Brooke v. Kashl Corp.

362 F. Supp. 3d 864
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. California
DecidedJanuary 25, 2019
DocketCASE NO. 18cv2581 GPC NLS
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 362 F. Supp. 3d 864 (Brooke v. Kashl Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Brooke v. Kashl Corp., 362 F. Supp. 3d 864 (S.D. Cal. 2019).

Opinion

(1) DENYING MOTION TO DISMISS [ECF No. 9];

(2) DEFERRING RULING ON MOTION REQUESTING ORDER DECLARING PLAINTIFF A VEXATIOUS LITIGANT [ECF No. 3];

(3) TO SHOW CAUSE.

Hon. Gonzalo P. Curiel, United States District Judge

On December 15, 2018, Plaintiff Theresa Brooke ("Plaintiff") filed a verified first amended complaint against Defendants Kashl Corporation ("Kashl") and Radisson Hotels International, Inc., alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the California Unruh Civil Rights Act, and the California Disabled Persons Act. (ECF No. 6.) Plaintiff's suit has generated two motions, both presently before the Court. The first is Kashl's Rule 12(b)(1) motion to dismiss the first amended complaint for lack of jurisdiction (ECF No. 9), which Plaintiff opposes (ECF No. 14).1 The second is Kashl's motion requesting an order declaring plaintiff a vexatious litigant (ECF No. 3), which has not been opposed.

Pursuant to Civil Local Rule 7.1(d)(1), the Court finds the motion to dismiss suitable *869for adjudication without oral argument. For the reasons set forth below, the Court DENIES Kashl's motion to dismiss, ORDERS Plaintiff to show cause why she should not declared a vexatious litigant, and DEFERS ruling on Kashl's motion requesting an order declaring plaintiff a vexatious litigant.

A. Factual History

Defendant Kashl is an Oregon corporation which does business as Radisson Hotel San Diego Rancho Bernardo ("Radisson Rancho Bernardo"), located at 11520 Western Bernardo Court, San Diego, California 92127. The Radisson Rancho Bernardo is a public accommodation which offers public lodging services. Kashl, along with co-defendant Radisson Hotels International, Inc., a Delaware corporation, co-operates the website for the Radisson Rancho Bernardo.

Plaintiff resides in Pinal County, Arizona and ambulates with the aid of a wheelchair due to loss of a leg. (ECF No. 6, at 2.) Although Plaintiff lives in Arizona, she and her husband "are avid travelers to California," and she "makes frequent trips to San Diego." (ECF No. 6, at 4, 5). On or about October 30, 2018, Plaintiff was in San Diego and went to the Radisson Rancho Bernardo to book a room. (Id. at 4.) However, Plaintiff alleges that when she pulled up to the passenger loading zone, there was no marked access aisle between the loading zone and the curb from which she could navigate her way to the entrance of the hotel in her wheelchair. (Id. ) Plaintiff alleges that it is a violation of Section 503.3 of the 2010 ADA Standards of Accessible Design ("2010 Standards") for a public accommodation not to have an access aisle at least 60 inches wide, and that the lack of such an access aisle at the Radisson Rancho Bernardo caused her to be deterred from returning to the hotel. (Id. at 4-5.)

As a result of encountering that barrier, Plaintiff did not book a room at the Radisson Rancho Bernardo in October 2018. (Id. at 5.) Thereafter, Plaintiff communicated with Kashl with respect to the alleged Section 503.3 non-compliance. According to Plaintiff, counsel for Kashl advised Plaintiff that her claim was not factually accurate, and stated that "[t]here is no passenger loading zone to remediate." (Id. at 6.)

Plaintiff, apparently relying on this representation, returned to the hotel on or about December 11, 2018. (Id. ) Plaintiff indicates that she was in San Diego that week for settlement conferences and a brief vacation to visit local attractions, like the nearby Naval base. (Id. ) Prior to this second visit, Plaintiff accessed the website maintained for the Radisson Rancho Bernardo and found that she was unable to book an accessible room or suite, allegedly in violation of 28 C.F.R. 36.302(e)(1). During the drive to the hotel, Plaintiff phoned ahead to book a room and was advised that there were in fact no accessible rooms for rent. (Id. ) Plaintiff alleges that this was a violation of section 224.5 of the 2010 Standards. When Plaintiff arrived at the hotel, she re-encountered the original accessibility barrier at the passenger zone. (Id. at 7.) Again deterred, Plaintiff did not lodge at the Radisson Rancho Bernardo and instead found a different hotel at which to stay.

As a result of these events, Plaintiff claims she is "extremely embarrassed and insulted at the lack of access at Defendant's hotel and on Defendants' website." (Id.). Notwithstanding these incidents, Plaintiff maintains that "if the barriers are removed, she will lodge at Defendant's hotel and/or revisit the hotel to obtain access to the Defendant's property." (Id. at 5, 7.) To wit, Plaintiff avers that she "will make a third visit to the hotel and hopefully be able to lodge there in March, which is *870when she and her husband will be returning to San Diego again." (Id. at 7.)

B. Procedural Background

On November 10, 2018, Plaintiff filed a complaint which was superseded by her verified first amended complaint, filed December 15, 2018. (ECF No. 6.) This first amended complaint alleged violations of Title III of the American with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12102 et seq. and the regulations implementing the ADA, 28 C.F.R. §§ 46.101 et seq. ; the California Unruh Civil Rights Act, California Civil Code sections 51, 52, and the California Disabled Persons Act, California Civil Code sections 54 - 54.3. The first amended complaint sought, inter alia , statutory damages, declaratory relief, attorney's fees, and injunctive relief.

On December 4, 2018, Kashl filed a motion (1) seeking dismissal pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) for Plaintiff's lack of standing to pursue injunctive relief under the ADA, and (2) requesting an order declaring Plaintiff a vexatious litigant. (ECF No. 3.) Although the part of that motion which sought to dismiss Plaintiff's original complaint was mooted by virtue of Plaintiff's amended complaint, the latter portion pertaining to whether Plaintiff ought be declared a vexatious litigant remains pending before the Court. (ECF No. 8.) Later, on December 20, 2018, Kashl filed a motion to dismiss Plaintiff's first amended complaint, reiterating the arguments made in their earlier Rule 12(b)(1) motion as to Plaintiff's lack of standing. (ECF No. 9.)

I. Discussion

The two live motions before the Court revolve around a singular set of contentions.

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Bluebook (online)
362 F. Supp. 3d 864, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brooke-v-kashl-corp-casd-2019.