Updated: 09/18/2026 04:56 PM
Case Title: Valdes v. Sohn et alAssigned To: Judge Melissa DamianFiled: 04/20/26Terminated:Nature of Suit: 440 Civil Rights: OtherCause: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act
| Plaintiff: Alexis Valdes | represented by | Alexis Valdes 736 NW 15th Terrace / Apt 2 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 mrmechanic.zip@gmail.com PRO SE |
| Defendant: The City of Margate, Florida | represented by | Christopher J. Stearns Johnson Anselmo Murdoch Burke Piper & Hochman PA 2455 E Sunrise Boulevard Suite 1000 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954-463-0100 stearns@jambg.com |
| Jonathan Howard Railey JOHNSON, ANSELMO, MURDOCH, BURKE, PIPER & HOCHMAN, PA 2455 E. Sunrise Boulevard, Suite 1000 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 (954) 463-0100 railey@jambg.com | ||
| Defendant: Neil Sohn Officer (Badge No. 3533), Individually | represented by | Christopher J. Stearns Johnson Anselmo Murdoch Burke Piper & Hochman PA 2455 E Sunrise Boulevard Suite 1000 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954-463-0100 stearns@jambg.com |
| Jonathan Howard Railey JOHNSON, ANSELMO, MURDOCH, BURKE, PIPER & HOCHMAN, PA 2455 E. Sunrise Boulevard, Suite 1000 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 (954) 463-0100 railey@jambg.com | ||
| Tamatha Suzanne Alvarez Martin, Lister & Alvarez 1655 N. Commerce Pkwy Suite 102 Weston, FL 33326 954-659-9322 tsalaw@hotmail.com |
| Case Number | Filed | Entered | Document Number | Docket Text |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 04/20/26 | 04/20/26 | 1 | Complaint pursuant to 42 USC 1983 against Neil Sohn, The City of Margate, Florida. Filing fee $ 405.00 Receipt#: Pending payment, filed by Alexis Valdes. (Attachments: # (1) Civil Cover Sheet, # (2) Exhibit A - G, # (3) Summons)(gqa) (Entered: 04/20/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 04/20/26 | 04/20/26 | 2 | Clerk's Notice of Judge Assignment to Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch. (gqa) (Entered: 04/20/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 04/20/26 | 04/20/26 | 3 | Clerks Notice of Receipt of Filing Fee received on 4/20/2026 in the amount of $ 405.00, receipt number 21914. (gqa) (Entered: 04/20/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 04/20/26 | 04/20/26 | 4 | Summons Issued as to Neil Sohn, The City of Margate, Florida. (gqa) (Entered: 04/20/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 04/20/26 | 04/20/26 | 5 | MOTION for Referral to Volunteer Attorney Program by Alexis Valdes. Responses due by 5/4/2026. (gqa) (Entered: 04/20/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 04/20/26 | 04/20/26 | 6 | Consent by Pro Se Litigant (Non-Prisoner) Alexis Valdes to receive Notices of Electronic Filing at email address: mrmechanic.zip@gmail.com (gqa) (Entered: 04/20/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 04/20/26 | 04/20/26 | 7 | NOTICE of Filing New Civil Action by Alexis Valdes re [6] Consent by Pro Se Litigant (Non-Prisoner) to receive Notices of Electronic Filing, [5] MOTION for Referral to Volunteer Attorney Program. (gqa) (Entered: 04/20/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 04/23/26 | 04/23/26 | 8 | ORDER REGARDING MAGISTRATE JUDGE JURISDICTION AND OPT-OUT PROCEDURE. Signed by Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch on 4/23/2026. See attached document for full details. (blc) (Entered: 04/23/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 04/30/26 | 05/01/26 | 9 | Plaintiff's MOTION for Issuance of Amended Summons as to Defendant The City of Margate, Florida by Alexis Valdes. Responses due by 5/14/2026. (Attachments: # (1) Summon(s))(blc) (Entered: 05/01/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 05/12/26 | 05/13/26 | 10 | ORDER on Motions: denying [5] Motion for Referral to Volunteer Attorney Program; granting [9] Motion for Issuance of Amended Summons. Signed by Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch on 5/12/2026. See attached document for fulldetails. (ls) (Entered: 05/13/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 05/13/26 | 05/13/26 | 11 | CLERK'S NOTICE of Compliance re [10] Order on Motion for Referral to Volunteer Attorney Program,, Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief. (ls) (Entered: 05/13/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 05/13/26 | 05/13/26 | 12 | Summons Issued as to The City of Margate, Florida. (ls) (Entered: 05/13/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 05/15/26 | 05/15/26 | 13 | NOTICE of Attorney Appearance by Christopher J. Stearns, Jr on behalf of The City of Margate, Florida. Attorney Christopher J. Stearns, Jr added to party The City of Margate, Florida(pty:dft). (Stearns, Christopher) (Entered: 05/15/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 06/01/26 | 06/02/26 | 14 | NOTICE of Filing Return of Service as to Defendant the City of Margate, Florida by Alexis Valdes (blc) (Entered: 06/02/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 06/01/26 | 06/02/26 | 15 | SUMMONS (Affidavit) Returned Executed on [1] Complaint 42 USC 1983 or Bivens with a 21 day response/answer filing deadline pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12 by Alexis Valdes. The City of Margate, Florida served on 5/14/2026, response/answer due 6/4/2026. (blc) (Entered: 06/02/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 06/04/26 | 06/04/26 | 16 | NOTICE of Attorney Appearance by Jonathan Howard Railey on behalf of The City of Margate, Florida. Attorney Jonathan Howard Railey added to party The City of Margate, Florida(pty:dft). (Railey, Jonathan) (Entered: 06/04/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 06/04/26 | 06/04/26 | 17 | Defendant's MOTION TO DISMISS [1] Complaint 42 USC 1983 or Bivens FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM by The City of Margate, Florida. Responses due by 6/18/2026. (Railey, Jonathan) (Entered: 06/04/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 06/15/26 | 06/15/26 | 18 | NOTICE of Filing First Amended Complaint as a Matter of Course Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(1)(B) and the Defendant City of Margate's Motion to Dismiss the Original Complaint DE [17] is Moot by Alexis Valdes (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit First Amended Complaint, # (2) Exhibit, # (3) Exhibit A, # (4) Exhibit B, # (5) Exhibit C, # (6) Exhibit D, # (7) Exhibit E, # (8) Exhibit F, # (9) Exhibit G, # (10) Exhibit H, # (11) Exhibit I) (blc) (Entered: 06/15/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 06/23/26 | 06/25/26 | 20 | NOTICE of Compliance per Order at DE [19], the Clerk has mailed a copy of the Order to the Plaintiff. (wce) (Entered: 06/25/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 06/25/26 | 06/25/26 | 19 | ORDER DENYING [17] MOTION TO DISMISS AS MOOT AND REQUIRING FILING OF AMENDED COMPLAINT AS SEPARATE DOCKET ENTRY: Plaintiff shall file the Amended Complaint as a separate docket entry within 14 days from the date of this Order. The Clerk of Court isdirected to mail a copy of this Order to Plaintiff at the address listed below. Signed by Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch on 6/23/2026. See attached document for full details. (wce) (Entered: 06/25/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 06/29/26 | 06/29/26 | 21 | Letter to Clerk of Court from Alexis Valdes. (scn) (Entered: 06/29/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 06/29/26 | 06/29/26 | 22 | FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT against Neil Sohn, The City of Margate, Florida, filed by Alexis Valdes. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibits)(scn) (Entered: 06/29/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 06/29/26 | 06/29/26 | 23 | NOTICE of Acceptance of Service of Process as to Defendant Officer Neil Sohn by Alexis Valdes. (scn) (Entered: 06/29/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 06/29/26 | 06/29/26 | 24 | NOTICE of Attorney Appearance by Christopher J. Stearns, Jr on behalf of Neil Sohn. Attorney Christopher J. Stearns, Jr added to party Neil Sohn(pty:dft). (Stearns, Christopher) (Entered: 06/29/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 06/29/26 | 06/29/26 | 25 | NOTICE of Attorney Appearance by Jonathan Howard Railey on behalf of Neil Sohn. Attorney Jonathan Howard Railey added to party Neil Sohn(pty:dft). (Railey, Jonathan) (Entered: 06/29/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 06/29/26 | 06/29/26 | 26 | Defendant's MOTION to Reassign Case by Neil Sohn. Responses due by 7/13/2026. (Railey, Jonathan) (Entered: 06/29/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 07/13/26 | 07/13/26 | 27 | MOTION TO DISMISS [22] Amended Complaint/Amended Notice of Removal FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM by The City of Margate, Florida. Responses due by 7/27/2026. (Stearns, Christopher) (Entered: 07/13/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 07/13/26 | 07/13/26 | 28 | ANSWER and Affirmative Defenses to Amended Complaint with Jury Demand by Neil Sohn. (Stearns, Christopher) (Entered: 07/13/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 07/13/26 | 07/14/26 | 29 | ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR CASE REASSIGNMENT [26]. Case reassigned to Judge Melissa Damian and Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch for all further proceedings. Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch no longer assigned to the case as presider. Signed by Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch on 7/6/2026. See attached document for full details. (blc) (Entered: 07/14/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 07/17/26 | 07/17/26 | 30 | ORDER REQUIRING SCHEDULING REPORT AND CERTIFICATES OF INTERESTED PARTIES. Joint Scheduling Report as well as Certificates of Interested Parties and Corporate Disclosure Statements due by 8/7/2026. Signed by Judge Melissa Damian on 7/17/2026. See attached document for full details. (blc) (Entered: 07/17/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 07/19/26 | 07/19/26 | 31 | NOTICE of Attorney Appearance by Tamatha Suzanne Alvarez on behalf of Neil Sohn. Attorney Tamatha Suzanne Alvarez added to party Neil Sohn(pty:dft). (Alvarez, Tamatha) (Entered: 07/19/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 07/23/26 | 07/23/26 | 32 | RESPONSE of Plaintiff Alexis Valdes in Opposition to [27] Defendant City of Margate MOTION TO DISMISS the [22] First Amended Complaint filed by Alexis Valdes. Replies due by 7/30/2026. (blc) (Entered: 07/23/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 07/23/26 | 07/23/26 | 33 | Certificate of Other Affiliates/Corporate Disclosure Statement by Alexis Valdes (blc) (Entered: 07/23/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 07/27/26 | 07/28/26 | 34 | RENEWED MOTION OF PLAINTIFF ALEXIS VALDES FOR REFERRAL TO THE COURT'S VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAM AND, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, FOR REQUEST OF COUNSEL PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(l) by Alexis Valdes. Responses due by 8/10/2026. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit)(pcs) (Entered: 07/28/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 07/28/26 | 07/28/26 | 35 | Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply/Answer as to [32] Response in Opposition to Motion by The City of Margate, Florida. Responses due by 8/11/2026. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit 1)(Railey, Jonathan) (Entered: 07/28/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 08/03/26 | 08/03/26 | 36 | PAPERLESS ORDER GRANTING [35] Defendants' Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to File Reply In Support of Its Motion to Dismiss the Amended Complaint. Finding good cause for the requested extension and noting that it is unopposed, it is hereby ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Motion is GRANTED nunc pro tunc to July 30, 2026. Defendants shall file their Reply in support of the [27] Motion to Dismiss by August 6, 2026. Signed by Judge Melissa Damian on 8/3/2026. (bzy) (Entered: 08/03/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 08/05/26 | 08/05/26 | 37 | REPLY in Support of Motion re [27] MOTION TO DISMISS [22] Amended Complaint/Amended Notice of Removal FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM . filed by The City of Margate, Florida. (Railey, Jonathan) (Entered: 08/05/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 08/07/26 | 08/07/26 | 38 | Joint SCHEDULING REPORT - Rule 16.1 by Neil Sohn, The City of Margate, Florida (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit 1)(Railey, Jonathan) (Entered: 08/07/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 08/07/26 | 08/07/26 | 39 | Defendant's Certificate of Other Affiliates/Corporate Disclosure Statement - NONE disclosed by Neil Sohn, The City of Margate, Florida (Stearns, Christopher) (Entered: 08/07/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 08/17/26 | 08/17/26 | 40 | ORDER SETTING TRIAL AND PRE-TRIAL SCHEDULE, REQUIRING MEDIATION, AND REFERRING CERTAIN MATTERS TO MAGISTRATE JUDGE: Jury Trial set for 8/9/2027 in Fort Lauderdale Division before Judge Melissa Damian, Calendar Call set for 8/4/2027 01:30 PM in Fort Lauderdale Division before Judge Melissa Damian, Mediation Deadline 2/19/2027. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and this District's Magistrate Judge Rules, all pretrial discovery motions and all motions that relate directly to these motions, such as motions for extension of time, motions for reconsideration, motions for sanctions, and motions for mental or physical examinations, as well as motions for substitution of counsel and motions to proceed pro hac vice, are referred to United States Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch. Signed by Judge Melissa Damian on 8/17/2026. See attached document for full details. (blc) Pattern Jury Instruction Builder - To access the latest, up to date changes to the 11th Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions go to https://pji.ca11.uscourts.gov or click here. (Entered: 08/17/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 08/17/26 | 08/17/26 | 41 | ORDER SETTING DISCOVERY PROCEDURES. Signed by Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch on 8/17/2026. See attached document for full details. (blc) (Entered: 08/17/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 08/19/26 | 08/19/26 | 42 | ORDER REFERRING CASE to Volunteer Attorney Program: Granting [34] Motion for Referral to Volunteer Attorney Program. Signed by Judge Melissa Damian on 8/19/2026. See attached document for full details. (ls) (Entered: 08/19/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 09/03/26 | 09/03/26 | 43 | Joint NOTICE of Mediator Selection and Hearing. Selected/Added Wayne S. Koppel as Mediator. Mediation Hearing set for 02/04/2027 at 10:00 a.m.. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit 1)(Railey, Jonathan) (Entered: 09/03/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 09/03/26 | 09/03/26 | 44 | Plaintiff's Unopposed MOTION for Extension of the Deadline to Amend Pleadings by Alexis Valdes. Responses due by 9/17/2026. (Attachments: # (1) Text of Proposed Order, # (2) Exhibit Cover Letter)(blc) (Entered: 09/03/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 09/04/26 | 09/04/26 | 45 | PAPERLESS ORDER GRANTING [44] Plaintiff's Unopposed Motion for Extension of the Deadline to Amend Pleadings. Finding good cause for the requested extension and noting that the relief is unopposed, it is hereby ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Motion is GRANTED. By December 1, 2026, all motions to amend pleadings shall be filed. All other deadlines remain as indicated in the [40] Scheduling Order. Signed by Judge Melissa Damian on 9/4/2026. (bzy) (Entered: 09/04/26) |
| 0:26-cv-61155-MD | 09/08/26 | 09/08/26 | 46 | ORDER SCHEDULING MEDIATION before Mediator Wayne Koppel, Esq.. Signed by Judge Melissa Damian on 9/8/2026. See attached document for full details. (amb) (Entered: 09/08/26) |