UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

CASE: 

DOUG LONGHINI,

Plaintiff,

v.

PNS STORES INC. d/b/a BIG LOTS,

Defendant.

______________________________________/

COMPLAINT

Plaintiff, DOUG LONGHINI, individually and on behalf of all other similarly situated 

mobility-impaired individuals (hereinafter “Plaintiff”), sues PNS STORES INC. d/b/a BIG LOTS,

(hereinafter “Defendant”), and as grounds alleges:

JURISDICTION, PARTIES. AND VENUE

1. This is an action for injunctive relief, a declaration of rights, attorneys' fees,

litigation expenses, and costs pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 12181, et seq., (the “Americans with

Disabilities Act” or “ADA”) and 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 2202.

2. The Court has original jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s claims arising under 42 U.S.C. 

§ 12181, et seq. pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1343 and 42 U.S.C. § 12117(a).

3. The Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and

2202, and may render declaratory judgment on the existence or nonexistence of any right under 42 

U.S.C. § 12181, et seq.

4. Plaintiff, DOUG LONGHINI, is an individual over eighteen years of age, with a 

residence in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and is otherwise sui juris.

5. At all material times, Defendant PNS STORES INC. owned and operated a retail 

business at 7930 Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines, Florida (hereinafter the “Commercial Property”) 

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and conducted a substantial amount of business in that place of public accommodation in Broward 

County, Florida. Defendant holds itself out to the public as “Big Lots.”

6. At all material times Defendant PNS STORES INC. was a Foreign Profit 

Corporation organized under the laws of the state of California with its principal place of business 

in Columbus, Ohio and conducted a substantial amount of business in Broward County, Florida. 

7. Venue is properly located in the Southern District of Florida because Defendant’

Commercial Property islocated in Broward County, Florida, Defendant regularly conduct business 

within Broward County, Florida, and because a substantial part(s) of the events or omissions giving 

rise to these claims occurred in Broward County, Florida.

FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

8. Although over twenty-eight (28) years have passed since the effective date of Title 

III of the ADA, Defendant have yet to make its facilities accessible to individuals with disabilities. 

9. Congress provided commercial businesses one and a half years to implement the

Act. The effective date was January 26, 1992. In spite of this abundant lead-time and the

extensive publicity the ADA has received since 1990, Defendant continue to discriminate against 

people who are disabled in ways that block them from access and use of Defendant’ businesses 

and properties.

10. The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in 28 CFR 36.201 and 

requires landlords and tenants to be liable for compliance

11. Plaintiff, DOUG LONGHINI, is an individual with disabilities as defined by and 

pursuant to the ADA. DOUG LONGHINI uses a wheelchair to ambulate. DOUG LONGHINI

has very limited use of his hands and cannot operate any mechanisms which require tight grasping 

or twisting of the wrist. He also has a great deal of trouble walking or otherwise ambulating 

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without the use of a wheelchair. He is limited in his major life activities by such, including but 

not limited to walking, standing, grabbing, grasping and/or pinching. 

12. Defendant, PNS STORES INC., own, operate and oversee the Commercial

Property, its general parking lot and parking spots. 

13. The subject Commercial Property is open to the public and is located in 

Pembroke Pines, Broward County, Florida. 

14. The individual Plaintiff visits the Commercial Property and businesses located 

within the Commercial Property, regularly, to include visits to the Commercial Property and

businesses located within the Commercial Property on or about January 15, 2020 and encountered 

multiple violations of the ADA that directly affected his ability to use and enjoy the Commercial 

Property and businesses located therein. He often visits the Commercial Property and businesses

located within the Commercial Property in order to avail himself of the goods and services offered 

there, and because it is approximately twenty-eight (28) miles from his residence, and is near his 

friends’ residences as well as other businesses and restaurants he frequents as a patron. He plans 

to return to the Commercial Property and the businesses located within the Commercial Property

within two (2) months from the date of the filing of this Complaint. 

15. Plaintiff is the President of National Alliance for Accessibility, Inc. and often 

travels through South Florida to conduct outreach activities on behalf of National Alliance for 

Accessibility, Inc. Many members and prospective members have transportation difficulties which 

requires Plaintiff to travel to visit members and prospective members. 

16. Plaintiff resides nearby in the same County and state as the Commercial Property

and the businesses located within the Commercial Property, has regularly frequented the 

Defendant’ Commercial Property and the businesses located within the Commercial Property for 

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the intended purposes because of the proximity to his and his friends’ residences and other 

businesses that he frequents as a patron, and intends to return to the Commercial Property and

businesses located within the Commercial Property within two (2) months from the filing of this 

Complaint. 

17. The Plaintiff found the Commercial Property, and the businesses located within

the Commercial Property to be rife with ADA violations. The Plaintiff encountered architectural 

barriers at the Commercial Property, and businesses located within the Commercial Property and

wishes to continue his patronage and use of each of the premises.

18. The Plaintiff has encountered architectural barriers that are in violation of the 

ADA at the subject Commercial Property, and businesses located within the Commercial Property. 

The barriers to access at Defendant’ Commercial Property, and the businesses located within the 

Commercial Property have each denied or diminished Plaintiff’s ability to visit the Commercial 

Property, and businesses located within the Commercial Property, and have endangered his safety

in violation of the ADA. The barriers to access, which are set forth below, have likewise posed a 

risk of injury(ies), embarrassment, and discomfort to Plaintiff, DOUG LONGHINI, and others 

similarly situated.

19. Defendant, PNS STORES INC., own and operate a place of public 

accommodation as defined by the ADA and the regulations implementing the ADA, 28 CFR 

36.201 (a) and 36.104. Defendant, PNS STORES INC., is responsible for complying with the 

obligations of the ADA. The place of public accommodation that Defendant, PNS STORES INC.,

own and operate the Commercial Property Business located at 7930 Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines, 

Florida.

20. Plaintiff, DOUG LONGHINI, has a realistic, credible, existing and continuing

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threat of discrimination from the Defendant’ non-compliance with the ADA with respect to the 

described Commercial Property and the businesses located within the Commercial Property,

including but not necessarily limited to the allegations in Paragraph 25 of this Complaint. 

Plaintiff has reasonable grounds to believe that he will continue to be subjected to discrimination 

at the Commercial Property, and businesses located within the Commercial Property, in violation 

of the ADA. Plaintiff desires to visit the Commercial Property and businesses located therein, not 

only to avail himself of the goods and services available at the Commercial Property, and 

businesses located within the Commercial Property, but to assure himself that the Commercial

Property and businesses located within the Commercial Property are in compliance with the ADA,

so that he and others similarly situated will have full and equal enjoyment of the Commercial

Property, and businesses located within the Commercial Property without fear of discrimination.

21. Defendant, PNS STORES INC., as owner and operator of the Commercial

Business, is responsible for all ADA violations listed in Paragraph 25 of this Complaint.

22. Plaintiff, DOUG LONGHINI, has a realistic, credible, existing and continuing 

threat of discrimination from the Defendant’ non-compliance with the ADA with respect to the 

described Commercial Property and businesses located within the Commercial Property, but not 

necessarily limited to the allegations in Paragraph 25 of this Complaint. Plaintiff has reasonable 

grounds to believe that he will continue to be subjected to discrimination at the Commercial

Property, and businesses within the Commercial Property, in violation of the ADA. Plaintiff 

desires to visit the Commercial Property and businesses within the Commercial Property, not only 

to avail himself of the goods and services available at the Commercial Property and businesses 

located within the Commercial Property, but to assure himself that the Commercial Property, and

businesses located within the Commercial Property are in compliance with the ADA, so that he 

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and others similarly situated will have full and equal enjoyment of the Commercial Property, and 

businesses located within the Commercial Property without fear of discrimination. 

23. Defendant have discriminated against the individual Plaintiff by denying him 

access to, and full and equal enjoyment of, the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages 

and/or accommodations of the Commercial Property, and businesses located within the 

Commercial Property, as prohibited by 42 U.S.C. § 12182 et seq.

ADA VIOLATIONS

24. The Plaintiff adopts and re-alleges the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 

through 23 above as though fully set forth herein.

25. Defendant, PNS STORES INC., have discriminated, and continue to discriminate, 

against Plaintiff in violation of the ADA by failing, inter alia, to have accessible facilities by 

January 26, 1992 (or January 26, 1993, if a Defendant has 10 or fewer employees and gross receipts 

of $500,000 or less). A list of the violations that Plaintiff encountered during his visit to the 

Commercial Property, include but are not limited to, the following:

A. Parking

i. The Plaintiff had difficulty exiting the vehicle, as designated accessible parking spaces are 

located on an excessive slope. Violation: There are accessible parking spaces located on an 

excessive slope violating Section 4.6.3 of the ADAAG and Section 502.4 of the 2010 ADA 

Standards, whose resolution is readily achievable.

ii. The Plaintiff had difficulty exiting the vehicle, as designated accessible parking space access 

aisles are located on an excessive slope. Violation: There are accessible parking space access 

aisles located on an excessive slope violating Section 4.6.3 of the ADAAG and Section 502.4 

of the 2010 ADA Standards, whose resolution is readily achievable.

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iii. The Plaintiff had difficulty accessing the facility, as there are designated accessible parking 

spaces located too far from an accessible route to the facility. Violation: Some of the accessible 

parking spaces are not located on the shortest route to an accessible entrance, violating Section 

4.6.2 of the ADAAG and Section 208.3.1 of the 2010 ADA Standards, whose resolution is 

readily achievable.

B. Entrance Access and Path of Travel

i. The Plaintiff had difficulty traversing the path of travel, as it was not continuous and accessible. 

Violation: There are inaccessible routes from the public sidewalk and transportation stop. 

These are violations of the requirements in Sections 4.3.2(1), 4.3.8, 4.5.1, and 4.5.2 of the 

ADAAG and Sections 206.2.1, 302.1, 303, and 402.2 of the 2010 ADA Standards, whose 

resolution is readily achievable.

ii. The Plaintiff had difficulty traversing the path of travel due to abrupt changes in level. 

Violation: There are changes in levels of greater than 1⁄2 inch, violating Sections 4.3.8 and 4.5.2 

of the ADAAG and Section 303 of the 2010 ADA Standards, whose resolution is readily 

achievable.

iii. The Plaintiff had difficulty traversing the path of travel, as it was not continuous and accessible. 

Violation: There are inaccessible routes between sections of the facility. These are violations 

of the requirements in Sections 4.3.2(2), 4.3, and 4.5 of the ADAAG and Sections 206.2.2, 

303, 402 and 403, whose resolution is readily achievable.

iv. The Plaintiff could not navigate the curb ramps without assistance, as there are curb ramps at 

the facility that contain excessive flared side slopes, violating Section 4.7.5 of the ADAAG 

and Section 406.3 of the 2010 ADA Standards, whose resolution is readily achievable.

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v. The Plaintiff could not enter tenant spaces without assistance, as the required level landing is 

not provided. Violation: A level landing that is 60 inches minimum perpendicular to the 

doorway is not provided at accessible entrances violating Section 4.13.6 and Figure 25(a) of 

the ADAAG and Section 404.2.4 of the 2010 ADA Standards, whose resolution is readily 

achievable.

vi.

vii. The Plaintiff had difficulty using some of the curb ramps, as the slopes are excessive. 

Violation: There are curb ramps at the facility that contain excessive slopes, violating Section 

4.7.2 of the ADAAG and Sections 405.2 and 406.1 of the 2010 ADA Standards, whose 

resolution is readily achievable.

Big Lots

C. Entrance Access and Path of Travel

i. The Plaintiff could not traverse through areas of the store, as the required 36” path isn’t 

provided due to objects that obstruct the path of travel. Violation: There isn’t a continuous path 

of travel connecting all essential elements of the store, in violation of Sections 4.2.1 & 4.3.3 

of the ADAAG, 28 CFR 36.211, and Section 403.5.1 of the 2010 ADA Standards, whose 

resolution is readily achievable.

D. Public Restrooms

i. The Plaintiff had difficulty using the locking mechanism on the toilet compartment door 

without assistance, as it requires tight grasping. Violation: The toilet compartment door has 

non-compliant hardware for disabled patrons, violating Sections 4.13.9, 4.17.5, & 4.27.4 of 

the ADAAG and Sections 309.4, & 604.8.1.2 of the 2010 ADA Standards, whose resolution 

is readily achievable.

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ii. The Plaintiff could not transfer to the toilet without assistance, as a trashcan obstructed the 

clear floor space. Violation: The required clear floor space is not provided next to the toilet, 

violating Section 4.16.2 & Figure 28 of the ADAAG, 28 CFR 36.211, and 604.3 of the 2010 

ADA Standards, whose resolution is readily achievable.

RELIEF SOUGHT AND THE BASIS

26. The discriminatory violations described in Paragraph 25 are not an exclusive list 

of the Defendant’s ADA violations. Plaintiff requests an inspection of the Defendant’s places of 

public accommodation in order to photograph and measure all of the discriminatory acts violating 

the ADA and barriers to access in conjunction with Rule 34 and timely notice. Plaintiff further 

requests to inspect any and all barriers to access that were concealed by virtue of the barriers' 

presence, which prevented Plaintiff, DOUG LONGHINI, from further ingress, use, and equal 

enjoyment of the Commercial Business and businesses located within the Commercial Property; 

Plaintiff requests to be physically present at such inspection in conjunction with Rule 34 and timely 

notice. A complete list of the Subject Premises’ ADA violations, and the remedial measures 

necessary to remove same, will require an on-site inspection by Plaintiff’s representatives pursuant 

to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34.

27. The individual Plaintiff, and all other individuals similarly situated, have been 

denied access to, and have been denied full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities 

privileges, benefits, programs and activities offered by Defendant, Defendant’ buildings, 

businesses and facilities; and has otherwise been discriminated against and damaged by the 

Defendant because of the Defendant’ ADA violations as set forth above. The individual Plaintiff, 

and all others similarly situated, will continue to suffer such discrimination, injury and damage 

without the immediate relief provided by the ADA as requested herein. In order to remedy this 

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discriminatory situation, The Plaintiff requires an inspection of the Defendant’ place of public 

accommodation in order to determine all of the areas of non-compliance with the Americans with 

Disabilities Act.

28. Defendant have discriminated against the individual Plaintiff by denying him 

access to full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages and/or 

accommodations of its place of public accommodation or commercial facility, in violation of 42 

U.S.C. § 12181 et seq. and 28 CFR 36.302 et seq. Furthermore, the Defendant continue to 

discriminate against Plaintiff, and all those similarly situated, by failing to make reasonable 

modifications in policies, practices or procedures, when such modifications are necessary to afford 

all offered goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations to individuals with 

disabilities; and by failing to take such efforts that may be necessary to ensure that no individual 

with a disability is excluded, denied services, segregated or otherwise treated differently than other 

individuals because of the absence of auxiliary aids and services.

29. Plaintiff is without adequate remedy at law, will suffer irreparable harm, and has

a clear legal right to the relief sought. Further, injunctive relief will serve the public interest and 

all those similarly situated to Plaintiff. Plaintiff has retained the undersigned counsel and is 

entitled to recover attorneys’ fees, costs and litigation expenses from Defendant pursuant to 42 

U.S.C. § 12205 and 28 CFR 36.505. 

30. Defendant are required to remove the existing architectural barriers to the 

physically disabled when such removal is readily achievable for their place of public 

accommodation, The Plaintiff and all others similarly situated, will continue to suffer such 

discrimination, injury and damage without the immediate relief provided by the ADA as requested 

herein. In order to remedy this discriminatory situation, The Plaintiff requires an inspection of the 

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Defendant’ place of public accommodation in order to determine all of the areas of non-compliance 

with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

31. Notice to Defendant is not required as a result of the Defendant’ failure to cure 

the violations by January 26, 1992 (or January 26, 1993, if a Defendant has 10 or fewer employees 

and gross receipts of $500,000 or less). All other conditions precedent have been met by Plaintiff

or waived by the Defendant.

32. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 12188, this Court is provided with authority to grant

Plaintiff Injunctive Relief, including an order to alter the property where Defendant operates its

businesses, located at and/or within the commercial property located at 7930 Pines Boulevard, 

Hollywood, Florida, the exterior areas, and the common exterior areas of the Commercial Property 

and businesses located within the Commercial Property, to make those facilities readily accessible 

and useable to The Plaintiff and all other mobility-impaired persons; or by closing the facility until 

such time as the Defendant cure the violations of the ADA.

WHEREFORE, The Plaintiff, DOUG LONGHINI, respectfully requests that this 

Honorable Court issue (i) a Declaratory Judgment determining Defendant at the commencement 

of the subject lawsuit were and are in violation of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 

42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq.; (ii) Injunctive relief against Defendant including an order to make all 

readily achievable alterations to the facilities; or to make such facilities readily accessible to and 

usable by individuals with disabilities to the extent required by the ADA; and to require Defendant

to make reasonable modifications in policies, practices or procedures, when such modifications 

are necessary to afford all offered goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or 

accommodations to individuals with disabilities; and by failing to take such steps that may be 

necessary to ensure that no individual with a disability is excluded, denied services, segregated or 

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otherwise treated differently than other individuals because of the absence of auxiliary aids and 

services; (iii) An award of attorneys’ fees, costs and litigation expenses pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 

12205; and (iv) such other relief as the Court deems just and proper, and/or is allowable under 

Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Dated: June 25, 2020.

GARCIA-MENOCAL & PEREZ, P.L.

Attorneys for Plaintiff

4937 S.W. 74th Court

Miami, Florida 33155

Telephone: (305) 553-3464

Facsimile: (305) 553-3031

Primary E-Mail: ajperez@lawgmp.com

Secondary E-Mails: bvirues@lawgmp.com

 aquezada@lawgmp.com

By: ___/s/_Anthony J. Perez________

ANTHONY J. PEREZ

Florida Bar No.: 535451

BEVERLY VIRUES

Florida Bar No. 123713

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