MEMORANDUM AND ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
On August 21, 2009, pro se plaintiffs Rosaría Niles (“Rosaría”) and Salvatore A. Bono (“Bono”) (together, “plaintiffs”) brought this action, pursuant to a lengthy list of statutes and constitutional provisions,
Before the Court is a Report and Recommendation (“R & R”) from Magistrate Judge Arlene Lindsay, as well as plaintiffs’ objections to the R & R. The R & R recommended that all defendants’ motions to dismiss be granted. Furthermore, the R & R recommended that the District Court impose a filing injunction on plaintiffs prohibiting plaintiffs from filing any further lawsuits in the Eastern District of New York without permission of the court.
For the reasons that follow, the Court adopts in full Magistrate Judge Lindsay’s thorough and well-reasoned R & R, except that the Court narrows the recommended language of the injunction to make it pertain only to the subject matter of the instant litigation (and the other prior lawsuits described infra).
I. Background
As relevant background, the instant action and many of the plaintiffs’ earlier judicial proceedings relate to events concerning the estates of Laura J. Niles and her brother Henry E. Niles, who inherited a large fortune from their father. Rosaría married Henry Niles in 1992, and, in 1997, Laura Niles amended her will and modified certain trust agreements, nominating Bono, who is Rosaria’s son, as executor of her will and trustee of her trusts. (R & R at 323-24.)
The instant action is the latest in a series of judicial proceedings that includes:
1. An action commenced January 20, 1998 in New Jersey Superior Court that, among other things, removed plaintiff
2. A proceeding in New York State Surrogate Court to probate the Last Will and Testament of Henry E. Niles. Rosaria filed various objections to the probate of the will and commenced a proceeding by Petition verified September 17, 1998 to revoke preliminary letters testamentary issued to Laura Niles’s friend and financial advisor, Parkinson, and Parkinson’s attorney, Selby, and also commenced a proceeding by Petition verified December 20, 1999 against the estate of Henry E. Niles to compel payment of a claim. (R & R at 324-25.)
3. A lawsuit filed on September 29, 1999 by Bono in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York (“E.D.N.Y.”) against several defendants, including, for example, counsel for Parkinson and Selby, a New Jersey Superior Court Judge, a Superior Court Surrogate, and a court-appointed guardian ad litem in the New Jersey probate action. The suit alleged that defendants conspired to manipulate and subvert the judicial systems of the states of New York and New Jersey in an effort to reap financial gains at the expense of Bono and elderly citizens of New York and New Jersey. Bono amended his complaint to allege that Selby and Parkinson acted in concert with Joseph J. Kunzeman, who was conservator of Henry Niles’s property, to manipulate the judicial system to avoid losing control over the Niles’s assets. (R & R at 325-26.)
4. A foreclosure proceeding instituted by TierOne on July 11, 2005 against Rosaría to foreclose the mortgage held on Rosaria’s residence located at 223 Lakeview Avenue West in Brightwaters, New York. Rosaría filed a notice of removal of the foreclosure proceeding to the E.D.N.Y. and asserted cross-claims against Parkinson, Selby, and others, alleging, inter alia, that various CIA officers persecuted the Niles family. Judge Joanna Seybert remanded the action to New York Supreme Court, Suffolk County, which granted summary judgement to TierOne, entered a judgment of foreclosure, and appointed a referee to sell the mortgaged premises at public auction. Rosaría made numerous attempts to stay enforcement of the judgement of foreclosure and sale, which the Appellate Division, Second Department twice denied in January 2008. Rosaría then attempted to stay the foreclosure by filing petitions in Bankruptcy Court. After the automatic stay was lifted, Rosaría made two unsuccessful applications to reinstate the stay, then filed another motion in the Appellate Division, Second Department, seeking, inter alia, another stay of the foreclosure sale pending appeal. The Appellate Division denied the motion. Rosaría filed another application in Supreme Court, Suffolk County seeking, inter alia, an order staying the foreclosure sale and vacating the judgment of foreclosure. The application was denied, and the premises were sold at a foreclosure sale to Wilshire and American Key on April 8, 2009. (R & R at 326-27.)
On August 21, 2009, plaintiffs commenced the instant action. On September 2, 2009, plaintiffs initiated another action in Supreme Court, Suffolk County, seeking principally the same relief as in the instant action. (R & R 327-28.)
II. Procedural History
On August 21, 2009, pro se plaintiffs filed their complaint. On April 26, 2010, defendants Geoffrey M. Parkinson, Leland C. Selby, James Lamb, the Laura J. Niles Foundation, Inc., and the Henry E. Niles Foundation (“the Foundation Defendants”) filed a motion to dismiss. On April 29, 2010, TierOne filed a motion to dismiss. On April 30, 2010, Wilshire Investment
By Order dated September 1, 2010, the Court referred the motions to Magistrate Judge Lindsay for a report and recommendation. On September 17, 2010, Magistrate Judge Lindsay terminated the above four motions to dismiss and implemented the bundle rule. On November 1, 2010, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint.
On March 18, 2011, the Federal Defendants, the Foundation Defendants, and Defendants Wilshire and American Key each filed motions to dismiss. By Affirmation dated March 17, 2011, TierOne joined in the motions brought by the Federal Defendants and the Foundation defendants. On March 18, 2011, in accordance with the bundle rule, plaintiffs filed a Memorandum in Opposition, and defendants Wilshire and American Key filed a reply.
On August 31, 2011, Magistrate Judge Lindsay issued the R & R recommending that all defendants’ motions to dismiss be granted and recommending that the District Court impose a filing injunction on plaintiffs. The R & R further instructed that any objections to the R & R be submitted within fourteen (14) days of receipt. (R & R at 343.) On September 19, 2011, plaintiffs filed an objection to the R & R. (Pis.’ Objections to the R & R, Sept. 19, 2011, ECF No. 163 (“Obj.”).) The Foundation Defendants filed a Memorandum in Opposition to the plaintiffs’ objection on October 3, 2011.
III. Standard of Review
A district judge may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings and recommendations of the Magistrate Judge. See DeLuca v. Lord,
IV. Analysis
The Court has conducted a review of the full record, including, among other things, the complaint, the parties’ respective submissions in connection with the parties’ motions, as well as the R & R, applicable law, and plaintiffs’ objections. Having reviewed de novo all portions of the R & R to which plaintiffs specifically object, and having reviewed the remainder of the R & R for clear error, the Court adopts the Report in its entirety (with the exception of narrowing the language of the litigation injunction), for the reasons set forth therein and below.
As set forth below, these arguments are wholly without merit.
A. Substantive Objections
Plaintiffs object that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine does not apply to the New York State foreclosure proceeding, the New York'State Surrogate’s Court Litigation, the New Jersey State Court litigation, and the New York State Court Conservatorship litigation, (Objections # 11, 12, 13, 14.), and that plaintiffs’ claims are
In her well-reasoned and thorough R & R, Magistrate Judge Lindsay fully explained the bases for her decision, which include:
1. The Rooker-Feldman doctrine operates to bar all of plaintiffs’ claims in connection with the New York State Foreclosure proceeding, the New York State Surrogate’s Court litigation, the New Jersey State Court litigation, and the New York State Court Conservatorship litigation.
In the instant action, plaintiffs are simply attempting for this Court to review, reject, and overturn the results of these state court actions. For each state proceeding, the requirements of the Rooker-Feldman doctrine,- set forth in the R & R at pages 333-34, are satisfied. Accordingly, plaintiffs’ claims in connection with the state proceedings — for example, that the defendants executed their vast scheme and conspiracy by manipulating and subverting the judicial system in these proceedings-— are barred by Rooker-Feldman.
2. Res Judicata (or claim preclusion) operates to bar plaintiffs’ federal claims. The instant action meets the criteria, set forth in the R & R at pages 338-39, for claim preclusion under New York and New Jersey law.
With respect to the New York proceedings, a final judgment on the merits was entered in the Supreme Court, Suffolk County litigation, and the Settlement Agreement in Surrogate’s Court operates as a final judgment. The privity requirement is satisfied because Rosaría Niles was a named party in both cases. Finally, the factual allegations in the instant case and in the state court actions arise from the same transaction or series of events, namely an alleged fraud and conspiracy resulting in the foreclosure of the subject premises, the state court’s issuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, and the subsequent purchase of the subject premises by defendant Wilshire at the foreclosure auction, as well as an alleged conspiracy and fraud resulting in the Settlement Agreement executed in state court concerning the probate of Henry Niles’ estate.
As to the New Jersey proceedings, a final judgment on the merits was entered in Superior Court of New Jersey concerning the estate of Laura Niles. Privity is satisfied because the plaintiffs were named parties in the Superior Court action. Finally, the factual allegations in the state court action and the instant matter arose from the same transaction or series of events, namely, an alleged conspiracy and fraud wherein the defendants manipulated and subverted the New Jersey State judicial system in the New Jersey litigation.
Accordingly, the R & R properly concluded that plaintiffs’ federal claims were barred by res judicata.
3. Collateral Estoppel (or issue preclusion) operates to bar many of plaintiffs’ actions because many of these issues were litigated in (i) the mortgage foreclosure proceeding, (ii) Surrogate Court litigation concerning the estate of Henry Niles, and (iii) the New Jersey litigation concerning the estate of Laura Niles. The R & R notes, however, that “the nearly indecipherable allegations set forth in plaintiffs’ amended complaint make it impossible to determine the extent to which issue preclusion applies to plaintiffs’ claims.” (R & R at 341.)
Many of plaintiffs’ objections are premised on the argument that the R & R is fraudulent, is based on false statements, and does not take into account various documentary evidence. (Objections # 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18, 19.) A corollary to this argument is that Magistrate Judge Lind
The Court finds that Magistrate Judge Lindsay properly adhered to the standard set forth in Jaghory v. New York State Dep't of Educ.,
To the extent that the plaintiffs argue that Magistrate Judge Lindsay exhibited bias or partiality in her rulings, or should have recused herself, there is absolutely no evidence to support those allegations.
Plaintiffs also contend that their federal tort claim is not time-barred. (Objection # 16.) As Magistrate Judge Lindsay explained in the R & R, under 28 U.S.C. § 2401(b), a tort claim against the United States is barred “unless it is presented in writing to the appropriate Federal agency within two years after such claim accrues or unless action is begun within six months after the date of mailing ... of notice of final denial of the claim by the agency to which it was presented.” (R & R at 340 n. 27.) At the very latest, plaintiffs made allegations in February 2006 of a vast government conspiracy orchestrated by the CIA. Plaintiffs failed to file a claim against the United States under the Federal Tort Claims Act in accordance with the applicable regulations, and more than two years have passed since plaintiffs made these identical allegations. (Id.) Thus, the R & R properly found that the federal tort claim is time-barred.
B. Procedural Objections
Plaintiffs allege that Magistrate Judge Lindsay did not conduct the required proceedings in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72 and erred in not granting plaintiffs’ request for a hearing under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 11 and 16. (Objection # 2.) Rule 72 directs magistrate judges to “promptly conduct the required proceedings” when dispositive or nondispositive matters are referred to him or her. Fed.R.Civ.P. 72. Upon review of the docket and the record, this Court concludes that Magistrate Judge Lindsay promptly conducted all required proceedings concerning dispositive and non-dispositive matters. Rule 11 generally sets forth requirements for parties concerning pleadings, motions, papers, and representations to the courts. Rule 11 also permits the court, in certain circumstances, to impose sanctions. Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 11. This rule, therefore, does not even apply to a court’s decision about whether to hold a hearing. In any event, Magistrate Judge Lindsay has fully complied with Rule 11 throughout the case. Rule 16 grants discretion to a court to order attorneys or parties to appear at pretrial conferences, and permits the court discretion in determining what matters to consider at a pretrial conference. Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 16. Rule 16 also requires judges to issue a scheduling order after certain events. Id. Throughout the case, Magistrate Judge Lindsay fully adhered to the precepts of Rule 16.
Accordingly, the Court finds no merit to plaintiffs’ objection that Magistrate Judge Lindsay violated the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Finally, plaintiffs argue that there is no merit to Magistrate Judge Lindsay’s recommendation that this Court impose a litigation injunction. (Objection #20.) As set forth below, after de novo review, the Court agrees with Magistrate Judge Lindsay that a litigation injunction is warranted.
Magistrate Judge Lindsay thoroughly documented plaintiffs’ history of vexatious litigation involving duplicative lawsuits that served to burden numerous other parties and to burden the efficient administration of the courts. (See R & R at 342-43.) Applying the factors set forth in Safir v. United States Lines, Inc.,
In the case at hand, plaintiffs have a well documented history of vexatious litigation involving duplicative lawsuits. In the Foreclosure Proceeding, Bankruptcy Proceeding and Bono’s 1999 EDNY action, plaintiffs have interposed, in support of purported claims or defenses, the same kinds of frivolous allegations that are alleged in the amended complaint. Plaintiff Rosaría engaged in repeated motion practice seeking stays and other relief based on her principal allegation that the CIA was targeting her and Bono. (Santoro Decl, dated December 17, 2010, Exs. S, W, FF.) A review of the procedural history of plaintiffs’ court filings make clear that their motivation in pursuing the litigations was in part to delay the foreclosure proceeding, sale of (and eviction from) the subject premises. Plaintiff Bono filed his 1999 EDNY litigation during the course of the New Jersey Litigation, which, as in the instant matter, sought to collaterally attack the judicial determinations in the Conservatorship Proceeding and the New Jersey Litigation.
Significantly, shortly after commencing the within action, plaintiffs initiated a lawsuit in Supreme Court, Suffolk County asserting the same allegations contained in the amended complaint in this action, which the Supreme Court dismissed on the grounds that plaintiffs had yet again raised the same arguments of fraud and conspiracy that were raised and decided in multiple actions in both state and federal courts and enjoined plaintiffs from filing any further actions in that court without prior leave of the court. (Finkelstein Aff., dated March 17, 2011, Ex. A.) Although plaintiffs are proceeding pro se in this action, “a court’s authority to enjoin vexatious litigation extends equally over pro se litigants and those represented by counsel, and a court’s special solicitude towards pro se litigants does not extend to the willful, obstinate refusal to play by the basic rules of the system upon whose very power the plaintiff[s] [are] calling to vindicate [their] rights.” Lipin v. Hunt,
“In limiting a citizen’s ability to litigate, a court should take special care to ensure that the restrictions placed on the party are taken together, not so burdensome as to deny the litigant meaningful access to the courts.” Fitzgerald v. Field, No. 99 Civ 2406,
Notably, the Second Circuit has found a filing injunction restricting a litigant’s access to the court not to be overbroad where the litigant maintains the ability to assert a meritorious claim with prior court approval. See Safir,792 F.2d at 25 . Accordingly, the undersigned reports and recommends that the district court impose a filing injunction on plaintiffs prohibiting plaintiffs from filing any further lawsuits in the Eastern District of New York without prior permission of the court and prohibiting plaintiffs from filing any papers in connection with this case unless such papers are in response to those submitted by an adversary, or, when appropriate, to seek appellate review of a decision.
(R & R at 341-43.)
This Court agrees entirely with Magistrate Judge Lindsay’s findings as to each of the factors and concludes that a litigation injunction is warranted. However, the Court is narrowing the recommended language of the injunction to make it pertain only to the subject matter of the instant litigation (and the other prior lawsuits described supra ).
V. Recusal
The plaintiffs also make a motion for the undersigned to recuse himself. (See Letter Seeking Recusal, Sept. 12, 2011, ECF No. 162.) There is no basis for recusal under the relevant statute. See 28 U.S.C. § 455. Accordingly, plaintiffs’ motion for recusal is denied.
VI. Conclusion
Having conducted a de novo review of all portions of the R & R to which plaintiffs specifically object, and having reviewed the remainder of the R & R for clear error, the Court adopts the R & R in its entirety, except that the Court narrows the language of the litigation injunction. Accordingly, for the reasons set forth in the R & R and this Memorandum and Order, all defendants’ motions to dismiss are granted, and the complaint is dismissed. To the extent plaintiffs are attempting to raise any new state law claims, the Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over any state law claims. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Court hereby enjoins Rosaría Niles and Salvatore A. Bono from instituting, without prior permission of the Court, any new action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York that is based on, or relates in any way to, events concerning the estates of Laura Niles and Henry E. Niles, or that is based on, or relates in any way to, the foreclosure proceedings on the mortgage held on the residence at 223 Lakeview Avenue West in Brightwaters, New York. The Clerk of the Court shall enter judgment accordingly and close the case.
A copy of this Order has been mailed to pro se plaintiffs.
SO ORDERED.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
Before the court, on referral from District Judge Bianco, are the motions to dismiss of the defendants (1) United States of America/Central Intelligence Agency, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Mitchell E. Kline, Lydia Spellman, John T. Martinez, and their commanding superior CIA officers, John and/or Jane Doe (the “Federal Defendants”); (2) Geoffrey M. Parkinson, Leland C. Selby, James Lamb, Laura J. Niles Foundation, Inc., and Henry E. Niles Foundation, Inc. (the “Foundation Defendants”); (3) TierOne Bank
I. BACKGROUND
This action arises out of a series of events in connection with a foreclosure proceeding instituted by defendant Tier-One in July 2005 in New York Supreme Court, Suffolk County, seeking to foreclose the mortgage held on pro se plaintiff Rosaría Niles’ (“Rosaría”) residence located at 228 Lakeview Avenue West in Brightwaters, New York (the “premises”). The following facts are taken from the Amended Complaint and are presumed true for purposes of this motion. In addition, the undersigned takes judicial notice of court documents relating to plaintiffs Rosaria’s and Salvatore A. Bono’s (“Bono”) (collectively “plaintiffs”) prior state and federal court actions in order to describe the procedural posture and factual history of this case.
(A) Prior State and Federal Court Actions
(1) New Jersey State Litigation — Estate of Laura J. Niles
Laura J. Niles (“Laura Niles”) and her brother Henry E. Niles (“Henry Niles”) inherited a large fortune from their father’s estate and lived together in their jointly owned family home in Brightwaters, New York until 1986. Matter of Niles,
Laura Niles executed three inter vivos trusts, viz. (1) a revocable trust which designated the defendant Laura J. Niles Foundation, Inc., as her residuary beneficiary, on March 31, 1992; (2) a charitable remainder unitrust, wherein she placed a small portion of her assets and designated that on her death the assets would be held for her brother Henry for his life and upon his death would pass to the Laura J. Niles Foundation, Inc., on March 21, 1992; and (3) a second charitable remainder unitrust on August 23, 1994. Id. Parkinson was
On January 20, 1998, Parkinson commenced an action in New Jersey Superior Court seeking, inter alia, an allowance of the settlement of his account as the former trustee of the trusts and the appointment of a guardian ad litem for Laura Niles
(2) New York State Surrogate’s Court Litigation — Estate of Henry E. Niles
Following the death of Henry Niles on December 27, 1997, Parkinson and Selby petitioned the New York State Surrogate’s Court, Suffolk County for the probate of the Last Will and Testament of Henry E. Niles, dated December 16, 1988, and a codicil thereto dated January 11, 1990. (Santoro Deal., dated December 17, 2010, Ex. G.) Rosaría filed objections to the probate of the will and codicil and to the appointment of Parkinson and Selby as
Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, Rosaría executed releases on March 15, 2000(1) in favor of Parkinson and Selby, releasing them individually and as fiduciaries of the Estate of Henry E. Niles for all claims, including but not limited to all matters in connection with, or arising from, the Estate of Henry E. Niles; and (2) in favor of the Laura J. Niles Foundation, Inc., the Henry E. Niles Foundation, Inc., and the Estate of Laura J. Niles, releasing such entities and their agents for any and all claims whatsoever, including, but not limited to, all matters in connection with, or arising from, the Estate of Henry E. Niles. (Santoro Decl., dated December 17, 2010, Ex. H.) Bono sent a letter dated March 15, 2000 to the Hon. A. Gail Prudenti, Suffolk County Surrogate, stating “you committed nothing less than extortion” and “should be ashamed of yourself for what you did to my mother and for ignoring the law to help Kunzeman, Luciano and the Parkinson and Selby racketeering scheme.” (Santoro Decl., dated December 17, 2010, Ex. I.)
On April 3, 2000, Laura J. Niles Foundation, Inc. entered a New Jersey Judgment in the records of Suffolk County, New York in the amount of $526,296. (Santoro Decl., dated December 17, 2010, Ex. J.) On August 4, 2000, the Estate of Henry E. Niles paid the balance of the funds of $2,750,000 owed under the Settlement Agreement to Rosaría by issuing a check in the amount of $2,239,773.22 and by honoring the Notice to Garnishee by paying the Sheriff the sum of $566,203.10 in satisfaction of Rosaria’s liability to the Laura J. Niles Foundation, Inc. pursuant to the New Jersey Judgment. (Santoro Decl., dated December 17, 2010, Exs. E, G, J.)
(3) Plaintiff Bono’s Litigation in the United States District Court in the Eastern District of New York, 99 CY 3699(TCP)(ETB)
On September 29, 1999, Bono commenced an action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against John Barnosky
(4) Foreclosure Proceeding, Bankruptcy Proceeding and Related Actions
On July 11, 2005, defendant TierOne commenced an action in New York State Supreme Court, Suffolk Country against Rosaría to foreclose the mortgage held on Rosaria’s residence located at 223 Lake-view Avenue West in Brightwaters, New York (the “Foreclosure Proceeding”). (Santoro Decl, dated December 17, 2010, Ex. M.) In response, Rosaría interposed a “Verified Answer, Objections, and Counterclaim” dated August 15, 2005 which stated that Bono prepared the document on her behalf. (Santoro Decl, dated December 17, 2010, Ex. N.)
On February 1, 2006, Rosaría filed a notice of removal of the Foreclosure Proceeding to this Court and asserted cross-claims against Parkinson, Lamb, Selby, the Laura J. Niles Foundation, Inc. and the United States of America alleging, inter alia, that the evidence would “conclusively prove how CIA Case Officer Mitchell Klein, CIA Officer Lydia Spellman, CIA advisor John T. Martinez (their respective superior commanding officers) and persons under their supervision and control, betrayed the legality and constitutionality of the CIA’s activities, and redefined their rank and role within our government as a ‘permission slip’ to wage to full-fledged persecution against a family of United States persons on United States soil, [] Niles and members of her family.” (Docket No. CV-06-0447, Docket Entry 1 at 3.) By Memorandum and Order dated February 15, 2006, District Judge Joanna Seybert remanded the action to New York Supreme Court, Suffolk County.
By Order dated June 30, 2006, the Supreme Court, Suffolk County (i) granted summary judgment in favor of defendant
After the Bankruptcy Court lifted the stay, Rosaría filed another motion in the Appellate Division, Second Department, seeking, inter alia, another stay of the foreclosure sale pending appeal. By Decision and Order dated January 13, 2009, the Appellate Division denied the motion and sua sponte dismissed the appeal on the ground that the right of direct appeal from the October 23, 2006 Order terminated with the entry of Judgment on November 17, 2007 and no appeal from the Judgment had been taken. (Santoro Decl, dated December 17, 2010, Ex. Z.)
Rosaría subsequently filed another application “by her son and attorney-in-fact Salvatore A. Bono” in Supreme Court, Suffolk County action seeking, inter alia, an order staying the foreclosure sale and vacating the Judgment of Foreclosure. Rosarla alleged, inter alia, that:
she was fraudulently induced to enter the subject mortgage transaction by the officers of co-defendant Laura J. Niles Foundation, Inc., including co-defendant Geoffrey M. Parkinson, in violation of state and federal law. Defendant also implicates members of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the ‘mortgage scheme interposed through’ [TierOne Bank], when they ‘installed a fraudulent mortgage device to secure my mother’s home by fraud’ .... [Rosaría] further alleges that she was not properly served with the summons and complaint .... and that she did not receive notice of [TierOne Bank’s] application for a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale prior to it being granted on November 2, 2007.
(Id.) By Order dated April 16, 2009, the Supreme Court denied the application and held that any allegations of fraud in the action were raised or could have been raised in the answer, in opposition to the summary judgment motion or in Rosaria’s motions to reargue and renew. (Id.)
The premises were sold at a foreclosure sale to defendants Wilshire and American Key on April 8, 2009. (Finkelstein Aff, dated March 17, 2011, Ex. A.) A trial was thereafter held in Suffolk County District Court, and on July 30, 2009, defendants Wilshire and American Key were awarded a judgment of possession of the premises and a warrant of eviction against plaintiffs.
On September 2, 2009, plaintiffs initiated another action in Supreme Court, Suffolk County seeking principally the same relief as in the instant action. By Decision and Order dated April 6, 2010, the Supreme Court dismissed the action on the grounds that their causes of action were barred by the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel and enjoined plaintiffs from filing any further actions in that court without prior leave of the court.
(B) The Instant Action
On August 21, 2009, plaintiffs filed the complaint in this action against defendants.
Plaintiffs brought the amended complaint pursuant to:
(I.) The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution; (II.) The*329 Civil Rights Act of 1871, 42 U.S.C. § 1983; (III.) Conspiracy against Rights; Title 18, Part 1, Chapter 13 § 241; (IV.) Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1601 Subpart E, Section 226.34(a)(3) and (a)(4); (V.) Mail Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1341; (VI.) Wire Fraud 18 § 1343; (VII.) Ethics in Government Act, 28 U.S.C. § 591 et seq.; (VIII.) Attempt and Conspiracy to commit Extortion-Title 18 U.S.C. § 1349; (IX.) Larceny and Embezzlement, Title 15 U.S.C. § 80a-36; (X.) Larceny and wrongful appropriation, Title 10, U.S.C. § 921. Art. 121; (XI.) Forgery, Title 10 U.S.C. § Art. 123; (XII.) Obstruction of criminal investigations, Title 18 U.S.C. § 1510; (XIII.) Obstruction of State or local law enforcement, Title 18 U.S.C. § 1511; (XIV.) Engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity, Title 18 U.S.C. § 1957; (XV.) Federal Tort Act 28 § U.S.C. §§ 2671-2680 and “Bivens Action;” (XVI.) Conspiracy to Defraud-Title 18 U.S.C. 1346; (XVII.) Torture 18 U.S.C. § 2340A; (XVIII.) Retaliating against a witness, victim, or an informant — Title 18 U.S.C. § 1513; (XIX.) Violent crimes in aid of racketeering activity — Title 18 U.S.C. § 1959; (XX.) Peonage — Title 18 U.S.C. 1581 committed in furtherance of (a.) Racketeering activity Title 18 U.S.C. § 1959, (b.) Kidnapping — Title 18 U.S.C. § 1201, (c.) Unlawful imprisonment, kidnapping, and custodial interference in violation of N.Y.S. Penal Law § 135.00, (d.) Custodial Interference in the first degree, N.Y.S. Penal Law § 135.50(2), (e) N.Y.S. Penal Law § 260.10, “Endangering the Welfare of a child,” and; (XXI.) Wilful violation of duty under Title 28, Section 507 U.S.C.; (XXII.) Conspiracy to commit Murder and Murder, Title 10 U.S.C. 918, Art. 118.
(Amended Compl., ¶ 3.) Plaintiffs allege principally that the defendants have operated, together with other non-parties, as CIA operatives as part of a scheme and conspiracy,
Although the 177-page amended complaint does not designate any causes of action, it contains what plaintiffs describe as six “Special Counts” under a heading “Section V — The Plaintiffs’ Claims against the Defendants.” (Id. at ¶¶ 128-340,
Special Count III alleges that defendants (and others) systematically subverted the Suffolk County Surrogate’s Court under color of official right in order to deny Rosaría and Henry and Laura Niles their property rights
(A) Event A alleges that in 1997 and 1998, the defendants and others, operating through the CIA’s scheme, enlisted a former employee of Bono to undermine Bono’s insurance brokerage business and undermine Bono financially and caused his business to cease in 2004. (Id. at ¶¶ 225-29, 256-59,823 A.2d 1 .)
(B) Event B alleges that from February 1998 through October 1998, the defendants and others, operating through the CIA’s scheme, enlisted a convicted felon and government cooperative (Sheldon Weisberg a/k/a Steve Webber) to “tail” Bono and*331 make attempts on his life. (Id. at ¶¶ 230-31, 260-61,823 A.2d 1 .)
(C) Event C alleges that the defendants and others, operating through the CIA’s scheme, unlawfully installed electronic listening devices in the Niles-Bono’s family Brightwaters home and Bono’s office in Brooklyn, New York, which were discovered in 1998, and in 2001 the CIA broke into Bono’s office to remove a noisy/defective listening device and ransacked his office to make it look like a burglary. (Id. at ¶¶ 232-33, 261-62,823 A.2d 1 .)
(D) Event D alleges that the defendants and others, operating through the CIA’s scheme enlisted a convicted felon (Leo J. Mangan) and CIA confidential sources, including an off-duty police officer (James Rockefeller) to falsely arrest, imprison, isolate and torture Bono. (Id. at ¶¶ 234-35. 263-67,823 A.2d 1 .)
(E) Event E alleges that the defendants and others, operating through the CIA’s scheme conspired to murder Laura Niles on February 8, 2000 and thereafter probate a fraudulent Last Will and Testament of Laura Niles in New Jersey Superior Court to swindle her $30 million estate. (Id. at ¶¶ 236, 268-69,823 A.2d 1 .)
(F) Event F alleges that defendants and others, operating through the CIA’s scheme arranged an assault on Bono at his Brooklyn office in February 2000, and enlisted one of Bono’s secretaries and a convicted felon and CIA confidential source to tamper with Bono’s computerized accounting records and report his daily activities, defraud plaintiffs out of $120,000 and deprive Bono’s children of Bono’s assets. (Id. at ¶¶ 237-38, 270,823 A.2d 1 .) .
(G) Event G alleges that defendants and others, operating through the CIA’s scheme, used CIA confidential sources, including his former wife and mother of his children (Linda Santiago a/k/a Linda Bono), to entrap Bono as co-administrator of his late father’s estate, the Estate of Antonio Bono, and to financially damage Bono’s children. (Id. at ¶¶ 239-48, 271-72,823 A.2d 1 .)
(H) Event H alleges that defendants and others, operating through the CIA’s scheme, enlisted Bono’s former wife to “drive Bono crazy” and “instigate a reaction that would land him in jail” and fabricate false reports to defraud Bono, engage him in litigation, and use his children “as pawns” in the Supreme Court and Family Court litigations in Suffolk Count from 1999 to 2003. (Id. at ¶¶ 249-52,823 A.2d 1 .)
(Id. at ¶¶ 225-86,
Special Count V alleges that defendants (and others) were operating under the auspices of the CIA and manipulated and subverted the state judicial system under color of official right to secure the BonoNiles home through mortgage fraud and a foreclosure proceeding in Suffolk County Supreme Court and seeks equitable relief restoring title on the premises that was the subject of the foreclosure proceeding to Rosaría, as well as seeks damages in the amount of the replacement value of the subject premises and improvements thereon as well as legal fees and other related relief. (Id. at ¶¶ 287-32,
Defendants now move to dismiss the Amended Complaint pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 2(b)(5) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim. In addition, the defendants seek a litigation injunction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1651(a). Defendants’ motions will be addressed together.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
“When a defendant moves to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(1) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, and also moves to dismiss on other grounds, such as Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, the Court must consider the Rule 12(b)(1) motion first.” Bobrowsky v. The Yonkers Courthouse,
(A) Rule 12(b)(1)
A case is properly dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) “when the district court lacks the statutory or constitutional power to adjudicate it.” Makarova v. United States,
(B) Rule 12(b)(6)
The Supreme Court has instructed that “[w]hile 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 and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly,
III. DISCUSSION
Defendants move to dismiss the plaintiffs- amended complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1) as barred by the Rooker-Feldman doctrine and, alternatively, as barred by the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel. Defendants also move to dismiss the plaintiffs’ amended complaint for failure to state' a claim pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6).
(A) Rooker-Feldman Doctrine
Under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine, “federal district courts lack jurisdiction over suits that are, in substance, appeals from state-court judgments.” Hoblock v. Albany Cty. Bd. of Elecs.,
The Second Circuit has established four requirements that must be satisfied for the Rooker-Feldman doctrine to apply: (1) “the federal-court plaintiff must have lost in state court;” (2) “the plaintiff must complain of injuries caused by a state court judgment;” (3) “the plaintiff must invite district court review and rejection of the judgment;” and (4) “the state-court judgment must have been rendered before the district court proceedings commenced.” Hoblock,
(1) The New York State Foreclosure Proceeding
With respect to the Foreclosure Proceeding, “courts in this Circuit have consistently held that any attack on a judgment of foreclosure is clearly barred by the Rooker-Feldman doctrine.”
In addition, to the extent plaintiffs seek to challenge the state court judgment of foreclosure, the substantive requirements of the Rooker-Feldman doctrine are met as well. The injuries of which plaintiffs complain were caused by the state-court judgment, namely the divestiture of title to Rosaria’s home and the attendant dispossession of the premises. Read as a whole, the amended complaint alleges that defendants have engaged in a scheme and conspiracy of submitting fraudulent documents in connection with the November 2, 2007 Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale in other courts, including the Bankruptcy Court, and have manipulated and subverted the state judicial system to unlawfully divest title to plaintiffs’ home. (Amended Compl. ¶¶ 287-332.) Thus, the genesis of plaintiffs’ alleged injuries (the sale and dispossession of the Brightwaters premises) directly followed the state-court judgment of foreclosure. Moreover, as evidenced by the allegations in the amended complaint and motion for a preliminary injunction and restraining order, plaintiffs are seeking to have this court review and undo the 2007 state-court judgment of foreclosure on the grounds that the judgment was fraudulently procured. A ruling here in plaintiffs’ favor “would effectively declare the state court judgment [of foreclosure] fraudulently procured and thus void,----which is precisely the result that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine seeks to avoid.” Kropelnicki,
In sum, plaintiffs’ allegations make clear that they are attempting to litigate the validity of the foreclosure action in this court. Plaintiffs’ opposition to defendants’ motions does not address defendants’ arguments but appears to reiterate in an incoherent manner conclusory allegations and statements all associated with events leading up to and including the foreclosure. Plaintiffs’ complaint of injuries to themselves, their families and others caused by the state-court foreclosure judgment substantively seeks this court’s review and rejection of that judgment. This court concludes, however, the Rooker-Feldman doctrine bars any such review of plaintiffs’ claims with respect to the Foreclosure Proceeding that can be said to arise out of the allegations in the amended complaint, including those allegations contained in Special Count V (and corresponding allegations in Special Count VI).
(2) The New York State Surrogate’s Court Litigation
The Rooker-Feldman doctrine applies to plaintiffs’ claims in connection with the New York State Surrogate’s Court litigation. With respect to this litigation, plaintiffs seek to void the stipulation of settlement executed in the probate proceeding
In turning to the procedural prongs, the court acknowledges that as a threshold matter, “a settlement agreement may constitute a state court judgment for purposes of Rooker-Feldman.” Reyes v. Fairfield Properties,
(3) The New York Jersey State Court Litigation
The Rooker-Feldman doctrine applies to plaintiffs allegations in the amended complaint with respect to the New Jersey State Court litigation. Plaintiffs aver in their amended complaint that the New Jersey Superior Court’s finding of undue influence, nullification of the amendments to Laura Niles’ estate plan, removal of plaintiff Bono as trustee and the imposition of a money judgment against plaintiffs resulted from the surreptitious conduct of defendants, who, acting under the auspices of the CIA, manipulated and subverted the state judicial system under color of official right in furtherance of a CIA scheme. (Amended Compl., ¶¶ 160-89.) Plaintiff Rosaría seeks the financial equivalent of a bequest of real property under Laura Niles’ will together with legal fees and fiduciary commissions. (Id. ¶¶ 188-89.) Inasmuch as plaintiffs are clearly state court losers; who commenced this instant action more than five years after the Third Amended Judgment of the Superior Court of New Jersey, dated April 2, 2004; are complaining of an injury directly related to the state court judgment; and is seeking to have this court revisit the results of the New Jersey litigation, any claim that can
(4) The New York State Court Conservatorship Litigation
The Rooker-Feldman doctrine applies to plaintiffs’ claims in connection with the New York State Conservatorship Proceeding. With respect to this litigation, plaintiffs allege that the defendants herein manipulated and subverted the New York State Judicial system in the Conservator-ship Proceeding after filing a false petition therein and seek this court’s review of the outcome of that proceeding, which resulted in the appointment of Kunzeman as conservator for Henry Niles from 1992 until his death in 1997, to award plaintiff Rosaría recovery of one-third the value of Henry Niles’ estate and certain other unspecified measure of damages sustained by her as a result of its outcome. (Amended Compl., 128-59.) To the extent plaintiffs invite this court to review and reject the result in the Conservatorship Proceeding which was rendered well before this action commenced, the court declines such an invitation on the grounds that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine precludes jurisdiction over any such claims, including any that may arise out of the allegations in Special Count I (and corresponding allegations in Special Count VI).
In summary, although the amended complaint sets forth a stream of incoherent, disjointed eonclusory allegations, read together with plaintiffs’ opposition to defendants’ motions, plaintiffs appear to (i) allege in essence that defendants have engaged in a fraudulent scheme and vast CIA conspiracy resulting in the foreclosure and sale of (and eviction from) the subject premises; (ii) detail the history of all of the court proceedings associated with the foreclosure and sale of (and eviction from) the premises, including the proceedings concerning the estates of Laura and Henry Niles; (iii) complain of injuries resulting from the foreclosure on Rosaria’s property caused by the state court order (as well as injuries from state court proceedings leading up to the resultant judgment of foreclosure and sale); and (iv) invite the court to review and reject the judgment of foreclosure, the stipulation of settlement, and conservatorship appointment in the New York State courts and the New Jersey State court judgment. Because the adjudication of plaintiffs’ federal claims in the instant action are inextricably intertwined with the merits of the state court proceedings, this court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the instant action. Accordingly, the undersigned reports and recommends that the district court grant defendants’ motions to dismiss plaintiffs’ federal claims.
(B) Preclusion Principles
Alternatively, to the extent plaintiffs’ amended complaint can be construed as raising claims specific to the federal defendants’ conduct during the alleged conspiracy orchestrated by the CIA and/or defendants’ conduct during the state and federal court proceedings, the undersigned still concludes that all of plaintiffs’ federal claims are barred by ordinary preclusion principles. “The Full Faith and Credit Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1738, has long been understood to encompass the doctrines of claim and issue preclusion and to require that federal courts not grant a forum to litigants whose claims have previously been resolved in state court.” Trakansook v. Astoria Fed. Savings and Loan Ass’n, No. 06-CV-1640 (SMG),
(1) Res Judicata (or Claim Preclusion)
“A federal court considering the preclusive effect of a state court judgment looks to the law of the state in which the judgment was rendered.” Id.; see Ferris v. Cuevas,
“Under both New York law and federal law, the doctrine of res judicata or claim preclusion, provides that [a] final judgment on the merits of an action precludes the parties or their privies from relitigating issues that were or could have been raised in that action.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted); see Flaherty v. Lang,
“Under New Jersey law, res judicata or claim preclusion is governed by the entire controversy doctrine, which requires a plaintiff in a civil action to seek complete relief for vindication of the wrong he charges in that single suit.” Union Muffler Corp. v. Midas Int’l Corp, No. 91 Civ. 1522(JFK),
“All litigants, including pro se plaintiffs, are bound by the principles of res judicata.” Done,
The within action meets the requisite criteria for claim preclusion under New York law. First, a final judgment on the merits was entered in the Supreme Court, Suffolk County litigation, to wit, the judgment of foreclosure and sale entered against plaintiff Rosaría, which prevents reconsideration of any claim that is based on the same facts as the foreclosure judgment. Additionally, the Settlement Agreement in the Surrogate’s Court litigation operates as a final judgment on the merits for res judicata purposes and bars reconsideration of any claim that is based on the same facts as the probate proceeding for the probate of Henry Niles’ will. Notably, plaintiffs’ claims concerning the conservatorship action were subsumed in the Settlement Agreement as the allegations concerned a conspiracy and scheme to manipulate and subvert the judicial system with respect to Henry Niles’ will. Moreover, the present action satisfies the privity requirement for claim preclusion since Rosaría was a named party to the foreclosure proceeding and to the settlement agreement and is the party who commenced the instant action. Finally, the factual allegations in the state court action and the instant matter arose from the same transaction or series of events, namely, an alleged conspiracy and fraud resulting in the foreclosure of the subject premises, the state court’s issuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, and the subsequent purchase of the subject premises by defendant Wilshire at the foreclosure auction, as well as an alleged conspiracy and fraud resulting in a Settlement Agreement executed in state court concerning the probate of Henry Niles’ estate, and plaintiffs presented (and could have presented all of their constitutional claims) in the state court foreclosure litigation and during the state probate proceedings.
The within action likewise meets the requisite criteria for claim preclusion under New Jersey law as a final judgment on the merits was entered in the Superior Court of New Jersey concerning the estate of Laura Niles, which was affirmed by appellate court, and which prevents reconsideration of any claim that is based on the same facts as the Third Amended Judgment of the Superior Court of New Jersey. Moreover, the present action satisfies the privity requirement for claim preclusion since plaintiffs were named parties in the Superior Court action and also commenced the instant action. Further, the factual allegations in the state court action and the instant matter arose from the same transaction or series of events, namely, an alleged conspiracy and fraud wherein the defendants manipulated and subverted the New Jersey State judicial system in the New Jersey litigation.
Hence, any of plaintiffs’ federal claims against defendants that can be said to arise out of the allegations of the amended complaint concerning the conspiracy
(2) Collateral Estoppel (or Issue Preclusion)
“[C]ollateral estoppel means simply that when an issue of ultimate fact has once been determined by a valid and final judgment, that issue cannot again be litigated between the same parties in any future lawsuit.” Leather v. Eyck,
Similarly, “[u]nder New Jersey law, the doctrine of collateral estoppel operates to foreclose relitigation of an issue when the party asserting the bar shows that: (1) the issue to be precluded is identical to the issue decided in the prior proceeding, (2) the issue was actually decided in the prior proceeding, (3) the court in the prior proceeding issued a final judgment on the merits, (4) the determination of the issue was essential to the prior judgment, and (5) the party against whom the doctrine is asserted was a party to or in privity with a party to the earlier proceeding.” Hogg’s v. New Jersey,
Although it is clear that many of the issues concerning defendants’ conduct and alleged underlying conspiracy were litigated in the (i) mortgage foreclosure proceedings, (ii) Surrogate Court litigation concerning the estate of Henry Niles and (iii) the New Jersey litigation concerning the estate of Laura Niles and would therefore be foreclosed in this action by collateral estoppel, the nearly indecipherable allegations set forth in plaintiffs’ amended complaint make it impossible to determine the extent to which issue preclusion applies to plaintiffs’ claims.
(C) Supplemental Jurisdiction
To the extent that plaintiffs are attempting to allege any new state law claims in this action, the district court should decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over any such claims because the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over plaintiffs’ federal claims. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3); see also Cave v. East Meadow Union Free Sch. Dist.,
(D) Litigation Injunction
“The district courts have the power and the obligation to protect the public and the
(1) the litigant’s history of litigation and in particular whether it entailed vexatious, harassing or duplicative lawsuits; (2) the litigant’s motive in pursuing the litigation, e.g., does the litigant have an objective good faith expectation of prevailing?; (3) whether the litigant .is represented by counsel; (4) whether the litigant has caused needless expense to other parties or has posed unnecessary burden on the courts and their personnel; and (5) whether other sanctions would be adequate to protect the courts and other parties.
Safir v. United States Lines, Inc.,
In the case at hand, plaintiffs have a well documented history of vexatious litigation involving duplicative lawsuits. In the Foreclosure Proceeding
Significantly, shortly after commencing the within action, plaintiffs initiated a lawsuit in Supreme Court, Suffolk County asserting the same allegations contained in the amended complaint in this action, which the Supreme Court dismissed on the grounds that plaintiffs had yet again raised the same arguments of fraud and conspiracy that were raised and decided in multiple actions in both state and federal courts and enjoined plaintiffs from filing any further actions in that court without prior leave of the court. (Finkelstein Affi, dated March 17, 2011, Ex. A.) Although plaintiffs are proceeding pro se in this action, “a court’s authority to enjoin vexatious litigation extends equally over pro se litigants and those represented by counsel, and a
“In limiting a citizen’s ability to litigate, a court should take special care to ensure that the restrictions placed on the party are taken together, not so burdensome as to deny the litigant meaningful access to the courts.” Fitzgerald v. Field, No. 99 Civ 2406,
OBJECTIONS
A copy of this Report and Recommendation is being served by the Court on all parties. Any objections to this Report and Recommendation must be filed with the Clerk of the Court within 14 days. Failure to file objections within this period waives the right to appeal the District Court’s Order. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed.R.Civ.P. 72; Wagner & Wagner, LLP v. Atkinson, Haskins, Nellis, Brittingham, Gladd & Carwile, P.C.,
Notes
. Plaintiffs cite the following provisions:
The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution; (II.) The Civil Rights Act of 1871, 42 U.S.C. § 1983; (III.) Conspiracy against Rights; Title 18, Part 1, Chapter 13 § 241; (IV.) Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1601 Subpart E, Section 226.34(a)(3) and (a)(4); (V.) Mail Fraud, 18*314 U.S.C. § 1341; (VI.) Wire Fraud 18 § 1343; (VII.) Ethics in Government Act, 28 U.S.C. § 591 et seq.; (VIII.) Attempt and Conspiracy to commit Extortion — Title 18 U.S.C. § 1349; (IX.) Larceny and Embezzlement, Title 15 U.S.C. § 80a-36; (X.) Larceny and wrongful appropriation, Title 10, U.S.C. § 921. Art. 121; (XI.) Forgery, Title 10 U.S.C. § Art. 123; (XII.) Obstruction of criminal investigations, Title 18 U.S.C. § 1510; (XIII.) Obstruction of State or local law enforcement, Title 18 U.S.C. § 1511; (XIV.) Engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity, Title 18 U.S.C. § 1957; (XV.) Federal Tort Act 28 § U.S.C. §§ 2671-2680 and "Bivens Action;” (XVI.) Conspiracy to Defraud — Title 18 U.S.C. 1346; (XVII.) Torture 18 U.S.C. § 2340A; (XVIII.) Retaliating against a witness, victim, or an informant — Title 18 U.S.C. § 1513; (XIX.) Violent crimes in aid of racketeering activity — Title 18 U.S.C. § 1959; (XX.) Peonage — Title 18 U.S.C. 1581 committed in furtherance of (a.) Racketeering activity Title 18 U.S.C. § 1959, (b.) Kidnapping — Title 18 U.S.C. § 1201, (c.) Unlawful imprisonment, kidnapping, and custodial interference in violation of N.Y.S. Penal Law § 135.00, (d.) Custodial Interference in the first degree, N.Y.S. Penal Law § 135.50(2), (e) N.Y.S. Penal Law § 260.10, "Endangering the Welfare of a child,” and; (XXI.) Wilful violation of duty under Title 28, Section 507 U.S.C.; (XXII.) Conspiracy to commit Murder and Murder, Title 10 U.S.C. 918, Art. 118.
(R & R at 328-29.)
. Even if the Court reviewed the entire R & R under a de novo standard, the Court would
. Although the Court has considered each and every one of plaintiffs’ objections, the Court has not addressed individually every objection lodged by plaintiffs because they are repetitive and completely lacking in merit. Instead, the Court has grouped the objections by topic and addresses them briefly below. For the remainder of the objections, the Court rejects them in their entirety and relies on the analysis in Magistrate Judge Lindsay’s thorough R &R.
. Additionally, the Court adopts Magistrate Judge Lindsay’s recommendation that it
. The Court also notes that the other language in the recommended injunction as to additional filings in the instant action is unnecessary at this juncture because this Memorandum and Order closes this case.
. The Court has considered whether to limit the litigation injunction to particular defendants, but, given plaintiffs’ history of switching defendants and adding numerous defendants, an injunction as to subject matter is warranted. See Bridgewater Operating Corp. v. Feldstein,
. By Affirmation, dated March 17, 2011, defendant TierOne Bank joins in the motions of the Foundation Defendants and the Federal Defendants. (Finkelstein Aff., dated March 17, 2011, ¶ 2.)
. Rosaría Niles is also known as Serena Bono, Serena Niles, and Sarina Niles in the New Jersey State and New York State court actions.
. The Honorable Daniel F. Luciano, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of Suffolk appointed Kunzeman as conservator for Henry Niles, and Kunzeman served as conservator from October 1992 until December 27, 1997 (the “Conservatorship Proceeding”). (Santoro Dect, dated December 17, 2010, Ex. F.) Following Henry Nile's death, Kunzeman accounted as conservator and on December 19, 2000 was discharged by the Honorable H. Patrick Leis, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of Suffolk. (Id.)
. The litigation concerning the probate of Henry Niles' will in the New York State Surrogate’s Court, Suffolk County following his death is discussed infra.
. Louis D. Laurino was appointed Guardian ad litem for Laura Niles, who subsequently died on Februaiy 8, 2000. (Santoro Decl., dated December 17, 2010, Ex. F.)
. The panel found that:
[Rosaría] was the driving force behind the changes Laura made to her estate plan documents so as to benefit herself, Salvatore and their family members. Moreover, it is Serena who initiated the undermining of Parkinson by her constant baseless comments, criticisms, and accusations of his financial treachery and dishonesty.
Id. at 300-01.
. Donald Novick, Esq. appeared on behalf of Rosaría. (Id. at 2.)
. Barnosky is a member of Farrell Fritz, P.C. and was counsel for Parkinson and Selby (Id. at 3, 9.)
. Matula and Weisberg are private investigators, Dante Investigations, Inc. is a private investigative firm, and Greenwich Advisory Associates is an investment advisory business that transacts business in New York. (Id. at 3.)
. Selvaggi acted as a court-appointed guardian ad litem in the underlying New Jersy probate action. (Id. at 2.)
. Seybolt is a Superior Court Judge in Warren County who presided over the New Jersey probate action. (Id. at 2.)
. Ruh is a Surrogate in the Superior Court in Warren County who allegedly carried out administrative tasks in connection with the trusteeship proceeding. (Id. at 3.)
. In the decision, the district court questioned whether Bono was engaged in the authorized practice of law by purporting to appear and represent Rosaría in this action even though Bono was not licensed to practice law in the State of New York. (Id.)
. On September 23, 2009, plaintiffs were evicted from the premises and shortly thereafter, defendants Wilshire and American Key entered into a contract of sale with a third party. (Memorandum of Law in Support of defendants Wilshire and American Key’s Motion to Dismiss, ¶ 20.) Since then the premises has been sold and is now owned by a third party. (Id.)
. Plaintiffs' instant action is discussed infra.
. In its decision, the Supreme Court observed that the Suffolk County action sought the same relief as in the instant action. {Id.) The court agreed with the defendants therein that
plaintiffs' complaint must be dismissed in its entirety, as plaintiffs have yet again raised the same arguments of fraud and conspiracy that were raised and decided in multiple actions, and upon multiple applications by Niles in the underlying foreclosure action, in the Appellate Division, Second Department, and in at least two different federal courts.
(Id.) The Court held that
both actions concern the foreclosure of the same mortgage transaction secured by the same real property and the issues attendant thereto, and that determinations on the merits were made by numerous courts that TierOne bank was entitled to foreclose the mortgage executed by Niles, that the Judgment of Foreclosure should not be vacated, that no stay of the sale was warranted, and that no stay of the warrant of eviction or judgment of possession was appropriate. As such, the Court finds that the instant action is barred by the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel.
{Id.)
. All of the defendants are related to events underlying the state and federal court proceedings.
. Plaintiffs allege that the named defendants (and others) targeted plaintiffs in a conspiracy wherein defendants fabricated mortgage and financial documents for plaintiffs’ residence, “rigged” cases through the state court systems by inserting their own judges, enlisting Bono’s former wife as a confidential CIA informant, and swindling charities out of millions of dollars. (Amended Compl., ¶¶ 4, 5, 52, 65, 69, 97.)
. Plaintiffs allege that defendants and others were part of scheme to wrongfully seize Henry Nile’s assets which was jeopardized when Henry married Rosaría. (Id. at ¶¶ 133-40.) As a result, plaintiffs aver that (i) defendants Selby and Parkinson commenced a false proceeding to appoint a conservator for Henry Niles in New York State Supreme Court; (ii) Justice Luciano, who presided over the proceeding appointed co-conspirator Kunzeman as conservator; and (iii) all of these participants acted in concert with the CIA to perpetrate the scheme. (Id.)
. Plaintiffs allege that the Foundation Defendants and others were part of a scheme and conspiracy to wrongfully seize control over Laura Nile’s assets and aver that defendants enlisted a law firm and Judge Harry K. Seybolt of the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey as part of the CIA scheme to control Laura Nile’s assets and violate plaintiffs. (Id. atn 160-71.)
. Plaintiffs allege that the Foundation Defendants and Federal Defendants and others, including the Honorable A. Gail Prudenti, then presiding as Surrogate for the County of Suffolk, were part of a CIA scheme to conceal the will of Henry Niles and violate the rights of Rosaría in the context of the Surrogate’s Court proceedings in the estate of Henry Niles. (Id. at ¶¶ 190-204.) Plaintiffs aver that "Surrogate Prudenti abused her judicial powers by agreeing to ignore all felony offenses, civil rights, and constitutional violations perpetrated in connection with the Conservatorship Case, and the Probate Case of Henry E. Niles she presided over and ignored all the evidence that voided the purported Postnuptial Agreement and the fraudulent Last Will devised by CIA’s personnel Parkinson and Selby. Plaintiffs assert Surrogate Prudenti used her judicial powers to assist the Defendants to impose a completely one sided 'settlement agreement’ in bad faith. Plaintiffs maintain that the agreement was breached within weeks, and Defendant CIA (through CIA subcontractor and confidential source Kunzeman), then rewarded the Surrogate Prudenti by helping her secure an appointment as Presiding Judge of the Appellate Court, Second Department.” (Id. at ¶¶ 190, 224.)
. Although defendants move to dismiss for failure to state a claim for each cause of action alleged in the amended complaint, because the undersigned concludes that the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over plaintiffs’ federal claims, see infra., the court need not reach these arguments.
. A notable exception to this jurisdictional rule is habeas corpus review. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a); Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Saudi Basic Indus. Corp.,
. This even includes challenges to a judgment of foreclosure that were allegedly procured by fraud, as plaintiffs have alleged herein. See, e.g., Swiatkowski v. Citibank,
. Notably, Rosaría was represented by counsel.
. The court notes that res judicata also bars plaintiffs’ claims against defendants Parkinson, Selby, and Lamb and their privies, defendants Laura J. Niles Foundation, Inc. and the Henry E. Niles Foundation, Inc. that arise out of the same transaction or occurrences alleged by Bono in the 1999 EDNY action concerning an alleged scheme and conspiracy of defendants to seize control of Henry Niles' assets and Laura Niles' assets by unlawfully manipulating the New Jersey and New York judicial systems. The district court entered a final judgment on the merits when it dismissed Bono’s action pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), see Nowak v. Ironworkers Local 6 Pension Fund,
. In addition, to the extent that plaintiffs’ rambling in their amended complaint (and opposition papers) can be construed to allege a cause of action under the Federal Tort Claims Act ("FTCA”) and/or Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics,
A tort claim against the United States shall be forever barred unless it is presented in writing to the appropriate Federal agency within two years after such claim accrues or unless action is begun within six months after the date of mailing, by certified or registered mail, of notice of final denial of the claim by the agency to which it was presented.
28 U.S.C. § 2401(b). Here, plaintiffs have not filed a claim under the FTCA in accordance with the applicable regulations against the United States, and at the very latest, plaintiffs’ allegations of a vast government conspiracy by the CIA were made in February 2006, which is more than two years since the same allegations were made in the instant matter. Thus, this court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over any such claim against the United States. See Celestine v. Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center,
With respect to a claim against the individual defendants under Bivens, the applicable statute of limitations for this claim brought in federal courts in New York is three years. Chin v. Bowen,
. Plaintiff Rosaria asserted as a defense in the Foreclosure Proceeding (and in her motion papers) the same CIA conspiracy theory that is asserted in the amended complaint. (Santoro Decl., dated December 17, 2010, Ex. N.) Notably, her answer in that proceeding was prepared by Bono, who was acting as her attorney. Rosaria attempted to remove the Foreclosure Proceeding to this court on the grounds of a CIA driven conspiracy. (Id., Ex. O.) In the removal action, the district court questioned whether Bono was committing a crime by purporting to appear and represent Rosaria even though he was not licensed as an attorney to practice law in the State of New York. (Id., Ex. P.)
