OPINION & ORDER
Pro se plaintiff Thomas Logan (“Plaintiff’) brings the instant lawsuit alleging various causes of action against defendants Irina Matveevskii (“Matveevskii”), Tuckahoe Housing Authority (“THA”), Tuckahoe Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, Mark Kamensky (“Kamensky”), and Jeff Zuckerman (“Zuckerman”) (collectively, “Defendants”).
I. Background
A. Factual Background
The following facts are taken from Plaintiffs Third Amended Complaint and, for purposes of this Motion, are accepted as true. Plaintiff currently resides at 31 Midland Place, Apartment 3D, in Tucka-hoe, New York. (Third Am. Compl. (“TAC”) ¶1 (Dkt. No. 104).) The THA, which was incorporated in 1938 as a not-for-profit public corporation, and is charged with providing affordable housing for low-income families, owns and operates a four-building complex called Sanford Gardens, as well as a single-building complex called Jefferson Gardens. (Id, at unnumbered 1 ¶ 2.) In addition, THA administers 175 Section 8 housing choice vouchers, and receives funding under the “capital fund” program, (Id,, at unnumbered 1 ¶2.)
1. Plaintiffs Quest for Reasonable Accommodations
According to Plaintiff, on March 27, 1996, Plaintiff made a written request for a larger apartment to the THA’s then-acting Executive Director. (See id., at unnumbered 2 ¶5.) The THA responded that Plaintiffs family composition did not warrant a two-bedroom unit liké the one that he currently lived in, but that he would be relocated to the first one-bedroom unit to accommodate his family status. (Id.) Roughly a year and a half later, on October 30, 1997, Plaintiff received a letter from the Social Security Administration indicating that he was disabled. (Id., at unnumbered 2 ¶ 6.)
Additionally, on approximately June 19, 2008, according to Plaintiff, the THA was reported to Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) for noncompliance for failing to adequately admin
On or about August 7, 2008, Plaintiff emailed Matveevskii, “describing [his] needs and concerns” as a disabled tenant with a heart condition and a third-floor apartment, to ask for a “reasonable accommodation” for a first-floor apartment at either 31 Midland Place or 25 Midland Place. (Id., at unnumbered 2 ¶8.) Plaintiffs request allegedly went “unanswered and ignored.” (Id.)
On or about March 3, 2010, Plaintiff received a letter from the THA indicating that his rent would be increased from $473 to $527. (Id., at unnumbered 3 ¶ 9.) Around the same time, Plaintiff “requested reasonable accommodations under the Fair Housing Act” to be moved to a lower floor apartment at either 31 Midland Place or 25 Midland Place. (Id., at unnumbered 3 ¶10.) Additionally, Plaintiff requested a formal hearing to “discuss the delay in providing his reasonable accommodation request,” (id.), a request apparently acknowledged on July 30, 2014, (see id., at unnumbered 7 ¶ 32).
On approximately May 12, 2010, Plaintiff learned that the certified letters he sent to the “Board of [Directors” had “never [been] forwarded to them,” despite having signed receipts indicating they were delivered. (Id., at unnumbered 3 ¶ 12.) Accordingly, as apparently described in a police report, he “slapped ... down” the letters on the table, and Matveevskii, concerned for her safety, called the Tuckahoe Police Department, which was dispatched to 4 Union Place as a result. (See id. (internal quotation marks omitted).)
Throughout the coming months, Plaintiffs submissions relating to his desire to be relocated to a new apartment continued: On October 25, 2010, Plaintiffs orthopedic doctor, Dr. Rozbruch, sent a letter to the THA requesting a “reasonable accommodation,” which was allegedly ignored. (Id., at unnumbered 3 ¶ 13 (internal quotation marks omitted).) On approximately December 2, 2010, Plaintiff filed a complaint against Matveevskii and the THA. (Id., at unnumbered 4 ¶14.) On April 2, 2011, Plaintiff “requested a FOIA to the
On approximately July 14, 2011, the THA proposed two offers of what it felt would be “an appropriate accommodation to show a ’good faith’ offer for a ’reasonable accommodation,”’ but which were inappropriate as “the unit locations [would] place [Plaintiffs] disabled mother and [Plaintiff] in further physical harm,” and, as a result, Plaintiff declined the offers based on concern for their physical safety. (Id., at unnumbered 5 ¶ 18.) That request was followed up by a “fraudulent offer” for a unit in 31 Midland Place that was not available for immediate occupancy. (Id., at unnumbered 5 ¶ 19.)
2. The THA’s Alleged Acts of Aggression Towards Plaintiff
On approximately May 10, 2011, Defendants allegedly reported Plaintiff to the “Department of Housing,” indicating that “Plaintiff was housing a pedophile.” (Id., at unnumbered 4 ¶ 16.) As a result, three HUD officers entered Plaintiffs apartment “on the pretense that a pedophile had been living at [his] address for the past 15 years.” (Id.) Plaintiff gave the officers— who had their guns drawn — permission to search the apartment, and the officers showed Plaintiff and his mother a picture of the person for whom they were looking. (Id.) Neither Plaintiff nor his mother recognized the person. (Id.) After the officers finished their search, Plaintiff asked how they came to believe that a pedophile was living at the address. (Id.) The officers told Plaintiff that someone had called the HUD office from the THA and informed them so. (Id.) Plaintiff also called Chief Constan-za at the Tuckahoe Police Department, who confirmed for Plaintiff that the call came from the THA. (Id.) At the time the call was placed, Plaintiff and Matveevskii were “in a law[ ]suit .,. with the Human Rights Commissioner of Westchester ... regarding violations of Tenants rights.” (Id.)
Approximately a week later, on or about May 18,2011, Zuckerman, the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the THA, wrote a letter to Plaintiffs sister, the substance of which seemed to be that Zucker-man was pressured by others to seek her resignation from some organization affiliated with the THA in light of the perception that Plaintiffs family had been “stealing extraordinary sums of money.”
3. Lease Terminations and Plaintiffs Search for a New Apartment
On November 4, 2011, THA, or its representatives, “terminated [Plaintiffs] lease without ’good cause,”’ and, the same day, refused a request that Plaintiffs brother, John Gunther, be permitted to reside in Plaintiffs apartment to look after John Gunther’s 83-year-old disabled mother,
In spring 2012, Plaintiff apparently corresponded with Defendants’ counsel about his housing options. On or about April 3, 2012, Plaintiff sent a letter to Defendants’ attorney, Mr. Leo (“Leo”), requesting a copy of the “breakdown of his rent calculations” and to be issued a new lease. (Id., at unnumbered 6 ¶24.) Around that same time, Leo sent Plaintiff an offer for the unit at 31 Midland Place, Apt. ID, and Leo further “advised' [Plaintiff] that the Unit at 31 Midland Place Apt. ID was not the ’apartment for me,’” going on to say that the “’1’ floor apartment in building 31 Midland Place” was neither handicap accessible nor compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). (Id., at unnumbered 6 ¶ 25.) In order to take possession of the unit, Plaintiff would have to waive his rights to a handicap accessible/ADA compliant apartment, and further assent to the unit’s continued noncompliance. (Id.) Leo then presented Plaintiff with a new lease containing those provisions, and, about one month later, Defendants’ lawyer sent Plaintiff, John Gunther, and Anne Gunther a letter regarding signing the lease. (See id., at unnumbered 6 ¶¶ 25-26.) '
Additionally, sometime around approximately September 11, 2013, Plaintiff received a letter from Defendants’ lawyer, Kamensky, accusing Plaintiff of loud, abusive, and aggressive behavior when asking someone named Ms. Jones (“Jones”) questions about his rent-several days earlier. (Id., at unnumbered 6 ¶27.) The letter further indicated that Matveevskii and Jones “felt threatened by [Plaintiffs] behavior” and called the police. (Id.) The letter warned Plaintiff that if this sort of behavior continued, it would result in the termination of Plaintiffs lease. (Id.)
In addition to these disputes,' Plaintiff and Defendants also found themselves in various legal entanglements: On January 29, 2014, Matveevskii submitted an affidavit in support of a Motion to Dismiss, which stated that Matveevskii provided a “true and accurate copy of documentation showing Plaintiffs annual rent calculations for years 2009, 2010, 2011 along with a copy of the Public Housing lease Agreement, [d]ated February 18, 2009,” but which, allegedly, was in fact “invalid” “documentation” that “d[id] not correspond to the years in question” or “follow the guidelines esta published [sic] by HUD and the Fair Housing Act.” (Id., at unnumbered 6 ¶ 29.) On or about April 25, 2014, Plaintiff submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to, among others, the THA for a copy of his rental budget and computations dating back to 2009, (See id., at unnumbered 6-7 ¶ 28.)
On approximately June 18, 2014, Plaintiff received notice signed by Matveevskii that his lease was terminated, because he apparently had not “provid[ed] re-certification within the allotted time.” (Id., at unnumbered 7 ¶ 30.) On July 8, 2014, Defendants “replied with acknowledgment and receipt for recertification,” but indicated that they would not take Plaintiffs medical expenses into account when recertifying his rent. (See id., at unnumbered 7 ¶31.)
4. Putative Legal Misdeeds '
In his Third Amended Complaint, Plaintiff also posits a number of other wrongs that Defendants allegedly committed. First, he claims that the THA violated the Architectural Barriers Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 4151-57. (Id., at unnumbered 8 f 3.) Additionally, as noted, Plaintiff asserts that the THA was reported to HUD in the summer of 2008 for noncompliance with § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and regulations promulgated thereunder, including “24 [C.F.R.] Part 8” and 24 C.F.R. § 960.206(b)(2). (Id., at unnumbered 9 ¶ 4.) In addition, Plaintiff alleges that the THA discriminates against the disabled in that (1) it does not have an appropriate number of handicap-accessible units, (2) the Policy of the THA does not accommodate disabled tenants, (3) there is a continued practice to deny requests for reasonable accommodations “[o]ver applicants who[] are working, non-disabled[,] or elderly,” and, with respect to Plaintiff specifically, and (4) by “refusing to provide ‘reasonable accommodations’ that were requested in March of 1997 and on several other occasions following the initial request.” (Id., at unnumbered 9 ¶¶ 5-6.) Plaintiff also alleges that Defendants “[i]mproper[ly] executed] .:. the [rjental [ajgreement,” in that the lease “stated ... that if a reasonable accommodation is needed ... [t]he THA has the right to make changes in the utilization of the currently rented units to make changes to accommodate the needs of a disabled tenant.” (Id., at unnumbered 9-10 ¶ 8.) Similarly, by “prolonging] providing ... the ‘reasonable accommodations,’” Defendants allegedly “[i]ntentionally plac[ed] [Plaintiff’s] family in physical harm ón a daily basis,” as exemplified by the fact that Plaintiff twice fell down the stairs. (Id., at unnumbered 10 ¶ 9.) Plaintiff similarly accuses the Defendants of “[d]elay and refusal to provide reasonable accommodations,” citing 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)(3), a provision of the Fair Housing Act clarifying the scope of discrimination within the Act’s provisions concerning persons with disabilities. (Id., at unnumbered 10 ¶ 10.)
Additionally, Plaintiff alleges that (1) Matveevskii “[d]iscriminat[ed] against a black family” by saying that Plaintiff “had a ‘gang1 coming after her ... in a public meeting whereby [sic] she called 911 to come investigate,” when, in fact, “[t]here was no gang but a gathering of tenants for the monthly tenants meeting.” (Id., at unnumbered 9 ¶ 7.)
Somewhat duplicatively, Plaintiff alleges “[h]arassments/[r]etaliation against [Plaintiff] due to [his] having filed a complaint with the Dept, of HUD” for (a) “noncom
Additionally, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants are responsible for the “[i]nten-tional [flnfliction of undue emotional distress,” inasmuch as they “created a state of depression in [Plaintiffs] mother that eventually le[]d to her untimely death,” and “also placed an increased stressf ] load on [Plaintiff],” through “continued attacks against [Plaintiffs] family, bringing to court over rent [sic], writing letters accusing [Plaintiffs] family of stealing from the THA, and continually calling the police.” (Id., at unnumbered 12-13 ¶ 15.)
Plaintiff also imputes a variety of other “improper” actions to Defendants. First, he says, Defendants, in a number of respects, “[i]ntentional[ly] [i]mproper[ly] calculate[ed] ... [his] rent,” including by refusing Plaintiff copies of all his rent receipts and his signed 50059 Lease Change forms showing year-to-year changes in rent, “mandated by DCHR, HUD, and the Fair Housing act,” and also by refusing to accept medical deductions in calculating his rent, which “can be construed as trying to de-regulate the THA rental housing programs.” (Id., at unnumbered 11 ¶ 12.) Second, in a set of allegations he categorizes as “[i]mproper use of services,” Plaintiff says Defendants “t[ook] him to court for an improper eviction 4 times,” “utilize[ed] the Tuckahoe police department for unwarranted reasons,” including when Matveevskii called 911 to say that Plaintiff was “threatening and scaring her,” and by reporting Plaintiffs family to “the Department of HUD Homeland security” and to the “Elder Abuse Hotline.” (Id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 13.) Next, Plaintiff accuses Defendants of “[i]mproper[ly] handling ... [his] private and personal information,” including through “sale of personal information that was to be safe[ ]guarded under the Rights to Privacy within the boundaries of the Fair Housing Act.” (Id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 14.) Additionally, Plaintiff accuses Defendants of “[interference of [his] rights as a tenant to have equal enjoyment.” (Id., at unnumbered 13 ¶ 16.) Finally, Plaintiff alleges “[discrimination with regards to family status,” in that Defendants attempted to remove Anne Gunther from 31 Midland Place by calling Adult Protective Services with the complaint that she could not care for herself. (Id., at unnumbered 14 ¶ 17.)
At the end of his TAC, Plaintiff breaks out separately a one-item list of his counts, comprising a single count of negligence. As Plaintiff alleges therein:
Defendant failed to perform the duties in the written contract in a safe and effective manner[,] leading to the injuries sustained by Plaintiff. That if the reasonable accommodations had been granted when originally requested in 1996, the injuries that resulted in the falls [sic] down the stairs would not have occurred. Matveevskii was aware of [Plaintiffs] walking disabilities that have been documented several times by [Plaintiffs] doctors.
Falling down the stairs from the 3r[d] floor 2 times. As a result of the fall has [sic] had to have knee surgery on the right [k]nee and will now as a result of the second fall have to have surgery onthe left knee with possible back surgery along with nerve damage.
(Id., at unnumbered 14.)
B. Procedural Background
Plaintiff filed a Complaint on December 2, 2010, in which he named Matveevskii and TELA as Defendants. (See Dkt. No. 2.) On April 7, 2011, Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the causes of action that he had asserted against Matveevskii without prejudice, leaving only the causes of action that he had asserted against TELA. (See Dkt. No. 9.) Plaintiff then voluntarily dismissed the causes of action that he had asserted against THA as well, again without prejudice, on May 13, 2011. (See Dkt. No. 11.) Approximately two months later, on July 11, 2011, Plaintiff moved to reopen the case and file an Amended Complaint. (See Dkt. No. 12.) On December 14, 2011, Plaintiffs case was reassigned to this Court. (See Dkt. No. 17.) The Court granted Plaintiffs request to reopen the ease and file an Amended Complaint on January 12, 2012. (See Dkt. No. 19.) On January 31, 2012, Plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint. (See Dkt. No. 21.) Defendants filed an Answer in response to Plaintiffs Amended Complaint on June 6, 2012. (See Dkt. No. 32.) On March 7, 2013, Plaintiff submitted an application for pro bono counsel, which the Court subsequently denied. (See Dkt. Nos. 48, 49.)
On August 9, 2013, Defendants moved for summary judgment, (see Dkt. Nos. OI-GO), and certain then-defendants affiliated with HUD moved to dismiss, (see Dkt. Nos. 56-59). On September 25, 2013, Plaintiff requested an extension of time to respond to the motions, which request the Court granted, (see Dkt. No. 72), and, on October 28, 2013, Plaintiff submitted his opposition to the motions, (see Dkt. No. 89). Defendants then submitted a reply memorandum in support of their motion for summary judgment on November 14, 2013, (see Dkt. No. 73), and the HUD then-defendants submitted their reply memorandum the next day as well, (see Dkt. No. 75). On May 14, 2014, in an attempt to clarify certain aspects of Plaintiffs allegations, the Court directed the parties to submit supplemental memoranda of law. (See Dkt. No. 86.) Defendants thereafter submitted a supplemental reply memorandum on May 28, 2014, (see Dkt. No. 87), and, on May 21, June 2, June 8, June 13, and June 25, 2014, Plaintiff submitted various documents and photographs to the Court, none of which was responsive to the Court’s May 14,2014 Order, (see Dkt. Nos. 90-92).
On September 29,2014, the Court issued its Opinion and Order (the “Opinion”) granting summary judgment in favor of Defendants, and further granting the HUD then-defendants’ motion to dismiss. (See Dkt. No. 93.) That Opinion also granted Plaintiff leave within 30 days to file a Second Amended Complaint. (See id.) Plaintiff then submitted a number of letters to the Court, including (1) a letter “askfing] for an extension the motion [sic] made by Mr. Tyra R Saechao of kbr LLP,” (see Dkt. No. 94), to which the Court instructed Defendants to respond, (see Dkt. No. 94-95), (2) another letter submitted “to this [C]ourt to ask for a DISONANCE motion [sic],” (see Dkt. No. 96), and (3) a letter enclosing a copy of a housing discrimination complaint apparently submitted by Plaintiff to HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, (see Dkt. No. 97), and (4) a letter “[e]nclos[ing] ... additional information that support[s][Plaintiffs] case,” and attaching a letter to Matveevskii from THA’s commercial general liability insurance provider, (see Dkt. No. 98). On February 23, 2015, the Court issued an Order informing Plaintiff that he had 30 more days to file a Second Amended Complaint if he chose to do so, but that, otherwise, his case would be closed. (See Dkt. No. 99.)
Thereafter, on April 17, 2015, Plaintiff submitted a letter to the Court “[e]n-clos[ing] ... some of the information [Plaintiff had been] gathering,” and informing the Court that “Matveevskii .., has [Plaintiff] back in local court in the Village of Tuckahoe.” (See Dkt. No. 103.) Likewise, on April 21, 2015, the Court received a second letter from Plaintiff, indicating that Plaintiff had had an accident involving his left eye, and that he may have a concussion, but that, nevertheless, he was' “trying very hard to make [the Court’]s dead[ ]line' of 30 days.” (See Dkt. No. 102.)
Finally, on April 29, 2015, Plaintiff submitted his Third Amended Complaint. (See Dkt. No. 104.) On May 13, 2015, Defendants submitted a pre-motion letter to the Court in advance of their anticipated Motion to Dismiss, (see Dkt. No, 105), which the Court granted leave to file on May 19, 2015, (see Dkt. No. 107). On May 19, 2015, counsel for Adolfo Carrión and Mirza Or-riols submitted a letter noting. that the TAC did not name any HUD employee or HUD itself as a defendant, and informed the Court that the Government did not intend to' file an answer or a pre-motion letter. (See Dkt. No. 106.)
On June 5, 2015, Plaintiff submitted a request dated May 25, 2015 to the Court asking for a “ruling on the information requested[ ]in [Plaintiffs] two [Freedom of Information Law requests]” sent to THA and a '“[r]uling on how many lawyers ... Plaintiff ha[s] to answer[ ] to,” issues in which the Court declined to involve itself prior to discovery. (See Dkt. No. 108.) In support of this letter, Plaintiff submitted yet another letter to the Court attaching additional documents on June 11, 2015, which Plaintiff asserted would “support [his] argument and make a strong ease for a favorable decision by the Supreme Court.” (See Dkt. No. 118.)
On June 18,' 2015, Defendants submitted an Answer to the TAC, (see Dkt. No. 109), which they then withdrew that same day, (see Dkt. No. 110), before submitting their Motion to Dismiss and accompanying papers the following day, (see Dkt. Nos. Ill— 17). By letter dated July 14, 2015, Plaintiff submitted a letter informing that Court that he had contacted an attorney who agreed to review his case, and asked for an extension to file his opposition by August 21, 2015, a request the Court granted. (See Dkt. No. 119.) On August 19, 2015, Plaintiff submitted a one-page self-styled “Response Complaint” to the Court informing the Court that it was his “understanding under the Fifth Amendment ... [that] [he] [is] entitled to due process,” and summarizing what he believes that proposition to entail. (See Dkt. No. 120.) On September 21, 2015, Defendants submitted their Reply Memorandum, arguing that Plaintiffs August 19, 2015 submission did not constitute an opposition to their Motion, and requesting that Plaintiffs claims be deemed abandoned. (See Dkt. No. 121.)
On October 1, 2015, Plaintiff submitted a letter to the Court attaching various other
II. Discussion
A. Standard of Review
“The standards of review for a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(1) for lack, of subject matter jurisdiction and under 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim are ’substantively identical.’” Gonzalez v. Option One Mortg. Corp., No. 12-CV-1470,
1. Rule 12(b)(1)
■-.“A federal, court has subject matter jurisdiction- oyer a cause of action only when it has authority to adjudicate the cause pressed in the complaint.” Bryant v. Steele, 25 F.Supp.3d 233, 241 (E.D.N.Y.2014) (internal quotation marks omitted). “Determining the existence of subject matter jurisdiction is a threshold inquiry[,] and a claim is properly dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1) when the district court lacks ¡the statutory or constitutional power to.adjudicate it.” Morrison v. Nat’l Austl. Bank Ltd.,
2. Rule 12(b)(6)' '
“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 entitlement to relief requires more than labels
For the purposes of Defendants’ Motion To Dismiss, the Court is required to consider as true the factual allegations contained in the Amended Complaint. See Ruotolo v. City of N.Y.,
B. Analysis
1. Subject Matter Jurisdiction
As with his First Amended Complaint, it is less than entirely clear what claims Plaintiff intends to press in his TAC. Defendants rightly note that Plaintiff asserts only one cause of action for negligence. (See Mem. of Law in Supp. of Mot. To Dismiss Third Am. Comp. (“Defs.’ Mem.”) 4 (Dkt. No. 113).) Because negligence is not a federal question, and because diversity of citizenship is lacking, Defendants argue that this matter must be dismissed for want of subject matter jurisdiction. (Id. at 4-5.)
Because the Parties are non-diverse (i.e., New Yorkers), (see TAC, at unnumbered 1
2. What Are Plaintiffs Claims?
Defendants move to dismiss Plaintiffs claim on several grounds. Before delving into those reasons and whether Defendants are correct, it is first necessary to determine what, exactly, Plaintiff is claiming. By the Court’s liberal read, Plaintiff at least attempts to assert a claim for the following:
• Failure to provide a reasonable accommodation and a hearing on those accommodations.8
• Violations of the Architectural Barriers Act.9
• Violations of the Rehabilitation Act § 504.10
• Violations of HUD regulations.11
• Unspecified disability discrimination.12
• Racial discrimination, including allegations said Plaintiff had a “gang” of people coming after Matveevskii.13
• Unspecified discrimination based on familial status. 14
• Unspecified discrimination against the elderly.15
• Violations of the Fair Housing Act, including failure to accommodate and “Rights to Privacy” under it.16
• Violations of health, safety, building, planning, and occupancy codes, and coercing Plaintiff into accepting a unit with “known flooding[ ].”17
• Rent over-charging, including by not allowing medical deductions and/or not providing Plaintiff with breakdowns of his rent calculations.18
• Terminating Plaintiffs lease and/or evicting him.19
• Calling the police.20
• Informing HUD and/or the Department of Homeland Security that Plaintiff was housing a pedophile.21
• Calling the Elder Abuse Hotline.22
• Putting stress on and/or otherwise attacking Plaintiffs family.23
• Not letting Plaintiffs brother live in the apartment, and stalking1 him “for the purpose of the affidavit of eviction.”24
• Violations of “Real Property Law, The Apartment Law.”25
• Interfering with Plaintiffs “rights as a tenant to have equal enjoyment” to his apartment.26
• Negligence, in that Plaintiff fell down the stairs twice.27
For the following reasons, to the extent these claims raise a federal question, dismissal is appropriate.
3. Types of Discrimination
As noted, Plaintiffs Third Amended Complaint may well implicate the Fair Housing Act (“FHA”), the ADA, and § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The FHA proscribes “refus[al] to sell or rent after the making of a bona fide offer, or to refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any person because of race, color,
In the context of a disability claim, “plaintiffs who allege violations under the ADA, the FHA, and the Rehabilitation Act may proceed under any or all of three theories: disparate treatment, disparate impact, and failure to make reasonable accommodation.” Reg’l Econ. Cmty. Action Program, Inc. v. City of Middletown,
Read liberally, Plaintiffs TAC can be taken to assert (1) a claim for disparate treatment under the FHA, the ADA, and Rehabilitation Act, and (2) a claim for failure to accommodate under these same statutes. ■
a. Disparate Treatment
As noted in the Opinion resolving the prior Motions for Summary Judgment and To Dismiss, “subtle differences” exist among these laws. Logan v. Matveevskii,
i FHA, ADA
To begin, a plaintiff asserting a claim of housing discrimination must establish that the basis upon which’ he was discriminated against was “a significant factor” in the position taken by the defendants. See Reg’l Econ. Cmty. Action Program,
While this is not a pleading requirement, and a plaintiff‘“need [not] allege discriminatory animus for [his or] her disparate treatment claim to be sufficiently pleaded,” Boykin v. KeyCorp,
Here, Plaintiff simply has not alleged sufficient facts to conclude that he was in any way directly discriminated against on the basis of race, family status, age, or disability. With respect to racial discrimination, Plaintiff has alleged (1) in conclusory fashion that he was the victim of racial discrimination or, at best redundantly, “[discrimination against a black family,” (TAC, at unnumbered 9 ¶ 7; id., at unnumbered 11 ¶ 11(f)), and (2) that Matveevskii called 911 over Plaintiff’s presence at a meeting, where she reported that
This latter observation also dooms any possible disparate treatment discrimination claims based upon disability, age, or familial status. (See TAC, at unnumbered 8-9 ¶4; id., at unnumbered 11 ¶ 11(f); id., at unnumbered 14 ¶ 17.) The latter two are particularly infirm because age is not a protected class under the FHA, see § 3604(a), (b); see also Quad Enters., LLC v. Town of Southold,
ii. Rehabilitation Act
In contrast with Plaintiffs FHA and ADA claims, “[t]o establish a prima facie case of discrimination under the Rehabilitation Act ..., [a] plaintiff[ ] must show that the defendants denied the permit solely because of the disability.” Reg’l Econ. Cmty. Action Program, Inc.,
b. Reasonable Accommodation
In its last Opinion, the Court found that Plaintiffs failure-to-accommodate claims under the ADA, FHA, and Rehabilitation Act all failed because (1) Plaintiff could not make out a prima facie claim, and (2) Plaintiff could not show that Defendants constructively denied his accommodation request. With respect to the former, the Court found that Plaintiffs claim failed because Defendants offered to reasonably accommodate Plaintiffs needs for a lower-level apartment when, in March 2011, they proposed moving a family out of a two-bedroom, handicap-accessible unit at 4 Union Place. See Logan,
With regard to the reasonable accommodation issue, it has already been decided that Defendants’ March 2011 offer was a reasonable accommodation of Plaintiffs need for a lower-level apartment. Plaintiff again has provided no basis to conclude that he conveyed additional needs to Defendants such that the March 2011 offer was somehow unreasonable. (See generally TAC.) Therefore, absent some reason to depart from its prior decision, the Court declines to do so.
As a general matter, “[w]hen a court has ruled on an issue, that decision should generally be adhered to by that court in subsequent stages in the same case unless cogent and compelling reasons militate otherwise.” Grimes v. Fremont Gen. Corp.,
With regard to the latter, given the procedural posture of this case, the Court is obligated to accept as true Plaintiffs assertion that he sent an 'email on August 7, 2008 to Matveevskii — the same date as the correspondence the Court declined to consider in its last Opinion — describing “[his] needs and concerns .for being a disabled tenant with a heart condition, especially with [his] apartment being located on the 3rd floor and the difficulty [he] [was] experiencing walking up and down the 3 flights of stairs” and “askfing] for a ’reasonable accommodation’ for a first floor apartment in either 31 Midland [P]lace or 25 Midland Place.” (TAC, at unnumbered 2 ¶ 8.) However, apart from Plaintiffs assertion that his request went “unanswered and ignored,” Plaintiff offers no reason to believe that the delay was caused by other than benign reasons.
To be sure, taking August 7, 2008 and the March 2011 reasonable accommodation as the relevant, dates, Plaintiff alleges a delay of over two and a half years, which courts have found sufficient to constitute constructive denial of a reasonable accommodation; See Bhogaita v. Altamonte Heights Condo. Ass’n, Inc.,
As explained in the last Opinion, “case law makes clear that the length of the delay is not the only factor that courts consider in determining whether a constructive denial has taken place[;] [instead, to make out a claim of constructive denial, a plaintiff bears the burden of demonstrating discriminatory intent.” Logan,
4. Architectural Barriers Act
Next, Plaintiff invokes the Architectural Barriers Act (“ABA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 4151-56. (See TAC, at unnumbered 8 ¶ 3; id., at unnumbered 10 ¶ 11(b).) “Congress enacted the ABA ’to insure whenever possible that physically handicapped persons will have ready access to, and use of, [federal] buildings.’” Cooke v. U.S. Bureau of Prisons,
any building or facility (other than (A) a privately owned residential structure not leased by the Government for subsidized housing programs and (B) any building or facility on a military installation designed and constructed primarily for use by able bodied military personnel) the intended use for which either will require that such building or facility be accessible to the public, or may result in the employment or residence therein of physically handicapped persons, which building or facility is—
(1) to be constructed or altered by or on behalf of the United States;
(2) to be leased in whole or in part by the United States after August 12, 1968;
(3) to be financed in whole or in part by a grant or a loan made by the United States after August 12,1968, if such building or facility is subject to standards for design, construction, or alteration issued under authority of the law authorizing such grant or loan; or
(4) -to be constructed under authority of the National Capital Transportation Act of 1960, the National Capital Transportation Act of 1965, or title III of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact.
42 U.S.C. § 4151.
With respect to residential structures in particular, the statute further provides that:
[ t]he Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall prescribe standards for the design, construction, and alteration of buildings which are residential structures subject to this chapter to insure whenever possible that physically handicapped persons will have ready access to, and use of, such buildings.
42 U.S.C. § 4153. The relevant regulations further define what HUD considers to be a “residential structure.” See 24 C.F.R. § 40.2. Furthermore, 24 C.F.R. § 40.4 provides that “[residential structures subject
The UFAS were promulgated in connection with input from the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (“ATBCB”), see Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards, 49 Fed. Reg. 31528, 31528 (Aug. 7, 1984) (“Issuance of this document follows consideration of public comments received on proposed uniform standards and involved close cooperation with the staff of the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.”), a body created in 1973, see Act of Sept. 26, 1973, Pub. L. No. 93-112, § 502, 87 Stat. 355, which, today, is charged with, among other things, “ensur[ing] compliance with the standards, prescribed pursuant to the [ABA],” 29 U.S.C. § 792(b)(1), as well as establishing and maintaining “minimum guidelines and requirements for the standards issued pursuant to the [ABA],” id. § 792(b)(3)(A). Importantly, the ATBCB is empowered to “conduct investigations, hold public hearings, and issue such orders as it deems necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of the [ABA].” Id. § 792(e)(1).
Since the passage of the ABA and the development of the ATBCB, a number of courts have grappled with whether and when a plaintiff may maintain a suit for alleged violations of the ABA. A number of well-reasoned decisions have concluded that a plaintiff cannot bring a private cause of action pursuant to the ABA, at least not without first presenting a claim to the ATBCB. See, e.g., Weber v. Eash, No. 15-CV-225,
It makes sense that the ABA would not provide a private right of action. 29 U.S.C. § 792(e) expressly contemplates both' an investigatory mission for the ATBCB and judicial review of its orders. Because, “[t]he judicial task is to interpret the statute Congress has passed to determine whether it displays an intent to create not just- a private right but also a
Here, “[P]laintiff does not allege that [he] filed a complaint with the ATBCB and that [he] appeals any final order of that body,” Gray,
5. Rent Overcharges
Plaintiff also includes a number of claims concerning Defendants’ alleged miscalculation of his rent, apparently given their failure to consider certain medical deductions and otherwise not providing Plaintiff with breakdowns of his rent calculations. (See TAC, at unnumbered 6 ¶ 24; id., at unnumbered 6-7 ¶ 29; id., at unnumbered 7 ¶ 31; id., at unnumbered 11 ¶ 12.) Defendants argue that Plaintiffs rental rate issues were resolved by a stipulation on the record in the Village Court of Tuckahoe in April 2013, and that his claim of rent overcharge was dismissed by the New York State Supreme Court, in a decision that Plaintiff did not appeal. (See Defs.’ Mem. 11 n.6 (citing Decl. of Joan M. Gil-bride (“Gilbride Decl,”) Ex. E (Dkt. No. 116); Gilbride Decl. Ex. F).) In essence, Defendants argue that Plaintiffs claims are barred by the doctrine of res judicata.
“A federal court must give to a state-court judgment the same preclusive effect as would be given that judgment under the law of the [s]tate in which the judgment was rendered.” O’Connor v. Pierson,
Here, res judicata bars Plaintiffs rent claims. First, the Supreme Court’s Decision and Order made clear that it dismissed Plaintiffs rent overcharge claim pursuant to C.P.L.R. 3211(a)(1), (see Gil-bride Deck Ex. F 2-3), a determination sufficiently final to trigger res judicata, see Corsini v. Bloomberg,
Conceptually, it is possible that, index-number reference notwithstanding, Plaintiff also claims improper rent calculation for subsequent conduct, at least inasmuch
6. Does a Federal Question Remain?
Having dismissed Plaintiffs FHA, ADA, Rehabilitation Act, and ABA claims, the presence of a federal question in this case is no longer quite so clear. Plaintiff makes three allegations that tread near issues of federal law; however, none is sufficient to create a federal question. First, Plaintiff persists in claiming that Defendants failed to comply with certain federal housing regulations, (see TAC, at unnumbered 2 ¶ 7; id. at unnumbered 8-9 ¶ 4; id. at unnumbered 11 ¶ 11(g)); however, as noted in the last Opinion, “there is generally no private right of action to enforce HUD regulations.” Logan,
The remaining claims in Plaintiffs TAC — to the extent they are claims at all — pose no federal question. Indeed, Plaintiffs remaining grievances have to do with violations of various local codes, (see id.,' at unnumbered 11 ¶¶ 11(h) — ll(i)), Defendants terminating Plaintiffs lease and/or evicting him, (see id., at unnumbered 5 ¶¶ 21-22; id., at unnumbered 7 ¶ 30; id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 13(a); id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 14(a); id, at unnumbered 12-13 ¶ 15; id., at unnumbered 13 ¶ 16(b)), calling the police, (see id., at unnumbered 3 ¶-12; id., at unnumbered 6 ¶27; id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 13(b); id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 14(a)), calling HUD and/or the Department of Homeland Security to claim that Plaintiff was housing a pedophile, (see id., at unnumbered 4 ¶ 16; id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 13(c); id., at unnumbered 13 ¶ 16(a); id., at unnumbered 14 ¶ 17), calling the Elder Abuse Hotline, (see id., at unnumbered 8 ¶37; id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 13(d); id., at unnumbered 14 ¶ 17), putting stress on and/or otherwise attacking Plaintiffs family, (see id., at unnumbered 4-5 ¶ 17; id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 14(a); id., at unnumbered 12-13 ¶ 15), violations of the “Real Property Laws, The Apartment Law,” (see id., at unnumbered 11 ¶ 11(e); id., at unnumbered 13-14 ¶ 16(f)), interfering with Plaintiffs “rights as a tenant to have equal enjoyment” to his apartment, (see id., at unnumbered 13 ¶ 16), and negligence, (see id., at unnumbered 10 ¶ 9; id., at unnumbered 14). Plaintiff has provided no basis to conclude that these allegations implicate a federal question, and, indeed, they at best state a claim for relief under state law. In such circumstances, the Court may decline jurisdiction over the remaining state claims, as the Court opts now to do. See United Mine Workers of Am. v. Gibbs,
III. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiffs TAC is dismissed in its entirety. Because this is Plaintiffs Third Amended Complaint, the dismissal is with prejudice. See, e.g., Denny v. Barber,
The Clerk of the Court is respectfully directed to terminate the pending Motion, (see Dkt. No.lll) and to close this case. SO ORDERED.
Notes
. The docket also includes as defendants Adolpho Orriol and Mirza Orriol, (see Dkt.), and the Second Amended Complaint — but not the Third — includes as defendants "Adolofo Carrion” and “Mirza Orriol (A.K.A. Mirzal Negron Morales),” (compare Dkt. No. 100, with Dkt. No. 104). However, in light of (1) the letter from counsel to former Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD”) director Adolfo Carrión and HUD Deputy Regional Administrator Mirza Orriols noting their apparent omission from the Third
. "The housing choice voucher program is the federal government’s major program for assisting, very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market.” U.S, Dep't of Hous. & Urban Dev., Housing Choice Vouchers Fact Sheet, http://portal.hud.gov/ hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/housing_choice_ voucher_program_section_8 ‘ (last visited March 21, 2016).
. Here and elsewhere, Plaintiff refers to "Defendant.” (See TAC, at unnumbered 1 ¶ 3.) Because Plaintiff says early on in his TAC that "Defendant is the Tuckahoe Housing Authority,” (see id., at unnumbered 1 ¶ 2), despite the fact that Plaintiff has, in fact, sued multiple defendants, this Opinion will assume that such references are properly understand as alluding to the THA.
. More specifically, Plaintiff alleges that "[o]n or about July 30, 2014, Defendant’s attorney Mr. Kamensky initially acknowledged the request of Plaintiff for a 'formal hearing' (4 years later) as requested in Item 9 [sic] of this complaint.” (See TAC at unnumbered 7 ¶ 32.)
. Plaintiff’s allegation, which is unclear, reads:
On or about May 18, 2011 LI Defendant (Zuckerman, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the THA) wrote a letter to Trudy, Plaintiff's sister questioning her ability to contribute to “our Board and the THA.” Zuckerman stated that he has been deluged by members of the community as well as Board members to seek her resignation because you (Trudy) "had to have known” that your family members were stealing extraordinary sums of money, while other residents were legally paying their rents required by law. These people find it more than a little uncomfortable having you now "represent” their interests .... This letter continues to "bad mouth” Trudy and Plaintiff’s family within the rest of the letter.
(TAC, at unnumbered 4 ¶ 17 (ellipses in original).)
. Context makes clear that Anne Gunther is also Plaintiff's mother.
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 2 ¶ 8; id., at unnumbered 3 ¶ 10; id., at unnumbered 3 ¶ 11; id., at unnumbered 3 ¶ 13; id., at unnumbered 5 ¶¶ 18-19; id. at unnumbered 6 ¶25; id. at unnumbered 7 ¶¶ 32-34; id. at unnumbered 9 ¶¶ 5-6; id., at unnumbered 9-10 ¶¶ 8-11(a); id., at unnumbered 13 ¶ 16.)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 8 ¶ 3; id. TAC, at unnumbered 10 ¶ 11(b).)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 8-9 ¶ 4; id., at unnumbered 11 ¶ 11(c).)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 2 ¶ 7; id. at unnumbered 8-9 ¶ 4; id. at unnumbered ¶ 11(g).)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 8-9 ¶ 4; id., at unnumbered 11 ¶ 11(f).)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 4 ¶ 15; id., at unnumbered 9 ¶7; id., at unnumbered 11 ¶ 11(f).)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 11 ¶ 11(f); id., at unnumbered 14 ¶ 17.)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 11 ¶ 11 (Í).)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 10 ¶ 10; id., at unnumbered 11 ¶¶ 11(d), 11(g); id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 14.)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 11 ¶¶ 11(h)-ll(i); id., at unnumbered 13 ¶ 16(c).)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 6 ¶ 24; id., at unnumbered 6-7 ¶ 29; id., at unnumbered 7 ¶ 31; id., at unnumbered 11 ¶ 12.)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 5 ¶¶ 21-22; id., at unnumbered 7 ¶ 30; id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 13(a); id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 14(a); id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 15; id., at unnumbered 13 ¶ 16(b).)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 3 ¶ 12; id. at unnumbered 6 ¶ 27; id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 13(b); id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 14(a).)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 4 ¶ 16; id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 13(c); id., at unnumbered 13 ¶ 16(a).)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 8 ¶ 37; id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 13(d); id., at unnumbered 14 ¶ 17.)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 4-5 ¶ 17; id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 14(a); id., at unnumbered 12-13 ¶ 15.)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 5 ¶ 20; id., at unnumbered 6 ¶ 23; id., at unnumbered 13 ¶¶ 16(d) — (f).)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 11 ¶ 11(e); id., at unnumbered 13-14 ¶ 16(f).)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 13 ¶ 16.)
. (See TAC, at unnumbered 10 ¶ 9; id., at unnumbered 14.)
. Although this language refers to “municipal decision-makers,” the doctrine is also applied against private actors as well. Cf. L.C.,
. It is possible that Plaintiff's many allegations concerning Defendants' purported mistreatment of his family — specifically, stalking and forbidding Plaintiff’s brother from living in the apartment, (see TAC, at unnumbered 5 ¶ 20; id., at unnumbered 6 ¶ 23; id., at unnumbered 13 ¶¶ 16(d) — (f)), calling the Elder Abuse Hotline, (see id., at unnumbered 8 ¶ 37; id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 13(d)), putting stress on or otherwise attacking Plaintiff's family, (id., at unnumbered 4, ¶ 17; id., at unnumbered 12 ¶ 14(a)) — could be construed as an effort to show that Defendants discriminated against Plaintiff on the basis of familial status. However, given the specialized and even arguably unintuitive meaning of "familial status” as defined in § 3602(k), coupled with the non-cognizability of age claims under the FHA, they do not give rise to a housing discrimination claim.
. In the prior Opinion, the Court noted the "paucity of case law in the Second Circuit addressing the issue of constructive denial of a request for a reasonable accommodation under the FHA, Title II of the ADA, and the Rehabilitation Act.” See Logan,
. Plaintiff does, however, claim that his request was "ignored,” (see TAC, at unnumbered 2 ¶ 8); however, that is too conclusoty, and does not offer any plausible explanation as to why it was "ignored.”
. In case it bears mentioning, any theoretical claim brought pursuant to the UFAS, rather than the ABA directly, would be unavailing. Courts have recognized that the UFAS themselves do not establish a private right of action. See, e.g., Gray,
. It bears noting that, while the defendants in that case raised the statute of limitations defense as well, (see Gilbride Decl. Ex. F, at 2 ("[T]he defendants contend that the rent overcharge claim should be dismissed ... as time barred.”)), the court, in dismissing the claim, ruled on its merits, (see id. at 2-3).
. This is assuming there is even a federal cause of action to be maintained on the basis of Defendants' alleged rent miscalculations, which the Court is not at all prepared to hold.
. The FHA's provision reads:
It shall be unlawful to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of his having exercised or enjoyed, or on account of his having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected by section 3603, 3604, 3605, or 3606 of this title.
42 U.S.C. § 3617.
The ADA’s analogous provision reads:
It shall be unlawful to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any individual in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of his or her having exercised or enjoyed, or on account of his or her having aided or encouraged any other individual in the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected by this chapter.
42 U.S.C § 12203(b).
