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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

CASE NO.

RENZO BARBERI,

Plaintiff,

vs.

MARTY'S COMPLETE AUTOMOTIVE, 

INC., a Florida Profit Corporation,

Defendant.

_______________________________/

COMPLAINT

Plaintiff, RENZO BARBERI (hereinafter “Plaintiff”), through the undersigned counsel, hereby 

files this complaint and sues MARTY'S COMPLETE AUTOMOTIVE, INC. (“MARTY'S”)

(hereinafter, referred to as “Defendant”), for declaratory and injunctive relief; for discrimination 

based on disability; and for the resultant attorney's fees, expenses, and costs (including, but not 

limited to, court costs and expert fees), pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12181 et. seq., ("AMERICANS 

WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990," or "ADA") and alleges:

JURISDICTION 

1. This Court is vested with original jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 

§1331 and §1343 for Plaintiff’s claims arising under Title 42 U.S.C. §12181 et. seq., based on 

Defendant’s violations of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, (hereinafter 

referred to as the "ADA"). See also 28 U.S.C. §2201 and §2202.

VENUE

2. The venue of all events giving rise to this lawsuit is located in Broward County, Florida. 

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1391(B) and rule 3.1 of Local Rules of the United States District Court 

for the Southern District of Florida, this is the designated court for this suit.

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PARTIES

3. Plaintiff, RENZO BARBERI, is a resident of the State of Florida. At the time of 

Plaintiff’s visit to Marty's Complete Automotive (“Subject Facility”), Plaintiff suffered from a 

“qualified disability” under the ADA, and required the use of a wheelchair for mobility. 

Specifically, Plaintiff suffers from paraplegia due to a severed T4 and T5 and is therefore 

confined to his wheelchair. Plaintiff personally visited Marty's Complete Automotive, but was 

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

amenities within Marty's Complete Automotive, which is the subject of this lawsuit. The Subject 

Facility is an auto repair, and Plaintiff wanted to inquire about their services but was unable to 

due to the discriminatory barriers enumerated in Paragraph 15 of this Complaint.

4. In the alternative, Plaintiff, RENZO BARBERI, is an advocate of the rights of similarly 

situated disabled persons and is a “tester” for the purpose of asserting his civil rights and 

monitoring, ensuring and determining whether places of public accommodation are in 

compliance with the ADA. 

5. Defendant, MARTY'S is authorized to conduct business and is in fact conducting 

business within the State of Florida. The Subject Facility is located at 3900 NE 5th Terrace, 

Oakland Park, FL 33334. Upon information and belief, MARTY'S is the lessee and/or operator 

of the Real Property and therefore held accountable of the violations of the ADA in the Subject 

Facility which is the matter of this suit. Upon information and belief, MARTY'S is also the 

owner and lessor of the Real Property where the Subject Facility is located and therefore held 

accountable for the violations of the ADA in the Subject Facility which is the matter of this suit.

CLAIMS: VIOLATIONS OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

6. Plaintiff adopts and re-alleges the allegations stated in paragraphs 1 through 5 of this 

complaint, as are further explained herein.

7. On July 26, 1990, Congress enacted the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), 42 

U.S.C. §12101 et. seq. Commercial enterprises were provided one and a half years from 

enactment of the statute to implement its requirements. The effective date of Title III of the ADA 

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was January 26, 1992, or January 26, 1993 if Defendants had ten (10) or fewer employees and 

gross receipts of $500,000 or less. See 42 U.S.C. §12181; 28 C.F.R. §36.508(a).

8. As stated in 42 U.S.C. §12101(a) (1)-(3), (5) and (9), Congress found, among other 

things, that:

i. some 43,000,000 Americans have one or more physical or mental disability, and this 

number shall increase as the population continues to grow and age;

ii. historically, society has tended to isolate and segregate individuals with disabilities 

and, despite some improvements, such forms of discrimination against disabled 

individuals continue to be a pervasive social problem, requiring serious attention;

iii. discrimination against disabled individuals persists in such critical areas as 

employment, housing, public accommodations, transportation, communication, 

recreation, institutionalization, health services, voting and access to public services and 

public facilities;

iv. individuals with disabilities continually suffer forms of discrimination, including: 

outright intentional exclusion; the discriminatory effects of architectural, transportation, 

and communication barriers; failure to make modifications to existing facilities and 

practices; exclusionary qualification standards and criteria; segregation, and regulation 

to lesser services, programs, benefits, or other opportunities; and,

v. the continuing existence of unfair and unnecessary discrimination and prejudice denies 

people with disabilities the opportunity to compete on an equal basis and to pursue 

those opportunities for which this country is justifiably famous, and costs the United 

States billions of dollars in unnecessary expenses resulting from dependency and nonproductivity.

9. As stated in 42 U.S.C. §12101(b)(1)(2) and (4), Congress explicitly stated that the 

purpose of the ADA was to:

i. provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of 

discrimination against individuals with disabilities;

ii. provide clear, strong, consistent, enforceable standards addressing discrimination 

against individuals with disabilities; and,

iii. invoke the sweep of congressional authority, including the power to enforce the 

fourteenth amendment and to regulate commerce, in order to address the major areas of 

discrimination faced on a daily basis by people with disabilities.

10. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12181(7), and 28 CFR §36.104, Title III, no individual may be 

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discriminated against on the basis of disability with regards to the full and equal enjoyment of 

the goods, services, facilities, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any 

person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation. Marty's 

Complete Automotive is a place of public accommodation by the fact it is an establishment that 

provides goods/services to the general public, and therefore, must comply with the ADA. The 

Subject Facility is open to the public, its operations affect commerce, and it is a service 

establishment. See 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12181 (7) and 28 C.F.R. 36.104. Therefore, the Subject 

Facility is a public accommodation that must comply with the ADA.

11. The Defendant has discriminated, and continues to discriminate against the Plaintiff, and 

others who are similarly situated, by denying access to, and full and equal enjoyment of goods, 

services, facilities, privileges, advantages and/or accommodations at Marty's Complete 

Automotive located at 3900 NE 5th Terrace, Oakland Park, FL 33334, as prohibited by 42 

U.S.C. §12182, and 42 U.S.C. §12101 et. seq.; and by failing to remove architectural barriers 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12182(b)(2)(A)(iv).

12. Plaintiff has visited the Subject Facility, and has been denied full, safe, and equal access 

to the facility and therefore suffered an injury in fact.

13. Plaintiff shall suffer a future injury as Plaintiff intends to return and enjoy the goods 

and/or services at the Subject Facility within the next six months. The Subject Facility is in close 

proximity to Plaintiff’s residence and is in an area frequently travelled by Plaintiff. Furthermore, 

Plaintiff will also return to monitor compliance with the ADA. However, Plaintiff is precluded 

from doing so by the Defendant’s failure and refusal to provide people with disabilities with full 

and equal access to their facility. Therefore, Plaintiff continues to suffer from discrimination and 

injury due to the architectural barriers, which are in violation of the ADA.

14. Pursuant to the mandates of 42 U.S.C. §12134(a), on July 26, 1991, the Department of 

Justice, Office of the Attorney General, promulgated Federal Regulations to implement the 

requirements of the ADA. The ADA Accessibility guidelines (hereinafter referred to as 

“ADAAG”), 28 C.F.R. Part 36, may cause violators to obtain civil penalties of up to $55,000 for 

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the first violation and $110,000 for any subsequent violation. 

15. The Defendant is in violation of 42 U.S.C. §12181 et. seq., and 28 C.F.R. 36.302 et. seq., 

and is discriminating against the Plaintiff with the following specific violations which Plaintiff 

personally encountered and/or has knowledge of:

a) The customer parking facility in front of the business does not provide a compliant 

accessible parking space. 2012 ADA Standards 502.1 

b) The parking facility has five (5) marked standard spaces and one (1) non-compliant 

accessible parking space in front of the building. 2012 ADA Standards 208.2 

c) The parking facility does not have the minimum number of compliant accessible parking 

spaces required. One (1) compliant accessible parking space with adjacent access aisle 

is required. 2012 ADA Standards 208.2 

d) The parking facility does not provide directional and informational signage to a 

compliant accessible parking space. 2012 ADA Standards 216.5 

e) The non-compliant accessible parking space is not level. Parking spaces and access 

aisles serving them must comply with Section 302. Access aisles must be at the same 

level as the parking spaces they serve. Changes in level are not permitted. Slopes not 

steeper than 1:48 is permitted to allow water runoff. 2012 ADA Standards 502.4 

f) The non-compliant accessible parking space closest to the customer main entrance does 

not have an access aisle. Each designated accessible parking space must have an 

adjacent access aisle. Parking access aisles must be part of an accessible route to the 

building or facility entrance. Access aisles must be placed adjacent to accessible parking 

spaces. All spaces must be located on an accessible route that is at least 44 inches wide 

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so that users are not compelled to walk or wheel behind parked vehicles except behind 

his or her own vehicle. 2012 ADA Standards 502.2, 502.3 

g) The non-compliant accessible parking space identification striping is faded. Each such 

parking space must be striped in a manner that is consistent with the standards of FDOT 

for other spaces and prominently outlined with blue paint, and must be repainted when 

necessary, to be clearly distinguishable as a parking space designated for persons who 

have disabilities. 2012 ADA Standards 502.6.1 

h) The non-compliant accessible parking space sign is missing verbiage. Each accessible 

parking space must be posted with a permanent above-grade sign of a color and design 

approved by the Department of Transportation, which is placed on or at least 60 inches 

above the finished floor or ground surface measured to the bottom of the sign and which 

bears the international symbol of accessibility and the caption “PARKING BY 

ACCESSIBLE PERMIT ONLY” and must indicate the penalty for illegal use of the 

space. 2012 ADA Standards 502.6 

i) Existing facility does not provide a compliant accessible route to the office entrance 

from any site arrival point. 2012 ADA Standards 206.2, 208, 401.1 

j) There is no compliant access aisle attached to an accessible route serving any existing 

parking space which would allow safe entrance or exit of vehicle for accessible persons 

requiring mobility devices. 2012 ADA Standards 502.2 

k) There is currently no existing accessible route to help persons with disabilities enter the 

facility or safely maneuver through the parking area. At least one accessible route must 

be provided within the site from accessible parking spaces and accessible passenger 

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loading zones; public streets and sidewalks; and public transportation stops to the 

accessible building or facility entrance they serve. 2012 ADA Standards 206.2.1 

l) The main customer entrance is non-compliant. There is a vertical rise (6” step) from the 

parking lot up to sidewalk in front of the main customer entrance door exceeding the 

maximum rise allowed. Changes in level of 1/4 inch high maximum are permitted to be 

vertical. 2012 ADA Standards 302.2 

m) The facility does not provide compliant directional and informational signage to an 

accessible route which would lead to an accessible entrance. Where not all entrances 

comply, compliant entrances must be identified by the International Symbol of 

Accessibility. Directional signs that indicate the location of the nearest compliant 

entrance must be provided at entrances that do not comply. 2012 ADA Standards 216.6

16. Upon information and belief there are other current violations of the ADA at Marty's 

Complete Automotive. Only upon full inspection can all violations be identified. Accordingly, a 

complete list of violations will require an on-site inspection by Plaintiff’s representatives 

pursuant to Rule 34b of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

17. Upon information and belief, Plaintiff alleges that removal of the discriminatory barriers 

and violations is readily achievable and technically feasible. To date, the readily achievable 

barriers and other violations of the ADA still exist and have not been remedied or altered in such 

a way as to effectuate compliance with the provisions of the ADA.

18. Pursuant to the ADA, 42 U.S.C. §12101 et. seq., and 28 C.F.R. §36.304, the Defendant

was required to make the establishment a place of public accommodation, accessible to persons 

with disabilities by January 28, 1992. As of this date the Defendant has failed to comply with 

this mandate.

19. Plaintiff has been obligated to retain the undersigned counsel for the filing and

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prosecution of this action. Plaintiff is entitled to have its reasonable attorney's fees, costs and

expenses paid by the Defendant, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12205.

20. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12188, this Court is vested with the authority to grant Plaintiff

injunctive relief, including an Order to alter the subject facilities to make them readily accessible 

and useable by individuals with disabilities to the extent required by the ADA, closing the 

Subject Facility until the requisite modifications are completed, entering an Order directed at 

maintenance and future compliance, and entering an Order for Defendants to make reasonable 

modifications in policies, practices, or procedures.

COUNT I- DECLARATORY RELIEF

21. The Defendant’s Facility has architectural barriers which Plaintiff personally encountered 

and/or has knowledge of.

22. Defendant has failed to make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures 

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

accommodations at the Defendant’s Facility to Plaintiff, and similarly situated individuals with 

disabilities.

23. Defendant has discriminated, and continues to discriminate against Plaintiff, and others 

who are similarly situated, by denying access to, and full and equal enjoyment of goods, 

services, facilities, privileges, advantages and/or accommodations at the Subject Facility, as 

prohibited by 42 U.S.C. §12182, and 42 U.S.C. §12101 et. seq.; by failing to make reasonable 

modifications in policies, practices, or procedures pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12182(b)(2)(A)(ii); and 

by failing to remove architectural barriers pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12182(b)(2)(A)(iv).

24. Unless declared that the Subject Facility owned, operated and/or controlled by the 

Defendant is in violation of the ADA, Defendant shall continue to discriminate against Plaintiff, 

and others who are similarly situated, by denying access to, and full and equal enjoyment of 

goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages and/or accommodations at the Subject Facility.

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25. Plaintiff has been obligated to retain the undersigned counsel for the filing and 

prosecution of this action. Plaintiff is entitled to have its reasonable attorney's fees, costs and 

expenses paid by the Defendant, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12205.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against the Defendant and requests that this 

Honorable Court declare that the Subject Facility owned, operated and/or controlled by the 

Defendant is in violation of Title III of the ADA, and award reasonable attorney's fees, all costs 

(including, but not limited to court costs and expert fees) and other expenses of suit, to Plaintiff.

COUNT II- INJUNCTIVE RELIEF TO REMOVE ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS

26. The Defendant’s Facility has architectural barriers which Plaintiff personally encountered 

and/or has knowledge of.

27. Upon information and belief, Plaintiff alleges that removal of the discriminatory barriers 

and violations is readily achievable and technically feasible. To date, the readily achievable 

barriers and other violations of the ADA still exist and have not been remedied or altered in such 

a way as to effectuate compliance with the provisions of the ADA. 

28. Unless enjoined by the Court, Defendant shall continue to discriminate against Plaintiff, 

and others who are similarly situated, by denying access to, and full and equal enjoyment of 

goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages and/or accommodations at the Subject Facility

by failing to remove architectural barriers pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12182(b)(2)(A)(iv).

29. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12188, this Court is vested with the authority to grant Plaintiff 

injunctive relief, including an Order to alter the subject facilities to make them readily accessible 

and useable by individuals with disabilities to the extent required by the ADA and closing the 

Subject Facility until the requisite modifications are completed.

30. Plaintiff has been obligated to retain the undersigned counsel for the filing and 

prosecution of this action. Plaintiff is entitled to have its reasonable attorney's fees, costs and 

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expenses paid by the Defendant, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12205.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against the Defendant and requests that this 

Honorable Court enter an Order requiring the Defendant to alter the Subject Facility and remove 

architectural barriers to make the Subject Facility accessible to and usable by individuals with 

disabilities to the full extent required by Title III of the ADA, and award reasonable attorney's 

fees, all costs (including, but not limited to court costs and expert fees) and other expenses of 

suit, to Plaintiff.

COUNT III- INJUNCTIVE RELIEF TO MODIFY POLICIES, PRACTICES AND 

PROCEDURES

31. The Defendant’s Facility has architectural barriers which Plaintiff personally encountered 

and/or has knowledge of.

32. Defendant has failed to make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or 

procedures to ensure full and equal enjoyment of goods, services, facilities, privileges, 

advantages and/or accommodations at the Defendant’s Facility to Plaintiff, and similarly situated 

individuals with disabilities.

33. Unless enjoined by the Court, the Defendant shall continue to discriminate against 

Plaintiff, and others who are similarly situated, by denying access to, and full and equal 

enjoyment of goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages and/or accommodations at the 

Subject Facility by failing to make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12182(b)(2)(A)(ii).

34. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12188, this Court is vested with the authority to grant Plaintiff 

injunctive relief, including an Order for the Defendant to make reasonable modifications in 

policies, practices, or procedures.

35. Plaintiff has been obligated to retain the undersigned counsel for the filing and 

prosecution of this action. Plaintiff is entitled to have its reasonable attorney's fees, costs and 

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expenses paid by the Defendant, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12205.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against the Defendant and requests that this 

Honorable Court enter an Order requiring the Defendant to evaluate, neutralize and modify their 

policies, practices and procedures as are necessary to make the Subject Facility accessible to and 

usable by individuals with disabilities to the full extent required by Title III of the ADA, and 

award reasonable attorney's fees, all costs (including, but not limited to court costs and expert 

fees) and other expenses of suit, to Plaintiff.

COUNT IV- INJUNCTIVE RELIEF TO MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE

36. The Defendant’s Facility has architectural barriers which Plaintiff personally encountered 

and/or has knowledge of.

37. Upon information and belief, Plaintiff alleges that removal of the discriminatory barriers 

and violations is readily achievable and technically feasible. To date, the readily achievable 

barriers and other violations of the ADA still exist and have not been remedied or altered in such 

a way as to effectuate compliance with the provisions of the ADA.

38. Unless enjoined by the Court, the Defendant shall continue to discriminate against 

Plaintiff, and others who are similarly situated, by denying access to, and full and equal 

enjoyment of goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages and/or accommodations at the 

Subject Facility by failing to maintain compliance with the ADA by allowing physical alterations 

to revert back into noncompliance, and by failing to enforce any modifications in policies, 

practices, or procedures.

39. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12188, this Court is vested with the authority to grant Plaintiff 

injunctive relief, including an Order directed at maintenance and future compliance, and entering 

an Order for the Defendant to maintain reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or 

procedures.

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40. Plaintiff has been obligated to retain the undersigned counsel for the filing and 

prosecution of this action. Plaintiff is entitled to have its reasonable attorney's fees, costs and 

expenses paid by the Defendant, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12205.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against the Defendant and requests that this 

Honorable Court enter an Order requiring the Defendant to maintain the alterations and 

modifications required to keep the Subject Facility accessible to and usable by individuals with 

disabilities and in compliance with Title III of the ADA, and award reasonable attorney's fees, all 

costs (including, but not limited to court costs and expert fees) and other expenses of suit, to 

Plaintiff.

Dated this October 5, 2022.

Respectfully submitted by:

Ronald E. Stern

Ronald E. Stern, Esq.

Florida Bar No. 10089

THE ADVOCACY LAW FIRM, P.A.

1250 East Hallandale Beach Boulevard, Suite 503

Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009

Telephone: (954) 639-7016

Facsimile: (954) 639-7198

Email: ronsternlaw@gmail.com

Attorney for Plaintiff, RENZO BARBERI

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

CASE NO.

RENZO BARBERI,

Plaintiff,

vs.

MARTY'S COMPLETE AUTOMOTIVE, 

INC., a Florida Profit Corporation,

Defendant.

_______________________________/

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I HEREBY CERTIFY that on October 5, 2022, I electronically filed the Complaint along 

with a Summons for each Defendant with the Clerk of Court using CM/ECF. I also certify that 

the aforementioned documents are being served on all counsel of record, corporations, or pro se 

parties identified on the attached Service List in the manner specified via Service of Process by 

an authorized Process Server, and that all future pleadings, motions and documents will be 

served either via transmission of Notices of Electronic Filing generated by CM/ECF or via U.S. 

Mail for those counsel or parties who are not authorized to receive electronically Notices of 

Electronic Filing.

By: Ronald E. Stern

Ronald E. Stern, Esq.

Florida Bar No. 10089

THE ADVOCACY LAW FIRM, P.A.

1250 East Hallandale Beach Boulevard, Suite 503

Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009

Telephone: (954) 639-7016

Facsimile: (954) 639-7198

Email: ronsternlaw@gmail.com

Attorney for Plaintiff, RENZO BARBERI

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SERVICE LIST:

RENZO BARBERI, Plaintiff, vs. MARTY'S COMPLETE AUTOMOTIVE, INC., a Florida 

Profit Corporation

United States District Court Southern District of Florida

CASE NO.

MARTY'S COMPLETE AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

REGISTERED AGENT:

WINKLER, MARTIN A.

506 NW 104 AVE

PLANTATION, FL 33324

VIA PROCESS SERVER 

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