Alexander

Background

Craig Alexander is proceeding without a lawyer and is being held at the West Facility on Rikers Island. The court construed his letter as a complaint alleging that West Facility mailroom personnel withheld incoming legal and non-legal mail from prisoners, including Alexander, because of a policy, custom, or practice of the New York City Department of Correction. The court understood the filing to assert constitutional claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a federal civil-rights statute, and state-law claims. The court had previously granted Alexander permission to proceed without paying filing fees in advance, although the opinion notes that prisoners remain responsible for the full filing fee under federal law.

Adding the City as a Defendant

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 21, a court may add or remove a party at any time on appropriate terms. Based on Alexander’s self-represented status and the nature of his allegations, the court understood him to be asserting claims against the City of New York. Judge Jeannette A. Vargas therefore directed the Clerk of Court to add the City as a defendant. The court stated that this addition was without prejudice to defenses the City might assert.

Possible Individual Defendant

The court noted that another West Facility detainee had filed the same letter and that the related submission had started a separate civil action. In that related matter, the New York City Law Department identified C.O. Bertteen Chambers, Shield #14038, as the West Facility mailroom officer during the relevant period. If Alexander intends to assert claims against Chambers, the court directed him to file an amended complaint naming Chambers by November 11, 2025. The amended complaint must replace, rather than supplement, the original filing. The court stated that it would screen the amended complaint and, if necessary, request that the newly named defendant waive service of the summons.

Order

The court directed the Clerk to add the City of New York as a defendant, notify the New York City Department of Correction and the New York City Law Department electronically, and mail Alexander an information package. The court also requested that the City waive service of the summons. This order addressed party identification and case administration; it did not decide whether Alexander’s allegations were legally sufficient or whether he would prevail on his claims.