Hicks v. Marques

KEVIN G. FALEY SAMAN ASLAM CHRISTOPHER NAHAS ANDREA M, ALONSO 0 ROBERT J. BARD GREGORY S. NELSON KENNETH E, PITCOFF MEGAN K. BERNARDO BRIAN R. O'CONNOR PATRICIA E. PERMAKOFF MORRIS DUFFY ALONSO FALEY & PITCOFF TESLA CARRASQUILLO MARISSA PADOVANO KEVIN F. MAHON LAUREN CASPARIE ANTHONY PALMIOTTO MICHAEL V, CAMPANILE 101 GREENWICH STREET JOAN M. COCHA 0 TAMAR S. PELTZ LINA C, ROSSILLO New YorK, NY 10006 NATALIE CORRISS PATRICK PRAGER JAMES A, PANNONE O {2] 2) 766-1888 JOSH CORTAVARRIA TIMOTHY PRYOR EDWARD J. HARRINGTON FAX (21 2) 766-3252 MICHAEL A, CZOLACZ ROBERT J. REILLY WILLIAM J. MANNING, JR. WWW.MDAFNY.COM NAOMI DANIELS DANIELLE J. REISS+ DONNA M. WHITE a ARDINEZ A. DOMGJONIo TATIANA SAMSONOVA-BEL MARK A. HEALY NASSAU ARIANNA EFSTATHIOU YEKATERINA SAPSON oO ALLYSON P, LUBELL 1 OLD Country ROAD PATRICK FINLEY STEPHEN L, SCHIOPPI GAIL S. KARAN CARLE PLACE, NY 11514 VINCENT D. FINNEGAN DAVINDERPAL SINGH JENNA L. MASTRODDI O FRANK H. FOSTER RICHARD E, STIEK □ ELIZABETH A. FILARDI SUFFOLK IRAE, GOLDSTEIN GARY M, SUNSHINE IRYNA S, KRAUCHANKA ONE HUNTINGTON QUADRANGLE ELIZABETH A, GRIFFIN INNA V, TERES DORIS RIOS DUFFY MELVILLE, NY 11747 MICHAEL HARTMAN VIKTORIYA UKHOVA JEOUNGSON KIM OLIVIA R, HELLERICHo MICHAEL A, VICARIOA CHRISTOPHER R. INVIDIATA WESTCHESTER MARITANNA ISAKOV SAMUEL VODOPIA REBECCA J, ROSEDALE 445 HAMILTON AVENUE CHARLOTIE KAYSEN BRIANNA WEPPLER CRISTINA SOLLER WHITE PLAINS, NY 10601 ROBERT MAROTTA MICHAEL ZAITZ AMANDA M. ZEFI O RORY MCMANUS LAWTON W. SQUIRES GREENE ROBERT E. O'CONNOR 11 WHISPER CREEK DRIVE 3 ADMITTED IN NY AND NJ CHRISTOPHER M. ROGERS WINDHAM, NY 12496 ADMIMEO □□ □□ AND □□ - » C. FAILLACE NEw JERSEY + ADMITTED IN NY, NJ AND P, DILLON 744 FLOYD STREET JUSTIN E, ANGELINO ENGLEWOOD CurFs, NJ 07632 OF COUNSEL GEORGE APRILAKIS JOHN J. DUFFY (1925-2023) CHARLES M. KERR MICHAEL B. TITOWSKY ROBERT S. WHITBECK November 28, 2025 ° USDC SDNY DOCUMENT Honorable Nelson Stephen Roman 2 . ELECTRONICALLY FILED ) United States District Court Southern District noe Quarropas Street DATE FILED: 12/1/2025 _ White Plains, New York 10601-4150 _— Re: Darnell R. Hicks v. J. Marques #154, et. al.

Docket No.: 7:24-cv-07890- NSR Dear Judge Roman: We represent the defendants, J. MARQUES #154 and MALFETANO #170 in the above matter. Please allow this letter to serve as a status update pursuant to the Court’s directive. The criminal charges against the ProSe Plaintiff arising from this incident are still pending in state court. We have been advised that the matter has been further adjourned to January 6, 2026. Given same, we respectfully request that the stay continue to be extended until the conclusion of these state court proceedings, or the matter dismissed without prejudice pursuant to the Supreme Court’s decision in Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1971).

Pursuant to the doctrine of “Younger abstention,” federal courts “should generally refrain from enjoining or otherwise interfering in ongoing state proceedings.” See Spargo v. N.Y. State Comm'n on Judicial Conduct, 351 F.3d 65, 74 (2d Cir. 2003). Younger abstention is required when three conditions are met: “(1) there is an ongoing state proceeding; (2) an important state interest is implicated in that proceeding; and (3) the state proceeding affords the federal plaintiff an adequate opportunity for judicial review of the federal constitutional claims.” Diamond "D" Const. Corp. v. McGowan, 282 F.3d 191, 198 (2d Cir. 2002). “Federal courts must abstain from exercising subject matter jurisdiction over federal constitutional claims that involve or call into question ongoing state proceedings.” Wilson v. Emond, 373 Fed. App’x. 98, 100 (2d Cir. 2010). |hen Younger applies, abstention is mandatory and its application deprives the federal court of jurisdiction in the matter.” Diamond “D” Constr., 282 F.3d at 197 (2d Cir. 2002).

Applying these criteria, courts in the Second Circuit have repeatedly held that Younger abstention prohibits district courts from exercising jurisdiction over cases where there is a parallel criminal action about the same underlying conduct pending against the plaintiff in state court. See Manchanda v. Bose, No. 14 CIV. 9658 LGS, 2015 WL 81998, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 6, 2015) (dismissing plaintiff’s complaint for constitutional violations without prejudice due plaintiff’s pending criminal proceeding); Andujar v. City of New York, No. 11 CIV. 5466 RJS, 2012 WL 5177515, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 16, 2012) (dismissing the action pursuant to the abstention doctrine as plaintiff’s state action is ongoing); Barker v. Suffolk Cnty., No. 24-CV-07941 (OEM) (JMW), 2024 WL 4827739, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 18, 2024) (holding that the Younger abstention doctrine applies as the federal courts cannot interfere with an ongoing state criminal proceeding); Owens v. Inc. Vill. of Garden City, No. 23-CV-07730-JMA-ST, 2024 WL 4728593, at *5 (E.D.N.Y. Nov.

8, 2024)(administratively closing § 1983 case during pending criminal proceeding and permitting plaintiff to request in writing that the case be reopened within two weeks of conclusion of underlying case).

In the case at bar, Plaintiff's complaint alleges, inter alia, First Amendment violations stemming from an arrest on October 8, 2024. Two defendants in this action, Police Officer Jason Marques and Police Officer Brett Malfetano, signed violations charging Plaintiff with Disorderly Conduct as he violated section 240.20(3) of the Penal Law of the State of New York. (Ex. A).

This charge remains pending in Ossining Town Court and have been assigned the docket number 24100117. Accordingly, it is respectfully submitted that this case should not proceed until the underlying state court criminal case is resolved.

Thank you for considering my clients’ position in this matter. Should the court require additional briefing on this issue, we respectfully request that this letter be construed as a request for a pre-motion conference request under Your Honor’s Individual Rules of Practice.

J. Marques #154's and Malfetano #170's . for an extension of the stay is GRANTED Respectfully submitted, prejudice to renew. The instant action shall MORRIS DUFFY ALONSO FALEY & PITCOFF stayed until January 26, 2026, by which time the are directed to provide the Court with a _/s/Lauren Casparieg, update of the pending state criminal Lauren Casparie and their effect on the instant action. 101 Greenwich St. 22" Floor Clerk of Court is directed to terminate the New York, New York 10006 at ECF No. 29 and to mail a copy of this Counsel for Defendants to pro se Plaintiff at his address as it is on ECF and to show service on the docket.

December 1, 2025 a ee Plains, New York aA Lp Pro se Plaintiff Main Street, Apt. 6C Peekskill, NY 10566 E: [email protected]