Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-02524/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-02524-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 446
Nature of Suit: Americans with Disabilities Act - Other
Cause of Action: 42:12101 The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MATT STRONG,

Plaintiff,

CASE NOS. 16cv1289-LAB (JMA) and

 16cv2524-LAB (JMA)

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO

CONTINUE STAY; AND

DIRECTIONS TO PARTIES

REGARDING THE COURT’S

EXPECTATIONS

vs.

DIANA E. JOHNSON, TRUSTEE OF

THE DIANA E. JOHNSON TRUST

DATED JULY 25, 2013,

Defendant.

________________________________

DOROTHY WHITE, 

 Plaintiff,

 vs.

DIANE E. JOHNSON, TRUSTEE OF

THE DIANE E. JOHNSON TRUST

DATED JULY 25, 2013,

 Defendant.

The Court stayed these consolidated actions and ordered the parties to jointly file a

status report by July 7. The report was to have shown whether conditions in the Miss Donuts

parking lot at 9729 Camp Road in Spring Valley were now ADA-compliant. 

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The parties instead each filed their own status report. Defendant hired a contractor

to resurface the parking space and to remediate ADA violations. It appears Plaintiff’s

counsel then visited the facility and looked at the parking lot. Plaintiff now agrees the

signage complies with the ADA. But the parties disagree about whether the slope of the

parking space is ADA-compliant.

According to both reports, an attorney from Plaintiff’s firm who admittedly is a nonexpert measured the slope using only a 24-inch digital level. Plaintiff’s report suggests this

is the method recommended by the government. That is not accurate; the government

recommends several methods, which include hiring a surveyor or using a digital slope meter

or other sophisticated electronic instrument. A less-accurate option involves using a

carpenter’s level. But this method requires use of a tape measure and bracing the level with

an object such as a pencil. Defendant says its contractor’s work is still under warranty, 1

implying that Defendant stands ready to make any further changes that are needed, as long

as Plaintiff is prepared to show the contractor what is wrong.

The Court’s orders contemplated that the parties would rely on measurements or

observations by someone with expertise in determining ADA compliance. See Rush v.

Islands Restaurants, LP, 2012 WL 4849016, at *2 and n.1 (S.D. Cal., Oct. 11, 2012)

(observing that it was much more appropriate for a disability claimant to hire someone with

training in surveying, architecture, construction, or some allied field rather than having an

attorney measure parking lot slope using a carpenter’s level). 

The Court also expects Plaintiff’s counsel to send someone to inspect and measure

the parking lot who has experience and training in such matters. If the parking lot is still out

of compliance, that person should be able to demonstrate to Defendant’s contractor what

is wrong, so that Defendant can get the work redone. Or if it is now ADA-compliant, the

person Plaintiff designates should confirm that so that this case can continue towards

See https://www.access-board.gov/research/completed-research/

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dimensional-tolerances/part-iii-appendices (“Carpenter's levels are used for setting level and

plumb only. To determine angles the level must be used with a measuring tape to determine

slope.”).

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resolution. The parties are directed to work together, to avoid the need for any further

extensions or parallel filings. 

The joint motion is GRANTED in part. No later than 14 calendar days from the date

this order is issued, Plaintiff shall designate someone with appropriate training in

determining a parking lot’s compliance with the ADA, who shall promptly meet and confer

with Defendant’s contractor. No later than 30 days from the date this order is issued, the

parties shall submit a joint status report giving the current status of the parking lot, as

previously ordered.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: July 7, 2017

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

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