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dismissing action "predicated on purported personal vendettas, judicial improprieties, and the unconstitutional application of New York statutes in an underlying civil action in which Neroni is presently a defendant" filed against Justice Becker and the state of New York
Summary of this case from In re NeroniOpinion
3:12-cv-1226
12-21-2012
FREDERICK J. NERONI, Plaintiff, v. CARL F. BECKER et al., Defendants.
FOR THE PLAINTIFF: Neroni Law Office Delhi, NY 13753 FOR THE DEFENDANTS: HON. ERIC T. SCHNEIDERMAN New York State Attorney General The Capitol Albany, NY 12224 OF COUNSEL: TATIANA NERONI, ESQ. DOUGLAS J. GOGLIA Assistant Attorney General
(GLS/DEP)
APPEARANCES:
FOR THE PLAINTIFF:
Neroni Law Office
Delhi, NY 13753
FOR THE DEFENDANTS:
HON. ERIC T. SCHNEIDERMAN
New York State Attorney General
The Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
OF COUNSEL:
TATIANA NERONI, ESQ. DOUGLAS J. GOGLIA
Assistant Attorney General
Gary L. Sharpe
Chief Judge
MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER
I. Introduction
Plaintiff Frederick J. Neroni commenced this action against defendants Carl F. Becker, "in his individual capacity and in his official capacity as Delaware County Surrogate's Court Justice and as Acting Supreme Court Justice, Delaware County," and the State of New York, alleging judicial bias and unconstitutional application of state laws in an underlying and ongoing state action. (Compl., Dkt. No.1 ¶ 4; Am. Compl., Dkt. No. 12, Attach. 2 ¶ 4.) Pending are defendants' motion to dismiss, (see Dkt. No. 7), and Neroni's motion seeking leave to amend his Complaint and for partial summary judgment, (see Dkt. No. 12). For the reasons that follow, Neroni's motion to amend is granted and his Amended Complaint is deemed filed, his motion for partial summary judgment is denied, and defendants' motion to dismiss is granted.
II. Background
Despite the minimal revisions which it encompasses, Neroni's proposed Amended Complaint is adopted and deemed filed and controlling. (See Am. Compl.) Accordingly, further filing and service pursuant to N.D.N.Y. L.R. 7.1(a)(4) are not required. The facts are drawn from the Amended Complaint, unless otherwise noted, and are presented in a light most favorable to Neroni. (See Am. Compl.)
This action is predicated on purported personal vendettas, judicial improprieties, and the unconstitutional application of New York statutes in an underlying civil action in which Neroni is presently a defendant. (See Am. Compl. ¶¶ 1-28.) In the underlying state case, the children of a former Neroni client brought suit against him in Delaware County, alleging, inter alia, violation of N.Y. Judiciary Law § 487 (See id. ¶¶ 6, 9); see also Mokay v. Mokay, 67 A.D.3d 1210, 1211 (3d Dep't 2009). Partial summary judgment on the question of section 487 liability was entered against Neroni and subsequently affirmed by the Appellate Division, Third Department. (See Am. Compl. ¶ 7); see also Mokay, 67 A.D.3d at 1211-13. A trial on the issue of damages is pending. (See Dkt. No. 7, Attach. 1 at 4.)
N.Y. Judiciary Law § 487 provides, in relevant part:
An attorney or counselor who: (1) [i]s guilty of any deceit or collusion, or consents to any deceit or collusion, with intent to deceive the court or any party . . . [i]s guilty of a misdemeanor, and in addition to the punishment prescribed therefore by the penal law, he forfeits to the party injured treble damages, to be recovered in a civil action.
Neroni's Complaint indicated that a jury trial on damages was scheduled for August 21, 2012. (See Dkt. No. 1 ¶ 15.) Despite bearing a date of September 25, 2012, Neroni's Amended Complaint contains that same contention. (See Am. Compl. ¶ 15.) Neroni, however, has offered no objection to defendants' repeated explanation that the trial on damages has been adjourned without date. (See Dkt. No. 7, Attach. 1 at 4; Dkt. No. 7, Attach. 3).
At the time the instant action was commenced, Justice Becker presided over the underlying state claim in his role as Acting Supreme Court Justice. (See Am. Compl. ¶¶ 8, 44.) Neroni insists, however, that Justice Becker fosters a decades-old bias against him, as evidenced by a litany of personal and professional acts of animus, including: prejudging damages while acting as Surrogate Court Judge; allowing opposing litigants to ignore legal requirements; disparaging Neroni in private and in open court; using body language to show disfavor to Neroni's legal arguments; coaching opposing counsel; unlawfully financing the underlying state action through the award of fees in a Surrogate Court proceeding; and hiding transcripts. (See id. ¶¶ 16-26, 45, 47, 58-106.) After the instant action was commenced, however, Justice Becker recused himself from the state action. (See id. ¶ 56A; Dkt. No. 7, Attach. 1 at 1.)
III. Procedural History
On August 6, 2012, Neroni filed an Order to Show Cause seeking various forms of preliminary and permanent injunctive relief. (See Dkt. No. 4.) After the court denied that request, Justice Becker and the State of New York moved to dismiss Neroni's Complaint pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) and (6). (See Dkt. No. 7.) In response, Neroni moved to amend his Complaint and for partial summary judgment. (See Dkt. No. 12.)
IV. Standard of Review
The standard of review under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) and 56 are well settled and will not be repeated here. For a full discussion of those standards, the court refers the parties to its prior decisions in Ellis v. Cohen & Slamowitz, LLP, 701 F. Supp. 2d 215, 218 (N.D.N.Y. 2010) and Wagner v. Swarts, 827 F. Supp. 2d 85, 92 (N.D.N.Y. 2011), respectively.
V. Discussion
A. Constitutional Arguments
Defendants contend that the abstention doctrine set forth in Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1971), mandates dismissal of Neroni's constitutional challenges. (See Dkt. No. 7, Attach. 1 at 12-13.) Neroni counters that Younger is a "politically tainted" and "shameful" opinion, and that the doctrine of abstention which it articulates "is in itself unconstitutional." (Dkt. No. 12, Attach. 1 at 18.) The court agrees with defendants.
Neroni raises multiple constitutional challenges. First, he argues under various theories that N.Y. Judiciary Law § 487 is unconstitutional, and that its application in the civil action against him represents a denial of his due process rights. (See Am. Compl. ¶¶ 29-35B.) As part of this argument, Neroni seeks partial summary judgment declaring that section 487 is criminal in nature. (See Dkt. No. 12, Attach. 1 at 3-10.) Next, he contends that, because it precludes him from videotaping court proceedings, and thereby preserving for appeal evidence of unfavorable judicial body language and mannerisms, N.Y. Civ. Rights Law § 52 is unconstitutional and violates his right to due process and a fair trial. (See Am. Compl. ¶¶ 42-56B.) Finally, Neroni argues that, because his legal counsel giving rise to the underlying action was not improper, he is being deprived of due process by the continued litigation of the pending state action. (See id. ¶¶ 107-11.) The court notes that, while Neroni references the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment in the "Jurisdiction and Venue" section of his Amended Complaint, he articulates no discernible Equal Protection argument. (See id. ¶ 1.)
In furtherance of the principles of comity and federalism, "Younger generally prohibits courts from taking jurisdiction over federal constitutional claims that involve or call into question ongoing state proceedings so as to avoid unnecessary friction." Spargo v. N.Y. State Comm'n on Judicial Conduct, 351 F.3d 65, 75 (2d Cir. 2003) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Specifically, Younger mandates abstention "when: (1) there is a pending state proceeding, (2) that implicates an important state interest, and (3) the state proceeding affords the federal plaintiff an adequate opportunity for judicial review of his or her federal constitutional claims." Id. Although Younger abstention originated in relation to criminal prosecutions, it has since been extended to the civil context. See Ankenbrandt v. Richards, 504 U.S. 689, 705 (1992).
Even where the Younger elements are met, "a federal court may still intervene in state proceedings if the plaintiff demonstrates bad faith, harassment or any other unusual circumstance that would call for equitable relief." Spargo, 351 F.3d at 75 n.11. To invoke the "bad faith" exception, "the federal plaintiff must show that the state proceeding was initiated with and is animated by a retaliatory, harassing, or other illegitimate motive." Diamond "D" Const. Corp. v. McGowan, 282 F.3d 191, 199 (2d Cir. 2002). Invocation of the "unusual circumstances" exception is appropriate only where "the state court [is] incapable of fairly and fully adjudicating the federal issues before it." Kugler v. Helfant, 421 U.S. 117, 124 (1975).
Here, the pending state proceeding implicates regulation of attorney conduct, which is undoubtedly an important state interest. See Anonymous v. Ass'n of the Bar of the City of N.Y., 515 F.2d 427, 432 (2d Cir. 1975). Furthermore, Neroni makes no argument that he is or was precluded from raising his constitutional challenges in the underlying state proceeding. (See Dkt. No. 12, Attach. 1 at 17-19.) Instead, he argues that to do so would be "an exercise in futility" because "New York state courts have too much of an [sic] reputational interest invested in ruling against" him, and that "too many careers and public embarrassment are on the line for the state courts to budge and admit to clear jurisdictional mistakes made in" the state action. (Id. at 10, 18 (emphasis in original).)
To the extent that this claim is an attempt to invoke the "unusual circumstances" exception to Younger, it fails. Neroni has provided nothing beyond speculation and conjecture which would inspire in the court any inkling that the state court is incapable of "fairly and fully adjudicating the federal issues" raised. Kugler, 421 U.S. at 124. Additionally, Neroni's concerns of prejudice by Justice Becker are assuaged by his recusal, and Neroni's contention that, in the wake of that recusal, the "New York State Supreme Court continues to assign to [his] cases disqualified judges" is supported only by irrelevant and conclusory speculation. (Am. Compl. ¶ 56A.) As such, Neroni has failed to meet his burden of establishing the applicability of a Younger exception.
In addition to the factual insufficiency of Neroni's argument, the legal arguments adduced by his counsel are, to put it mildly, unfounded. For instance, the contention that "Younger abstention is a creature of the cold war era" that "should not be on the books in the first place," (Dkt. No. 12, Attach. 1 at 18), fails to account for the extension of that doctrine over the subsequent four decades. Furthermore, despite Neroni's insistence that Younger abstention "allows the court to allow state courts to enforce in good faith, no less, facially unconstitutional actions by the government," (id.), Younger "rests foursquare on the notion that, in the ordinary course, a state proceeding provides an adequate forum for the vindication of federal constitutional rights," Diamond "D" Const. Corp., 282 F.3d at 198 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
Accordingly, because each of the Younger elements is satisfied, and neither exception applies, the court must abstain from consideration of, and therefore dismiss, Neroni's constitutional claims. See Spargo, 351 F.3d at 74. Because Neroni's motion for partial summary judgment is part and parcel of his constitutional challenge of N.Y. Judiciary Law § 487, application of Younger abstention requires denial of that motion as well. B. Remaining Requests for Relief
Although abstention "is mandatory when the requirements for Younger . . . are satisfied, Younger is not a jurisdictional bar based on Article III requirements, but instead a prudential limitation on the court's exercise of jurisdiction grounded in equitable considerations of comity." Spargo, 351 F.3d at 74.
Additionally, Neroni failed to comply with N.D.N.Y. L.R. 7.1(a)(3), which, in and of itself, constitutes sufficient grounds for denial of his motion for partial summary judgment.
In addition to redress for alleged constitutional infirmities, Neroni seeks both prospective and retrospective injunctive relief relating to Justice Becker. (See Am. Compl. ¶ 106.) These claims, too, require dismissal.
First, despite Justice Becker's recusal in the underlying action, Neroni requests that he be "permanently enjoined from presiding over cases where [Neroni] is a party." (Id.) A party seeking permanent injunctive relief "must demonstrate (1) irreparable harm . . . and (2) actual success on the merits." Ognibene v. Parkes, 671 F.3d 174, 182 (2d Cir. 2011). "Irreparable harm is an injury that is not remote or speculative but actual and imminent, and for which a monetary award cannot be adequate compensation." Tom Doherty Assocs., Inc. v. Saban Entm't, Inc., 60 F.3d 27, 37 (2d Cir. 1995) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Plainly, Neroni's pleadings fail to satisfy either prong, and defendants' motion to dismiss is granted as to this request. See Shelly v. Brandveen, No. 06 CV 1289, 2006 WL 898071, at *2-3 (E.D.N.Y. Apr. 3, 2006); see also Rosendale v. Lankenau Kovner & Bickford, No. 89 CIV. 5382, 1989 WL 151235, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 6, 1989) ("The decision of a state judge to recuse himself is a matter of state court concern. Plaintiff may proceed through the appellate process of the New York state courts if he so wishes.").
The court notes that, in light of the immunity enjoyed by state court judges relating to acts taken in their judicial capacity, at least one similar request for prospective injunctive preclusion brought within this Circuit was found to be frivolous. See Montesano v. New York, No. 05 CV 9574(GBD), 05 CV 10624(GBD), 2006 WL 944285, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 12, 2006).
Next, Neroni requests that "all [of Justice] Becker's decisions in cases where [Neroni] was a party [be] voided." (Am. Compl. ¶ 106.) Because the Eleventh Amendment "prohibits an action in federal court seeking retrospective relief against a State," this claim is also dismissed. Colbeth v. O'Rourke, 707 F.2d 57 (2d Cir. 1983); see Montesano v. New York, No. 05 CV 9574 (GBD), 05 CV 10624(GBD), 2006 WL 944285, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 12, 2006) ("Neither damages, injunctive nor declaratory relief is available to be used as a vehicle for disgruntled litigants to reverse adverse judgments."); see also MacPherson v. Town of Southampton, 664 F. Supp. 2d 203, 211 (E.D.N.Y. 2009) ("[T]o the extent Plaintiffs' declaratory claims are retrospective in nature in that they seek a declaration that the Justices' past [actions] violated the Constitution, they are barred by the doctrine of absolute immunity.")
Neroni's counsel makes multiple baseless legal arguments regarding sovereign immunity. For example, her contention that the Eleventh Amendment permits suits by citizens of a state against their own State, and that any Supreme Court interpretation otherwise "does not control and is void," (Dkt. No. 12, Attach. 1 at 21), is in direct conflict with nearly 123 years of such Supreme Court precedent, see Hans v. Louisiana, 134 U.S. 1 (1890). Neroni's counsel takes aim next at the Constitution itself, arguing that "the so-called 'sovereign immunity' does not take into account the fact that the sovereign in the State of New York is the People, not the government, and thus the doctrine of sovereign immunity does not have a conceivable legal basis." (Dkt. No. 12, Attach. 1 at 21.) To this, the court directs counsel to the text of the Eleventh Amendment and Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(b)(2).
Accordingly, Neroni's requests that Justice Becker be permanently enjoined from presiding over cases in which he is a party, and that any decision made by Justice Becker in a case in which he was formerly a party be voided, are dismissed. C. Costs, Attorneys' Fees and Sanctions
In requesting dismissal of Neroni's claims, defendants seek costs and reasonable attorneys' fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988. (See Dkt. No. 7, Attach. 1 at 16.) Because defendants did not provide any documentation upon which the court could quantify costs or attorneys' fees, however, this request is denied with leave to renew.
While Neroni's counsel argues against the imposition of sanctions, (see Dkt. No. 9 at 3; Dkt. No. 12, Attach. 3 ¶¶ 12-13, 15-16), no Rule 11 motion is presently before the court.
VI. Conclusion
WHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, it is hereby
ORDERED that Neroni's motion to amend is GRANTED and his Amended Complaint (Dkt. No. 12, Attach. 2) is adopted and deemed filed; and it is further
ORDERED that Neroni's motion for partial summary judgment (Dkt. No. 12) is DENIED; and it is further
ORDERED that defendants' motion to dismiss (Dkt. No. 7) is GRANTED with the exception that defendants' request for costs and attorneys' fees is DENIED with leave to renew; and it is further
ORDERED that Neroni's Amended Complaint (Dkt. No. 12, Attach. 2) is DISMISSED; and it is further
ORDERED that the clerk close the case; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk provide a copy of this Memorandum-Decision and Order to the parties.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
December 21, 2012
Albany, New York
____________
Gary L. Sharpe
Chief Judge
U.S. District Court