Pitera v. Mintz
Opinion of the Court
SUMMARY ORDER
THIS SUMMARY ORDER WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REPORTER AND MAY NOT BE CITED AS PRECEDENTIAL AUTHORITY TO THIS OR ANY OTHER COURT, BUT MAY BE CALLED TO THE ATTENTION OF THIS OR ANY OTHER COURT IN A SUBSEQUENT STAGE OF THIS CASE, IN A RELATED CASE, OR IN ANY CASE FOR PURPOSES OF COLLATERAL ESTOPPEL OR RES JUDICATA.
At a stated term of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, held at the United States Courthouse, Foley Square, in the City of New York, on the 24th day of January, two thousand and three.
Plaintiff-appellant Thomas Pitera, pro se, appeals from an order of the United
ON CONSIDERATION WHEREOF, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the judgment of the •District Court is AFFIRMED.
Pitera, pro se, filed a complaint pursuant to § 1983 and Bivens
The District Court sua sponte dismissed Pitera’s complaint as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(l).
Pitera filed a motion to alter or amend the judgment pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 59(e), arguing that: (1) he was not given access to the physical evidence enumerated in his complaint during his criminal trial; (2) his motion to recuse Judge Raggi should be renewed; (3) the District Court lacked authority to dismiss his complaint as frivolous pursuant to § 1915A(b)(l); and (4) his case was distinguishable from Harvey because, in Harvey, the defendant had been given access to the physical evidence at trial, whereas Pitera had not. Pitera also filed a motion requesting discovery. The District Court denied Pitera’s motion for reconsideration for the reasons stated in its order dismissing the complaint, and further denied his request for discovery because the court adhered to its initial ruling dismissing the case.
Pitera filed a timely notice of appeal, arguing that the District Court erred in sua sponte dismissing his complaint because: (1) the physical evidence had been suppressed, and the Government had failed to turn it over to him during his criminal trial and, therefore, it constituted newly discovered evidence; (2) he had a right to test the physical evidence under the Due Process Clause; and (3) Judge Raggi improperly dismissed his complaint before a ruling had been made on the recusal motion.
Section 1915A requires that a district court screen a civil complaint brought by a prisoner against a governmental entity or its agents and dismiss the complaint sua sponte if, among other things, the complaint is “frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a) & (b)(1). A complaint is frivolous when it “is based on an indisputably meritless legal theory” or “lacks an arguable basis in law.” Livingston v. Adirondack Beverage Co., 141 F.3d 434, 437 (2d Cir. 1998). We review § 1915A dismissals de novo. Liner v. Goord, 196 F.3d 132 (2d Cir. 1999).
The District Court properly dismissed the complaint pursuant to § 1915A. With respect to Pitera’s arguments that the physical evidence he requests was not provided to him at trial, and that he had a constitutional right to conduct forensic testing, the District Court properly concluded that Pitera was afforded all the due process rights to which he was entitled during his trial, more than ten years ago. We have already affirmed the denial of Pitera’s collateral challenge to his conviction. See Pitera v. United States, No. 01-2057 (2d Cir. Aug. 29, 2001). Indeed, Pit-era has uncovered nothing that, had it been disclosed at trial, would likely have resulted in a different outcome, nor has he demonstrated how DNA testing today would produce a different result.
The District Court also correctly rejected Pitera’s argument that Judge Raggi should have recused herself. We review the denial of a recusal motion for abuse of discretion. See Aguinda v. Texaco, Inc., 241 F.3d 194, 200 (2d Cir. 2001) (citations omitted). The District Court properly denied Pitera’s recusal motion as moot, as the complaint had already been dismissed. The District Court did not abuse its discretion in denying Pitera’s recusal motion.
We have considered the appellant’s remaining contentions and find them to be without merit. Accordingly, the judgment of the District Court is AFFIRMED.
. In Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of the Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388, 91 S.Ct. 1999, 29 L.Ed.2d 619 (1971), the Supreme Court held that, although § 1983 only authorizes actions against state officials, the same type of action may be pursued against federal officials, where the plaintiff has suffered a deprivation of a constitutional right.
. Section 1915A(b)(l) provides that a complaint shall be dismissed if it is "frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted....” 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(l). Pitera also filed a motion to recuse Judge Raggi from the case, contending that he may have to call Judge Raggi as a pivotal witness at a future trial. The District Court denied the motion as moot in light of its dismissal of Pitera's complaint.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Thomas PITERA v. Phyllis MINTZ
- Status
- Published