Campanello v. Port Auth. of New York & New Jersey

OPINION

This matter comes before this Court on a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, by Defendants, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (“Port Authority”); Joseph Stitz, Jr., (“Stitz”); Juan Garcia (“Garcia”); and Paul Crist (“Crist”) (collectively “Defendants”), against Plaintiff, Vincent Campanello (“Plaintiff’ or “Campanello”), pursuant to Fed.R.CivP. 12(b)(6), Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(c), and L. Civ. R. 7.1. For the following reasons, Defendants’ motion to dismiss is granted in part and denied in part.

I. BACKGROUND

On or about January 1998, Plaintiff Vincent Campanello was hired by General Research, a division of Artenyro, Inc., a staffing company located in Teaneck, New Jersey. (Plaintiffs Complaint, (“Compl.”) Count 1, ¶ 1.) Campanello was placed at the Port Authority, as a contract employee in the Maintenance Engineering Design Division. (Id., ¶¶2, 3.) Plaintiff was assigned to the Tunnels Bridges and Terminals Division, and worked under the supervision of Defendant Paul Crist. (Id., *697 ¶ 4.) In connection with his duties, Plaintiff was given an office, a computer, access to support personnel, equipment, and other supplies. (Id., ¶ 6.) In order to complete his duties, Campanello alleges that he requested and received authorization, from Defendant George Broadbent 1 , to obtain a laptop computer for his use outside of his office. (Id., If 7.)

Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center, in New York City, New York, Campanello was asked to accompany and to assist various Port Authority personnel, dignitaries, government officials, and other parties to the World Trade Center site. (Id., ¶ 8.) In order to ensure the safety of those visitors, Plaintiff retrieved hard hats, vests, flashlights, goggles, gas masks, and other emergency gear from the Port Authority property room. (Id., ¶¶ 9, 11.) Plaintiff obtained these items by filling out a request voucher. (Id., ¶ 11.) Plaintiff alleges that, occasionally, when he attempted to return certain items to the property room, he was advised that he did not have to return the items, and could dispose of them, as he saw fit. (Id., ¶ 12.) Campa-nello further alleges that, after being repeatedly told not to return items to the property room, he discontinued his routine of returning any items. (Id., ¶ 13.) Instead, Campanello kept the items in his car or at his home. (Id., ¶ 14.)

On or about January 18, 2005, Campa-nello was interviewed about missing property room items by Defendants Joseph Stitz and Juan Garcia, detectives with the Port Authority Police Department. (Id., ¶ 15.) After the interview, on January 18, 2005, Stitz and Garcia, acting on behalf of the Port Authority, charged Plaintiff with receipt of stolen property, in Brick Township, Ocean County, New Jersey, in violation of N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:20-7(a). (Id., ¶ 17.) 2 Plaintiff was also charged, on that same date, with theft, in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey, and with theft of movable property in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, both in violation of N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:20-3(a). (Id., ¶¶ 18, 19.) In connection with these charges, Campa-nello was arrested, fingerprinted, handcuffed, photographed, and temporarily detained. (Id., ¶20.) Plaintiff alleges that the charges against him were filed without probable cause. (Id., ¶ 21.)

Campanello alleges that following his arrest, on June 20, 2005, the Newark Municipal Court dismissed the charges against him, based on the Essex County Prosecutor’s failure to provide discovery. (Id., ¶¶ 23, 24.) Similarly, on October 20, 2005, the Brick Township Municipal Court dismissed the charges against Campanello, following the Ocean County Prosecutor’s failure to provide discovery in the matter. (Id., ¶¶ 29, 30.) The Jersey City Municipal Prosecutor voluntarily dismissed all remaining charges against Plaintiff on February 1, 2007. (Id., ¶ 34.)

Plaintiff filed his Complaint with the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Essex County, on August 23, 2007. Defendants filed a Notice of Removal with this Court on October 11, 2007. Jurisdiction is proper with this Court under 28 U.S.C. § 1441, as issues in the instant action arise under federal law. Jurisdiction is also proper, pursuant to this Court’s diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1332(a). Plaintiffs and Defendants’ citizenship is diverse, and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.00.

*698 II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

A motion for judgment on the pleadings, pursuant to Fed.R.CivP. 12(c), may be filed after the defendant has filed an answer to the complaint. Mele v. Fed. Reserve Bank of N.Y., 359 F.3d 251, 253 n. 1 (3d Cir.2004). 3 The standard for a motion for judgment on the pleadings under Fed. R.Civ.P. 12(c), is the same as that for a motion to dismiss under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b). See Spruill v. Gillis, 372 F.3d 218, 223 (3d Cir.2004) (“There is no material difference in the applicable legal standards.”).

A Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss should be granted only if the plaintiff is unable to articulate “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Twombly, 127 S.Ct. at 1974; see also In re Warfarin Sodium Antitrust Litig., 214 F.3d 395, 397 (3d Cir.2000) (stating that a complaint should be dismissed only if the alleged facts, taken as true, fail to state a claim). “Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) requires only ‘a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,’ in order to ‘give the defendant fair notice of what the ... claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.’ ” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 1964, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957)). “While a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual allegations, a plaintiffs obligation to provide the ‘grounds’ of his ‘entitle[ment] to relief requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Twombly, 127 S.Ct. at 1964-65 (internal citations omitted); see also Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2). “Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level on the assumption that all the allegations in the complaint are true (even if doubtful in fact).” Id. at 1965 (internal citations omitted). “The pleader is required to ‘set forth sufficient information to outline the elements of his claim or to permit inferences to be drawn that these elements exist.’ ” Kost v. Kozakiewicz, 1 F.3d 176, 183 (3d Cir.1993) (quoting 5A Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice & Procedure Civil 2d § 1357 at 340) (2d ed. 1990).

A court must accept as true all allegations in the complaint and all reasonable inferences that can be drawn therefrom, and view them in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Oshiver v. Levin, Fishbein, Sedran & Berman, 38 F.3d 1380, 1384-85 (3d Cir.1994); see also Sturm v. Clark, 835 F.2d 1009, 1011 (3d Cir.1987). The question is whether the claimant can prove any set of facts consistent with his or her allegations that will entitle him to relief, not whether that person will ultimately prevail. Semerenko v. Cendant Corp., 223 F.3d 165, 173 (3d Cir.2000).

While a court will accept well-pled allegations as true for the purposes of the motion, it will not accept bald assertions, unsupported conclusions, unwarranted inferences, or sweeping legal conclusions cast in the form of factual allegations. Morse v. Lower Merion Sch. Dist., 132 F.3d 902, 906 n. 8 (3d Cir.1997). “The defendant bears the burden of showing that no claim has been presented.” Hedges v. United States, 404 F.3d 744, 750 (3d Cir.2005).

*699 In reviewing a motion to dismiss, pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), a court may consider the allegations of the complaint, as well as documents attached to or specifically referenced in the complaint, and matters of public record. Pittsburgh v. W. Penn Power Co., 147 F.3d 256, 259 (3d Cir.1998); see also 5B Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice & Procedure: Civil 3d § 1357 (3d ed. 2007).

III. DISCUSSION

Plaintiffs Complaint sets forth eight causes of action. Count I of the Complaint alleges malicious prosecution by the Port Authority, Stitz, and Garcia. Count II alleges tortious interference with a contract by Port Authority. Count III alleges tortious interference with prospective economic advantage by the Port Authority. The Complaint further alleges, in Count IV, that the Port Authority, Stitz, Garcia, and unknown persons, John Does 1-5 and Jane Does 1-5, engaged in slander per se as against Plaintiff. Count V imputes negligence to all Defendants. Count VI imputes negligence to other unknown persons. Count VII alleges intentional infliction of emotional distress by Haynes, Bro-adbent, Crist, and other unknown persons. Similarly, Count VIII alleges negligent infliction of emotional distress by Haynes, Broadbent, Crist, and other unknown persons.

A. Plaintiffs Claims against Defendants Haynes, Broadbent, and Crist

In Counts V, VII, and VIII of his Complaint, Plaintiff states causes of action against individual Defendants Haynes, 4 Broadbent, and Crist. 5 Count V alleges negligence. Count VII alleges intentional infliction of emotional distress. Count VIII alleges negligent infliction of emotional distress. All three causes of action are subject to a two year statute of limitations. N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:14-2 (“Every action at law for an injury to the person caused by the wrongful act, neglect or default of any person within this State shall be commenced within 2 years next after the cause of any such action shall have accrued. 6 ”); Lopez, 300 A.2d at 565 (noting that negligence actions must be brought within two years of the accrual of the action); see Hardwicke v. American Boychoir School, 188 N.J. 69, 902 A.2d 900, 909 (2006) (noting that claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress are subject to a two year statute of limitations).

Campanello was arrested on January 18, 2005, and terminated the same day. He did not file his Complaint until August 23, 2007, more than two years after his cause of action accrued. 7 Burd v. New Jersey Tel. Co., 76 N.J. 284, 386 A.2d 1310, 1314 (1978) (holding that negligence ae- *700 tions accrue on the date a plaintiff knew or had reason to know of his injuries); Deary v. Three Un-Named Police Officers, 746 F.2d 185, 193-94 (3d Cir.1984) (holding that claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress accrue on the date of arrest) Plaintiffs causes of action against Defendants Haynes, Broadbent, and Crist, set forth in Counts V, VII, and VIII of the Complaint are time-barred and must be dismissed. 8

B. Plaintiffs Claims Against the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Plaintiffs claims against the Port Authority are set forth in Counts I, n, III, IV, and V of the Complaint. Count I alleges malicious prosecution, stemming from the charges filed against Plaintiff for receipt of stolen property, theft, and theft of moveable property. 9 The Second Count alleges tortious interference with Plaintiffs existing contractual relationship with his employer, General Services. Count III alleges that Port Authority’s termination of Plaintiffs employment constitutes tor-tious interference with Plaintiffs prospective economic advantage. The Fourth Count alleges slander. Finally, Count V alleges negligence.

Port Authority moves to dismiss all claims against it on the grounds that Plain *701 tiff failed to comply with the requirements of N.J. Stat. Ann. § 32:1-163. Specifically, Plaintiff filed his claim on August 23, 2007, over two years after the cause of action accrued.

Any tort action premised on state law and brought pursuant to Section 32:1-163, must “be commenced within one year after the cause of action therefore shall have accrued.” 10 Matthews v. Port of N.Y. Auth., 163 N.J.Super. 83, 85, 394 A.2d 172 (Law Div.1978), aff'd, 171 N.J.Super. 38, 407 A.2d 1255 (App.Div.1979) (quoting N.J. Stat. Ann. § 32:1-163). “Unlike a statute of limitations, the requirements are jurisdictional.” Id.

In the instant action, Plaintiff’s causes of action for tortious interference with a contract, tortious interference with prospective economic advantage, slander per se, and negligence, are all tort actions, and each accrued on the date of his termination, January 18, 2005. Thus, Campa-nello’s aforementioned claims against the Port Authority fail to conform to Section 32:l-163’s jurisdictional requirements, because each was filed more than one year after Plaintiffs cause of action accrued. Therefore, these claims are dismissed as against the Port Authority.

C. Plaintiffs Claims Against Detectives Stitz and Garcia

Plaintiffs claims against defendants, Detectives Stitz and Garcia are set forth in Counts I, IV, and V. Count I of the Complaint alleges malicious prosecution. 11 Count IV alleges slander per se. Count V alleges negligence. Under New Jersey law, an action for slander per se must “be commenced within [one] year next after the publication of the alleged libel or slander.” N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:14-3. As previously noted, negligence claims must have been brought within two years of Plaintiffs arrest. Plaintiff filed his Complaint more than two years after his arrest on January 18, 2005. As a result, Counts IV and V, as to Stitz and Garcia, are time-barred and must be dismissed.

D. Malicious Prosecution

Count I of Plaintiffs Complaint alleges malicious prosecution by the Port Authority, and Detectives Stitz 12 and Garcia, in connection with Plaintiffs arrest and the *702 three subsequent criminal actions against him.

“A malicious prosecution action arising out of a criminal prosecution requires proof: (1) that the criminal action was instituted by the defendant against the plaintiff, (2) that it was actuated by malice, (3) that there was an absence of probable cause for the proceeding, and (4) that it was terminated favorably to the plaintiff.” Lind v. Schmid, 67 N.J. 255, 337 A.2d 365, 368 (1975). In the instant action, Defendants contend that Plaintiff fails to establish both favorable termination and the absence of probable cause, in support of his claim. This Court disagrees.

Favorable termination of the prior prosecution is “elemental to the cause of action.” Rubin v. Nowak, 248 N.J.Super. 80, 82, 590 A.2d 249 (App.Div.1991). Whether a proceeding has been terminated favorably to a plaintiff depends “on whether the termination was or was not dispositive as to the accused’s innocence of the crime for which he was charged.” Id. at 83, 590 A.2d 249. In the instant action, the Jersey City Municipal Prosecutor voluntarily dismissed the charges pending against plaintiff. 13 For nearly a century, New Jersey has considered a nolle prosequi 14 by the prosecutor to be a favorable termination, sufficient to maintain a malicious prosecution claim. Id. (citing MacLaughlin v. Lehigh Valley R.R. Co., 93 N.J.L. 263, 108 A. 309 (1919)). Plaintiff has made a sufficient showing that the criminal proceedings against him in the New Jersey Municipal Court terminated in his favor.

Defendants also assert that Plaintiff fails to establish the third element of his malicious prosecution claim — the absence of probable cause. “Probable cause means facts and circumstances that are sufficient to warrant a prudent person, or one of reasonable caution, in believing, in the circumstances shown, that the suspect has committed, is committing, or is about to commit an offense.” Camiolo v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 334 F.3d 345, 363 (3d Cir.2003) (internal quotations and citations omitted).

The question of probable cause in civil claims for false arrest and malicious prosecution is generally a question of fact. See Montgomery v. De Simone, 159 F.3d 120, 124 (3d Cir.1998). At this early juncture, considering Defendants’ 12(c) motion to dismiss, this Court cannot accept automatically Defendants’ version of the facts surrounding Plaintiffs arrest. There has been little discovery as to this issue. The only pieces of evidence before this Court are Plaintiffs voluntary statement, the relevant criminal complaints, a copy of the list of items retrieved from plaintiffs resi *703 dence, and certifications from Detectives Stitz and Garcia, named defendants in this action. Defendants submitted all of these items. Campanello has not been given the opportunity to put forth evidence in support of his burden of proving that no probable cause existed at the time of his arrest. This Court will not deprive Plaintiff of such an opportunity at present. 15 Plaintiffs allegation that Defendants lacked probable cause to file the underlying criminal charges is sufficient to withstand Defendants’ motion.

IV. CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated above, Defendants’ motion is granted in part and denied in part.