Velez v. Cloghan Concepts, LLC
Velez v. Cloghan Concepts, LLC
Opinion of the Court
Pending before the Court is Defendant Cloghan Concepts, LLC's Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim and for Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction. (ECF No. 11). Plaintiff Jose Velez opposed the Motion, and Defendant replied. (ECF Nos. 19, 16). For reasons set forth below, the Court GRANTS Defendant's Motion to Dismiss. (ECF No. 11).
I. BACKGROUND
Plaintiff, proceeding pro se , initiated this action on August 15, 2018. (ECF No. 1). The original Complaint alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"),
*1074(ECF No. 3). On October 3, 2018, Plaintiff filed a First Amended Complaint ("FAC") again alleging violations under the ADA and Unruh Act. (ECF No. 7 "FAC"). The FAC alleges that Plaintiff is disabled because his morbid obesity, a byproduct of his Binge Eating Disorder (BED), limits his mobility. (FAC ¶¶ 6, 7). The FAC further alleges that while patronizing Defendant's restaurant, located at 640 Tenth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, Plaintiff encountered barriers at the reception area, the sales and service counter, and in the table arrangements that render the property inaccessible for disabled persons. (FAC ¶ 24). Plaintiff alleges that these architectural barriers prevented Plaintiff from enjoying full and equal access to the restaurant. (FAC ¶ 32). Defendant again timely moved to dismiss, arguing that Plaintiff has not alleged a disability under the ADA and consequently, that the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the action. (ECF No. 16).
II. LEGAL STANDARD
A motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) "tests the legal sufficiency of a claim." Conservation Force v. Salazar ,
Although the court "will assume the veracity of well-pleaded factual allegations," conclusory statements are not entitled to this assumption of truth. Kwan v. SanMedica Int'l ,
III. DISCUSSION
The FAC alleges violations of the ADA and Unruh Act. Each will be addressed in turn.
A. ADA CLAIM
Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities by public accommodations, stating:
No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation.
*1075(2) the defendant is a private entity that owns, leases, or operates a place of public accommodation; and (3) the plaintiff was denied public accommodations by the defendant because of his disability. Arizona ex rel. Goddard v. Harkins Amusement Enterprises, Inc. ,
Plaintiff alleges he is disabled because he has "mobility-related limitations" resulting from "morbid obesity and a binge-eating disorder." (FAC ¶ 6). The additional weight on his frame allegedly "makes it more difficult to breathe, walk, stand and bend," and his binge-eating disorder "affects his ability to concentrate and think." (FAC ¶ 6). Plaintiff alleges that the underlying cause of his morbid obesity, the binge-eating disorder (BED), is "physiological and/or psychological." (FAC ¶ 7). The FAC elaborates that BED is classified as a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). (FAC ¶ 8). Defendant contends that Plaintiff has failed to allege a disability under the ADA because Plaintiff has failed to set forth an underlying physiological , rather than psychological, cause for his morbid obesity, which some circuits have concluded is required for obesity to qualify as a disability. (ECF No. 11-1 at 12).
The ADA defines "disability" as a "physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual...."
"[t]o convey that it is the intent of Congress that the primary object of attention in cases brought under the ADA should be whether entities covered under the ADA have complied with their obligations, and to convey that the question of whether an individual's impairment is a disability under the ADA should not demand extensive analysis ...."
(i) Any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more body systems, such as: Neurological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory (including speech organs), cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genitourinary, immune, circulatory, hemic, lymphatic, skin, and endocrine; or
(ii) Any mental or psychological disorder such as intellectual disability, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disability.
(2) Physical or mental impairment includes, but is not limited to, contagious and noncontagious diseases and conditions such as the following: Orthopedic, visual, speech and hearing impairments, and cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, intellectual disability, emotional illness, dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection (whether symptomatic or asymptomatic), tuberculosis, drug addiction, and alcoholism.
*1076
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a federal agency whose mandate includes enforcing the ADA in the workplace, has taken the position that obesity may qualify as an impairment under the ADA, but not always. Taylor v. Burlington Northern Railroad Holdings Inc. ,
[W]eight (1) is not an impairment when it is within the "normal" range and lacks a physiological cause but (2) may be an impairment when it is either outside the "normal" range or occurs as the result of a physiological disorder.
Although the Ninth Circuit found the above EEOC guidance instructive in its consideration of a similar issue, the Ninth Circuit has not yet decided whether obesity without a physiological cause constitutes an impairment under the ADA.
In the absence of clear, binding authority, the Court adopts the definition the EEOC set forth in its amicus brief and compliance manual: weight may be an impairment when it falls outside the normal range or occurs as the result of a physiological disorder. See Turtle Island Restoration Network v. United States Dep't of Commerce ,
However, the Court's conclusion that Plaintiff has alleged a disability does not end the inquiry. Plaintiff must also allege that he was denied public accommodations by Defendant because of his disability. Arizona ex rel. Goddard v. Harkins Amusement Enterprises, Inc. ,
Although Plaintiff need not encounter every accessibility barrier or even be fully prohibited from accessing the non-compliant facility to have standing, Plaintiff has not sufficiently alleged his personal stake in the outcome of this case or controversy to meet the pleading requirements. Because Plaintiff has failed to state a cognizable claim under the ADA, the Court dismisses the FAC as to that claim.
B. UNRUH ACT CLAIM
Pursuant to
Section 1367 provides that "in any civil action of which the district courts have original jurisdiction, the district courts shall have supplemental jurisdiction over all other claims that are so related to claims in the action within such original jurisdiction that they form part of the same case or controversy under Article III of the United States Constitution.
(1) the claim raises a novel or complex issue of State law;
(2) the claim substantially predominates over the claim or claims over which the district court has original jurisdiction;
(3) the district court has dismissed all claims over which it has original jurisdiction, or
(4) in exceptional circumstances, there are other compelling reasons for declining jurisdiction.
Because the Court has dismissed all claims over which it has original jurisdiction, the Court declines to exercise supplemental *1078jurisdiction over the Unruh Act claims. See
The Court accordingly declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction, and dismisses the Unruh Act claim without prejudice as to asserting it in state court. See Il Fornanio ,
IV. CONCLUSION
Defendant's Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED. (ECF No. 11). Because amendment is not futile, the Court dismisses the FAC without prejudice and grants Plaintiff leave to amend. See Ramirez v. Galaza ,
IT IS SO ORDERED.
The original Complaint named additional defendants, all of whom have since been dismissed from the case. (See ECF Nos. 37, 42). For clarity, the Court details only the procedural history relating to the remaining Defendant, Cloghan Concepts, LLC.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Jose VELEZ, an individual v. CLOGHAN CONCEPTS, LLC and Does 1-10, inclusive
- Cited By
- 7 cases
- Status
- Published