Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01713/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01713-0/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

)

JEFF HAWORTH, )

)

)

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Plaintiff, )

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v. )

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ARTURO HADDOCK, et al., )

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)

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Defendants. )

 )

1:06cv1713 OWW DLB

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION

REGARDING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR

DEFAULT JUDGMENT

(Document 9)

Plaintiff Jeff Haworth, (“Plaintiff”) filed the instant motion for default judgment on July

17, 2007. The motion was referred to this court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local

Rule 72-302.

PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Plaintiff filed this action on November 27, 2006, seeking injunctive relief and damages

pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act and California Civil Code Section 54, 54.1 and

55 (California Unruh Act). Plaintiff, a disabled wheelchair user, alleges that Defendant Arturo

Haddock is the owner of the Bastille restaurant located at 113 Court Street, Hanford, California

(“the Restaurant”) and that the Restaurant’s restrooms are not accessible to people in

wheelchairs. Plaintiff seeks an injunction, an award of statutory damages, and attorneys’ fees. 

 

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According to the complaint, on November 21, 2006, Plaintiff patronized the Restaurant

and was unable to use the restroom due to its inaccessibility. The Complaint alleges that Plaintiff

frequently travels within a short distance of the Restaurant; that the barriers complained of are

easy to remove; and that he would continue to patronize the Restaurant if the barriers were

removed. 

Plaintiff seeks an injunction “to require Defendant to correct the restroom, to comply with

CBC and the ADAAG where required, to remove barriers to access which are readily achievable,

to make all reasonable accommodation in policy in order to enable Plaintiff and others similarly

situated to use the Restaurant and at minimum, to use readily achievable alternative methods to

enable Plaintiff to use the goods and services which the Restaurant makes available to the nondisabled public.”

Plaintiff also seeks the statutory damages in the amount of $4,000.00 pursuant to Civil

Code Section 52(a) and an award of attorneys fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 12205 as well as

California Civil Code Section 52(a), 54.3 and 1021.5. Plaintiff will make an application for

attorneys after all other issues have been resolved. 

Plaintiff filed a proof of service indicating that Defendant was served by substitute

service on December 13, 2006. The Clerk of the Court entered default on February 8, 2007. 

Plaintiff filed the instant motion for default judgment on July 17, 2007. Defendant was

served with the motion at 113 Court Street, Hanford, California but has not responded or

otherwise communicated with the Court. 

DISCUSSION

Plaintiff moves for entry of default judgment pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

55(b)(2), which provides that judgment may be entered:

By the Court. In all other cases the party entitled to a judgment by default

shall apply to the court therefor; but no judgment by default shall be entered

against an infant or incompetent person unless represented in the action by a

general guardian, committee, conservator, or other such representative who has

appeared therein. If the party against whom judgment by default is sought has

appeared in the action, the party (or, if appearing by representative, the party's

representative) shall be served with written notice of the application for judgment

at least 3 days prior to the hearing on such application. If, in order to enable the

court to enter judgment or to carry it into effect, it is necessary to take an account

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or to determine the amount of damages or to establish the truth of any averment

by evidence or to make an investigation of any other matter, the court may

conduct such hearings or order such references as it deems necessary and proper

and shall accord a right of trial by jury to the parties when and as required by any

statute of the United States.

“Upon default, the well pleaded allegations of the complaint relating to liability are taken

as true.” Dundee Cement Co. v. Highway Pipe and Concrete Products, 722 F.2d 1319, 1323 (7th

Cir. 1983); Televideo Systems, Inc. v. Heidenthal, 826 F.2d 915, 917 (9th Cir. 1987). Thus, “[a]t

the time of entry of default, the facts alleged by the plaintiff in the complaint are deemed

admitted.” 10 J. Moore, Moore's Federal Practice §55.11 (3d ed. 2000). 

Factors which may be considered by courts in exercising discretion as to the entry of a

default judgment include: (1) the possibility of prejudice to the plaintiff, (2) the merits of

plaintiff's substantive claim, (3) the sufficiency of the complaint, (4) the sum of money at stake in

the action; (5) the possibility of a dispute concerning material facts; (6) whether the default was

due to excusable neglect, and (7) the strong policy underlying the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure favoring decisions on the merits. Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-1472 (9th

Cir. 1986).

Defendant was served on December 16, 2006. The Clerk entered default on February 8,

2007. Defendant is not and infant or incompetent person, and is not in the military service or

otherwise exempted under the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940. 

Having read and considered the declarations, pleadings and exhibits to the present

motion, the Court finds that Plaintiff is entitled to the relief requested. 28 C.F.R. Part 36 was

created to implement th Americans with Disabilties Act. Pursuant to Section 36.304, barriers are

to be removed where such removal is readily achievable, i.e., “easily accomplishable and able to

be carried out without much difficulty or expense.” 28 C.F.R. § 36.304. Here, the men’s

restroom in the Restaurant includes a barrier because there is insufficient space beside either

toilet for a person in a wheelchair to wheel beside the toilet and then transfer himself from his

wheelchair to the toilet. Removal of the barrier is readily achievable under the American’s with

Disabilities Act in that doing so would not be unduly expensive or difficult. Given the foregoing,

Plaintiff is entitled to the injunctive relief requested.

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Plaintiff’s request for statutory damages in the amount of $4,000.00 is also warranted. 

California Civil Code Section 52(a) states in part:

Whoever denies, aids or incites a denial, or makes

any discrimination or distinction contrary to Section

51 . . . is liable for each and every offense for th

actual damages . . . but in no case less than four

thousand dollars ($4,000), and any attorney’s fees

that may be determined by the court in addition

thereto . . . 

In Botosan v. McNally Realty, 216 F.3d 827 (9th Cir. 2000), the Ninth Circuit held that proof of

actual damages was not a prerequisite to the recovery of the statutory minimum damages under

Civil Code Section 52(a) and that plaintiff need only show denial of equal access. See also

Wilson v. Haria and Gogri Corp., 479 F.Supp.2d 1127, 1141 (E.D. CA 2007)[plaintiff may

obtain damages under the Unruh Act for violations of the ADA even without a showing of

intentional discrimination].

Additionally, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 12205, as well as Civil Code Sections 52(a), 54.3 and

1021.5, plaintiff is entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees, including litigation expenses and costs. 

Plaintiff may bring the appropriate post-judgment motion for recovery of such amounts. 

RECOMMENDATION

For the reasons discussed above, the Court RECOMMENDS that:

1. Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant

Arturo Haddock be GRANTED as specified below;

2. Within 90 days of service of a copy of this Judgment upon Arturo Haddock, he

shall modify the men’s restroom at the Bastille Restaurant so that it has a toilet

stall which complies with applicable ADAAG standards;

3. Plaintiff be AWARDED statutory damages in the amount of $4,000.00; and 

3. Plaintiffs be AWARDED reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs in an amount to be

determined upon the motion of Plaintiff.

This Findings and Recommendation is submitted to the Honorable Oliver W. Wanger,

United States District Court Judge, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. section 636 (b)(1)(B)

and Rule 72-304 of the Local Rules of Practice for the United States District Court, Eastern

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District of California. Within thirty (30) days after being served with a copy, any party may file

written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be

captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” The Court will

then review the Magistrate Judge’s ruling pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636 (b)(1)(C). The parties are 

advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the

District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: November 1, 2007 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

3b142a UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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