Opinion
2:22-cv-02022-MEMF(JEMx)
04-06-2022
ANTONIO FERNANDEZ, Plaintiff, v. QUAN FAMILY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, Defendant.
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY THE COURT SHOULD NOT DECLINE TO EXERCISE SUPPLEMENTAL JURISDICTION OVER PLAINTIFF'S STATE LAW CLAIMS
MAAME EWUSI-MENSAH FRIMPONG, United States District Judge.
On March 27, 2022, Plaintiff Antonio Fernandez filed a Complaint against Defendant Quan Family Limited Liability Company, asserting: (1) a claim for injunctive relief and equitable nominal damages arising out of an alleged violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12010-12213; and (2) a claim for injunctive relief and damages pursuant to California's Unruh Civil Rights Act (“Unruh Act”), Cal. Civ. Code §§ 51-52 et seq. ECF No. 1. The Complaint alleges that this Court has jurisdiction over the ADA claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1343, and that the state law claims are brought “pursuant to supplemental jurisdiction.” Id. ¶¶ 5-6.
Principles of supplemental jurisdiction are codified in 28 U.S.C. § 1367. The supplemental jurisdiction statute “reflects the understanding that, when deciding whether to exercise supplemental jurisdiction, ‘a federal court should consider and weigh in each case, and at every stage of the litigation, the values of judicial economy, convenience, fairness, and comity.'” City of Chi. v. Int'l Coll. of Surgeons, 522 U.S. 156, 173 (1997) (emphasis added) (quoting Carnegie-Mellon Univ. v. Cohill, 484 U.S. 343, 350 (1988)).
California law sets forth a heightened pleading standard for a limited group of lawsuits brought under the Unruh Act. See Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 425.55(a)(2) & (3). The stricter pleading standard requires certain plaintiffs bringing construction-access claims, like the one in the instant case, to file a verified complaint alleging specific facts concerning the plaintiff's claim, including the specific barriers encountered, how the plaintiff was deterred, and each date on which the plaintiff encountered each barrier or was deterred. See Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 425.50(a). A “high-frequency litigant fee” is also imposed on certain plaintiffs and law firms bringing these claims. See Cal. Gov't Code § 70616.5.
In light of the foregoing, the Court ORDERS Plaintiff to show cause in writing why the Court should exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the Unruh Act claim. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c). In responding to this Order to Show Cause, Plaintiff shall identify the amount of statutory damages Plaintiff seeks to recover. Plaintiff and his counsel shall also support their responses to the Order to Show Cause with declarations, signed under penalty of perjury, providing all facts necessary for the Court to determine if they satisfy the definition of a “high-frequency litigant” as provided by California Code of Civil Procedure §§ 425.55(b)(1) & (2).
Plaintiff shall file a Response to this Order to Show Cause by April 20, 2022. The failure to timely or adequately respond to this Order to Show Cause may, without further warning, result in the Court declining to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the Unruh Act claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c).
IT IS SO ORDERED.