Deck v. City of Toledo

76 F. Supp. 2d 816, 10 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 155, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17854, 1999 WL 1051641
District Court, N.D. Ohio·Decided November 19, 1999·No. 3:98 CV 7451·Published·Cited by 7 cases

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

KATZ, District Judge.

This matter is before the Court on Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment. For the following reasons, Plaintiffs’ motion will be granted in part and denied in part.

Background

On August 8, 1998, Plaintiffs, seven individuals with mobility impairments, filed this action against the City of Toledo, Ohio and its mayor, (collectively, “the City”) seeking to enforce compliance with the standards for curb ramps set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and its accompanying regulations. See 42 U.S.C. § 12132; 28 C.F.R. pt. 36, app. A. Plaintiffs allege that the City has repeatedly failed to comply with the federal regulations requiring it to install curb ramps and otherwise to make streets, roads, sidewalks, intersections and other facilities accessible whenever it alters or resurfaces such facilities. See 28 C.F.R. § 35.151(b) & (e). Plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief, damages, costs, and fees.

On November 20, 1998, this Court found that Plaintiffs were likely to prevail on the merits of their claims and entered a preliminary injunction ordering Defendants to bring thirteen listed ramps into compliance with the ADA. On November 18, 1999, the Court certified the action as a Fed. R.Civ.P. 23(b)(2) class action.

Plaintiffs have filed a motion for summary judgment finding that (1) Defendants have repeatedly failed to install curb ramps where required or have installed defective curb ramps in each of the years at issue; and (2) Defendants lack policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with the ADA. They have requested a permanent injunction requiring the City to: (1) identify all intersections where sidewalks have been reconstructed or streets resurfaced since 1992; (2) inspect and report to Plaintiffs the precise location of all ramps that fail to conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (“ADAAG”) or where ramps are absent; (3) set out a plan to repair, replace, or install acceptable curb ramps at these locations according to a time table set by the Court after consultation with the parties; (4) implement and adhere to a uniform system designed to ensure compliance with the ADAAG in the future; and (5) submit periodic reports to Plaintiffs detailing progress in identifying and correcting the defective ramps.

Previously in this case, Defendants sought dismissal of all claims arising more than two years prior to the date on which Plaintiffs brought suit, arguing that the applicable two-year statute of limitations barred those claims. The Court denied that motion, holding that the continuing violation doctrine applied to Plaintiffs’ claims, so that relief for violations occurring prior to the onset of the limitations period was not barred. Upon Defendants’ motion, the Court certified that holding for immediate appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b). Thus, the briefing on the motion that is now at bar addresses only Plaintiffs’ claims arising on or after May 6, 1996.

The two issues before the Court are whether, as a matter of law, Defendants have repeatedly failed to install curb ramps that comply with the ADA since *818 May 6, 1996, and whether Defendants have violated the ADA by failing to promulgate and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with the ADA. Defendants have filed opposition to Plaintiffs’ motion, and Plaintiffs have replied thereto. The Court addresses the parties’ contentions below.

Discussion

A Summary Judgment Standard

As an initial matter, the Court sets forth the relative burdens of the parties once a motion for summary judgment is made. Summary judgment must be entered “against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Of course, the moving party always bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of “the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any,” which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Id. at 323, 106 S.Ct. at 2553. The burden then shifts to the nonmoving party who “must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 250, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2511, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986) (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e)).

Once the burden of production has so shifted, the party opposing summary judgment cannot rest on its pleadings or merely reassert its previous allegations. It is not sufficient “simply [to] show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 1356, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). Rather, Rule 56(e) “requires the nonmov-ing party to go beyond the [unverified] pleadings” and present some type of evi-dentiary material in support of its position. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324, 106 S.Ct. at 2553. Summary judgment shall be rendered if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(c).

B. Violations of ADA after May 6, 1996

Plaintiffs first move for a ruling that Defendants, as a matter of law, repeatedly failed to install curb ramps that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines since May 6, 1996. The ADAAG set forth certain requirements for curb ramps on all newly constructed or altered streets, roads, highways, and pedestrian walkways. 28 C.F.R § 35.151(e). Curb ramps must be provided wherever an accessible route crosses a curb. 28 C.F.R. pt. 36, app. A, 4.7.2. The slope of any such curb ramps cannot exceed 1:12. 28 C.F.R. pt. 36, app. A, 4.7.2 & 4.8.2. Any transition from the ramp to a walk, gutter, or street must be flush. 28 C.F.R. pt. 36, app. A, 4.7.2.

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Deck v. City of Toledo, 76 F. Supp. 2d 816, 10 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 155, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17854, 1999 WL 1051641 (N.D. Ohio 1999).

76 F. Supp. 2d 816 (Deck v. City of Toledo) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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