Gentlewolf v. Windham Co. Humane Society et al

Filing 53

OPINION and ORDER: The motions 28 , 33 , 40 to dismiss of defendants Hayes, Davis, Shriver and Ward are GRANTED, and these defendants are DISMISSED. Motions 29 , 41 by Davis, Shriver and Ward for a more definite statement are DENIED as moot. A ll motions to dismiss 23 , 26 , 28 as to dft Brill, 31 , 35 , 38 , 46 and 52 filed by other defendants are denied without prejudice. All remaining motions 24 , 26 , 29 as to dft Brill, 31 , 35 , 38 , 46 and 52 for a more definit e statement are GRANTED. Gentlewolf shall submit an amended complaint on or before December 28, 2009. She is again advised that an amended complaint is intended to completely replace the prior complaint in the action, and thus it renders [any prior c omplaint] of no legal effect. Intl Controls Corp. v. Vesco, 556 F.2d 665, 668 (2d Cir. 1977); see also Shields v. Citytrust Bancorp, Inc., 25 F.3d 1124, 1128 (2d Cir. 1994). Consequently, the amended complaint must include all allegations against eac h defendant such that it can stand alone as the sole complaint in this action. The amended complaint must also comply with Rule 8, thereby giving the defendants clear notice of the claims against which they must defend. Failure to file a properly drafted amended complaint by December 28, 2009 will result in the dismissal of this case with prejudice. Signed by Judge J. Garvan Murtha on 11/23/2009. (kak)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF VERMONT Jesse-Lynn V. Gentlewolf, Plaintiff, : : : v. : : Windham County Humane Society, : Inc., Suzanne Caviola, Pamela : Sorton, Vermont-New Hampshire : Veterinary Clinic, Jerilyn Jacobs, : Crager J. Boardman, Judith Ann : Jarvis, Christopher Cataldo, : Officer Jason O'Brien, Lt. : Sherwood Lake, Officer Robert : Larkin, Sheila Prue, Dan Davis : Nathaniel Seeley, Tracy Shriver, : Mimi Brill, Katherine Hayes, : Paul Berch, Tracie Tyba, Executive : Director of Windham County Humane : Society, Nancy Sage, Carrie : Roberts, Kim Ward, Windham County : Humane Society Officers, Board : of Directors, and Executive : Directors, Brattleboro Veterinary : Clinic, Ronald S. Svec, : Defendants. :

File No. 1:08-CV-261

OPINION AND ORDER (Papers 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 33, 35, 38, 40, 41, 46 and 52) On December 2, 2005, law enforcement officials acting pursuant to a search warrant entered the home of pro se plaintiff Jesse-Lynn Gentlewolf and discovered numerous animals in poor condition. The State ultimately moved for and received an order

for animal forfeiture, and Gentlewolf was criminally charged. Gentlewolf now brings this civil action against a host of defendants, including veterinarians, law enforcement officials

and attorneys, claiming that the seizure of her animals was wrongful and that her rights were violated. Several defendants have moved to dismiss. Some defendants

have moved in the alternative for a more definite statement of claims. For the reasons set forth below, more definite

statements are certainly required as to nearly all defendants, and some defendants are entitled to immediate dismissal from the case. Factual Background The recitation of facts in Gentlewolf's 33-page complaint is disjointed and difficult to comprehend. Accordingly, the Court

first turns to a related Vermont Supreme Court opinion for background. In State v. Gentlewolf, 2007 WL 5323075 (Vt. Feb.

Term 2007), the state Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's granting of the State's motion for animal forfeiture. In

summarizing the facts, the court first found that Gentlewolf was incarcerated in New Hampshire "on or about Thanksgiving (November 24) of 2005," and that she was still incarcerated when law enforcement officials responded to a complaint on December 2, 2005. Gentlewolf, 2007 WL 5323075, at *1. The complainant

reported having seen a dog at Gentlewolf's home a few weeks earlier, and was afraid that the dog was being neglected or abused. Id.

When the police officer arrived at [Gentlewolf]'s home for the welfare check, he saw several animals - both 2

cats and dogs - that were very thin and appeared otherwise unhealthy. He observed that there was no food or water available for the animals, and that the shelter provided was in poor condition. There did not appear to be anyone at the residence. The police obtained a warrant to search the residence and seize any abused or neglected animals. They arrived on December 2, 2005, with food and water for the animals and crates for transporting them. . . . [O]nce inside the home, the officers found sixteen dogs and several cats. There was animal waste throughout the house. Some of the dogs inside the house were confined in crates; some of these crates were not large enough for the dogs. There was no food or water available for the animals. The animals were examined by a veterinarian, who found that all of the cats suffered from long-term respiratory infections, all of the animals were dehydrated, and most were underweight. The veterinarian concluded that the animals could have deteriorated to their current condition only if they had not been receiving proper veterinary care or adequate shelter. She also determined that the animals' condition was caused by insufficient food, or by parasites, or by a combination of the two. The animals were infected with roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. Id. In the instant case, Gentlewolf alleges that the entry into her home and seizure of her animals was unlawful. Her suit is

brought against the complainant, the police, and the veterinarians who evaluated the animals. She is also suing

prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the judge involved in the animal forfeiture action and/or the related criminal action. In the first 16 pages of her complaint, Gentlewolf identifies each defendant and provides a short explanation of his or her alleged actions. These explanations, however, are not 3

clearly presented and provide only a general sense of what that defendant may have done to cause Gentlewolf harm. For example,

the identification of veterinarian Crager Boardman reads: Brattleboro Veterinary Clinic and, primary owner Crager J. Boardman, D.V.M., as secondary co-conspiring agency supporting partner Pamela Sorton, D.V.M., as an acting veterinarian's treatments/services agency for [Windham County Humane Society]'s care of Plaintiff's animals and various veterinary supplies supplied to WCHS' various agents (especially worming drugs), and autopsy services, as Defendant . . . . (Paper 3 at 5). Another defendant, Lieutenant Sherwood Lake of

the Windham County Sheriff's Department, is identified as the ranking officer during 12/02/2005 raids illegal seizures enforcement taking-removal of Plaintiff's property during which time Plaintiff's significant other - life lease tenant/boyfriend was forced off property and from home being told state was seizing entire property and he was denied return as WCSD's employee (false warrant). Id. at 10. Other descriptions are similarly stated, and the

factual allegations in the rest of the complaint do little to illuminate Gentlewolf's precise claims. Gentlewolf entitles the second half of her complaint "Plaintiff's Torte [sic] Complaint for Return of Stolen Property, i.e. Animals, and Restitution/Retri- [sic] for Damaged Property, Losses and Character Defamations-Professional." 2). (Paper 3-2 at

Although she frames her complaint as a state law tort claim,

she makes reference to federal violations including hate crimes, conspiracies, "cyberspace stalkings," and illegal seizures. bulk of her allegations, however, focus on the fact that her 4 The

animals were seized by law enforcement, without a veterinarian present, and that results of subsequent tests on the animals were "suppressed." Accordingly, she is suing all those involved in

the seizure and subsequent testing, as well as participants in the legal proceedings that followed. For relief, Gentlewolf asks

for "return of her stolen property, values, and, restitution and retribution(s) of ensuing broken and damaged household's losses, as well as an unknown projections estimated damages . . . ." at 15-16. Discussion I. Motion To Dismiss Standard Rule 8(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief, in order to give the defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests." Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) Id.

(quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)) (ellipsis in original). To survive a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), a

plaintiff must provide factual allegations sufficient to raise the right to relief to a plausible level. 570. Twombly, 550 U.S. at

"A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads

factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009). "The

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plausibility standard . . . asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully." Id. Legal

conclusions and "[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action" do not suffice to state a claim, as "Rule 8 . . . does not unlock the doors of discovery for a plaintiff armed with nothing more than conclusions." II. Boardman's Motion to Dismiss A. Timeliness Id. at 1949-50.

The first motion to dismiss received by the Court is that of Crager Boardman. dismissal. untimely. Dr. Boardman offers three arguments for

First, he argues that Gentlewolf's claims are This argument, as discussed below, has been raised in

a number of the defendants' motions and is based upon the premise that Gentlewolf's complaint was filed on December 9, 2008. Because the animals were allegedly seized on December 2, 2005, the defendants contend that the complaint was not filed within the three-year limitations period. Gentlewolf submitted her complaint to the Court, together with a motion to proceed in forma pauperis, on December 2, 2008. The Court granted her motion on December 9, 2008, and the complaint was filed the same day. For statute of limitations

purposes, the complaint is considered filed on the date the in forma pauperis papers are received by the Court, rather than the date on which the Court approves the in forma pauperis

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application.

See Toliver v. County of Sullivan, 841 F.2d 41, 42 Fletcher v. Runyon, 980 F. Supp. 720, 721-22

(2d Cir. 1988);

(S.D.N.Y. 1997); Philippeaux v. County of Nassau, 921 F. Supp. 1000, 1007 (E.D.N.Y. 1996). The complaint in this case is

therefore deemed submitted on December 2, 2008, and Boardman's timeliness argument is misplaced. B. Abstention

Boardman also argues an identical claim has been brought in state court, and that this Court should therefore abstain from hearing Gentlewolf's federal complaint. The underpinning of this

argument is the doctrine of abstention set forth by the U.S. Supreme Court in Colorado River Water Conservation Dist. v. United States, 424 U.S. 800 (1976). The Court in Colorado River

noted that "[a]bstention from the exercise of federal jurisdiction is the exception, not the rule." 424 U.S. at 813.

Nonetheless, in "exceptional circumstances," a Court may abstain when there are concurrent state and federal proceedings. Id.

"The principles of Colorado River are to be applied only in situations involving the contemporaneous exercise of concurrent jurisdictions. . . . Therefore, a finding that the concurrent

proceedings are parallel is a necessary prerequisite to abstention under Colorado River." Dittmer v. County of Suffolk, Once contemporaneousness is

146 F.3d 113, 117-18 (2d Cir. 1998).

established, a court is required to examine six factors in

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determining whether dismissal is warranted: "(1) assumption of jurisdiction over a res; (2) inconvenience of the forum; (3) avoidance of piecemeal litigation; (4) order in which the actions were filed; (5) the law that provides the rule of decision; and (6) protection of the federal plaintiff's rights." v. Younger, 871 F.2d 305, 307 (2d Cir. 1989). Here, it is difficult to base a dismissal on concurrent proceeding because the defendants have not submitted a copy of Gentlewolf's state court complaint. Instead, the Court is asked De Cisneros

to rely on counsel's representation that "the Complaint in this Federal Court action is identical to that brought in the Windham Superior Court." (Paper 23 at 2).

Moreover, there is little indication this case is sufficiently "exceptional" to warrant abstention. Reviewing the

six factors set forth above, it is at first apparent that any res in question is within Vermont. Second, the convenience of the

forum does not weigh in favor of abstention, as all parties are Vermonters. Village of Westfield v. Welch's, 170 F.3d 116, 122 Third, the Court certainly has an interest in Nonetheless, the fact that

(2d Cir. 1999).

avoiding "piecemeal" litigation.

there may be concurrent proceedings, alone, does not make the case "exceptional." Fourth, it is not clear which action was filed first. Using

December 9, 2008 as the federal filing date, Boardman contends

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that the state court complaint was filed "earlier in December 2008." Another defendant asserts that the state court complaint (Paper 46 at 4).

was filed "on or about December 2, 2008."

However, if the Court uses December 2, 2008 ­ the date on which Gentlewolf's in forma pauperis papers were received ­ as the effective date of her federal filing, the filings appear to have been roughly simultaneous. Furthermore, the "[d]ecision does not Instead, this factor is

rest on a race to the courthouse.

considered in a common-sense manner by examining how much progress has been made in each forum." Arkwright-Boston v. City No defendant has

of New York, 762 F.2d 205, 211 (2d Cir. 1985).

provided the Court with any information about the state court litigation. abstention. As to the fifth factor, Gentlewolf raises both state and federal claims. Accordingly, the law that provides the rule of Thus, the Court cannot weigh this factor in favor of

decision may include federal provisions, and the Supreme Court has held that "the presence of federal law issues must always be a major consideration weighing against surrender." Moses H. Cone

Mem'l Hosp. v. Mercury Constr. Corp., 460 U.S. 1, 25 (1983). Finally, the Court recognizes the state courts would have concurrent jurisdiction over Gentlewolf's federal claims. See

Tafflin v. Levitt, 493 U.S. 455, 458 (1990) (federal and state

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courts have concurrent jurisdiction over RICO claims); Felder v. Casey, 487 U.S. 131, 147 (1988) (§ 1983 claims). On balance, this case does not appear to be so "exceptional" as to warrant abstention. The litigation may be piecemeal, and

the state court will certainly have concurrent jurisdiction over Gentlewolf's federal claims, but based upon the current record all other factors weigh against abstaining. Consequently, the

Court will not dismiss the case on this basis at this time. C. Failure To State A Claim

Boardman's strongest argument is that the complaint fails to state a claim for relief. The sole reference to Boardman in the

complaint is the vague reference to his role in providing "treatment services" and "various veterinary supplies." at 5). (Paper 3

It is not clear how these services relate to Gentlewolf's

other claims, or how Boardman's alleged actions caused a cognizable injury. The complaint therefore fails to put Boardman

on adequate notice of the claim against him, as required under Rule 8. Boardman asks for dismissal, or in the alternative, for a more definite statement. A more definite statement is

appropriate where, as here, the complaint is so vague or ambiguous that the defendant cannot reasonably be required to frame a responsive pleading. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(e); see also

Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 514 (2002) ("If a

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pleading fails to specify the allegations in a manner that provides sufficient notice, a defendant can move for a more definite statement under Rule 12(e) before responding."). The

motion for a more definite statement (Paper 24) is, therefore, GRANTED. The motion to dismiss (Paper 23) is DENIED, though without prejudice. Even if the Court were to grant Boardman's motion to

dismiss, it would need to allow Gentlewolf leave to amend her complaint to state a claim that on its face is non-frivolous. See Branum v. Clark, 927 F.2d 698, 705 (2d Cir. 1991). Therefore, the result would be fundamentally the same as granting the motion for a more definite statement. Dismissal of the

motion to dismiss without prejudice leaves the defendant the option of again moving to dismiss, if appropriate, once he receives the amended complaint. Gentlewolf must submit an amended complaint within 30 days of the date of this Order. She is advised that an amended

complaint is intended to completely replace the prior complaint in the action, and thus it "renders [any prior complaint] of no legal effect." Int'l Controls Corp. v. Vesco, 556 F.2d 665, 668

(2d Cir. 1977); see also Shields v. Citytrust Bancorp, Inc., 25 F.3d 1124, 1128 (2d Cir. 1994). Consequently, the amended

complaint must include all allegations against each defendant such that it can stand alone as the sole complaint in this

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action.

The amended complaint must also comply with Rule 8,

thereby giving the defendants clear notice of the claims against which they must defend. Failure to file a properly drafted

complaint within the 30-day period may result in the dismissal with prejudice of Gentlewolf's claims against Boardman. III. Svec, Vermont-New Hampshire Veterinary Clinic, and Jacobs Motion to Dismiss The next motion to dismiss was filed by defendants Ronald Svec and Jerilyn Jacobs, each of whom are veterinarians, and by the Vermont-New Hampshire Veterinary Clinic. The arguments

submitted by these defendants are the same as those submitted in the Boardman motion, and the result is the same. Specifically,

the statute of limitations and abstention arguments are rejected, the Court finds the complaint lacking under Rule 8, and a more definite statement is required. As was the case with Dr. Boardman, the allegations against these defendants do not place them on adequate notice of Gentlewolf's legal claims. The only specific allegation

involving these defendants, as best as the Court can decipher, reads: Vermont-New Hampshire Veterinary Clinic including various veterinarians, especially Dr. Jerilyn E. Jacobs, VDM (-Svec), as enacting agents for WCHS regarding WCHS claimed emergency hospitalizations rehydrations "in house" veterinarians services and labatories (sic) workup re: "dehydrated shepherd" alleged claimed stay's charges, as acting agency's supporting WCHS . . . .

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(Paper 3 at 4).

Although these allegations seem to suggest a

connection to the care of Gentlewolf's animals after they were removed from her home, it is not clear what these defendants did that was wrongful. Their motion to dismiss (Paper 26) is DENIED

without prejudice, and their motion for a more definite statement (Paper 26) is GRANTED on the same terms as set forth above. IV. Davis, Shriver, Ward and Brill Motions to Dismiss Tracy Shriver, the Windham County State's Attorney who prosecuted Gentlewolf, Kim Ward, who was appointed as Gentlewolf's guardian ad litem, and Gentlewolf's appointed counsel Mimi Brill have jointly moved to dismiss or, in the alternative, for a more definite statement. (Papers 28 and 29).

The same arguments offered by these defendants are presented in a separate pair of motions filed by State's Attorney Dan Davis. (Papers 40 and 41). motions together. The motions first argue that Gentlewolf has failed to set forth any basis for federal court jurisdiction. As set forth The Court will therefore address all three

above, however, the complaint clearly raises several federal issues, including allegations of hate crimes and RICO violations. The defendants next submit the complaint does not comply with Rule 8. With respect to defendant Mimi Brill, this is The complaint alleges that Brill was appointed

certainly true.

counsel "for Plaintiff's deemed `incompetent' lack of proper

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legal defense's agencies professional `forensic investigations' aides, and, refusal to allow factual defense's documents to be entered into shared discoveries Plaintiff's favor . . . ." (Paper 3 at 14). There also appears to be an allegation that

Brill played a role in "silencing" certain witnesses, possibly including Gentlewolf herself. (Paper 3-2 at 11). Because these

claims are so poorly pled, Brill is entitled to a more definite statement.1 Her motion to dismiss is DENIED without prejudice,

and her motion for a more definite statement (Paper 29) is GRANTED. Davis, Shriver and Ward argue that they are entitled to absolute immunity for their respective roles. The complaint

alleges that Shriver prosecuted Gentlewolf based upon insufficient evidence. Id. at 13-14. Davis was the State's Id. at 12.

Attorney in Windham County at the time.

The decision as to whether to bring a prosecution, regardless of the evidentiary support for that prosecution, is entitled to absolute prosecutorial immunity. See Imbler v.

Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409, 430 (1976) (holding that prosecutors enjoy absolute immunity from liability under § 1983 in suits

Brill also argues that to the extent Gentlewolf is bringing an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, her relief is limited to a post-conviction relief petition. While this may be true, the complaint could also be read liberally as asserting a cause of action for legal malpractice. Brill's motion does not address the viability of a malpractice claim. 14

1

seeking damages for acts carried out in their prosecutorial capacities); Doe v. Phillips, 81 F.3d 1204, 1210 (2d Cir. 1996) (same). In this case, Gentlewolf appears to be suing the

prosecutors for using their discretion and proceeding with, what in her view was, an inadequately supported case. Because

Gentlewolf is plainly suing Davis and Shriver over their decision to prosecute, her claims are barred and their motions to dismiss (Papers 28 and 41) are GRANTED. Defendant Ward is similarly protected. The allegations

against her, although unclear, suggest that she was appointed as guardian ad litem and subsequently served as a witness. either case, immunity applies. In

See Cok v. Cosentino, 876 F.2d 1,

3 (1st Cir. 1989) (holding that guardian ad litem and conservator appointed by family court judge "were involved in the adjudicative process and shared in the family court judge's absolute immunity."); Briscoe v. LaHue, 460 U.S. 325, 330-32 (1983) (witnesses are absolutely immune from liability for damages). GRANTED. V. Windham County Humane Society Defendants Gentlewolf has sued the Windham County Humane Society ("WCHS"), its officers, board of directors, and Executive Directors in their Humane Society capacities. Those defendants Ward's motion to dismiss (Paper 28) is therefore

now move to dismiss on the same grounds submitted by Dr. Boardman

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and the other veterinarians.

Again, and in part for reasons

discussed above, the Court will not dismiss Gentlewolf's claims but will require a more definite statement. As with her other claims, Gentlewolf's allegations of wrongdoing by WCHS and its staff are unclear. The complaint

makes vague references to misdiagnoses, suppressed autopsy results, "chain of custody" issues, and wrongful removal of animals. How much of this conduct pertains directly to WCHS Other allegations,

employee or agents is not readily apparent.

such as the claim that "WCHS blatant mass-medias frenzied cruelty protection against Plaintiff (and her family) towards amassing an enormous `donations needed' `animals needed rescuing' `campaigns' donations funds inflow . . ." make no sense. (Paper 3-2 at 8).

A court may dismiss "a prolix complaint without leave to amend in extraordinary circumstances, such as where leave to amend has been previously given and the successive pleadings remain prolix and unintelligible." 40, 42 (2d Cir. 1988). Salahuddin v. Cuomo, 861 F.2d

Here, despite the vague and at times

unintelligible nature of Gentlewolf's pleadings, the Court has not yet allowed her an opportunity to present her claims in a manner that complies with Rule 8. The WCHS defendants' motion to

dismiss (Paper 31) is therefore DENIED without prejudice, and their motion for a more definite statement (Paper 31) is GRANTED.

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This ruling also applies to the separately filed motion to dismiss submitted by the former Executive Director of WCHS, Susan Caviola. VI. (Paper 38).2

Judge Katherine Hayes' Motion To Dismiss One of the defendants is state court Judge Katherine Hayes.

Judge Hayes reportedly presided over the forfeiture proceeding. The Court construes Gentlewolf's allegations against Judge Hayes as § 1983 claims, and not as an appeal of state court rulings. The allegations against Judge Hayes are that "due to seemingly biased prejudice" toward the Plaintiff, the Judge denied Gentlewolf adequate discovery and a fair hearing, and held improper ex parte meetings in chambers with the State's Attorney. (Paper 3 at 15); (Paper 3-2 at 15). In her motion to dismiss,

Judge Hayes submits that she is absolutely immune from suit for these alleged actions. The Court agrees.

It is well settled that judges generally have absolute immunity from suits for money damages for their judicial actions. See, e.g., Mireles v. Waco, 502 U.S. 9, 9-10 (1991); Forrester v. White, 484 U.S. 219, 225-26 (1988). In addition, § 1983 provides

that "in any action brought against a judicial officer for an act or omission taken in such officer's judicial capacity, injunctive relief shall not be granted unless a declaratory decree was

Caviola also presents a Rooker-Feldman argument. argument is addressed in Section VIII below. 17

2

This

violated or declaratory relief was unavailable." 1983.

42 U.S.C. §

"Judicial immunity is conferred in order to insure `that a judicial officer, in exercising the authority vested in him, shall be free to act upon his own convictions, without apprehension of personal consequences to himself." Bliven v.

Hunt, 579 F.3d 204, 209 (2d Cir. 2009) (quoting Bradley v. Fisher, 80 U.S. (13 Wall.) 335, 347 (1871)). Consequently, "even

allegations of bad faith or malice cannot overcome judicial immunity." Id. (citing Pierson v. Ray, 386 U.S. 547, 554

(1967)); Tucker v. Outwater, 118 F.3d 930, 932 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 997 (1997)). Judicial immunity is limited to acts that are "judicial" in nature. Id. at 209-10. "[T]he factors determining whether an

act by a judge is a `judicial' one relate to the nature of the act itself, i.e., whether it is a function normally performed by a judge, and to the expectations of the parties, i.e., whether they dealt with the judge in his judicial capacity." Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, 362 (1978). Stump v.

Employing a functional

analysis, "the Supreme Court has generally concluded that acts arising out of, or related to, individual cases before the judge are considered judicial in nature." Bliven, 579 F.3d at 210.

The actions allegedly taken by Judge Hayes were all in the context of Gentlewolf's state court case. Rulings with respect

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to discovery and the conduct of any hearings were clearly judicial in nature. Even meetings with counsel, though allegedly

ex parte and in bad faith, were undoubtedly conducted as part of the proceedings before the state court. This Court therefore

finds that Judge Hayes is entitled to immunity from Gentlewolf's claims, and her motion to dismiss (Paper 33) is GRANTED. VII. Sorton Motion To Dismiss Pamela Sorton, another veterinarian, filed the next motion to dismiss. As did the others, Dr. Sorton argues failure to

state a claim, abstention and statute of limitations, and asks as an alternative for a more definite statement of claims. The sole

allegations against Sorton are that she was a "secondary" WCHS veterinarian, and that she may have been involved in some of defendant Boardman's activities. (Paper 3 at 4-5). Because the

claims against Boardman are too vague to put a defendant on notice, the claims against Sorton are equally flawed. Therefore,

and for reasons stated previously, Sorton's motion to dismiss (Paper 35) is DENIED without prejudice and her motion for a more definite statement (Paper 35) is GRANTED. VIII. Larkin and O'Brien Motions To Dismiss

The final two motions before the Court are from Jason O'Brien and Robert Larkin, each of whom were members of the Windham County Sheriff's Department in December 2005. and 52). (Papers 46

As with most of the allegations in the complaint, the

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claims against these defendants are difficult to understand. appears that O'Brien is claimed to have trespassed and entered into Gentlwolf's home with an invalid search warrant. at 8-9).

It

(Paper 3

O'Brien is also criticized for entering the house and Id. Larkin is accused

making judgments without a veterinarian.

of executing a "secondary warrant" on a different day, during which he allegedly removed unidentified private property. 10-11. These defendants move to dismiss on three grounds: (1) abstention, (2) statute of limitations, and (3) the RookerFeldman doctrine. The Court has already rejected the first two As to Rooker-Feldman, Id. at

arguments based upon the current record.

the Court does not construe Gentlewolf's complaint as an appeal of the state court animal forfeiture action. Specifically, the

Court does not read the complaint as inviting "review and rejection" of the state court judgment. Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Instead,

Saudi Basic Indus. Corp., 544 U.S. 280, 284 (2005).

Gentlewolf appears to be bringing constitutional claims, federal statutory claims, and state law claims against the various defendants for harming her property and her reputation. Feldman thus does not apply. In the alternative, O'Brien and Larkin ask for a more definite statement. The portions of the complaint regarding Rooker-

these defendants include rambling and often disconnected

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allegations ranging from trespass to misidentification of animals to involvement in a broad conspiracy. (Paper 3 at 8-11).

Because of the nature and style of the complaint, the defendants are entitled to a more definite statement in a format that satisfies the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The motions for

a more definite statement (Papers 46 and 52) are therefore GRANTED. Conclusion For the reasons set forth above, the motions to dismiss of defendants Hayes, Davis, Shriver and Ward (Papers 28, 33 and 40) are GRANTED, and these defendants are DISMISSED. Motions by

Davis, Shriver and Ward for a more definite statement (Papers 29 and 41) are DENIED as moot. All motions to dismiss filed by other defendants (Papers 23, 26, 28 [as to defendant Mimi Brill], 31, 35, 38, 46 and 52) are denied without prejudice. All remaining motions for a more

definite statement (Papers 24, 26, 29 [as to defendant Mimi Brill], 31, 35, 38, 46 and 52) are GRANTED. Gentlewolf shall submit an amended complaint on or before December 28, 2009. She is again advised that an amended

complaint is intended to completely replace the prior complaint in the action, and thus it "renders [any prior complaint] of no legal effect." Int'l Controls Corp. v. Vesco, 556 F.2d 665, 668

(2d Cir. 1977); see also Shields v. Citytrust Bancorp, Inc., 25

21

F.3d 1124, 1128 (2d Cir. 1994).

Consequently, the amended

complaint must include all allegations against each defendant such that it can stand alone as the sole complaint in this action. The amended complaint must also comply with Rule 8,

thereby giving the defendants clear notice of the claims against which they must defend. Failure to file a properly drafted

amended complaint by December 28, 2009 will result in the dismissal of this case with prejudice. SO ORDERED. Dated at Brattleboro, in the District of Vermont, this 23rd day of November, 2009.

/s/ J. Garvan Murtha Honorable J. Garvan Murtha Senior United States District Judge

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