P H, R o bi ns o n, V el e z, a n d H H C. I n d e e d, d es pit e s er vi n g t h e 5 t h A C a n d 6t h A C, Pl ai ntiff
h as n ot a m e n d e d his c o m pl ai nt t o c o nt ai n a n y i nf or m ati o n p erti n e nt t o N Y P H, R o bi ns o n, V el e z, or
H H C t h at w as n ot c o nsi d er e d i n t h e C o urt’s pri or o pi ni o ns. Gi v e n Pl ai ntiff’s f ail ur e t o a d dr ess t h e
iss u es r ais e d i n t h e C o urt’s pri or o pi ni o ns, a n d his f ail ur e t o o p p os e s e v er al of t h e p e n di n g m oti o ns,
t h e C o urt d et er mi n es t h at gr a nti n g Pl ai ntiff f urt h er l e a v e t o a m e n d his c o m pl ai nt as t o his cl ai ms
a g ai nst N Y P H, R o bi ns o n, a n d V el e z, as w ell as his Mo nell a n d st at e l a w cl ai ms a g ai nst H H C is
“ u nli k el y t o b e pr o d u cti v e. ” I d.

A c c or di n gl y, all of Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai ms a g ai nst N Y P H, R o bi ns o n, a n d

V el e z, as w ell as his Mo nell a n d st at e l a w cl ai ms a g ai nst H H C, ar e dis miss e d wit h pr ej u di c e a n d
wit h o ut l e a v e t o a m e n d.
T h e a d e q u a c y of Pl ai ntiffs cl ai ms a g ai nst T h o m as a n d t h e D ef e n d a nt N urs es w er e
c o nsi d er e d b y t h e C o urt f or t h e first ti m e i n t his o pi ni o n. I n t his cir c uit, “[i]t is t h e us u al pr a cti c e
u p o n gr a nti n g a m oti o n t o dis miss t o all o w l e a v e t o r e pl e a d. ” Cortec I n d us., I nc. v. S u m Hol di ng L. P. ,
9 4 9 F. 2 d 4 2, 4 8 ( 2 d Cir. 1 9 9 1); s e e als o F e d. R. Ci v. P. 1 5( a)( 2) ( “ T h e c o ur t s h o ul d fr e el y gi v e l e a v e
[t o a m e n d] w h e n j usti c e s o r e q uir es. ”). A c c or di ngl y, Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai ms a g ai nst T h o m as a n d t h e
D ef e n d a nt N urs es ar e dis miss e d wit h o ut pr ej u di c e a n d wit h l e a v e t o r e pl e a d.
VII.

C o n cl u si o n
F or t h e r e as o ns st at e d a b o v e, t h e D ef e n d a nts’ m oti o ns t o dis miss ar e G R A N T E D.

Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai ms a g ai nst N Y P H, R o bi ns o n, a n d V el e z ar e DI S MI S S E D wit h pr ej u di c e a n d wit h o ut
l e a v e t o r e pl e a d.
17

Pl ai ntiff’s Mo nell a n d st at e l a w cl ai ms a g ai nst H H C ar e dis miss e d wit h pr ej u di c e a n d wit h o ut
l e a v e t o r e pl e a d. A n y r esi d u al f e d er al cl ai ms ass ert e d b y Pl ai ntiff a g ai nst H H C s ur vi v e.
Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai ms a g ai nst T h o m as, C astr o, Li , a n d Pi err e ar e DI S MI S S E D wit h o ut pr ej u di c e
a n d wit h l e a v e t o r e pl e a d.
T h e C o urt will s et a s c h e d ul e f or s er vi c e of a n y a m e n d e d c o m pl ai nt d uri n g a c o nf er e n c e t o
b e s c h e d ul e d b y s u bs e q u e nt or d er. Pl ai ntiff is n ot gr a nt e d l e a v e t o s er v e a n a m e n d e d c o m pl ai nt i n
t h e i nt eri m.
T h e C o urt r e q u ests t h at c o u ns el f or D ef e n d a n t H H C pr o vi d e Pl ai ntiff wit h c o pi es of
u n p u blis h e d c as es cit e d i n t his d e cisi o n p urs u a nt t o L o c al R ul e of t h e U nit e d St at es Distri ct C o urts
f or t h e S o ut h er n a n d E ast er n Distri cts of N e w Y or k 7. 2.
T h e Cl er k of C o urt is dir e ct e d t o t er mi n at e t h e m oti o ns p e n di n g at D kt. N os. 1 5 9, 1 8 3, a n d
2 1 1, a n d t o m ail a c o p y of t his or d er t o Pl ai ntiff b y c ertifi e d m ail a n d b y r e g ul ar, first cl ass m ail.
S O O R D E R E D.
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G R E G O R Y H. W O O D S
U nit e d St at es Distri ct J u d g e

D at e d: J ul y 2 8, 2 0 1 9
N e w Y or k, N e w Y or k

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