Adams v. The Co Op City Department of Public Safety

USDC SDNY DOCUMENT ELECTRONICALLY FILED UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DOC #: SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK DATE FILED: 9/20/2024 EDWARD P. ADAMS, Plaintiff, 21-CV-2675 (DEH) (BCM) -against- ORDER REGARDING SUMMARY CO-OP CITY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC | JUDGMENT SCHEDULE SAFETY, et al., Defendants. BARBARA MOSES, United States Magistrate Judge. Party discovery in this action is concluded. Over the past two and a half months, as defendants have attempted to collect documents from non-parties (including the Bronx Criminal Court, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and a hospital), plaintiff Edward Adams has repeatedly objected to any and all extensions of the deadline for filing summary judgment motions. See, e.g., Dkt. 249 at 1 (seeking a "37.2 Conference as to Opposition to Extension of the 7/19/2024 DEADLINE for Dispositive Motion"); Dkt. 263 at 2 ("My dispositive motion is ready to be filed. I'm hoping Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses can provide the plaintiff some indication of a firm DEADLINE[.]"); Dkt. 267 at 1 (asking the Court "to set a firm DEADLINE as to whatever ‘records’ this attorney and her clients indicate was obtained from the ‘Bronx Court Clerks.’ . . There has to be a finality to this quest for what ever records the adverse attorney is alleging she's in seek of or indicating comes from the 'Bronx Court Clerks[.]'") (all emphases in originals). On August 27, 2024, after balancing defendants’ document collection challenges against plaintiff's "desire for a resolution of this action, which requires a firm deadline for summary judgment," I directed the parties to file their summary judgment motions no later than September 30, 2024. See Dkt. 268 at 1. Thereafter, plaintiff continued to express impatience. See, e.g., Dkt. 269 at 1 (advising the Court that he was "looking to file [his] dispositive motion before the 9/30/2024 DEADLINE"); Dkt 270 at 2 (asserting that any remaining discovery "does not prove anything central to this case"). Plaintiff now seeks an extension of the September 30, 2024 summary judgment deadline "until the adverse attorney completes her discovery." Dkt. 275 at 1. In a complete reversal of his previous position, plaintiff states that defendants' "incomplete discovery impedes my ability to file an effective dispositive motion." Id. (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(d)(1)). He does not explain why. Defendants do not oppose the extension request, but confirm that they are ready to file on September 30 and ask that any further extension apply to all parties. Dkt. 276 at 1. Enough is enough. Since defendants are prepared to file their motion on September 30, they must do so. Since plaintiff provides no explanation for his sudden 180-degree turn, it does not warrant any judicial deference.1 However, in light of plaintiff's pro se status – and in the interest of ensuring that summary judgment briefing remains "an ordered process," Paravas v. Cerf, 2022 WL 203168 , at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 24, 2022), the Court now sets the following schedule for the anticipated summary judgment motions: 1 Moreover, plaintiff's anticipated reliance on Rule 56(d)(1) may be unavailing. That rule permits a court to defer or deny a summary judgment motion if the opposing party has been unable to "present facts essential to justify [his] opposition." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(d). In order to avail himself of the rule, however, a party must show, by affidavit or declaration, that he was unable to obtain the relevant evidence himself despite diligent efforts during the discovery period. See, e.g., Gene Codes Forensics, Inc. v. City of New York, 812 F. Supp. 2d 295, 307 (S.D.N.Y. 2011) ("[T]o make a proper showing under Rule 56(d), the party seeking additional discovery must specify in an affidavit: what discovery it seeks and how it will obtain that discovery; how those facts are reasonably expected to raise a genuine issue of material fact; what efforts have been made to date to obtain this discovery; and why the earlier efforts were unsuccessful."); accord Sacks v. Gandhi Eng'g, Inc., 999 F. Supp. 2d 629, 645 (S.D.N.Y. 2014) (rejecting Rule 56(d) claim where plaintiff failed to submit an affidavit explaining, among other things, "what efforts have been made to date to obtain that discovery; and why the earlier efforts were unsuccessful"); Nat'l Ret. Fund v. Caesars Ent. Corp., 2016 WL 6601561 , at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 7, 2016) (same). Insofar as the record reveals thus far, plaintiff himself made no effort during the discovery period to obtain the files of his underlying arrests and criminal prosecutions, his DMV records, or his certified hospital records. ° Defendants’ moving papers are due September 30, 2024, as previously scheduled. ° Plaintiff's papers in opposition to defendants’ motion and in support of his own cross-motion (if he makes one) are due October 21, 2024. ° Defendants’ papers in opposition to plaintiff's cross-motion and (optionally) in further support of their own motion are due November 11, 2024. ° Plaintiff's (optional) reply papers in further support of his own cross-motion are due November 25, 2024. Principal briefs, including defendants’ moving brief, are limited to 25 pages, doublespaced. See Moses Ind. Prac. § 2(h). /f plaintiff cross-moves on October 21, 2024, his brief (which will function as both a moving and an opposition brief), is limited to 40 pages, double-spaced. Defendants may then have 30 pages, double-spaced, for their brief due November 11, 2024 (which will function as both an opposition and a reply brief). Plaintiff's optional reply brief as to his own motion, due November 25, 2024, is limited to 15 pages, double-spaced. Plaintiff is reminded that in order to make (or oppose) a summary judgment motion, a party must submit a statement pursuant to Local Civil Rule 56.1 specifically identifying each material fact that he contends to be undisputed (if he is seeking summary judgment) or disputed (if he is opposing summary judgment), and must support his Rule 56.1 statement with admissible evidence, typically through declarations or affidavits, which in turn may attach relevant discovery responses, documents obtained from non-parties (properly authenticated), or other evidence. A copy of this Court's motions guide for pro se litigants is attached for plaintiff's benefit. Dated: New York, New York September 20, 2024 SO ORDERED. Yea des DRAG’ BARBARA MOSES United States Magistrate Judge “| Stef \\ United States District Court A .| Southern District of New York This guide is intended to be a summary of basic procedures for motion practice. The statements in this guide do not constitute legal advice and may not be cited as legal authority. This guide does not take the place of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, this court’s Local Civil Rules, or the individual rules of practice and orders of the judges of this court. Parties using this guide remain responsible for complying with all applicable rules of procedure. Introduction to Motions What is a motion? e A motion is a formal way for a party to ask the court to do something. Generally, any time a party wants the court to do something in a case, that party must make a motion. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 7(b). Some types of motions — the types most often made in cases involving litigants without lawyers — are discussed in this packet. What is a dispositive motion? e A “dispositive” motion means that if the court grants the motion, judgment will be entered with respect to certain claims or defenses, or even with respect to the entire case. Dispositive motions include motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment. e Other types of motions, such as a motion to amend the complaint or a motion for an extension of time, are “nondispositive,” which means that the decision on the motion will not ordinarily result in judgment or dismissal of any part of the case. What are the steps for making a motion? e Motions must be made in writing, except for those made during a hearing or a trial. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 7(b). o First, the party who makes the motion (called the “moving party” or “movant”) files the motion, explaining what the moving party wants the court to do and why the court should do it. o Second, the opposing party files papers opposing the motion, explaining why the court should not grant the motion. 500 PEARL STREET | NEw York, NY 10007 300 QUARROPAS STREET | WHITE PLAINS, NY 10601 United States District Court, S.D.N.Y. Wed) Motions Page 2 o Third, the moving party may file reply papers responding to the arguments made in the opposition papers. At that point, neither side may file any more documents related to the motion without permission from the court. Will there be oral argument on the motion? e After all of the motion papers are filed, the court will typically decide the motion based solely on the arguments in the papers. In some cases, the court may schedule a conference where each side appears in the courtroom and states their arguments in person (this is called “oral argument”). e Ineither case, the court may decide the motion either in a written decision or by announcing the decision in the courtroom during a conference. How do I file and serve motion papers? e Unless you have applied for and received permission to file your documents electronically, you should mail or deliver all papers to the Pro Se Intake Unit. The Clerk’s Office will scan and docket your papers, and if the other parties have lawyers, they will be served with your papers electronically. e If any other parties do not have lawyers, you must serve those parties with paper copies of your documents. When will the court decide the motion? e Given how many cases each judge is assigned, it may take a while before the court decides a motion. Making a Motion How do I make a motion? e First, you must determine the legal basis for bringing the motion. Some of the most common types of motions brought by plaintiffs without lawyers are motions for extensions of time, motions to compel compliance with discovery requests, and motions to amend a complaint. e Second, you must check the Local Civil Rules and the judge’s individual rules of practice to determine whether you are required to request a conference or take some other step before making your motion. If, for example, you would like to make a motion concerning a discovery issue, you must first write a letter to the judge. See Local Civil Rule 37.2. In some cases, a formal motion is not required, and you may make a motion simply by writing a letter. e Third, you must draft your motion papers, which are described next. United States District Court, S.D.N.Y. WEY) Motions Page 3 What documents do I need to file to make a motion? e Under Local Civil Rule 7.1, unless the court makes an exception, all motions must include the following motion papers:! o Notice of Motion: This notice (usually just one page) specifies (1) the rules or statutes under which the party is bringing the motion, and (2) what the party is asking the court to do. A Notice of Motion form is attached to this guide. o Memorandum of Law: The memorandum of law describes the cases, other authorities, and arguments that support the party’s position. This is often referred to as a “brief.” o Declaration: A declaration (sometimes called an “affirmation”) is a statement made under penalty of perjury that contains factual information relevant to the motion. The declaration may also include attached exhibits. A declaration is only required if factual information is necessary for the court to decide the motion. e All motion papers must include a caption, the docket number, and the initials of the district judge and any magistrate judge before whom the case is pending, and have the name, address, telephone number, and email address (if available) of each person signing it clearly printed or typed below the signature. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 7, 10, 11; Local Civil Rule 11.1. Motion papers should also include a title next to or below the caption; for example, “Notice of Motion for Extension of Time” or “Declaration in Support of Motion to Dismiss.” (Local Civil Rule 11.1 describes other formatting requirements for typewritten motions.) e Certain types of motions may be made by letter. Check the Local Civil Rules and the individual rules of practice of the judge. e If you are the one who made the motion, you are entitled to file a reply, responding to arguments that the other side made in its opposition papers. Unless the judge set a different schedule or includes different deadlines in his or her individual rules of practice, a reply is generally due seven days after the opposition is served. Your reply should consist of a memorandum of law or declaration (or both). ! The Clerk of Court will not refuse to accept your papers simply because they do not exactly comply with these rules. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(d). United States District Court, S.D.N.Y. WEY) Motions Page 4 Opposing Motions How much time do I have to oppose a motion? e Unless otherwise ordered by the judge or specified in the judge’s individual rules of practice, opposition to most motions must be filed within 14 calendar days after you are served with the motion papers. Check Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 6 and Local Civil Rule 6.1, as well as the judge’s individual rules of practice, if you are unsure how much time you have to respond to a motion. e If you need additional time to meet a motion deadline, you should ask the party who made the motion for an extension of time. If that party agrees, you and that party can submit the agreement to the court to get its approval of the proposed schedule. If that party does not agree, you may write a letter to the judge asking for an extension of time. What documents do I need to file to oppose a motion? e Unless the court makes an exception, you will need to file a memorandum of law to oppose a motion. In your memorandum of law, you will describe the cases, other authorities, and arguments that support your position that the motion should not be granted. e If factual information is necessary for the court to decide the motion (if, for example, the defendant has moved for summary judgment), you may also need to submit one or more declarations. You may attach additional evidence as exhibits to the declarations. e After you file your opposition, the party who made the motion may file a reply. You cannot “oppose” or respond to reply papers without permission from the court. Motions to Dismiss (Rule 12) e Ina motion to dismiss, the defendant argues that, even if everything you allege in your complaint is true, there are legal defects that require the court to dismiss your complaint (for example, the allegations in your complaint do not state a constitutional violation). See Rules 12(b) and 12(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. e The defendant may move to dismiss before filing an answer (under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)) or after (under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c)). United States District Court, S.D.N.Y. Wed) Motions Page 5 e Ifyou need to add facts to your complaint to oppose the motion to dismiss, you should describe the additional facts in a proposed amended complaint and submit that document with your memorandum of law. Motions for Summary Judgment (Rule 56) e motion for summary judgment, a party (usually, but not always, a defendant) argues that the court should decide the case without a trial, because the undisputed facts show that the other party is not entitled to a verdict in that other party’s favor. See Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. e With some exceptions, motions for summary judgment are normally made after discovery has concluded. e To successfully oppose a motion for summary judgment, you need to present the evidence, through declarations or exhibits, that demonstrates that there are disputes over important facts and therefore a trial is needed. e In addition to the other documents required to make a motion, a party’s motion for summary judgment must include a statement in the form required by Local Civil Rule 56.1 (a 56.1 statement). e Inthe 56.1 statement, the moving party must list, in individually numbered paragraphs, important facts that the party argues are not in dispute. e To oppose a motion for summary judgment, in addition to a memorandum of law, you must submit your own statement responding to the other party’s 56.1 statement. o In paragraphs numbered to correspond with the other party’s 56.1 statement, you must state whether you agree or disagree with each factual statement. o If you agree with the statement, you may just write “agree” as to the particular numbered paragraph. o Ifyou disagree with the statement, you must identify evidence that supports your version of the facts. You may cite to your own sworn statement (such as a declaration made under penalty of perjury), deposition testimony, witness affidavits, or other documents as evidence to demonstrate that there is a dispute concerning that statement of fact. All of this evidence must be submitted to the court. You may do this by filing a declaration signed under penalty of perjury, to which each piece of evidence is attached as a separate exhibit. o For example, if the defendant states: “1. The light was green when defendant entered the intersection,” the plaintiff can either write: “1. Agree.” or something like: “1. Disagree. The light was red when the defendant entered the intersection. See Police Accident Report, attached to plaintiff's declaration as Exhibit A.” United States District Court, S.D.N.Y. WEY) Motions Page 6 e Ifyou do not respond to the other party’s 56.1 statement, or if you do not respond to a particular paragraph, the court may consider the opposing party’s factual statement to be true. e If you believe that you need access to additional information to oppose the motion, you must file a declaration stating what information you need and why you need it to oppose the motion. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(d). Usually, filing such a declaration is appropriate only if the motion was made before discovery ended. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK Write the full name of each plaintiff or petitioner. Case No. CV -against- NOTICE OF MOTION Write the full name of each defendant or respondent. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that plaintiff or defendant name of party who is making the motion requests that the Court: Briefly describe what you want the court to do. You should also include the Federal Rule(s) of Civil Procedure or the statute under which you are making the motion, if you know. In support of this motion, I submit the following documents (check all that apply): ☐ a memorandum of law ☐ my own declaration, affirmation, or affidavit ☐ the following additional documents: Dated Signature Name Prison Identification # (if incarcerated) Address City State Zip Code Telephone Number (if available) E-mail Address (if available) UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK Fill in above the full name of each plaintiff or petitioner. Case No. CV -against- Fill in above the full name of each defendant or respondent. DECLARATION Briefly explain above the purpose of the declaration, for example, “in Opposition to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment.” I, , declare under penalty of perjury that the following facts are true and correct: In the space below, describe any facts that are relevant to the motion or that respond to a court order. You may also refer to and attach any relevant documents. Attach additional pages and documents if necessary. Executed on (date) Signature Name Prison Identification # (if incarcerated) Address City State Zip Code Telephone Number (if available) E-mail Address (if available)