Dowdell v. Love's Travel Stop

Filing 25

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 7/11/2013. (lab)

CL
ERKS OFFI U. DI .
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AT ROANOKE, A
V
FI
LED

I THE UN I
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TED STA TES D I
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FOR THE W ESTERN DI
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CH A RLES D OW DELL,

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M EM O M ND U M O PI I N
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LO V E' TM VEL STO P,
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By:H o Gl n E.
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Conr d
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Chi fU nie St t D i t i tJ
e
t d a es sr c udge

D ef
endant
.

Thi c s i p e e tyb fr t ec u t nt ed fnd n ' moi nf r u g n o te
s a e s r sn l eo e h o r o h ee a ts to o j d me t n h
pl a ngs Fort r s s tf t be ow ,t m oton wilbe g a ed.
e di .
he ea ons e orh l
he
i
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r nt
Backzround

ChalsDowdelfl a ij e hi ba kwhieont prmie ofLove' Tr ve St i
re
l el nd n urd s c
l he e s s
s a l op n
La bs g, i gi a o Apr l1 2011 The a ci ntocc r e i t s
m bur V r ni n
i 0,
.
c de
u r d n he howera e w hi h
r a, c

Do le eeda aç yi c t r' ( Compl a 2. Dowdelalgest tt s we
wdel ntr s d ng usome . Am.
pa
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.t )
l le ha he ho r
f dia e par ha a s
or s bl d tons d howe c t n,ha r i,c i,a m ova e s we hea a t tt
r urai nd a l har nd
bl ho r d, nd ha he

rgul s rtha noneo t s iemsfrra ona ec nsdeai orrs i lt ' (d.a
e ar howe û d
f he e t o e s bl o i rton e ponsbiiy. I t
'
Dow de lf t ra l gest ta poolofw a e e e d s x f tf om t e r nc t t r gul r
l urhe le
ha
t r xt nde i ee r he nt a e o he e a

s r a t tt r weeil o sgnspose t alr ( mlt tt swa aposi epr e '
howe , nd ha he e r tnl i
td o e thi ha hi s
sbl oblm.
'

Dow del' a e d c pl i ? a a st as e t a m sund r f ur f de als a u es t
ls m nde om a nt ppe r o s r cl i
e o e r t t t : he

De opme t Dia ltesAsitncea BilofRiht Actof1 42U. C.jj1 - 511
vel nal sbiii ssa nd l
g s
990,
S.
5001 1 5;

*The cour pr ousy dim is t orgi com pl ntf f l et sat acl m,and gr nt
t evi l s s ed he i nal
ai or aiur o t e ai
a ed
pl ntf l vet fl an a ended compl nt
ai if ea o ie
m
ai .

RK

t Oc upai Saeya He 1hAc of1 29U. C.jj651678;t Amerc nswih
he c tonal ft nd at t 970,
S.
- he
ia t
Dia ltesAc of1 0, U. C.jj1 01 1 3; nd42U. C.j 1
sbiii t 99 42 S.
21 - 221 a
S.
983.

Th d f n a t a mo e f r u g n o t epe dn s p rua tt Rue1 ()o te
e ee d n h s v d o j d me t n h la ig , u s n o l 2 c f h
Fe a Rul s ofCi lPr e e. Dow de lfl d a r s
der l e
vi oc dur
l ie e pons t t m o i on M a 23, 3, n
e o he ton
y
201 i

whihheaguest theha cieddstt elja U. Rul s t s 't sca e' ( .sRes a
c
r
ha
s t i aut s nd S. ell o uppol hi s .' Pl' p.t
t
N e t rs de hasr
ihe i
eque t d a hea i on t m oton. The m a t ri now r pe f r vi w .
se
rng
he
i
te s
i or e e
St
andard ofR e ew
vi

l rviwi aRul 1 c moton,hecour a plest s mesa dt twoul a yt a
n e e ng
e 2( ) i t
t p i he a tndar ha
d ppl o
Rul 1 b)6)motont dimisf fiur t saeacli l pe nc Ne .I v. t of
e 2( (
i o s s or al e o tt am. nde nde e ws nc. Civ
Chal t,568F. 1 1 ( hCi.2009) Thec rt tac p a1oft algai i t
rote
3d 48, 54 4t r
.
ou mus ce t l he le tons n he
c
ompli a tuea dr w al r as bl i e e si f voroft pl i if Bur h Br d.Co.
a nt s r nd a l e ona e nf r nce n a
he antf.
bac oa

v. ki Ra oCo p.278F. 401 405- ( hCi.
El ns di r ,
3d , 06 4t r 2002) l or rt s r veamoinf
. n de o uvi
to or
j me ont pl di ,t c ai mus conanf t s fce toriearghtt rle
udg nt he ea ngs he ompl nt t ti acs ufiints as i o eif
t
a
bove t s cul tve l vel' nd is a e a c a m t r i ft ti pl us bl on is f c ' Be lA t.
he pe a i e ' a çt t l i o ele ha s a i e
t a e.' l l

Cor v.
p. Twombl 550U. 5 555,570( )
y,
S. 44,
2007 .
Di cussi
s
on

l mo i f r u g n o tep e dn s ted fn a t r u sta Do el a fie t
n vng o j d me t n h la ig ,h ee d n a g e h t wd l h s ald o
s a e a ac i na e cl m f r lefunde a o t f s a ut s r f r nce i hi a e d
t t n t o bl ai or e i
r ny f he our t t e e e e d n s m nde
c pl i . Fort f l i r s ns t c ta ee w ih t def nt
om a nt
he olow ng ea o s he our gr s t he enda .
1.

The D e opm ent D i lt esA ss s ance and BilofRi s A ctof2000
vel
al sabiii
it
l
eht

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vel ntl s biiis ssa e nd l
g s t
CDD t' s
)
f ng s a ut t tç f r St t sf de a m one t i pr com m uniy s r i e ,s h a m edi l
undi t t e ha ç e s a e e r l
of
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t e v c s uc s
ca

caea j tani f i vi swihde lpme aldia lte . Va.Ofief Pr .
r nd ob r i ng,or ndi dual t veo nt s biiis'
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Ad a vv.Stwat 1 lS, .1 1 36( l. TheDD Ac û notc e prvael
voc c
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t'
does onfr i t y
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or e e ubs a i i s '
a
ohns M a he s He t Ca e l , o.
on- t r a1h r . nc. N

5: CV- 7,201 U. Dit LEXI 75869,a * ( D.Ky. ul 28, 0 ;s eas
09- 0041
0 S. s.
S
t 31 E.
J y 201 ) e lo
Roa M e zv. ns o Esa a Sobr De i i ncasEnE1 s rolo, 11- 98
- nde Co ei t t l e fc e i
De a r l No. 1 9CCC, 2U.
201 S.

Dit LEXI 1
s.
S 33327,a *1 ( P. Se .1 201 ( di t tt DD Ac ce tsno
t 4 D. R. pt 3, 2) hol ng ha he
t rae
s t tve rght a t , ha a pl i ifi û e il d t a c us ofa ton' unde t
ubsan i i s nd, hus t t a ntf s i ntte o ny a e c i '
not
r he

saut)
tt e.
l t s c e, ow de ldoe no a l ge t the s f r f o a de l e aldi a lte .
n hi as D
l
s t le ha
uf e s r m ny ve opm nt s biii s
H ow e , ve i t sw e e t ue D ow d lw oul ha no prva e rghtofac i n unde t DD Ac .
ver e n f hi r r ,
el
d ve
i t i
to
r he
t
A cc di y, he c tm us gr ntt de e nts m oto w ih r s c t t scl i .
or ngl t our
t a he f nda '
i n t e pe t o hi a m
ll.

O ccupatonalSaf y and H eaIh A ctof 1970
i
et
t

TheOc upai Saey a He t Ac of1 70(d
c tonal ft nd a1h t 9 (OSHA' wa e t Corduc t
' s naced k e e he
)
t

aamign mb ro pes n lij re a dile s saiigo t fh z r o swo ki c n iin ,
lr n u e f ro a n u is n l se rsn u o a ad u r ng o dto s
n
a t a s es f a heat ' wor ng c tonsf wor ngm e a wome . .. Dono n
nd o s ur a e nd lhf
ul ki ondii or ki
n nd
n . '
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va

v. c to lSaeya He t Re e Comm' 71 F. 91 926( Ci.1 3)(ntr l
Oc upaina ft nd a1h viw
n, 3 2d 8, 2d. r 98 i ena
ciai a q ttonmaksomitd) Vi ai ofOSHA aei si t a e ore byt
tton nd uoai
r
te . oltons
r nvetgaed nd nf c d he
Se r a yofLa . 29U. C.jj657, 66 Sl-he ei noprvaerg ofa ton'unde t
cetr
bor
S.
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l
i t iht ci ' r he
s a ut Sc r oug v, eg sCom m c' Gr
t t e. a bor h A i
ns oup.l . 21 F. 8 2000 U . App.
nc , 7 3d 40,
S.
LEX I
S

1 ,a *2( hCi.
4321 t 4t r 2000) s as Gane v. hieRi rEnvt. s p, F. x37, ( h
) ee lo i s W t ve
lP'hi 66 App' 40 7t
Ci.
r 2003)(tpl ntfjc nnotsaeacam unde OSHA be a et saut ofeshi noprvae
tg ai if a
tt li
r
c us he tt e fr m
it
rghtofaci ' .
i
ton.'
)
Her t
e, here i no i caton t Dow del w asw or ng att tuck s op att tm e oft
s ndi i hat
l
ki
he r
t
he i
he

i i ent Hi a e
nc d . s m nded c pl i i t ad i c t s t the e e e t s e a e asa pa r
om a nt ns e ndi a e ha
nt r d he how r r a
t on.

Eve i Dowde lwa e oye by t de e nt howe r hi c
n f
l s mpl d he f nda ,
ve , s ompli f l t sa ea
ant ais o tt n
actonabl cl m f r i underO SH A .
i
e ai or elef
1
11.

A m eri
cansw ih D iabiii A ctof1990
t s ltes

TheAmei nswihDiabiii Actof1 (; 'pr bisdici nai d t
rca t s ltes
990 (
ADA' ohi t s rmi ton s he
)
on
ba i ofdia lt i t f la equ e j ntoft goods s r c ,fciii ,prvie ,
ss s biiy n he ul nd al n oyme
he
, evies a ltes i lges
a ntge ,ora ommodainsofa plc o publca ommodain .... 42U. C.j
dva a s cc
to
ny a e f i cc
to
'
'
S.
1 82() Tosaeacai unde t spr so oft ADA, pli ifmus ale f t s fce
21 a .
tt l m
r hi oviin he
a antf t lge acs ufiint

t e tbls t t ( )hehasadia lt ( t tt defnda ti apl eofpublca co
o sa ih ha : 1
s biiy;2) ha he e n s ac
i c mmodai
ton;
a ( t tt plitf wasde e f la e lte t ntbec us ofhi dia lt Blnd
nd 3) ha he anif
nid ' nd qua r ame
ul
a e s sbiiy. i
l
ndus & Se '. M d.v.Rout 40 Pai ba lPa k, o. M N - 1 3562,201 U . D it LEX I
.
n s of
e
nt l r N W
I2 S. s .
S

1 2331 a *9( Md, .5, 2)(ii Robersv.
7 , t D. Dec 201 ctng
t Royal lCor ,5 F. 363, ( Ci.
At. p. 42 3d
368 2d r
2008 )
).
Ha ng r vi w e t a l ga i i Dow de lsa ende c pl nt t c t ncl
vi e e d he le tons n
l' m
d om ai , he our co udest t
ha
he ha f ie t sa e a c a m unde t A DA . The a e d c pl i doe notalege t t
s a ld o tt l i
r he
m nde om a nt s
l ha
Dow de lwasdi a e a t tm e he e e e t de e nt sf iii s o t the wasdeni d f 1
l
s bl d t he i
nt r d he f nda ' ac lte , r ha
e u1
a eq lt e t e on t bas sofa di a lt l t a D o del c a m st the wasnotaf o ded
nd ua r a m nt he i
s biiy. ns e d, w l l i ha
fr
t s m e l ve oft ea m e ast ta f de t di a e pa r . A ss h ale tonsdo notgi
he a e l r t nt ha f or d o s bl d t ons
uc l ga i
ve

rs t ac g ia l cam u d rteADA,h sp rino tea n e c mpan i as s b e t o
ie o o nz be li n e h
ti o to f h me d d o lit s lo u jc t
di m i s l
s s a.

1
V.

42 U. C.1 1
S.
983

I t fnalpar aph oft am ended com pl nt Dow del ass st he i pr
n he i
agr
he
ai ,
l ert hat s oceedi
ng

u r42U. C.j1
nde
S.
983, Howeve,j 1 ti notis fas c ofs tntverg s'but
r 983 ss tel oure ubsa i iht,
t
m e el pr d û m e hod f vi ca i f r lr g sel e he e co e r d.' A l i htv.
r y ovi es a t
or ndi tng ede a i ht s w r nf r e '' br q
4

Olve,51 U. 266,271( 994)(uoi Ba rv. c ln, U. 1 1 n. ( 979).
i r 0 S.
1
q tng ke M cola 443 S. 37, 44 3 1 )
saeacam unde j1983, pli ifmus alget esentalee nt ( )t targh sc e by
tt li
r
a antf t le wo s i lme s: 1 ha i t e urd
t Co tt i orlwsoft Unie Stt wa vi ae a ()t tt alege vi ai wa
he nsiuton a
he td aes s oltd; nd 2 ha he l d olton s
c
ommitdbyapes n a tngunde c orofsaelw. W e tv. ki , 7U. 42,48( )
te
ro ci
r ol
tt a
s At ns 48 S.
1988 .
Upo r e oft am e d c pl i , he c tco ude t tD o del hasf l d t
n evi w
he
nde om a nt t our ncl s ha w l
aie o
a l ge f c ss fc e t es a i h e t re e e t Thecour i a a e ofno a ho iy t s
le a t ufi i nt o t bls ihe l m n .
ts w r
ut r t o uppor t
t he
a gum e t tt f t outi d i t a e
r
nt ha he ac s lne n he m nded c pl i co tt ea vi a i ofa r g s ur d
om a nt nsiut
ol ton
i ht ec e
by t Cons iuton orl w s oft U nied St t s I a ton,t a e
he
tt i
a
he t
a e . n ddii he m nded com pl ntpr de no
ai ovi s
ba i fom whi h t c t d c l t tt tuc s op i a s a e a t r f pu pos oft
ss r
c he our coul onc ude ha he r k t s t t c o or r es he

saut Acc di y,
tt e.
or ngl Dowdelscli u rj 1 mus bedimisd.
l' am nde 983 t
s se
C oncl i
us on

Fort r as saed,hec t lgrntt de e ntsmotonf j
he e ons tt t our wil a he f nda ' i or udgme ont
nt he
pl a ngs The Cl r i di e t d t s nd c r ii d c pi oft sm e or ndum o ni a t
e di .
e k s r c e o e e tfe o es hi m a
pi on nd he

ac ompa ng or rt t pli ifa a1 c
c
nyi
de o he antf nd l ouns lofr or
e
ec d.

4 y ul 201
EX TER : s t1t da ofJ y, 3.
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Chi fUnie St t D i ti tJ
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t d a es s rc udge