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describing “non-dispositive pretrial motions, i.e., recusal, discovery, and appointment of counsel” as within the purview of a magistrate judge
Summary of this case from Butler v. FloydOpinion
21-CV-2675 (DEH) (BCM)
07-18-2024
EDWARD P. ADAMS, Plaintiff, v. CO-OP CITY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, et al., Defendants.
ORDER
DALE E. HO, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE.
On May 15, 2024, Magistrate Judge Moses ordered Plaintiff to execute, notarize, and return to defense counsel forms sufficient to permit counsel to obtain all records relevant to the arrests and prosecutions in this action from the NYPD and relevant New York State courts. That order also required Defendants to file a letter confirming that they were in receipt of all records necessary for a dispositive motion by July 10, 2024, and set a deadline of July 19, 2024, for any party to file dispositive motions.
See ECF No. 238, at No. 2.
Id.
On July 2, 2024, Defendants filed the required letter. The letter stated that Defendants had not received all of the required records, but that anything they had received had been produced to Plaintiff. Defendants requested leave to file a further status update on July 19, 2024, and an extension of the deadline for dispositive motions. On July 3, 2024, Plaintiff filed a letter in response. Plaintiff stated that the records produced to him, as well as the transcript of his deposition, were doctored and moved for recusal of Judge Moses. On July 5, 2024, Defendants filed a further letter, reporting that the document request would likely take another four weeks to complete.
See ECF No. 248.
See id.
See id.
See ECF No. 249.
See id.
See ECF No. 251.
On July 9, 2024, Judge Moses granted Defendant's request for an extension to file dispositive motions, noting that the record indicated that Defendants were diligent in pursuing the documents in question, and directed them to file a further status letter by August 1, 2024. Judge Moses also denied the recusal motion, noting that it was based solely on disagreements with her substantive rulings. Finally, Judge Moses rejected any argument that the records produced to Plaintiff were doctored.
See ECF No. 252.
See id. at 3.
See id.
On July 10, 2024, Plaintiff filed a letter addressed to the undersigned. Plaintiff argues that Judge Moses's rulings are biased against him; that Defendants' anticipated motion for summary judgment is not meritorious; and that the court records produced to him by Defendants are fraudulent. On July 12, 2024, Defendants filed a letter in response that, among other things, requested sanctions against Plaintiff for his conduct. The same day, an order from the undersigned construed Plaintiff's July 10 letter as an objection to Judge Moses's July 9 order under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72(a) and directed Defendants to file a letter in response.
See ECF No. 253.
See id.
See ECF No. 254.
See ECF No. 255.
On July 13, 2024, Plaintiff filed an additional letter, arguing that his criminal records are not relevant to this case, repeating his accusations of bias on the part of Judge Moses, and stating that opposing counsel “should be tried before a federal tribune” due to alleged issues with his criminal records and deposition transcript. On July 16, 2024, Defendants filed the required response. On July 17, 2024, Plaintiff filed two further letters in reply. Plaintiff repeats his statement that opposing counsel “should be disbarred and tried before a federal tribune” and that Judge Moses should be recused.
See ECF No. 256.
See ECF No. 257.
See ECF Nos. 258, 259.
See id.
Motions to recuse and motions regarding the scheduling of discovery and briefs are non-dispositive. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72(a), the non-dispositive ruling of a magistrate judge must be set aside to the extent it is “clearly erroneous or is contrary to law.”
See Kampfer v. Gokey, 159 F.R.D. 370, 372 (N.D.N.Y. 1995) (describing “non-dispositive pretrial motions, i.e., recusal, discovery, and appointment of counsel” as within the purview of a magistrate judge).
It is hereby ORDERED that Plaintiff's objections to Judge Moses' July 9, 2024, order are OVERRULED. The Court has reviewed the list of allegedly biased rulings issued by Judge Moses that Plaintiff collects in his July 3, 2024, letter. None of them suggest bias on the part of Judge Moses. “[T]he Second Circuit has repeatedly rejected the suggestion that adverse rulings by a judge can per se create the appearance of bias.” Similarly, the record relevant to the extension of time to file dispositive motions supports Judge Moses's finding of Defendants' diligence and the need for more time prior to dispositive motion practice. Plaintiff offers no basis to conclude that the denial of his recusal motion or the granting of Defendants' extension motion were clearly erroneous or contrary to law.
See ECF No. 249.
See Palin v. N.Y. Times Co., 604 F.Supp.3d 208, 214 (S.D.N.Y. 2022) (internal quotation marks omitted).
It is further ORDERED that Defendants' request for sanctions is DENIED, without prejudice to renewal. The Court echoes Judge Moses's statement that, irrespective of Plaintiff's pro se status, “[p]arties who choose to represent themselves in this Court are . . . expected to conduct themselves courteously, to communicate in a professional and civil manner, and to cooperate in matters of scheduling, timing, and discovery. Parties who resort to profane, insulting, or abusive language . . . risk significant sanctions.”
See ECF No. 202.
SO ORDERED.