Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_13-cv-05903/USCOURTS-cand-4_13-cv-05903-2/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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Alison M. Crane, No. 197359

Errol C. Dauis, No. 279313

BLEDSOE, CATHCART, DIESTEL,

PEDERSEN & TREPPA, LLP

601 California Street, 16th Floor

San Francisco, California 94108-2805

Telephone: (415) 981-5411

Facsimile: (415) 981-0352

Attorneys for Defendant

REDWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC.

THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

IRMA RAMIREZ and DAREN 

HEATHERLY,

Plaintiffs,

v.

TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5; REDWOOD 

ENTERPRISES, INC.; and 

ANAYASAHAGUN CORP., a California 

corporation, dba TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA 

#5,

Defendants.

Case No. 13-CV-05903-DMR

CONSENT DECREE

WHEREAS, Plaintiffs IRMA RAMIREZ and DAREN HEATHERLY (“Plaintiffs”) have 

filed an action in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, alleging claims 

for damages and injunctive relief under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 

§§12101, et seq.), California Civil Code §§54, 54.1, and 54.3, California Health and Safety Code 

§§19955, et seq., and California Civil Code §§51 et seq. (the Unruh Civil Rights Act) arising out 

of Plaintiffs’ visit to TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 on November 7, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Defendant ANAYASAHAGUN CORP., a California corporation, dba 

TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 owns and operates Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 

CONSENT DECREE

CASE NO. 13-CV-05903-DMR

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(collectively “Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5”) located at 791 Montecito Center,

Santa Rosa, California (the “Subject Property”); and

WHEREAS, Defendant REDWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC., a California Corporation, is 

the owner of the Subject Property; and

WHEREAS, Plaintiffs, Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5, and Defendant 

REDWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. have agreed upon a settlement pursuant to which Defendant 

TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 will perform certain remedial improvements at the Subject 

Property as a result of this litigation to provide access to disabled persons as well as make 

monetary payments to Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs’ counsel in full and final settlement of Plaintiffs’ 

claims for damages, attorneys’ fees, costs and litigation expenses as outlined in Section VII 

below; and

WHEREAS, Plaintiffs, Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5, and Defendant 

REDWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. 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 present front entrance, dining area, and restroom at the Subject Property 

may present architectural barriers to a wheelchair user; and

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

it is not readily achievable to increase the size of the restroom given the limited floor space of the 

Subject Property. Therefore, Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 will provide a greater 

amount of access to the extent feasible by using best efforts to provide a handicapped-accessible 

semi-ambulatory unisex public restroom.

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. §§12101, et 

seq.

/ / /

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CONSENT DECREE

CASE NO. 13-CV-05903-DMR

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B. Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 and Defendant REDWOOD 

ENTERPRISES, INC. do not contest and agree not to contest the Court’s jurisdiction to enter into 

and enforce this Consent Decree.

II. DENIAL OF LIABILITY

Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 and Defendant REDWOOD ENTERPRISES, 

INC. 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 Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5’s and Defendant REDWOOD ENTERPRISES, 

INC.’s acts or inaction. By entering into this Consent Decree, or by taking any action in 

accordance with it, Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 and Defendant REDWOOD 

ENTERPRISES, INC. do not admit any allegations contained herein or in the complaint, nor do 

Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 and Defendant REDWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. 

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

alleged noncompliance of the Subject Property with the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act 

Accessibility Guidelines (“ADAAG”), California Building Standards Code, or any other state or 

federal building code or statute.

III. PURPOSE

The purpose of this Consent Decree is to 

A. Resolve amicably the existing dispute between the parties hereto;

B. Settle the claims asserted against Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 and 

Defendant REDWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. in the complaint filed in this matter;

C. Provide for the REMEDIAL WORK, as defined in Section VI.B. below, as necessary 

to provide access to persons with disabilities; and 

D. Confirm that the REMEDIAL WORK meets the “readily achievable” standard of the 

ADA as well as the standards set forth in the ADAAG, California Building Standards Code, and 

other applicable state or federal building code or statute.

/ / /

/ / /

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CONSENT DECREE

CASE NO. 13-CV-05903-DMR

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IV. BINDING EFFECT

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

Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 and is fully authorized to enter into the terms and 

conditions of this Consent Decree and that he or she is fully authorized to execute this document 

and legally bind Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 to the provisions of this Consent 

Decree.

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

REDWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. and is fully authorized to enter into the terms and conditions 

of this Consent Decree and that he is fully authorized to execute this document and legally bind 

Defendant REDWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. to the provisions of this Consent Decree.

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

Plaintiffs and is fully authorized to enter into the terms and conditions of this Consent Decree; 

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

provisions of this Consent Decree; and that he or she 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 

Consent Decree.

VI. WORK TO BE PERFORMED

A. In general, Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 shall make the Subject 

Property accessible to persons with disabilities in accordance with the “Readily Achievable” 

standard under 28 C.F.R. part 36 in conjunction with the ADAAG.

B. Specifically, as settlement of the equitable claim brought by Plaintiffs, Defendant 

TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 shall undertake remedial measures to make the following 

elements of the Subject Property accessible to persons with disabilities, which constitutes the 

removal of architectural barriers pursuant to the readily achievable standard as set forth in the 

Code of Federal Regulation (28 C.F.R. 36.304), the ADA, and the ADAAG, as referred to in the 

ADA and ADAAG, California Building Standards Code, and other applicable state or federal 

building code or statute, and which remedial measures are referred to herein as the “REMEDIAL 

WORK”:

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CONSENT DECREE

CASE NO. 13-CV-05903-DMR

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1. Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 will provide an accessible front 

entrance by installing 10” kick plates on both sides of the entrance door;

2. Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 will relocate the table for two that is 

located adjacent to the entrance door to provide a minimum of 18” strike side 

clearance;

3. Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 will provide a table for two that will 

allow for placement of wheel chairs which shall be a maximum of 34” high, 

provide a minimum of 30” wide knee clearance, provide 27” of knee clearance 

from the floor to the bottom of the table, and provide 19” of unencumbered 

depth; and

4. Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 will provide a handicappedaccessible semi-ambulatory unisex public restroom by:

a. installing a door with levered hardware and a locking mechanism that 

does not require pinching, grasping, or twisting of the wrist to operate;

b. installing a raised toilet seat so the water closet will be between 17”-19” 

high;

c. installing a 24” rear grab bar at a height of 33”-36” above the floor;

d. installing levered hardware on the lavatory;

e. insulating the lavatory pipes;

f. raising the lavatory so the top is 34” from the floor and provides 29” of 

clearance underneath;

g. lowering the paper towel dispenser so it is a maximum of 40” from the

floor to the point of operation; and

h. lowering the mirror so it is a maximum of 40” from the floor to the 

bottom of the reflecting surface; and

i. installing ISA signage on the door that identifies the restroom as being a 

unisex accessible restroom at a height of 60” above the floor/ground to 

the center line of the sign.

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CONSENT DECREE

CASE NO. 13-CV-05903-DMR

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C. The work to be performed pursuant to this Consent Decree shall be completed within 

one (1) year of the date the Court enters this Consent Decree.

D. The parties also agree that the REMEDIAL WORK meets the “readily achievable” 

standard of the ADA as well as the standards set forth in the ADAAG, California Building 

Standards Code, and other applicable state or federal building code or statute.

VII. MONETARY PAYMENT

A. In full and complete settlement of Plaintiffs’ claims against Defendant TAQUERIA 

SANTA ROSA #5 and Defendant REDWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC., it is further agreed that 

Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 and Defendant REDWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC.

shall pay to Plaintiffs and their counsel, Thomas E. Frankovich, A Professional Law Corporation, 

the following sums in full and final settlement of all claims for damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, 

and litigation expenses as set forth in a separate Mutual Settlement Agreement and Release:

1. Defendant TAQUERIA SANTA ROSA #5 shall pay seven thousand five 

hundred dollars ($7,500) pursuant to the payment schedule set forth the in the 

parties’ Mutual Settlement Agreement and Release; and

2. Defendant REDWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. shall pay twenty-one thousand 

five hundred dollars ($21,500).

The Mutual Settlement Agreement and Release itself is not a part of this Consent Decree.

VIII. MODIFICATION

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

parties hereto. 

IX. EFFECTIVE DATE

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

X. 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’ 

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CONSENT DECREE

CASE NO. 13-CV-05903-DMR

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January 22, 2015

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