Jankey v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.

14 F. Supp. 2d 1174, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17748, 1998 WL 476407
CourtDistrict Court, C.D. California
DecidedAugust 6, 1998
DocketCV 97-8948 LGB (AJWx)
StatusPublished
Cited by25 cases

This text of 14 F. Supp. 2d 1174 (Jankey v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, C.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Jankey v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., 14 F. Supp. 2d 1174, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17748, 1998 WL 476407 (C.D. Cal. 1998).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS CONVERTED TO MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND DISMISSING PLAINTIFF’S STATE LAW CLAIMS

BAIRD, District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Defendant’s motion to dismiss, converted by this Court into a motion for summary judgment on the issue of whether Twentieth Century Fox film studio is a “public accommodation” covered by the ADA, came on regularly for hearing on August 3, 1998. Having carefully considered the papers submitted and oral argument of counsel, the Court hereby GRANTS summary judgment in favor of defendant. As the only remaining claims are state law claims, this Court DECLINES to exercise supplemental jurisdiction, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3), and DISMISSES the remaining claims.

This case arises from the alleged inaccessibility to disabled persons of the facilities of defendant Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation’s (“Fox”) film studio.

On December 4, 1997, plaintiff Les Jankey (“Jankey”) filed his Complaint, alleging (1) violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) (42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.); (2) breach of Cal. Health and Safety Code § 19955; (3) violation of Cal.Civ.Code §§ 54, 54.1, 54.3 et seq.; and (4) violation of Cal.Civil Code §§ 51, 51.5. The jurisdiction of this Court is based on 28 U.S.C. § 1331 (federal question), specifically, 42 U.S.C. § 12182.

On February 6,1998, defendant Fox filed a Motion to Dismiss and in the Alternative, Motion to Strike, plaintiff Jankey’s Complaint. On March 2, 1998, Jankey filed an Opposition. On March 9, 1998, Fox filed a Reply. Fox’s motion to dismiss was brought primarily on the basis that the Fox film studio is not a place of public accommodation, and therefore not subject to the ADA. Evidence outside the pleadings was presented.

The Court wished to consider the outside evidence. Should plaintiffs ADA claim be dismissed, federal jurisdiction over this case would then be absent, and the supplemental state law claims would be subject to dismissal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3). On this basis, by Minute Order March 11, 1998, the motion to dismiss was converted to a motion for summary judgment on the issue of whether the Twentieth Century Fox film studio is covered by the ADA as a “public accommodation.” The parties were permitted to file evidence on or before March 23, 1998 on this issue.

*1177 On March 23, 1998, Fox filed a Statement of Uncontroverted Facts and Conclusions of Law, and several supporting declarations. Plaintiff Jankey, however, rather than filing evidence, filed a “Response to and Request That The Court Strike The Court’s Minute Order That Defendant’s Motion To Dismiss Will Be Treated As A Motion for Summary Adjudication, Or, In The Alternative, To Oppose The Motion For Summary Adjudication,” on March 23, 1998. Defendant filed a “Response to Plaintiff’s Request” on March 23, 1998. Plaintiff filed a “Response to Defendant’s Reply [Response],” on March 30, 1998. In plaintiffs Response, plaintiff presented a motion pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(f). That motion was denied by Minute Order March 31,1998, because it was unsupported by a declaration as required by Nidds v. Schindler Elevator Corp., 103 F.3d 854, 862 (9th Cir.1996) and Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(f). However, plaintiff was granted leave to file a Rule 56(f) motion in conformity with the Federal Rules on or before April 7, 1998. Plaintiff did so, and plaintiff’s Rule 56(f) motion was granted by Minute Order issued April 22, 1998. Pursuant to the April 22-, 1998 Minute Order, plaintiff’s Supplemental Opposition was to be filed on or before June 29,1998.

Plaintiff’s Supplemental Opposition was filed June 29,1998. Although plaintiffs original Complaint identified at least twelve allegedly offending sites at the Fox film studio, as well as others “too numerous to list herein” (Compl. ¶ 25), plaintiff’s Supplemental Opposition identifies just “three sites owned by [Fox] that are public accommodations,” the Commissary, the Studio Store, and the ATM. (Supp. Opp. 2:7-11.) However, these three sites are all located within the lot. Therefore, although Jankey’s Supplemental Opposition makes clear that Jankey is contending that these three sites are the only sites on the Fox studio lot which he is alleging violate the ADA, the proper analysis of the three sites also requires an analysis of the lot itself. (Supp. Opp. 2:7-16.) Nevertheless, plaintiff is considered to have waived any claim that any other sites violate the ADA, and this Memorandum addresses the lot itself only in order to properly address whether any of the three.specific sites are “public accommodations” covered by the ADA. 1

On June 29, 1998, Fox filed an Ex Parte application seeking an extension of the deadline for filing its own Supplemental Reply, otherwise due July 6, 1998. The Ex Parte application was granted on July 6, 1998, extending the deadline until July 20, 1998. Fox’s Supplemental Reply was filed July 21, 1998. 2

II. APPLICABLE LEGAL STANDARDS

A. Motion for Summary Judgment

Summary judgment shall be granted if the evidence supporting the motion for summary judgment shows that “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). A party moving for summary judgment may carry its initial burden by pointing out to the district court that there' is an absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). “The plain language of Rule 56(c) mandates the entry of summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, 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, 477 U.S. at 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548. If the non-moving party bears the burden of proof at trial, the moving party may carry its burden by showing an absence of evidence to support the non-moving party’s case. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548.

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Bluebook (online)
14 F. Supp. 2d 1174, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17748, 1998 WL 476407, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jankey-v-twentieth-century-fox-film-corp-cacd-1998.