Doe v. Deer Mountain Day Camp, Inc.

682 F. Supp. 2d 324, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3265, 2010 WL 181373
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedJanuary 13, 2010
DocketCivil Action No. 07 Civ. 5495(DCP)
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 682 F. Supp. 2d 324 (Doe v. Deer Mountain Day Camp, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Doe v. Deer Mountain Day Camp, Inc., 682 F. Supp. 2d 324, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3265, 2010 WL 181373 (S.D.N.Y. 2010).

Opinion

DONALD C. POGUE, District Judge.

[Plaintiffs motion for summary judgment granted in part; Defendants’ motion for summary judgment denied; Plaintiffs action for injunctive relief and Defendants’ unclean hands defense dismissed.]

OPINION & ORDER

[331]*331POGUE, Judge:1 In this action, Plaintiff Adam Doe (“Plaintiff’ or “Adam”) claims that Defendants Deer Mountain Day Camp, Inc. (“DMDC”) and Deer Mountain Basketball Academy (“DMBA”) discriminated against him — in denying him admission to a basketball camp — on the basis of his disability, namely, his infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (“HIV”), in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101-213 (2000) (“ADA”)2 and the New York State Human Rights Law, N.Y. Exec. Law §§ 290-301 (2004) (“NYHRL”).

The court has jurisdiction over the ADA claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331; it has supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiffs state claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367.

Presently before the court are both parties’ motions for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. As will be explained further below, because Plaintiffs disability was a substantial factor in Defendants’ denial of Adam’s admission, and because Defendants failed to present any evidence of the objective reasonableness of their determination that Plaintiffs condition posed a threat to other campers, the court GRANTS, as to DMDC, Plaintiffs motion for declaratory relief. However, because the parties have not clarified the relationship between DMDC and DMBA, the court DENIES Plaintiffs motion as to DMBA at this time. In addition, because Plaintiff lacks standing to seek injunctive relief, the court DISMISSES Plaintiffs claim in that regard. The court also DENIES Defendants’ motion in its entirety, and DISMISSES Defendants’ affirmative defense of unclean hands.

I. Background

The parties disagree as to some of the facts at issue here; therefore, the court will endeavor to fairly set forth the disputed and undisputed evidence, addressing in turn DMDC’s and DMBA’s admission process, Adam’s background and application for admission to DMBA, and the relevant history of this litigation.

A. Deer Mountain Day Camp

DMDC, a camp regulated by the American Camp Association as well as the Rock-land County Department/ of Health, (Pl.’s Confidential Ex. C in Supp. of PL’s Mot. for Summ. J. (“PL’s Ex. C”), Roberta Katz3 Dep. 9, 11-12) accepts applications for admission from potential campers. This process requires that a potential camper pay an admission fee and submit a signed application, which includes both a “medical report” and a “camper medication form.”4 (PL’s Ex. C, Roberta Katz Dep. 13; PL’s Ex. E, [DMBA] 2004 Application 1-4.)5

The forms are subsequently reviewed by camp nurses,6 who are responsible for [332]*332health assessments of the prospective campers. (Pl.’s Ex. C, Roberta Katz Dep. 13-14.) Often DMDC nurses require some time, prior to the start of camp, to look into prospective campers’ medical conditions, as well as medications listed on a camper’s form, in order to determine how to keep the camper safe and to allow the camp staff to anticipate medical problems the child might have. (Id. 13-14, lb-16, 23-25.) If one of the nurses has a question, he or she will usually speak with a parent and, with the parent’s permission, with the doctor or a specialist. (Id. 41, 83-85; PL’s Ex. E, Ellen Gloskin 31, 37, 46.)7 DMDC will also inquire into medications in order to determine potential side effects as they relate to sun, exercise, and dehydration. (Id. 117-18.)

Accordingly, DMDC needs to receive applications before camp begins so as to have sufficient time to prepare camp facilities for all campers’ health needs. (Id. 37, 43-44.) It is unclear whether DMDC has a deadline for application submission, but DMDC does require that a camper provide a signed application and medical forms prior to the start of camp. (Id. 28-30, 37.) Yet it has happened that DMDC has accepted application forms on the first day of camp. (See id. 31-35.)

While DMDC’s application provides for the submission of medical information, DMDC has no policy regarding assessment of a child’s health and has no medical or admission standards; up until the events giving rise to this action, the camp had never denied admission to a child because of a medical condition.8 (Id. 14, 15, 41; PL’s Ex. E, Ellen Gloskin 44-45.)

At the same time, the camp uses “universal precautions,”9 and, at orientation, [333]*333prior to the summer months, the staff has training thereon. (Pl.’s Ex. C, Roberta Katz Dep. 107; PL’s Ex. E, Ellen Gloskin Dep. 26-27; PL’s Ex. D, Carol Katz Dep. 30.) Further, DMDC keeps its swimming pool properly chlorinated. (Pl.’s Ex. E, Ellen Gloskin Dep. 88-89.) But, during the time at issue here, the camp had no particular policies in place for HIV-positive children. (Pl.’s Ex. C, Roberta Katz Dep. 116.)

If “major” medical situations occur or when DMDC nurses have further questions or concerns during their review of applications for admission, DMDC consults Dr. William Bernstein,10 a local pediatrician who voluntarily offers the camp medical advice and information. (Pl.’s Ex. E, Ellen Gloskin Dep. 27-29; Pl.’s Ex. F, William Bernstein Dep. 9-10.)11 In this role, and when providing information to DMDC regarding certain of his patients wishing to attend the camp, Bernstein may inform DMDC and the camper’s family that he or she should not attend camp for medical reasons, and has recommended restrictions for children with certain disabilities or diseases. (Id. 37-38.) On medical forms submitted for his patients, Bernstein will discuss the child’s medical fitness to attend camp and potential side effects of medications that the child takes. (Id. 38-39.) However, Bernstein had never, prior to the events leading up to this lawsuit, called DMDC directly to report information on a child. (PL’s Ex. C., Roberta Katz Dep. 75.)

B. Deer Mountain Basketball Camp

Although DMBA took place at the DMDC facility, DMDC claims that it did not operate DMBA. (Id. 16-17.) Rather, Steve Loscher, DMBA director, worked as an “outside contractor.” (Id. 53.) For the most part, Loscher’s staff ran the basketball camp, but DMDC oversaw the DMBA applications process and provided health care personnel such as the lifeguard and nurses. (PL’s Ex. D, Carol Katz Dep. 11, 12; PL’s Ex. C, Roberta Katz Dep. 19.)

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Bluebook (online)
682 F. Supp. 2d 324, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3265, 2010 WL 181373, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/doe-v-deer-mountain-day-camp-inc-nysd-2010.