CO DEN Umphenour V Cara 3 Pizza Place 1 2 17
CO DEN Umphenour V Cara 3 Pizza Place 1 2 17
INTHEUNITEDSTATESDISTRICTCOURT
FORTHEDISTRICTOFCOLORADO
CivilActionNo.
MellisaUmphenour,anindividual,onherownbehalf,andonbehalfofLH,herminor
child,
Plaintiffs,
v.
CARA3PROPERTIESLLC,
Defendant(s).
COMPLAINT
Plaintiff,MellisaUmphenour,anindividual,onherownbehalf,andonbehalfofLH,
her minor child, hereby brings an action for declaratory judgment, injunctive relief,
12101et.seq.,anditsimplementingregulations(the,ADA).
JURISDICTIONANDVENUE
1. Defendant,ownsand/oroperatesaplaceofPublicAccommodation(PPA)asthatterm
isdefinedin42U.S.C.12181(7)locatedat1300WMIDWAYBLVD,BROOMFIELD,CO
80020.
2. On the date of the visit to Defendants PPA, Plaintiff and LH were, and are currently,
Case 1:17-cv-00002-CBS Document 1 Filed 01/02/17 USDC Colorado Page 2 of 13
residentsoftheStateofColorado.
3. PlaintiffandLHtravelthroughoutColoradoincluding,inparticular,thecommunitiesin
andsurroundingDenver,Colorado.
4. This action arises from a violation ADA Title III regulations. This Court has original
jurisdictionpursuantto28U.S.C.1331,28U.S.C.1343,and42U.S.C.12188.
5. Venueinthisjudicialdistrictisproperunder28U.S.C.1391(b)and(c)inthatthisisthe
judicialdistrictinwhichasubstantialpartoftheactsandomissionsgivingrisetothe
claimsoccurred.
STANDING
6. PlaintiffandLHseekbothretrospectivedeclaratoryrelief(thatDefendanthasviolated
andcontinuestoviolateTitleIIIoftheADA)andprospectiveinjunctivereliefallasmore
fullystatedbelow.
THIRDPARTYSTANDING
7. Plaintiffisthecaretakerforanindividualwithdisabilitieswhichsubstantiallylimitsmajor
lifeactivities.Plaintiffsminordependentrequirestheuseofawheelchair.Atthetime
accommodationstoaccessandusethePPA.
8. LHpersonallyvisitedDefendantsPPA,butwasdeniedfullandequalaccessandfulland
equalenjoymentofthefacilities,services,goodsandamenities.
2
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9. PlaintiffandPlaintiffsminorchildarecustomersofDefendantandvisitedDefendants
PPA on November 20, 2016 to enjoy the goods and services offered at the PPA.
DefendantoffersgoodsandservicesatitsPPAwithoutrestrictiontomembersofthe
publicwhodonotsufferfromaphysicaldisability.
10. PlaintiffandPlaintiffsminorchildwillavailthemselvesofthegoodsandservicesoffered
at the PPA in the future provided that Defendant modify the PPA to accommodate
individualswithdisabilities.
11. PlaintiffandPlaintiffsminorchildsufferedaninjuryinfactduetothedenialoffulland
equalaccesstoDefendantsPPA.
12. PlaintiffsminorchildhasacloserelationshiptoPlaintiffduetotheirbiological,legal,
andcustodialrelationship.
13. Asaminor,Plaintiffsminorchildlackstheabilitytobringthisactionaloneandtherefore
ishinderedinprotectinglegalinterestsunlessPlaintiffmaystandinonPlaintiffsminor
childsbehalf.
ASSOCIATIONALSTANDING
14. Plaintiffistheparent,caretaker,andguardiantoherminorchildandregularlydrives
throughoutthegreaterDenverareainavehiclethatisqualifiedto,anddoesutilizevan
accessibleparkingforherminorchild.
3
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15. Astheprimarycaretakerforherminorchild,PlaintiffdrovetoDefendantsPPA,
accompaniedbyherminorchildforthepurposeofenjoyingthegoodsandservices
offeredbyDefendantsPPA.
16. BarrierstoPlaintiffsminorchildsaccessexisted,asdescribedmorefullyherein;these
barrierstotheminorchildwithaqualifyingdisabilityamounttoabarriertoPlaintiffs
accessaswell,grantingPlaintiffassociationalstandingtobringacauseofactioninher
ownnamepursuantto42U.S.C.12182(b)(1)(E).
17. Plaintiffwasdeniedfullandequalaccessandfullandequalenjoymentofthefacilities,
services,goodsandamenitiesasaspecific,direct,andseparateinjuryasaresultofher
associationwithherminorchild.
TESTERSTANDING
18. Completely independent of Plaintiffs personal desire to access the PPA, Plaintiff also
actedasatesterforpurposesofdiscovering,encountering,andengagingdiscrimination
againstpersonswithdisabilitiesatDefendantsPPA.1PlaintiffintendstovisitthePPA
referencedherein,Plaintiff,inherindividualcapacityandasatester,visitedthePPA,
encounteredbarrierstoherminorchildsaccessatthePPA,engagedandtestedthose
barriers,sufferedlegalharmandlegalinjuryandwillcontinuetosufferharmandinjury
1
Tandyv.CityofWichita,380F.3d1277,128586(10thCir.2004)
4
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as a result of the illegal barriers to access and the violations of Defendant set forth
herein.Withoutjudicialintervention,Plaintiffwillsufferarealandimminentthreatof
encounteringDefendantsaccessibilitybarriersinthenearfuture.
RELIEF
19. Withrespecttoprospectiverelief,PlaintiffallegesthatPlaintiffissufferingacontinuing
injuryorisunderarealandimmediatethreatofbeinginjuredinthefutureallasmore
fullydevelopedbelow.
20. Plaintiff avers that Plaintiff and Plaintiffs minor child intend to visit Defendants PPA
several times per year in the near future, but are deterred from doing so while
DefendantsPPAviolatestheADAasdetailedbelow.2
21. PlaintifffurtheraversthatPlaintiffandPlaintiffsminorchildaredeterredfromvisiting
theDefendantsPPA.3
22. PlaintifffurtheraversthatanyvoluntarycessationofDefendantsnoncompliancewith
theADAmaybereadilyreversedbythereinstatementofthebarrierstoindividualswith
potentialvoluntarycessation.4
2
Colo.CrossDisabilityCoal.v.Abercrombie&FitchCo.,765F.3d1205(10thCir.2014)
3
Chapmanv.Pier1Imports(U.S.)Inc.,631F.3d939,946(9thCir.2011).
4
FriendsoftheEarth,Inc.v.LaidlawEnvtl.Servs.,Inc.,528U.S.167,189,120S.Ct.693,
145L.Ed.2d610(2000):Itiswellsettledthatadefendant'svoluntarycessationofa
challengedpracticedoesnotdepriveafederalcourtofitspowertodeterminethe
5
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THEADAANDITSIMPLEMENTINGREGULATIONS
23. OnJuly26,1990,PresidentGeorgeH.W.BushsignedintolawtheADA,acomprehensive
civilrightslawprohibitingdiscriminationonthebasisofdisability.
24. TheADAbroadlyprotectstherightsofindividualswithdisabilitiesinemployment,access
toStateandlocalgovernmentservices,placesofpublicaccommodation,transportation,
andotherimportantareasofAmericanlife.
25. Title III regulations prohibit discrimination in the activities of places of public
accommodationandrequiresplacesofpublicaccommodationtobereadilyaccessible
to,andindependentlyusableby,individualswithdisabilities.42U.S.C.1218189,36
C.F.R.part1191.
26. OnJuly26,1991,theDepartmentofJustice(DOJ)issuedrulesimplementingTitleIIIof
theADA,whicharecodifiedat28CFRPart36.
27. AppendixAofthe1991TitleIIIregulations(republishedasappendicesBandDto36
C.F.R.part1191,and28C.F.R.part36)containstheADAstandardsforAccessibleDesign
(1991 Standards), which were based upon the Americans with Disabilities Act
AccessibilityGuidelines(1991ADAAG)publishedbytheAccessBoardonthesamedate.
legalityofthepractice.Ifitdid,thecourtswouldbecompelledtoleavethedefendant
freetoreturntohisoldways.
6
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28. In1994,theAccessBoardbegantheprocessofupdatingthe1991ADAAGbyestablishing
building code community, and State and local governmental entities, as well as
individualswithdisabilities.
29. In1999,basedlargelyonthereportandrecommendationsoftheadvisorycommittee,
theAccessBoardissuedanoticeofproposedrulemakingtoupdateandreviseitsADA
andABAAccessibilityGuidelines.
30. TheAccessBoardissuedfinalpublicationofrevisionstothe1991ADAAGonJuly23,
2004(2004ADAAG).
31. OnSeptember30,2004,theDOJissuedanadvancednoticeofproposedrulemakingto
begintheprocessofadoptingthe2004ADAAG.
32. OnJune17,2008,theDOJpublishedanoticeofproposedrulemakingcoveringTitleIII
oftheADA.
33. Thelongcontemplatedrevisionstothe1991ADAAGculminatedwiththeDOJsissuance
ofThe2010StandardsforAccessibleDesign(2010Standards).TheDOJpublishedthe
Final Rule detailing the 2010 Standards on September 15, 2010. The 2010 Standards
consistofthe2004ADAAGandtherequirementscontainedinappendicesBandDto36
C.F.R.part1191,andsubpartDof28C.F.R.part36.
7
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34. 42U.S.C.12182(a)providesthatNoindividualshallbediscriminatedagainstonthe
basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities,
privileges,advantages,oraccommodationsofanyplaceofpublicaccommodationbyany
personwhoowns,leases(orleasesto),oroperatesaplaceofpublicaccommodation.
35. The ADA also provides a private right of action for preventative relief, including an
applicationforapermanentortemporaryinjunctionorrestrainingorderforanyperson
whoisbeingsubjectedtodiscriminationonthebasisofdisabilityinviolationofTitleIII.
28C.F.R.36.501.
36. ThedutyofcompliancewiththeADAisnotdelegable.
FACTUALALLEGATIONSCOMMONTOALLCOUNTS
37. OnoraboutNovember20,2016,PlaintiffandPlaintiffsminorchildvisitedDefendants
PPA.
38. PlaintiffandPlaintiffsminorchildwerepreventedfromthefullandequalenjoymentof
thegoods,services,facilities,privileges,advantages,oraccommodationsofDefendants
PPA due to Defendants violation of the ADA and its accompanying Accessibility
Guidelines5andisdiscriminatingagainstPlaintiffandPlaintiffsminorchildasaresultof
specificviolationsincludingbutnotlimitedtothefollowing:
5
Seealso36C.F.R.Pt.1191,App.AandD.
8
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a.FailuretoprovideaparkingspaceidentifiedwithasignthatincludestheInternational
SymbolofAccessibilityasrequiredby36C.F.RPart1191,AppendixD,Guideline502.6.
and;
b.Failuretomaketheaccessiblespaceslocatedonshortestaccessibleroutefrom
parkingtoanentranceasrequiredby36C.F.RPart1191AppendixB,Guideline208.3.1.
and;
c.Failuretoinsulateorotherwiseconfigurewatersupplyanddrainpipesundersinksto
protectagainstcontactasrequiredby36C.F.R1191,AppendixD,Guideline606.5.
39. Having been deterred from equal enjoyment of Defendants PPA, Plaintiff has not
conductedacompletereviewofDefendantsPPA;however,Plaintiffshallseektoamend
theComplainttoallegeadditionalADAviolationsuponthecompletionofdiscoveryand
identifyallarchitecturalbarriersrequiresapersontohaveunfetteredaccesstoaproperty
withtoolssuchasatapemeasure,inclinator,andnotepad.Plaintiffthereforerequires
comprehensivelistofallbarrierswhichexistedonorbeforethedateofthisComplaint.
9
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40. DefendanthasdiscriminatedagainstPlaintiff,Plaintiffsminorchild,andothersinthatit
hasfailedtomakeitsPPAfullyaccessibleto,andindependentlyusableby,individuals
whoaredisabledinviolationoftheADA.
41. DefendanthasdiscriminatedagainstPlaintiffandPlaintiffsminorchildinthatithasfailed
toremovearchitecturalbarrierstomakeitsPPAfullyaccessibleto,andindependently
usablebyindividualswhoaredisabled.
42. Defendantsconductisongoing.Plaintiffinvokesthestatutoryrighttodeclaratoryand
injunctiverelief,aswellascosts,expensesandattorneysfees.28U.S.C.2201,2202,28
C.F.R.36.501.
COUNTONE:VIOLATIONOFTITLEIIIOFADA
43. Plaintiffadoptsandreallegestheallegationsstatedintheprecedingparagraphsasfully
statedherein.
44. 42U.S.C.12182(a)prohibitsdiscriminationonthebasisofdisabilityinthefulland
accommodationsofanyplaceofpublicaccommodationbyanypersonwhoowns,leases
(orleaseto);oroperatesaplaceofpublicaccommodation.
45. 42U.S.C.12188(a)providesforaprivatecauseofactionagainstsuchdiscrimination.
46. Themobilityimpairmentatissueconstitutesadisabilityunder42U.S.C.12102.
10
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47. PlaintiffandPlaintiffsminorchildwerepreventedfromthefullandequalenjoymentof
thegoods,services,facilities,privileges,advantages,oraccommodationsofDefendants
PPAduetoDefendantsviolationoftheADAandDefendantsarchitecturalbarriersatits
PPAconstitutediscriminationagainstPlaintiffandPlaintiffsminorchild.
48. RemovaloftheDefendantsarchitecturalbarriersisreadilyachievable,orDefendantmay
maketheirfacilitiesavailablethroughalternativemethodsthatarereadilyachievable.
49. DefendantwasrequiredtomakethePPAaccessibletopersonswithdisabilities.Asofthe
datesdiscussedherein,DefendanthasfailedtocomplywiththemandatesoftheADA.
50. Pursuantto42U.S.C.12188,thisCourtisvestedwiththeauthoritytograntPlaintiffs
request for injunctive relief including an order to alter the PPA to make it readily
accessibleto,anduseableby,individualswithdisabilitiestotheextentrequiredbythe
ADA,andclosingthePPAuntiltherequisitemodificationsarecompleted.
WHEREFORE,PlaintiffrequestsjudgmentagainstDefendantasfollows
A. AdeclarationthatPlaintiffandPlaintiffsminorchildhaveafederallyprotectedrightto
thefullandequalenjoymentofthegoods,services,facilities,privileges,advantages,or
accommodationsofDefendantsPPA,whetherallegedinthisComplaintorsubsequently
discovered;and
B. AdeclarationthatatthecommencementofthisactionDefendantwasinviolationofthe
specificrequirementsoftheADAdescribedabove;and
11
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permanentinjunctionrequiringDefendanttoremoveallbarrierssothatPlaintiffand
Plaintiffs minor child shall have the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services,
facilities,privileges,advantages,oraccommodationsofDefendantsPPA;and
D. AnOrderrequiringDefendanttoalteritsPPAthatisthesubjectofthisComplaintto
makethePPAaccessibletoandusablebyindividualswithdisabilitiestothefullextent
requiredbytheADA;and
U.S.C.12205,28CFR36.505,andotherprinciplesoflawandequityandincompliance
with the prevailing party and material alteration of the parties relationship
doctrines.
DEMANDFORJURYTRIAL
demandsajurytrialonissuestriablebyajury.
12
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RESPECTFULLYSUBMITTEDthisDecember30,2016.
s/JamesR.Carr
JamesR.Carr
ADAJusticeAdvocates
4800BaselineRd.,SuiteE104289
Boulder,CO80303
3039639840
Email:[email protected]
AttorneyforPlaintiff
13
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JS 44 (Rev. 12/11) District of Colorado Form CIVIL COVER SHEET
The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replace nor supplement the filing and service of pleadings or other papers as required by law, except as
provided by local rules of court. This form, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the
purpose of initiating the civil docket sheet. (SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON NEXT PAGE OF THIS FORM.)
I. (a)PLAINTIFFS DEFENDANTS
CARA3PROPERTIESLLC
MellisaUmphenour
CountyofResidenceofFirstListedDefendantBROOMFIELD
(b)CountyofResidenceofFirstListedPlaintiff:Jefferson (INU.S.PLAINTIFFCASESONLY)
(EXCEPTINU.S.PLAINTIFFCASES) NOTE:INLANDCONDEMNATIONCASES,USETHELOCATIONOFTHE
(c)Attorneys(FirmName,Address,andTelephoneNumber) TRACTOFLANDINVOLVED.
ADAJusticeAdvocates
Attorneys(IfKnown)
JamesR.Carr
4800BaselineRd.,SuiteE104289,Boulder,CO80303
3039639840
II.BASISOFJURISDICTION(PlaceanXinOneBoxOnly) III.CITIZENSHIPOFPRINCIPLEPARTIES (Place an X in One Box for Plaintiff)
(ForDiversityCasesOnly) and One Box for Defendant)
PTFDEFPTFDEF
1U.S.Government3FederalQuestion
Plaintiff(U.S.GovernmentNotaParty) CitizenofThisState1 1IncorporatedorPrinciplePlace44
OfBusinessInThisState
CitizenorSubjectofa3 3ForeignNation66
ForeignCountry
VI.CAUSEOFACTION CitetheU.S.CivilStatuteunderwhichyouarefiling(Donotcitejurisdictionalstatutesunlessdiversity):
42U.S.C.12101,et.Seq.;36C.F.R.Part1191
ViolationofTitleIIIoftheADA
Briefdescriptionofcause:APDocket
Discriminationonthebasisofdisability
VII.REQUESTEDIN CHECKIFTHISISACLASSACTIONCHECKYESonlyifdemandedincomplaint:
COMPLAINT: UNDER F.R.C.P. 23 DEMAND: DEC. INJ. FEES JURY DEMAND: Yes No
DATE December 30, 2016 SIGNATURE OF ATTORNEY OF RECORD /s/ James R. Carr
INTHEUNITEDSTATESDISTRICTCOURT
FORTHEDISTRICTOFCOLORADO
CivilActionNo.
MellisaUmphenour,anindividual,onherownbehalf,andonbehalfofLH,herminor
child,
Plaintiffs,
v.
CARA3PROPERTIESLLC,
Defendant(s).
SUMMONSINACIVILACTION
To:CARA3PROPERTIESLLC
1300WMIDWAYBLVD
BROOMFIELD,CO80020
Alawsuithasbeenfiledagainstyou.
Within 21 days after service of this summons on you (not counting the day you
receivedit)or60daysifyouaretheUnitedStatesoraUnitedStatesagency,oran
officeroremployeeoftheUnitedStatesdescribedinFed.R.Civ.P.12(a)(2)or(3)you
mustserveontheplaintiffananswertotheattachedcomplaintoramotionunderRule
12oftheFederalRulesofCivilProcedure.Theanswerormotionmustbeservedonthe
plaintifforplaintiffsattorney,whosenameandaddressare:
Case 1:17-cv-00002-CBS Document 1-2 Filed 01/02/17 USDC Colorado Page 2 of 2
JamesR.Carr
ADAJusticeAdvocates
4800BaselineRd.,SuiteE104289
Boulder,CO80303
3039639840
Email:[email protected]
Ifyoufailtorespond,judgmentbydefaultwillbeenteredagainstyouforthe
reliefdemandedinthecomplaint.Youalsomustfileyouranswerormotionwiththe
court.
CLERKOFCOURT
Date:
ClerkorDeputyClerk