Case: R.C. v. City of New York

18-153739 | New York state trial court

Filed Date: April 24, 2018

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

Under New York law, records must be sealed from cases where the prosecutor declined to pursue charges, the charges were later dismissed, or the allegations were disproven in court. On April 24, 2018, three plaintiffs brought a class action suit against the city of New York and New York City Police Department Commissioner challenging the use of the sealed records. The plaintiffs alleged that New York Police Department (NYPD) policy and practice allowed the use of information from records of arre…

Under New York law, records must be sealed from cases where the prosecutor declined to pursue charges, the charges were later dismissed, or the allegations were disproven in court. On April 24, 2018, three plaintiffs brought a class action suit against the city of New York and New York City Police Department Commissioner challenging the use of the sealed records. The plaintiffs alleged that New York Police Department (NYPD) policy and practice allowed the use of information from records of arrest that did not result in criminal convictions to target predominantly Black and Latino people for investigation, arrest, and harsher penalties. They alleged that this practice violated New York law and due process under the New York state constitution. Represented by private counsel and the Bronx Defender Services, the plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief requiring the NYPD to implement protocols, trainings and safeguards to prohibit the improper access, use, or disclosure of sealed records. They also sought damages and attorneys’ fees and costs.

The defendants sought to dismiss the case and, on April 30, 2019, Judge Alexander M. Tisch granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss in part and denied the motion in part. The judge agreed with the defendants that based on precedent the plaintiffs failed to state a due process claim. Judge Tisch reasoned that the state’s establishment of procedures to be followed does not automatically imply that the state created a liberty interest that would allow plaintiffs to sue under a due process claim. However, the judge upheld the sufficiency of plaintiffs' causes of action under New York law.

On September 5, 2019, Judge Tisch granted the plaintiffs class action certification. The class was certified as “all those who have sealed records and who have been or may be aggrieved by the NYPD's policies and practices.” The judge agreed with the plaintiffs that there are likely tens of thousands of individuals who would be impacted by this case based on the number of arrests in recent years.

As of February 2020, discovery in this case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Richa Bijlani (2/19/2020)

People


Judge(s)

Frank, Lyle E. (New York)

Tisch, Alexander M. (New York)

Attorneys(s) for Plaintiff

Barbour, Sharon L. (New York)

Boettcher, Eric (New York)

Borchetta, Jennifer Rolnick (New York)

Cinnamon, Michael (New York)

Erdelack, Wesley Lyons (New York)

Forneret, Martine B. (New York)

Jain, Niji (New York)

Kolodner, Jonathan Samuel (New York)

Judge(s)

Frank, Lyle E. (New York)

Tisch, Alexander M. (New York)

Attorneys(s) for Plaintiff

Barbour, Sharon L. (New York)

Boettcher, Eric (New York)

Borchetta, Jennifer Rolnick (New York)

Cinnamon, Michael (New York)

Erdelack, Wesley Lyons (New York)

Forneret, Martine B. (New York)

Jain, Niji (New York)

Kolodner, Jonathan Samuel (New York)

Lee, Annette (New York)

Packrone, Seth Emmanuel (New York)

Pal, Pekham (New York)

Rahman, Shakeer (New York)

Rooney, Kayla Marie (New York)

Steinberg, Johanna B. (New York)

Theobald, Alexandra K. (New York)

Attorneys(s) for Defendant

Koroleva, Lana (New York)

Robertson, Thomas Bolling (Louisiana)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

18-153739

Docket

New York state supreme court

Jan. 24, 2020

Jan. 24, 2020

Docket

18-153739

Class Action Complaint

New York state supreme court

April 24, 2018

April 24, 2018

Complaint

18-153739

Decision and Order

New York state supreme court

April 30, 2019

April 30, 2019

Order/Opinion

18-153739

Decision + Order on Motion

New York state supreme court

Sept. 5, 2019

Sept. 5, 2019

Order/Opinion

Docket

Last updated March 20, 2023, 3:07 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link

AFFIDAVIT OR AFFIRMATION IN SUPPORT OF MOTION J.J. Affidavit in Support of Plaintiffs Motion for Class Certification (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 14 A.G. RTRD Report (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

ORDER - OTHER --none-- WendellVaughan

OPPOSITION ROBERTS MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN REPLY --none-- 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex A JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

RJI) BARBOUR NOTICE OF APPEARANCE (POST RJI) --none-- MARTINEBEVERLYFORNERET

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE (POST RJI) --none-- MICHAELJOSEPHCINNAMON

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE (POST --none-- PEKHAMPAL

AFFIDAVIT OR AFFIRMATION IN SUPPORT OF MOTION Borchetta Affirmation in Support of Plaintiffs Motion for Class Certification (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) 1980 CPL 160.55 Bill Jacket (Enumerated) 002 JENNIFERROLNICKBORCHETTA

MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT --none-- 003 JENNIFERROLNICKBORCHETTA

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 18 J.S. Fingerprint Card (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 19 A.B. DD5 (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 20 A.B. DAS Snapshot (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

ORDER - PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE --none-- Cecilia Jane Blackburn

PART -RM 130 MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN --none-- 004 THOMAS B.

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 9 J.J. DAS Snapshot (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 10 NYPD Broken Windows 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

court user STIPULATION - SO ORDERED --none-- Cecilia Jane Blackburn

court user NOTIFICATION FOR SEALING ,dated June 25, 2019 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

ROBERTS NOTICE OF MOTION Notice of Motion for Class Certification 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

AFFIRMATION Affirmation of Jenn Rolnick Borchetta 002 JENNIFERROLNICKBORCHETTA

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 13 A.G. DD5s (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

court user STIPULATION - CONFIDENTIALITY ( REQUEST Stipulation and (Proposed) Order for the Production and Exchange of Confidential Information, with Exhibit A, dated JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 3 R.C. CODs (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT Memorandum of Law JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

RJI -RE: OTHER , Filed April 24, 2018, Order to Show Cause JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

nan

EXHIBIT(S) Exhibit A JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Exhibit B JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

TO JUDGE ROBERTS NOTICE OF MOTION --none-- 003 JENNIFERROLNICKBORCHETTA

EXHIBIT(S) 3.25.2019 Article 003 JENNIFERROLNICKBORCHETTA

AFFIDAVIT OR AFFIRMATION IN Affirmation of Thomas B. Roberts 003 THOMAS B.

EXHIBIT(S) Ex B JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex C JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE - CONFORMED COPY Order to Show Cause JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

AFFIDAVIT OR AFFIRMATION IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSED Affirmation in Support JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

OSC/EXPARTE APP EXHIBIT(S) Ex A JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex B JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 5 R.C. Photo Array (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Exhibit C JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 15 A.G. DAS Snapshot (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 17 J.S. RTCC Summary (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

(POST RJI) BARBOUR MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN OPPOSITION --none-- 002 JENNIFERROLNICKBORCHETTA

LETTER / CORRESPONDENCE --none-- 002 THOMAS B.

ROBERTS AFFIRMATION Affirmation of T. Roberts 002 THOMAS B.

ROBERTS MEMORANDUM OF LAW Defendants' Memorandum in Support of their Motion to 002 THOMAS B.

Dismiss ROBERTS NO FEE AUTHORIZATION --none-- 002 THOMAS B.

(LETTER/ORDER/AFFIRMATION) ROBERTS SUBSTITUTION OF ATTORNEY Notice of Attorney Withdrawal, dated August 13, 2018 SHARON L

NOTICE OF CHANGE OF ATTORNEY (POST RJI) Notice of Attorney Withdrawal re Eric Boettcher ERICBRADLEYBOETTCHER

court user SUBSTITUTION OF ATTORNEY Notice of Attorney Withdrawal PEKHAMPAL

court user

SUBSTITUTION OF ATTORNEY (POST RJI) Notice of Attorney Withdrawal MARTINEBEVERLYFORNERET

ORDER - INTERIM --none-- 001 WendellVaughan

EXHIBIT(S) Public Advocate Article 003 JENNIFERROLNICKBORCHETTA

OPPOSITION TO MOTION ROBERTS AFFIDAVIT OR AFFIRMATION IN REPLY (Borchetta Affirmation in Further Support of Motion) 003 JENNIFERROLNICKBORCHETTA

Document Deleted AFFIDAVIT Affidavit of Service, sworn to April 27, 2018, of Summons, Class Action Complaint, Order to Show Cause, etc.. JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT Memorandum of Law in Support of Plaintiffs Motion for Class Certification 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 1 NYS DCJS Spreadsheet 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 22 DNAinfo Article 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

AFFIDAVIT OR AFFIRMATION IN SUPPORT OF MOTION A.G. Affidavit in Support of Plaintiffs Motion for Class Certification (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 6 R.C. RTCC Snapshot (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 7 J.J. CODs (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 8 J.J. DD5s (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

STIPULATION - SO ORDERED --none-- BrendaWitherspoon

TO SO ORDER ) August 7, 2019 NOTICE OF MOTION --none-- SHAKEERMOSTAFARAHMAN

DECISION + ORDER ON --none-- 004 Ellen Apple

MOTION court user NOTICE OF ENTRY --none-- 004 JONATHANSAMUEL

(POST RJI) STIPULATION - SO ORDERED --none-- EliMoskovitz

MOTION court user NOTICE OF ENTRY Notice of Entry of April 30, 2019 Decision and Order on Motion to Dismiss 002 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 11 J.J. RTRD Report (redacted) 004 JONATHAN

AFFIDAVIT OR AFFIRMATION IN SUPPORT OF MOTION R.C. Affidavit in Support of Plaintiffs Motion for Class Certification (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

ROBERTS EXHIBIT(S) Stipulation of May 21, 2018 002 THOMAS B.

ROBERTS EXHIBIT(S) Governor's Bill Jacket 002 THOMAS B.

court user STIPULATION - TIME TO --none-- THOMAS B.

court user STIPULATION - ADJOURNMENT OF MOTION -IN SUBMISSIONS --none-- 004 THOMAS B. ROBERTS

EXHIBIT(S) Public Version of Order to Show Cause Signed and Dated April 25, 2018 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

SUMMONS , Dated April 24, 2018 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

ORDER - OTHER --none-- WendellVaughan

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 2 Detective Guide 512-05 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex C JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) SB 5031 002 JENNIFERROLNICKBORCHETTA

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 23 New York Post Article I 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 24 New York Post Article II 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) 2015-A7319 Sponsor Memo 002 JENNIFERROLNICKBORCHETTA

EXHIBIT(S) 8.14.2018 Article 003 JENNIFERROLNICKBORCHETTA

EXHIBIT(S) 10.29.2018 Article 003 JENNIFERROLNICKBORCHETTA

EXHIBIT(S) 1.2.2019 Article 003 JENNIFERROLNICKBORCHETTA

EXHIBIT(S) 2.5.2019 Article 003 JENNIFERROLNICKBORCHETTA

EXHIBIT(S) 2.14.2019 Article 003 JENNIFERROLNICKBORCHETTA

EXHIBIT(S) 2.18.2019 Article 003 JENNIFERROLNICKBORCHETTA

DECISION + ORDER ON --none-- 002 Kim Martin

MOTION court user DECISION + ORDER ON --none-- 002 Amy F Mack

MOTION court user DECISION + ORDER ON --none-- 003 Ellen Apple

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 21 N.Y.T. Article (filed under seal) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

FORM injunction/temp rest order court user LETTER / CORRESPONDENCE TO JUDGE Letter dated February 13, 2019 to Justice Frank from Jonathan S. Kolodner enclosing recent First Department JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

EXHIBIT(S) Ex. 4 R.C. DD5s (redacted) 004 JONATHANSAMUELKOLODNER

nan

Document Deleted ORDER - OTHER --none-- WendellVaughan

court user ORDER - OTHER --none-- WendellVaughan

Case Details

State / Territory: New York

Case Type(s):

Policing

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 24, 2018

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

All those who have sealed records and who have been or may be aggrieved by the New York Police Department's policies and practices.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Bronx Defenders

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

City of New York, City

New York City Police Department Commissioner (New York City), City

Defendant Type(s):

Law-enforcement

Case Details

Causes of Action:

State law

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General:

Record-keeping

Records Disclosure