MaxBregande,KaylaCassuci,PatrickMahar

Cortezv.CityofPorterville
5F.Supp.3d1160;2014U.S.Dist.LEXIS37604(E.D.Cal.Mar.20.2014)
Facts
PlaintiffRogerCortez(Mr.Cortez)broughtthissuitagainstthecityofPorterville
CA,fordisabilityrelatedclaims.Mr.Cortezclaimsthatthesportscomplexhewas
visitingtowatchhisgrandsonsfootballgamedidnothavethenecessarywheelchair
accessinordertoeasilybringhisdisabledgranddaughterwithhim.Mr.Cortezclaims
thatheneededtopickhisgranddaughterupandcarryherthroughafieldofhighgrass
whilehiswifepushedherwheelchairbehindthem.Mr.Cortezgranddaughtersuffers
fromdisabilities,suchas;chromosomaldisorder,lackofmotorskills,visualandhearing
impairmentsandepilepsy.AccordingtoMr.Cortezcarryinghisgranddaughterintothe
complexcausedhimgreatphysicaldifficultyandfrustration.Mr.Cortezacknowledges
thefactthatheisnotdirectlyaffectedbyadisability.However,heischallengingthecity
onbehalfofassociationwithhisdisabledgranddaughter,whichisfeasiblethrough
associationclausesintheAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct(ADA),theRehabilitationAct
(RA),andCaliforniasDisabledPersonsAct(DPA).
HistoryorProcedure
Thisisthefirsttimethiscasewasheard.
LegalIssues

IsCortezabletoclaimassociationtohisdisabledgranddaughterunderthe
AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct?

IsCortezabletoclaimassociationtohisdisabledgranddaughterunderthe

RehabilitationAct?
IsCortezabletoclaimassociationtohisdisabledgranddaughterunder
CaliforniasDisabledPersonsAct?

Holding

Yes
Yes
Yes

Reasoning

Mr.Cortezinitiatedaninstantlawsuitagainstthecityclaimingthathewas
deniedaccesstotheprogramsandactivitiesofferedbythecomplexduetohis
granddaughtersdisability.Thiscourtrulinghadthreecausesofactionsbrought
upbyMr.Cortezagainstthecity,firstwasMr.CortezADAclaim,hissecond
claimwasundertheRA,lastly,Mr.CortezthirdclaimwasunderCalifornias
DPA.Thecitiesmotiontodismisswasdeniedonallthreeaccounts.

ThoughMr.Cortezisnotdirectlyaffectedbyadisability,heisabletoappealon
hisgranddaughtersbehalfduetotheassociationalclaimclauseofTitleIIofthe
AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct.Ifanondisabledcompanionisexcludedfroma
venuebecauseoftheassociationtothedisabledperson,thenthecompanions
righttoattendsaidvenueisindirectharm.

Section504oftheRehabilitationActdirectlystates"[n]ootherwisequalified
individualwithadisabilityintheUnitedStates...shall,solelybyreasonofher
orhisdisability,beexcludedfromtheparticipationin,bedeniedthebenefitsof,
orbesubjectedtodiscriminationunderanyprogramoractivityreceivingFederal

financialassistance(para.17).Thebroadinterpretationofanypersonby
CongressunderTitleIIIallowsMr.Corteztomakeaclaimofassociation.Itis
alsoinsistedthattheADAandRAmustbeinterpretedconsistently.

CaliforniasDisabledPersonsActstatesthatindividualswithdisabilitieshavethe
samerightasthegeneralpublicoffreeuseofpublicbuildings,publicfacilities,
andotherpublicvenues.SinceCaliforniasDisabledPersonsActexplicitly
incorporatesAmericanswithDisabilitiesActviolationsasabasisforrelief,
thereforclaimofassociationisagainfeasible.

InYourRoleasaManager
Thissituationcouldhavebeenpreventedhadtherebeenproper
accommodationsforpeoplewithdisabilities.ThePortervilleAthleticComplexdidnot
containapathwayforpeoplewithdisabilitiesrequiringwheelchairstosafelyand
easilytravelon.Mr.Cortezhadtocarryhisdaughterthroughafieldofhighgrass
whilehiswifepushedthewheelchairbehindhim.IntheADAregulationsitstatesthat
apathoftravelinnecessaryforallvenues.BydefinitioninaccordancewiththeADA
apathoftravelincludesacontinuous,unobstructedwayofpedestrianpassageby
meansofwhichthealteredareamaybeapproached,entered,andexited,andwhich
connectsthealteredareawithanexteriorapproach(includingsidewalks,streets,and
parkingareas),anentrancetothefacility,andotherpartsofthefacility.(TitleIII
RegulationsSupplementaryInformation,2010,subpartD, 36.403).Anaccessible
pathoftravelmayconsistofwalksandsidewalks,curbrampsandotherinterioror

exteriorpedestrianramps;clearfloorpathsthroughlobbies,corridors,rooms,and
otherimprovedareas;parkingaccessaisles;elevatorsandlifts;oracombinationof
theseelements.(SubpartD36.403)
ConsideringthatMr.CortezsclaimsarenotonlyviableundertheADA,but
theRAandDPAaswell,thecityisstillinviolationofdenyingequalaccesstoMr.
Cortezandhisgranddaughter.DespiteMr.Corteznotpersonallybeingdisabledheis
abletoassociatehimselfwithhisdisabledgranddaughterbecauseheisthepartythat
wasassistingthedisabled.Thecitycouldhavepreventedthisbypavingpathways
fromtheparkinglottotheentranceofthecomplexsothatitisequallyaccessibleby
allparties.

WorksCited

Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. (2010). AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct

TitleIIIRegulations.[CRTDocketNo.106;AGOrderNo.31812010].
Retrievedfrom
http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/titleIII_2010/titleIII_2010_regulations.htm#a403