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By Matthew Russell Lee

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Feb 16 – A case was listed, De Blasio versus Hassan, for 2 pm on May 14, 2019 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York courtroom of Judge Gregory H. Woods.

 Inner City Press went to the 12th floor of 500 Pearl Street at the appointed time - but the door was locked. Later on the Pacer terminal of the SDNY Press Room it emerged this was and is NOT about Mayor Bill De Blasio but rather prisoner Philip E. DeBlasio, who filed a handwritten complaint four days before Christmas about being attacked by another Rikers Island inmate due, he says, to Corrections Officers' negligence.

 DeBlasio wants $10 million are "surgery done to fix my nose and septum problem before I have to leave Rykers Island. Thank you!"

Corporation Counsel Allyson N. Brown, needless to say, saw it differently. DeBlasio, this DeBlasio, is now in Clinton Correctional Facility, and missed an April 23 telephonic initial pretial conference. Judge Woods set it for May 14 at 2 pm - but at that time the courtroom door.

Now on February 16, 2021, Judge Woods held another proceeding. But DeBlasio was not present. The proceeding was adjourned. The case is DeBlasio v. Hassan, 19-cv-851 (Woods)