Arthur Johnson v. Robert Morgenthau, Dist. Attorney, New York Cnty. Leroy Frazier, Chief, Special Prosecution Bureau & the City of New York, 160 F.3d 897 (2d Cir. 1998). · Go Syfert
Arthur Johnson v. Robert Morgenthau, Dist. Attorney, New York Cnty. Leroy Frazier, Chief, Special Prosecution Bureau & the City of New York, 160 F.3d 897 (2d Cir. 1998). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
16 citation events (12 in the last 25 years) across 10 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: People ex rel. J.J.J. (virginislands, 2013-07-05)
Top citers, strongest first. 16 distinct citers. How cited ↗
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) People ex rel. J.J.J.
virginislands · 2013 · signal: cf. · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
in this case, no party has suggested johnson's death on the record. but because johnson's sister-in-law has provided the court with a copy of johnson's death certificate, we may take judicial notice of the fact that johnson is dead.
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) People ex rel. J.G.
virginislands · 2013 · signal: cf. · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
in this case, no party has suggested johnson's death on the record. but because johnson's sister-in-law has provided the court with a copy of johnson's death certificate, we may take judicial notice of the fact that johnson is dead.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Lopez
2d Cir. · 2023 · confidence medium
We accordingly dismiss for 15 lack of jurisdiction. 1In Williams, we noted that this was “a separate and independent ground” for finding that the defendant’s appeal in that case “was moot.” Williams, 475 F.3d at 479 n.6. 4 1 On the off-chance that Lopez returns to the United States while his current 2 term of supervised release is pending and, for example, the sentencing court 3 imposes a more serious sentence on account of his violation of supervised 4 release, our dismissal of this appeal for lack of jurisdiction would not prevent 5 Lopez from again raising the present challenge to…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Scherezade Momin v. Quantierra Advisors LLC
2d Cir. · 2023 · confidence medium
We therefore deny the motion to substitute Rubina Momin as Plaintiff-Appellant. 2 Because we deny the motion to substitute, we are left with “no qualified representative to prosecute this appeal.” As a result, we “find it necessary to dismiss this appeal ‘base[d] on the inherent power of this Court to manage and control its docket.’” Marentette, 799 F. App’x at 50 (alteration in original) (quoting Johnson v. Morgenthau, 160 F.3d 897, 899 (2d Cir. 1998)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Nader Aldossari v. Joseph Ripp
3rd Cir. · 2022 · confidence medium
See Gamble v. Thomas, 655 F.2d 568, 569 (5th Cir. Unit A 1981) (“deem[ing] that Rule 43(a) implies the power” to dismiss an appeal “if no motion for substitution is made within a reasonable period” because it is “derived from [Civil Rule] 25(a)”); Johnson v. Morgenthau, 160 F.3d 897, 898-99 (2d Cir. 1998) (holding that “best course” was to dismiss appeal when no representative had come forward); cf. Deibel v. Hoeg, 998 F.3d 768 , 768 n.* (7th Cir. 2021) (admonishing parties that a deceased defendant-appellee would be “dismiss[ed] … as a party” “[u]nless within ten days …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Marentette v. City of Canandaigua
2d Cir. · 2020 · confidence medium
We therefore find it necessary to dismiss this appeal “base[d] on the inherent power of this Court to manage and control its docket.” Johnson v. Morgenthau, 160 F.3d 897, 899 (2d Cir. 1998) (per curiam).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ciaprazi v. Jacobson
2d Cir. · 2018 · confidence medium
Therefore, we dismiss that portion of Ciaprazi's appeal that is not moot without prejudice to reinstatement -- "a disposition that we base on the inherent power of this Court to manage and control its docket." Johnson v. Morgenthau, 160 F.3d 897, 898-99 (2d Cir. 1998) (per curiam).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Bush ex rel. Estate of Bush v. City of Utica
N.D.N.Y. · 2013 · confidence medium
See Fsn.R.Civ.P. 17(b)(1); Johnson v. Morgenthau, 160 F.3d 897, 898 (2d Cir.1998) (per curiam).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Rodriguez Sarmiento v. Rodriguez Sarmiento
9th Cir. · 2004 · confidence medium
Johnson v. Morgenthau, 160 F.3d 897, 898-99 (2d Cir.1998); Ward v. Edgeton, 59 F.3d 652, 653-54 (7th Cir.1995); Crowder v. Housing Auth. of City of Atlanta, 908 F.2d 843 , 846 n. 1 (11th Cir.1990); Gamble v. Thomas, 655 F.2d 568, 569 (5th Cir.1981).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Jewell
E.D. Ark. · 2000 · confidence medium
This practice preserves the neutral and random assignment of judges to cases, and it implements “the inherent power of this court to manage and control its docket.” Johnson v. Morgenthau, 160 F.3d 897, 899 (2d Cir.1998) (per curiam).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) In Re Federal Communications Commission
2d Cir. · 2000 · confidence medium
This practice preserves the neutral and random assignment of judges to cases, and it implements “the inherent power of this Court to manage and control its docket.” Johnson v. Morgenthau, 160 F.3d 897, 899 (2d Cir.1998) *140 (per curiam).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Raymond Aswegan v. Charley Harper
8th Cir. · 2000 · confidence medium
While we have authority to dismiss the appeal without prejudice, see Johnson v. Morgenthau, 160 F.3d 897, 898-99 (2d Cir. 1998) (per curiam) (court dismissed appeal without prejudice under Rule 43(a) where appellant died while appeal was pending, no personal representative came forward on appellant's behalf, and court had no knowledge whether any personal representative existed); Gamble v. Thomas, 655 F.2d 568, 569 (5th Cir. Unit A Aug. 1981) (same), we choose to deal with the merits of the matter. 2 The Honorable R.
discussed Cited "see" Robert Wagner v. Mary Jensen
8th Cir. BAP · 2026 · signal: see · confidence high
See Johnson v. Morgenthau, 160 F.3d 897 (2d Cir. 1998) (where the court dismissed because no personal representative had come forward on decedent’s behalf and no suggestion of death was filed but a family -2- member presented a copy of the death certificate); Pakosz v. Blinken, 2023 WL 8519374 (D.C.
discussed Cited "see" Van Praagh v. Gratton
E.D.N.Y · 2014 · signal: see · confidence high
See Johnson v. Morgenthau, 160 F.3d 897, 898 (2d Cir.1998) (taking judicial notice that the plaintiff had died because his sister-in law provided the court with a copy of the plaintiffs death certificate); G-I Holdings, Inc. v. Baron & Budd, No. 01 Civ. 0216(RWS), 2003 WL 193502 , at *8 (S.D.N.Y.
cited Cited "see" Murray v. Connetquot Central School District of Islip
2d Cir. · 2002 · signal: see · confidence high
See Johnson v. Morgenthau, 160 F.3d 897, 898-99 (2d Cir. 1998) (per curiam).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Terry v. Cross
E.D. Va. · 2000 · signal: compare · confidence low
Compare Johnson v. Morgenthau, 160 F.3d 897 (2d Cir.1998) (judicial notice of a party’s death appropriate where the court was provided with a death certificate); United States v. Lebron-Gonzalez, 816 F.2d 823 (1st Cir.1987) (dicta) (judicial notice of a birth certificate to prove citizenship "does not seem to fall within the contours of Fed.R.Evid. 201.’’). 16 .
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Arthur JOHNSON, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
Robert MORGENTHAU, District Attorney, New York County; Leroy Frazier, Chief, Special Prosecution Bureau; And the City of New York, Defendant-Appellees
Docket 97-9383.
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Nov 16, 1998.
160 F.3d 897
Arthur Johnson, New York City, pro se., Mai’k Frazier Scholl, Assistant District Attorney, New York County (Robert M. Mor-genthau, District Attorney, on the brief), for Appellees.
Cabranes, Reavley, Covello.
Cited by 15 opinions  |  Published
[*898] PER CURIAM.

Arthur Johnson, pro se, appeals from an order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Sonia Sotomayor, Judge) dismissing his civil rights complaint. Johnson commenced this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 after the District Attorney’s Office of New York County declined to investigate his charges of an elaborate conspiracy involving his landlord and government agents. He alleged, inter alia, that a renegade faction of the Central Intelligence Agency (“CIA”) had attempted to assassinate him by poisoning his food and water and “zapping” him with microwaves. These murderous acts, Johnson claimed, were intended to stymie his political aspirations, which included the mayoralty of New York and the presidency of the United States. Among the remedies Johnson sought were damages sufficient to allow him to mount a “serious” campaign for the presidency in the next general election and “to protect himself in the interim.”

The district court determined that Johnson’s action was frivolous and entered an order sua sponte dismissing his complaint prior to service of process on the defendants. See Johnson v. Morgenthau, No. 97 Civ. 7472(SS), 1997 WL 908445 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 15, 1997). Moreover, because this was Johnson’s third lawsuit involving the CIA’s alleged plot to assassinate him, the district court warned him that the filing of similar actions in the future could result in the imposition of sanctions.

On July 14, 1998, one day before this Court was to hear oral argument in Johnson’s timely appeal from the district court’s order, a telephone caller purporting to be Johnson’s sister-inrlaw informed the Clerk of the Court that Johnson had died. That same day, the Clerk mailed a letter addressed to the caller, requesting proof of Johnson’s death and asking the individual to inform the Court as to whether Johnson’s survivors wished to pursue his appeal. Cherie Johnson, Johnson’s sister-in-law, responded to the Clerk’s letter by submitting a copy of Johnson’s death certificate (which indicates that Johnson died on May 15, 1998) and a letter stating that she and her husband “have no interest in pursuing this case.” [1] No other individual has come forth seeking to pursue this appeal on Johnson’s behalf.

As an initial matter, we note that Johnson’s death has not rendered his Section 1983 action moot. Under New York law, which we must apply in these circumstances, Johnson’s Section 1983 action survives his death and may be asserted by his personal representative. See Barrett v. United States, 689 F.2d 324, 331 (2d Cir.1982); N.Y. Estates, PoweRS and Trusts Law § ll-3.2(b) (McKinney 1998 Supp.).

Ordinarily, the proper course to be followed upon the death of a party to an appeal is to effect a substitution pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 43(a). That Rule provides in pertinent part that

[i]f a party dies after a notice of appeal is filed or while a proceeding is otherwise pending in the court of appeals, the personal representative of the deceased party may be substituted as a party on motion filed by the representative or by any party with the clerk of the court of appeals.... If the deceased party has no representative, any party may suggest the death on the record and proceedings shall then be had as the court of appeals may direct.

In this case, no party has suggested Johnson’s death on the record. But because Johnson’s sisterLin-law has provided the Court with a copy of Johnson’s death certificate, we may take judicial notice of the fact that Johnson is dead.

The problem here is that no personal representative has come forward on Johnson’s behalf. In fact, we do not know if Johnson has a personal representative. We know only that one of Johnson’s survivors — -his brother — has eschewed any interest in maintaining this appeal.

We believe that the best course under these circumstances is to dismiss Johnson’s appeal without prejudice to the right of[*899] Johnson’s personal representative to seek reinstatement of the appeal on Johnson’s behalf — a disposition that we base on the inherent power of this Court to manage and control its docket. [2] In so holding, we note that this disposition is consistent with decisions of other courts that have addressed similar issues. See Ward v. Edgeton, 59 F.3d 652, 653-54 (7th Cir.1995) (appropriate course is to dismiss for lack of prosecution if personal representative has not come forward within a reasonable time); Gamble v. Thomas, 655 F.2d 568, 569 (5th Cir.1981) (finding implied power to dismiss in Fed.R.App. P. 43(a)).

For the foregoing reasons, the appeal is dismissed without prejudice.

1

. The death certificate indicates that Johnson's brother, Russell B. Johnson, Jr., resides at the same address which Ms. Johnson provided to this Court in her telephone call and her letter declining to pursue the appeal. We assume that Russell B. Johnson, Jr., is in fact her husband and that he has been informed of this matter.

2

. In the event that Johnson's personal representative does come forward seeking reinstatement of the appeal, we will determine at that time whether, in the circumstances presented, the application is timely.