# U n i t e d S t a t e s C o u r t o f A pp e a l s

For the Eig hth Circu it

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No . 1 8 -1 0 86

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Th e M i d wes t Di s ab il i ty

In i t i at i v e; Geral d Do y en

l l l l l ll l ll l l l l l l l l ll l Pl a i n t if

f s - Ap p el l an t s

v

.

J ANS En terp ri s es , In c., d / b / a Ni co ' s Taco & Teq ui la Bar, et al

.

l l l l l l ll l l l l l l l l l l l l l Def

en d a n t s - Ap p el l ees

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_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Ap p eal fro m

Un i t ed St at es Di s t ri ct Co u rt

fo r t h e Di s t ri ct o f M i n nes o t a - M in n eap o l i s

_

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Su b m i t t ed : Feb ru ary

1 3 , 2 01 9

Fi l ed : J u ly

8 , 2 0 1 9

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Befo re LOKEN, COLLOTON, an d KELLY, Ci rcu i t J u d g es

.

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

LOKEN, Ci rcu i t J u d g e.

Ti t l e III o f t h e Am eri can s wi t h Di s ab il i ti es A ct (ADA) p ro s cri b es

d i s cri m i n at i o n b y p l aces o f p ub l i c acco m m o d at i o n ag ai n s t pers o n s wi t h d is ab i l i t i es

,

d efi n i n g d i s cri m i nat i o n t o i ncl u d e “ fai lu re t o rem o v e arch it ect u r al b arri ers

, an d

co m m u n icat io n barri ers t h at are s t ru ct u ral i n n at u re, in ex i st i ng faci l i t i es

. . . wh ere

s u ch rem ov al i s read i ly ach ie va b le .” 4 2 U.S.C. § § 1 2 1 8 2 (a), 1 2 1 82 (b )(2 )(A)(i v ). Th e

ADA g ran t s a p ri v at e ri g h t o f act i o n fo r i n ju n ct i v e rel i ef t o “ an y p ers o n ” s u b ject tod i s ab i l i t y d i scri m i n at i on

. § 1 2 1 8 8 (a)(1 ). In t h i s ci rcu i t

, a p ers o n wi th a q u al i fy i n g

d i s ab i l i t y h as s t an d i n g t o s eek i n ju n ct i v e rel i ef t o rem ed y ADA s t ru ct u ral b arri er

v i o l at i o n s t h at affect “ h i s s p eci fi c d i s ab i l i t y ” i f h e sh o ws t h at a pl ace o f p u b l i c

acco m m o d at i o n h as “ cau sed hi m act u al i n ju ry at t h e t i m e h e co m

m en ced t h is act i o n,

an d ‘ t hat [h e] wo u l d v i s i t t h e bu i l d i n g i n th e i m m i n en t fu t u re b u t fo r t h o se b arri ers .’ ”

Di s ab i l i ty Su p p o rt Al l i an ce v

. H eart wo od En t erp ri s es

, LLC, 8 8 5 F.3 d 5 4 3

, 5 4 6 (8 th

Ci r. 2 0 1 8 ), q u o t in g St eg er v. Fran co

, In c., 2 28 F.3 d 8 8 9

, 8 9 2 (8 t h C i r. 2 0 0 0 ). Th i s

ap p eal rai s es recu rri ng i s s u es reg ard i n g s u cces s i ve cl ai m s fo r s uch i n ju n ct i v e rel i ef.

Th e M i d wes t Di sab il it y In i t i at i v e (M DI) i s a Mi n n es o ta no n p ro fi t o rg an i zat i o n

t h at h as fi l ed n u m ero u s ADA Ti t l e III s u i t s as a co -p l ai nt i ff w i t h on e o f i t s m em b ers

ag ai n s t v ari o u s Twi n Ci t i es ret ai l es t ab l i s h m en t s

. In M arch 2 0 1 7

, M D I an d m em b er

P a u l Te s t a fi l ed an ADA Ti t l e III act i o n s eek i n g d ecl arat o ry an d i n ju n ct i v e rel i ef

ag ai n s t Ni co ’ s Taco & Teq u i la Bar an d i t s l an d l o rd

, JC LLC. Pl ai nt i ffs al l eg ed t h at

Tes t a i s a d i s ab l ed i n d i v i d ual wh o i s fu l l y d ep en d en t u p o n t h e u s e of a w h eel ch ai r o r

m o to r sco o t er an d

, i n Decem b er 2 0 1 6

, Tes t a v i s i t ed Ni co ’ s an d en co u n t ered u n l awfu l

an d d i s cri m i nat o ry arch i t ect u ral b arri ers

, “ i n cl u d i n g, b u t n o t n eces s ari l y l im i t ed t o,”

n i n e i d e n t i f

i e d ADA v i o lat i o n s

. On Au g u s t 2

, 2 01 7

, M DI, Tes t a, an d d efen d an t s

en t ered i n t o a St i p u l at i o n ag reei n g t h at “ al l cl ai m s in t he ab o v e-cap t i o n ed act i o n are

h ereb y di s m is s ed w i t h p reju d i ce, an d o n t h e m eri t s .” By Ord er d at ed Au g u st 8

, 2 0 1 7,

t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt d i s m i s sed t h e act i o n wi t h p reju d i ce.

Ten d ay s l at er, M DI an d m em b er G e r a l d Do y en fi l ed t h i s Ti t l e III act i o n

s eek i n g d ecl arat o ry an d i n ju n ct i v e rel i ef ag ai n s t t he sam e defen d an t s. Pl ai n t i f f s

al l e g ed t h at Do y en i s a di s ab l ed i n d i v i d u al wh o i s fu l l y d ep en d en t o n t he u s e o f a

wh eel ch ai r o r m o t o r s co o t er an d

, o n Au g u s t 1 4

, 2 0 1 7

, Do y en v i s i t ed Ni co ’ s an d

en co un t ered m

u l t i p l e u n l awfu l an d d i sc r im ina tor y a r c hite c tur a l ba

r r ie rs

. Li k e t h e fi rs t

s u i t

, t h e M DI-Do y en s u i t id en t i fi ed n i n e al l eg ed v i o l at io ns o f t h e ADA, wh i ch were

“ n o t t o b e co n s i d ered al l i n cl u si v e” o f N i c o ’s vi o l at i o ns

. Sev en were fu n ct i o n al l y

i d en t i cal t o b arri ers i d en t ifi ed i n t h e M DI- T e s t a c o m p l ai n t

. Th e M DI-Do y en

-2

-Co m

p l ai n t ad d i t i o n al l y i d en t i fi ed “ an i n acces s i bl e p u bl i c en t ran ce i n th e b ack o f t h e

faci li t y i n cl u d i n g a n on co m p l i an t ram

p ,” an d “ an i nade qu at el y m ai n t ai n ed p ark i n g l ot

wi t h b ro ken

, p at ch ed , l i t t ered , an d d et eri o rat ed s u rface.”

Defen d an t s t im el y fi l ed a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s u nd er Ru l e 1 2 (b )(6 ) of t h e Fed eral

Ru l es of Ci v il Pro ced u re, arg u i n g p l ai n t i ffs ’ cl ai m s are b arred b y res j u d icat a. In

s u p p ort

, d efen d an t s s ub m i t t ed ju d i ci al reco rd s fro m th e M DI-Tes ta s u i t an d a

s u m m ary o f p ri o r act i o n s fi l ed b y M DI an d Do y en o bt ai n ed fro m Di s t ri ct o f

M i n n es o t a fi l i ng reco rd s

. Th e d i s tri ct co u rt

, 1 s t at i n g t h at i t was co n s i d eri ng o n l y t h e

M DI-Do y en Co m

p l ai n t an d t he p u b li c reco rd s s u b m i t t ed b y defen d an t s, g ran t ed t h e

Ru l e 1 2 (b )(6 ) m o t i o n t o d i s m i ss . Pl ai n t i ffs ap p eal . W e affi rm

.

I . Res J udi ca ta I s s ues

.

“ [A] fi n a l ju d g m en t on t h e m eri t s o f an act i o n p recl u d es t h e p art i es o r t h ei r

p ri v i es fro m rel i t i g at in g i ss u es t h at were o r co u l d h a v e b e e n rai s ed i n t h at act i o n.”

Yan kt o n Si o u x T ri be v

. U.S. Dep ’ t of Heal t h & H u m an Serv s

., 53 3 F.3 d 6 3 4

, 6 3 9

(8 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 8 ) (q u ot at i o n o m i t t ed ). To es t ab l i s h th at th e M D I-Do y en cl ai m s are

p recl u d ed b y t h e p ri o r MDI-Tes t a s u i t

, Ni co ’ s m u s t s ho w t h at “ (1 ) t h e f

i r s t s u i t

res u l ted in a fi n al ju d g m en t o n t h e m eri t s ; (2 ) t h e f i r s t s u i t was b as ed o n p ro p er

j u r i s d i ct i o n ; (3 ) b o th s u i t s i n v o l v e t h e s am e p art i es (o r t ho s e i n p ri vi t y wi t h t h em );

an d (4 ) b o t h s u i t s are b as ed up o n t h e s am e cl ai m s o r cau s es o f act i o n .” Id

. (q u o t at i o n

o m it t ed ). A d i st r i c t c o u rt m ay p ro p erl y g ran t a m ot io n t o d i sm i s s b as ed o n t h e

affi rm at i v e d efen s e o f res ju d i cat a w h e n t h e d efen s e “ i s ap p aren t on t h e face o f t h e

co m p l ai n t .” C.H. Ro b in s o n W orl d wi d e, In c. v

. Lo bran o

, 6 9 5 F.3 d 7 5 8

, 7 6 4 (8 t h Ci r.

2 0 1 2 ). W e rev i ew t h e g ran t o f a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s d e n o v o . Yan k t on Si o u x Tri be,

5 3 3 F.3 d at 6 3 9

.

1 Th e Ho no rab l e J o an N. Eri ck s en

, Un i t ed St at es Di s t ri ct J ud g e fo r th e Di s t ri ct

o f M i nn es o t a.

-3

-Here, i t i s u n d i s p u ted t h at t h e M DI-Tes t a s ui t res u l t ed i n a fi n al ju dg m en t b as ed

o n p ro p er ju ri sd i ct i on

. Bu t Do y en was n o t a p art y t o t h e M DI-Tes t a l aws u i t

, Do y en

v i s i t ed Ni co ’ s aft er t h at l aws ui t was di s m i s s ed

, an d t h e MDI-Do y en Co m p l ai nt

i d en t i f i es t wo s p eci fi c al l eg ed b arri er v i o l at io n s n o t al l eg ed i n t h e MDI-Tes t a

Co m p l ai n t . Th u s , t he t h ird an d fo u rt h res ju d i cat a p rereq u i s i t es are at i s s u e.

A. Pri v i ty

. “ Th e ap p li cat i o n o f cl ai m an d i ss u e p recl u s i o n t o n o n part i es

. . .

ru n s up ag ai n s t th e deep -ro o t ed h i st o ri c trad i t io n t h at ev ery on e s h ou l d hav e h i s o wn

d ay i n co u rt .” Tay l o r v

. St u rg el l

, 5 5 3 U.S. 8 8 0

, 8 9 2 -9 3 (2 0 0 8 ) (q u ot at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Bu t o n e ex cep t i o n t o t h e g en eral ru l e ag ai n s t n o np art y precl us i o n is t hat

, “ ‘ i n cert ai n

l i m i ted ci rcu m s t an ces

, ’ a n o n p a rt y m ay b e bo u n d b y a ju dg m en t b ecau se s h e was

‘ ad eq u at el y rep res en ted b y s o m eo n e wi t h t he s am e i n t eres t s wh o [wa] s a p art y ’ t o t h e

s u i t .” Id

. at 8 9 4

, q uo t i n g Ri ch ard s v

. Jeffers on Co u n t y

, 5 1 7 U.S. 7 9 3

, 7 9 8 (1 9 9 6 ).

Th e Co u rt g av e a p art i al d efi ni t i o n o f t h is ad eq u at e rep res en t at i o n req ui rem en t :

A p art y ’ s rep res en t at i o n o f a n o n part y is ‘ ad eq uat e’ fo r p re c l u s i o n

p u rp o s es o nl y i f, at a m in i m u m : (1 ) Th e i nt er e s t s o f t h e n o n p art y an d

h er rep res en tat iv e are al i g ne d; a nd (2 ) ei t h er t he p art y un d ers to o d h ers el f

t o b e act i n g i n a rep res en t at i v e cap aci t y o r t he o ri gi n al co u rt t o o k care

t o p ro tect t h e i nt eres ts o f t h e n o n p art y

.

Id

. at 9 0 0 (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). In g r an ti n g t h e m o t io n to d i s m i s s i n Yan k t o n Si o u x

Tri b e, we co ncl u d ed t h at t h i s req u irem en t was sat i sfi ed b ecau s e t h e Tri b e i n t h e fi rs t

s u i t s u ed o n it s o wn b eh al f an d o n b eh al f o f i n d i v i d u al m em b ers wh o were p l ai n t i ffs

i n t he s eco nd s u i t an d as s ert ed i d en t ical i n t eres t s . 5 3 3 F.3 d at 6 40 -4 1

.

In t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt an d on ap p eal

, p l ai nt iffs p ri m ari ly arg u e t h at Do y en i s n ot

i n p ri v i t y wi t h T es ta, t h e M D I m em b er p l ai n ti ff in t h e fi rs t s u i t

, b ecau se t hei r i n t eres t s

are n ot al i g n ed

-- Tes t a d ro p p ed s t ru ct u ral barri er cl ai m s Do y en i n ten d s t o v ig o ro u s l y

p u rs u e

- - a n d b e c a u s e Tes t a d i d n o t as s ert h is cl ai m s o n a cl as s b as i s o r p u rp o rt to

rep res en t t h e i nt eres ts o f Do y en

. Bu t t h i s arg u m en t m i ss es t h e m ark

. Th e d i s tri ct

-4

-co u rt d i d n o t precl u d e D o y en ’ s cl ai m s b ecau se Tes t a an d D oy en w e re i n p ri v i t y

.

Rat h er, t h e co u rt co n cl ud ed t h at Do y en i s b o u nd b y t he fi n al ju dg m en t i n MDI-Tes t a

s u i t becau s e D o y e n w a s ad eq u at el y rep res en t ed by co -p l ai n t i ff M D I, wh i ch d i s m i s s ed

i t s cl ai m s i n t h a t a c t i o n wi t h p reju d ice an d o n t h e m eri t s

. Th e as s ert ed i n t eres t s o f

M DI i n t h e fi rs t s u i t cl earl y al i g n wi t h t h e i n t eres t s o f Do y en i n t h e s eco nd s u i t , t h e

co u rt c o n c l u d e d

, an d t h e al l eg at i o n s i n t h e M DI-Tes t a s u i t “ si g n i fy an i n t en t i o n to

rep res en t t h e i n t e r e s ts o f, at t h e v ery l eas t

, t he m em bers o f M DI, i f n o t a m u ch

b ro ad er g ro u p o f i n d i v i d u al s

. ”

On t h i s p ro ced u ral reco rd

, we ag ree wi t h t he d i s t ri ct co urt ’ s co n cl u s i o n s

. Tes t a

an d Do y en were b o t h m em b ers o f M DI wh en th e M DI-Tes t a su i t was l i t i gat ed

. Bo th

s u i t s w ere b ro ug h t t o rem ed y arch i t ec t u r a l b a rri ers t h at al l eg ed l y p rev en t d i s ab l ed

i n d i v i d u al s wh o are “ fu l ly d ep en d en t u po n th e u s e o f a wh eel ch ai r o r m o t o r s co o t er”

fro m p at ro n i zi n g Ni co ’ s. Each Co m p lai n t g av e n i n e ex am

p l e s of al l eg ed ADA

v i o l at i o n s, s ev en i n n earl y i d en t i cal l an g u ag e. Each so u g h t t h e s a m e rel i ef

-- a

p erm an en t i n

ju n ct i on “ d i rect i n g d efen d an t s

. . . t o rem o v e ph y s i cal b arri ers t o acces s

an d m ak e i t s faci l i t i es fu l l y acces s i b l e t o an d in d ep en d en t l y u s a b l e b y i n d i v i d u al s

wi t h d is ab i l i t i es t o t h e ex ten t req u i red b y t h e ADA,” an d fo r “ s u ch o t h er rel i ef as

. . .

i s al l o wab l e u n d er Ti t l e III o f t h e ADA.”

Th e M D I-Tes t a Co m

p l ai n t m ad e cl ear t h at M DI was act i n g i n a rep res en t at i v e

cap aci t y fo r th e ben efi t o f i t s i n d i v i d u al m em b ers

, i n cl u d i n g Do y en

. Th e Co m p l ai nt

al l eg ed t h at MDI’ s p urp o se i s t o “ h o l d[] b us i n es s es t hat ig n o re t h e req u i rem en t s o f

t h e ADA acco u nt ab l e.” T h e Co m p l ai n t al l eg ed t h at “ Defen d an t s h av e d i scri m i n at ed

ag ai n s t T es t a an d o t h er

s ,” th at t h e al l eg ed v i o lat i o n s “ cau s e i nju ry t o Pl ai n t i ff a n d

o t h er d i s a b l ed i n d i vi d

u a l s ,” an d t h at t h e i d en t i fi ed al l eg ed v i o lat i o n s w ere “ n o t t o b e

co n si d ered al l -i n cl u s iv e o f t h e b arri ers an d v i o l at i on s o f t he ADA

. . . en co u n t ered by

Tes t a o r wh i ch ex i s t at t h e faci l i t y .” (Em p h as i s ad d ed .) In b o t h cas es , M DI an d i t s

m em b er co -p l ai n t i f

f s o ug h t d ecl arat o ry an d i n ju n ct iv e rel i ef o rd eri ng Ni co ’ s to

rem o v e a l l arch it ect u ral barri ers

, n o t ju s t t h o s e l i s t ed i n t he co m p lai n t

, an d n o t l i m i t ed

-5

-t o b arri ers t h at affect th e m em b er p l ai n ti ff’ s “ s p e c i fi c d i s ab i l i t y

. ” O n l y MDI ev en

arg u ab ly h ad s t an d in g to s eek an o rd er re m o v in g b arri ers th at d i d n o t affect t h e

al l eg ed d i s ab i l i t y of Tes t a an d Do y en -- d ep en d en ce u po n t h e u s e o f a wh eel ch ai r o r

m o to r s co o t er.

Fi n al l y

, al t h o u g h p recl u s i o n o n l y s o m et i m es req ui res n o ti ce o f th e fi rs t s u i t to

t h e rep res en t ed n on p art y

, s ee St u rg el l, 5 5 3 U.S. at 90 0

, we ag ree wi th t h e d i s t ri ct

co u rt t hat Do y en h ad at l eas t co n s t ru ct i v e n o t i ce of t h e fi rs t s u i t

, as i n Yan k t o n Si o u x

Tri b e, 5 3 3 F.3 d at 6 4 1

. D oy en was a m em b er o f M DI wh en th e M DI-Tes t a s u i t was

fi led an d t erm i n at ed

. Th e ju d i ci al reco rd s s u b m i t t ed b y d efe n d a n t s es t ab l i s h t h at

Do y en was a co -p l ai n t iff wi t h MDI i n n u m ero u s o t h er ADA Ti t l e III s ui t s t o rem ed y

s t r u c t u r a l b arri er v io l at i o ns

. An d t he t i m i n g o f t he t wo l aws u i t s -- b ro u g ht b y t h e

s am e at t o rn ey -- s u p p o rt s th e i n feren ce th at Do y en was aware t h at MDI rep res en t ed

h i s i n t e r e s t i n bo t h act i o n s

. See Co n ti n en t al W es tern In s

. Co

. v

. Fed eral Ho u s i n g

Fi n an ce Ag en cy , 8 3 F. Su p p

. 3 d 8 2 8 , 8 3 6 (S.D. Io wa 2 0 1 5 ).

On ap peal

, p l ai n t i ffs as s ert t h at p lai n t i ffs i n t h e M DI-Tes ta s u i t d i d n ot

u n d er s t a n d t h em s el v es to b e act i n g i n a rep res en t at i v e cap aci t y fo r Do y en b ecau s e

Do y en h as n ev er m et Tes t a, h as n o rel at i on s hi p wi th h i m , an d d i d n o t p art i ci p at e i n

t h e Tes t a l aws ui t , an d M DI d i d n o t u n d ers t an d t h at i t w as act i n g i n a rep res en t at i v e

cap aci t y fo r an y i n d iv i d u al m em b e r o t h er t h an Tes t a. In s u pp o rt

, p l ai n t i ffs rel y

ex cl u s i v el y o n s wo rn d ecl arat i o n s b y D o ye n a n d by M DI’ s fo u nd er fi l ed i n t h e

d i s t ri ct co u rt al o ng wi t h pl ai n t i ffs ’ m em o ran d u m i n o p p o s it i on t o d efen d an t s ’ m o t i o n

t o di s m i s s

. Had t h e di st ri ct co urt co n s i d ered th es e d ecl arat i on s

, i t wo u l d hav e b een

req u i red t o t reat t h e m ot i o n to d i s m i s s as o n e fo r s u m m ary ju dg m en t

. S ee Fed

. R.

Ci v

. P. 1 2 (d ). Bu t t h e d i s tri ct co u rt d i d n o t co n s i d er t hes e d ecl arat i o n s

.

In t h e d is t ri ct co urt

, p l ai n t i ffs arg u ed o n l y t h at t h e m o t i o n t o d is m is s m u s t b e

t reat ed as o n e fo r s u m

m ary ju dg m en t u n d er Ru l e 12 (d ) b ecau s e d ef en d a n ts s u b m i t t ed

ju d i ci al reco rd s o u t si d e t he Co m p l ai n t

. Th e di s t ri ct co u rt p ro p erl y reject ed t h at

-6

-co n ten t i o n an d co n cl ud ed t hat t h es e ju d i ci al reco rd s an d t he MDI-Do y en Co m p l ai nt

“ p ro v i d ed s u ffi ci en t bas es fo r a res ju d i cat a d efen s e.” C.H. Ro b in s o n

, 6 9 5 F.3 d at

7 6 4 ; s ee Po ro u s M ed i a Co rp

. v

. Pal l Co rp

., 1 8 6 F.3 d 1 0 77

, 1 0 7 9 (8 t h Ci r. 1 9 9 9 ).

Pl ai n t i ffs d i d n o t u rg e t h e co u rt t o t rea t t h e m o t i o n as o n e fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

b as ed o n p l a in ti

f f s ’ d ecl arat io n s

, n o r d o p l ai n t iffs as s ert o n ap p eal t h at t h e co u rt erred

i n ap p l y i n g Ru le 1 2 (d ). Th u s, t h e o n l y is s u e b efo re u s i s w h et h er, as we h av e

co n cl u d ed

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u rt p ro p erl y ru l ed t h at M DI act i n g i n a rep res en t at i v e

cap aci t y was i n p ri v i t y wi th Do y en b as ed o n t h e Ru l e 1 2(b )(6 ) reco rd co n s i d ered by

t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt

.

It i s wel l -s et tl ed t hat

, i n li m i t ed ci rcu m s t an ces

, an as s oci at i on h as st an d i n g to

s eek i n ju n ct i v e rel i ef o n b eh al f o f i t s m em b ers

. See, e.g

., Fri en d s o f t h e Eart h

, In c.

v . Lai d law En v. Serv s. (TOC), In c., 5 2 8 U.S. 1 6 7

, 1 8 0 -8 1 (2 0 0 0). In t h i s cas e, i t i s

u n d i s p u t ed t h e M D I’ s cl ai m s i n b o t h s ui t s were b as ed o n as s o ci at i o n al s t an d i n g

, an d

t h at M DI s at i s fi ed t h e req ui r e m en t s fo r s uch s t an d i ng

. W h en an as s o ci at i o n

rep res en t i n g i t s m em

b ers s u ffers an ad v ers e fi n al ju d g m en t

, wh et h er t h a t ju d g m en t

p recl u d es s u b s eq u en t cl ai m s b y t h e as s o ci at i o n ’ s m em b ers i s a sep arat e i s s u e t h at

t u rn s

, i n part

, o n wh et her th e as s o ci at io n w as an ad eq u at e rep res en t at i v e. Th at i s s u e

m ay b e fact i n t en s i v e. See In t ’ l Un i o n

, U.A.W

. v

. Bro ck

, 4 7 7 U .S. 2 7 4

, 2 9 0 (1 9 8 6 ).

B u t “ [t ] act ical m i s t ak es o r n eg l i g en ce o n t h e p art o f t h e rep res en t at i v e” i n t h e fi rs t

s u i t are n o t s uffi ci en t t o ren d er t h e rep res en t at io n i n ad eq u at e fo r p recl u s i on pu rp o s es

.

R E S T A T E M E N T (S E C O N D ) O F J U D G M E N T S § 4 2

, cm t

. f (1 9 80 ). M oreo v er, “ t h e

as s o ci at io n s h o u l d n o t b e ab l e t o ev ad e precl us i o n co n t i n u al l y b y av erri n g t h at

u n i d en t i fi ed m em

bers are n o t b ou n d an d bri n g in g s u cces s iv e su i t s b y cl ai m i n g i n ju ry

t o d i fferen t i d en t i fi ed m em b ers .” 1 8 A C H A R LE S A LA N W R IG H T

, A R T H U R R. M I LLE R

& E D W A R D H. C O O P E R

, F E D E R A L P R A C T IC E & P R O C E D U R E § 4 4 56

, at p

. 50 1 (2 0 0 2 );

s ee T ah o e-Si erra Pres

. Co u n ci l v

. Tah o e Reg ’ l Pl an n i n g A ge n c y

, 3 2 2 F.3 d 1 0 6 4,

1 0 8 4 (9 th Ci r. 2 0 03 ). Is s u es o f w h e t h er t he as s o ci at i o n a d eq u a t el y rep res en t ed i t s

m em b ers i n t he fi rs t s u i t m

u s t n eces sari l y b e d eci d ed on a cas e-b y -cas e b as i s

. Here,

-7

-t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt p ro p erl y res o l v ed t he o n l y ad eq u at e rep res en t at i o n i s s u es rai s ed by

t h e l i m i t ed fact u al reco rd t h e p art ies s u b m i t t ed

.

B. Sa m e Cl a im s

. Th e fi n al el em en t o f res ju d i cat a i s wh et h er b o t h s u i t s are

b as ed o n t h e s am e cl ai m s o r cau s es o f act i o n : “ a cl ai m i s b arred b y res ju d i cat a i f i t

ari s es o u t o f t h e sam e n u cl eu s o f o p erat i ve fact s as t h e p ri or cl ai m .” Yan k t o n Si o u x

Tri b e, 5 33 F.3 d at 6 4 1 (q u o t at io n o m i t t ed ). Pl ai n t i ffs arg u e t h e M DI-Do y en s u i t i s

n o t p recl u d ed b ecau s e Do y en en co u n tered d i s cri m i n at i o n i n Au gu s t 2 0 1 7 , aft er t h e

M DI-Tes t a l aws u i t was t erm i nat ed

, an d Do y en s eek s “ i m p ort an t rel i e f

” fro m t wo

b arri ers no t i d en ti fi ed i n t h e M DI-Tes t a Co m p l ai n t. Th e d is t ri ct co u rt co ncl u d ed t h at

t h i s co n t en t i o n i s wi th ou t m eri t :

Th e T es ta Cas e s o u g h t t h e rep ai r of al l b arri ers

, ev en t h o s e n o t ex p l i ci t l y

l i st ed

. . . . A m ere t en d ay s [aft er di s m i s s al o f t h e Tes t a Cas e]

, M DI an d

Do y en co m

m en ced t h i s cas e s eek i n g t h e re m e dy o f al l b arri ers t h en

ex i s ti n g. Th u s

. . . t h e b arri ers i n each cas e, an d t h e w r o n g t h ey

rep res en t

, are cl o s el y rel at ed i n ti m e, s p ace, an d o ri g i n an d

, as s u ch

, are

p art o f t h e s am e s eri es o f co n n ect ed t ran s act i o n s

.

W e ag ree. Th e M DI-Tes t a C o m p l a i n t s o u g h t t o rem ed y al l arch i t ect u ral b arri ers

p rev en ti n g d is ab l ed i n d iv id u al s fro m p at ro n i zi n g N i co ’ s i n v i o l at i o n o f t h e ADA. At

a m i n i m u m

, th is wo u ld i n cl ud e al l barri ers rel at ed t o t h e “ s p eci fi c di s ab i l i t y ” s h ared

b y Tes t a an d Do y en

. T h e M DI-Do ye n C o m pl ai n t d i d n ot al l eg e t h at an y o f t h e

b arri ers i t s p eci fi cal l y i d en t i fi ed were n o t p res en t at t h e t i m e o f th e earl i er s u i t

.

Pl ai n t i ffs i n b o t h s u i t s s p e c i f i c a l l y al l eg ed t h at t h ei r cl ai m s were n o t li m i ted t o t h e

al l eg ed ADA b arri er v io l at i o ns s p eci fi cal ly i d en t ifi ed

.

II . Co ncl us io n

Fo r t h e fo reg o i n g reas o ns

, we co n cl u d e th e d is t ri ct co u rt pro p erl y g ran t ed t h e

m o ti o n t o d i s m is s t he M DI-Do y en l aws u i t b eca u s e i t i s p recl u ded b y t h e fi n al

-8

-ju d g m en t o n t h e m eri t s i n t h e M DI-Tes t a l aws u i t

. Pl ai nt iffs as s ert t h at t hi s d eci s i o n

wi l l “ s u b s t an t i al ly im

p act p ri vat e en fo rcem en t o f t h e ADA an d i s co nt rary t o p u b l i c

p o l i c y

. ” W e d i sag ree. Th e d i s m i s s al o f t h e s eco n d s u i t was a p ro d uct o f M D I ’s

d eci s i o n t o as sert as so ci at i o n al s t an d i n g cl ai m s as a co -p l ai n ti ff o n beh al f o f i t s

m em b ers i n t h e M DI- Te s t a s u i t

-- an o bv i o u s at t em p t t o av o i d l i m i t at io ns o n t h e

s t ru ct u ral b arri er cl ai m s t h at m em b er p lai n t i ff Tes t a co u ld a s s e r t

-- an d t h en to

d i s m i s s i t s rep res en t at i o n al cl ai m s o n t h e m eri t s

. Th e on l y n o n part y i n d i v i d u al s

b o u n d b y t hes e t act i cs are m em

b ers o f M D I at t h e t i m e. Th i s d eci s i o n d o es n o t b ar

cl ai m s b y an y o t h er p e rs o n s u fferi n g fro m an y di s ab i l i t y wh o p lau s i b l y al l eg es t h at

h e s u ffered act u al i nju ry fro m arch i t ect u ral barri ers t h at l i m i t ed h is acces s t o Ni co ’ s

,

an d t h at h e wo u l d v i s i t t h e b u i l d i n g i n t h e i m m i n en t fu t u re b u t fo r t ho s e b arri ers

.

Th e ju d g m en t o f t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt i s affi rm ed

.

__ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _

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