Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-02945/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-02945-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Greyhound Lines, Inc.,
Defendant
Ronnie Jackson
Plaintiff

Document Text:

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RONNIE JACKSON,

Plaintiff,

 v.

GREYHOUND LINES, INC., et al.,

Defendants.

 /

No. C 04-02945 SI

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S

MOTION TO DISMISS

Plaintiff, Ronnie Jackson, filed a pro se complaint with this Court on July 20, 2004, alleging that

defendant violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) by refusing to allow Jackson and

his traveling companion to use disabled seating during the entirety of a three-day bus trip from San Francisco

to Baton Rouge. Defendant now moves to dismiss plaintiff’s first amended complaint.

In reviewing defendant’s motion to dismiss, it has come to the Court’s attention that Jackson’s

complaint fails to state a claim for relief on grounds that defendant did not raise in its motion. Jackson brings

his complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 12184(b)(2)(C), which lies in Title III of the ADA. First Am. Compl.

¶¶ 17-18. When private plaintiffs seek redress for violations of Title III of the ADA, however, they may obtain

only injunctive relief. See 42 U.S.C. § 12188 (authorizing monetary damages only where suit brought by the

AttorneyGeneral); Fischer v. SJBP.D. Inc., 214 F.3d 1115 (9thCir. 2000) (“Monetary reliefis not an option

for private individuals under Title III ofthe ADA.”). Yet Jackson seeks only monetary relief in his complaint.

First Am. Compl. at 10. Given that Jackson has not requested injunctive relief, his complaint fails to state a

claim under Title III of the ADA.

If he chooses, Jackson may amend his complaint to remedy the above defect. If Jackson wishes to

continue seeking monetary damages, he has two options available to him. First, he may identify a different
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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provision of federal law that entitles him to damages. Alternatively, he may amend his complaint to seek

injunctive relief under Title III of the ADA, and may add supplemental California-law claims that provide for

monetary relief. See, e.g., California Civil Code §§ 51, 52, 54.1, 54.3. Jackson must file his amended

complaint no later than October 21, 2005. Failure to file the amended complaint by the deadline will result

in the dismissal of the action.

For the foregoing reasons and for good cause shown, the Court hereby GRANTS defendant’s motion

to dismiss (Docket No. 29).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: 9/23/05

 

SUSAN ILLSTON

United States District Judge