Barrilleaux v. Mendocino County

61 F. Supp. 3d 906, 2014 WL 3726371, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 101937
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. California
DecidedJuly 25, 2014
DocketCase No. 14-cv-01373-TEH
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 61 F. Supp. 3d 906 (Barrilleaux v. Mendocino County) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Barrilleaux v. Mendocino County, 61 F. Supp. 3d 906, 2014 WL 3726371, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 101937 (N.D. Cal. 2014).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART COURT DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS

THELTON E. HENDERSON, United States District Judge

This matter came before the Court on June 23, 2014, on Court Defendants’ motion to dismiss. After considering the parties’ arguments and the papers submitted, the Court now GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Court Defendants’ motion for the reasons discussed below.

BACKGROUND

Before the incident in question, Plaintiff Jessica Barrilleaux (“Plaintiff’) alleges that she walked with difficulty and occasionally used crutches due to a fractured and weakened knee. Complaint (“Compl.”) ¶ 10. On April 16, 2013, Plaintiff, assisted by the use of crutches, went to the Mendocino County Superior Courthouse (the “Courthouse”) to address a traffic citation. Compl. ¶ 12. The Clerk of Court calendared Plaintiff for an appearance on April 23, 2013, at Department G. Id. Department G is located on the fourth floor of the Courthouse and there is no elevator access to that floor. Id. Upon information and belief, the Clerk was aware that Plaintiff was on crutches, and knew there was no elevator access to the fourth floor, but did not warn or advise Plaintiff of that fact, nor was Plaintiff notified by any other means. Id.

On April 23, 2013, Plaintiff arrived at the Courthouse for her appearance without crutches or other aid. Compl. ¶ 13. Once there, she realized there was no elevator access to the fourth floor where she needed to appear. Compl. ¶¶ 14-15. Plaintiff could not ascend stairs due to her knee, but was able to descend stairs with difficulty, if necessary, so she took the elevator to the fifth floor and descended the stairs down to the fourth floor. Compl. ¶¶ 13-14. After appearing in court, Plaintiff was told to pay a fíne on the first floor. Compl. ¶ 15. Again, as there was no elevator access, Plaintiff attempted to descend the stairs. Id. While descending, she fell, and tumbled to the bottom of the stairs. Id. Plaintiff was transported to the hospital by ambulance and treated for a left knee fracture. Compl. ¶¶ 15-16. As a result of the incident, Plaintiff claims she has suffered physical, mental, and emotional injuries. Compl. ¶ 16.

Based on the above, Plaintiff filed suit on March 25, 2014 against Mendocino County; the Mendocino County Superior Court; the State of California1; and the Judicial Council of California/Administrative Office of the Courts (the “Defendants”). She alleges six causes of action: (1) violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities 'Act (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.; (2) violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq; (3) discrimination on the basis of disability in violation of California Civil Code §§ 54, 54.1, 54(c), 54.1(d), and 55, and California Government Code § 4450 et [912]*912seq; (4) discrimination on the basis of disability in programs or activities funded by the state, in violation of California Government Code § 11135; (5) maintaining public property in a dangerous condition; and (6) negligence. Plaintiff seeks monetary damages and injunctive relief in the form of requiring Defendants to make the Courthouse’s facilities usable and accessible to persons with disabilities, to provide alternative accessible facilities, and to provide notice that the fourth floor is not accessible.

The Mendocino County Superior Court and the Judicial Council of California/Administrative Office of the Courts (the “Court Defendants”) move to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure2, arguing that they are immune from suit on all of Plaintiffs six causes of action due to the Eleventh Amendment. They also move to dismiss Plaintiffs state law claims against the Mendocino County Superior Court under Rule 12(b)(6), because Plaintiff failed to timely comply with California’s Tort Claims Act which requires that any claim seeking damages from a public entity must be presented to that entity within six months of claim accrual. Finally, Court Defendants also move to dismiss each of Plaintiffs six causes of action, pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), on the grounds that they fail to state a claim for relief.

LEGAL STANDARD

A. Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Rule 12(b)(1) provides for dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1). Court Defendants here mount a “facial” challenge to Plaintiffs subject matter jurisdiction, meaning that the allegations contained in the complaint, taken as true, are insufficient on their face to invoke federal jurisdiction. Safe Air v. Meyer, 373 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir.2004).

B. Failure to State a Claim Upon which Relief Can be Granted

Rule 12(b)(6) requires dismissal when a plaintiffs allegations fail “to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). To survive a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), a plaintiff must plead “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). Plausibility does not equate to probability, but it requires “more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (citation omitted). “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id.

In ruling on a motion to dismiss, a court must “accept all material allegations of fact as true and construe the complaint in a light most favorable to the non-moving party.” Vasquez v. Los Angeles County, 487 F.3d 1246, 1249 (9th Cir.2007). Courts are not, however, “bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937.

DISCUSSION

A. Eleventh Amendment Immunity

Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), Court Defendants move to dismiss all of Plaintiffs claims against them for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, on the grounds that the Eleventh Amendment bars suits [913]*913against states by citizens. Hans v. Louisiana, 134 U.S. 1, 10 S.Ct. 504, 33 L.Ed. 842 (1890). By operation of the Eleventh Amendment, federal courts are generally barred from deciding a case for money damages in which an “arm of the state” is a defendant. See Regents of the Univ. of California v. Doe, 519 U.S. 425, 429, 117 S.Ct.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
61 F. Supp. 3d 906, 2014 WL 3726371, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 101937, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/barrilleaux-v-mendocino-county-cand-2014.