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THE CAUSES OF ACTION FOR A STIGMA-PLUS 43 USC 1983 VIOLATION AND DEFAMATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISMISSED; THE CAUSES OF ACTION WERE BASED UPON A STATEMENT BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ACCUSING PLAINTIFF OF DISREGARDING COVID POLICY AND ENDANGERING STUDENTS; PLAINTIFF DID NOT SUFFER ECONOMIC HARM AND THE STATEMENT WAS PRIVILEGED (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined the stigma-plus 42 USC 1983 cause of action and the defamation cause of action should have been dismissed. The action was brought by plaintiff, a school football coach, based upon a letter circulated by the school district accusing plaintiff of disregarding COVID precautions and recklessly exposing students to the virus. Initially the district was not going to renew plaintiff’s contract but ultimately plaintiff was not terminated:

A stigma-plus cause of action requires a plaintiff to establish “(1) the utterance of a statement sufficiently derogatory to injure his or her reputation, that is capable of being proved false, and that he or she claims is false, and (2) a material state-imposed burden or state-imposed alteration of the plaintiff’s status or rights” … . Because a defamatory statement, standing alone, does not amount to a constitutional deprivation, “the ‘plus’ imposed by the defendant[s] must be  specific and adverse action clearly restricting the plaintiff’s liberty—for example, the loss of employment” … . * * *

… [T]he complaint alleges that the District superintendent, whose role included termination of employees like plaintiff, circulated the allegedly defamatory letter. A school superintendent is a principal executive whose statements may be protected by absolute privilege … . Further, based on the allegations in the complaint, we conclude that “the [superintendent] was acting wholly within the scope of his duties” when making the relevant statements  … . Sindoni v Board of Educ. of Skaneateles Cent. Sch. Dist., 2023 NY Slip Op 03102, Fourth Dept 6-9-23

Practice Point: Here a statement that plaintiff school football coach disregarded COVID policy and endangered students did not support the stigma-plus 42 USC 1983 cause of action because plaintiff did not suffer economic harm and did not support the defamation cause of action because the statement was privileged.

 

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THE EXTENDED STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN THE CHILD VICTIMS ACT DOES NOT APPLY TO CIVIL RIGHTS CAUSES OF ACTION PURSUANT TO 42 USC 1983; THE DUTY TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE UNDER THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW APPLIES ONLY TO “PERSONS LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE” FOR THE CARE OF THE CHILD, WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE TEACHERS (THIRD DEPT).

​The Third Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Aarons, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined the negligence and civil rights causes of action against the school district in this Child Victims Act suit were properly dismissed, and the Social Services Law causes of action should have been dismissed. The complaints alleged sexual abuse by a teacher. The Third Department followed the Fourth Department holding that the extended statute of limitations in the Child Victims Act did not apply to the 42 USC 1983 civil rights causes of action. The Third Department also determined the teacher was not a “person legally responsible” for the plaintiffs such that the abuse-reporting requirement in the Social Services Law applied to the school district:

It is true that CPLR 214-g contains broad language. The statute nonetheless limits the types of causes of action — i.e., claims involving child sexual abuse — that are revived and then given a new limitations period. … 42 USC § 1983 does not create any independent, substantive rights but merely provides a vehicle to enforce such rights … . As the Fourth Department reasoned, to determine whether CPLR 214-g was a related revival statute would require a court to impermissibly consider the particular facts or particular legal theory advanced by a plaintiff in a section 1983 claim (see BL Doe 3 v Female Academy of the Sacred Heart, 199 AD3d at 1422). Accordingly, we decline plaintiffs’ invitation to reject the Fourth Department’s approach as articulated in BL Doe 3 v Female Academy of the Sacred Heart … . * * *

… [C]ertain individuals must report cases of suspected abuse when reasonable cause exists that a child coming before them is an abused child (see Social Services Law § 413). Civil liability may be imposed upon these individuals who knowingly and willfully fail to make the requisite report (see Social Services Law § 420 [2]). … [F]or purposes of Social Services Law § 413, an “abused child” is one who is abused by a “parent or other person legally responsible for [a child’s] care” (Family Ct Act § 1012 [e]; see Social Services Law § 412 [1]).

The School District maintains that plaintiffs’ statutory claim should have been dismissed because Wales [defendant teacher] was not a “person legally responsible” for plaintiffs’ care at the time of the alleged abuse. … [W]hether an individual constitutes a “person legally responsible” for a child within the meaning of Family Ct Act § 1012 (e) entails the examination of various factors … . The Court of Appeals cautioned … that “persons who assume fleeting or temporary care of a child . . . or those persons who provide extended daily care of children in institutional settings, such as teachers,” should not be interpreted as a “person legally responsible” for a child’s care … . … [T]he School District cannot be liable for any alleged failure to report any abuse by Wales … . Dolgas v Wales, 2023 NY Slip Op 01830, Third Dept 4-6-23

Practice Point: Here the school district was sued under the Child Victims Act alleging sexual abuse by a teacher. The civil rights causes of action pursuant to 42 USC 1983 are not subject to the extended statute of limitations in the Child Victims Act and, therefore, those causes of action were properly dismissed.

Practice Point: A teacher is not a “person legally responsible” for the care of a child within the meaning of the Family Court Act. Therefore the causes of action under the Social Services Law alleging the school district failed to report abuse by a teacher should have been dismissed.

 

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WHERE A STATUTE, HERE CIVIL RIGHTS LAW 40-B, PRESCRIBES A MONETARY REMEDY, AN INJUNCTION IS NOT AVAILABLE (FIRST DEPT).

​The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction in this Civil Rights Law 40-b action should not have been granted because the remedy is statutory. Civil Rights Law 40-b prohibits an entertainment venue from denying entry to a person who has a ticket:

… [I]t was improper for the motion court to issue a preliminary injunction. As Civil Rights Law § 41 prescribes a monetary remedy for violations of Civil Rights Law § 40-b, plaintiffs are limited to that remedy (see Woollcott v Shubert , 169 App Div 194, 197 [1st Dept 1915] [“The general rule is that where a statute creates a right and prescribes a remedy for its violation that remedy is exclusive and neither an action for damages nor for an injunction can be maintained”] …). Even if injunctive relief were available, the existence of a statutory damages remedy would undermine plaintiffs’ claims of irreparable harm … . Hutcher v Madison Sq. Garden Entertainment Corp., 2023 NY Slip Op 01646, First Dept 3-28-23

Practice Point: Here the statute, Civil Rights Law 40-b, prescribed a monetary remedy for a violation. Therefore Supreme Court should not have granted plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction.

 

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PLAINTIFF SUED THE CITY AND POLICE UNDER 42 USC 1983 ALLEGING THE CITY AND POLICE HAD AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICY OR PRACTICE ALLOWING POLICE OFFICERS TO FILE FALSE CHARGES, TESTIFY FALSELY AND FALSIFY EVIDENCE WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES; PLAINTIFF WAS ENTITLED TO RECORDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OR INVESTIGATIONS PURSUANT TO THE CPLR DISCOVERY PROVISIONS AND WAS NOT RESTRICTED TO A FOIL REQUEST (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined plaintiff’s request for certain police records should not have been denied. Plaintiff sued the city under 42 USC 1983 alleging an unconstitutional policy or practice by the police which allows officers to swear out false criminal charges, testify falsely at trial and falsify evidence without consequences. Plaintiff sought records of complaints and investigations of similar conduct by officers in a specific task force. Because plaintiff is suing the city, his requests could be brought both pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and the CPLR discovery provisions. Supreme Court should not have restricted plaintiff’s access to records to that available under the FOIL:

Supreme Court improvidently exercised its discretion with respect to plaintiff’s requests seeking records of complaints and investigations of allegedly similar conduct by officers in the same task force, as those requests did not, in fact, constitute a fishing expedition … . Plaintiff limited his requests to officers assigned only during the six months before his arrest … , and his reference to lawsuits, investigations by the Internal Affairs Bureau, and complaints to the Civilian Complaint Review Board also sufficiently identified documents sought with “reasonable particularity” (CPLR 3120[2] …). Without allowing disclosure of allegations of misconduct by other officers, it is unlikely that plaintiff could demonstrate “that the municipality had a custom or practice that was both widespread and reflected a deliberate indifference to its citizens’ constitutional rights” … .

… Supreme Court should not have imposed a limitation precluding plaintiff from seeking records directly from defendants instead of under FOIL. “When a public agency is one of the litigants, . . . it has the distinct disadvantage of having to offer its adversary two routes into its records” … , and the availability of FOIL does not replace the concomitant right to disclosure under the CPLR. Badia v City of New York, 2023 NY Slip Op 01582, First Dept 3-23-23

Practice Point; Here plaintiff sued the police under 42 USC 1983 alleging an unconstitutional policy to allow the police to file false charges, testify falsely and falsify evidence. Because plaintiff was suing the police, he was entitled to records of similar complaints under the CPLR discovery provisions and was not restricted to FOIL requests.

 

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PLAINTIFF ALLEGED HE WAS DENIED PROPER MEDICAL CARE IN THE NIAGARA COUNTY JAIL AND SUED THE JAIL DOCTOR, THE COUNTY AND THE SHERIFF; THE CAUSES OF ACTION ALLEGING THE VIOLATION OF PLAINTIFF’S CIVIL RIGHTS PURSUANT TO 42 USC 1983 SURVIVED MOTIONS TO DISMISS; OTHER CAUSES OF ACTION WERE DEEMED TIME-BARRED; ACTIONS ALLEGING THE COUNTY WAS VICARIOUSLY LIABLE FOR THE ACTS OF THE SHERIFF WERE DISMISSED; THE RELATION-BACK DOCTRINE DID NOT APPLY BECAUSE THE COUNTY AND SHERIFF WERE NOT DEEMED “UNITED IN INTEREST” (FOURTH DEPT). ​

The Fourth Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined some causes of action should have been dismissed and others should not have been dismissed in this action against the county, county employees and sheriff alleging plaintiff was denied proper medical care while he was an inmate in the Niagara County Jail. The medical malpractice and negligence causes of action against a doctor employed by the county were time-barred pursuant to General Municipal Law 50-d (one year and ninety days). The causes of action against the doctor and the county alleging civil rights violations pursuant to 42 USC 1983 properly survived motions to dismiss. But the 42 USC 1983 cause of action against the sheriff should have been dismissed because the sheriff had no personal involvement in plaintiff’s medical care. The relation-back doctrine was improperly invoked for time-barred causes of action against the sheriff because the county and the sheriff are not united interest (the county is not vicariously liable for the acts of the sheriff and the sheriff’s department does not have an identity separate from the county). The negligent investigation cause of action should have been dismissed because New York does not recognize it. Claims alleging the county was vicariously liable for the acts of the sheriff should have been dismissed because plaintiff did not allege there was a local law imposing such a responsibility. Prezioso v County of Niagara, 2023 NY Slip Op 00768, Fourth Dept 2-10-23

Practice Point: Plaintiff alleged he was denied proper medical care in the Niagara County Jail. Plaintiff’s causes of action alleging a violation of his civil rights pursuant to 42 USC 1983 survived dismissal. The confusing relationship between the county and the sheriff resulted in the dismissal of several causes of action. The one-year-ninety day statute of limitations in the General Municipal Law applied to some causes of action. Absent a local law to the contrary, a county is not vicariously liable for the acts of the sheriff. The decision is worth reading because of the sheer number of unique issues which arise in suits against counties, county employees and county sheriffs.

 

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THE AMENDMENTS TO THE ANTI-SLAPP STATUTES SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN APPLIED RETROACTIVELY TO DISMISS PLAINTIFF’S DEFAMATION COMPLAINT (FOURTH DEPT). ​

The Fourth Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the amendments to the anti-SLAPP statutes (Civil Rights Law §§ 70-a, 76-a) do not apply retroactively and therefore should not have been the basis for dismissal of plaintiff’s defamation complaint:

… [T]the presumption against retroactivity is not overcome because “[n]othing in the text ‘expressly or by necessary implication’ requires retroactive application of the [anti-SLAPP] statute as amended . . . Nor does the legislative history support such an interpretation” … . First, the text of the legislation does not contain an express statement requiring retroactive application … . Second, while the anti-SLAPP amendments took effect “immediately” (id.), that term “is equivocal in an analysis of retroactivity” … . Third, although the legislation is remedial in nature and such legislation is generally applied retroactively “to better achieve its beneficial purpose” … , simply classifying a statute as remedial “does not automatically overcome the strong presumption of prospectivity” … . Finally, the legislative history establishes that the rationale for the amendments was to better advance the purposes of speech protection for which the anti-SLAPP law was initially enacted and to remedy the courts’ failure to use their discretionary powers to award costs and fees in such cases. However, the legislative history does not offer any explicit or implicit support for retroactive application … . Therefore, we conclude that “the presumption of prospective application of the [anti-SLAPP] amendments has not been defeated” … . Hoi Trinh v Nguyen, 2022 NY Slip Op 07387, Fourth Dept 12-23-22

Practice Point: The recent amendments to the anti-SLAPP statutes (Civil Rights Law 70-a, 76-a) do not apply retroactively.

 

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IN THIS HOSTILE-WORK-ENVIRONMENT ACTION UNDER 42 USC 1983 AND THE NYS HUMAN RIGHTS LAW, SOME OF THE DEFENDANTS, ALL CITY EMPLOYEES, WERE DEEMED PROTECTED FROM SUIT BY QUALIFIED IMMUNITY AS A MATTER OF LAW; WITH RESPECT TO THE EMPLOYEE WHO ALLEGEDLY MADE SEXUALLY INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS TO PLAINTIFF, THERE WERE QUESTIONS OF FACT WHETHER QUALIFIED IMMUNITY WAS APPLICABLE (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined qualified immunity protected plaintiff’s supervisors in this hostile-work-environment action under 42 USC 1983 and the NYS Human Rights Law against the City of Albany and individual city employees. Plaintiff alleged a co-worker named Tierney made sexually inappropriate comments to her over a period of two years. The allegations against Tierney properly survived summary judgment, but the allegations against the defendants who played no role in the harassment, alleging supervisory inaction, should have been dismissed. Plaintiff had worked as a civilian dispatcher in the police department:

In the 42 USC § 1983 context, liability of an individual defendant is based on his or her “personal involvement in the alleged constitutional deprivation” … . Individual defendant liability only attaches when his or her own conduct is sufficiently severe and pervasive to create the hostile work environment; otherwise, that defendant is protected by qualified immunity … . * * *

Under state law, public officials are protected by qualified immunity for discretionary acts that are unlawful under the Human Rights Law unless “they are undertaken in bad faith or without reasonable basis” … . Hostile work environment claims under the Human Rights Law are evaluated under the same severe-or-pervasive standard as a claim brought pursuant to 42 USC § 1983 … .* * *

Although individual liability under 42 USC § 1983 may flow from a supervisor’s inaction in the face of known harassment … , the alleged individual inaction … did not suffice to create the hostile work environment … .

We reach the same conclusion … under the Human Rights Law, pursuant to which supervisors may be held individually liable to the extent that they aided and abetted conduct creating a hostile work environment (see Executive Law § 296 [6]). … [D]efendants[] … did not actively participate in the conduct creating the hostile work environment as required under the aiding-and-abetting provision … .

Even if plaintiff’s Human Rights Law claim against them could proceed under a supervisory inaction theory, we would conclude that they are shielded by qualified immunity. … . Mahoney v City of Albany, 2022 NY Slip Op 07288, Third Dept 12-22-22

Practice Point: Here plaintiff and defendants were city employees. Plaintiff alleged one employee made sexually inappropriate comments to her over a two year period. Supervisory inaction was the basis for the action against other defendants. The Third Department held the “supervisory-inaction” defendants were protected from suit by qualified immunity as a matter of law under both 42 USC 1983 and the NYS Human Rights Law. There were questions of fact about whether the employee who made the comments was protected by qualified immunity.

 

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DEFENDANT’S STATEMENT PLAINTIFFS WERE FACING SUSPENSION OF THEIR LICENSE TO PRACTICE LAW WAS NOT PROTECTED AS FAIR AND TRUE LEGAL REPORTING PURSUANT TO CIVIL RIGHTS LAW 74; THE COMPLAINT STATED CAUSES OF ACTION FOR DEFAMATION PER SE, DISPARAGEMENT AND VIOLATIONS OF THE LANHAM ACT AND GENERAL BUSINESS LAW 349 (FIRST DEPT).

The Fist Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined Civil Rights Law 74 did not protect the statements in defendant’s online ad claiming that plaintiffs were facing suspension of their license to practice law because the litigation referred to in the ad did not mention anything about plaintiffs’ law license. Civil Rights Law 74 protects only “fair and true” reports on judicial proceedings. The complaint stated causes of action for defamation per se, disparagement and violations of the Lanham Act and General Business Law 349:

Civil Rights Law § 74 did not apply to the challenged statements in defendant’s online ads that, in linking to a news article about pending litigation against plaintiffs by a former client in California, asserted that plaintiffs were facing suspension of their license to practice law. The news article did not mention that plaintiffs’ law license was at risk nor did the complaint against plaintiffs seek suspension of their law license. Accordingly, this statement was not shielded from liability as defendant failed to demonstrate that it was a “fair and true” report of a judicial proceeding … . …

Based on defendant’s allegedly false statement that plaintiffs were facing a suspension of their license, plaintiffs sufficiently pleaded a cause of action for defamation per se … . …

… [T]he factual allegations in the complaint were sufficient to sustain causes of action for disparagement, and violations under the federal Lanham Act and General Business Law § 349, at the pleading stage … . Luo & Assoc. v NYIS Law Firm, A.P.C., 2022 NY Slip Op 07154, First Dept 12-15-22

Practice Point: Civil Rights Law 74 protects only “fair and true” reports on judicial proceedings. Here the statements plaintiffs were facing the suspension of their license to practice law was not mentioned in the article referencing the judicial proceedings, so the statements were actionable as defamation per se, disparagement and violations of the Lanham Act and General Business Law 349.

 

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THE ANTI-SLAPP STATUTES IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS LAW PROTECTED DEFENDANT AGAINST A DEFAMATION ACTION BY THE PLASTIC SURGEON ABOUT WHOM DEFENDANT POSTED NEGATIVE ONLINE REVIEWS; THE COMPLAINT WAS PROPERLY DISMISSED AND DEFENDANT WAS ENTITLED TO ATTORNEY’S FEES AND DAMAGES (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Rodriguez, in a matter of first impression, determined the Civil Rights Law anti-SLAPP statutes protected defendant’s negative online reviews of plaintiff Aristocrat Plastic Surgery and Dr. Kevin Tehrani. Supreme Court dismissed the complaint but did not award defendant attorney’s fees or damages because the anti-SLAPP statutes were deemed not to apply. The First Department held that the anti-SLAPP statutes applied and defendant was entitled to attorney’s fees and damages:

… [D]efendant posted her reviews on two public internet forums, one of which has a stated purpose of being a key advisor for people considering plastic surgery, and the purpose of defendant’s reviews was to provide information to potential patients, including reasons not to book an appointment with Dr. Tehrani. Defendant’s posts concerning the plastic surgery performed upon her by Dr. Tehrani qualify as an exercise of her constitutional right of free speech and a comment on a matter of legitimate public concern and public interest—namely, medical treatment rendered by a physician’s professional corporation and the physician performing surgery under its auspices … . We therefore find that defendant’s negative website reviews of plaintiffs’ services constitute a matter of “public interest” as set forth in Civil Rights Law § 76-a(1)(d).

Since defendant’s posts fall under the ambit of the amended anti-SLAPP law, defendant is entitled to seek damages and attorneys’ fees under Civil Rights Law §§ 70-a and 76-a(1)(a)(1). Aristocrat Plastic Surgery, P.C. v Silva, 2022 NY Slip Op 03311, First Dept 5-19-22

Practice Point: The anti-SLAPP statutes in the Civil Rights Law protected defendant from a defamation action by the plastic surgeon about whom defendant posted negative online reviews. The doctor’s complaint was dismissed and defendant was entitled to attorney’s fees and damages. Business reviews are matters of public interest and concern.

 

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THE 2020 AMENDMENTS TO CIVIL RIGHTS LAW 70, THE ANTI-SLAPP LAW, DO NOT APPLY RETROACTIVELY TO THE PLAINTIFF’S PENDING DEFAMATION ACTION AGAINST DEFENDANT (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the 2020 amendments to the anti-strategic lawsuit against public participation (anti-SLAPP) law (Civil Rights Law section 70) should not be applied retroactively to cover plaintiff’s defamation claims against defendant. Therefore defendant’s motion for a ruling that the anti-SLAPP amendments applied retroactively should not have been granted:

… [T]here is insufficient evidence supporting the conclusion that the legislature intended its 2020 amendments to the anti-strategic lawsuit against public participation (anti-SLAPP) law (see Civil Rights Law § 70 et seq.) to apply retroactively to pending claims such as the defamation claims asserted by plaintiffs in this action.

The Court of Appeals has stated, in general terms, that “ameliorative or remedial legislation” should be given “retroactive effect in order to effectuate its beneficial purpose” … . * * * … “[C]lassifying a statute as remedial does not automatically overcome the strong presumption of prospectivity since the term may broadly encompass any attempt to supply some defect or abridge some superfluity in the former law” … . …

In light of …. the factual evidence that the amendments to New York’s anti-SLAPP law were intended to better advance the purposes of the legislation by correcting the narrow scope of the prior anti-SLAPP law, we find that the presumption of prospective application of the amendments has not been defeated. The legislature acted to broaden the scope of the law almost 30 years after the law was originally enacted, purportedly to advance an underlying remedial purpose that was not adequately addressed in the original legislative language. The legislature did not specify that the new legislation was to be applied retroactively. The fact that the amended statute is remedial, and that the legislature provided that the amendments shall take effect immediately, does not support the conclusion that the legislature intended retroactive application of the amendments. Gottwald v Sebert,  2022 NY Slip Op 01515, First Dept 3-10-22

Practice Point: The fact that a statute is deemed “remedial” in nature does not necessarily support a retroactive application of the statute. Here the 2020 amendments to the anti-SLAPP law, although “remedial,” were not applied retroactively to cover plaintiff’s pending defamation action against the defendant. The defendant’s motion for a ruling applying the amendments retroactively should not have been granted.

 

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