Culbreth v. Manuel et al

Filing 6

ORDER OF SERVICE: The Court dismisses Plaintiff's claims against Orange County Jail. See 28 U.S.C. 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). The Clerk of Court is directed to add Orange County and Sergeant Brahm as defendants in this action. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 21. The Clerk of Court is further directed to issue summonses for Correction Officer Manuel (Badge #500), Sergeant Brahm, and Orange County, complete the USM-285 forms with the addresses for these defendants, and deliver all documents necessary to effect service to the U.S. Marshals Service. The Court certifies under 28 U.S.C. 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith, and therefore IFP 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). The Clerk of Court is also directed to mail a copy of this Order and an information package to Plaintiff. SO ORDERED. Orange County and Sergeant Brahm added. Orange County Jail terminated. (Signed by Judge Philip M. Halpern on 2/7/2024) (tg)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
KAREEM CULBRETH,
Plaintiff,

ORDER OF SERVICE

-against-

24-CV-0497 (PMH)

MANUEL #500; ORANGE COUNTY JAIL,
Defendants.
PHILIP M. HALPERN, United States District Judge:
Plaintiff, who currently is currently held at the Orange County Jail, brings this action, pro
se, alleging that Defendants violated his rights. The Court construes the complaint as asserting
constitutional claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and related claims under state law. By order dated
February 5, 2024, the Court granted Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”), that
is, without prepayment of fees. 1 For the reasons set forth below, the Court: (1) dismisses Plaintiff’s
claims against the Orange County Jail, and directs the Clerk of Court, under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 21, to substitute Orange County as a defendant; (2) directs the Clerk of Court, under
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure Rule 21, to add Sergeant Brahm as a defendant; and (3) directs
service on Correction Officer Manuel, Sergeant Brahm, and Orange County.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The Court must dismiss a complaint, or portion thereof, that is frivolous or malicious, fails
to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who
is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B), 1915A(b); see Abbas v. Dixon, 480 F.3d
636, 639 (2d Cir. 2007). The Court must also dismiss a complaint when the Court lacks subject

Prisoners are not exempt from paying the full filing fee even when they have been granted permission to
proceed IFP. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1).

1

matter jurisdiction. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3). While the law mandates dismissal on any of these
grounds, the Court is obliged to construe pro se pleadings liberally, Harris v. Mills, 572 F.3d 66,
72 (2d Cir. 2009), and interpret them to raise the “strongest [claims] that they suggest,” Triestman
v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, 470 F.3d 471, 474 (2d Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks and citations
omitted) (emphasis in original).
DISCUSSION
A.

Claims against Orange County Jail
Because Plaintiff’s allegations suggest that he is asserting claims that Defendants violated

his federal constitutional rights, his federal claims arise under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. However, Plaintiff
may not assert claims under Section 1983 against Orange County Jail. Section 1983 provides that
an action may be maintained against a “person” who has deprived another of rights under the
“Constitution and Laws.” 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Orange County Jail is not a “person” within the
meaning of Section 1983. See Will v. Mich. Dep’t of State Police, 491 U.S. 58 (1989) (state is not
a “person” for the purpose of Section 1983 claims); Zuckerman v. App. Div., Second Dep’t S. Ct.,
421 F.2d 625, 626 (2d Cir. 1970) (court not a “person” within the meaning of Section 1983);
Whitley v. Westchester Cnty. Corr. Fac. Admin., No. 97-CV-420 (SS), 1997 WL 659100, at *7
(S.D.N.Y. Oct. 22, 1997) (correctional facility or jail not a “person” within the meaning of Section
1983). The Court therefore dismisses Plaintiff’s claims against the Orange County Jail for failure
to state a claim on which relief may be granted. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii).
In light of Plaintiff’s pro se status and likely intention to assert claims against Orange
County, the Court construes the complaint as asserting claims against Orange County, and directs
the Clerk of Court to amend the caption of this action to replace Orange County Jail with Orange
County. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 21. This amendment is without prejudice to any defenses Orange
County may wish to assert.
2

B.

Sergeant Brahm
Under Rule 21 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court, on its own motion, “may

at any time, on just terms, add or drop a party.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 21; see Anwar v. Fairfield
Greenwich, Ltd., 118 F. Supp. 3d 591, 618-19 (S.D.N.Y. 2015) (Rule 21 “afford[s] courts discretion
to shape litigation in the interests of efficiency and justice.”). Under this rule, courts have added
an individual as a defendant in an action, though that individual is not named as a defendant in the
complaint, because he or she is mentioned “throughout the body of the [c]omplaint” as involved
in the underlying alleged events. George v. Westchester Cnty. Dep’t of Corr., No. 20-CV-01723,
2020 WL 1922691, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 21, 2020); see Adams v. NYC Dep’t of Corrs., No. 19-CV05909, 2019 WL 2544249, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. June 20, 2019).
Plaintiff does not name Sergeant Brahm as a defendant. He does allege, however, that
Sergeant Brahm refused to provide him with medical attention after he was in a car accident. (Doc.
1 at 4-5). In light of Plaintiff’s pro se status and these allegations, the Court understands Plaintiff’s
complaint as asserting claims against Sergeant Brahm. Accordingly, the Court directs the Clerk of
Court to add Sergeant Brahm as a defendant in this action, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 21. This amendment is without prejudice to any defenses that Sergeant Brahm may wish
to assert.
C.

Service on Manuel, Brahm, and Orange County
Because Plaintiff has been granted permission to proceed IFP, he is entitled to rely on the

Court and the U.S. Marshals Service to effect service. 2 Walker v. Schult, 717 F.3d. 119, 123 n.6
(2d Cir. 2013); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) (“The officers of the court shall issue and serve all
Although Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure generally requires that a summons be served
within 90 days of the date the complaint is filed, Plaintiff is proceeding IFP and could not have served
summonses and the complaint until the Court reviewed the complaint and ordered that summonses be
issued. The Court therefore extends the time to serve until 90 days after the date summonses are issued.
2

3

process . . . in [IFP] cases.”); Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3) (the court must order the Marshals Service to
serve if the plaintiff is authorized to proceed IFP).
To allow Plaintiff to effect service on Defendants Correction Officer Manuel (Badge #500),
Sergeant Brahm, and Orange County through the U.S. Marshals Service, the Clerk of Court is
instructed to fill out a U.S. Marshals Service Process Receipt and Return form (“USM-285 form”)
for each of these defendants. The Clerk of Court is further instructed to issue summonses and
deliver to the Marshals Service all the paperwork necessary for the Marshals Service to effect
service upon these defendants.
If the complaint is not served within 90 days after the date summonses are issued, Plaintiff
should request an extension of time for service. See Meilleur v. Strong, 682 F.3d 56, 63 (2d Cir.
2012) (holding that it is the plaintiff’s responsibility to request an extension of time for service).
Plaintiff must notify the Court in writing if his address changes, and the Court may dismiss
the action if Plaintiff fails to do so.
CONCLUSION
The Court dismisses Plaintiff’s claims against Orange County Jail. See 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii).
The Clerk of Court is directed to add Orange County and Sergeant Brahm as defendants in
this action. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 21.
The Clerk of Court is further directed to issue summonses for Correction Officer Manuel
(Badge #500), Sergeant Brahm, and Orange County, complete the USM-285 forms with the
addresses for these defendants, and deliver all documents necessary to effect service to the U.S.
Marshals Service.
The Court certifies under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this order would not
be taken in good faith, and therefore IFP status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. Cf. Coppedge
4

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).
The Clerk of Court is also directed to mail a copy of this Order and an information package
to Plaintiff.

SO ORDERED.
Dated:

February 7, 2024
White Plains, New York
HON. PHILIP M. HALPERN
United States District Judge

5

DEFENDANTS AND SERVICE ADDRESSES
Correction Officer Manuel, Badge #500
Orange County Jail
110 Wells Farm Road
Goshen, NY 10924
Sergeant Brahm
Orange County Jail
110 Wells Farm Road
Goshen, NY 10924
Orange County
Office of the Orange County Attorney
Orange County Government Center
255 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924