Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-02655/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-02655-0/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

ROY MASON,

Plaintiff,

v.

IRISH TIMES LLC dba DUBLIN 

SQUARE IRISH PUB & GRILL, 

GASLAMP PORTFOLIO 

MANAGEMENT LLC and DOES 

1-10, INCLUSIVE,

Defendants.

Case No.: 18-cv-2655-WQH-KSC

ORDER

HAYES, Judge:

On November 20, 2018, Plaintiff Roy Mason initiated this action by filing a

Complaint (ECF No. 1) (the “Complaint”) and a Motion to Proceed in Forma Pauperis

(“IFP”) (ECF No. 2). 

I. IFP

All parties instituting a civil action, suit, or proceeding in a district court of the 

United States, other than a petition for writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee of 

$400.00. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a); CivLR 4.5. An action may proceed despite a party’s 

failure to pay only if the party is granted leave to proceed IFP pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915(a). See Rodriguez v. Cook, 169 F.3d 1176, 1177 (9th Cir. 1999). 

The affidavit filed by Mason states “I am unable to pay the costs of these 

proceedings.” (ECF No. 2 at 1). Mason’s only income is $867.00 a month in “[d]isability,” 

and $250.00 in “ADA Settlements.” Id. at 2. He has $1100.00 of monthly expenses in the 

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form of rent, utilities, food, clothing, dry cleaning, transportation and recreation. Id. at 4. 

Mason has no car, home, or bank accounts. Id. at 2. Mason’s Motion to Proceed IFP (ECF 

No. 2) is GRANTED.

II. Initial Screening

A complaint filed by any person proceeding IFP pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) is 

subject to mandatory review and sua sponte dismissal to the extent it “is frivolous or 

malicious; fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or seeks monetary relief 

from a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B); Lopez v. 

Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). This screening standard applies to 

all civil actions filed by plaintiffs proceeding IFP. See Calhoun v. Stahl, 254 F.3d 845, 

845 (9th Cir. 2001) (per curiam) (“[T]he provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) are not 

limited to prisoners.”).

The standard used to evaluate whether a complaint states a claim is a liberal one. 

See Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976). However, even a “liberal 

interpretation . . . may not supply elements of the claim that were not initially pled.” Ivey 

v. Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of Alaska, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). Federal Rule 

of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) provides “A pleading that states a claim for relief must 

contain . . . a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to 

relief.” “[A] plaintiff’s obligation to provide the grounds of his entitlement to relief 

requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a 

cause of action will not do.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) 

(quotation omitted).

Mason brings the following causes of action against Defendants: (1) violation of the 

Americans with Disabilities Act, (2) violation of California Civil Code §§ 51, 54 et seq., 

(3) negligence per se, (4) negligence, (5) declaratory relief, and (6) injunctive relief. (ECF 

No. 1 ¶¶ 16–41). Mason alleges that he is “mobility impaired,” uses a wheelchair, and is 

“classified as having a physical impairment.” Id. ¶ 10. Mason alleges that, on or about 

November 21, 2017, he “was denied full and equal access to IRISH TIMES LLC dba 

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DUBLIN SQUARE IRISH PUB & GRILL . . . [because] the property was inaccessible to 

individuals belonging to the disabled community who use wheel chairs for mobility.” Id.

¶ 11. Mason alleges that Dublin Square is “owned and/or operated by the Defendants.” 

Id. 

Upon review, the Court concludes that Mason’s Complaint adequately states a claim

for purposes of the sua sponte screening required under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). Plaintiff is 

therefore automatically entitled to U.S. Marshal service on his behalf. See Lopez, 203 F.3d 

at 1126–27; 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) (“The officers of the court shall issue and serve all 

process, and perform all duties in [IFP] cases.”); Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(2) (providing that 

“service be effected by a United States marshal, deputy United States marshal, or other 

officer specially appointed by the court . . . when the plaintiff is authorized to proceed in 

forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915.”).

III. Conclusion

The Motion to Proceed IFP (ECF No. 2) is GRANTED. The Clerk of Court shall 

issue a summons and provide Plaintiff with the summons, certified copies of both this 

Order and the Complaint, and a blank U.S. Marshal Form 285. Plaintiff shall complete the 

U.S. Marshal Form 285 and forward the Form 285 and the designated copies of this Order 

and the Complaint to the U.S. Marshal. The U.S. Marshal shall serve a copy of the 

Complaint and summons upon Defendants as directed by Plaintiff on the U.S. Marshal 

Form 285.

Dated: January 18, 2019

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