Adams v. 57 Clinton Street, LLC

• Court: District Court, S.D. New York
• Decided: January 4, 2024
• Docket: 1:23-cv-06771
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

SOUTHERN DISTRICTOF NEWYORK _________________________________x Joshua Adams, Plaintiff, CaseNo.: 1:23-cv-06771-LGS -v- 57Clinton Street,LLC,and DEFAULTFINAL JUDGMENT AGAINST DEFENDANT 57CLINTONSTREET LLC Defendants. __________________________________x

FINAL DEFAULTJUDGMENT THIS ACTION, having been commenced on August 2, 2023 by the filing of the Complaint [DE#1] having been filed on August 2, 2023 and served on Defendant 57 Clinton Street, LLC on August 22, 2023 via the Secretary of State as their authorized agent for service of process, and with proof of service having been filed on August 25, 2023 [DE#6], and the Defendant having not appeared or answered the Complaint [DE#1], and the time for answering and Defendant having failed to appear at the Complaint [DE#1] having expired on September 12 , 2023, the show-cause hearing held on December 13, 2023, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED that the Plaintiff have Final Default Judgment against Defendant, Defendant 57 Clinton Street, LLC (hereinafter referred to as “Defendants”), as follows: A) Defendants shall be required to apply for, obtain, and cause the removal and remediation the following barriers to access which exist in violation of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act 42 U.S.C. § 12181, et seq., within 90 days following the date of the Court’s entry of this Final Default Judgment: Accessibleroutesshallbeprovidedinaccordancewith206andshallcomplywith Chapter4.ADAAG 206.2WhereRequired.Accessibleroutesshallbeprovided whererequiredby206.2.ADAAG 206.2.1SiteArrivalPoints.Atleastone accessiblerouteshallbeprovidedwithinthesitefromaccessibleparkingspaces andaccessiblepassengerloadingzones;publicstreetsandsidewalks;andpublic transportationstops totheaccessiblebuildingor facilityentrancethey serve.ADAAG 206.4Entrances.Entrancesshallbeprovidedinaccordancewith 206.4.Entrancedoors, doorways, andgatesshallcomplywith404andshallbeon anaccessibleroutecomplyingwith402.ADAAG 207AccessibleMeans of Egress ADAAG 207.1General.Means of egress shallcomplywithsection1003.2.13of theInternationalBuildingCode(2000 editionand2001Supplement)or section 1007of theInternationalBuildingCode(2003 edition)(incorporatedbyreference, “ReferencedStandards”inChapter1).ADAAG 402AccessibleRoutesADAAG 402.1General.Accessibleroutesshallcomplywith402.ADAAG 402.2 Components.Accessibleroutesshallconsistof oneor moreof thefollowing components:walkingsurfaceswitharunningslopenotsteeperthan1:20, doorways, ramps,curbrampsexcludingtheflaredsides,elevators,andplatform lifts.Allcomponentsof anaccessiblerouteshallcomplywiththeapplicable requirementsof Chapter4.ADAAG 403WalkingSurfaces ADAAG 403.4 ChangesinLevel.Changesinlevelshallcomplywith303 ADAAG 303.4Ramps.Changesinlevelgreaterthan½inchhighshallberamped, andshallcomplywith405or 406. II. Requiredminimummaneuveringclearancenotprovidedatentrancedoor.Non-compliant changeinfloorlevelwithinrequiredmaneuveringclearanceatentrancedoor. ADAAG 206AccessibleRoutes ADAAG 206.1General. Accessibleroutesshallbeprovidedinaccordancewith206andshallcomplywith Chapter4.ADAAG 206.2WhereRequired.Accessibleroutesshallbeprovided whererequiredby206.2.ADAAG 206.2.1SiteArrivalPoints. Atleastoneaccessiblerouteshallbeprovidedwithinthesitefromaccessible parkingspacesandaccessiblepassengerloadingzones;publicstreetsand sidewalks;andpublictransportationstops totheaccessiblebuildingor facility entrancetheyserve.ADAAG 206.4Entrances.Entrancesshallbeprovidedin accordancewith206.4.Entrancedoors, doorways, andgatesshallcomplywith 404andshallbeon anaccessibleroutecomplyingwith402.ADAAG 206.4.1 PublicEntrances.In additiontoentrancesrequiredby206.4.2through206.4.9,at least60percentof allpublicentrancesshallcomplywith404. ADAAG 207AccessibleMeans of Egress ADAAG 207.1General. Means of egress shallcomplywithsection1003.2.13of theInternationalBuilding Code(2000 editionand2001Supplement)or section1007of theInternational BuildingCode(2003 edition)(incorporatedbyreference,“ReferencedStandards” inChapter1)ADAAG 404.2.4ManeuveringClearances.Minimummaneuvering clearancesatdoors andgatesshallcomplywith404.2.4.Maneuveringclearances shallextendthefullwidthof thedoorway andtherequiredlatchsideor hingeside clearance.ADAAG404.2.4.4Flooror Ground Surface.Flooror ground surface withinrequiredmaneuveringclearancesshallcomplywith302.Changesinlevel ADAAG227 SalesandService ADAAG 227.1General.Whereprovided, check-outaisles,salescounters,servicecounters,food servicelines,queues,and waitinglinesshallcomplywith227and904.ADAAG 904.4SalesandService Counters.Salescountersandservicecountersshallcomplywith904.4.1or 904.4.2.Theaccessibleportionof thecountertopshallextendthesamedepthas thesalesor servicecountertop.ADAAG 904.4.1ParallelApproach.A portionof thecountersurfacethatis36inches(915 mm)longminimum and36inches(915 mm)highmaximumabovethefinishfloorshallbeprovided. A clearflooror ground spacecomplyingwith305shallbepositionedfor aparallel approachadjacenttothe36inch(915 mm)minimumlengthof counter. IV.Inaccessiblediningcounter.Portionof diningcounterrequiredtobeaccessiblenot provided.Non-compliantheightof diningcounterexceedsmaximumheightallowance. ADAAG 226DiningSurfacesandWork Surfaces ADAAG 226.1General. Wherediningsurfacesareprovidedfor theconsumptionof food or drink,atleast5 percentof theseatingspacesandstandingspacesatthediningsurfacesshall complywith902.ADAAG 902DiningSurfacesandWork Surfaces ADAAG 902.1General.Diningsurfacesandwork surfacesshallcomplywith902.2and 902.3.Advisory 902.1General.Diningsurfacesinclude,butarenotlimitedto,bars, tables,lunchcounters,andbooths.ADAAG 902.3Height.Thetopsof dining surfacesandwork surfacesshallbe28inches(710 mm)minimumand34inches (865 mm)maximumabovethefinishflooror ground. V. Requiredminimumtoeclearancenotprovidedatdiningcounter. ADAAG 226DiningSurfacesandWork Surfaces ADAAG 226.1General. Wherediningsurfacesareprovidedfor theconsumptionof food or drink,atleast5 percentof theseatingspacesandstandingspacesatthediningsurfacesshall complywith902.ADAAG 902DiningSurfacesandWork Surfaces ADAAG 902.1General.Diningsurfacesandwork surfacesshallcomplywith902.2and 902.3.Advisory 902.1General.Diningsurfacesinclude,butarenotlimitedto,bars, tables,lunchcounters,andbooths.ADAAG 902.2ClearFlooror Ground Space. A clearfloorspacecomplyingwith305positionedfor aforward approachshallbe provided.Kneeandtoeclearancecomplyingwith306shallbeprovided. ADAAG 306.2ToeClearance.ADAAG306.2.3MinimumRequiredDepth. Wheretoeclearanceisrequiredatanelementas partof aclearfloorspace,thetoe clearanceshallextend17inches(430 mm)minimumundertheelement. ADAAG 306.2.5Width.Toeclearanceshallbe30inches(760 mm)wide minimum. B) Plaintiff shall serve a copy of this Default Final Judgment, and all supporting papers by Certified U.S. Mail and file proof of such service on the record by January 9, 2024. C) Plaintiff shall have 180 days after date of the Court’s entry of this Final Default Judgment to file a motion to tax costs and award reasonable attorney’s fees and shall file all an affirmation for costs sought in said motion. The Complaint asserts a claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act (the "ADA"), alleging that Defendant has denied Plaintiff access to, and full and equal enjoyment of, the goods and services it provides. "[A] defendant who defaults thereby admits all 'well-pleaded' factual allegations contained in the complaint" but "a district court 'need not agree that the alleged facts constitute a valid cause of action.'" City of New York v. Mickalis Pawn Shop, LLC, 645 F.3d 114, 137 (2d Cir. 2011) (citations omitted). "[A] district court is ‘required to determine whether the plaintiff's allegations establish the defendant's liability as a matter of law."" Id. The Complaint adequately alleges that Plaintiff is entitled to injunctive relief under the ADA. Title Il of the ADA provides: "Subject to the provisions of this subchapter, no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity.” 42 U.S.C. § 12132. To prevail under Title II, a plaintiff “must demonstrate that (1) they are ‘qualified individuals’ with a disability; (2) that the defendants are subject to the ADA; and (3) that plaintiffs were denied the opportunity to participate in or benefit from defendants’ services, programs, or activities, or were otherwise discriminated against by defendants, by reason of plaintiffs’ disabilities." Noe! v. New York City Taxi & Limousine Comm'n, 687 F.3d 63, 68 (2d Cir. 2012); accord Williams v. Barometre, No. 20 Civ. 7644, 2022 WL 903068, at *15 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 28, 2022). The Complaint alleges that Plaintiff is wheelchair bound due to congenital spina bifita and Hydrocephalus. Defendant's facility is a restaurant, which the ADA considers a place of public accommodations. See 42 U.S.C. § 12181(7)(B). Plaintiff has been prevented access to Defendant's facility by virtue of structural barriers that are incompatible with his status as a wheelchair- bound individual. These barriers include an inaccessible entrance, a non-compliant change in floor level and inaccessible service and dining counters, among other barriers. These allegations are sufficient to state a claim under Title II. Subject-matter jurisdiction is proper, as Plaintiff brings his claim under federal law. Though the Complaint does not explicitly state whether Defendant is a domiciliary of New York, personal jurisdiction is also proper over Defendant, a limited liability company transacting business in New York and with the subject property located at 57 Clinton St., New York, NY 10002. "To determine personal jurisdiction over a non-domiciliary in a case involving a federal question, [courts] apply the forum state's long-arm statute" and then "analyze whether personal jurisdiction comports with due process protections established under the Constitution." Eades v. Kennedy, PC L. Offs., 799 F.3d 161, 168 (2d Cir. 2015). New York's long arm statute permits a court to exercise personal jurisdiction over any non-domiciliary that "transacts any business within the state." N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 302(a}(1). "To establish personal jurisdiction under section 302(a)(1), two requirements must be met: (1) The defendant must have transacted business within the state; and (2) the claim asserted must arise from that business activity.” Eades, 799 F.3d at 168. The Complaint alleges that Defendant "transacts business in the State of New York and within this judicial district" and the ADA claim arises from Defendant's business activities at the 57 Clinton St. property. “To establish personal jurisdiction over a defendant, due process requires a plaintiff to allege (1) that a defendant has ‘certain minimum contacts’ with the relevant forum, and (2) that the exercise of jurisdiction is reasonable in the circumstances.” /d. at 168-69. Here, both requirements are met, as Defendant does business at its New York City property, sufficient to establish minimum contacts. The exercise of jurisdiction here is reasonable, as it "comport[s] with fair play and substantial justice." /d. So Ordered. ] (

Dated: January 4, 2024 LORNA G. SCHOFIEL’