Opinion ID: 784449
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The USA Appellants' Claims

Text: 9 We turn to the USA Appellants' right to enforce the USA decree and the ripeness of their claims. 8 See Thomas v. City of New York, 143 F.3d 31, 34 (2d Cir.1998) ([T]he court can raise [ripeness] sua sponte, and, indeed, can do so for the first time on appeal.) (citation omitted). The USA Appellants contend that they are proper parties under Rule 71 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Fed. R. Civ. P.), and that they have standing to enforce the USA decree. Nassau County maintains that, having failed to intervene or commence a separate action, the USA claimants were not authorized to enforce the [USA] decree and therefore lack standing. 10 We find that the right of the USA Appellants to seek enforcement of the USA decree is clear. The USA decree by its terms is final and binding between the parties signatory hereto ... as well as upon all persons who consent to and accept the relief provided herein. The USA Appellants, all of whom were appointed to the Nassau County Police Department as Police Officers pursuant to the USA decree, see supra note 4, are clearly among the group who consent[ed] to and accept[ed] the relief provided in the decree. And, under Fed.R.Civ.P. 71, [w]hen an order is made in favor of a person who is not a party to the action, that person may enforce obedience to the order by the same process as if a party, for example, by a motion to compel. See Berger, 771 F.2d at 1565-66. 11 Whether the USA Appellants' claims are ripe for review is a separate inquiry. 9 On this record, we cannot determine whether the USA Appellants have suffered an injury in fact. Lujan, 504 U.S. at 560, 112 S.Ct. 2130 (citations omitted). For example, it is unclear whether the USA Appellants have separated from their jobs and which, if any, of their separate claims for leave, separation, and Section 384-E benefits have accrued. Accordingly, we vacate the order of dismissal and remand so that the district court may further develop the factual record to determine the ripeness of the USA Appellants' claims and to reconsider any such claims in light of our ruling with respect to Durkin, supra.