Twede v. Univ. of Wash.

309 F. Supp. 3d 886
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Washington
DecidedFebruary 13, 2018
DocketCASE NO. C16–1761JLR
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 309 F. Supp. 3d 886 (Twede v. Univ. of Wash.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Twede v. Univ. of Wash., 309 F. Supp. 3d 886 (W.D. Wash. 2018).

Opinion

JAMES L. ROBART, United States District Judge

I. INTRODUCTION

Before the court is Defendant University of Washington's ("UW")

*891Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss Plaintiffs Erik Twede, Barry Long, and Olivia Williams's first amended complaint. (See MTD (Dkt. # 32); see also FAC (Dkt. # 30).) The court has considered the motion, Plaintiffs' response (Resp. (Dkt. # 35) ), UW's reply (Reply (Dkt. # 36) ), the relevant portions of the record, and the applicable law. Being fully advised,1 the court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part the motion.

II. BACKGROUND

On November 14, 2016, Plaintiffs filed their original complaint alleging that 86 of UW's parking lots2 violate Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), 42 U.S.C. § 12131, et seq. , the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ("RA"), 29 U.S.C. § 794, and the Washington Law Against Discrimination ("WLAD"), RCW ch. 49.60. (Compl. (Dkt. # 1); see also FAC.) Plaintiffs allege that they "are individuals with mobility impairment disabilities." (See id. ¶ 5; see also FAC ¶ 5.) Mr. Twede alleges that he "uses a powerchair and modified van with a ramp for transportation." (Compl. ¶ 8; see also FAC ¶ 10.) Mr. Long and Ms. Williams both allege that they "use[ ] a manual wheelchair for transportation." (Compl. ¶¶ 15, 22; see also FAC ¶¶ 17, 24.) All three Plaintiffs allege they "require[ ] accessible parking and an accessible route to patronize places of public accommodation, such as the parking lots and facilities operated by [UW]." (Compl. ¶¶ 8, 15, 22; see also FAC ¶¶ 19, 17, 24.) In their complaint, Plaintiffs allege that "the vast majority of the parking lots" at UW "are not in compliance with the 1991 ADA standards and 2010 ADA standards." (Compl. ¶ 6; see also FAC ¶ 6.) Plaintiffs' complaint attaches 60 pages of exhibits which allegedly inventory problems with nearly every parking lot, such as the number of accessible and van accessible parking spots, the size and slope of the parking spaces and access aisles, and the presence, absence, or height of parking signage. (Compl. Exs. A-E; see also FAC Exs. A-E.)

On September 21, 2017, Plaintiffs filed a first amended complaint. (See FAC.) Plaintiffs' first amended complaint reiterates the parking lot allegations but adds new allegations that the parking lots and structures contain "accessible routes" to certain unidentified building entrances that "do not comply with 1991 and 2010 ADA standards." (Id. ¶ 6.) The first amended complaint also alleges that the parking lots contain "other forms of ADA non-compliance," including "inaccessible pay kiosks, insufficient/unsafe accessible routes, including ramps, curb ramps, paths of travel, and signage barriers." (Id. ) In addition, the first amended complaint alleges that UW violates the ADA by not ticketing vehicles parked in accessible spots which lack a disabled parking permit, and by issuing disabled parking permits to persons who do not have "state-issued disabled parking placards." (Id. ¶¶ 7-8, 54-55.) Like Plaintiffs' original complaint, the first amended complaint raises claims under Title II of the ADA, the RA, and the WLAD (id. ¶¶ 56-85) and seeks only declaratory and injunctive relief (id. § VII).

Mr. Twede alleges that he regularly travels to UW Medical Center and "encounter[s] a number of barriers to access" at the " 'Triangle' (C20 and C21) and 'Surgery *892Pavillion' (UMSP) parking lots," which are located near the UW Medical Center. (Id. ¶¶ 11-14.) He alleges that he has "patronized these parking lots in the past and intends to do so in the future." (Id. ¶ 15.) He does not allege that he has visited or attempted to visit any of the other 86 UW parking lots mentioned in the first amended complaint. (See generally id. ) He asserts, however, that he "has knowledge of ... accessibility barriers at each [UW] campus parking facility alleged in [the first amended] complaint and exhibits which he has either encountered personally or is specifically aware of." (Id. ¶ 16.) Finally, he alleges that "he is and will continue to be dissuaded from using these other UW parking facilities." (Id. )

Ms. Williams claims that she is a sophomore at UW and regularly travels to UW for classes. (Id. ¶ 25.) Similar to Mr. Twede, Ms. Williams alleges that she "has encountered a number of barriers to access" at the "N22" and "W35" parking lots, which are "popular places to park for students attending classes and civic, social, and entertainment events at UW." (Id. ¶¶ 26-28.) She alleges that she has "patronized these parking lots in the past and intends to continue to do so in the future." (Id. ¶ 29.) She does not claim to have visited or attempted to visit any of the other 86 UW parking lots mentioned in the first amended complaint. (See generally id. ) Like Mr. Twede, she asserts that she "has knowledge of ... accessibility barriers at each [UW] campus parking facility alleged in [the first amended] complaint and exhibits which she has either encountered personally or is specifically aware of." (Id. ¶ 16.) Finally, she alleges that "she is and will continue to be dissuaded from using these other UW parking facilities." (Id. )

Mr. Long alleges that he regularly travels to UW for Spinal Cord Injury Forum meetings, medical appointments, speaking engagements, business meetings, social activities, and sporting events. (Id. ¶ 18.) Mr. Long alleges that he has patronized 32 parking lots at UW3 and intends to do so in the future. (Id. ¶¶ 19, 21.) Unlike the other two Plaintiffs, Mr. Long does not say that he has personally encountered any barriers to access at any of UW's parking facilities. (See id. ¶¶ 17-22.) Instead, he alleges generally that he "has knowledge of ... accessibility barriers at each [UW] parking facility alleged in [the first amended] complaint and exhibits which he has either encountered personally or of which he is specifically aware." (Id.

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309 F. Supp. 3d 886, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/twede-v-univ-of-wash-wawd-2018.