Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_08-cv-03914/USCOURTS-cand-4_08-cv-03914-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 446
Nature of Suit: Americans with Disabilities Act - Other
Cause of Action: 42:12101 Americans w/ Disabilities Act (ADA)

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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE YATES, et al v. TEQUILA GRILL, et al

THOMAS E. FRANKOVICH (State Bar #074414)

THOMAS E. FRANKOVICH, 

A PROFESSIONAL LAW CORPORATION

4328 Redwood Hwy, Suite 300

Telephone: 415/674-8600

Facsimile: 415/674-9900

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

CRAIG YATES 

and DISABILITY RIGHTS

ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION, 

SERVICES: HELPING YOU 

HELP OTHERS

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CRAIG YATES, an individual; and

DISABILITY RIGHTS, ENFORCEMENT,

EDUCATION, SERVICES:HELPING

YOU HELP OTHERS, a California public

benefit corporation,

Plaintiffs,

v.

TEQUILA GRILL; 

CARMEN HERNANDEZ, RAFAEL

HERNANDEZ, CARMELITA

HERNANDEZ-RIVERA, GERARDO

RIVERA, individuals dba TEQUILA

GRILL,

Defendants. ___________________________________

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CASE NO. CV-08-3914-CW 

CONSENT DECREE

WHEREAS, plaintiffs’ CRAIG YATES, an individual; and DISABILITY RIGHTS

ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION SERVICES: HELPING YOU HELP OTHERS, on behalf of

(himself/herself/themselves), has/have filed an action in the United States District Court,

Northern District of California, alleging claims for damages and injunctive relief under the

California Health & Safety Code Sections 19955, et seq., California Civil Code Sections 51, 51.5

and 54, et seq., and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. §12101, et seq.)

Case 4:08-cv-03914-CW Document 14 Filed 02/10/10 Page 1 of 8
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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE YATES, et al v. TEQUILA GRILL, et al

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arising out of plaintiff’s’ visit to the TEQUILA GRILL on May 16, 2007, May 23, 2007, July 5,

2007, May 12, 2008 and July 16, 2008. 

WHEREAS, defendants TEQUILA GRILL is located at 1350 East 14th Street, San

Leandro, California; and

WHEREAS, plaintiffs CRAIG YATES and DISABILITY RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT,

EDUCATION SERVICES: HELPING YOU HELP OTHERS and defendants CARMEN

HERNANDEZ, RAFAEL HERNANDEZ, CARMELITA HERNANDEZ-RIVERA, GERARDO

RIVERA, individuals dba TEQUILA GRILL (all of which are hereinafter referred to as the

“TEQUILA GRILL PARTIES”) have agreed upon an Equitable Settlement pursuant to which

RAFAEL HERNANDEZ shall perform certain remedial improvements at the restaurant as a

result of this litigation; and

WHEREAS, plaintiffs CRAIG YATES and DISABILITY RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT,

EDUCATION SERVICES: HELPING YOU HELP OTHERS and defendants the TEQUILA

GRILL PARTIES by and through RAFAEL HERNANDEZ agree that the settlement of this

claim is made in good faith and in an effort to avoid expensive and protracted litigation, but

without any admission or finding of liability or fault as to any allegation or matter; and

WHEREAS, the men’s restroom and the woman’s restroom are not currently usable by a

wheelchair user; and 

WHEREAS, the footprint of the men’s restroom and that of the women’s restroom as

referred to as exhibit “A” and exhibit “B” respectively illustrate the “as is” configuration of said

restrooms which is of insufficient size to meet the new construction standards of 

ADAAG; and 

WHEREAS, under the “readily achievable” standard of the Code of Federal Regulations

it is not readily achievable to construct a fully compliant sanitary facility but allow for providing

the greater amount of access to the extent feasible USING THE EXISTING MEN’S

RESTROOM under said standards; and

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Case 4:08-cv-03914-CW Document 14 Filed 02/10/10 Page 2 of 8
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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE YATES, et al v. TEQUILA GRILL, et al

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WHEREAS, the footprint of the existing men’s restroom could be altered to create

greater wheelchair access as shown in exhibit “C”; and

WHEREAS, under the readily achievable standard the women’s restroom can be

converted to a unisex restroom and the men’s restroom to a more accessible unisex restroom; and 

WHEREAS, the front entry door has a slope greater than 5%; and 

WHEREAS, the rear entry door has no slope. 

NOW, THEREFORE, it is ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED as follows:

I. JURISDICTION

A. The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of and the parties to this

Consent Decree pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C.

§122101, et seq.

B. Defendants TEQUILA GRILL PARTIES by and through RAFAEL

HERNANDEZ do not contest and agree not to contest the Court’s jurisdiction to enter into and

enforce this Consent Decree.

II. DENIAL OF LIABILITY

Defendants TEQUILA GRILL PARTIES by and through RAFAEL HERNANDEZ deny

any and all legal or equitable liability under any federal, state or local statute, regulation or

ordinance, or the common law, for any damages or claims caused by or arising out of the of the

TEQUILA GRILL PARTIES acts or inaction . By entering into this Consent Decree, or by

taking any action in accordance with it, defendant TEQUILA GRILL PARTIES by and through

RAFAEL HERNANDEZ do not admit any allegations contained herein or in the complaint, nor

do defendants, TEQUILA GRILL PARTIES by and through RAFAEL HERNANDEZ admit any

liability for any purpose or admit any issue of law or fact or any responsibility for the alleged

noncompliance of the TEQUILA GRILL PARTIES with the Americans with Disabilities Act of

1990 (“ADA”), Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG), California

Building Code, or any other state or federal building code or statute. 

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Case 4:08-cv-03914-CW Document 14 Filed 02/10/10 Page 3 of 8
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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE YATES, et al v. TEQUILA GRILL, et al

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III. PURPOSE

The purpose of this Consent Decree is to resolve amicably the existing dispute

between/among the parties hereto as to whether remedial improvements at the restaurant are

necessary to provide access to persons with disabilities and to settle the claims asserted against

defendants in the complaint filed in this matter. 

IV. BINDING EFFECT

A. The undersigned representative certifies that he/she is an officer or agent of the

TEQUILA GRILL PARTIES and is fully authorized to enter into the terms and conditions of this

Decree and that he or she is fully authorized to execute this document and legally bind

TEQUILA GRILL PARTIES by and through RAFAEL HERNANDEZ to the provisions of this

Decree.

B. The undersigned representative certifies that he/she is an officer or agent of

CRAIG YATES and is fully authorized to enter into the terms and conditions of this, that he/she

is fully authorized to execute this document and legally bind CRAIG YATES to the provisions

of this Decree, and that such party has not assigned, transferred or purported to assign or

transfer, to any person or entity any claim or other matter which is the subject of this Decree. 

C. The undersigned representative certifies that he/she is an officer or agent of

DISABILITY RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION SERVICES: HELPING YOU HELP

OTHERS and is fully authorized to enter into the terms and conditions of this, that he/she is fully

authorized to execute this document and legally bind DISABILITY RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT,

EDUCATION SERVICES: HELPING YOU HELP OTHERS to the provisions of this Decree,

and that such party has not assigned, transferred or purported to assign or transfer, to any person

or entity any claim or other matter which is the subject of this Decree. 

D. RAFAEL HERNANDEZ has agreed to assume the full financial and equitable

responsibility for all TEQUILA GRILL PARTIES for both monetary payments and remedial

work set forth herein.

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Case 4:08-cv-03914-CW Document 14 Filed 02/10/10 Page 4 of 8
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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE YATES, et al v. TEQUILA GRILL, et al

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VI. WORK TO BE PERFORMED

A. Specifically, as settlement of the equitable claim brought by Plaintiffs CRAIG

YATES and DREES, DISABILITY RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION SERVICES:

HELPING YOU HELP OTHERS, the TEQUILA GRILL PARTIES by and through RAFAEL

HERNANDEZ shall undertake remedial measures to make the following elements of the Tequila

Grill accessible, which constitutes the removal of architectural barriers pursuant to the readily

achievable standard as set forth in the code of federal regulation 28 CFR 36.304 The Americans

with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Americans with disabilities Act Access guidelines

(ADAAG). as referred to in the ADA and ADAAG, to persons with disabilities, including:

a. Provide a more accessible restroom by converting the existing

men’s restroom into a more accessible unisex restroom; - as

illustrated in Exhibit “C”

b. Convert the women’s restroom into a unisex restroom;

c. Provide directional signage at the front entrance, a minimum of 96

square inches (can be larger) on International Blue background

ISA symbol of access (wheelchair) in white lettering with arrow

which states “Accessible entrance at rear of building”;

d. Change the hardware to provide door pressure at rear entrance

which is 5lbs or less;

e. Provide rear door with 32inch clearence in which the panic

hardware is not a factor

f. Provide signage at rear entrance with ISA symbol of access

including rear entrance as accessible;

B. The work to be performed pursuant to this Consent decree shall be completed by

December 31, 2010. 

VII. READILY ACHIEVABLE STANDARD

Case 4:08-cv-03914-CW Document 14 Filed 02/10/10 Page 5 of 8
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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE YATES, et al v. TEQUILA GRILL, et al

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The remedial work set forth herein meets the “readily achievable” standard of the

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

VIII. MONETARY PAYMENT

A. In full and complete settlement of plaintiffs monetary claims against the

TEQUILA GRILL PARTIES, it is further agreed that TEQUILA GRILL PARTIES by and

through RAFAEL HERNANDEZ shall pay Plaintiffs DISABILITY RIGHTS

ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION SERVICES: HELPING YOU HELP OTHERS and CRAIG

YATES and their counsel Thomas E. Frankovich, A Professional Law Corporation, the sum of

Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000 ), in full and final settlement of all claims for damages,

attorneys’ fees, costs and litigation expenses no later than October 1, 2010 as set forth in a

separate Release. The Release itself is not apart of the Consent Decree. 

IX. MODIFICATION

There shall be no modification of this Consent Decree without written approval of both

parties hereto. 

X. EFFECTIVE DATE

This Consent Decree is effective upon the date of its entry by the Court.

XI. CONTINUING JURISDICTION

The Court specifically retains jurisdiction over both the subject matter of and the parties

to this action for the duration of this Consent Decree for the purpose of issuing such further

orders or directions as may be necessary or appropriate to construe, implement, modify, enforce,

terminate, or reinstate the terms of this Consent Decree, including but not limited to attorneys’

fees, costs and litigation expenses incurred in enforcing this Agreement, or for any further relief

as the interest of justice may require. 

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Case 4:08-cv-03914-CW Document 14 Filed 02/10/10 Page 6 of 8
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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE YATES, et al v. TEQUILA GRILL, et al

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XII. TERMINATION AND SATISFACTION

A. Upon defendant RAFAEL HERNANDEZ, completion of the work to be

performed, as specified, pursuant to this Consent Decree, on or before December 31, 2010,

whichever occurs earlier, Court’s jurisdiction of this matter shall terminate unless the parties

show good cause for the continuance of this Consent Decree. 

The undersigneds hereby consent to the foregoing Consent Decree. 

For Defendants TEQUILA GRILL PARTIES by and through RAFAEL HERNANDEZ .

Dated: January 27, 2010 _____________/S/____________________

RAFAEL HERNANDEZ

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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE YATES, et al v. TEQUILA GRILL, et al

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For Plaintiff CRAIG YATES, DISABILITY RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION

SERVICES: HELPING YOU HELP OTHERS.

Dated: January 28, 2010 ___________/S/_______________________

CRAIG YATES

Dated: January 28, 2010 _____________/S/_____________________

PATRICK CONNALLY - President

ORDER

IT IS SO ORDERED.

2/10/10

Dated: __________________ ____________________________________

Honorable Judge Claudia Wilken

Case 4:08-cv-03914-CW Document 14 Filed 02/10/10 Page 8 of 8