Washington v. DHS Department of Homeless Services et al

Filing 8

ORDER: Plaintiff proceeds pro se in this matter. By order dated January 2, 2025, the Court held that Plaintiff's complaint failed to state a claim on which relief can be granted and granted her 60 days' leave to file an amended complain t. (ECF 6.) On March 4, 2025, the Court received Plaintiff's request for an extension of time to file an amended complaint. (ECF 7.) The Court grants Plaintiff an extension and directs her to file an amended complaint within 60 days of the date of this order. If Plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint within this deadline, and cannot show good cause to excuse such failure, the Court will enter judgment in this matter, for the reasons stated in its January 2, 2025 order. The Court cer tifies, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith, and therefore in forma pauperis status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. Cf. Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962) (holding that an appellant demonstrates good faith when he seeks review of a nonfrivolous issue). (Signed by Judge Laura Taylor Swain on 3/5/2025) (ks)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
SANDRA A. WASHINGTON,
Plaintiff,

24-CV-5042 (LTS)

-against-

ORDER

DHS, ET AL.,
Defendants.
LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN, Chief United States District Judge:

Plaintiff proceeds pro se in this matter. By order dated January 2, 2025, the Court held
that Plaintiff’s complaint failed to state a claim on which relief can be granted and granted her 60
days’ leave to file an amended complaint. (ECF 6.)
On March 4, 2025, the Court received Plaintiff’s request for an extension of time to file
an amended complaint. (ECF 7.) The Court grants Plaintiff an extension and directs her to file an
amended complaint within 60 days of the date of this order. If Plaintiff fails to file an amended
complaint within this deadline, and cannot show good cause to excuse such failure, the Court
will enter judgment in this matter, for the reasons stated in its January 2, 2025 order.
The Court certifies, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that any appeal from this order
would not be taken in good faith, and therefore in forma pauperis status is denied for the purpose
of an appeal. Cf. Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962) (holding that an
appellant demonstrates good faith when he seeks review of a nonfrivolous issue).
Dated:

March 5, 2025
New York, New York
/s/ Laura Taylor Swain
LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN
Chief United States District Judge

U NITED S TATES D ISTRICT C OURT
S OUTHERN D ISTRICT OF N EW Y ORK

_____CV_______________
(Include case number if one has been
assigned)

Write the full name of each plaintiff.

AMENDED

-against-

COMPLAINT
Do you want a jury trial?
? ??Yes ? ??No

Write the full name of each defendant. If you need more
space, please write “see attached” in the space above and
attach an additional sheet of paper with the full list of
names. The names listed above must be identical to those
contained in Section II.

NOTICE
The public can access electronic court files. For privacy and security reasons, papers filed
with the court should therefore not contain: an individual’s full social security number or full
birth date; the full name of a person known to be a minor; or a complete financial account
number. A filing may include only: the last four digits of a social security number; the year of
an individual’s birth; a minor’s initials; and the last four digits of a financial account number.
See Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2.

Rev. 2/10/17

I.

BASIS FOR JURISDICTION

Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction (limited power). Generally, only two types of
cases can be heard in federal court: cases involving a federal question and cases involving
diversity of citizenship of the parties. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1331, a case arising under the United
States Constitution or federal laws or treaties is a federal question case. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1332,
a case in which a citizen of one State sues a citizen of another State or nation, and the amount
in controversy is more than $75,000, is a diversity case. In a diversity case, no defendant may
be a citizen of the same State as any plaintiff.
What is the basis for federal-court jurisdiction in your case?
? ??Federal Question
? ??Diversity of Citizenship
A. If you checked Federal Question
Which of your federal constitutional or federal statutory rights have been violated?

B. If you checked Diversity of Citizenship
1. Citizenship of the parties
Of what State is each party a citizen?
The plaintiff ,

, is a citizen of the State of
(Plaintiff’s name)

(State in which the person resides and intends to remain.)
or, if not lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States, a citizen or
subject of the foreign state of
.
If more than one plaintiff is named in the complaint, attach additional pages providing
information for each additional plaintiff.

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If the defendant is an individual:
The defendant,

, is a citizen of the State of
(Defendant’s name)

or, if not lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States, a citizen or
subject of the foreign state of
.

If the defendant is a corporation:
The defendant,

, is incorporated under the laws of

the State of
and has its principal place of business in the State of
or is incorporated under the laws of (foreign state)
and has its principal place of business in

.

If more than one defendant is named in the complaint, attach additional pages providing
information for each additional defendant.

II. PARTIES
A. Plaintiff Information
Provide the following information for each plaintiff named in the complaint. Attach additional
pages if needed.

First Name

Middle Initial

Last Name

Street Address

County, City

State

Telephone Number

Email Address (if available)

Zip Code

Page 3

B. Defendant Information
To the best of your ability, provide addresses where each defendant may be served. If the
correct information is not provided, it could delay or prevent service of the complaint on the
defendant. Make sure that the defendants listed below are the same as those listed in the
caption. Attach additional pages if needed.
Defendant 1:

First Name

Last Name

Current Job Title (or other identifying information)
Current Work Address (or other address where defendant may be served)
County, City

State

First Name

Last Name

Zip Code

Defendant 2:

Current Job Title (or other identifying information)
Current Work Address (or other address where defendant may be served)
County, City

State

First Name

Last Name

Zip Code

Defendant 3:

Current Job Title (or other identifying information)
Current Work Address (or other address where defendant may be served)
County, City

State

Zip Code

Page 4

Defendant 4:
First Name

Last Name

Current Job Title (or other identifying information)
Current Work Address (or other address where defendant may be served)
County, City

State

Zip Code

III. STATEMENT OF CLAIM
Place(s) of occurrence:

Date(s) of occurrence:

FACTS:

State here briefly the FACTS that support your case. Describe what happened, how you were
harmed, and what each defendant personally did or failed to do that harmed you. Attach
additional pages if needed.

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INJURIES:

If you were injured as a result of these actions, describe your injuries and what medical
treatment, if any, you required and received.

IV. RELIEF
State briefly what money damages or other relief you want the court to order.

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V. PLAINTIFF’S CERTIFICATION AND WARNINGS
By signing below, I certify to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief that: (1) the
complaint is not being presented for an improper purpose (such as to harass, cause
unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of litigation); (2) the claims are supported
by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument to change existing law; (3) the factual
contentions have evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, will likely have
evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery;
and (4) the complaint otherwise complies with the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 11.
I agree to notify the Clerk's Office in writing of any changes to my mailing address. I
understand that my failure to keep a current address on file with the Clerk's Office may
result in the dismissal of my case.
Each Plaintiff must sign and date the complaint. Attach additional pages if necessary. If seeking to
proceed without prepayment of fees, each plaintiff must also submit an IFP application.

Dated

Plaintiff’s Signature

First Name

Middle Initial

Last Name

Street Address
County, City
Telephone Number

State

Zip Code
Email Address (if available)

I have read the Pro Se (Nonprisoner) Consent to Receive Documents Electronically:
? ??Yes

? ??No

If you do consent to receive documents electronically, submit the completed form with your
complaint. If you do not consent, please do not attach the form.

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