Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551 (2d Cir. 1977).

Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551 (2d Cir. 1977). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite

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Quick Summary

A complaint alleging a conspiracy to deprive constitutional rights must contain specific factual instances of misconduct rather than mere vague or conclusory allegations to survive a motion to dismiss.

Appellants filed a complaint alleging that government attorneys and investigators engaged in a conspiracy to harass them and used improper threats of indictment to coerce testimony before a grand jury. The court considers whether these allegations are sufficient to survive a motion to dismiss. The court holds that vague, conclusory, and diffuse allegations of a conspiracy to deprive individuals of constitutional rights are insufficient without specific instances of misconduct that establish a nexus between the alleged harassment and the appellees. Furthermore, claims regarding improper prosecutorial threats are premature and cannot overcome the presumption of regularity attached to grand jury proceedings. The court affirms the dismissal of the counts.

274 citation events (52 in the last 25 years) across 36 distinct courts.

Strongest positive: Pare v. Valet Park of Am., No. 1:19-cv-00206, 2020 WL 495038 (N.D.N.Y. Jan. 30, 2020)

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At page 553 Dismissal of claims lacking specific allegations of misconduct166 citing cases“diffuse and expansive allegations are insufficient, unless amplified by specific instances of misconduct.”14 citing courts quote it · 156 listed here

Pare v. Valet Park of Am., No. 1:19-cv-00206, 2020 WL 495038 (N.D.N.Y. Jan. 30, 2020).
([C]omplaints containing only ‘conclusory,’ ‘vague’ or ‘general allegations’ of a conspiracy to deprive a person of constitutional rights will be dismissed.)
McLaurin v. New Rochelle Police Officers, 373 F. Supp. 2d 385 (S.D.N.Y. 2005).published 2 cites
(Diffuse and expansive allegations are insufficient, unless amplified by specific instances of misconduct.)
Setlech, No. 1:25-cv-02581 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 11, 2026).
To make out a conspiracy claim under § 1985, “the facts alleged must show with certainty ‘particularly what a defendant or defendants did to carry the conspiracy into effect, whether such acts fit within the framework of the conspiracy all…
Coleman, No. 3:24-cv-01994 (D. Conn. Jan. 27, 2026).
Diffuse and expansive allegations are insufficient, unless amplified by specific instances of misconduct.” Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir. 1977) (citations omitted).
DiBenedetto v. Coley, No. 24-1029, 2024 WL 4662979 (2d Cir. Nov. 4, 2024).unpublished
“[d]iffuse and expansive allegations are insufficient, unless amplified by specific instances of misconduct”
Scarpellino v. Freeman, No. 3:22-cv-01130 (D. Conn. Mar. 14, 2024).
“[C]omplaints containing only ‘conclusory,’‘vague’ or ‘general allegations’ of a conspiracy to deprive a person of constitutional rights will be dismissed”
Alexander v. Lewis, No. 3:20-cv-00370 (D. Conn. Sept. 29, 2023).
Ciambriello v. Cty. of Nassau, 292 F.3d 307, 325 (2d Cir. 2002); Dwares v. City of N.Y., 985 F.2d 94 , 100 (2d Cir. 1993); Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir. 1977).
Naughton v. Gutcheon, No. 3:21-cv-00402 (D. Conn. Aug. 24, 2022).
Diffuse and expansive allegations are insufficient, unless amplified by specific instances of misconduct.” Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir. 1977) (citations omitted).
Lopez v. Stanford, No. 1:18-cv-03493 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 24, 2020).
“[C]omplaints containing only conclusory, vague, or general allegations of a conspiracy to deprive a person of constitutional rights will be dismissed”
Oliver v. New York State Police, No. 1:19-cv-00233, 2020 WL 1849484 (N.D.N.Y. Apr. 13, 2020).
Plaintiff has failed to provide “the factual basis necessary to enable [the individual defendants] intelligently to prepare their defense.” Id. (quoting Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir. 1977)).

Show 146 more citing cases

Coleman v. City of New York, No. 1:18-cv-11819 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 25, 2020).
“Complaints containing only ‘conclusory, vague, or general allegations of a conspiracy to deprive a person of constitutional rights’ will be dismissed.” /d. (quoting Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977) (per curiam)).
Bruckman v. Green Cnty., No. 1:19-cv-00670 (N.D.N.Y. Feb. 24, 2020).
Plaintiff has failed to provide “the factual basis necessary to enable [the individual defendants] intelligently to prepare their defense.” Id. (quoting Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir. 1977)).
Centonze v. Munson, No. 1:19-cv-01017 (N.D.N.Y. Feb. 13, 2020).
“Diffuse and expansive allegations are insufficient, unless amplified by specific instances of misconduct”
Smith v. United States, No. 2015-2123 (D.D.C. Jan. 8, 2016).published
(citations and internal question marks omitted)
Morales v. City of New York, 752 F.3d 234 (2d Cir. 2014).published
See Thomas v. Roach, 165 F.3d 137, 147 (2d Cir.1999); Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977).
Anderson News, L.L.C. v. Am. Media, Inc., 680 F.3d 162 (2d Cir. 2012).published
See, e.g., X-Men Security, Inc. v. Pataki, 196 F.3d 56, 71 (2d Cir.1999); Thomas v. Roach, 165 F.3d 137, 147 (2d Cir.1999); Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977).
Brown v. Ontario Cnty., 787 F. Supp. 2d 273 (W.D.N.Y. 2011).published
See Ciambriello v. County of Nassau, 292 F.3d 307, 325 (2d Cir.2002); Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977).
Brito v. Castillo, 403 F. App'x 620 (2d Cir. 2010).unpublished
Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977) (per curiam) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Indus. Tech. Ventures LP v. Pleasant T. Rowland Revocable Trust, 688 F. Supp. 2d 229 (W.D.N.Y. 2010).published
Barr v. Abrams, 810 F.2d 358, 363 (2d Cir.1987) (citing Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 [2d Cir.1977]; Koch v. Yunich, 533 F.2d 80, 85 (2d Cir.1976); Powell v. Jarvis, 460 F.2d 551, 553 [2d Cir.1972]).
Malcolm v. Honeoye Falls-Lima Educ. Ass'n, 678 F. Supp. 2d 100 (W.D.N.Y. 2010).published 2 cites
Moreover, nebulous allegations like those asserted here are insufficient “to enable [defendants] intelligently to prepare their defense.” Ciambriello, 292 F.3d 307 at 325 , quoting Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977).
Nelson v. Hernandez, 524 F. Supp. 2d 212 (E.D.N.Y. 2007).published
“Diffuse and expansive allegations are insufficient, unless amplified by specific instances of misconduct”
McLaurin v. New Rochelle Police Officers, 368 F. Supp. 2d 289 (S.D.N.Y. 2005).published
(diffuse and expansive allegations of a conspiracy to deprive a person of constitutional right are insufficient, unless amplified by specific instances of misconduct.)
McLaurin v. New Rochelle Police Officers, 363 F. Supp. 2d 574 (S.D.N.Y. 2005).published
Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977).
Russo v. Glasser, 279 F. Supp. 2d 136 (D. Conn. 2003).published
As noted above, Plaintiff in conclusory fashion merely recites the facts and summarily states that “these facts demonstrate ... a claim of conspiracy.” “A complaint containing only conclusory, vague, or general allegations of conspiracy to…
Silverman v. City of New York, 64 F. App'x 799 (2d Cir. 2003).unpublished
(Diffuse and expansive allegations [of conspiracy to deprive a person of constitutional rights] are insufficient, unless amplified by specific instances of misconduct.)
Toussie v. Powell, 323 F.3d 178 (2d Cir. 2003).published 2 cites
In particular, we do not consider whether our previous statements on the pleading requirements for such conspiracy allegations, Polur v. Raffe, 912 F.2d 52, 56 (2d Cir.1990) ("It is incumbent on a plaintiff to state more than conclusory al…
Ruhlmann v. Ulster Cnty. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 234 F. Supp. 2d 140 (N.D.N.Y. 2002).published
Thus, “[cjonclusory, vague, or general allegations that the defendants have engaged in a conspiracy to deprive [a plaintiff] of his constitutional rights” are insufficient as a matter of law to support a claim under § 1983.” Ostrer v. Aron…
Silverman v. City of New York, 216 F. Supp. 2d 108 (E.D.N.Y. 2002).published
See Boddie v. Schnieder, 105 F.3d 857, 862 (2d Cir.1997); Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977) (per curiam); Shabazz v. Pico, 994 F.Supp. 460, 467 (S.D.N.Y.1998), aff'd in part by, vacated in part in, remanded in pari by, 20…
Daniel J. Ciambriello v. Cnty. of Nassau, 292 F.3d 307 (2d Cir. 2002).published 2 cites
“failfed] to specify in detail the factual basis necessary to enable [defendants] intelligently to prepare their defense”
Liner v. Goord, 115 F. Supp. 2d 432 (S.D.N.Y. 2000).published
See Leon, 988 F.2d at 311 ; Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977). 4.
X-Men Sec., Inc. v. Governor George Pataki, 196 F.3d 56 (2d Cir. 1999).published
As to what the legislators are alleged to have done, the complaint contains several charges of "participation" in a "conspiracy" that are conclusory, and are for that reason insufficient to state a claim, see, e.g., Thomas v. Roach, 165 F.…
X-Men Sec., Inc. v. Pataki, 196 F.3d 56 (2d Cir. 1999).published
As to what the legislators are alleged to have done, the complaint contains several charges of “participation” in a “conspiracy” that are conclusory, and are for that reason insufficient to state a claim, see, e.g., Thomas v. Roach, 165 F.…
Nat'l Cong. for Puerto Rican Rights ex rel. Perez v. City of New York, 75 F. Supp. 2d 154 (S.D.N.Y. 1999).published
“Diffuse and expansive allegations are insufficient unless amplified by specific instances of misconduct”
Brug v. Nat'l Coalition for the Homeless, 45 F. Supp. 2d 33 (D.D.C. 1999).published
Diffuse and expansive allegations are insufficient.”) (quoting Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977)) (internal brackets omitted).
Warren v. Fischl, 33 F. Supp. 2d 171 (E.D.N.Y. 1999).published
Dwares v. City of New York, 985 F.2d 94, 100 (2d Cir.1993); Zemsky v. City of New York, 821 F.2d 148, 151 (2d Cir.1987), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 965 , 108 S.Ct. 456 , 98 L.Ed.2d 396 (1987); Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977…
John's Insulation, Inc. v. Hartford Accident & Indem. Co. (In re John's Insulation, Inc.), 221 B.R. 683 (Bankr. E.D.N.Y. 1998).published
See Chongris v. Board of Appeals, 811 F.2d 36, 37 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, 483 U.S. 1021 , 107 S.Ct. 3266 , 97 L.Ed.2d 765 (1987); Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977).
Aziz Zarif Shabazz v. Pico, 994 F. Supp. 460 (S.D.N.Y. 1998).published
See Boddie v. Schnieder, 105 F.3d 857, 862 (2d Cir.1997); Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977) (per curiam).
Buckley v. Gomez, 36 F. Supp. 2d 1216 (S.D. Cal. 1997).published 2 cites
Hobson v. Wilson, 737 F.2d 1, 30 (D.C.Cir.1984) (quoting Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977)).
Hickey-McAllister v. British Airways, 978 F. Supp. 133 (E.D.N.Y. 1997).published
Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977).
Brown v. Coughlin, 965 F. Supp. 401 (W.D.N.Y. 1997).published
Polur v. Raffe, 912 F.2d 52, 56 (2d Cir.1990), cert. denied, 499 U.S. 937 , 111 S.Ct. 1389 , 113 L.Ed.2d 446 (1991); Barr v. Abrams, 810 F.2d 358, 363 (2d Cir.1987); Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977).
Hameed v. Pundt, 964 F. Supp. 836 (S.D.N.Y. 1997).published
See Leon v. Murphy, 988 F.2d 303, 311 (2d Cir.1993); Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977); *840 Malsh v. Austin, 901 F.Supp. 757, 763 (S.D.N.Y.1995).
O'NEAL v. Cnty. of Nassau, 992 F. Supp. 524 (E.D.N.Y. 1997).published
“The Second Circuit has repeatedly held that the plaintiff should provide at least some details of circumstances and effect of the alleged conspiracy.” Dwares, 985 F.2d at 99 -100 (citing 2A Moore’s Federal Practice ¶ 8.17[6], at 8-109 to…
Daniels v. City of Binghamton, 947 F. Supp. 590 (N.D.N.Y. 1996).published
See Build of Buffalo v. Sedita, 441 F.2d at 288 ; Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977).
D'AGOSTINO v. New York State Liquor Auth., 913 F. Supp. 757 (W.D.N.Y. 1996).published
Leon v. Murphy, 988 F.2d 303, 311 (2d Cir.1993); Dwares v. City of New York, 985 F.2d 94, 100 (2d Cir.1993); Polur v. Raffe, 912 F.2d 52, 56 (2d Cir.1990), cert. denied, 499 U.S. 937 , 111 S.Ct. 1389 , 113 L.Ed.2d 446 (1991); Barr v. Abram…
Berman v. Turecki, 885 F. Supp. 528 (S.D.N.Y. 1995).published
Consequently, Chapman’s motion to dismiss should be granted. 13 See San Filippo, 737 F.2d at 252; Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977). 3.
Srubar v. Rudd, Rosenberg, Mitofsky & Hollender, 875 F. Supp. 155 (S.D.N.Y. 1994).published 2 cites
Report at 10 (citing Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 553 (2d Cir.1977)); see also Polur v. Raffe, 912 F.2d 52, 56 (2d Cir.1990), cert. denied, 499 U.S. 937 , 111 S.Ct. 1389 , 113 L.Ed.2d 446 (1991).
United States v. Leverage Funding Sys., Inc., 637 F.2d 645 (9th Cir. 1980).published
United States v. Jack Lang, 644 F.2d 1232 (7th Cir. 1981).published
Contemporary Mission, Inc. v. United States Postal Serv., 648 F.2d 97 (2d Cir. 1981).published
Theodore L. Lombard v. United States, 690 F.2d 215 (D.C. Cir. 1982).published
Keating v. Carey, 706 F.2d 377 (2d Cir. 1983).published
423 South Salina Street, Inc. v. City of Syracuse, 724 F.2d 26 (2d Cir. 1983).published
Chahal v. Paine Webber Inc., 725 F.2d 20 (2d Cir. 1984).published
Julius Hobson v. Jerry Wilson, Thomas J. Herlihy, Jack Acree, Christopher Scrapper, Edward Jagen, John Mahaney & George Suter, John B. Layton Julius Hobson v. Jerry Wilson Charles D. Brennan, Courtland J. Jones, Gerald T. Grimaldi, George C. Moore & Gerould W. Pangburn, Julius Hobson v. Jerry Wilson Dist. of Columbia, a Mun. Corp., Julius Hobson Washington Area Women Strike for Peace v. Jerry Wilson Julius Hobson Abe Bloom, Arthur I. Waskow, Tina Hobson, David Eaton, Sammie A. Abbott, Richard P. Pollock, Reginald Booker, Washington Peace Ctr. & Washington Area Women Strike for Peace v. Jerry Wilson, 737 F.2d 1 (D.C. Cir. 1984).published
Commodity Futures Trading Comm'n v. Am. Bd. Of Trade, Inc., 803 F.2d 1242 (2d Cir. 1986).published
Edward Haase v. William H. Webster, 807 F.2d 208 (D.C. Cir. 1986).published
Sheldon Barr v. Robert Abrams, 810 F.2d 358 (2d Cir. 1987).published
James T. Martin, Jr. v. D.C. Metro. Police Dep't, Richard Xander, James T. Martin, Jr. v. D.C. Metro. Police Dep't, Richard Xander, 812 F.2d 1425 (D.C. Cir. 1987).published
Frank S. Dorman v. Michael Higgins, 821 F.2d 133 (2d Cir. 1987).published
Kenneth W. Martin v. John P. Malhoyt, John Doe(s) Shirley Ann Stevens v. David H. Stover, John Doe, 830 F.2d 237 (D.C. Cir. 1987).published
Hughes v. Patrolmen's Benevolent Ass'n Of The City Of New York, 850 F.2d 876 (2d Cir. 1988).published
Polur v. Raffe, 912 F.2d 52 (2d Cir. 1990).published
Don R. Baker v. Smith, 961 F.2d 219 (10th Cir. 1992).published
Brett C. Kimberlin v. Michael J. Quinlan, 6 F.3d 789 (D.C. Cir. 1993).published
Thomas v. Roach, 165 F.3d 137 (2d Cir. 1999).published
Courtemanche v. Enlarged City Sch. Dist., 686 F. Supp. 1025 (S.D.N.Y. 1988).published
Sadler v. Brown, 793 F. Supp. 87 (S.D.N.Y. 1992).published
Lombard v. United States, 530 F. Supp. 918 (D.D.C. 1981).published
Duncan v. At & T Commc'ns, Inc., 668 F. Supp. 232 (S.D.N.Y. 1987).published
Sowell v. Israel, 500 F. Supp. 209 (E.D. Wis. 1980).published
Haber v. Brown, 774 F. Supp. 877 (S.D.N.Y. 1991).published
Drum v. Nasuti, 648 F. Supp. 888 (E.D. Pa. 1986).published
Obeda v. Connecticut Bd. of Reg. for Prof'l Engineers & Land Surveyors, 570 F. Supp. 1007 (D. Conn. 1983).published
Gilliard v. New York Pub. Library Sys., 597 F. Supp. 1069 (S.D.N.Y. 1984).published
Brooks v. Am. Broad. Companies, Inc., 737 F. Supp. 431 (N.D. Ohio 1990).published
Gilliam v. Quinlan, 608 F. Supp. 823 (S.D.N.Y. 1985).published
Barr v. Abrams, 641 F. Supp. 547 (S.D.N.Y. 1986).published
Cerbone v. Cnty. of Westchester, 508 F. Supp. 780 (S.D.N.Y. 1981).published
Lee v. Carlson, 645 F. Supp. 1430 (S.D.N.Y. 1986).published
Cohen v. Bane, 853 F. Supp. 620 (E.D.N.Y. 1994).published
Vitale v. Nuzzo, 674 F. Supp. 402 (D. Conn. 1986).published
Malsh v. Austin, 901 F. Supp. 757 (S.D.N.Y. 1995).published
Katz v. Morgenthau, 709 F. Supp. 1219 (S.D.N.Y. 1989).published
Shakur v. Bell, 447 F. Supp. 958 (S.D.N.Y. 1978).published
Legal Aid Soc'y v. Ass'n of Legal Aid Attorneys, 554 F. Supp. 758 (S.D.N.Y. 1982).published
Green v. City of New York Med. Exam'r's Off., 723 F. Supp. 973 (S.D.N.Y. 1989).published
Madden v. City of Meriden, 602 F. Supp. 1160 (D. Conn. 1985).published
Pettman v. United States Chess Fed'n, 675 F. Supp. 175 (S.D.N.Y. 1987).published
Omni Grp. Farms, Inc. v. Cnty. of Cayuga, 766 F. Supp. 69 (N.D.N.Y. 1991).published
Kirshner v. Goldberg, 506 F. Supp. 454 (S.D.N.Y. 1981).published
Dean Tarry Corp. v. Friedlander, 650 F. Supp. 1544 (S.D.N.Y. 1987).published
Amalgamated Clothing & Textile Workers Union v. J. P. Stevens & Co., 475 F. Supp. 482 (S.D.N.Y. 1979).published
Weg v. MacChiarola, 654 F. Supp. 1189 (S.D.N.Y. 1987).published
Adelona v. Webster, 654 F. Supp. 968 (S.D.N.Y. 1987).published
Tolentino v. Erickson, 525 F. Supp. 812 (E.D.N.Y. 1981).published
Johnson v. New York City Transit Auth., 639 F. Supp. 887 (E.D.N.Y. 1986).published
Washington Square Post 1212 Am. Legion v. City of New York, 720 F. Supp. 337 (S.D.N.Y. 1989).published
Thomas v. News World Commc'ns, 681 F. Supp. 55 (D.D.C. 1988).published
Thornton v. City of Albany, 831 F. Supp. 970 (N.D.N.Y. 1993).published
Whelehan v. Cnty. of Monroe, 558 F. Supp. 1093 (W.D.N.Y. 1983).published
Gouiran Holdings, Inc. v. DeSantis (In re Gouiran Holdings, Inc.), 158 B.R. 3 (Bankr. E.D.N.Y. 1993).published
Malsh v. Garcia, 971 F. Supp. 133 (S.D.N.Y. 1997).published
Molina v. State of NY, 956 F. Supp. 257 (E.D.N.Y. 1995).published
Fairchild, Arabatzis & Smith, Inc. v. Sackheim, 451 F. Supp. 1189 (S.D.N.Y. 1978).published
Velasquez v. Senko, 643 F. Supp. 1172 (N.D. Cal. 1986).published
Richman v. W.L. Gore & Assocs., Inc., 881 F. Supp. 895 (S.D.N.Y. 1995).published
Rigby v. Coughlin, 730 F. Supp. 1196 (N.D.N.Y. 1990).published
X-Men Sec., Inc. v. Pataki, 983 F. Supp. 101 (E.D.N.Y. 1997).published
Clapp v. LeBoeuf, Lamb, Leiby & MacRae, 862 F. Supp. 1050 (S.D.N.Y. 1994).published
Louis v. Ward, 444 F. Supp. 1107 (S.D.N.Y. 1978).published
True v. New York State Dep't of Corr. Servs., 613 F. Supp. 27 (W.D.N.Y. 1984).published
Bodenmiller v. Stanchfield, 557 F. Supp. 857 (E.D.N.Y. 1983).published
Neustein v. Orbach, 732 F. Supp. 333 (E.D.N.Y. 1990).published
Carrasco v. New York City Off-Track Betting Corp., 858 F. Supp. 28 (S.D.N.Y. 1994).published
Wright v. Santoro, 714 F. Supp. 665 (S.D.N.Y. 1989).published
United States v. Bonanno Organized Crime Fam. of La Cosa Nostra, 683 F. Supp. 1411 (E.D.N.Y. 1988).published
Anderson v. D.C. Pub. Def. Serv., 756 F. Supp. 28 (D.D.C. 1991).published
Orange v. Cnty. of Suffolk, 830 F. Supp. 701 (E.D.N.Y. 1993).published
Kupcho v. Steele, 651 F. Supp. 797 (S.D.N.Y. 1986).published
Wellman v. State of W. Va., 637 F. Supp. 135 (S.D. W. Va. 1986).published
Bodner v. Banque Paribas, 114 F. Supp. 2d 117 (E.D.N.Y. 2000).published
423 South Salina Street, Inc. v. City of Syracuse, 566 F. Supp. 484 (N.D.N.Y. 1983).published
Clark v. United States, 481 F. Supp. 1086 (S.D.N.Y. 1980).published
Eck v. Gallucci, 321 F. Supp. 2d 368 (D. Conn. 2004).published
Reisner v. Stoller, 51 F. Supp. 2d 430 (S.D.N.Y. 1999).published
Daniel v. Safir, 135 F. Supp. 2d 367 (E.D.N.Y. 2001).published
Catholic War Vets. of the United States, Inc. v. City of New York, 576 F. Supp. 71 (S.D.N.Y. 1983).published
Dukes v. State of NY, 743 F. Supp. 1037 (S.D.N.Y. 1990).published
Williams v. Reilly, 743 F. Supp. 168 (S.D.N.Y. 1990).published
Studifin v. New York City Police Dep't-License Div.-Firearms Control Section, 728 F. Supp. 990 (S.D.N.Y. 1990).published
New York Pet Welfare Ass'n v. City of New York, 143 F. Supp. 3d 50 (E.D.N.Y. 2015).published
Hobson v. Wilson, 737 F.2d 1 (D.C. Cir. 1984).published
Martin v. D.C. Metro. Police Dep't, 812 F.2d 1425 (D.C. Cir. 1987).published
Baker v. Smith, 771 F. Supp. 1156 (D. Kan. 1991).published
Alkatabi v. United States Dep't of Just. Immigr. & Naturalization Serv., 777 F. Supp. 271 (S.D.N.Y. 1991).published
Benitez v. Gonda, 778 F. Supp. 200 (S.D.N.Y. 1991).published
Burrell v. Davis, 779 F. Supp. 42 (E.D. Va. 1991).published
Davis v. Powell, 901 F. Supp. 2d 1196 (S.D. Cal. 2012).published
Molina v. Kaye, 956 F. Supp. 261 (E.D.N.Y. 1996).published
Storey v. United States, 629 F. Supp. 1174 (N.D. Miss. 1986).published
Boracci v. Malloy, 643 F. Supp. 1015 (S.D.N.Y. 1986).published
McGaney v. Scully, 664 F. Supp. 151 (S.D.N.Y. 1987).published
In re Eight Grand Jury Subpoenae Duces Tecum, 701 F. Supp. 53 (S.D.N.Y. 1988).published
Comm'n Futures Trading Comm'n v. Am. Bd. of Trade, Inc., 803 F.2d 1242 (2d Cir. 1986).published
Hughes v. Patrolmen's Benevolent Ass'n of New York, 850 F.2d 876 (2d Cir. 1988).published
Rios v. Marshall, 100 F.R.D. 395 (S.D.N.Y. 1983).published
Fariello v. Rodriguez, 148 F.R.D. 670 (E.D.N.Y. 1993).published
In re Grand Jury Investigation, 683 F. Supp. 78 (S.D.N.Y. 1988).published
Kneitel v. Rose, No. 1:19-cv-03742, 2019 WL 3804678 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 13, 2019).
Zubko-Valva v. Cnty. of Suffolk, 607 F. Supp. 3d 301 (E.D.N.Y. 2022).
Shin v. NBC Universal Media, LLC, No. 1:23-cv-10996, 2025 WL 438297 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 7, 2025).
Dwares v. City of New York, 985 F.2d 94 (2d Cir. 1993).published
Pisello v. Town of Brookhaven, 933 F. Supp. 202 (E.D.N.Y. 1996).published
Schiavone v. Montuoro, 587 F. Supp. 66 (S.D.N.Y. 1984).published
Mahoney v. Nat'l Org. for Women, 681 F. Supp. 129 (D. Conn. 1987).published
Jennings v. Decker, 359 F. Supp. 3d 196 (N.D.N.Y. 2019).published

At page 552 Evaluating the credibility of factual assertions in litigation5 citing cases

Mann ex rel. Parent v. Meachem, 929 F. Supp. 622 (N.D.N.Y. 1996).published
His assertions are nothing more than self-serving supposition and surmise. 6 Ostrer v. Aronwald, 567 F.2d 551, 552 (2d Cir.1977).
Bertucci v. Brown, 663 F. Supp. 447 (E.D.N.Y. 1987).published
O'SULLIVAN v. Saperston, 587 F. Supp. 1041 (S.D.N.Y. 1984).published
Hall v. Dworkin, 829 F. Supp. 1403 (N.D.N.Y. 1993).published
Fox News Network, L.L.C. v. Time Warner Inc., 962 F. Supp. 339 (E.D.N.Y. 1997).published

Treatment classes

Cited as authority (rule) 129

Mentioned in passing 69

Cited "see" 38

Cited "see, e.g." 30

Compared "cf." 6

Cited as authority (verbatim quote) 2

Treatment by court

nysd	0R/0Y/63G	86
ca2	0R/0Y/33G	43
nyed	0R/0Y/26G	39
nynd	0R/0Y/12G	18
cadc	0R/0Y/13G	13
ctd	0R/0Y/10G	12
nywd	0R/0Y/9G	12
ca7	0R/0Y/2G	5
dcd	0R/0Y/5G	5
ca9	0R/0Y/2G	4
nyeb	0R/0Y/2G	4
casd	0R/0Y/3G	3

Frequently cited alongside

#1	red	Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41 (1957)	co-cited 42×
#2	green	Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800 (1982)	co-cited 32×
#3	green	Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971)	co-cited 28×
#4	green	Monell v. New York City Dept. of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658 (1978)	co-cited 27×
#5	green	Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519 (1972)	co-cited 25×
#6	green	Butz v. Economou, 438 U.S. 478 (1978)	co-cited 23×
#7	green	Griffin v. Breckenridge, 403 U.S. 88 (1971)	co-cited 22×
#8	red	Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232 (1974)	co-cited 22×
#9	green	Imbler v. Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409 (1976)	co-cited 19×
#12	red	Adickes v. S. H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144 (1970)	co-cited 15×

Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…

Louis C. OSTRER, Rita Ostrer, Jack Ostrer and Dina Gelman
v.
William H. ARONWALD, Robert B. Fiske, Jr., Alan Naftalis, Marvin Sontag, James Killeen, Edward H. Levi, and United States of America

No. 375, Docket 77-6118.

Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Dec 27, 1977.

Published opinion

567 F.2d 551

1977 U.S. App. LEXIS 5462

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Alan Dershowitz, Cambridge, Mass. (Harvey A. Silverglate, Ann Lambert Green-blatt, and Silverglate, Shapiro & Gertner, Boston, Mass., on the brief), for appellants., Gary G. Cooper, Asst. U. S. Atty., Southern District of New York, New York City (Robert B. Fiske, Jr., U. S. Atty., Patrick H. Barth, Asst. U. S. Atty., Southern District of New York, New York City, on the brief), for appellees.

Anderson, Kaufman, Timbers.

Cited by 131 opinions | Published

PER CURIAM:

This is an appeal from an order granting appellees’ motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Rule 12(b)(6), F.R. Civ.P. The individual appellees are or were members of a team of Government attorneys and investigators which is conducting a grand jury investigation of possible violations of the tax laws by Louis Ostrer and members of his family, appellants in this case. The gravamen of appellants’ complaint is that various federal and state officers and agencies^[1] are seeking to coerce[*553] appellant, Louis Ostrer, through illegal and unethical means, into providing testimony to a federal grand jury regarding his business associates, who are alleged to have “connections with organized crime” or who are “labor racketeers.” Only that portion of the district court’s order dismissing the third and fourth counts of the complaint is appealed.^[2]

The third cause of action alleges that appellees are engaged in a conspiracy to harass and discredit appellants in order to deprive them of their livelihood by: (1) leaking defamatory stories about Louis Ostrer to the news media; (2) discouraging his business associates from dealing with him; (3) appropriating his business records; (4) subpoenaing Louis Ostrer and his business records before different grand juries at the same time; (5) making disparaging remarks about him in open court and before congressional committees and other official bodies; and (6) engaging in overlapping and repetitive investigations of Louis Ostrer. The complaint, however, fails to show any nexus between the pattern of harassment allegedly inflicted upon Mr. Ostrer and the acts of the appellees. At best, there is a vague claim that appellees are linked to a broad conspiracy, involving other federal and state agencies, designed to destroy his business unless he cooperates with the Government.

This court has repeatedly held that complaints containing only “conclusory,” “vague,” or “general allegations” of a conspiracy to deprive a person of constitutional rights will be dismissed. Black v. United States, 534 F.2d 524 (2d Cir. 1976); Koch v. Yunich, 533 F.2d 80 (2d Cir. 1976); Fine v. City of New York, 529 F.2d 70 (2d Cir. 1975); cf. Build of Buffalo, Inc. v. Sedita, 441 F.2d 284 (2d Cir. 1971). Diffuse and expansive allegations are insufficient, unless amplified by specific instances of misconduct. See Build of Buffalo v. Sedita, supra, at 288. In this case, appellants’ unsupported allegations, which fail to specify in detail the factual basis necessary to enable appellees intelligently to prepare their defense, will not suffice to sustain a claim of governmental conspiracy to deprive appellants of their constitutional rights. See Jacobson v. Organized Crime and Racketeering Section, 544 F.2d 637 (2d Cir. 1976), cert, denied, 430 U.S. 955, 97 S.Ct. 1599, 51 L.Ed.2d 804 (1977); Fine v. City of New York, supra.

The fourth cause of action alleges that appellees have improperly threatened Louis Ostrer that, if he does not provide the Government with certain information about his business associates, they will indict, not only him, but also other members of his family for violations of the tax laws. Such a claim is premature. This court has recognized the freedom enjoyed by prosecutors in presenting evidence to grand juries, Fine v. City of New York, supra, at 74; and has declined to interfere with the exercise of their prosecutorial discretion by ordering Government attorneys to prosecute or not to prosecute particular individuals. Inmates of Attica Corr. Fac. v. Rockefeller, 477 F.2d 375 (2d Cir. 1973). If an indictment is ultimately returned, appellants will have plenty of time to seek proof of the motives of the Government’s attorney. See United States v. Berrios, 501 F.2d 1207 (2d Cir. 1974); United States v. Strutton, 494 F.2d 686 (2d Cir. 1974); cf. Matter of Doe, 546 F.2d 498 (2d Cir. 1976); Martin v. Merola, 532 F.2d 191 (2d Cir. 1976).

Moreover, appellants’ speculations that the grand jury has insufficient evidence on which to indict them are not enough to overcome the presumption of regularity attached to grand jury proceed[*554]ings, United States v. Costello, 350 U.S. 359, 76 S.Ct. 406, 100 L.Ed. 397 (1956); and, therefore, judicial interference with an ongoing investigation is unwarranted. Calan-dra v. United States, 414 U.S. 338, 94 S.Ct. 613, 38 L.Ed.2d 561 (1974).

Accordingly, the order of the district court dismissing the complaint is affirmed.

They include the New York County District Attorney’s Office, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Department of Labor, the United States Senate Permanent Sub-Com[*553]mittee on Investigations of the Committee on Government Operations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York State Department of Justice and the appellees.

The other counts of the complaint challenging tlje legality of certain evidence presented to the grand jury by appellees and charging that they purloined a privileged attorney/client document were dismissed by the district court on the grounds that these claims were more properly raised post-indictment and that they did not present compelling reasons for disrupting the grand jury proceedings. Appellants do not appeal this ruling.

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