Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_19-cv-00545/USCOURTS-cand-4_19-cv-00545-0/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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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DEBRA VOLLE,

 Plaintiff,

v.

SHERWIN PETROLEUM, 

 Defendant.

Case No. 19-cv-0545-NC 

ORDER REQUESTING 

REASSIGNMENT TO A DISTRICT 

COURT JUDGE; REPORT AND 

RECOMMENDATION TO GRANT

THE PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR 

DEFAULT JUDGMENT

Re: Dkt. No. 27

In this ADA and Unruh Act case, plaintiff Debra Volle moves for default judgment 

against defendant Sherwin Petroleum, Inc. Dkt. No. 27. Volle seeks injunctive relief in 

the form of barrier removal at the defendant’s gas station as well as statutory damages and 

attorney’s fees. Id. Finding that the Eitel factors weigh in favor of granting default 

judgment, I RECOMMEND that default judgment be granted in favor of plaintiff Debra 

Volle and against defendant Sherwin Petroleum. Additionally, I RECOMMEND that the 

Court order the injunctive relief, statutory damages, and attorney’s fees and costs sought.

I. Background

Plaintiff Debra Volle filed this action in January 2019 alleging that defendant 

Sherwin Petroleum violated the Americans with Disabilities Act due to accessibility 

barriers at its gas station in Santa Clara, California. Dkt. No. 1. Volle has physical 

disabilities requiring the use of a scooter or walker for mobility. Id. at 3. The complaint 

seeks injunctive relief, damages, and recovery of attorney’s fees and costs. Id. at 11.

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Volle served the defendant’s authorized agent, Mohammad Hossein Beirami, with 

the summons and complaint in February 2019. Dkt. No. 27, Exs. AA, DD. A General 

Order 56 joint site inspection took place in March 2019. Dkt. No. 27, Ex. 10 (Declaration 

of Bassam Altwal). In July 2019, Volle filed an amended complaint incorporating findings 

from the site inspection. Dkt. No. 16. She served the amended complaint on Sherwin 

Petroleum’s agent, Mohammad Beirami. Dkt. No. 27, Ex. 5 (Declaration of Irakli 

Karbelashvili), Ex. BB. The Court’s deputy received an email from Mohammad Beirami 

in October 2019, indicating his intention to represent Sherwin Petroleum in the case. Dkt. 

No. 30. The Court referred Mr. Beirami to its free assistance for pro se litigants and 

advised him that, if he was not an attorney, he could not represent Sherwin Petroleum 

under Civil Local Rule 3-9(b) because Sherwin Petroleum is a corporation and therefore 

may only appear through a member of the bar of this Court. Id. Sherwin Petroleum has 

not otherwise appeared in the case. The Clerk of Court entered default against Sherwin 

Petroleum in August 2019. Dkt. No. 22.

II. Legal Standard

Default may be entered against a party who fails to plead or otherwise defend an 

action and against whom a judgment for affirmative relief is sought. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). 

After entry of default, the Court has discretion to grant default judgment on the merits of 

the case. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b); Aldabe v. Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 1092 (9th Cir. 1980). In 

deciding whether to grant default judgment, the Court considers the following factors: 

(1) the merits of the plaintiff’s substantive claim; (2) the sufficiency of the complaint; (3) 

the sum of money at stake in the action; (4) the possibility of prejudice to the plaintiff; (5) 

the possibility of a dispute concerning material facts; (6) whether the default was due to 

excusable neglect; and (7) the strong policy favoring decisions on the merits. Eitel v. 

McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471–72 (9th Cir. 1986). The factual allegations of the 

complaint, except those concerning damages, are deemed admitted by the non-responding 

parties. Shanghai Automation Instrument, 194 F. Supp. 2d at 995; see also Geddes v. 

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United Fin. Grp., 559 F.2d 557, 560 (9th Cir. 1977) (“[t]he general rule of law is that upon 

default the factual allegations of the complaint, except those relating to the amount of 

damages, will be taken as true”). 

III. Discussion

The Court FINDS that the Eitel factors weigh in favor of granting default judgment 

against Sherwin Petroleum. 

First and second, the Court finds that Volle’s substantive claims are meritorious and 

that her complaint is sufficient. Volle has alleged that she is disabled under the ADA and 

that she was denied access to a place of public accommodation owned or operated by 

Sherwin Petroleum. Dkt. Nos. 1, 16; Molski v. M.J. Cable, Inc., 481 F.3d 724, 730 (9th

Cir. 2007). She has also alleged that removal of the barriers at the property is readily

achievable. Dkt. No. 16. 

Third, the sum of money at stake in this action—$12,000 in statutory damages plus 

$10,664.50 in fees and costs—is neither substantial nor unreasonable in relation to the 

defendant’s conduct. PepsiCo, Inc. v. Cal. Sec. Cans, 238 F. Supp. 2d 1172, 1176 (C.D. 

Cal. 2002). Statutory damages under the Unruh Act are set at a minimum of $4,000 per 

instance of discrimination. Cal. Civ. Code § 52(a). Volle was unable to shop at the 

inaccessible gas station on three occasions. Dkt. No. 16, ¶¶ 5, 6, 8. Thus, $12,000 in 

statutory damages is appropriate. As to her attorney’s fees and other costs, the Court finds 

that the hours worked and hourly rate submitted by Volle’s counsel are reasonable and that 

the costs expended are appropriate. Dkt. No 27 at 20; Karbelashvili Decl.; Altwal Decl..

Fourth, the plaintiff will be prejudiced without a granting of default judgment as she 

has no other manner to seek relief. 

Fifth, the Court finds that a dispute of material fact is unlikely here where the 

plaintiff has submitted photographs and measurements of the subject property as well as an 

expert report supported by a General Order 56 site inspection. Dkt. No. 16, Ex. A.

Sixth, it is unlikely that the default here is due to excusable neglect because it 

appears that someone associated with Sherwin Petroleum is aware of this action and at one 

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point expressed interest in defending it. Dkt. No. 30. Moreover, Volle has served the 

defendant with both the original and amended complaint as well as other documents 

throughout this case. Karbelashvili Decl., Exs. AA, BB, DD. 

Finally, though policy favors decisions on the merits, such an outcome is unlikely 

or even impossible in this case because the defendant has not appeared. 

IV. Conclusion

The Court FINDS that the Eitel factors weigh in favor of granting default judgment 

in Volle’s favor. Because not all parties have appeared in this case and therefore have not 

consented to the jurisdiction of a magistrate judge under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), I request that 

the Clerk of Court REASSIGN this case to a District Court Judge.

I RECOMMEND that default judgment be entered in favor of Debra Volle and 

against Sherwin Petroleum. I RECOMMEND that the District Court Judge order the 

following relief:

Damages: $12,000 in statutory damages.

Attorney’s Fees and Costs: $10,664.50 in fees and costs.

Injunctive Relief: Defendant Sherwin Petroleum shall modify the property to be 

incompliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act 2010 Standards and Title 24 of the 

California Code of Regulations, with all work to be completed on or before November 30, 

2020. Specifically:

1. Exterior Path

a. Provide phone number or address that indicates where towed vehicles can 

be claimed.

b. Reduce cross slope of the accessible route so it is not greater than 1:50 or 

2%. 

2. Exterior Accessible Route

a. Provide an exterior accessible route (48 in. wide with no vertical changes 

greater than 1⁄4 in.) from the public right-of-way to an accessible entry and 

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other accessible site elements.

3. Curb Ramp by Front Door

a. Reduce slope of the curb ramp so that it is 1:12 (8.3%) or less.

b. Reduce slope of flared sides of the curb ramp so that they are 1:10 (10%) 

or less.

c. Modify the top landing so that it is sloped at 2% or less in every 

direction.

4. Parking

a. Provide an 8 ft. wide access aisle for a van at accessible parking.

b. Paint “NO PARKING” in white on the ground within each access aisle.

c. Provide an outline profile view of a wheelchair with occupant painted in 

white on a blue background on the accessible stall or space surface. The 

profile is to be located so that it is visible to a traffic enforcement officer 

when a vehicle is properly parked in the space. The identification image 

must be 36 in. high x 36 in. wide.

5. Gas Fuel Dispenser Air/Water Station

a. Provide a path of travel from the card reader dispenser to main entrance.

b. Provide a level area 30x48” by the card reader.

c. Modify the fuel dispenser or air/water station so that it is not more than 

54” measured from the base.

6. Main Customer Entry/Exit Door

a. Provide an accessible route from the property line to the door.

b. Provide a clear floor area on the pull side of the door beyond the strike 

jamb that is at least 24 in. wide x 5 ft. (60 in.) deep.

c. Provide clear floor area on the pull side of the door that is at least 5 ft. (60 

in.) deep by the clear width of the door.

d. Adjust and maintain door so that it takes at least 5 seconds for the door to 

close (from an open position of 90 degrees to 3 in. from the closed 

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position).

e. Adjust and maintain door pressure so that no more than 5 lbs. of 

maximum pressure is needed to operate it.

f. Provide smooth uninterrupted surface at bottom 10 in. of door.

7. Interior Path

a. Provide at least 5 ft. diameter or T-shaped turn space at each aisle 

intersection.

b. Provide an interior access route 36 in. wide connecting accessible 

entrances with each interior accessible element and space.

8. Interior Cashier Counter

a. Modify the cashier’s counter so that it is on an accessible route from the 

customer entry/exit door.

9. Interior Accessible Route

a. Adjust reach ranges for mounted objects so that they are within reach 

range.

10.Customer Restroom

a. Provide sign directing users to an accessible customer restroom.

b. Adjust and maintain door pressure so that it can be opened with 5 lbs. of 

pressure or less.

c. Provide at least a 12 in. wide x 48 in. deep clear floor area beyond the 

latch on the push side of the door.

d. Provide narrowest clear width of the doorway opening that is at least 32 

in. when a single leaf of the door is open to a 90 degree position.

e. Reposition side grab bar so its far edge is at minimum 54 in. from the rear 

wall.

f. Reposition the toilet paper dispenser so that it is at a minimum of 19 in. 

from the floor to the centerline of the dispenser and within 12 in. from 

front edge of toilet and 36 in. maximum from back wall.

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g. Install a rear grab bar so that it extends 12 in. minimum on one side and 

24 in. minimum on the other side of the centerline of the water closet

h. Install a side grab bar so that its far edge extends 24 in. minimum in front 

of the water closet.

i. Install a rear grab bar that is at least 36 in. long.

j. Provide a minimum of 28 in. wide clear floor space at the water closet 

adjacent to another fixture.

k. Adjust the centerline of the toilet so that it is 18 in. from the side wall.

l. Adjust top of the lavatory so that it is not more than 34 in. above the 

floor.

m. Reposition the bottom reflecting edge of the mirror so that it is at or 

below a height of 40 inches.

n. Reposition the soap dispenser control so that it is at or below a height of 

40 inches.

Finally, I RECOMMEND that the Court retain jurisdiction to enforce this relief 

through November 30, 2020. 

The plaintiff is hereby ORDERED to serve this Order on the defendant within 14 

days. Any party may object to this Order within 14 days of being served. Fed. R. Civ. P.

72.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 22, 2019 _____________________________________

NATHANAEL M. COUSINS

United States Magistrate Judge

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