Metcalf v. TRA-MINW PS

• Court: District Court, W.D. Washington
• Decided: October 3, 2024
• Docket: 3:24-cv-05288
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

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5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT TACOMA 9 10 MIRACLE METCALF, CASE NO. 3:24-CV-5288-DWC 11 Plaintiff, v. ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO 12 DISMISS TRA-MINW PS dba TRA MEDICAL 13 IMAGING, et al., 14 Defendants.

15 Currently before the Court is Defendant TRA-MINW PS’s Motion to Dismiss, which has 16 been joined by Defendant TRA-MINW JV LLC. Dkts. 8, 19.1 After review of the relevant 17 record, the Court concludes Plaintiff Miracle Metcalf has not stated a claim upon which relief 18 can be granted. Accordingly, Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 8) is granted. 19 I. Background 20 On April 15, 2024, Metcalf filed this lawsuit alleging TRA-MINW PS denied her 21 services because she would not wear a face mask, violating the Americans with Disabilities Act 22 23 1 Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 73 and Local Rule MJR 13, the parties 24 have consented to have this matter heard by the undersigned Magistrate Judge. Dkt. 11. 1 (“ADA”), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“§ 504”), and the Washington Law Against 2 Discrimination (“WLAD”). Dkt. 1. Metcalf also alleges a state law outrage claim. Id. On August 3 1, 2024, Defendant TRA-MINW PS filed the Motion to Dismiss. Dkt. 8. Defendant TRA-MINW 4 JV LLC joined the Motion to Dismiss on August 20, 2024. Dkt. 18. On September 17, 2024,

5 Defendants filed a reply, noting Metcalf had not responded to the Motion to Dismiss. Dkt. 20. 6 Metcalf filed an untimely response later that same day. Dkts. 21, 23. Because Metcalf is 7 proceeding pro se, the Court determined it would consider her untimely response and gave 8 Defendants an opportunity to file a supplemental reply. See Dkt. 24. Defendants filed the 9 supplemental reply on September 30, 2024. Dkt. 25. 10 II. Surreply 11 On October 2, 2024, Metcalf filed a surreply. Dkt. 26. This is not a proper filing and the 12 Court declines to consider it. Pursuant to Local Rule Civil Rule 7(g), surreplies are limited to 13 requests to strike material contained in or attached to a reply brief. “Extraneous argument or a 14 surreply filed for any other reason will not be considered.” Id; see also Herrnandez v. Stryker

15 Corp., 2015 WL 11714363, at *2 (W.D. Wash. Mar. 13, 2015). Plaintiff does not request to 16 strike material contained in Defendants’ supplemental reply; rather, she provides additional 17 argument. See Dkt. 26. Therefore, the Court directs the Clerk to strike Plaintiff’s surreply (Dkt. 18 26). The Court will not consider Docket Entry 26 in ruling on Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss. 19 III. Legal Standard 20 A defendant may move for dismissal when a plaintiff “fails to state a claim upon which 21 relief can be granted.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). To grant a motion to dismiss, the Court must be 22 able to conclude that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, even after 23 accepting all factual allegations in the complaint as true and construing them in the light most

24 1 favorable to the non-moving party. Fleming v. Pickard, 581 F.3d 922, 925 (9th Cir. 2009). To 2 survive a motion to dismiss, a plaintiff must merely cite facts supporting a “plausible” cause of 3 action. Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555–56 (2007). A claim has “facial 4 plausibility” when the party seeking relief “pleads factual content that allows the court to draw

5 the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. 6 Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 672 (2009). Although the Court must accept as true a complaint’s well- 7 pleaded facts, conclusory allegations of law and unwarranted inferences will not defeat an 8 otherwise proper Rule 12(b)(6) motion. Vasquez v. L.A. County, 487 F.3d 1246, 1249 (9th Cir. 9 2007). 10 IV. Discussion 11 In the Motion to Dismiss, Defendants assert Metcalf’s claims should be dismissed 12 because she has failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Dkts. 8, 19. 13 A. Factual Background 14 Taking the facts alleged in the Complaint as true, Metcalf arrived at TRA Medical

15 Imaging2 in Gig, Harbor, Washington on April 20, 2021, for an ultrasound. Dkt. 1 at ¶ 6. A TRA 16 employee performed an initial COVID-19 screening and Metcalf answered “no” to every 17 question. Id. The employee provided Metcalf with a mask to wear and Metcalf responded that 18 she could not wear a mask due to a medical condition. Id. at ¶ 7. Metcalf suffers from post- 19 traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”). Id. at ¶ 8. The employee notified Metcalf that she could have 20 a face shield. Id. at ¶ 7. Metcalf attempted to wear the face shield, but the band of the face shield 21 was constricting and difficult to put on due to Metcalf’s prescription glasses and the effects of 22 PTSD. Id. at ¶ 8. Metcalf put the face shield on upside down. Id. at ¶ 9. 23 2 For clarity, the Court will refer to TRA Medical Imaging, TRA-MINW PS and TRA-MINW JV simply as 24 “TRA,” unless otherwise noted. 1 A TRA employee confronted Metcalf and told her she needed to wear the face shield so it 2 wrapped around her forehead. Id. Metcalf responded that she could not place it around her head 3 due to a medical condition. Id. Metcalf states that the employee continued to badger Metcalf to 4 wear the face shield around her forehead. Id. at ¶ 10. Metcalf explained to the employee that she

5 has PTSD and wearing the face shield around her forehead would cause an anxiety attack and 6 interfere with her prescription glasses. Id. at ¶¶ 10-11. Metcalf stated she was wearing the face 7 shield in a manner that covered her nose and mouth. Id. at ¶ 11. 8 Metcalf states the employee continued the “verbal assault,” causing Metcalf’s heart to 9 pound and the feeling of an imminent anxiety attack. Id. at ¶ 12. The employee told Metcalf she 10 could wear the face shield high on her forehead. Id. Metcalf, shaking and sobbing, again said she 11 could not due to her PTSD. Id. At that point, the employee directed Metcalf to leave. Id. Metcalf 12 “ripped off the face shield and quickly left the building, sobbing and shaking.” Id. at ¶ 13. 13 Metcalf’s husband then called TRA and an employee on the phone denied the incident 14 occurred. Id. Metcalf states the employee stated, however, that she would deny Metcalf services

15 because of her disability. Id. Three days later, a TRA employee contacted Metcalf’s husband and 16 offered to make Metcalf an appointment at another TRA location where Metcalf could have the 17 procedure done without wearing a mask. Id. at ¶ 14. The alternative location was an hour away 18 and over a toll bridge; Metcalf declined because of the severe emotional distress already caused 19 by TRA. Id. 20 B. Standing 21 Defendants first assert Metcalf’s ADA claim fails because Metcalf lacks standing. Dkt. 8 22 at 5. In the Complaint, Metcalf raises a claim under Title III of the ADA. Dkt. 1. Title III of the 23 ADA prohibits discrimination against disabled individuals in any place of public

24 1 accommodation. 42 U.S.C. § 12182. “No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of 2 disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, 3 or accommodations of any place of public accommodation ....” 42 U.S.C. § 12182(a). “Under 4 Title III of the ADA (public accommodations and services operated by private entities), equitable

5 relief in the form of an injunction is the only remedy available to private parties. Washington v. 6 Salinas Valley State Prison, 2023 WL 2588179, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 20, 2023). 7 Because Title III contemplates only injunctive relief, a plaintiff must “establish a 8 sufficient future injury by alleging that they are either currently deterred from visiting the place 9 of public accommodation because of a barrier, or that they were previously deterred and that they 10 intend to return to the place of public accommodation, where they are likely to reencounter the 11 barrier. Langer v. Kiser, 57 F.4th 1085, 1094 (9th Cir. 2023) (citing Chapman v. Pier 1 Imports 12 (U.S.) Inc., 631 F.3d 939, 944 (9th Cir. 2011)). To determine whether a plaintiff’s likelihood of 13 returning to a place of public accommodation is sufficient to confer standing, courts examine 14 factors such as “(1) the proximity of defendant’s business to plaintiff’s residence, (2) plaintiff’s

15 past patronage of defendant’s business, (3) the definitiveness of plaintiff’s plans to return, and 16 (4)the plaintiff’s frequency of travel near defendant.” Johnson v. Overlook at Blue Ravine, LLC, 17 2012 WL 2993890, at *3 (E.D. Cal. 2012) (collecting cases). 18 Here, Metcalf does not provide any allegations to sufficiently allege a future injury. See 19 Dkt. 1. She now lives in Texas; thus, Metcalf’s residence is not close in proximity to TRA 20 locations. Further, Metcalf does not allege she currently deterred from visiting TRA because of 21 the alleged barrier. While she states that she did not accept an alternative accommodation, 22 Metcalf has not stated she has any intention of returning to TRA, she does not travel near TRA 23 locations, and she received the medical procedure – an ultrasound -- at a different location on

24 1 April 28, 2021. See Dkt. 1 at ¶ 15. The Court also notes Metcalf does not allege TRA continues 2 to require masking now that mask mandates have been lifted. As Metcalf has not shown 3 sufficient future injury, she lacks standing to bring an ADA claim. See Grechko v. Calistoga Spa, 4 Inc., 2022 WL 298571, at *5 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 1, 2022) (finding the plaintiffs did not demonstrate

5 a likelihood of repeated injury as required to establish standing under Title III of the ADA). 6 C. Failure to State an ADA, § 504, or WLAD Claim 7 Defendants also allege Metcalf has failed to state a claim under the ADA, § 504, and 8 WLAD. Dkt. 8. 9 To prevail on her ADA claim, Metcalf must show that “(1) [she is] disabled within the 10 meaning of the ADA; (2) the defendant is a private entity that owns, leases, or operates a place of 11 public accommodation; and (3) [she] was denied public accommodations by the defendant 12 because of [her] disability.” Molski v. M.J. Cable, Inc., 481 F.3d 724, 730 (9th Cir. 2007) (citing 13 42 U.S.C. §§ 12182(a)-(b)). A defendant discriminates based on the plaintiff’s disability by “(a) 14 failing to make a requested reasonable modification that was (b) necessary to accommodate the

15 plaintiff’s disability.” Mora v. Burn & Plastic Hand Clinic, 2023 WL 7128855, at *3 (W.D. 16 Wash. Oct. 30, 2023); see Townsend v. Quasim, 328 F.3d 511, 518 (9th Cir. 2003) (“As the 17 regulatory language makes clear, entities are required only to make reasonable changes in 18 existing policies in order to accommodate individuals’ disabilities.” (emphasis in original)). 19 To establish a claim under § 504 (the Rehabilitation Act), Metcalf must show: (1) she is a 20 qualified individual with a disability; (2) she was denied a reasonable accommodation that she 21 needs in order to enjoy meaningful access to the benefits of public services; and (3) the program 22 providing the benefit receives federal financial funding. Csutoras v. Paradise High School, 12 23 F.4th 960, 968 (9th Cir. 2021). Additionally, because Metcalf is a private plaintiff seeking

24 1 monetary damages, she must prove a “mens rea of intentional discrimination in the failure to 2 accommodate, which may be met by showing deliberate indifference.” Id. at 969 (cleaned up). 3 “Deliberate indifference requires both knowledge that a harm to a federally protected right is 4 substantially likely, and a failure to act upon that likelihood.” Id. (quoting Duvall v. Cnty. of

5 Kitsap, 260 F.3d 1124, 1139 (9th Cir. 2001) (internal quotations omitted)). 6 “To make out a prima facie case under the WLAD for discrimination in the public 7 accommodations context, the plaintiff must establish four elements: (1) that the plaintiff is a 8 member of a protected class; (2) that the defendant is a place of public accommodation; (3) that 9 the defendant discriminated against the plaintiff, whether directly or indirectly; and (4) that the 10 discrimination occurred ‘because of’ the plaintiff’s status or, in other words, that the protected 11 status was a substantial factor causing the discrimination.” State v. Arlene’s Flowers, Inc., 193 12 Wash. 2d 469, 501–02, 441 P.3d 1203, 1220 (2019) (cleaned up). 13 The allegations show TRA directed Metcalf to wear to face mask because of the mask 14 mandate and the Covid-19 pandemic. Metcalf declined because of a “medical condition.” TRA

15 offered Metcalf an accommodation for the face mask – a face shield. Metcalf again stated she 16 could not wear the face shield because of a medical condition, eventually telling the TRA 17 employee she had PTSD. After declining to wear the face mask and declining the 18 accommodation – wearing a face shield correctly --, Metcalf was told TRA could not provide her 19 with services that day. Three days later, TRA called Metcalf and provided an additional 20 accommodation. TRA offered to reschedule Metcalf for an appointment where she could be 21 maskless. This alternative appointment was located an hour from Metcalf and required Metcalf 22 to drive over a toll bridge. Looking at the allegations in the Complaint, Metcalf has alleged TRA 23 provided her with two different accommodations. While Metcalf declined the accommodations,

24 1 she fails to allege facts showing she was denied a reasonable accommodation or that TRA 2 intentionally discriminated against Metcalf because of her disability. 3 Additionally, the ADA explicitly states that “[n]othing in this subchapter shall require an 4 entity to permit an individual to participate in or benefit from the goods, services, facilities,

5 privileges, advantages and accommodations of such entity where such individual poses a direct 6 threat to the health or safety of others.” 42 U.S.C. § 12182(b)(3). “The ADA’s direct threat 7 provision stems from the recognition ... of the importance of prohibiting discrimination against 8 individuals with disabilities while protecting others from significant health and safety risks, 9 resulting, for instance, from a contagious disease.” Bragdon v. Abbott, 524 U.S. 624, 649 (1998). 10 “‘In determining whether an individual poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, a 11 public entity must make an individualized assessment, based on reasonable judgment that relies 12 on current medical knowledge or on the best available objective evidence.’” Chadam v. Palo 13 Alto Unified Sch. Dist., 666 F. App’x 615, 617 (9th Cir. 2016) (quoting 28 C.F.R. § 35.139); see 14 also Ewers v. Columbia Medical Clinic, 2023 WL 5629796, at *6 (D. Oregon, Aug. 31, 2023).

15 The direct-threat defense also applies to § 504 and a similar provision is contained in the WLAD. 16 See id. (analyzing district court’s application of the “direct threat” defense in both an ADA and § 17 504 claim); Felix v. Wisconsin Dep't of Transportation, 828 F.3d 560, 569 (7th Cir. 2016) 18 (noting the direct-threat defense has been incorporated into the Rehabilitation Act); RCW § 19 49.60.215. 20 Defendants assert the ADA claims should be dismissed because TRA found Metcalf’s 21 refusal to wear a proper face covering posed a risk to other patients and TRA employees. See 22 Dkt. 8. As stated above, the Court recognizes that this threat defense also applies to § 504 and 23

24 1 WLAD claims.3 The Court will therefore analyze whether the ADA, § 504, and WLAD claims 2 should also be dismissed because Metcalf posed a threat to others. 3 Metcalf contends that her disability prevented her from wearing a face mask or the 4 alternative accommodation, a face shield. Dkt. 1. Metcalf was then asked to leave the TRA

5 location. Later, TRA offered Metcalf an (apparently maskless) appointment at a different 6 location. Id. Regardless of whether the appointment at a different facility that would not require 7 her to wear a mask was a reasonable accommodation, TRA assessed Metcalf and found her 8 refusal to wear a face covering properly presented a risk of harm to others. 9 The Complaint alleges that, at the time Metcalf refused to properly wear a face covering, 10 Defendants were aware that there was a statewide mask mandate in place requiring everyone, 11 with some exceptions, to wear face coverings in public indoor settings. See Dkt. 1. As Metcalf 12 refused to properly wear a face covering, Defendants assessed that Metcalf’s desire to be treated 13 unmasked (or improperly masked) posed a direct threat to other patients and employees. 14 Therefore, Defendants have shown the “direct threat” defense applies to Metcalf’s discrimination

15 claims. See Ewers, 2023 WL 5629796 at *6 (granting motion to dismiss and finding the 16 defendants showed the direct threat defense applied when a patient refused to wear a mask 17 during Covid-19 when a mask mandate was in effect); Doscher v. Timberland Regional Library, 18 2022 WL 1766907, *6 (W.D. Wash., Dec. 14, 2022) (granting summary judgment where the 19 defendant showed direct threat defense applied because defendant made an individualized 20 assessment that a patron who entered the library without a mask during the pandemic posed a 21 22 23 3 While Defendants did not clearly articulate that the § 504 and WLAD claims should be dismissed based on the threat defense, the Court finds the Motion to Dismiss puts Metcalf on notice of this argument and she was 24 provided with opportunity to respond, but did not. 1 direct threat to the health and safety of others). Accordingly, Defendants have shown the direct 2 threat defense applies to Metcalf’s ADA, § 504, and WLAD claims. 3 For all the above stated reasons, the Motion is granted as to Metcalf’s discrimination 4 claims under the ADA, § 504, and WLAD.

5 D. Outrage 6 Finally, Defendants assert Metcalf’s outrage claim must be dismissed for failure to state a 7 claim. Dkt. 8. The elements of the tort of outrage (also known as intentional infliction of 8 emotional distress) are (1) extreme and outrageous conduct, (2) intentional or reckless infliction 9 of emotional distress, and (3) the claimant actually suffers severe emotional distress. Kloepfel v. 10 Bokor, 149 Wash.2d 192, 195 (2003). “The conduct must be such that the recitation of the facts 11 to an average member of the community would arouse his resentment against the actor and lead 12 him to exclaim ‘Outrageous!’ ” Lemelson v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 2022 WL 4774282, at *3 13 (W.D. Wash. Oct. 3, 2022) (quoting Kloepfel, 66 P.3d at 632 (internal quotations omitted). “The 14 law intervenes only where the distress inflicted is so severe that no reasonable person could be

15 expected to endure it.” Saldivar, 145 Wash. App. at 390. “[T]he tort of outrage does not extend 16 to mere insults, indignities, threats, annoyances, petty oppressions, or other trivialities because 17 the law expects plaintiffs to be hardened to a certain degree of rough language, unkindness and 18 lack of consideration.” Lemelson, 2022 WL 4774282 at * 3 (cleaned up). 19 Here, Metcalf alleges that she went to a medical appointment and was asked to wear a 20 face mask when a mask mandate was in effect. Dkt. 1. Metcalf refused the face mask because of 21 a medical condition. She then refused to correctly wear a face shield because of her medical 22 condition. She alleges the TRA employee verbally assaulted her; however, the allegations show 23 that the employee merely continually asked Metcalf to wear the face covering correctly. See id.

24 1 When Metcalf refused, the employee stated that Metcalf could not be in the office. Id. at ¶ 12. 2 Metcalf then left. 3 These facts do no give rise to conduct that is so outrageous or extreme as to “as to go 4 beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in

5 a civilized community.” Grimsby v. Samson, 530 P.2d 291, 295 (Wash. 1975). Continually 6 asking Metcalf to wear the face shield correctly and then telling her that she could not be at TRA 7 during the Covid-19 pandemic is not enough to plausibly allege that TRA’s employee’s conduct 8 met the threshold required to state an outrage claim. Accordingly, the Motion is granted as to 9 Metcalf’s outrage claim. 10 V. Conclusion 11 For the above stated reasons, Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 8) is granted. The 12 Court finds leave to amend is not appropriate in this case because it is improbable Metcalf can 13 cure the deficiencies of her Complaint. Therefore, the Complaint is dismissed and this case is 14 closed.

15 Dated this 3rd day of October, 2024. 16 A 17 David W. Christel United States Magistrate Judge 18 19 20 21 22 23 24