Summary
noting that, although "plaintiff's claim for punitive damages against defendants in their official capacities as City of Syracuse police officers must be dismissed . . . plaintiff may still pursue punitive damages against defendants to the extent his amended complaint may be interpreted to assert such claims against defendants in their individual capacities"
Summary of this case from Coleman v. City of SyracuseOpinion
5:08-CV-318.
March 27, 2009
Gregory Thomas, Reg. No. 133-66052, U.S. Penitentiary, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, Plaintiff, Pro Se.
Mary Anne Doherty, Esq., Ass't Corporation Counsel, RORY A. McMAHON, CORPORATION COUNSEL, CITY OF SYRACUSE, Syracuse, New York, Counsel for Defendants.
MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER
The Court having reviewed defendants' motion to dismiss plaintiff's amended complaint and having accepted all factual allegations in the amended complaint as true as required on a motion pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), the Court has determined that plaintiff has stated adequately claims for unlawful search and seizure, false arrest and excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment, as well as a claim for denial of his right of equal protection also arising under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 based on alleged racial animus by defendants in initiating and executing plaintiff's arrest. Plaintiff's claim for unlawful seizure and deprivation of property is most adequately characterized as a claim for denial of due process rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Court finds that plaintiff's amended complaint sets forth in sufficient detail his claim for denial of due process rights.
Defendants argue that plaintiff's amended complaint, filed June 2, 2008, should be dismissed because it was not filed in accordance with the Court's April 30, 2008, order which directed plaintiff to file an amended complaint within thirty (30) days. However, by Order dated June 18, 2008, the Court accepted plaintiff's amended complaint for filing and service and determined it was compliant with the April 30, 2008, Order.
Plaintiff references 42 U.S.C. § 1981 as the jurisdictional basis for these claims but the Court assumes he intended to reference 42 U.S.C. § 1983 since the former section relates solely to matters of racial discrimination in employment.
The Court finds that plaintiff's claim under the Eighth Amendment for cruel and unusual punishment is unfounded since he was not a convicted inmate in custody at the time of the events alleged in the complaint. Finally, the Court agrees with defendants' contention that plaintiff's claim for punitive damages against defendants in their official capacities as City of Syracuse police officers must be dismissed although plaintiff may still pursue punitive damages against defendants to the extent his amended complaint may be interpreted to assert such claims against defendants in thir individual capacities. Based thereupon, it is hereby
ORDERED that defendants' motion pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) to dismiss the Eighth Amendment claim for cruel and unusual punishment in plaintiff's amended complaint is GRANTED; and it is further
ORDERED that defendants' motion to dismiss plaintiff's claim for punitive damages against defendants in their official capacities as City of Syracuse police officers in the amended complaint is also GRANTED; and it is further
ORDERED that the balance of defendants' motion to dismiss the balance of plaintiff's amended complaint is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.