Anglin v. Alrowhany

Filing 42

CONSENT DECREE, Stipulation as to Liability and ORDER, signed by District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill on 7/13/15. (Verduzco, M)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Center for Disability Access Mark Potter, Esq., SBN 166317 Phyl Grace, Esq., SBN 171771 Ray Ballister Jr., Esq., SBN 111282 Dennis Price, SBN 279082 Mail: PO Box 262490 San Diego, CA 92196-2490 Delivery: 9845 Erma Road, Suite 300 San Diego, CA 92131 (858) 375-7385; (888) 422-5191 Fax: phylg@potterhandy.com Attorneys for Plaintiff 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Law Offices of Melissa M. Ballard Linda J. L. Sharpe, State Bar No.: 94283 12009 Foundation Place, Suite 190 Gold River, CA 95670 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2282, Brea, CA 92822 Phone: (714) 571-0407; Fax: (877) 369-5799 Direct Line: (916) 294-1176 E-Mail: Linda.Sharpe@thehartford.com Attorneys for Defendants ABDUL ALROWHANY,DBA THE CELL PHONE STORE and MOHAMMED ALROWHANY, DBA THE CELL PHONE STORE ; LEWIS BRISBOIS BISGAARD & SMITH LLP SHANE SINGH, SB# 202733 2850 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 450 Sacramento, California 95833 Telephone: 916.564.5400 Facsimile: 916.564.5444 Attorneys for Defendant HIFDUULAH ALROWHANY 23 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 24 25 26 DEBRA ANGLIN, Plaintiff, 27 vs. 28 Case No. 1:13-CV-01357-LJO-JLT CONSENT DECREE, STIPULATION AS TO LIABILITY AND ORDER CONSENT DECREE, STIPUL:ATION AS TO LIABILITY AND [PROPOSED] ORDER Page 1 of 7 1 2 3 4 ABDUL ALROWHANY,DBA THE CELL Judge: Honorable Lawrence J. O'Neill PHONE STORE; MOHAMMED ALROWHANY, DBA THE CELL PHONE STORE ; and DOES 1-10, 5 Defendants. 6 7 8 9 TO THE COURT, ALL INTERESTED PARTIES AND ATTORNEYS OF RECORD: 1. Plaintiff DEBRA ANGLIN, filed this action (known as Case No. 1:13-CV- 10 01357-LJO-JLT) against Defendant seeking money damages and injunctive relief for, inter 11 alia, violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (the "ADA"), corresponding 12 state law claims as well as common law claims in the United States District Court for the 13 Eastern District of California on September 18, 2013. Defendants HIFDHUULAH A. 14 ALROWHANY, ABDUL ALROWHANY, DBA THE CELL PHONE STORE & 15 MOHAMMED ALROWHANY, DBA THE CELL PHONE STORE ("Defendants") filed 16 their Answers to the First Amended Complaint on October 14, 2016 (HIFDHUULAH 17 ALROWHANY) and October 16, 2014 (ABDUL ALROWHANY, DBA THE CELL 18 PHONE STORE and MOHAMMED ALROWHANY, DBA THE CELL PHONE STORE). 19 2. Defendants and Plaintiff (herein collectively referred to as the “Parties” or 20 separately as a “Party”) wish to settle the portion of the cases relating to issues of injunctive 21 relief and liability, hereby desire to enter into this Consent Decree, Stipulation as to Liability 22 and Order (“Consent Decree”). The Parties hereby enter into this Consent Decree for the 23 purpose of resolving certain specified aspects of the lawsuit without the need for protracted 24 litigation, and without the admission of any liability as to: (a) the amount of damages to 25 which Plaintiff may be entitled or (b) the amount of attorneys’ fees to which Plaintiff may be 26 entitled. 27 28 CONSENT DECREE, STIPUL:ATION AS TO LIABILITY AND [PROPOSED] ORDER Page 2 of 7 1 JURISDICTION: 2 3. The Parties agree that the Court has jurisdiction of this matter for alleged 3 violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. 12101, et seq. (the 4 “ADA”) and pursuant to supplemental jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §1367(a) for alleged 5 violations of California Civil Code §§51 and 54. et. seq. 6 4. In order to avoid the costs, expense, and uncertainty of protracted litigation, the 7 Parties agree to entry of this Order to resolve all claims regarding injunctive relief raised in 8 the above-entitled Actions. Accordingly, the Parties agree to the entry of the proposed Order 9 related to this Consent Decree without trial or further adjudication of the issues addressed 10 herein. 11 NO DISMISSAL OF ACTION REQUESTED: 12 5. As noted herein, the amount of monetary damages, penalties and fees are still 13 at issue and accordingly the Parties do not request that the Honorable Court dismiss the 14 action as these issues may still proceed to trial. 15 16 WHEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree and stipulate to the Court’s entry of this Consent Decree and Order, which provides as follows: 17 SETTLEMENT OF INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AND LIABILITY ISSUES: 18 6. The Order shall be a full, complete, and final disposition and settlement of 19 Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants and any other parties for injunctive relief with respect 20 to issues addressed in or that could have been pled in the Complaint. Additionally, this 21 agreement shall serve as an admission of liability on the part of Defendants 22 7. The Parties agree and stipulate that the corrective work will be performed in 23 compliance with the standards and specifications for disabled access as set forth in the 24 California Code of Regulations, Title 24-2 and the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act 25 Standards, unless other standards are specifically agreed to in this Consent Decree and Order. 26 27 28 CONSENT DECREE, STIPUL:ATION AS TO LIABILITY AND [PROPOSED] ORDER Page 3 of 7 1 8. Remedial Measures: The corrective work agreed upon by the Parties is 2 attached here to as Exhibit “A”. Defendants agree to undertake all of the remedial work set 3 forth therein. 4 9. Timing of Injunctive Relief: Exhibit “A” also includes the estimated 5 timeframe for completing the work described therein. 6 difficulties prevent Defendants from completing any of the agreed-upon injunctive relief 7 within the timeframes specified, Defendants or their counsel will notify Plaintiff’s counsel, in 8 writing, within fifteen (15) days after discovering any such difficulties. Defendants, or their 9 counsel, will promptly notify Plaintiff’s counsel when the corrective work is complete, and 10 In the event that unforeseen in any case, will provide a status report on or before August 1, 2016. 11 10. The Parties hereby stipulate and agree that: (i) on March 16, 2013, the door entry 12 threshold at the Boost Mobile store was too high to be in compliance with the ADA and 13 constituted a violation of the ADA; (ii) the height of the threshold was the sole cause of 14 Plaintiff’s fall and resultant injuries on March 16, 2013;(iii) as of March 16, 2013,Defendants 15 (and each of them) were solely liable for the existence of the non-compliant condition of the 16 threshold and; (iv) on March 13, 2015 through the present, each Defendant is and was an 17 owner and/or operator of the Boost Mobile store and / or the owner of the real property upon 18 which the Boost Mobile store is located. The above admission of and stipulation to liability 19 shall preclude Defendants (at trial or before) from contesting liability for: (i) violation of the 20 ADA and (ii) Plaintiff’s injuries. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, 21 Defendants shall not produce or offer the testimony of any witnesses or seek to introduce any 22 evidence that would seek to deny or contest liability or assign or apportion liability to any 23 party other than Defendants. Defendants and Plaintiff shall stipulate to a jury instruction to 24 effectuate the above agreement and stipulation. Notwithstanding the forgoing, Defendants 25 are making no admission with respect to the amount of damages to which Plaintiff is entitled 26 in excess of the $4,000 minimum statutory damages available pursuant to §52 of the Civil 27 Code.. 28 CONSENT DECREE, STIPUL:ATION AS TO LIABILITY AND [PROPOSED] ORDER Page 4 of 7 1 2 3 ISSUES RELATED TO THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGES, ATTORNEYS FEES, LITIGATION EXPENSES, AND COSTS REMAIN UNRESOLVED: 11. The Parties have not reached an agreement regarding the amount of Plaintiff’s 4 claims for damages or the amount of attorneys’ fees, litigation expenses and costs in this 5 Action (collectively, the “Unresolved Issues”). These Unresolved Issues shall be the subject 6 of further negotiation, settlement, litigation, and/or motions to the Court. Should the Parties 7 later reach an agreement regarding the Unresolved Issues; the terms of that agreement will be 8 set forth in a separate settlement agreement. Nothing set forth herein shall be deemed to in 9 any way limit or effect a waiver of either of Plaintiffs’ past, present or future rights and/or 10 remedies to recover damages, attorneys’ fees, litigation expenses or costs in connection with 11 each of their alleged losses, costs, damages, claims and causes of action as set forth in each 12 of the operative Complaints or otherwise. 13 ENTIRE CONSENT ORDER: 14 12. This Consent Decree, Stipulation as to Liability and Order and Exhibit “A”, 15 which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth in this document, constitute the 16 entire agreement between the signing Parties on all matters of injunctive relief and liability, 17 and no other statement, promise, or agreement, either written or oral, made by any of the 18 Parties or agents of any of the Parties, that is not contained in this written Consent Decree, 19 Stipulation as to Liability and Order, shall be enforceable regarding the matters of injunctive 20 relief specifically described herein. 21 TERM OF THE CONSENT DECREE AND ORDER AND SURVIVAL OF 22 STIPULATION: 23 13. This Consent Decree Stipulation as to Liability and Order shall be in full force 24 and effect for a period of eighteen (24) months after the date of entry of this Consent Decree 25 Stipulation and Order, or until the injunctive relief contemplated by this Order is completed, 26 whichever occurs later. 27 provisions of this Order for eighteen (24) months after the date of this Consent Decree, or 28 The Court shall retain jurisdiction of this action to enforce CONSENT DECREE, STIPUL:ATION AS TO LIABILITY AND [PROPOSED] ORDER Page 5 of 7 1 until the relief contemplated by this Order is completed, whichever occurs later. The 2 Stipulation as to liability set forth in section 10 hereof shall survive the termination of the 3 Court’s jurisdiction hereunder. 4 SEVERABILITY: 5 14. If any term of this Consent Decree and Order is determined by any court to be 6 unenforceable, all other terms of this Consent Decree and Order shall nonetheless remain in 7 full force and effect. 8 SIGNATORIES BIND PARTIES: 9 15. Signatories on the behalf of the Parties represent that they are authorized to 10 bind the Parties to this Consent Decree and Order. This Consent Decree and Order may be 11 signed in counterparts and a facsimile or e-mail signature shall have the same force and 12 effect as an original signature. 13 AGREEMENT BINDING ON SUCCESSORS 14 16. The Parties agree that the terms of this Consent Decree shall be bind them as well 15 as their heirs, assigns and successors in interest. 16 Dated: July 9, 2015 CENTER FOR DISABILITY ACCESS 17 18 By: /s/Phyl Grace 19 PHYL GRACE Counsel for Plaintiff DEBRA ANGLIN 20 21 22 Dated: July 9, 2015 LAW OFFICES OF MELISSA M. BALLARD 23 24 25 26 27 28 By: /s/Linda J.L.Sharpe LINDA J. L. SHARPE Counsel for Defendants ABDUL ALROWHANY, dba THE CELL PHONE STORE & MOHAMMED ALROWHANY, dba THE CELL PHONE STORE CONSENT DECREE, STIPUL:ATION AS TO LIABILITY AND [PROPOSED] ORDER Page 6 of 7 1 2 Dated: July 9,_, 2015 3 LEWIS BRISBOIS BISGAARD & SMITH By: /s/ S. Shane Singh ___ S. SHANE SINGH, Counsel for Defendant HIFDHUULA A. ALROWHANY 4 5 6 7 8 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: July 13, 2015 /s/ Lawrence J. O’Neill UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 CONSENT DECREE, STIPUL:ATION AS TO LIABILITY AND [PROPOSED] ORDER Page 7 of 7

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