Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-02301/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-02301-2/pdf.json

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

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1

 This Court’s August 26, 2009, Order on the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment

provides an accurate recitation of the facts, summarized for convenience here. (Order, Aug. 26, 2009,

at 2–3, ECF No. 87)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

A.J. OLIVER,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 07CV2301 JLS (POR)

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTION TO RE-TAX AND

REVIEW THE AWARDING OF

COSTS TO DEFENDANT

(ECF No. 106)

vs.

RALPHS GROCERY COMPANY, et al.,

Defendants.

Presently before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion to re-tax and review the awarding of costs

to Defendant pursuant to local rule 54.1.h. (Mot. Re-tax, ECF No. 106) Also before the Court is

Defendant Ralphs Grocery Company’s response in opposition. (Resp. in Opp’n, ECF No. 109) 

The hearing set for the motion on December 15, 2011, was vacated, and the matter taken under

submission on the papers. Having considered the parties’ arguments and the law, the Court

GRANTS Plaintiff’s motion to re-tax costs.

BACKGROUND1

Plaintiff A.J. Oliver, a stroke victim who requires the use of a motorized wheelchair,

suffers speech impairment, and is unable to see clearly out of his right eye, filed suit against

Ralphs Grocery and Cypress Creek alleging eighteen barriers in violation of federal and state

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disability laws at a Food 4 Less grocery store. Although Plaintiff moved to amend his original

complaint in order to withdraw certain alleged violations and assert additional others, this Court

denied Plaintiff’s motion to amend as untimely. (Order, Feb. 18, 2009, ECF No. 71) Prior to the

issuance of that Order, the parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment. The Court denied

Plaintiff’s motion and granted in part Defendant’s motion; several of the ADA claims were

dismissed as moot, and the Court declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining

state-law claims, dismissing them without prejudice. (Order, Aug. 26, 2009, ECF No. 87) The

Ninth Circuit affirmed. Oliver v. Ralphs Grocery Company, 654 F.3d 903 (9th Cir. 2011).

Subsequently, the clerk of court issued an order taxing costs in favor of Defendant Ralphs

Grocery Company in the amount of $633.90. (Order, Sept. 16, 2011, ECF No. 105) Pursuant to

Local Rule 54.1.h, Plaintiff filed a motion to re-tax costs, and Defendant opposed. 

LEGAL STANDARD

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. § 12205, a court may, in its

discretion, award the “prevailing party . . . a reasonable attorney’s fee, including litigation

expenses, and costs.” However, with regard to ADA litigation, the “policy considerations which

support the award of fees to a prevailing plaintiff are not present in the case of a prevailing

defendant.” Christianburg Garment Co. v. Equal Emp’t Opportunity Comm’n, 434 U.S. 412,

418–19 (1978). Thus, as to prevailing defendants, fees and costs should only be awarded “upon a

finding that the plaintiff’s action was frivolous, unreasonable, or without foundation.” Summers v.

Teichert & Son, Inc., 127 F.3d 1150, 1154 (9th Cir. 1997). 

 “An action is frivolous if it lacks an arguable basis in law or in fact, though it need not be

brought in bad faith.” Peters v. Winco Foods, Inc., 320 F. Supp. 2d 1035, 1037 (E.D. Cal. 2004)

(granting in part the motion for attorneys fees and court costs in a case brought by Lynn Hubbard

III, plaintiff’s counsel in the instant case). “[T]his circuit affords the district court discretion to

award attorneys fees, even where plaintiff’s action is not wholly frivolous. However, . . . such

awards will rarely be appropriate where plaintiff has asserted significant meritorious claims.” Id.

at 1040.

//

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ANALYSIS

Defendant contends that Plaintiff’s suit was frivolous, given Plaintiff’s insistence on

asserting violations not included in the original complaint, his untenable legal position that statelaw accessibility standards are incorporated into the ADA, and his assertion of alleged

architectural violations that have been repeatedly held not to be violations of the ADA. (Resp. in

Opp’n 2–3, ECF No. 109) To determine whether Plaintiff’s complaint was indeed frivolous or

whether it asserted significant meritorious claims, the Court will address each of the eighteen

barriers alleged in the original complaint to violate state and federal disability laws. 

1. Conceded Claims

Plaintiff conceded partial summary judgment as to several of the alleged violations. In

addition, Plaintiff failed to oppose Defendant’s evidence of compliance as to other alleged

violations, thereby implicitly conceding summary judgment as to those barriers. That Plaintiff

conceded summary judgment as to these barriers does not necessarily suggest that the claims were

frivolous; the question is whether Plaintiff knew that Defendants were compliant with the ADA at

the time the case was originally filed. See Martinez v. Home Depot USA, Inc., No. S-04-2272,

2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56421, at *3–4 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 2, 2007) (“Home Depot presents no

evidence that the barriers in question were clearly ADA-compliant when the claims were filed. 

Therefore, the court cannot conclude that Martinez’s claims were frivolous.”).

A. “There is no stop sign painted on the pavement where the accessible route crosses the

vehicular way.”

Without explanation, Plaintiff “acquiesce[d] to partial summary judgment on his request[]

for injunctive relief” as to his stop signs at crossings claim. (Resp. in Opp’n to Def. Ralphs

Grocery’s Mot. Summary J. (“Ralphs MSJ”) 18, ECF No. 79) In fact, plaintiff’s counsel has

asserted and later conceded this claim in prosecuting other ADA cases. See, e.g., Martinez v.

Home Depot USA, Inc., No. S-04-2272, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21838, at *8 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 27,

2007) (“For Claim 10, concerning stop signs at crossings, Martinez concedes without elaboration

that there is no ADA violation.”). It is unclear from Martinez whether plaintiff’s counsel

conceded there was no ADA violation because he recognized that there is no requirement for such

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2

 Based on a terse review of the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (“ADAAG”), the Court notes

that such stop signs at accessible crossings do not appear to be mandated by the ADA. 

3

 The Court notes, however, that Plaintiff’s own expert left out any indication that the pay point

machines were mounted too high in his November 2008 expert report. (See Expert Report, ECF No.

55)

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a stop sign or because Home Depot took remedial action that mooted the claim. See Martinez,

2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56421, at *4 n.2. 

If plaintiff’s counsel knew that the stop sign at crossings claim was legally untenable but

nevertheless asserted it here, the Court would be inclined to find that the claim was frivolous.

Indeed, “[g]iven the volume of disabilities litigation filed by plaintiff’s counsel, the court must

assume a passing familiarity with the law in this area.” Peters, 320 F. Supp. at 1038. However,

the only authority provided by either of the parties as to the merits of Plaintiff’s stop signs at

crossings claim is Defendant’s bare assertion that “there is no requirement for such a stop sign.” 

(Ralphs MSJ 8, ECF No. 65) Thus, the Court declines to go so far as to hold that this claim was

frivolous.2

B. “The pay point machine is mounted too high and out of reach.”

Plaintiff also conceded that partial summary judgment was appropriate as to his pay point

machine claim. In fact, at least as of December 2008, the pay point machines were apparently in

compliance with the ADA. (Herrera Decl. ¶ 6, ECF No. 65-1) It is unclear to the Court, however,

whether the pay point machines were in compliance at the time the lawsuit was filed in December

2007, or whether Defendant remedied the alleged violation after the original complaint was filed

but before December 2008. As such, the Court cannot conclusively hold that this claim was

frivolous.3

C. “The signage at the men’s restroom’s entrance door is incorrect.” 

The same analysis applies to Plaintiff’s restroom signage claim. The sign provided is

apparently compliant with the ADA; however, it is unclear whether the sign was in compliance at

the time Plaintiff filed the suit or whether Defendant remedied the alleged violation at a later point. 

Thus, the Court declines to hold that this conceded claim was frivolous.

//

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 Based on a review of the applicable ADAAG, it does not appear that this claim is meritorious.

See ADAAG 4.17.6 (Grab Bars) & figs. 30(a)–(d). 

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D. “The door into the men’s restroom requires too much force to operate and does not

completely close.”

Plaintiff also conceded the men’s restroom door claim. The restroom door is apparently

compliant with the ADA. Even if the door was in compliance at the time Plaintiff filed his

complaint, however, without more information the Court cannot hold that the claim is frivolous. 

According to Defendant’s own admission, the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (“ADAAG”) require

that “doors shall have a maximum door opening force of 5 lbf.” (Resp. in Opp’n 9, ECF No. 65)

An accurate measurement of the force required to open the restroom door may not have been

available until after an expert was able to examine the premises, well after the date the claim was

filed. This claim was not frivolous.

E. “The side grab bar is mounted more than 12 inches from the back wall” and “The side grab

bar does not extend 24 inches beyond the toilet tissue dispenser.”

Though Plaintiff did not explicitly concede partial summary judgment of the side grab bar

claims, he did not oppose summary judgment as to these claims, (see Resp. in Opp’n to Ralphs

MSJ, ECF No. 79), and the expert report did not refer to any noncompliant side bar, (see Expert

Report, ECF No. 55). Defendant contended in its motion for summary judgment that the side bar

claim “fails for several reasons”: “[First], the side grab bar is mounted less than 12 inches from the

back wall. . . . [Second], there is no requirement that the grab bar extend 24 inches beyond the

toilet tissue dispenser. In short, the side grab bar is compliant.” (Ralphs MSJ 10, ECF No. 65) 

As to the first defect, it is again unclear whether the grab bar was mounted appropriately at

the time Plaintiff filed suit or whether Defendant later remedied the alleged violation; thus, the

mounting claim cannot be deemed frivolous. As to the second defect, if Plaintiff knew that there

was no requirement that the grab bar extend 24 inches beyond the toilet tissue dispenser but

nevertheless asserted the claim, the Court may deem the claim frivolous. However, neither party

cites to any authority as to the merits of this claim; Defendant merely asserts without support that

there is no such requirement.4

 Thus, the Court declines to hold that either claim was frivolous.

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F. “The handles to operate the lavatory controls require twisting and grasping.”

Finally, Plaintiff conceded without explanation the lavatory controls claim. It appears that

at least as of December 2008 the lavatory controls were compliant with the ADA as they are

“lever-style single handles,” (Ralphs MSJ 12, ECF No. 65), which the ADAAG indicates is an

“acceptable design[],” ADAAG 4.19.5 (Faucets). But, the Court declines to hold that the claim

was asserted frivolously as it is unclear whether the faucets were in compliance at the time the

claim was filed in December 2007. 

2. Mooted Claims

Several of Plaintiff’s claims were deemed moot as Defendant remedied the alleged

architectural barrier. That Defendant remedied that alleged violation does not compel the

conclusion that the claims were therefore nonfrivolous, however.

A. “There are no detectable warnings where the accessible route crosses the vehicular way.”

The Court did not consider Plaintiff’s detectable warnings claim on the cross-motions for

summary judgment because the warnings were in place at the time the motion was decided. 

(Order, Aug. 26, 2009, 6, ECF No. 87) The Court nevertheless noted that the parties contested

Plaintiff’s standing to assert such a claim. (Id. at 6 n.4) Plaintiff’s counsel is undoubtedly aware

that bringing such a claim where standing is lacking warrants a finding of frivolousness. See

Peters, 320 F. Supp. 2d at 1038 (finding, in a case involving Plaintiff’s counsel, that the detectable

warnings claim was frivolous because the plaintiff was not visually impaired and therefore lacked

standing). 

The ADAAG defines a “Detectable Warning” as “[a] standardized surface feature built in

or applied to walking surfaces or other elements to warn visually impaired people of hazards on a

circulation path.” ADAAG 3.5 (emphasis added). As explained in Peters, “Based on clear Ninth

Circuit precedent, [a] plaintiff only has standing to assert claims for barriers related to her

disability. Detectable warnings are designed to assist the visually impaired.” 320 F. Supp. 2d at

1038; see also Harris v. Costco Wholesale Corp., 389 F. Supp. 2d 1244, 1250–51 (S.D. Cal. 2005)

(stating, in a case involving Plaintiff’s counsel, that “[b]ecause Harris does not suffer from a visual

impairment, he does not have standing to challenge the lack of detectable warnings”); Strong v.

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5

 The Court notes, however, that at least one court in this district has already held this

argument, asserted by Plaintiff’s counsel, to lack merit. Harris, 389 F. Supp. 2d at 1250 (“While

mobility-impaired persons may benefit from the increased traction provided by detectable warnings,

there is nothing in the regulation suggesting that is their purpose.”). 

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Walgreen Co., No. 09cv611, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 129339, at *20–21 (S.D. Cal. Nov. 8, 2011)

(stating, in a case involving Plaintiff’s counsel, that “Plaintiff is not visually impaired. The Court

finds that Plaintiff does not have standing to assert a claim for violation of the ADA based on the

allegedly improper location of the detectable warnings because the barrier does not relate to

Plaintiff’s disability and instead relates to visual impairments”). 

The complaint alleges that Plaintiff suffered a stroke which “left him paralyzed, speech

impaired, and unable to stand or walk.” (Compl. ¶ 8, ECF No. 1) The complaint does not allege

that Plaintiff suffered from any visual impairment, and Plaintiff admitted in a deposition that he

was not sight impaired and that he could see. (Chilleen Decl., Ex. E, ECF No. 65-16 (Plaintiff’s

September 26, 2008, deposition). In contradiction, however, Plaintiff’s motion for summary

judgment indicates for the first time that Plaintiff “has ‘very limited’ vision in his right eye.” 

(Pl.’s MSJ 12, ECF No. 66 (citing Oliver Decl. ¶ 4, ECF No. 66-1 (“I have very limited vision in

my right eye.”))) Notwithstanding this new, contradictory contention, Plaintiff based his standing

to assert the detectable warning claim not on his alleged visual impairment, but rather on the

rationale that although “detectable warnings were initially intended to benefit the visually

impaired, . . . detectable warnings also benefit[] mobility-impaired individuals,” and that therefore

Plaintiff has established injury in fact. (Resp. in Opp’n to Ralphs MSJ 13, ECF No. 79)

The Court cannot go so far as to conclude that this claim was frivolous. Because there

appears to be some confusion as to whether Plaintiff indeed suffers from a visual impairment, and

because Plaintiff’s argument regarding mobility-impaired plaintiffs’ standing to raise detectable

warning claims could ostensibly have merit,5

 the Court deems the detectable warning claim

nonfrivolous.

//

//

//

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B. “The trash receptacle protrudes into the clear floor space needed at the water closet.”

The Court did not consider Plaintiff’s trash receptacle claim as the trash receptacle was

permanently removed and therefore the claim was deemed moot. Defendant argues that, in

addition to being moot, “Courts have repeatedly rejected such claims,” (Ralphs MSJ 11, ECF No.

65), bearing on whether the Court should deem the trash receptacle claim frivolous here. 

The Court cannot conclude that a trash receptacle claim is always without merit and is

therefore frivolous, however. Defendant itself cited to a case that held that a trash can may be

deemed an “on-going barrier” rather than merely a “temporary object that does not violate the

ADAAG.” Chapman v. Pier 1 Imports, No. S-04-1339, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 43740, at *35

(E.D. Cal. June 19, 2006), rev’d on other grounds en banc, 631 F.3d 939 (9th Cir. 2011). In fact,

here, Plaintiff argues that “waste receptacles were blocking his ability to use the men’s restroom

on no fewer than ten different occasions,” (Resp. in Opp’n to Ralphs MSJ 14, ECF No. 79),

suggesting that the waste basket may indeed be an “on-going barrier” in violation of the ADAAG. 

Thus, this claim is nonfrivolous.

C. “The pipes underneath the lavatory are not wrapped to prevent burns.”

Plaintiff’s final mooted claim concerns the wrapping of the lavatory pipes to prevent burns. 

Defendant contested standing as to this claim, arguing that “plaintiff testified that he can stand

upright and walk,” and therefore Plaintiff lacked standing as to the lavatory pipes claim because “a

person who is standing upright in front of the lavatory is not at risk of being burned or cut

underneath the lavatory.” (Ralphs MSJ 12, ECF No. 65 (citing Chilleen Decl., Ex. E, ECF No. 65-

16 (Plaintiff’s September 26, 2008, deposition)) 

The Court disagrees. The complaint alleges that Plaintiff is “unable to stand or walk,” and

that he “requires the use of a motorized wheelchair.” (Compl. ¶ 8, ECF No. 1) Although Plaintiff

testified in his deposition that he is able to walk approximately five to seven feet, (Chilleen Decl.,

Ex. E, ECF No. 65-16 (Plaintiff’s September 26, 2008, deposition), the fact remains that he is

primarily confined to a wheelchair, and therefore the Court finds that he had standing to assert the

lavatory pipes claim. This claim is nonfrivolous.

//

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6 See, e.g., Oliver v. KFC Corp., No. 06cv2273, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53576, at *17–18 (S.D.

Cal. July 14, 2008) (Sammartino, J.) (declining to incorporate state-law standards into the substance

of the ADA); Martinez, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21838, at *8 n.4 (“[T]he [MUTCD is] not incorporated

into the ADA’s requirements.”); Sanford v. Roseville Cycle, Inc., No. 04-1114, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS

10651, at *5 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 12, 2007) (“The ADA Accessibility Guidelines . . . are the exclusive

standards for judging compliance with the ADA.”); Sanford v. Del Taco, Inc., No. 04-cv-2154, 2006

U.S. Dist. LEXIS 69475, at *7 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 18, 2006) (“The MUTCD does not establish the

guidelines for a violation of the ADA.”); Chapman, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 43740, at *20

(“[C]ompliance with the ADAAG, and not another standard, constitutes compliance with the ADA

requirements.”); Eiden v. Home Depot USA, Inc., No. S-04-977, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38423, at *24

(E.D. Cal. May 26, 2006) (“[T]he ADAAG . . . are the exclusive standards by which to establish

architectural barriers under [the ADA].”).

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3. Claims Outside Scope of ADA

For several of Plaintiff’s claims, he relied on the California Manual of Uniform Traffic

Control Devices (“MUTCD”) and Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations (“Title 24”),

arguing that the ADAAG incorporated these state-law standards into the substance of the ADA. 

Those claims included the following: (1) “The tow away signage provided at the facility is

incorrect;” (2) “There is no directional signage leading to the accessible restrooms;” (3) “The

handle and lock on the stall door requires pinching and twisting to operate;” and (4) “The toilet

tissue dispenser protrudes into the clear floor space needed at the water closet.” (Compl. ¶ 10,

ECF No. 1) As to those claims, the Court deemed them outside the scope of the ADAAG because

the ADAAG does not incorporate state-law standards, granting summary judgment in favor of

Defendants.

Several district courts in cases involving Plaintiff’s counsel have previously held—and just

prior to the filing of the instant motion, the Ninth Circuit also held, see Oliver, 654 F.3d at

911—that the ADAAG does not incorporate the MUTCD.6

 And yet, Plaintiff’s counsel tirelessly

pursued this same argument before this Court, boldly stating that “[w]ith all due respect to these

district judges, they are wrong.” (Resp. in Opp’n 6, ECF No. 79) Despite being on notice that

violations of state-law accessibility standards would not constitute violations of the ADA, Plaintiff

nevertheless asserted these claims. However, because the Ninth Circuit had not yet directly

addressed this issue prior to the filing of the instant complaint, the Court declines to hold that these

four claims were frivolous.

//

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7

 Defendant argues that the Court should deem Plaintiff’s suit frivolous based on Plaintiff’s

assertion of violations that were identified in the expert report but that were not included in the

original complaint. Several courts have previously held that the expert report could not serve as a basis

for asserting barriers not identified in the complaint, see, e.g., Sanford, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10651,

at *6 n.5; White v. Divine Interests, Inc., No. S-04-0206, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23018, at *10–11

(E.D. Cal. Oct. 7, 2005), a point which the Ninth Circuit affirmed in this case on appeal, Oliver, 654

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4. State-Law Only Claims

Plaintiff conceded that several of his claims were based purely on state law, and the Court

declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s state-law claims. Those claims

included the following: (1) “The stall door is not self closing;” (2) “The soap dispenser’s operable

part is mounted at more than 40 inches from the floor;” and (3) “The operable part of the hand

dryer is mounted at more than 40 inches from the floor.” (Compl. ¶ 10, ECF No. 1) 

Because the Court declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over these state-law

claims, it did not reach the merits of them, and the Court cannot now hold that these claims were

asserted frivolously. Although each of the alleged violations apparently complies with the statelaw requirements, it is unclear whether they were in compliance at the time the case was filed or

were remedied sometime thereafter. These claims are nonfrivolous.

5. “The signage in the van accessible stall is incorrect.”

The only claim the Court analyzed on the cross-motions for summary judgment was

Plaintiff’s van accessible sign claim. The Court stated that “defendants’ evidence, which has not

been refuted by plaintiff, clearly indicates that a separate sign stating ‘Van Accessible’ was (or at

least currently is) present underneath the sign indicating the disabled parking space. (Cypress

Mem. ISO MSJ, Ex. G.) Thus, defendants are entitled to summary judgment on this issue.” 

(Order, Aug. 26, 2009, 8, ECF No. 87) Because, as indicated in the prior order, it is unclear

whether the sign was in compliance at the time suit was filed or not until after Defendant remedied

it at some later point, the Court cannot deem this claim to be frivolous.

CONCLUSION

After reviewing each of the claims asserted in the original complaint, the Court finds each

claim nonfrivolous. Because Plaintiff asserted “significant meritorious claims,” the Court holds

that the awarding of costs to Defendant was inappropriate.7

 

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F.3d at 909. In light of the fact that the majority of Plaintiff’s claims that were asserted in the original

complaint were deemed nonfrivolous, however, even if the Court deems Plaintiff’s attempt to assert

violations not included in the original complaint to be frivolous, it would not change the outcome of

the present motion.

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The Court therefore GRANTS Plaintiff’s motion to re-tax costs, and HEREBY

VACATES the Clerk’s order taxing costs.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: January 4, 2012

Honorable Janis L. Sammartino

United States District Judge

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