Mejia v. The New York Unified Court System

Court System Granted Dismissal of Rights Suit Over Drug Court Participation Denial

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OPINION & ORDER Plaintiff Rene Alvarado Mejia (“Plaintiff”) brings this action, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, against Defendants County of Rockland, the Honorable Donna G. Siberman, in her official capacity as County Clerk of Rockland County and the New York Unified Court System (“NYUCS”), for, inter alia, violation of the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Privileges and Immunities Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the New York State Executive Law §296, et seq. (“NYSHRL”). (First Amended Complaint, “FAC.,” ECF No. 8.) Defendant NYUCS moves to dismiss Plaintiff’s FAC under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). (the “Motion”, ECF No. 23.) For the following reasons, Defendant NYUCS’ Motion is GRANTED. BACKGROUND I. Factual Background The following facts are taken from the FAC and assumed to be true for the purposes of Defendant NYUCS’ Motion. On or about July 29, 2022, Plaintiff’s attorney in a criminal matter before the Suffern Justice Court called the Rockland County Drug Court (“Drug Court”) on Plaintiff’s behalf and informed the Drug Court that Plaintiff has a pending case before the Suffern Justice Court for Driving While Intoxicated, was referred to the Drug Court by the Suffern Justice Court, and that Plaintiff is a limited English proficient (“LEP”) person and would require translation services in Drug Court. (FAC

32-33.) The Drug Court informed Plaintiff’s attorney that “although the Plaintiff’s criminal charges qualify for Drug Court, Drug Court does not provide translation services and consequently that Plaintiff would not be allowed to participate in Drug Court despite being otherwise qualified for Drug Court.” (Id. 34.) Because of the Drug Court’s failure to provide translation and interpretation services, Plaintiff, as well as a putative class of Spanish-speaking LEP individuals, is continuously denied access to Drug Court. (Id.

Mejia v. The New York Unified Court System

Court System Granted Dismissal of Rights Suit Over Drug Court Participation Denial

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