Adams v. Historic Abilene, Inc.

Filing 21

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER denying 17 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by District Judge J. Thomas Marten on 05/26/2017. (aa)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS
Guadalupe Adams,
Plaintiff,
vs.

Case No. 16-1057-JTM

Historic Abilene, Inc.,
Defendant.

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

The present action is one of a number of lawsuits filed under the Americans With
Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. § 12181, et seq., by Guadalupe Adams in the District of
Kansas. The present action identifies various features of Old Abilene Town in Abilene,
Kansas, as falling below ADA standards. The matter is before the court on Adams’ motion
for summary judgment.
Summary judgment is proper where the pleadings, depositions, answers to
interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with affidavits, if any, show there is no
genuine issue as to any material fact, and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as
a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). In considering a motion for summary judgment, the
court must examine all evidence in a light most favorable to the opposing party. McKenzie
v. Mercy Hospital, 854 F.2d 365, 367 (10th Cir. 1988). The party moving for summary
judgment must demonstrate its entitlement to summary judgment beyond a reasonable
doubt. Ellis v. El Paso Natural Gas Co., 754 F.2d 884, 885 (10th Cir. 1985). The moving party
need not disprove plaintiff's claim; it need only establish that the factual allegations have
no legal significance. Dayton Hudson Corp. v. Macerich Real Estate Co., 812 F.2d 1319, 1323
(10th Cir. 1987).

In resisting a motion for summary judgment, the opposing party may not rely upon
mere allegations or denials contained in its pleadings or briefs. Rather, the nonmoving
party must come forward with specific facts showing the presence of a genuine issue of
material fact for trial and significant probative evidence supporting the allegation.
Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 256 (1986). Once the moving party has carried
its burden under Rule 56(c), the party opposing summary judgment must do more than
simply show there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts. "In the language
of the Rule, the nonmoving party must come forward with 'specific facts showing that
there is a genuine issue for trial.'" Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475
U.S. 574, 587 (1986) (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e)) (emphasis in Matsushita). One of the
principal purposes of the summary judgment rule is to isolate and dispose of factually
unsupported claims or defenses, and the rule should be interpreted in a way that allows
it to accomplish this purpose. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317 (1986).
The essence of defendant’s response is that it is not the exclusive operator of the
property, and that only a fraction of the property (the Hitching Post Restaurant and
Consignment Shop) is actually intended as a public accommodation. The response argues
that many of the supposed violations relate to historic displays at the property which are
intended for viewing rather than actual use. However, the response fails to comply with
summary judgment standards by citing any admissible evidence in support of its denials.
At the same time, on the issue of ownership of the property there is little evidentiary
support for Adams’ motion, which largely relies on defendant’s failure to respond to a June
27, 2016 request for admission. (Dkt. 17, at 3-4). The defendant argues it did not respond
to the request because it was awaiting Adams’ Rule 34 statement. According to defendant,
Adams produced the statement on November 21, 2016, the day before filing her motion for
judgment, and notes that Adams made no attempt to compel production before filing her
motion for summary judgment.
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The plaintiff has filed no reply in support of her motion for summary judgment.
Given the absence of evidence as to the ownership of the property at issue, as well as its
status as a public accommodation, the court hereby denies the plaintiff’s motion for
summary judgment (Dkt. 17).
IT IS SO ORDERED this 26th day of May, 2017.

___s/ J. Thomas Marten______
J. THOMAS MARTEN, JUDGE

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