Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00263/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00263-1/pdf.json

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

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PAUL L. REIN, Esq. (SBN 43053)

PATRICIA BARBOSA, Esq. (SBN 125865) 

JULIE MCLEAN, Esq. (SBN 215202)

LAW OFFICES OF PAUL L. REIN

200 Lakeside Dr., Suite A

Oakland, CA 94612

(510) 832-5001

Attorneys for Plaintiff

CONNIE ARNOLD

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CONNIE ARNOLD,

Plaintiff,

v.

MELISSA WARD and BARBARA

MURCH dba MEARLE’S DRIVE-IN;

RALPH KAZARIAN; ISABELLE

KAZARIAN; and DOES 1-25,

Inclusive,

Defendants.

Case No. CV-05-00263 OWW-LJO

Civil Rights

CONSENT DECREE AND ORDER

/

CONSENT DECREE AND ORDER

Plaintiff CONNIE ARNOLD filed this action on

February 24, 2005, to enforce provisions of the Americans

with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et

seq., and California civil rights laws against Defendants,

MELISSA WARD and BARBARA MURCH dba MEARLE’S DRIVE-IN; RALPH

KAZARIAN; ISABELLE KAZARIAN; and DOES 1 through 25,

Inclusive. Plaintiff has alleged that Defendants MELISSA

Case 1:05-cv-00263-LJO Document 24 Filed 10/19/05 Page 1 of 9
WARD and BARBARA MURCH dba MEARLE’S DRIVE-IN; RALPH

KAZARIAN; and ISABELLE KAZARIAN violated Title III of the

ADA and sections 51, 52, 54.1, and 55 of the California

Civil Code, and sections 19955 et seq., of the California

Health and Safety Code by failing to provide full and equal

access to their facilities at the Mearle’s Drive-In

Restaurant when plaintiff visited the subject facility on

September 18, 2004. 

Defendants MELISSA WARD and BARBARA MURCH dba

MEARLE’S DRIVE-IN; RALPH KAZARIAN; and ISABELLE KAZARIAN

(“Defendants”) deny the allegations in the Complaint and by

entering into this Consent Decree and Order do not admit

liability to any of the allegations in Plaintiff’s Complaint

filed in this action. The parties hereby enter into this

Consent Decree and Order for the purpose of resolving this

lawsuit without the need for protracted litigation, and

without the admission of any liability.

JURISDICTION:

The parties to this consent decree agree that the

Court has jurisdiction of this matter pursuant to 28 USC

§1331 for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act

of 1990, 42 USC 12101 et seq. and pursuant to pendant

jurisdiction for violations of California Health & Safety

Code §19955 et seq., including §19959; Title 24 California

Code of Regulations; and California Civil Code §§51; 52; 54;

54.1; §54.3; and 55. 

Case 1:05-cv-00263-LJO Document 24 Filed 10/19/05 Page 2 of 9
In order to avoid the costs, expense, and

uncertainty of protracted litigation, the parties to this

consent decree agree to entry of this Order to resolve all

claims regarding injunctive relief raised in the Complaint

filed with this Court on February 24, 2005. Accordingly,

they agree to the entry of this Order without trial or

further adjudication of any issues of fact or law concerning

plaintiff’s claims for injunctive relief.

WHEREFORE, the parties to this consent decree

hereby agree and stipulate to the Court's entry of this

Consent Order, which provides as follows:

SETTLEMENT OF INJUNCTIVE RELIEF:

This Order shall be a full, complete, and final

disposition and settlement of Plaintiff’s claims against

Defendants for injunctive relief that have arisen out of the

subject Complaint. The parties agree that there has been no

admission or finding of liability or violation of the ADA

and/or California civil rights laws, and this Consent Decree

and Order should not be construed as such.

 The parties agree and stipulate that the

corrective work will be performed in compliance with the

standards and specifications for disabled access as set

forth in the California Code of Regulations, Title 24-2 and

Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines,

unless other standards are specifically agreed to in this

Consent and Order: 

Case 1:05-cv-00263-LJO Document 24 Filed 10/19/05 Page 3 of 9
Remedial Measures: The injunctive relief agreed upon by

the Parties is attached as Attachment A to this Consent

Decree, which is incorporated herein by reference as if

fully set forth in this document. Defendants agree to

undertake all remedial work set forth in Attachment A. As

to those items with one or more indicated alternative

solutions, defendants may comply by carrying out the

alternative of their choice.

Timing of Injunctive Relief: Defendants will submit

plans for all corrective work within 30 days of entry of

this consent decree and order by the court, will commence

work within 30 days of receiving approval from the building

department, and will complete work within 60 days of

commencement. In the event that unforeseen difficulties

prevent defendants from completing any of the agreed-upon

injunctive relief, defendants or their counsel will notify

plaintiff’s counsel in writing within 30 days of discovering

the delay. Defendants or their counsel will notify

plaintiff’s counsel when the corrective work is completed,

and in any case will provide a status report no later than

120 days from the entry of this consent decree.

DAMAGES, ATTORNEY FEES, LITIGATION EXPENSES, AND COSTS:

The parties have not reached an agreement

regarding plaintiff’s claims for damages, attorney fees,

litigation expenses and costs. These issues shall be the

subject of further negotiation, litigation, or motions to

Case 1:05-cv-00263-LJO Document 24 Filed 10/19/05 Page 4 of 9
the Court. 

ENTIRE CONSENT ORDER:

This Consent Order and Attachment A to this

Consent Decree, which is incorporated herein by reference as

if fully set forth in this document, constitutes the entire

agreement between the parties on the matters of injunctive

relief, and no other statement, promise, or agreement,

either written or oral, made by any of the parties or agents

of any of the parties, that is not contained in this written

Consent Order, shall be enforceable regarding the matters of

injunctive relief described herein. This consent decree

applies to plaintiff’s claims for injunctive relief only and

does not resolve plaintiff’s claims for monetary damages,

attorney’s fees, litigation expenses and costs, which shall

be the subject of further negotiation and/or litigation.

CONSENT ORDER BINDING ON PARTIES AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST:

This Consent Order shall be binding on Plaintiff

CONNIE ARNOLD, Defendants, MELISSA WARD and BARBARA MURCH

dba MEARLE’S DRIVE-IN; RALPH KAZARIAN; ISABELLE KAZARIAN;

and any successors in interest. The parties have a duty to

so notify all such successors in interest of the existence

and terms of this Consent Order during the period of the

Court’s jurisdiction of this consent decree.

Case 1:05-cv-00263-LJO Document 24 Filed 10/19/05 Page 5 of 9
MUTUAL RELEASE AND WAIVER OF CIVIL CODE SECTION 1542 AS TO

INJUNCTIVE RELIEF ONLY:

Each of the parties to this Consent Decree

understands and agrees that there is a risk and possibility

that, subsequent to the execution of this Consent Decree,

any or all of them will incur, suffer, or experience some

further loss or damage with respect to the Lawsuit which are

unknown or unanticipated at the time this Consent Decree is

signed. Except for all obligations required in this Consent

Decree, the parties intend that this Consent Decree apply to

all such further loss with respect to the Lawsuit, except

those caused by the parties subsequent to the execution of

this Consent Decree. Therefore, except for all obligations

required in this Consent Decree, this Consent Decree shall

apply to and cover any and all claims, demands, actions and

causes of action by the parties to this Consent Decree with

respect to the Lawsuit, whether the same are known, unknown

or hereafter discovered or ascertained, and the provisions

of Section 1542 of the California Civil Code are hereby

expressly waived. Section 1542 provides as follows:

A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE

CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS FAVOR

AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY

HIM MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS SETTLEMENT WITH

THE DEBTOR.

This waiver applies to the injunctive relief aspects of this

action only and does not include resolution of plaintiff’s

Case 1:05-cv-00263-LJO Document 24 Filed 10/19/05 Page 6 of 9
claims for damages, attorney fees, litigation expenses and

costs. 

Except for all obligations required in this

Consent Decree, and exclusive of the referenced continuing

claim for damages, statutory attorney fees, litigation

expenses and costs, each of the parties to this Consent

Decree, on behalf of each, their respective agents,

representatives, predecessors, successors, heirs, partners

and assigns, releases and forever discharges each other

Party and all officers, directors, shareholders,

subsidiaries, joint venturers, stockholders, partners,

parent companies, employees, agents, attorneys, insurance

carriers, heirs, predecessors, and representatives of each

other Party, from all claims, demands, actions, and causes

of action of whatever kind or nature, presently known or

unknown, arising out of or in any way connected with the

Lawsuit.

TERM OF THE CONSENT ORDER:

This Consent Order shall be in full force and

effect for a period of twelve (12) months after the date of

entry of this Consent Order, or until the injunctive relief

contemplated by this Order is completed, whichever occurs

later. The Court shall retain jurisdiction of this action

to enforce provisions of this Order for twelve (12) months

after the date of this Consent Decree, or until the

Case 1:05-cv-00263-LJO Document 24 Filed 10/19/05 Page 7 of 9
injunctive relief contemplated by this Order is completed,

whichever occurs later. 

SEVERABILITY:

If any term of this Consent Decree and Order is

determined by any court to be unenforceable, the other terms

of this Consent Decree and Order shall nonetheless remain in

full force and effect.

SIGNATORIES BIND PARTIES:

Signatories on the behalf of the parties represent

that they are authorized to bind the parties to this Consent

Decree and Order. 

///

Dated: October 5, 2005

/s/ Connie Arnold

Plaintiff CONNIE ARNOLD

Dated: October 11, 2005

/s/ Melissa Ward

/s/ Barbara Murch

Defendant MELISSA WARD and

BARBARA MURCH dba MEARLE’S

DRIVE-IN

Dated: October 11, 2005

/s/ Ralph Kazarian

Defendant RALPH KAZARIAN

Dated: October 11, 2005

/s/ Isabelle Kazarian

Case 1:05-cv-00263-LJO Document 24 Filed 10/19/05 Page 8 of 9
Defendant ISABELLE KAZARIAN

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

Dated: October 5, 2005 PAUL L. REIN

PATRICIA BARBOSA

JULIE A. MCLEAN

LAW OFFICES OF PAUL L. REIN

/s/ Paul L.

Rein__________________

Attorneys for Plaintiff

CONNIE ARNOLD

Dated: October 11, 2005 LEONARD C. HERR

QUELIE M. SAECHAO

DOOLEY HERR & PELTZER LLP

/s/ Leonard C.

Herr______________

Attorney for Defendants

RALPH KAZARIAN; ISABELLE

KAZARIAN; MELISSA WARD AND

BARBARA MURCH dba MEARLE’S

DRIVE-IN

Dated: October 4, 2005 ALAN J. JANG

BURESH, KAPLAN, JANG & FELLER

/s/ Alan

Jang____________________

Attorney for Defendants

MELISSA WARD and BARBARA MURCH

dba MEARLE’S DRIVE-IN

ORDER

Pursuant to stipulation, and for good cause shown,IT IS SO

ORDERED.

66h44dDated: October 18, 2005 /s/ Lawrence J. O'Neill 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:05-cv-00263-LJO Document 24 Filed 10/19/05 Page 9 of 9