Anderson v. Macy's, Inc.

943 F. Supp. 2d 531, 2013 WL 1857535, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 62790
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedMay 2, 2013
DocketCivil Action No. 2:12-cv-556
StatusPublished
Cited by37 cases

This text of 943 F. Supp. 2d 531 (Anderson v. Macy's, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Anderson v. Macy's, Inc., 943 F. Supp. 2d 531, 2013 WL 1857535, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 62790 (W.D. Pa. 2013).

Opinion

OPINION

MARK R. HORNAK, District Judge.

Christina Anderson (“Anderson”) filed this suit under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. (“ADA”), alleging that she is a disabled person under that statute and that Defendants’ retail stores are public accommodations under the ADA which fail to comply with ADA standards by what she considered to be negatively disparate product placement and pricing of “plus-sized” women’s clothing.1

Before the Court is a Motion filed by Defendants Macy’s Incorporated, Macy’s East, and Macy’s Central (collectively “Macy’s”), to dismiss all of her claims for lack of standing on her part to bring them, and for a failure to state a claim. The Court has considered the parties’ moving, opposition and reply papers, and for the reasons that follow, the Court grants Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss for lack of standing, without prejudice. Plaintiff shall be allotted 30 days from the date of this Opinion and accompanying Order to file an Amended Complaint supporting the factual and legal basis for her individual standing to prosecute the claim that will remain in this action, consistent with this Opinion. In that regard, after conducting the review mandated by 28 U.S.C. § 1915, the Court further concludes that Anderson’s Amended Complaint fails to state a claim for relief under Title III of the ADA, except to the extent that she seeks injunctive and/or declaratory relief due to Macy’s alleged failure to remove certain barriers, 42 U.S.C. § 12182(b)(2)(A)(iv). All claims but that one are dismissed with prejudice, in that any attempted amendment would be futile.

I. Background

In assessing the plausibility of the allegations of Anderson’s Amended Complaint, we must take her allegations as true. According to her Amended Complaint, Plaintiff is “disabled” as defined by the ADA, in that she has a qualifying impairment that interferes with a major life function. Am. Compl. ¶¶ 18, 54-59. More specifically, Anderson alleges that she suffers from a thyroid disorder (hypothyroidism), arthritic damage, osteomalacia, hypertension, fibromyalgia, major depression, personality disorder, and anxiety. Id. ¶¶ 26-46, 54-59. The Plaintiff alleges that she is obese as a symptom and result of her many health and mental conditions, and as a side effect of her use of a multitude of prescription medications. Id. ¶¶ 32-36. Due to her illnesses, Anderson is required to take these nine (9) medications that she says cause or contribute to her obesity. Id. ¶¶ 38 — 45, 58. Anderson alleges that her obesity is a part of her disabling condition and that it substantially limits major life activities, including walking, standing, sit[535]*535ting, reaching, lifting, bending, and working. Id. ¶¶ 56-59.

On or about December 15, 2010, Anderson was shopping in the women’s intimates and nightwear department at a Macy’s store in the Frazer Heights Galleria located in Tarentum, Pennsylvania. Id. ¶¶ 60-61. When Anderson went to purchase a plus-sized2 nightgown that she thought was on sale, she was told that the “petites and average size items were on sale but the larger sizes” were at the regular price even though the items were otherwise “identical” in that they were made by the same manufacturer, of the same fabric, as well as being the same color and style. Id. ¶¶ 62-66. Plaintiff then spoke with the store supervisor who confirmed that the stated pricing was accurate. Id. ¶¶ 67-69. After Anderson complained that she thought the situation was discriminatory, the supervisor “stated that the larger sizes are always listed at a higher price” but ultimately gave Anderson the sale discount on her purchase. Id. ¶¶ 70-72. This situation caused Anderson great embarrassment and she did not return to the Frazer Heights Galleria store in the months following the incident. Id. ¶¶ 73-74.

Plaintiff later shopped at the Macy’s in Monroeville Mall in Monroeville, Pennsylvania where she noticed that identical brands of clothing in the average and petite sizes were less expensive than plus-size clothing. Id. ¶¶ 75-78. Further, the smaller clothing sizes were often on sale, but the identical plus-size clothing was not. Id. ¶ 79. The Plaintiff asked a sales clerk about the higher prices for plus-sized clothing, and the clerk said that the extra cost was due to the additional fabric costs associated with making larger clothing. Id. ¶ 81. However, when Anderson asked why petite sizes were not less expensive than average clothing that is larger and requires more material, the clerk did not answer and walked away. Id.

From August 18, 2011 through April 12, 2012, Plaintiff says that she visited and surveyed numerous other Macy’s stores. Id. ¶ 82. In Pennsylvania she visited stores in Monroeville, Monaca, West Mifflin, downtown Pittsburgh, Tarentum, Altoona, Monroeville, Robinson Town Center, Ross Park Mall, Hermitage, South Hills Village Mall, Washington, Homestead, and Greensburg. Id. She also visited stores in Niles, Steubenville, Clairsville, and Youngstown in Ohio. Id.

In addition to higher prices, Anderson also alleges that the plus-sized clothing section at Macy’s is “segregated” from the smaller-sized clothing sections. Id. ¶ 90. Anderson alleges that the plus-sized clothing in some stores is placed on an entirely different level of the store than all the other women’s clothing, id. ¶ 94, and, in some instances, is located “as far removed as possible” from the smaller sizes. Id. ¶¶ 96-97. Because the plus-sized department is located in the back, it is “inconvenient” and “more difficult to reach in that it is much farther from main entrances.” Id. ¶¶ 113-19. The Plaintiff alleges that these decisions appeared to be “maliciously chosen since there was no reasonable explanation for the segregation.” Id. ¶ 91.

Anderson further alleges that accessory items such as jewelry, cosmetics, fra[536]*536granees, and other “departments that might be of interest to women” are placed farther away from the plus-sized clothing section, but located conveniently near the smaller clothing sizes. Id. ¶¶ 102-106. She notes that placement of the plus-sized department away from other sections, such as shoes and jewelry, but close to bedding, kitchen ware, public restrooms, and staff lounges is “insulting” and “inconvenient.” Id. ¶¶ 102-12, 119-20. Anderson also alleges that the space between the aisles in the plus-size clothing section is narrower than other sections, which makes it difficult for people with her disability to shop. Id. ¶ 121. Finally, Anderson purports that the space allocated to and selection of clothing for people with her disability is considerably smaller than the selection for non-disabled customers. Id. ¶¶ 122-23.

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943 F. Supp. 2d 531, 2013 WL 1857535, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 62790, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/anderson-v-macys-inc-pawd-2013.