Case: Archer v. City of New York

1:26-cv-04426 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: May 28, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary while we research the case further). On May 28, 2026, two families filed a putative class action lawsuit against New York City, alleging that the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) abused its emergency removal power to take children from their parents without a court order and that Black and Latino families were disproportionately affected by the practice. The families sought injunctive and declaratory relief, as well damages and fees. 

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73402617/parties/archer-v-city-of-new-york/


Judge(s)

Abrams, Ronnie (New York)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bossing, Lewis (New York)

Cooper, Roger Allen (New York)

Cronin, Michael Fitzgerald (New York)

Freeman, Lisa (New York)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

1:26-cv-04426

Plaintiffs Demand Trial by Jury

May 28, 2026

May 28, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73402617/archer-v-city-of-new-york/

Last updated Sept. 16, 2026, 4:54 a.m.

Docket for: Archer v. City of New York
ECF Number Date Description Link
1 May 28, 2026

COMPLAINT against City of New York. (Filing Fee $ 405.00, Receipt Number ANYSDC-32908064)Document filed by Z.L., J.A., Y.L., W.L., J.W., X.L., Denise Archer, D.A., K.L., Danielle Lorimer..(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

Clearinghouse
2 May 28, 2026

CIVIL COVER SHEET filed..(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

RECAP
3 May 28, 2026

REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to City of New York, re: 1 Complaint. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

RECAP
4 May 28, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Lisa Freeman on behalf of D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L...(Freeman, Lisa) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

RECAP
5 May 28, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Lisa Freeman on behalf of W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Freeman, Lisa) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

RECAP
6 May 28, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Tarek Ziad Ismail on behalf of Denise Archer, Danielle Lorimer..(Ismail, Tarek) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

RECAP
7 May 28, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Lewis Bossing on behalf of Denise Archer, Danielle Lorimer..(Bossing, Lewis) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

RECAP
8 May 28, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Anna Belle Newport on behalf of Denise Archer, Danielle Lorimer..(Newport, Anna) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

RECAP
9 May 28, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Eliza J. McDuffie on behalf of Denise Archer, Danielle Lorimer..(McDuffie, Eliza) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

RECAP
10 May 28, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Roger Allen Cooper on behalf of D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Cooper, Roger) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

RECAP
11 May 28, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Andrew Garo Khanarian on behalf of D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Khanarian, Andrew) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

RECAP
12 May 28, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Ariel Sheffey on behalf of D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Sheffey, Ariel) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

RECAP
13 May 28, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Noopur Sen on behalf of D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Sen, Noopur) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

RECAP
14 May 28, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Michael Fitzgerald Cronin, III on behalf of D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Cronin, Michael) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

RECAP
15 May 28, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Alan Schoenfeld on behalf of Denise Archer, Danielle Lorimer..(Schoenfeld, Alan) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

RECAP
16 May 29, 2026

MOTION to Certify Class . Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
17 May 29, 2026

MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class . . Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
18 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of Denise Archer in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
19 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of Emma Ketteringham in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
20 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of Lauren Shapiro in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
21 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of Christine Waer in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
22 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of Zainab Akbar in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
23 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of Brian Zimmerman in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
24 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of Judge Ann E. O'Shea in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
25 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of Danielle Lorimer in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
26 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of Meredith Trainor in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
27 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of M.E. in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
28 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of Lisa Freeman in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
29 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of Roger A. Cooper in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
30 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of David Shalleck-Klein in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
31 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of Christine Gottlieb in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
32 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of Baher Azmy in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
33 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of Tarek Z. Ismail in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
34 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of Julia Hernandez in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
35 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of Alan Schoenfeld in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
36 May 29, 2026

DECLARATION of Thomas White in Support re: 16 MOTION to Certify Class .. Document filed by Denise Archer, D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., Danielle Lorimer, W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - ACS Child Safety Alert No. 30, # 2 Exhibit 2 - ACS Safety Plan Removal Training, # 3 Exhibit 3 - Jan 2026 ACS Flash Report, # 4 Exhibit 4 - ACS Child Welfare Indicators CY25, # 5 Exhibit 5 - Jan 2025 ACS Flash Report, # 6 Exhibit 6 - ACS Child Welfare Indicators CY24, # 7 Exhibit 7 - Jan 2024 ACS Flash Report, # 8 Exhibit 8 - ACS Child Welfare Indicators CY23, # 9 Exhibit 9 - Apr 2026 ACS Flash Report, # 10 Exhibit 10 - Center for NYC Affairs 2023, # 11 Exhibit 11 - Center for NYC Affairs 2025, # 12 Exhibit 12 - NYC Finance Division Report, # 13 Exhibit 13 - ACS Racial Equity Audit, # 14 Exhibit 14 - ACS Casework Manual, # 15 Exhibit 15 - ACS Emergency Removals Protocol, # 16 Exhibit 16 - NYC Child Welfare Report, # 17 Exhibit 17 - NYC Child Welfare Demographics FY25, # 18 Exhibit 18 - NYC Child Welfare Demographics FY24, # 19 Exhibit 19 - NYCLU Report, # 20 Exhibit 20 - Disparity Rate Packet 2024, # 21 Exhibit 21 - 2022 NYT Article, # 22 Exhibit 22 - 2021 ACS Equity Assessment Report, # 23 Exhibit 23 - 2024 ACS Equity Assessment Report, # 24 Exhibit 24 - Bronx Defenders Report).(Shalleck-Klein, David) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
37 May 29, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Sean Jaehyun Kim on behalf of Denise Archer, Danielle Lorimer..(Kim, Sean) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
38 May 29, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Hannah Hoffman on behalf of Denise Archer, Danielle Lorimer..(Hoffman, Hannah) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
39 May 29, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Hailey Elisabeth Kruger on behalf of Denise Archer, Danielle Lorimer..(Kruger, Hailey) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
40 May 29, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Adina Marx-Arpadi on behalf of Denise Archer, Danielle Lorimer..(Marx-Arpadi, Adina) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
41 May 29, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Phoenix Rice-Johnson on behalf of Denise Archer, Danielle Lorimer..(Rice-Johnson, Phoenix) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
42 May 29, 2026

ELECTRONIC SUMMONS ISSUED as to City of New York..(pc) (Entered: 05/29/2026)

RECAP
May 29, 2026

Case Opening Initial Assignment Notice

May 29, 2026

CASE OPENING INITIAL ASSIGNMENT NOTICE: The above-entitled action is assigned to Judge Ronnie Abrams. Please download and review the Individual Practices of the assigned District Judge, located at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/judges/district-judges. Attorneys are responsible for providing courtesy copies to judges where their Individual Practices require such. Please download and review the ECF Rules and Instructions, located at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/rules/ecf-related-instructions..(pc)

May 29, 2026

Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo is designated to handle matters that may be referred in this case. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 636(c) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 73(b)(1) parties are notified that they may consent to proceed before a United States Magistrate Judge. Parties who wish to consent may access the necessary form at the following link: https://nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/2018-06/AO-3.pdf. (pc)

May 29, 2026

Case Designated ECF. (pc)

43 June 1, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Melissa J. Friedman on behalf of D.A., J.A., J.W., K.L., W.L., X.L., Y.L., Z.L...(Friedman, Melissa) (Entered: 06/01/2026)

RECAP
44 June 2, 2026

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Christine Gottlieb on behalf of Denise Archer..(Gottlieb, Christine) (Entered: 06/02/2026)

RECAP
45 June 2, 2026

ORDER REFERRING CASE TO MAGISTRATE JUDGE. Order that case be referred to the Clerk of Court for assignment to a Magistrate Judge for General Pretrial (includes scheduling, discovery, non-dispositive pretrial motions, and settlement) Specific Non-Dispositive Motion/Dispute: Dkt. No. 16 (Motion to Certify Class). Referred to Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo. Motions referred to Valerie Figueredo. (Signed by Judge Ronnie Abrams on 6/2/2026) (sgz) (Entered: 06/03/2026)

RECAP
46 June 5, 2026

Affidavit of Service Complaints

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47 June 16, 2026

Notice of Appearance

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48 June 17, 2026

Notice of Appearance

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49 June 17, 2026

Notice of Appearance

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50 June 17, 2026

Notice of Appearance

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51 June 17, 2026

Notice of Appearance

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52 June 18, 2026

Extension of Time to File Answer

RECAP
53 June 23, 2026

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer

RECAP
54 July 1, 2026

Withdraw as Attorney

RECAP
55 July 1, 2026

Declaration in Support of Motion

RECAP
56 July 1, 2026

Proposed Order for Withdrawal of Attorney

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57 July 2, 2026

Order on Motion to Withdraw as Attorney

RECAP
58 July 11, 2026

Notice of Appearance

RECAP
59 July 14, 2026

Notice of Appearance

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60 July 16, 2026

Notice of Appearance

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61 Aug. 14, 2026

Withdraw as Attorney

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62 Aug. 18, 2026

Order on Motion to Withdraw as Attorney

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63 Aug. 26, 2026

Withdraw as Attorney

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64 Aug. 26, 2026

Withdraw as Attorney

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65 Aug. 27, 2026

Order on Motion to Withdraw as Attorney

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66 Aug. 27, 2026

Order on Motion to Withdraw as Attorney

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67 Sept. 15, 2026

Extension of Time to File Answer

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

New York

Case Type(s):

Child Welfare

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 28, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Southern District of New York 1:26-cv-04426

Recommended Citation