Opinion
11-cv-6084 (HG) (ARL)
09-29-2023
DARREN E. THOMAS and MARLENE THOMAS, Plaintiffs, v. LEONARD GENOVA, CHRISTINA F. NICOLIA, as Executrix of the Estate of FREDERICK P. IPPOLITO, Deceased, CHRISTOPHER GIOIA and TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, Defendants.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
HECTOR GONZALEZ, United States District Judge
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................................2
FACTUAL BACKGROUND.......................................................................................................................................3
PROCEDURAL HISTORY...........................................................................................................................................7
LEGAL STANDARD.................................................................................................................................................11
DISCUSSION............................................................................................................................................................12
I. Plaintiffs' Section 1983 Claims....................................................................................................................................13
A. Malicious Prosecution Claim........................................................................................................................................14
B. Selective Enforcement Claim...........................................................................................................................................17
C. Due Process Claim........................................................................................................................................................22
D. Personal Involvement of Defendants Genova and Ippolito................................................................................................23
E. Defendant Gioia's Immunity.................................................................................................................................................27
1. Absolute Immunity..........................................................................................................................................................28
2. Qualified Immunity...........................................................................................................................................................30
II. Intentional Discrimination (Sections 1981 & 1982)..............................................................................................................33
III. Conspiracy (Sections 1985 and 1986)................................................................................................................................36
A. Section 1985 Claim............................................................................................................................................................36
B. Section 1986 Claim..............................................................................................................................................................39
IV. Monell Liability...................................................................................................................................................................39
V. Fair Housing Act...................................................................................................................................................................43
A. The District Court's Power to Grant Summary Judgment Sua Sponte.......................................................................................44
B. FHA Claim............................................................................................................................................................................46
VI. State Claims..........................................................................................................................................................................49
VII. Plaintiffs' Cross-Motions................................................................................................................................................... 50
CONCLUSION......................................................................................................................................................................... 51
INTRODUCTION
This is an action brought by Darren E. Thomas and Marlene Thomas (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) against the Town of Oyster Bay (the “Town”), Leonard Genova, Frederick P. Ippolito, and Christopher Gioia (collectively “Defendants”). Plaintiffs allege that the individual Defendants violated their civil and constitutional rights by engaging in a race-based selective enforcement and malicious prosecution of Plaintiffs in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983; deprived Plaintiffs of their right to use their home as a two-family residence without due process of law in violation of Section 1983; intentionally discriminated against Plaintiffs in violation of 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1982; engaged in a conspiracy in violation of 42 U.S.C. §§ 1985 and 1986; and violated §§ 3604(a)-(b) and 3617 of the Fair Housing Act. ECF No. 174 (Second Amended Complaint, or “SAC”) ¶¶ 108-22, 123-29; 130-34, 135-38. Plaintiffs further allege Monell liability by the Town arising out of a purported equal protection violation. Id. ¶¶ 139-55.
Defendant Ippolito is since deceased. Plaintiffs substituted his estate as a party. See ECF No. 89.
Finally, Plaintiffs raise state common law claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress, abuse of process, and malicious prosecution against the individual Defendants. Id. ¶¶ 156-68.
Before the Court is Defendants' combined motion for summary judgment and to dismiss the SAC, ECF No. 183, as well as Plaintiffs' opposition to the motion for summary judgment and Plaintiffs' motions seeking to disqualify the Town's attorney and to further amend the complaint, ECF No. 182. For the reasons set forth below, Defendants' motion is granted, and Plaintiffs' motions are denied.
Except for citations to Plaintiffs' SAC (ECF No. 174), which are included only for context to describe the alleged events that gave rise to Plaintiffs' claims, the information described in this section is based on Defendants' statement of material facts (ECF No. 183-1), Plaintiffs' response to Defendants' statement of material facts (ECF No. 182-1), Plaintiffs' counter-statement of material facts (ECF No. 182-2), and Defendants' response to Plaintiff's statement of material facts (ECF No. 187-9), filed pursuant to Local Civil Rule 56.1, and the exhibits cited therein. The Court takes to be true facts stated in a party's Rule 56.1 statement that are supported by testimonial or documentary evidence and denied by the other party with only a conclusory statement without citation to conflicting testimonial or documentary evidence. See E.D.N.Y. Local Rule 56.1(c), (d).
Plaintiffs are residents of the Town, which is located in Nassau County. Defendant Genova served as the Town's Deputy Supervisor from approximately October 2002 through November 2010 and as the Town Attorney from approximately November 2010 through January 2017. ECF No. 183-4 ¶¶ 4-5 (“Genova Affidavit”). Defendant Ippolito served as the Town's Commissioner of Planning and Development from approximately January 2009 through January 2016. ECF No. 183-17 (Ippolito HR Documents). Defendant Gioia served, at all times relevant to the current action, as a Code Enforcement Inspector in the Town's Department of Planning and Development. ECF No. 183-5 (“Gioia Affidavit”)
Plaintiffs' original complaint and first amended complaint also included claims against John Venditto, who served as Town Supervisor from 1998 through January 2017. ECF No. 1 (Complaint) ¶ 6; ECF No. 89 (First Amended Complaint) ¶ 6. Venditto passed away during the pendency of this litigation and was dismissed after Plaintiffs did not timely move to substitute his estate as a party. ECF No. 124 (Suggestion of Death); ECF Text Order, August 5, 2020. When Plaintiffs filed their first amended complaint on August 23, 2019, they added as a defendant Joseph Saladino, who has served as Town Supervisor since January 2017. ECF No. 89. Plaintiffs later voluntarily dismissed their claims against Saladino. ECF No. 154; ECF Text Order, September 27, 2021.
On March 9, 2007, Plaintiffs purchased a home at 121 Fourth Street (the “Property”) in Hicksville, a hamlet within the Town. ECF No. 182-1 (Plaintiffs' 56.1 Resp.) ¶¶ 1, 6. Darren Thomas is Black, and Marlene Thomas is Puerto Rican. Id. ¶ 33. Plaintiffs believe that they are the first non-white owners of the Property. Id. ¶¶ 36-37.
The Property was built before the Town established its zoning code, but is currently located in an area zoned for single-family residential use. Id. ¶ 1. Plaintiffs have not sought, nor has the Town issued, a special use permit to use the Property as a two-family home or a certificate of occupancy for a two-family home. Id. ¶¶ 4-5, 19-20; see also ECF No. 183-33 (noting that building records do not show any special use permit on file for the Property). When Plaintiffs purchased the Property, they believed that it was a legal two-family home, and the Property was set up as such, with two electric meters, two doorbells, and two mailboxes. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 7, 13. Plaintiffs have continuously asserted that the Property was originally built and taxed as a two-family home, and that therefore the Property is being used as a legal, nonconforming, two-family home. Id. ¶¶ 4, 7, 15; ECF No. 187-9 (Defendants' Response to Plaintiffs' 56.1 Counter-Statement) ¶ 2.
The parties dispute whether Plaintiffs needed to obtain either a certificate of occupancy or a special use permit in order to use the Property as a two-family home. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 45, 19-20.
The previous owner of the Property told Plaintiffs that he had never had any issues with the Town and had listed the Property for sale as a two-family home. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 37, 49. Unbeknownst to Plaintiffs at the time of purchase, the previous owner of the Property had been subject to a 2006 enforcement action by the Town for illegally renting out the Property's basement as an apartment. Id. ¶ 37; ECF No. 187-9 ¶¶ 22-25; see also ECF No. 183-14 (Darren Thomas's deposition) at 39-43.
In November 2007, the Town began its efforts to inspect and investigate the Property to determine whether it was being used as a multi-family dwelling. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 12-15.Defendant Gioia made efforts to contact Plaintiffs to schedule an inspection of the inside of the Property, and personally observed during an on-site visit, two doorbells, two electric meters, and electric wires and cable television lines that were separated and extended up to the second floor. Id. ¶ 13. Plaintiff Darren Thomas told Defendant Gioia over the phone that he was renting out the upstairs of the Property and admitted to having a second kitchen. Id. ¶ 14. However, in a letter sent by their attorney, Plaintiffs asserted that the Property was built and taxed as a two-family home. Id. ¶ 15; ECF No. 183-15 (Letter from Plaintiffs' attorney to Town Building Department). Defendant Gioia conducted his own independent research into the Property's use history. ECF No. 182-1 ¶ 16. The parties dispute what Defendant Gioia's research revealed about how the Property had previously been taxed and recorded. Id. ¶¶ 16-18, 21-22. Defendant Gioia attests that his review of the Town's tax records indicated that the Property was being taxed as a single-family home and not a two-family home as Plaintiffs assert. Id. ¶ 17; see also Gioia Affidavit ¶¶ 28-30; ECF No. 183-27 (Tax Documents). Plaintiffs admit that Gioia never saw or interacted with Plaintiffs in-person during this initial investigation other than over the telephone and thus would not have had independent knowledge of Mr. Thomas's race before initiating the code enforcement action. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 27-29.
The parties dispute the origins of the Town's inspection and investigation. Defendants allege that the inspection began after the Town received a written complaint from a member of the public in October 2007, see ECF No. 183-18 (Request for Investigation), that Plaintiffs were maintaining an illegal apartment. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 8-9. Defendants also state that the Town only takes code enforcement action in response to a complaint. Id. ¶ 10. Plaintiffs allege that the written complaint Defendants produced in discovery is a “phony subterfuge to cover their racism” and was instead manufactured by Defendants. Id. ¶¶ 8-10.
The Court notes that it appears both parties are, in part, correct. Certain records list the Property as being taxed as a two-family home, see, e.g., ECF No. 182-7 at 40, while others list the Property as being taxed as a single-family home, ECF No. 183-27.
On December 22, 2008, Defendant Gioia swore out a Court Information charging Mr. Thomas in Nassau County District Court with two violations of the Town Code: (1) for operating a two-family home in a single-family residential zone, Town Code § 246-5.2, and (2) for operating a two-family home without a proper certificate of occupancy, Town Code § 93-28. Id. ¶ 23; ECF No. 187-9 ¶ 1. In April 2019, after a jury trial, Mr. Thomas was acquitted of the two state violation charges brought by the Town. SAC ¶ 103.
Plaintiff Marlene Thomas was not a defendant in the violation action. SAC ¶ 66.
The proceeding had been significantly delayed because Mr. Thomas filed a petition in Nassau County Supreme Court, pursuant to Article 78 of New York's Civil Practice Law and Rules, to dismiss the case against him as a selective prosecution, which stripped the Nassau County District Court of jurisdiction. The Nassau County Supreme Court dismissed the Article 78 petition, holding that the violation action could continue. See Thomas v. Town of Oyster Bay, 152 A.D.3d 777, 777 (2d Dep't 2017) (describing procedural history prior to appeal). Mr. Thomas appealed the decision to the Appellate Division, Second Department, which affirmed the dismissal of his petition, see id., and then further appealed to the New York Court of Appeals, which dismissed the appeal because it did not present a “substantial constitutional question.” Thomas v. Town of Oyster Bay, 88 N.E.3d 391 (N.Y. 2017).
Although Plaintiffs contend in conclusory fashion that the prosecution was initiated because of Mr. Thomas's race, Plaintiffs have failed to come forward with any proof supporting that claim. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 39-42. During discovery, the Town produced documents reflecting code enforcement actions that were taken against the owners of 27 residential properties that were each located no more than three-tenths of a mile from the Property. Id. ¶ 43. Defendants also produced documents demonstrating that in 2011, Defendant Gioia commenced a code enforcement prosecution against the owner of a property located within three-tenths of a mile from the Property alleging violations of Town Code Section 246-5.2, one of the code provisions that Mr. Thomas was also charged with violating. Id. ¶ 47. Plaintiffs have not refuted this evidence.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Plaintiffs initiated this action on December 15, 2011, by filing a complaint against the Defendants and John Venditto. ECF No. 1. Defendants moved to dismiss the complaint on April 4, 2012. ECF Nos. 39-41. Plaintiffs filed their opposition on May 31, 2012, and simultaneously filed a motion to amend the complaint. ECF Nos. 32-34.
On February 21, 2013, Judge Seybert granted in part and denied in part Defendants' motion to dismiss the complaint and denied Plaintiffs' motion to amend the complaint. ECF No. 70. Judge Seybert dismissed without prejudice Plaintiffs' equal protection claims against the Town, and Defendants Venditto, Genova, and Ippolito in their individual capacities, pending the resolution of the state case against Mr. Thomas. Id. at 13-23. Judge Seybert also dismissed without prejudice Plaintiffs' due process claims, holding that they were not ripe for adjudication because Plaintiffs had never requested a variance or applied for a permit to use the Property as a two-family home. Id. at 28-30. Judge Seybert dismissed with prejudice all claims against Gioia, Venditto, Genova, and Ippolito in their official capacities and dismissed Plaintiffs' Monell claim for failure to state a claim. Id. at 25, 33. After Judge Seybert's order, the “only claims remaining in the complaint [we]re Plaintiffs' equal protection and state law claims against Gioia in his individual capacity.” Id at 33. Because the state proceeding against Mr. Thomas for violating the Town's ordinances was still pending, the Court stayed the remaining claims “pending resolution of the criminal court action,” and granted Plaintiffs leave to file an amended complaint after the stay was lifted that pled the following claims: “(i) [the] selective enforcement claims against Gioia, Venditto, Genova, and Ippolito in their individual capacities; (ii) [the] Monell claim against the Town arising out of the purported equal protection violation; and (iii) [the] state law claims against all Defendants.” Id. at 20, 33.
The stay remained in effect until Plaintiffs filed a letter motion to reopen the case on April 8, 2019. ECF No. 81. On August 15, 2019, Magistrate Judge Lindsay granted Plaintiffs leave to replead their selective enforcement, equal protection, and state law claims. ECF No. 88. Magistrate Judge Lindsay also denied Plaintiffs' request to reopen discovery and noted that discovery had closed on November 20, 2012. Id. On August 23, 2019, Plaintiffs filed their first amended complaint against all Defendants, and added current Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino as a Defendant. ECF No. 89.
On September 30, 2019, Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the first amended complaint for failure to state a claim. ECF No. 103. Plaintiffs ultimately filed their opposition to Defendants' second motion to dismiss a year later on September 30, 2020, after receiving multiple extensions, and initially missing their deadline to file their opposition. ECF Nos. 144-145. Plaintiffs' opposition was accompanied by a cross-motion that sought permission to file a second amended complaint and to reopen discovery. Id. On September 27, 2021, Judge Azrack, who had been reassigned the case, denied Plaintiffs' motion to reopen discovery and granted Plaintiffs' motion to file their second amended complaint. ECF Text Order, September 27, 2021. Because the Court granted Plaintiffs' request to amend, Judge Azrack ruled that Defendants' motion to dismiss the first amended complaint was moot and set a schedule for summary judgment briefing. Id.
Saladino filed a separate motion to dismiss the first amended complaint, after which Plaintiffs filed a letter voluntarily dismissing their claims against him. ECF Nos. 113, 154.
On February 4, 2022, Plaintiffs filed the SAC. See ECF No. 174. On March 22, 2022, Defendants served Plaintiffs with their motions for summary judgment and to dismiss. ECF No. 183. On June 15, 2022, Plaintiffs filed their opposition to Defendants' motion, their opposition to Defendants' Rule 56.1 statement, their Rule 56.1 counter-statement, and motions to disqualify Defendants' counsel and to file a third amended complaint. ECF No. 182. On July 8, 2022, Defendants filed their reply and response to Plaintiffs' Rule 56.1 statement. ECF No. 187.
As discussed, Defendants did not have an opportunity to move to dismiss the claims pled in the first or second amended complaint through no fault of their own. Although Defendants moved timely to dismiss the first amended complaint, Plaintiffs' continuous extension requests and delay tactics meant that Plaintiffs' opposition was filed exactly a year later, concurrent with its motion to file the SAC. Rather than rule on Defendants' motion to dismiss the first amended complaint, the Court allowed Plaintiffs to file the SAC and denied the motion to dismiss as moot. The Court will now consider Defendants' combined motion for summary judgment and to dismiss. See, e.g., G.B. by and through Barbour v. Orange Southwest Supervisory Dist., 838 Fed.Appx. 570, 571 (2d Cir. 2020) (affirming the district court's decision to grant defendant's motion to dismiss and for summary judgment); Jones v. U.S. Dep't of Educ., No. 09-cv-88, 2010 WL 10092765, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 1, 2010) (ruling on defendant's motion to dismiss and for summary judgment).
While Plaintiffs have not filed their own motion for summary judgment, they appear to have filed their opposition to Defendants' motion as if it were an independent motion for summary judgment against Defendants. However, in substance, Plaintiffs' papers function as an opposition to Defendants' motion and the Court will treat them as such. Plaintiffs' papers go through the arguments made in Defendants' motion point-by-point in an effort to rebut these arguments, and make little to no independent case for summary judgment in their own favor. ECF No. 182-5 at 4-25. Plaintiffs cite to case law and facts only to rebut Defendants' summary judgment arguments rather than to support an independent basis for summary judgment for Plaintiffs.
“Plaintiffs have more than established prosecution inexplicable except by racism. Defendants' motion papers tacitly concede plaintiffs' entitlement to summary judgment.” ECF No. 182-5 at 2.
Additionally, the deadline for either party to move for summary judgment, as set by Judge Azrack on February 3, 2022, was March 15, 2022. ECF No. 173. On March 10, 2022, Judge Azrack granted Defendants' request for an extension, ordering Defendants to serve their motion papers on or before March 22, 2022. ECF Text Order, March 10, 2022. Even giving Plaintiffs the benefit of an extension that they did not request, Plaintiffs did not serve any motion papers on March 22, 2022. Instead, Plaintiffs served their papers on May 24, 2022, the deadline Judge Azrack set for responses to summary judgment motions. ECF Text Order, May 4, 2022. Accordingly, any effort by Plaintiffs to characterize their motion as an independent motion for summary judgment is both procedurally improper and not supported by the substance of Plaintiffs' papers. The Court will therefore analyze Plaintiffs' papers as an opposition to Defendants' motion for summary judgment.
In Plaintiffs' letter seeking an extension of their deadline to file, Plaintiffs requested an “extension for plaintiffs' opposition to the pending Rule 56 motion” and not an extension to file their own motion for summary judgment. ECF No. 176.
Additional letters were filed after the motion. On July 20, 2022, Plaintiffs filed a letter alerting the Court that Defendant Genova had been disbarred, which Defendants claimed was irrelevant to the current case, and which Plaintiffs responded was relevant to the credibility of Defendant Genova. ECF Nos. 189-191. The Court advised the parties that it would take the letters under advisement when reviewing the motion papers. ECF Text Order, July 29, 2022.
LEGAL STANDARD
Summary judgment is appropriate “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). In other words, a court should grant summary judgment “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247 (1986). The moving party has the burden of demonstrating that there is no genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). “Where the moving party demonstrates the absence of a genuine issue of material fact, the opposing party must come forward with specific evidence demonstrating the existence of a genuine dispute of material fact.” Brown v. Eli Lilly & Co., 654 F.3d 347, 358 (2d Cir. 2011). “The mere existence of a scintilla of evidence” in support of the non-movant will not alone defeat a summary judgment motion. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 322-23.
Unless noted, case law quotations in this order accept all alterations and omit internal quotation marks, citations, and footnotes.
In deciding a summary judgment motion, any ambiguities and inferences drawn from the facts must be viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. LaFond v. Gen. Physics Servs. Corp., 50 F.3d 165, 171 (2d Cir. 1995). Although “courts must refrain from assessing competing evidence in the summary judgment record and avoid making credibility judgments,” the non-moving party must defeat summary judgment by putting forth “evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the non-moving party.” Saeli v. Chautauqua Cnty., 36 F.4th 445, 456 (2d Cir. 2022) (emphasis in original) (affirming summary judgment dismissing complaint). “[R]eliance upon conclusory statements or mere allegations is not sufficient to defeat a summary judgment motion,” rather the nonmoving party must “go beyond the pleadings and by his or her own affidavits, or by the depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, designate specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Davis v. New York, 316 F.3d 93, 100 (2d Cir. 2002).
DISCUSSION
Plaintiffs bring ten claims against the individual Defendants and the Town. Plaintiffs' first claim for relief alleges that the individual Defendants engaged in a race-based selective prosecution of Mr. Thomas in violation of Section 1983, and the Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments. Plaintiffs' second and third claims for relief allege that the individual Defendants intentionally discriminated against Plaintiffs and deprived them of their equal rights in violation of Sections 1981 and 1982. SAC ¶¶ 123-29. Plaintiffs' fourth and fifth claims for relief allege that the individual Defendants engaged in, and neglected to prevent, a conspiracy against Plaintiffs in violation of Sections 1985 and 1986. Id. ¶¶ 130-34. Plaintiffs' sixth claim for relief alleges that the individual Defendants violated Sections 3604(a)-(b) and 3617 of the Fair Housing Act (“FHA”) by attempting to prevent Plaintiffs from residing in the Property. Id. ¶¶ 135-38. Plaintiffs' seventh claim for relief alleges Monell liability on the part of the Town for allegedly creating and encouraging a policy to “prevent African-American and non-white individuals from residing in the Town.” Id. ¶¶ 139-55. Plaintiffs' eighth, ninth, and tenth claims for relief assert state law tort claims against the individual Defendants for intentional infliction of emotional distress, abuse of process, and malicious prosecution, respectively. Id. ¶¶ 156-68.
I. Plaintiffs' Section 1983 Claims
Although Plaintiffs' first claim for relief is not clearly framed, it appears to allege that the individual Defendants: (1) violated Plaintiff Darren Thomas's Fourth Amendment rights by maliciously prosecuting him without probable cause; (2) violated Plaintiff Darren Thomas's equal protection rights by selectively enforcing the Town's zoning laws against him; and (3) violated Plaintiffs' due process rights to use the Property as a two-family home. SAC ¶¶ 10822. “Under Section 1983, individuals may bring a private cause of action against persons acting under color of state law to recover money damages for deprivations of their federal or constitutional rights.” Sagy v. City of New York, No. 18-cv-1975, 2022 WL 6777602, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. Oct. 11, 2022). To establish a Section 1983 claim, a plaintiff must show that “a person acting under color of state law” violated “a right secured by the Constitution and laws of the United States.” Id.
Because Marlene Thomas was not a defendant in the code enforcement action, which forms the basis for Plaintiffs' malicious prosecution and selective enforcement claims, the Court interprets the SAC as alleging those claims on behalf of Darren Thomas only. SAC ¶ 66.
Here, the Court grants Defendants' summary judgment motion and dismisses Plaintiffs' Section 1983 claims against the individual Defendants on the merits of each claim and because (i) there is no genuine issue of material fact as to whether Genova or Ippolito were personally involved in the alleged constitutional violations, and (ii) there is no genuine issue of material fact as to whether Gioia has qualified immunity from suit.
A. Malicious Prosecution Claim
Mr. Thomas brings a Section 1983 claim for malicious prosecution. To succeed on his claim, he must show “a violation of his rights under the Fourth Amendment and must establish the elements of a malicious prosecution claim under state law.” Cornelio v. Connecticut, 32 F.4th 160, 178 (2d Cir. 2022). Under New York Law, “the elements of an action for malicious prosecution are (1) the initiation of a proceeding, (2) its termination favorably to plaintiff, (3) lack of probable cause, and (4) malice.” Savino v. City of New York, 331 F.3d 63, 72 (2d Cir. 2003); see also Mitchell v. City of New York, 841 F.3d 72, 79 (2d Cir. 2016) (same). “In addition, to prevail on a cause of action for malicious prosecution under Section 1983, the plaintiff must establish that there was sufficient post-arraignment liberty restraint to implicate the plaintiff's Fourth Amendment rights.” Perez v. City of New York, No. 20-cv-1359, 2022 WL 4236338, at *13 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 14, 2022); see also Rohman v. New York City Transit Auth., 215 F.3d 208, 215 (2d Cir. 2000) (“The Fourth Amendment Right implicated in a malicious prosecution action is the right to be free of unreasonable seizure of the person-i.e., the right to be free of unreasonable or unwarranted restraints on personal liberty.”).
With respect to the first two elements, the parties do not dispute that a zoning proceeding was initiated against Mr. Thomas in 2008 or that Mr. Thomas was acquitted in 2019. ECF No. 182-1 ¶ 23, ECF No. 81.
With respect to the third element, Defendants have shown that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact such that the Court can conclude, as a matter of law, that Defendants did not lack probable cause. “[T]he existence of probable cause is a complete defense to a claim of malicious prosecution in New York.” Savino, 331 F.3d at 72. “If there was probable cause for the prosecution, then no malicious prosecution claim can stand.” Boyd v. City of New York, 336 F.3d 72, 75 (2d Cir. 2003). This is true even if a plaintiff alleges that he was prosecuted because of his race or another characteristic that government officials may not permissibly consider when commencing criminal proceedings. In such instances, the plaintiff may have a valid claim for selective prosecution in violation of the Equal Protection Clause, but his claim for malicious prosecution in violation of the Fourth Amendment will fail. Espinoza v. City of New York, No. ll-cv-2108, 2012 WL 4761565, at *4-5 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 3, 2012) (granting summary judgment dismissing malicious prosecution claim because “whatever motivated the officers to issue [tickets against plaintiff], it is undisputed that they had probable cause to do so” but declining to dismiss selective prosecution claim because “[t]he fact that there was probable cause to ticket [plaintiff] does not defeat this particular cause of action”); see also Jones v. J.C. Penny's Dep't Stores, 317 Fed.Appx. 71, 74 (2d Cir. 2009) (affirming summary judgment dismissal of malicious prosecution claim based on lack of probable cause but explaining that “[p]robable cause for arrest is not a complete defense to a selective prosecution claim”).
“In the malicious prosecution context, probable cause is the totality of facts and circumstances as would lead a reasonably prudent person to believe the plaintiff guilty.” Gordon v. City of New York, No. 15-cv-2439, 2016 WL 10678073, at *4 (E.D.N.Y. July 22, 2016); see also Keyes v. City of New York, No. 21-cv-2406, 2023 WL 176956, at *2 (2d Cir. Jan. 13, 2023) (“Probable cause exists when officers have knowledge or reasonably trustworthy information of facts and circumstances that are sufficient to warrant a person of reasonable caution in the belief that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing a crime. This determination is based on the totality of the circumstances[].”). “Probable cause may also exist where the officer has relied on mistaken information, so long as it was reasonable for him to rely on it.” Manganiello v. City of New York, 612 F.3d 149, 161 (2d Cir. 2010).
Defendant Gioia plainly had probable cause to initiate a prosecution against Mr. Thomas. The parties agree that the Property is located in an area that is zoned for single-family residential use and that Plaintiffs do not have, and have never sought, a special use permit or certificate of occupancy permitting them to use the Property as a two-family home. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 1, 4-5, 19-20. The parties also agree that the Property has two electric meters, two doorbells, and two mailboxes. Id. ¶¶ 7, 13. Whether the Property was taxed as a single-family or two-family home is a factual issue that the parties dispute. However, even drawing all inferences in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, the record is clear that certain records reflected that the Property was taxed as a single-family home while others reflected that it was taxed as a two-family home. Compare ECF No. 182-7 at 40, with ECF No. 183-27. The parties do not dispute that the Town and Defendant Gioia attempted, unsuccessfully, to inspect the interior of the Property on multiple occasions, including by seeking Plaintiffs' consent, and that Mr. Thomas told Mr. Gioia on a phone call that he was renting out the upstairs of his Property. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 12-14.
Based on the totality of these circumstances, as a matter of law, a person of reasonable caution would be justified in believing that the Property was being used in a manner that violated the Town's zoning code. Keyes, 2023 WL 176956, at *2; see also Kent v. Thomas, 464 Fed.Appx. 23, 26 (2d Cir. 2012) (holding that the prosecuting party is “not required to explore and eliminate every plausible claim of innocence before making an arrest” and that “the fact that an innocent explanation may be consistent with the facts alleged does not negate probable cause”). The Property was admittedly and visibly being operated as a two-family home in a one-family zone; Plaintiffs had no special use permit or certificate of occupancy permitting the use of the Property as a two-family home; it was unclear from available records whether the Property had historically been operated as a one or two-family home; and, despite making contact with Plaintiffs, the Town inspectors were not permitted to inspect the Property. Accordingly, based on these undisputed facts, there was probable cause to commence a code enforcement action against Mr. Thomas. See Lepper v. Vill. of Babylon, No. 18-cv-7011, 2022 WL 939719, at *22 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 29, 2022) (finding that in a case regarding disputes over land-use, permits, and zoning requirements, defendants had probable cause to commence an action based on their own observations of the property).
Because the Court finds that Defendants acted on the basis of probable cause, the Court does not need to reach the question of whether Defendants displayed malice in initiating an action against Mr. Thomas or whether Defendants restrained Mr. Thomas's liberty. Since probable cause is a complete defense to an action for malicious prosecution, Plaintiffs' claim fails, and Defendants are entitled to summary judgment. Savino, 331 F.3d at 72.
While the Court does not need to reach the issue of malice, nevertheless, Plaintiffs have failed to allege or demonstrate any malice on the part of the individual Defendants. See Sorrell v. Cnty. of Nassau, 162 F.Supp.3d 156, 170 (E.D.N.Y. 2016) (“Malice in the context of malicious prosecution . . . means only that the defendant must have commenced the criminal proceeding due to a wrong or improper motive, something other than a desire to see the ends of justice served. Actual malice is lacking when a police officer reasonably chooses between conflicting evidence.”); Lovelace v. City of New York, No. 02-cv-5398, 2005 WL 552387, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 9, 2005) (granting summary judgment and finding that plaintiff had not met her burden to show that she was prosecuted with a wrong or improper motive when the court found that her arrest was “made on probable cause and plaintiff has adduced no evidence from which it could be inferred that the prosecution was commenced out of malice”).
B. Selective Enforcement Claim
Mr. Thomas also brings a Section 1983 claim alleging that Defendants violated his equal protection rights by selectively enforcing the Town's zoning laws against him. “To prevail on such a claim, a plaintiff must prove that (1) the person, compared with others similarly situated, was selectively treated, and (2) the selective treatment was motivated by an intention to discriminate on the basis of impermissible considerations, such as race or religion, to punish or inhibit the exercise of constitutional rights, or by a malicious or bad faith intent to injure the person.” Hu v. City of New York, 927 F.3d 81, 91 (2d Cir. 2019). “When evaluating an equal protection . . . claim . . . the first question that must be asked is whether the plaintiff has proffered a sufficient comparator.” Hu v. City of New York, No. 17-cv-2348, 2022 WL 182360 at *9 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 20, 2022), aff'd, No. 22-cv-183, 2023 WL 3563039 (2d Cir. May 19, 2023). “[T]he plaintiff's and comparator's circumstances must bear a reasonably close resemblance,” but “[t]hey need not, however, be identical.” Hu, 927 F.3d at 96. “A plaintiff can prevail by showing that []he was similarly situated in all material respects to the individuals with whom []he seeks to compare [him]self.” Id. Although, in general, “whether individuals are similarly situated is a factual issue that should be submitted to the jury,” where it is clear that “no reasonable jury could find the similarly situated prong of a selective enforcement claim met, a court can properly grant summary judgment.” Hu, 2022 WL 182360, at *9.
Mr. Thomas alleges in wholly conclusory fashion that he was treated differently from other similarly situated white individuals living in his neighborhood, and that his treatment was based on his race. See, e.g., SAC ¶¶ 96-101. However, he has failed to proffer a sufficient comparator. Mr. Thomas states that there are multiple other homes in his neighborhood that display outward indicia of multi-family use and that, upon information and belief, none of the other homes are legal multi-family dwellings. Id. ¶¶ 90-91. He asserts, upon information and belief, that the other homes are owned by white owners and that none of the other owners has been prosecuted for code violations. Id. ¶¶ 92-94. However, at the summary judgement stage, assertions upon “information and belief” are insufficient to establish that there exists a genuine issue of material fact. See Patterson v. Cnty. of Oneida, N.Y., 375 F.3d 206, 219 (2d Cir. 2004); see also Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e). And, as Mr. Thomas concedes, he cannot point to any evidence to support his claims about his neighbors. Mr. Thomas does not know his neighbors' race or ethnicity and has never attempted to find out. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 41-42. Mr. Thomas also admits that code enforcement actions were taken against the owners of 27 residential properties located within three-tenths of a mile of the Property-including, most notably, the previous owner of the Property who was white-although he asserts that none of the actions resulted in code violation prosecutions. Id. ¶¶ 43, 47. Because Mr. Thomas cannot point to a single neighbor who can serve as a comparator, it is clear that “no reasonable jury could find the similarly situated prong of a selective enforcement claim met.” Hu, 2022 WL 182360 at *9.
Mr. Thomas also cannot establish that the Town's zoning code was enforced against him on the basis of his race. Under this element, Mr. Thomas must prove that “the disparate treatment was caused by the impermissible motivation.” Anderson v. City of New York, 817 F.Supp.2d 77, 94-95 (E.D.N.Y. 2011) (emphasis in original). However, Mr. Thomas has failed to present evidence by which a rational jury could infer any impermissible considerations by the Town even construing the facts in the light most favorable to Mr. Thomas. Vassallo v. Lando, 591 F.Supp.2d 172, 186 (E.D.N.Y. 2008). Defendants have established that the Town official who initiated the action against Mr. Thomas did not have personal knowledge of Mr. Thomas's race until well after the action was filed. ECF No. 182-1 (Plaintiffs' 56.1 Resp.) ¶¶ 27-29. Additionally, Plaintiffs concede that they are not aware of: (1) any conversation in which they participated with any Defendant or other individual that supports their belief that the prosecution was racially driven or motivated; (2) any hearsay evidence that supports their belief that the prosecution was racially driven or motivated; or (3) any evidence about the race or ethnicity of the owners of other homes in the Property's vicinity. Id. at ¶¶ 39-42. Mr. Thomas can neither prove that he was treated differently from similarly situated individuals nor that his treatment was based on impermissible considerations related to his race. Accordingly, Defendants' motion for summary judgment on Mr. Thomas's selective enforcement claim is granted.
In Plaintiffs' counsel's affirmation in opposition to Defendants' motion for summary judgment, he states, for the first time, that Plaintiffs are alleging a violation of their equal protection rights under a “class of one theory” as well as a selective prosecution theory. ECF No. 182-3 at ¶ 5. The SAC does not contain any suggestion that Plaintiffs are proceeding under a “class of one” theory with respect to their Section 1983 claims, see SAC ¶¶ 108-122, and Plaintiffs' opposition to Defendants' motion for summary judgment contains only a single reference to their “class of one” claim. ECF No. 182-5 at 15. It is within the Court's discretion to decline to reach the merits of an argument raised for the first time in opposition to summary judgment. See, e.g., Lyman v. CSX Tramp., Inc., 364 Fed.Appx. 699, 701 (2d Cir. 2010) (finding that the district court did not abuse its discretion in declining to consider new theories of liability raised for the first time in opposition to summary judgment); Greenidge v. Allstate Ins. Co., 446 F.3d 356, 361 (2d Cir. 2006) (declining to reach the merits of an argument raised for the first time in opposition to summary judgment). Accordingly, the Court does not need to consider Mr. Thomas's class-of-one claim.
However, the Court notes that Mr. Thomas's equal protection claims would also fail under a class-of-one theory of liability. “Plaintiffs who allege a Fourteenth Amendment class-of-one claim must show that they have been intentionally treated differently from others similarly situated and that there is no rational basis for the difference in treatment. The claim requires an extremely high degree of similarity between [the plaintiff] and its comparators.” Lepper v. Scordino, No. 22-cv-1064, 2023 WL 4004220, at *2 (2d Cir. June 15, 2023) (affirming summary judgment dismissing plaintiff's class-of-one equal protection claim). A plaintiff bringing a claim on class-of-one grounds must establish that it is prima facie identical to a comparator by showing that: “(i) no rational person could regard the circumstances of the plaintiff to differ from those of a comparator to a degree that would justify the differential treatment on the basis of a legitimate government policy; and (ii) the similarity in circumstances and difference in treatment are sufficient to exclude the possibility that the defendants acted on the basis of a mistake.” Hu, 927 F.3d at 94. “Plaintiffs must demonstrate that they were intentionally singled out for reasons that so lack any reasonable nexus with a legitimate governmental policy that an improper purpose is all but certain.” Lepper, 2023 WL 4004220, at *2.
In analyzing Mr. Thomas's selective enforcement claim, the Court has already found that he has not proffered facts sufficient to establish that he was treated differently from similarly situated individuals. Mangino v. Inc. Vill. of Patchogue, 739 F.Supp.2d 205, 255 (E.D.N.Y. 2010) (“[P]laintiffs' class of one claim fails because, as with their selective enforcement claim, plaintiffs cannot show that they were treated differently than similarly situated individuals.”). As articulated by courts in this Circuit, the standard of proof to determine whether a Plaintiff was treated differently from similarly situated individuals, “is more stringent” on a class-of-one claim than it is on a selective enforcement claim. Id. at 256 (holding that defendants were entitled to summary judgment on plaintiffs' class-of-one claim). Therefore, because Mr. Thomas has failed to point to evidence that suggests he was treated differently from others who were similarly situated, Defendants would also be entitled to summary judgment on his equal protection claim as analyzed under the “more stringent” class-of-one standard. Id. (“[B]ecause plaintiffs have failed to satisfy the similarly situated element of [their] selective enforcement claim, they cannot satisfy it for a class of one claim.”).
C. Due Process Claim
On February 21, 2013, Judge Seybert dismissed without prejudice Plaintiffs' due process claims for deprivation of their right to use the Property as a two-family home without due process of law, finding that the claims were not ripe. ECF No. 70 at 28-30. Specifically, she held that because Plaintiffs “never requested a variance or applied for a permit to use the Property as a two-family home, their due process claims are not ripe and must be dismissed.” Id. at 30. As Judge Seybert explained, a cause of action is only “justiciable” if it is “ripe,” i.e., it presents “a real, substantial controversy, not a mere hypothetical question.” Kurtz v. Verizon New York, Inc., 758 F.3d 506, 511 (2d Cir. 2014), abrogated on other grounds by Knick v. Twp. of Scott, Pa., 139 S.Ct. 2162 (2019). In the land-use context, a constitutional claim is ripe if Plaintiffs have “obtain[ed] a final, definitive position as to how [they] could use the property from the entity charged with implementing the zoning regulations.” Murphy v. New Milford Zoning Comm'n, 402 F.3d 342, 348 (2d Cir. 2005); see also Dougherty v. Town of N. Hempstead Bd. of Zoning Appeals, 282 F.3d 83, 88-89 (2d Cir. 1988) (expanding the land-use ripeness test to procedural due process claims challenging land-use restrictions); Vill. Green at Sayville, LLC v. Town of Islip, 43 F.4th 287, 294 (2d Cir. 2022) (explaining that courts within the Second Circuit have applied the land-use ripeness test including to zoning challenges based on substantive due process).
When Judge Seybert initially dismissed Plaintiffs' due process claim, she found that Plaintiffs' claims were not ripe because Plaintiffs had not “requested a variance or applied for a permit to use the Property as a two-family home.” ECF No. 70 at 30. Plaintiffs admit that they still have not sought a variance or special use permit. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 19-20. Accordingly, as Judge Seybert has already held, Plaintiffs' due process claim is not ripe and must be dismissed.
D. Personal Involvement of Defendants Genova and Ippolito
Defendants also argue that they are entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiffs' Section 1983 claims against Defendants Genova and Ippolito because there is no genuine issue of material fact that the two Defendants-who were both employed by the Town during a portion of the period when Mr. Thomas was being prosecuted-were not personally involved in the alleged constitutional deprivation. ECF No. 183-44 (Defendants' memorandum) at 8-11. The Court agrees.
Genova's employment with the Town ended on January 9, 2017, before Mr. Thomas's state case was resolved. ECF No. 183-4 ¶¶ 4-5 (“Genova Affidavit”). Ippolito began working for the Town after the prosecution had commenced, and he passed away before its completion. ECF No. 183-17 (Ippolito HR Documents).
“A prerequisite for any award of damage under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for an alleged constitutional violation is the personal involvement of the defendant.” Cruz v. City of New York, 232 F.Supp.3d 438, 452 (S.D.N.Y. 2017). “The participation of each defendant is a requirement, because defendants in a § 1983 action cannot be held liable for damages for constitutional violations merely because they held a high position of authority.” FowlerWashington v. City of New York, No. 19-cv-6590, 2023 WL 2390538, at *6 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 7, 2023). “To establish a violation of Section 1983 . . . Plaintiff[s] must establish a deliberate, intentional act on the part of [Defendants] to violate the plaintiff's legal rights.” Marhone v. Cassel, No. 16-cv-4733, 2022 WL 4468056, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2022).
Here, Plaintiffs claim, “upon information and belief,” that Genova and Ippolito: (i) “pulled . . . Gioia[] from his usual territory . . . [and] assigned him plaintiffs' case” and “order[ed] him to harass plaintiffs to get them to move,” including ordering him to file charges against them, SAC ¶¶ 50, 70; and (ii) concealed records related to the Property, Id. ¶¶ 56, 76. Plaintiffs also refer to Genova and Ippolito as having prosecuted Plaintiffs' state code enforcement case, Id. ¶¶ 64, 67 (“defendants filed the criminal prosecution”), however, Plaintiffs admit that specific prosecutorial actions were not taken directly by Genova or Ippolito but were done through their subordinates, including the Town's Deputy Attorney, who is not a party in this case. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 51-55; see also ECF No. 182-5 at 6 (arguing Genova and Ippolito are liable because they “oversaw” the prosecution). Plaintiffs further argue that Genova's and Ippolito's personal involvement is shown because “after being personally advised about [Mr. Thomas's] claim of innocence” they refused to drop the prosecution even though, “each had the power to.” ECF No. 182-5 at 5; see also ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 51, 55. Plaintiffs have not provided a single fact to substantiate their first claim, that Genova and Ippolito directed Gioia to investigate the Property or to bring criminal charges. SAC ¶¶ 50, 70; see also ECF No. 182-1 ¶ 27-29, 39-40. Plaintiffs did not even depose Genova or Ippolito to examine them about these allegations. ECF No. 182-1 ¶ 50. At the summary judgement stage, assertions upon “information and belief” are insufficient to establish that there exists a genuine issue of material fact. See Patterson, 375 F.3d at 219; see also Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e).
Ippolito died in 2017, years after the close of discovery in this case. See Frederick Ippolito, ex-town official, dies, available at https://perma.cc/CVN2-Q6WF (last visited September 29, 2023).
Genova, who was Deputy Town Supervisor during the investigation and initiation of Mr. Thomas's prosecution, submitted a declaration under penalty of perjury in which he states that he was not involved with or aware of Gioia's investigation or decision to bring charges against Mr. Thomas, denies concealing any documents or knowing about any documents that might have been concealed, and states he was never asked to intervene in the code enforcement action. ECF No. 183-4 ¶¶ 13-16. In 2010, after Mr. Thomas's prosecution had already been initiated, Genova was appointed Town Attorney. Id. ¶ 5. However, Mr. Thomas's prosecution was not carried out by Genova, but by attorneys he supervised. ECF No. 182-1 ¶ 51. Genova denies reviewing or intervening in Mr. Thomas's state court action during his tenure as either Deputy Supervisor or Town Attorney. ECF No. 183-4 ¶¶ 8-17. Plaintiffs do not point to any evidence to refute any of these assertions.
Where, as here, Defendants have demonstrated “the absence of a genuine issue of material fact,” Plaintiffs must “come forward with specific evidence demonstrating the existence of a genuine dispute of material fact.” Brown, 654 F.3d at 358. However, Plaintiffs provide no specific facts to show that Genova ever personally participated or took part in either the investigation of the Property or subsequent prosecution of Mr. Thomas. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 5154. Rather, Plaintiffs baldly argue that Genova's personal “participation in the conspiracy can be inferred from his contemporary actions in ex parte continuing the prosecution,” even if he was initially unaware or did not participate. Id. ¶ 52. Specifically, Plaintiffs argue that Genova is liable because he personally failed to “order to [sic] prosecution dropped” after evidence that Mr. Thomas was innocent allegedly arose in the state case. Id. ¶ 51. Plaintiffs point to no evidence to support these claims. And, even if true, simply being made aware of facts which may have exonerated Mr. Thomas is insufficient to establish personal involvement on the part of Genova. See Weiner v. McKeefery, 90 F.Supp.3d 17, 36-37 (E.D.N.Y. 2015) (noting that to assert a claim against a prosecutor for continued prosecution after a prosecutor becomes aware of facts sufficient to exonerate the accused, plaintiff must show that the defendant took an “active part in the proceedings”). To the extent that Plaintiffs are arguing that Genova was personally involved simply because he supervised those who prosecuted Mr. Thomas's state case, the law is clear that supervisory responsibilities alone do not establish personal involvement in Section 1983 actions. See Tangreti v. Bachmann, 983 F.3d 609, 618 (2d Cir. 2020) (“To establish a violation of § 1983 by a supervisor, as with everyone else, then, the plaintiff must establish a deliberate, intentional act on the part of the defendant to violate the plaintiff's legal rights.”).
The evidence against Ippolito is even more scant. Records show that Ippolito was not an employee of the Town until after the initiation of Mr. Thomas's state case, when he was hired as the Commissioner of Planning. ECF No. 182-1 ¶ 55 (admitting that Ippolito was not an employee of the Town until after the investigation and prosecution had begun); see also ECF No. 183-17. Plaintiffs thus admit that Ippolito is “not an original co-conspirator.” ECF No. 182-1 ¶ 55; SAC ¶ 51 (admitting that Ippolito cannot directly “be linked to the original conspiracy”). Still, Plaintiffs claim that after Ippolito took office his personal involvement can be demonstrated because he “was the immediate supervisor to whom the courtroom Deputy Town Attorneys reported,” and “he did not end the prosecution but adopted and continued it.” ECF No. 182-1 ¶ 55; ECF No. 182-5 at 6, 10; SAC ¶¶ 52-54 (alleging Ippolito was “co-equally responsible” for the “prosecution's supervision and continuance”). But again, Plaintiffs can point to “no specific evidence” to establish the existence of a genuine dispute of material fact as to Ippolito's personal involvement. Brown, 654 F.3d at 358.
As noted above, Ippolito cannot be held liable simply because he supervised individuals who were involved with Mr. Thomas's state prosecution. See Tangreti, 983 F.3d at 618. Plaintiffs provide no facts to back up their claims that Ippolito actively participated in Mr. Thomas's state case as anything other than a supervisor. While Plaintiffs did mail Ippolito a letter asserting Mr. Thomas's innocence, ECF No. 182-1 ¶ 55, the parties agree that Ippolito never responded, and Plaintiffs can point to no evidence that he personally investigated the matter or acted upon the information in the letter. See Rivera v. Fischer, 655 F.Supp.2d 235, 238 (W.D.N.Y. 2009) (noting that even if an individual receives and reads a letter regarding a constitutional violation, that action does not constitute personal involvement unless he or she (i) looks into the matter personally, or (ii) otherwise acts on the information contained therein); Malek v. N.Y. St. Unified Ct. Sys., No. 22-cv-5416, 2023 WL 2429528, at *13 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 9, 2023) (dismissing Section 1983 claims because plaintiff's allegations that certain defendants ignored his inquiries about pending litigation and refused to exercise their supposed power to settle or dismiss that litigation did not amount to personal participation in alleged constitutional violations). The Court therefore disagrees with Plaintiffs that “[Ippolito's] non-response is inferable as to his knowledge, approval, and after-the-fact joinder in the conspiracy to drive plaintiffs out of town.” SAC ¶ 58.
Accordingly, Plaintiffs' failure to adduce evidence of Genova's or Ippolito's personal involvement in the alleged equal protection violations requires granting summary judgment in favor of Genova and Ippolito on Plaintiffs' Section 1983 claim. Cruz, 232 F.Supp.3d at 452.
E. Defendant Gioia's Immunity
Defendants argue that Defendant Gioia has both absolute and qualified immunity, which protects him from Plaintiffs' Section 1983 claim. ECF No. 183-44 at 11-15. The Court agrees that Defendant Gioia has qualified immunity but not absolute immunity and therefore dismisses the Section 1983 claim against Gioia for that reason.
1. Absolute Immunity
First, Defendants argue that Gioia is entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiffs' Section 1983 claim against him because he is entitled to absolute prosecutorial immunity. ECF No. 18344 at 11-12.
“Prosecutors are entitled to absolute immunity when they function as advocates for the state in circumstances intimately associated with the judicial phase of the criminal process.” Baron v. Lissade, No. 19-cv-6256, 2021 WL 4407836, at *7 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 27, 2021). “When assessing whether claims are barred by absolute immunity, courts focus on the nature of the function performed rather than the identity of the actor who performed it.” Id. “If an actor is performing a function covered by absolute immunity, the actor is shielded from liability for damages regardless of the wrongfulness of his motive or the degree of injury caused.” Id. However, “[i]nvestigative work done before any formal legal proceeding has begun . . . is only entitled to qualified immunity.” Id.; see also Simon v. City of New York, 727 F.3d 167, 172 (2d Cir. 2013) (“[P]rosecutors receive only qualified immunity when performing administrative duties and those investigatory functions that do not relate to an advocate's preparation for the initiation of a prosecution or for judicial proceedings.”). Absolute immunity does not extend to functions that are typically performed by police officers or investigative agents. See, e.g., Kalina v. Fletcher, 522 U.S. 118, 129-30 (1997) (holding that a prosecutor was not entitled to prosecutorial immunity for a sworn affidavit filed in support of an application for an arrest warrant); Malley v. Briggs, 475 U.S. 335, 342-343 (1986) (finding that a police officer did not have absolute immunity for submitting a complaint and supporting affidavit to a court in order to obtain an arrest warrant); Washington v. Napolitano, 29 F.4th 93, 103-04 (2d Cir. 2022) (holding that “if a prosecutor acts as a complaining witness by testifying to the evidentiary basis for an arrest warrant application, the only function that she performs in giving sworn testimony is that of a witness” and thus she is not entitled to absolute immunity).
“[W]here a prosecutor is sued under § 1983 for unconstitutional abuse of his discretion to initiate prosecutions, a court will begin by considering whether relevant statutes authorize prosecution for the charged conduct.” Bernard v. Cnty. of Suffolk, 356 F.3d 495, 504 (2d Cir. 2004). Here, Plaintiffs argue that Gioia is not entitled to absolute immunity because “the two ordinances, § 246-5.2 . . . and § 93-28 . . . do not authorize any prosecution and are non-criminal statutes (no punishment set forth).” ECF No. 182-5 at 8 (emphasis in original). However, this is demonstrably incorrect: Oyster Bay Town Code § 246-14.1.2 authorizes enforcement of violations of § 246-5.2, with penalties for violations laid out in § 246-14.7; Oyster Bay Town Code § 93-5 authorizes enforcement of violations of § 93-28, with penalties for violations laid out in § 93-12.
However, Plaintiffs further argue that Gioia was functioning more as an investigator than as a prosecutor when investigating the Property and that as such he should not be entitled to absolute immunity. ECF No. 182-5 at 9. The parties agree that Gioia swore out a court information charging Mr. Thomas with violating sections of the Town Code. ECF No. 182-1 ¶ 23. They also agree that Gioia inspected Plaintiffs' Property, id. ¶¶ 11-14, and researched whether Plaintiffs were in violation of the Town Code, Id. ¶¶ 16-20. These facts are more akin to investigative work and other functions typically performed by police officers or agents than to the preparation for a judicial proceeding typically performed by prosecutors. Simon, 727 F.3d at 172. Accordingly, Defendant Gioia has not demonstrated that he is entitled to absolute prosecutorial immunity, as a matter of law.
2. Qualified Immunity
Plaintiffs agree that Gioia functioned as more of an “investigator” rather than a prosecutor. ECF No. 182-5 at 8. As an investigator, Defendants argue, Gioia's actions are entitled to qualified immunity protection. “[T]he doctrine of qualified immunity . . . protects government officials from civil damages liability insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.” Sanchez v. Nassau Cnty., No. 17-cv-7335, 2023 WL 2457855, at *22 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 11, 2023); see also Faghri v. Univ. of Conn., 621 F.3d 92, 96 (2d Cir. 2010) (“Under qualified immunity, government officials performing discretionary functions generally are shielded from liability for civil damages insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.”).
“Courts assess qualified immunity through a two-part inquiry: (1) whether the facts, viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, show that a government official's conduct violated a constitutional right; and (2) whether the right at issue was clearly established at the time of the defendant's alleged misconduct.” Sanchez, 2023 WL 2457855, at *22. “A right is ‘clearly established' when the contours of the right are sufficiently clear that a reasonable official would understand that what he is doing violates that right.” Reyes v. Fischer, 934 F.3d 97, 103 (2d Cir. 2019). In applying the two-part inquiry to assess qualified immunity, courts in this Circuit look at: “(1) whether plaintiff has shown facts making out [a] violation of a constitutional right; (2) if so, whether that right was clearly established; and (3) even if the right was clearly established, whether it was objectively reasonable for the officer to believe the conduct at issue was lawful.” Gonzalez v. City of Schenectady, 728 F.3d 149, 154 (2d Cir. 2013). In analyzing a claim of qualified immunity, “[t]he ultimate question” is “whether it was objectively reasonable for an officer to believe that his conduct did not violate a clearly established right.” Jackson v. Tellado, 236 F.Supp.3d 636, 652 (E.D.N.Y. 2017). “At the summary judgment stage, a claim may be dismissed on qualified immunity grounds only when a court finds that an official has met his or her burden of demonstrating that no rational jury could find these two prongs to be satisfied.” Sanchez, 2023 WL 2457855, at *22. Courts have regularly found that building inspectors and code enforcement officers are entitled to qualified immunity. See Ferreira v. Town of E. Hampton, 56 F.Supp.3d 211, 238-40 (E.D.N.Y. 2014) (granting summary judgment for building inspector and code enforcement officer because they were entitled to qualified immunity); see also Zahra v. Town of Southold, 48 F.3d 674, 688 (2d Cir. 1995) (holding that building inspectors were entitled to the defense of qualified immunity because the court found their actions at the time objectively reasonable).
As discussed in Sections I.A.-I.C., supra, the specific constitutional rights that Plaintiffs allege that Gioia violated are: (1) Mr. Thomas's equal protection rights by engaging in selective enforcement and malicious prosecution; and (2) Plaintiffs' due process right to use the Property as a two-family home. However, the facts, viewed in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, do not show that Gioia violated these rights. See, e.g., Gonzalez, 728 F.3d at 154; Sanchez, 2023 WL 2457855, at *22. As an initial matter, Plaintiffs' due process claims are not yet ripe, and so are not properly before the Court. See supra Section I.C.; see also Bloomingburg Jewish Educ. Ctr. v. Vill. of Bloomingburg, N.Y., 111 F.Supp.3d 459, 493 (S.D.N.Y. 2015) (an official does not need to establish qualified immunity with respect to claims dismissed on ripeness grounds). With respect to Mr. Thomas's equal protection claims, the facts establish that it was objectively reasonable for Gioia to initiate an investigation into the Property and that his doing so and eventually bringing an enforcement action, did not violate Mr. Thomas's equal protection rights.
Gioia is entitled to “qualified immunity from a malicious prosecution claim if . . . it was objectively reasonable for [him] to believe that probable cause existed.” Hoyos v. City of New York, 999 F.Supp.2d 375, 390 (E.D.N.Y. 2013); see also Fleurimond v. Holder, 403 F.Supp.3d 95, 106 (E.D.N.Y. 2019) (granting defendants summary judgment on plaintiffs' malicious prosecution claims after finding that defendants were entitled to qualified immunity because they had probable cause to prosecute plaintiff). Here, for the reasons stated in Section I.A., supra, the Court has found that Gioia had probable cause to initiate a code enforcement proceeding against Mr. Thomas. Accordingly, he is entitled to qualified immunity on Plaintiff's equal protection malicious prosecution claim.
Gioia is also entitled to qualified immunity on Mr. Thomas's equal protection selective enforcement claim. The Court has already found that Mr. Thomas cannot, as a matter of law, make out a violation of a constitutional right because Mr. Thomas can neither prove that he was treated differently from similarly situated individuals nor that his treatment was based on impermissible considerations related to his race. See supra Section I.B. Because Mr. Thomas cannot prove that he was treated differently from similarly situated individuals, he cannot show that it was unreasonable for Gioia to investigate and initiate a code enforcement proceeding against him or that by doing so, Gioia violated his equal protection rights. See, e.g., Berg v. Kelly, 897 F.3d 99, 114 (2d Cir. 2018) (holding that defendants were entitled to qualified immunity on a selective enforcement claim when it was reasonable for them to believe that they were not treating plaintiffs differently from other similarly situated individuals); Capasso v. Metro. Transp. Auth., 198 F.Supp.2d 452, 465 (S.D.N.Y. 2002) (finding that a defendant was entitled to qualified immunity at the summary judgment stage on plaintiff's selective enforcement claim because plaintiff failed to allege any conduct fairly attributable to the defendant that would be violative of federal law). Therefore, Gioia is entitled to qualified immunity with respect to Mr. Thomas's selective enforcement equal protection claim.
Plaintiffs further argue that Gioia is not entitled to qualified immunity because “[i]t is conclusively unreasonable to twist the law for the racist reason of chasing a non-white couple out of town.” ECF No. 182-5 at 11. The Court agrees that, if Gioia had commenced the investigation due to racial animus, he would not be entitled to qualified immunity. See Jamieson v. Poughkeepsie City Sch. Dist., 195 F.Supp.2d 457, 471 (S.D.N.Y. 2002) (“A decision motivated by racial animus, despite any other contributing motivations, violate[s] clearly established law.”). However, as noted in Sections I.A. and I.B., supra, Plaintiffs have put forth no evidence to suggest that there was racial animus at play here, and have admitted that Gioia would not have been independently aware of Mr. Thomas's race until after the enforcement action had commenced. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 25-29.
The Court finds that no rational jury could find that Gioia's conduct violated Mr. Thomas's equal protection rights. An inspector who comes upon a house with clear outward indicia of multi-family use-two meters, two doorbells, split cable lines, etc.-is in the right to conclude that an ordinance violation meriting further investigation and potential enforcement action is occurring. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 12-15. Therefore, because no reasonable officer in Gioia's position could have believed that he was violating a clearly established constitutional right, Plaintiffs' claim against Gioia is barred by the doctrine of qualified immunity.
II. Intentional Discrimination (Sections 1981 & 1982)
Plaintiffs also allege that the individual Defendants intentionally discriminated against them in violation of Sections 1981 and 1982. “Section 1981 provides that all persons have [an] equal right to make and enforce contracts, and [Section] 1982 establishes that all persons have [an] equal right to purchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey real and personal property.” Silva v. Farrish, 47 F.4th 78, 89 (2d Cir. 2022). As an initial matter, the Second Circuit has concluded that “42 U.S.C. § 1983 provides the sole cause of action available against state actors alleged to have violated § 1981.” Smalls v. Collins, 10 F.4th 117, 144 (2d Cir. 2021); see also Duplan v. City of New York, 888 F.3d 612, 621 (2d Cir. 2018) (holding that “§ 1981 does not provide a separate private right of action against state actors”). Accordingly, Plaintiffs' Section 1981 claim should be dismissed because it was not brought under Section 1983. However, even if the Court construes Plaintiffs' Section 1981 claim as brought under Section 1983, Defendants are entitled to summary judgment.
“To state a prima facie claim under either [Section 1981 or 1982], plaintiffs must prove: (1) they are members of a racial minority; (2) an intent to discriminate on the basis of their race by defendant; and (3) the discrimination concerned one or more of the activities enumerated in the statute (i.e., make and enforce contracts, sue and be sued, give evidence, etc.).” Silva, 47 F.4th at 90. “To survive summary judgment, the plaintiffs need[] to produce enough evidence for a reasonable jury to find that the defendants intentionally discriminated against the plaintiffs based on race.” Id. Plaintiffs have failed to do so here.
Plaintiffs admit that there is no direct evidence that any of the individual Defendants acted intentionally to discriminate against Mr. Thomas on the basis of his race, ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 27-28, 39-40, but argue that the circumstantial evidence here “permits no other inference but racism.” ECF No. 182-5 at 21. The Court disagrees. First, Plaintiffs have admitted that Gioia was unaware of Mr. Thomas's race or ethnicity when he made the decision to investigate the Property or prosecute Mr. Thomas. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 25-29, SAC ¶ 60. Without knowledge of Mr. Thomas's race, Gioia could not have initiated the prosecution with an intent to discriminate on the basis of race.
Plaintiffs also base their claim on the argument that the civilian complaint that led to the investigation against them is fraudulent. See n.4, supra. Specifically, Plaintiffs allege that the document is fraudulent because it was not time-date stamped in the lower right corner, see ECF No. 182-5 at 22, unlike the prior Request for Investigation that was filed against the Property's prior owner. Compare ECF No. 183-18 with ECF No 182-7 at 139. This is incorrect. While the stamp is faint, the Court can clearly make out the time-date stamp on the 2007 Request for Investigation. Plaintiffs provide no additional evidence or argument that would permit the Court to conclude that the 2007 Request for Investigation is fraudulent, and without specific facts to counter the authenticity of the document the Court does not consider its provenance in dispute. See Patterson, 375 F.3d at 219; see also Rule 56(e). And, even if there were no time stamp on the 2007 Request for Investigation, Plaintiffs do not explain why the lack of a time stamp would necessarily lead to the conclusion that the document is fraudulent.
Plaintiffs also assert that the Request for Investigation has to be a fraudulent “later-drafted concoction” because Defendants redacted the civilian's identity on the copy of the document that they produced to Plaintiffs. The record belies Plaintiffs' claim. As Defendants point out in their motion, the record establishes that Defendants were willing to provide Plaintiffs with an unredacted copy of the Request for Investigation contingent on the parties coming to an agreement on a confidentiality agreement. ECF No. 183-44 at 11 n.3. Plaintiffs do not contest that assertion. That the parties were unable to reach a confidentiality agreement does not mean that the Request for Investigation is fraudulent or that anything is being concealed from Plaintiffs.
Plaintiffs instead allege that the investigation was initiated on the request of non-party Joseph Saladino, see ECF No. 182-5 at 22, who met the Plaintiffs after almost selling them a house he owned and was thus aware of Mr. Thomas's race. ECF No. 182-1 ¶ 27 (admitting that Gioia was not aware of Mr. Thomas's race, but alleging he was following orders from officials associated with the Town Republican Party, who had been “[t]ipped by Saladino”); SAC ¶ 62. Plaintiffs provide no specific facts to connect Gioia and Saladino.
Plaintiffs have already admitted that there is no evidence Genova and Ippolito were involved with the initial investigation of the Property or the decision to prosecute Mr. Thomas, and that they have no evidence that Genova or Ippolito (or Gioia) ever made any comment regarding Mr. Thomas's race or that the prosecution was racially motivated. ECF No. 182-1, ¶¶ 50-55, 39-40. Therefore, there is no evidence that any of the Defendants ever undertook any action with an intent to discriminate against Plaintiffs on the basis of race.
“Without evidence of racial animus, [Plaintiffs'] discrimination claims cannot survive summary judgment.” Silva, 47 F.4th at 90. Accordingly, the Court grants Defendants summary judgment on Plaintiffs' Section 1981 and 1982 claims.
III. Conspiracy (Sections 1985 and 1986)
Plaintiffs allege that the individual Defendants committed a “racist conspiracy” and neglected to prevent a “racist conspiracy” in violation of Sections 1985 and 1986. SAC ¶ 134.
A. Section 1985 Claim
“To establish a claim under section 1985, a plaintiff must show (1) a conspiracy; (2) for the purpose of depriving, either directly or indirectly, any person or class of persons of equal protection of the laws, or of equal privileges and immunities under the laws; (3) an act in furtherance of the conspiracy; (4) whereby a person is either injured in his person or property or deprived of any right of a citizen of the United States.” Guillen v. City of New York, 625 F.Supp.3d 139, 159 (S.D.N.Y. 2022).
Section 1985 “provides no substantive rights itself but merely provides a remedy for violation of the rights it designates.” Zhang Jingrong v. Chinese Anti-Cult World All., 287 F.Supp.3d 290, 297 (E.D.N.Y. 2018). As previously noted, Plaintiffs have failed to produce any evidence whatsoever, beyond conclusory statements “on information and belief,” that the zoning action against Mr. Thomas was initiated because of his race. See Section I, supra; see also Jean v. Cnty. of Nassau, No. 14-cv-1322, 2020 WL 1244786, at *14 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 16, 2020) (finding that “[b]ecause a claim under Section 1985(3) requires proof of discriminatory racial animus” and plaintiff had “failed to produce any evidence whatsoever, beyond his conclusory statements],” summary judgment for defendants was appropriate on Plaintiff's Section 1985 claim for the same reasons that it was appropriate on plaintiff's equal protection claim). Therefore, because the Court finds that there is no underlying constitutional violation, Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiffs' Section 1985 claim. See Jean, 2020 WL 1244786, at *14 (granting defendants summary judgment on plaintiff's Section 1985 claims and stating that “as the Court has determined that [p]laintiffs constitutional rights have not been violated, his Section 1985(3) conspiracy claims must be dismissed as well”); Carson v. Lewis, 35 F.Supp.2d. 250, 271 (E.D.N.Y. 1999) (granting summary judgment on Plaintiff's Section 1985 conspiracy claim after finding that there was no constitutional violation).
Even if Plaintiffs' Section 1985 claim did not fail because Plaintiffs cannot establish an underlying constitutional violation, it would nevertheless fail because Plaintiffs cannot establish any specific facts to demonstrate that a meeting of the minds existed between or among the individual Defendants. See Masters v. Mack, No. 22-cv-6582, 2022 WL 17961211, at *6 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 27, 2022) (“To assert a conspiracy under Section 1985, a plaintiff must [also] provide some factual basis supporting a meeting of the minds, such that defendants entered into an agreement, express or tacit, to achieve the unlawful end.”) “[Speculative claims cannot reasonably lead to the inference that the defendants positively or tacitly came to an agreement.” Delee v. Hannigan, 729 Fed.Appx. 25, 32 (2d Cir. 2018).
Here, Plaintiffs' only argument in support of this essential element is that they can think of no other explanation for why Gioia, who they admit was not independently aware of Mr. Thomas's race, would investigate and prosecute Mr. Thomas. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 25-29. Plaintiffs speculate that Gioia must have been “ordered to” act against them by Genova and Ippolito. ECF No. 182-5 at 24; see also ECF No. 182-1 ¶ 25 (arguing that Gioia was “used by his Oyster Bay bosses to rid the Town of the black-Hispanic couple”). However, Plaintiffs do not point to any evidence suggesting that any of the individual Defendants ever communicated with each other about Plaintiffs. More broadly, Plaintiffs argue that no direct evidence of this conspiracy is needed because Defendants' actions can only be explained by racism. ECF No. 182-5 at 1; ECF No. 182-1. ¶¶ 1, 40. These claims are speculative, at best, and cannot reasonably lead to the inference that the individual Defendants came to an illicit agreement. Delee, 729 Fed.Appx. at 32; see also Silas v. City of New York, No. 18-cv-7122, 2023 WL 5532856, at *10 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 28, 2023) (“Absent specific factual allegations as to the participation of a particular defendant in the conspiracy, plaintiff's 1985(3) claim cannot survive a motion for summary judgment by that defendant.”).
The Court also notes that Ippolito was not employed by the Town at the time the complaint against Mr. Thomas was filed, and Plaintiffs do not explain on what authority he could have ordered Gioia to take action. SAC ¶ 51.
The Court finds that Plaintiffs' conclusory allegations of conspiracy, without reference to any specific facts to support that a meeting of the minds existed between or among Defendants, is insufficient to raise a genuine issue of material fact that a conspiracy existed. Accordingly, the Court grants summary judgment in favor of Defendants on Plaintiffs' Section 1985 claim.
B. Section 1986 Claim
Plaintiffs also allege that Defendants violated their rights under Section 1986, “which proscribes knowingly failing to prevent a Section 1985 conspiracy which such person by reasonable diligence could have prevented.” Jean-Baptiste v. Montway LLC, No. 22-cv-5579, 2022 WL 11213581, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. Oct. 19, 2022). “[A section] 1986 claim must be predicated on a valid [section] 1985 claim.” See Brown v. City of Oneonta, 221 F.3d 329, 341 (2d Cir. 2000). “In the absence of a viable [section] 1985 claim, [a section] 1986 claim also fails.” Brown v. Vitucci, No. 22-cv-1070, 2023 WL 2961730, at *3 (2d Cir. Apr. 17, 2023). Because the Court grants summary judgment in favor of Defendants on Plaintiffs' Section 1985 claim, Plaintiffs' Section 1986 claim cannot survive summary judgment.
Accordingly, the Court grants Defendants summary judgment on Plaintiffs' Section 1986 claim.
IV. Monell Liability
Plaintiffs also bring a claim for Monell liability against the Town. “To succeed on a Monell claim, plaintiffs must demonstrate that a policy or custom of the [Town] caused a deprivation of their federal or constitutional rights.” Nixon v. City of New York, No. 19-cv-5032, 2023 WL 2799920, at *6 (E.D.N.Y. Apr. 6, 2023); see also Monell v. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 690-91 (1978) (holding that a local government can only be sued under Section 1983 when execution of a government's policy or custom causes injury). The elements of a Monell claim are (1) a municipal policy or custom that (2) causes the plaintiff to be subjected to (3) the deprivation of a constitutional right. Agosto v. N.Y.C. Dep't of Educ., 982 F.3d 86, 97 (2d Cir. 2020).
“It is well-settled that a Monell claim cannot succeed without an underlying constitutional violation.” Mastromonaco v. Cnty. of Westchester, 779 Fed.Appx. 49, 51 (2d Cir. 2019); see also Oquendo v. City of New York, 492 F.Supp.3d 20, 32 (E.D.N.Y. 2020) (quoting Mastromonaco); Segal v. City of New York, 459 F.3d 207, 219 (2d Cir. 2006) (finding that a district court does not need to address Monell liability if it finds no underlying constitutional violation). Applying these standards, the Court need not consider Plaintiffs' Monell claim on the merits. Because the Court concluded, see supra Section I, that Plaintiffs' Section 1983 equal protection and due process claims fail, it follows that there can be no municipal liability with respect to these claims. Grytsyk v. Morales, 527 F.Supp.3d 639, 658 (S.D.N.Y. 2021).
However, even considered on the merits, Plaintiffs' Monell claim also fails. “[M]unicipalities may not be held liable unless action pursuant to official municipal policy of some nature caused a constitutional tort.” Friend v. Gasparino, 61 F.4th 77, 93 (2d Cir. 2023) (emphasis in original). “Official municipal policy includes the decisions of a government's lawmakers, the acts of its policymaking officials, and practices so persistent and widespread as to practically have the force of law.” Id.
Plaintiffs argue, and Defendants dispute, that “[t]he Town of Oyster Bay maintains a ‘black exclusion' policy that is readily discernable from not just its officials' actions in this case, and the then declaration of its current supervisor, but through Census statistics and their actions in their housing programs.” ECF No. 182-2 ¶ 61; ECF No. 182-5 at 25-26; ECF No. 182-1. ¶ 27 (“The Town Republican Party, holding every Town elected office, acted under private prejudices and through official policy to keep blacks out.”). The Court finds that these conclusory allegations without additional evidentiary or factual support are insufficient to establish that the Town has an official policy of excluding Black residents.
Plaintiffs concede that Gioia would not have independently known Mr. Thomas's race when he investigated the Property and initiated the prosecution, so his actions cannot be seen as evidence of a “policy of Black exclusion.” ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 27-29; SAC ¶ 60. The Court has already found that Plaintiffs have not adduced sufficient facts to suggest a conspiracy between Gioia, Ippolito, and Genova, and that there is no evidence that Ippolito or Genova, or any other Town employee for that matter, undertook any personal or official action related to Mr.
Thomas's investigation or prosecution. To show that inaction by a policymaker demonstrates municipal liability sufficient to defeat summary judgment, Plaintiffs would have to provide specific facts showing that supervising employees that worked for the Town, such as Genova and Ippolito, “persistent[ly] fail[ed] to discipline subordinates who violate[d] civil rights.” Lucente v. Cnty. of Suffolk, 980 F.3d 284, 298 (2d Cir. 2020) (noting an official's failure to discipline can “give rise to an inference of an unlawful municipal policy of ratification of unconstitutional conduct within the meaning of Monell”). Plaintiffs have not alleged that Genova, Ippolito, or any other Town employee failed sufficiently to discipline subordinates, let alone provided specific facts demonstrating such failure.
Plaintiffs also offer no evidence that either Ippolito or Genova would have known about Mr. Thomas's race other than speculation about a conversation with Saladino, the existence of which Plaintiffs have offered no evidence or testimony to support. ECF No. 182-1 ¶ 27.
Plaintiffs claim to have heard non-party Saladino, the current Town Supervisor, “blurt[] out that if he sold his house to a black man his political career would be over” in 2006. SAC ¶ 62 (emphasis in original). However, Saladino was a New York State Assemblyman at the time of this alleged statement-he did not become the Town Supervisor until 2017. Thus, Saladino's 2006 statement cannot be viewed as an expression of any official Town policy.
See Supervisor Joseph S. Saladino, Town of Oyster Bay, available at https://perma.cc/MF6F-87R6 (last visited September 29, 2023) (“On January 31, 2017, Joseph Saladino was sworn into office as the 70th Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor... Prior to serving as Town Supervisor, Joseph Saladino served residents in the New York State Assembly for six terms.”).
Plaintiffs further argue that the existence of an unrelated pending FHA action brought by the federal government against the Town, shows the existence of the Town's “Black exclusion policy.” ECF No. 182-5 at 25-26. That case, United States v. Town of Oyster Bay, alleges that the Town incorporated racial residency preferences into two of its low-income housing programs. See United States v. Town of Oyster Bay, No. 14-cv-2317, 2022 WL 4485154, at *1 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 27, 2022). Plaintiffs do not allege they were ever involved with either of the programs covered by the suit. In addition, that case is still pending, and the court has not yet made any findings of fact that would support Plaintiffs' claim that a wider policy exists.
Finally, Plaintiffs attempt to demonstrate that a “Black exclusion policy” exists by providing general statistics regarding the demographics of the Town. ECF No. 182-5 at 25-26. These statistics alone are insufficient to establish that an official Town policy exists. See Fantozzi v. City of New York, No. 21-cv-4439, 2023 WL 4472305, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. July 11, 2023) (noting that general statistics are insufficient to demonstrate an official policy for a Monell claim without a specific causal link to plaintiff's underlying constitutional violation). Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate any specific causal link between those statistics and their alleged selective prosecution claim.
Plaintiffs have failed to allege any underlying constitutional violation or raise any genuine issue of material fact which would permit the Court to infer that Mr. Thomas's prosecution was connected to any underlying municipal policy. Accordingly, the Court grants the Town summary judgment on Plaintiffs' Monell claim.
V. Fair Housing Act
Defendants do not address Plaintiffs' FHA claim in any detail. Instead, Defendants contend that Plaintiffs should not be allowed to pursue their Section 1986, FHA, or Due Process claims because Plaintiffs' addition of those claims directly violates Judge Seybert's 2013 Order, which permitted Plaintiffs “to file an amended complaint that pleads/repleads the following claims only: (i) their selective enforcement claims against Gioia, Venditto, Genova, and Ippolito in their individual capacities; (ii) their Monell claim against the Town arising out of the purported equal protection violation; and (iii) their state common law claims against all Defendants.” ECF No. 183-44 at 3; see also ECF No. 70 at 33. This is an accurate recounting of the 2013 Order. ECF No. 70. Plaintiffs make no effort to address the 2013 Order or the propriety of amending to add an FHA claim in their summary judgment papers. ECF No. 182. Although as discussed, the judge previously presiding over this case (Judge Azrack) allowed Plaintiffs to file the SAC, the order permitting the filing did not specifically reference Plaintiffs' newly added FHA claim. See ECF Text Order, September 27, 2021. Upon further review, it is clear that the Court at the time of the filing of the SAC did not appreciate the extent to which Plaintiffs' addition of the FHA claim conflicted with Judge Seybert's prior ruling limiting the scope of any amendment. Id. In light of this, the Court now finds that Plaintiffs were not permitted, pursuant to Judge Seybert's 2013 Order, see ECF No. 70, to amend their complaint to include the FHA claim. To allow Plaintiffs to add a new claim so distinct from the Title 42 claims otherwise proffered in the SAC almost ten years after the complaint was originally filed and well after the close of discovery on November 20, 2012, would be unduly prejudicial to Defendants. McCarthy v. Dun & Bradstreet Corp., 482 F.3d 184, 200 (2d Cir. 2007). The Court therefore dismisses Plaintiffs' FHA claim on that basis.
A. The District Court's Power to Grant Summary Judgment Sua Sponte
However, even if Plaintiffs had been permitted to amend their complaint to include their FHA claim, that claim would fail on the merits. Although Defendants do raise the impropriety of Plaintiffs' FHA claim in their motion for summary judgment, they do not explicitly ask the Court to grant them summary judgment on that claim because they relied only on the procedural argument related to the scope of amendment. ECF No. 183-44 at 3.
Under Rule 56(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court can grant summary judgment on grounds not raised by either party in a motion after giving notice and a reasonable time to respond. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(f). Interpreting Rule 56(f), the Second Circuit has held that “district courts have the discretion to grant summary judgment sua sponte, even without notice in certain circumstances.” Priestley v. Headminder, Inc., 647 F.3d 497, 504 (2d Cir. 2011); see also Jian Yan Lin v. Shanghai City Corp., 950 F.3d 46, 49 (2d Cir. 2020) (same).
In granting summary judgment sua sponte, the Court “must determine that the party against whom summary judgment is rendered has had a full and fair opportunity to meet the proposition that there is no genuine issue of material fact to be tried.” Priestley, 647 F.3d at 504 ; see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 326 (1986) (“[D]istrict courts are widely acknowledged to possess the power to enter summary judgment sua sponte, so long as the losing party was on notice that it had to come forward with all of its evidence.”); Ramsey v. Coughlin, 94 F.3d 71, 74 (2d Cir. 1996) (“Where it appears clearly upon the record that all the evidentiary materials that a party might submit in response to a motion for summary judgment are before the court, a sua sponte grant of summary judgment against that party may be appropriate if those materials show that no material dispute of fact exists and that the other party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”). “Before granting summary judgment sua sponte, the district court must assure itself that following the procedures set out in Rule 56 would not alter the outcome. Discovery must either have been completed, or it must be clear that further discovery would be of no benefit.” Ramsey, 94 F.3d at 74. Any threat of procedural prejudice posed by the granting sua sponte of summary judgment on a claim is “greatly diminished if the court's sua sponte determination is based on issues identical to those raised by the moving party.” Bridgeway Corp. v. Citibank, 201 F.3d 134, 140 (2d Cir. 2000).
Here, it is appropriate to sua sponte determine whether Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiffs' FHA claim because the facts before the Court are fully developed such that Plaintiffs suffer no procedural prejudice. Id. at 139. As an initial matter, Plaintiffs were on notice as to potential defects in their FHA claim, but failed to respond to Defendants' argument or address their FHA claim at all in their papers. ECF No. 182. Discovery in this case closed on November 20, 2012, and remained closed despite multiple efforts by Plaintiffs to reopen discovery. See, e.g., ECF No. 88 (Minute Entry re close of discovery); ECF No. 97 (Minute Entry denying Plaintiffs' motion to reopen discovery); ECF Text Order, September 27, 2021 (Order denying Plaintiffs' application to reopen discovery); see also Celotex, 477 U.S. at 326. On March 22, 2022, Defendants served Plaintiffs with a copy of their motion for summary judgment. ECF No. 183-44. Defendants' motion was broad, covered all of Plaintiffs' other claims, and attached more than 30 supporting exhibits. ECF No. 183. Plaintiffs' opposition was similarly broad and attached more than 500 pages of materials to support their argument that summary judgment should not be granted. ECF No. 182.
To establish a FHA claim, a plaintiff must show that defendants acted with a “discriminatory motive.” Brown v. Fire Dep't of City of New York, No. 19-cv-2400, 2020 WL 6940992, at *4 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 25, 2020). Discrimination on the basis of Mr. Thomas's race is an element that underpins Plaintiffs' other claims against the individual Defendants, including Plaintiffs Section 1981, 1982, and 1983 claims. Accordingly, the issues relevant to Plaintiffs' FHA claim, i.e., whether the individual Defendants acted with discriminatory motive, are largely identical to issues relevant to Defendants' arguments as to Plaintiffs' other claims, and all the evidentiary materials that Plaintiffs might have submitted to support their FHA claim should have already been brought before the Court in support of Plaintiffs' opposition to Defendants' motion for summary judgment. See Ramsey, 94 F.3d at 74; Bridgeway, 201 F.3d at 140. Plaintiffs have had a “full and fair opportunity to meet the proposition that there is no genuine issue of material fact to be tried” with respect to its FHA claim. Benny v. City of Long Beach, No. 20-cv-1908, 2022 WL 2967810, at *19 (E.D.N.Y. July 27, 2022). Therefore, if the Court determines that the materials before it show that no material dispute of fact exists as to Plaintiffs' FHA claim, it can sua sponte grant Defendants summary judgment.
B. FHA Claim
Plaintiffs allege that Defendants attempted to deprive them of their right to live at the Property in violation of Sections 3604(a), 3604(b), and 3617 of the FHA. Section 3604 prohibits private actors from engaging in certain discriminatory actions against individuals seeking housing. Specifically, Section 3604(a) makes it unlawful to “refuse to sell or rent after the making of a bona fide offer, or to refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any person because of race.” 42 U.S.C. § 3604(a). Section 3604(b) makes it unlawful to “discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith, because of race.” 42 U.S.C. § 3604(b). Furthermore, Section 3617 of the FHA makes it unlawful “to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of his having exercised or enjoyed . . . any right granted or protected by,” in relevant part, 42 U.S.C. § 3604. 42 U.S.C. § 3617.
Plaintiffs do not clearly articulate how their rights under the FHA have been infringed. From the SAC and Plaintiffs' motion papers, Plaintiffs appear to allege that the individual Defendants attempted to interfere with their ability to enjoy the privileges of the Property on account of Mr. Thomas's race. Specifically, Plaintiffs allege that the individual Defendants acted to drive Plaintiffs from their home because Mr. Thomas was Black after non-party Saladino allegedly tipped off Defendants about Mr. Thomas's race. SAC ¶¶ 37-54. FHA claims can proceed either “on a theory of intentional discrimination, i.e. disparate treatment, or on a theory of disparate impact.” Reed v. Friedman Mgmt. Corp., No. 11-cv-7547, 2019 WL 1409726, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 28, 2019). Plaintiffs appear to be proceeding on the theory of disparate treatment based on allegations that the individual Defendants “acted . . . to drive plaintiffs from their home.” SAC ¶ 137; see also ECF No. 182-1 ¶ 25 (arguing that Gioia was “used by his Oyster Bay bosses to rid the Town of the black-Hispanic couple”).
“FHA disparate treatment claims are analyzed under the McDonnell Douglas burdenshifting framework used to evaluate Title VII employment discrimination claims.” Haber v. ASN 50th St. LLC, 847 F.Supp.2d 578, 585-86 (S.D.N.Y. 2012). Under this framework, “[first Plaintiffs] must establish a prima facie case of discrimination. Then, the burden shifts to the defendants to produce a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for their actions. If the defendants make such a showing, the burden shifts back to the plaintiff to demonstrate that defendants' proffered reason is pretextual, and that discrimination was the real reason for the defendants' actions.” Id.
“Because §§ 3604 and 3617 prohibit a wide range of conduct, courts in this Circuit have articulated the elements of a prima facie showing in differing ways depending on the conduct at issue. But regardless of how the prima facie standard is articulated, [Plaintiffs are] required to show that defendants' action against [them] arose from a discriminatory motive.” Haber, 847 F.Supp.2d at 586. “In proving a prima facie case of housing discrimination,” Plaintiffs must prove that “the defendant's challenged actions were motivated by discrimination.” 273 Lee Ave. Tenants Ass'n by Sanchez v. Steinmetz, 330 F.Supp.3d 778, 793 (E.D.N.Y. 2018). “Without some evidence of the defendant's knowledge of [Plaintiffs'] racial identity, it is impossible to infer such motivation.” Id. Accordingly, “[s]ummary judgment is appropriate if no reasonable jury could find that defendant's actions were motivated by discrimination.” Mitchell v. Shane, 350 F.3d 39, 47 (2d Cir. 2003).
Plaintiffs cannot establish a prima facie case of discrimination. Plaintiffs admit that Gioia would not have known Mr. Thomas's race at the time he initiated the code enforcement proceeding against him, and point to no specific facts to rebut Defendants' sworn assertions that they did not know Mr. Thomas's race. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 27-29; ECF No. 183-4 ¶¶ 8-14; (Genova Affidavit); ECF No. 183-5 ¶ 48 (Gioia Affidavit). Plaintiffs stated during their depositions that they believed the code enforcement action was filed against them because of their race but were unable to point to any evidence to support this belief, including any conversations they participated in or heard about. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 39-40; ECF No. 183-11 (Marlene Thomas Deposition); ECF No. 183-14 (Darren Thomas Deposition). And, although Plaintiffs allege that they were treated differently from their white neighbors, Plaintiffs have admitted that they do not know the race or ethnicity of the owners of other homes in their neighborhood. ECF No. 182-1 ¶¶ 41-42; ECF No. 182-5 at 20. Plaintiffs had every opportunity to depose the individual Defendants and press them on their motivations but chose not to depose either Ippolito or Genova. ECF No. 182-1 ¶ 50. When Plaintiffs deposed Gioia, they did not elicit information sufficient to establish discriminatory intent on his part. ECF No. 182-8 at 296364. Plaintiffs' conclusory assertions of discrimination lack any factual or evidentiary underpinnings and are “insufficient for a rational jury to find discriminatory intent” in the light of the entire record. Sanchez v. Thompson, No. 07-cv-0531, 2011 WL 890763, at *9 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 11, 2011). Accordingly, summary judgment in Defendants' favor on Plaintiffs' FHA claim is warranted.
VI. State Claims
Defendants argue that if the Court grants summary judgment on Plaintiffs' federal claims, it should then decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiffs' state law claims. ECF No. 183-44 at 23. “District courts may use their discretion in deciding whether to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims after dismissing a plaintiff's only federal claims, so long as the federal claims were not dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.” Probiv v. PayCargo LLC, No. 22-cv-2907, 2023 WL 159788, at *5 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 11, 2023); 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3) (“The district courts may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over a claim . . . if . . . the district court has dismissed all claims over which it has original jurisdiction.”); see also Cangemi v. United States, 13 F.4th 115, 134 (2d Cir. 2021). Having dismissed all of Plaintiff's federal claims, the Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiff's remaining state law claims.
VII. Plaintiffs' Cross-Motions
Plaintiffs filed a notice of motion to disqualify Defendants' attorney and to permit Plaintiffs to amend their complaint. ECF No. 182-4. Because the Court has dismissed or granted Defendants summary judgment on all of Plaintiffs' federal claims and declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims, the Court dismisses Plaintiffs' motion to disqualify Defendants' attorney as moot.
Plaintiffs did not file a memorandum of law in support of their cross-motion. Plaintiffs did file two letters supplementing their motion to disqualify Defendants' counsel. See ECF Nos. 189, 191.
To the extent Plaintiffs' motion to amend is not mooted by this Court's rulings on summary judgment, Plaintiffs' motion is denied. Leave to amend may be properly denied for “undue delay, bad faith or dilatory motive on the part of the movant, repeated failure to cure deficiencies by amendments previously allowed, undue prejudice to the opposing party by virtue of allowance of the amendment, futility of amendment, etc.” Ruotolo v. City of New York, 514 F.3d 184, 191 (2d Cir. 2008). As an initial matter, Plaintiffs have failed to specify how amendment would cure any pleading deficiencies in its complaint. TechnoMarine SA v. Giftports, Inc., 758 F.3d 493, 505-06 (2d Cir. 2014). Accordingly, Plaintiffs' motion to amend is denied.
Additionally, Plaintiffs' motion to amend should be denied because Plaintiffs have been granted two separate opportunities to amend their complaint but have repeatedly failed to cure any deficiencies. Banco Safra S.A.-Cayman Islands Branch v. Samarco Mineracao S.A., 849 Fed.Appx. 289, 296 (2d Cir. 2021) (denying a motion to amend when Plaintiff had “ample opportunity to amend its complaint”). Finally, discovery in this case ended more than ten years ago, Plaintiffs' SAC was filed more than a year and a half ago, and the parties have fully briefed summary judgment motions on which the Court now rules. Amendment at this point would unduly delay adjudication of this action and cause undue prejudice to Defendants. See, e.g., Bonano v. Staniszewski, No. 12-cv-5879, 2015 WL 13840883, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. June 22, 2015) (denying plaintiff's motion to amend on the grounds of undue delay and prejudice when plaintiff moved to amend after discovery had closed and defendants had filed their summary judgment papers); McCarthy, 482 F.3d at 202 (denying a motion to amend when discovery had closed, defendants had filed for summary judgment, and nearly two years had passed since the filing of the original complaint); Ansam Assocs., Inc. v. Cola Petroleum, Ltd., 760 F.2d 442, 446 (2d Cir. 1985) (upholding the denial of a motion to amend when discovery had already been completed and defendant had already filed a motion for summary judgment). Accordingly, Plaintiffs' motion to amend is denied.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, the Court DISMISSES Plaintiffs' due process claim, which is not ripe for adjudication, GRANTS Defendants' motion for summary judgment and dismisses all of Plaintiffs' federal claims, declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiffs' state law claims and DISMISSES those claims, and DENIES Plaintiffs' motions to disqualify Defendants' attorney and to amend their complaint. The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to enter judgment and close this case.
SO ORDERED.