Goodwin v. Alexander

Background

The case involves a claim under the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law, a New York City law. Goodwin alleges that Alexander secretly drugged and raped her after they met at a Gotham Magazine party on February 13, 2011. Alexander denies the allegations. He contends that the action is time-barred and preempted by New York's Child Victims Act and Adult Survivors Act. The parties' letter also states that Alexander anticipated filing a motion under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b) seeking dismissal of the complaint, but the opinion does not state that such a motion was filed or decided.

Request to Stay

The parties jointly asked the court to stay, or pause, all deadlines and proceedings for at least six months or until further direction from the court. They identified two appeals pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit—Parker v. Alexander and Doe v. Black—as raising substantially similar legal questions. According to the parties, the Second Circuit's decisions could resolve or provide guidance on the central issues in this case.

Ruling

Judge Paul A. Engelmayer granted the request. The case is stayed pending the Second Circuit decisions in Parker v. Alexander and Doe v. Black. The parties must jointly file a status update no later than two weeks after the date of each decision. The court did not decide the merits of Goodwin's claim or Alexander's anticipated defenses in this order.