West v. LQ Management, LLC

156 F. Supp. 3d 1361, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 174472, 2015 WL 9684736
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Florida
DecidedOctober 30, 2015
DocketCASE NO. 14-23087-CIV-ALTONAGA/O’Sullivan
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 156 F. Supp. 3d 1361 (West v. LQ Management, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
West v. LQ Management, LLC, 156 F. Supp. 3d 1361, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 174472, 2015 WL 9684736 (S.D. Fla. 2015).

Opinion

ORDER

CECILIA M. ALTONAGA, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

THIS CAUSE came before the Court upon two motions for summary judgment (collectively, “Motions”). Defendant, DEV Hospitality, Inc. (“DEV”), filed a Motion for Summary Judgment ... (“DEV Motion”) [ECF No. 48] on August 25, 2015. Plaintiffs, Gwendolyn West (‘West”), Marla Spence (“Marla”), and Vincent Spence (“Vincent”) (collectively, “Plaintiffs”), filed a Response ... (“DEV Response”) [ECF No. 64] on September 8, 2015; DEV filed a Reply ... (“DEV Reply”) [ECF No. 67] on September 18, 2015. Defendants, LQ Management, LLC (“LQM”) and La Quin-ta Franchising, LLC (“LQF”) (collectively, “LQ”) filed a Motion for Summary Judgment ... (“LQ Motion”) [ECF No. 65] on September 11, 2015. Plaintiffs filed a Response ... (“LQ Response”) [ECF No. 71] on September 28, 2015; LQ filed a Reply ... (“LQ Reply”) [ECF No. 72] on October 8, 2015. The Court has carefully con[1364]*1364sidered the parties’ written submissions,1 the record, and applicable law.

I. BACKGROUND

This case arises out of an incident at a hotel in Clearwater, Florida (the “Hotel” or “Clearwater South”), that ultimately resulted in police involvement and Plaintiffs being forced to leave the Hotel allegedly because of their race. (See generally Complaint [ECF No. 1]). Plaintiffs are an African American family. {See id. ¶ 1). DEV is a La Quinta franchisee and operates the Hotel. {See DEV SMF ¶ 2). LQM manages and operates La Quinta hotels throughout North America. {See Compl. ¶ 5). LQF is a separate entity— albeit one which shares the same headquarters {see id. ¶¶ 6-7) and at least some employees and executives with LQM {see LQ SMF Resp. ¶¶ 24-33) — that directly franchises La Quinta brand hotels to entities such as and including DEV {see Compl. ¶ 6; LQ SMF ¶ 3).

On April 26, 2014, West and her two adult children, Marla and Vincent, traveled to Clearwater so Marla — the then — reigning Ms. South Florida — could participate in a beauty pageant. {See Compl. ¶¶ 2-4, 29). When Plaintiffs arrived at the Hotel, where they had previously made a reservation, they learned their room was not yet ready but would be soon. {See DEV SMF ¶ 3). While they waited, Marla and Vincent went to the business center; West remained speaking with the employee at the front desk, Nancy Saucedo (“Sauce-do”). {See LQ SMF ¶ 10).

According to Plaintiffs, neither Marla nor Vincent did anything objectionable in the business center. {See DEV SMF Resp. ¶¶ 24-34). Defendants’ versions of the events assert Marla and/or Vincent were violating un-posted rules by playing music out loud, downloading impermissible materials, using wireless internet in an inconvenient area, and/or preventing other people from using the business center. {See DEV SMF ¶ 9; LQ SMF ¶¶ 14-16; LQ SMF Resp. ¶¶ 14-16). The parties also dispute whether Plaintiffs’ luggage was taking up space in the business center or was still in their ear {see Dep. of Erica Ayler (“Ayler Deposition”) [ECF No. 63-5] 12:11-15; Deck of Vincent Spence [ECF No. 63-3] ¶ 46), although it is undisputed one of the reasons West remained with Saucedo at the front desk was to obtain a luggage cart {see LQ SMF ¶ 12).

West checked in, paid for the room with a credit card, and was given keys to Plaintiffs’ room. {See DEV SMF Resp. ¶¶ 11-12). A short time later, Mukund Patel (“Patel”), a principal member of DEV and owner of the Hotel, arrived and entered the lobby. {See DEV SMF ¶ 2; LQ SMF ¶ 13). Patel briefly spoke with Saucedo {see Compl. ¶ 41), asking a question West was unable to overhear but in response to which Saucedo pointed to West {see DEV Resp. 4). Patel then either went straight to the business center {see id.) or went to the business center after speaking with Erica Ayler (“Ayler”).2 {See LQ SMF ¶ 16).

[1365]*1365The parties dispute much of what happened in the business center, but it is undisputed Patel began yelling at Marla and Vincent for being in or misusing the business center. (See LQ SMF ¶ 17). West subsequently entered the room because she heard a “loud voice coming from the business center” (id. ¶ 18 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)), and she began to argue with Patel “after the disturbance began” (DEV SMF ¶ 9). Plaintiffs allege Patel accused Plaintiffs of trespassing. (See Compl. ¶¶ 46-50). When West said they were paying customers who had already checked in, Plaintiffs allege “Mr. Patel then walked to the front desk and asked the clerk why did she check these kind [sic] of people into his hotel. He then turned back to the family and demanded they leave.” (Id. ¶ 53). Both parties then called the police who, upon Patel’s request as the Hotel’s owner, told Plaintiffs they must leave. (See id. ¶ 63).

Plaintiffs bring an equal rights claim against DEV and LQ (collectively, “Defendants”), seeking redress for disparate treatment under 42 U.S.C. section 1981 based on Patel’s denial of access to the Hotel and business center. (See Compl. ¶ 70).

II. LEGAL STANDARD

Summary judgment is rendered if the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a), (c). “An issue of fact is material if it is a legal element of the claim under the applicable substantive law which might affect the outcome of the case.” Burgos v. Chertoff, 274 Fed.Appx. 839, 841 (11th Cir.2008) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Allen v. Tyson Foods, Inc., 121 F.3d 642, 646 (11th Cir.1997)). “A factual dispute is genuine if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Channa Imps., Inc. v. Hybur, Ltd., Case No. 07-21516-CIV, 2008 WL 2914977, at *2 (S.D.Fla. July 25, 2008) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986)). At summary judgment, the moving party has the burden of proving the absence of a genuine issue of material fact, and all factual inferences are drawn in favor of the nonmoving party. See Allen, 121 F.3d at 646.

III. ANALYSIS

DEV makes two arguments in favor of summary judgment: 1) Plaintiffs fail to establish the elements of a prima facie case of discrimination under Section 1981; and 2) even if Plaintiffs establish a prima facie case, there is a legitimate, non-discriminatory justification for Patel’s conduct. (See generally DEV Mot.). LQ joins DEV in both arguments. (See LQ Mot. 9-17). LQ makes one additional argument: summary judgment is warranted for LQ because DEV is not its agent. (See id. 4-9). Plaintiffs argue Defendants apply the incorrect test to analyze a prima facie

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Bluebook (online)
156 F. Supp. 3d 1361, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 174472, 2015 WL 9684736, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/west-v-lq-management-llc-flsd-2015.