Opinion
Case No. 19-cv-96-NJR
2021-01-28
Subhadra GUNAWARDANA and David Seely, Plaintiffs, v. AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates, and Council on Education, Defendants.
Subhadra Gunawardana, Florissant, MO, for Plaintiff Subhadr A. Gunawardana. David Seely, Florissant, MO, for Plaintiff David Seely. J. Hayes Ryan, Marissa Louise Dellacroce, Gordon & Rees, et al., Chicago, IL, for Defendants.
Subhadra Gunawardana, Florissant, MO, for Plaintiff Subhadr A. Gunawardana.
David Seely, Florissant, MO, for Plaintiff David Seely.
J. Hayes Ryan, Marissa Louise Dellacroce, Gordon & Rees, et al., Chicago, IL, for Defendants.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
ROSENSTENGEL, Chief Judge:
Pending before the Court is a Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs Dr. Subhadra Gunawardana and Mr. David Seely's First Amended Complaint filed by Defendant American Veterinary Medical Association ("AVMA") (Doc. 80). For the reasons set forth below, the motion is granted.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Obtaining a license to practice veterinary medicine is a critical step for all veterinarians. For foreign graduates seeking licensure, the AVMA administers a certification process known as the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates ("ECFVG"). The ECFVG includes the Clinical Proficiency Exam ("CPE"), a "performance based exam intended to assess the practical clinical veterinary skills of the candidate" (Doc. 81, p. 2).
Dr. Gunawardana, a foreign veterinary graduate, started the ECFVG process in September 2009 (Doc. 63, p. 6). As a part of the ECFVG process, Dr. Gunawardana signed a document that contained the following release provision:
I hereby release, discharge, and exonerate the AVMA, the ECFVG ... from all actions, suits, obligations, damages, claims and demands arising out of, or in connections with, this application, the grade or grades given with respect to the examinations or the failure of the ECFVG to issue me a certificate. It is understood that the decision as to whether my examinations qualify me for a certificate vests solely and exclusively in the ECFVG and its decision is final.
(Doc. 81, p. 24).
After signing the release and completing the appropriate steps, Dr. Gunawardana worked towards completing the CPE. Dr. Gunawardana's first attempt at the CPE was in September 2015 (Doc. 63-1, p. 64). Unfortunately, Dr. Gunawardana did not pass the surgery, anesthesia, and equine sections.
Dr. Gunawardana's second attempt at the CPE took place October 17-19, 2016 (Id. at p. 65). But seven days before the retake of the surgery, anesthesia, and equine sections of the CPE, Dr. Gunawardana was diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the first carpometacarpal joint (Id. at p. 59). The next day, on October 11, 2016, Dr. Gunawardana requested accommodations including an assistant to help on the surgery section, use of a hand-brace during the equine and anesthesia sections, and time to stop between tasks to take pain medication during all sections (Id. at p. 60). AVMA denied this request because their CPE Testing Accommodation Policy requires candidates to submit the necessary documentation at least 90 days in advance (Id. at p. 61). Ultimately, Dr. Gunawardana failed the anesthesia section of the October 2016 CPE (Id. at pp. 62-63).
Determined to attain her ECFVG certification, Dr. Gunawardana retook the anesthesia section of the CPE in November 2017 (Id. at p. 4). Unfortunately, Dr. Gunawardana again failed the anesthesia section (Id. ). Dr. Gunawardana filed a petition for reconsideration and a petition for review, but both affirmed Dr. Gunawardana's failing score (Id. at pp. 1-18). Notably, Dr. Gunawardana did not cite lack of accommodations for the November 2017 CPE.
The record is unclear whether Dr. Gunawardana requested accommodations for the November 2017 CPE.
On February 1, 2019, Dr. Gunawardana and her husband, David Seely, filed a complaint against AVMA, ECFVG, and the Council on Education ("COE") (Doc. 63). Dr. Gunawardana brings seven counts against AVMA under various state and federal laws, including: Section 2-302 of the Illinois Uniform Commercial (Count I), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq ("Title VII") (Count II), 42 U.S.C. § 1981 (Count III); Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause (Count IV); Sherman Antitrust Act (Count V); 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3) (Count VI); and the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") (Count VII). Mr. Seely brings two counts against AVMA under federal law, including: the ADA (Count VIII) and Sherman Antitrust Act (Count IX). The Court has federal question jurisdiction over the federal claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367.
The COE is a branch of the AVMA (Doc. 63, p. 2). The COE allegedly provides educational accreditation and certification programs (Id. at p. 5). The COE, according to Dr. Gunawardana, conducted Dr. Gunawardana's petition of review (Id. at pp. 7-10).
On May 14, 2019, AVMA was granted time to answer or respond to the complaint (Doc. 18). AVMA then timely moved to dismiss the complaint (Doc. 22). On September 10, 2019, before deciding AVMA's Motion to Dismiss, Magistrate Judge Beatty ordered the parties to appear for a settlement conference on October 17, 2019 (Doc. 38). A week before the conference, Dr. Gunawardana and Mr. Seely admitted that they served discovery on AVMA on September 21, 2019, and, as a result, would not be prepared to answer the items in the settlement statement (Doc. 41). Accordingly, Dr. Gunawardana and Mr. Seely asked to reset the settlement conference to November 14, 2019 (Id. ). Magistrate Judge Beatty ultimately held the settlement conference on February 20, 2020, but the case did not settle.
On November 30, 2019, Dr. Gunawardana and Mr. Seely moved to amend their complaint (Doc. 51). On January 6, 2020, this Court granted Dr. Gunawardana and Mr. Seely's motion to amend (Doc. 62). On January 12, 2020, Dr. Gunawardana and Mr. Seely filed their First Amended Complaint (Doc. 63). AVMA subsequently filed this Motion to Dismiss arguing the First Amended Complaint fails to state a claim under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) (Doc. 81).
LEGAL STANDARD
To survive a motion seeking dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1), a plaintiff must " ‘clearly ... allege facts demonstrating’ each element" required to establish he has standing. See Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins , 578 U.S. 330, 136 S.Ct. 1540, 1547, 194 L.Ed.2d 635 (2016) (quoting Warth v. Seldin , 422 U.S. 490, 95 S.Ct. 2197, 2215, 45 L.Ed.2d 343 (1975) ). The "irreducible constitutional minimum" of standing requires a showing that a plaintiff has "(1) suffered an injury in fact, (2) that is fairly traceable to the challenged conduct of the defendant, and (3) that is likely to be redressed by a favorable judicial decision." Id. The burden of establishing these three elements falls on the party invoking the court's jurisdiction. Id.
Whether a defendant argues that a complaint fails to (1) properly state a claim, or (2) properly plead the elements of standing, courts apply the same analysis. See Silha v. ACT, Inc., 807 F.3d 169, 173 (7th Cir. 2015). The factual allegations contained within a complaint must "raise a right to relief above the speculative level, on the assumption that all the allegations in the complaint are true (even if doubtful in fact)." Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly , 550 U.S. 544, 554-55, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) (internal citations omitted); see also Warth v. Seldin , 422 U.S. 490, 501, 95 S.Ct. 2197, 45 L.Ed.2d 343 (1975) ("[T]rial and reviewing courts must accept as true all material allegations of the complaint, and must construe the complaint in favor of the complaining party."). Complaints that contain only "naked assertion[s] devoid of further factual enhancement" will not suffice. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Further, courts "need not accept as true legal conclusions, or threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements." Brooks v. Ross , 578 F.3d 574, 581 (7th Cir. 2009). On the other hand, "[a]t the pleading stage, general factual allegations of injury resulting from the defendant's conduct may suffice, for on a motion to dismiss [during the pleading stage] we ‘presum[e] that general allegations embrace those specific facts that are necessary to support the claim.’ " Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife , 504 U.S. 555, 561, 112 S.Ct. 2130, 119 L.Ed.2d 351 (1992) (quoting Lujan v. National Wildlife Fed. , 497 U.S. 871, 889, 110 S.Ct. 3177, 111 L.Ed.2d 695 (1990) ).
ANALYSIS
I. Timeliness of AVMA's Motion to Dismiss
Dr. Gunawardana and Mr. Seely argue that the Court should deny AVMA's Motion to Dismiss outright because the filing was untimely, and enter default judgment (Doc. 91). The Court will not. This Court—as well as Magistrate Judge Beatty—has granted Dr. Gunawardana and Mr. Seely's multiple extensions and requests to continue (Docs. 41, 82, 98). Additionally, this Court has even allowed Dr. Gunawardana and Mr. Seely to amend their complaint while AVMA's First Motion to Dismiss was pending (Doc. 51).
Not only has this Court extended deadlines and granted Dr. Gunawardana and Mr. Seely's requests to continue, but their amended complaint was not filed until January 2020. January 2020 was the beginning of COVID-19 outbreak that has impacted all 50 states, and countries around the world. In March, this Court extended the deadline for answering or otherwise responding to most complaints by sixty days. While AVMA's response became due before this Court extended the deadline because of COVID-19, this does not mean the Court should ignore the impact COVID-19 had on the parties. Thus, the Court will exercise its discretion in allowing AVMA's untimely Motion to Dismiss. See e.g., Mommaerts v. Hartford Life & Accident Ins. Co. , 472 F.3d 967, 968 (7th Cir. 2007) (district court properly exercised its discretion in allowing answer to complaint to be filed after responsive pleading deadline had passed where the delay was "harmless"); Deere & Co. v. Ohio Gear , 462 F.3d 701, 706-07 (7th Cir. 2006) ("district courts have broad discretion to manage their dockets ....").
More importantly, Dr. Gunawardana and Mr. Seely have not suffered prejudice. AVMA's First Motion to Dismiss contained almost the identical arguments as the pending Motion to Dismiss (Docs. 23, 81). Indeed, Dr. Gunawardana and Mr. Seely admit in their response to AVMA's motion that "Defendants’ instant motion largely repeats the same arguments presented in their original motion to dismiss ... with many identical paragraphs" (Doc. 91, p. 2). This is significant because Dr. Gunawardana and Mr. Seely had two opportunities to address or resolve the issues in their complaint. See Cherry v. Davis, 2013 WL 1628236, at *3 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 15, 2013) (acknowledging that "[u]nless a defendant can demonstrate prejudice from an untimely filed motion to dismiss, a court has the discretion to consider the merits of the motion").
Besides the lack of prejudice, Dr. Gunawardana and Mr. Seely waived their objection as to the timeliness of AVMA's Motion to Dismiss at the Court's status conference on July 22, 2020 (Doc. 86). At the status conference, this Court inquired as to the reasons why AVMA's Motion to Dismiss was filed far out of time. The Court then asked for Dr. Gunawardana's response. Rather than objecting to AVMA's Motion to Dismiss, Dr. Gunawardana simply asked for more time to respond. Accordingly, this argument was waived.
II. Dr. Gunawardana's Claims
A. Release of Claims by Waiver
According to the AVMA, this case should be dismissed because Dr. Gunawardana signed a waiver releasing AVMA and the ECFVG from any legal action as recourse for poor performance on certification examinations (Doc. 81, p. 4). Dr. Gunawardana argues the waiver is unenforceable because it is unconscionable and void as a matter of public policy (Doc. 91, p. 3). Dr. Gunawardana supports this point by noting that "the waiver in question is an adhesion contract, which all candidates are required to sign when enrolling in the ECFVG program" (Doc. 92, p. 6). Dr. Gunawardana continues by asserting that "[t]he language of the waiver is entirely one-sided, releasing and exonerating the AVMA and ECFVG from any and all claims arising from or related to any part of the certification process ...." (Id. ).
To consider documents attached to pleadings without converting a motion to dismiss into a motion for summary judgment, the documents must be referred to in the complaint and central to the plaintiff's claims. Adams v. City of Indianapolis , 742 F.3d 720, 729 (7th Cir. 2014) ; see Geinosky v. City of Chicago , 675 F.3d 743, 745 (7th Cir. 2012) (noting that "[a] motion under Rule 12(b)(6) can be based only on the complaint itself, documents attached to the complaint, documents that are critical to the complaint and referred to in it, and information that is subject to proper judicial notice"). Here, Dr. Gunawardana references the waiver in the operative complaint (Doc. 63, p. 19). She asserts that "[the] [i]ntent of unequal bargaining power is further evidenced by the mere existence of the waiver, which exonerates the AVMA from any and all claims arising from or related to the certification process, thus allowing AVMA/ECFVG to perform any act of negligence or injustice without consequence" (Id. ). Accordingly, the Court finds that it is appropriate to consider the waiver at this stage of the litigation.
Here, the parties have not raised a conflict of law issue and have instead briefed the release issue on the merits under Illinois law. The Court, as a result, will apply the law of Illinois. Illinois law recognizes covenants not to sue. Sanjuan v. Am. Bd. of Psychiatry & Neurology, Inc. , 40 F.3d 247, 249 (7th Cir. 1994). Further, a waiver releasing a certifying organization from any legal action as recourse for poor performance on certification examinations is not an unconscionable contract of adhesion. Id. In Sanjuan , two psychiatrists failed an oral examination administered by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Id. at 248. The psychiatrists signed nearly the identical release as the one signed by Dr. Gunawardana. Id. Like Dr. Gunawardana, "[p]laintiffs went back on their word, suing instead of accepting the outcome of the internal appeals." Id. at 249. The Board moved to dismiss and sought to enforce the psychiatrists’ releases.
On these facts, the Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's finding that the motion to dismiss was proper. The Court disagreed with the plaintiffs’ assertions that the releases were unconscionable contracts of adhesion. 1Id. Specifically, the Court noted that the psychiatrists’ releases were not more unconscionable "than the other standards for application, including paying fees and passing tests." Id. The Court continued acknowledging that "[i]f the Board as a private organization is entitled to set the rules of application and membership, it is entitled to insist that applicants agree to a legal cease-fire." Id.
The Seventh Circuit in Sanjuan , 40 F.3d at 249, however, suggested that its holding might be different if membership was an "economic necessity." See id. (acknowledging that the release might be in jeopardy if membership is an "economic necessity"). Dr. Gunawardana relies on this portion of Sanjuan and argues that an ECFVG certification is an "economic necessity" because this certification is required for a foreign graduate to get licensed (Doc. 92, p. 8).
Under Illinois law, courts will review a private association's denial of an application for membership or the benefits thereof when what is applied for constitutes an "economic necessity." Treister v. Am. Acad. of Orthopaedic Surgeons , 78 Ill.App.3d 746, 33 Ill.Dec. 501, 396 N.E.2d 1225, 1231 (1979). Besides alleging facts showing such economic necessity, federal review of a voluntary association's actions with respect to its members is limited to consideration of whether the decisions are "arbitrary and unreasonable" and whether they are supported by "substantial evidence." Peoria Sch. of Bus., Inc. v. Accrediting Council for Continuing Educ. & Training , 805 F. Supp. 579, 583 (N.D. Ill. 1992).
Not only does Dr. Gunawardana fail to plead economic necessity, but also she fails to allege sufficient facts suggesting that AVMA's actions were arbitrary and unreasonable. Additionally, Dr. Gunawardana has not provided authority that the Seventh Circuit's holding in Sanjuan does not apply. Dr. Gunawardana points to a few sentences in Sanjuan where the Court mentions that if membership is an "economic necessity," then the waiver of release "would be in jeopardy." Sanjuan , 40 F.3d at 249. But this Court has not found authority limiting the applicability of Sanjuan or evaluating a waiver of release when the membership is an "economic necessity." Accordingly, Dr. Gunawardana is barred from bringing all claims, unless clarified below.
B. Violation of Section 2-302 of Illinois Uniform Commercial (Count I)
Even if Dr. Gunawardana's claim was not barred by her release, Dr. Gunawardana still fails to state a claim under Section 2-302 of the Illinois Uniform Commercial Code ("UCC"). 810 ILCS 5/2-302. Under Section 2-302, "[i]f the court as a matter of law finds the contract or any clause of the contract to have been unconscionable at the time it was made the court may refuse to enforce the contract, or it may enforce the remainder of the contract without the unconscionable clause, or it may so limit the application of any unconscionable clause as to avoid any unconscionable result." In general, Article 2 of the Illinois UCC, applies solely to "transactions" involving "goods." 810 ILCS 5/2-102 ; see also Belleville Toyota, Inc. v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. , 199 Ill.2d 325, 264 Ill.Dec. 283, 770 N.E.2d 177, 194 (2002) (acknowledging that Article 2 is limited to "transactions in goods").
Here, Plaintiffs allege "ECFVG engages in a contract with each candidate for a service in exchange for money, to evaluate their professional knowledge and skills for a certificate making them eligible to apply for US licensure." (Doc. 63, p. 18). But the simple fact is Dr. Gunawardana cannot plausibly allege facts showing that the contract is unconscionable under the Illinois UCC because the code applies only to transactions involving goods, not services. Accordingly, Count I must be dismissed.
C. Title VII (Count II)
Although the release bars Dr. Gunawardana's claim under Title VII, AVMA further points out that "[Dr. Gunawardana] cannot state a claim against the AVMA for violation of Title VII because the AVMA is not Plaintiff's employer" (Doc. 81, p. 6). The Seventh Circuit, however, has not definitively decided that a plaintiff must have been an employee of defendant in order to have a Title VII claim. See Alexander v. Rush N. Shore Med. Ctr. , 101 F.3d 487, 493 (7th Cir. 1996) (limiting its ruling and noting that the Court "[has] no occasion to go further and determine if a Title VII plaintiff must always demonstrate that he [or she] is an employee of the defendant employer ").
See Wagner v. NutraSweet Co. , 95 F.3d 527, 532 (7th Cir. 1996) (noting that "[i]t is clear that a plaintiff may waive a claim under Title VII (and, by extension, under the Equal Pay Act) as part of a voluntary settlement, provided that her consent to the release was voluntary and knowing").
District courts in the Seventh Circuit are divided on whether a plaintiff must demonstrate employment with the defendant in order to have a Title VII claim. See e.g. , EEOC v. Foster Wheeler Const., Inc. , 1999 WL 515524, at *5 (N.D. Ill. July 14, 1999) (finding that "an employee of one Title VII employer may sue a different Title VII employer whose discriminatory actions interfere with the employee's employment conditions"); Morrison v. Am. Bd. of Psychiatry & Neurology, Inc. , 908 F. Supp. 582, 584-87 (N.D. Ill. 1996) (noting that plaintiff's "Title VII claim is not a mainstream Title VII claim because she does not— and could not—allege that Board is her employer[,]" but because plaintiff alleged that the "lack of Board certification will significantly inhibit her future employment prospects ... [her claim] survive[d] Board's motion to dismiss"); but see Kerr v. WGN Cont'l Broad. Co. , 229 F. Supp. 2d 880, 887 (N.D. Ill. 2002) (acknowledging that "the Seventh Circuit[,] [in dicta ,] has rejected the idea that Title VII creates a class of defendants that can be liable to individuals, without the limitation of an actual or de facto employment relationship ....").
Dismissing Dr. Gunawardana's Title VII by adopting a narrow reading of Title VII—as covering only traditional employment relationships—may be imprecise. Courts, instead, have used common law agency principles in employment discrimination cases to determine whether a defendant is liable for the alleged Title VII violations. But using common law agency principals "is difficult to do [ ] without a more fully developed factual record, which is probably why ... such issues [are] determined at the summary judgment stage rather than on a motion to dismiss." Brown v. Cook Cty. , 2018 WL 3122174, at *7 (N.D. Ill. June 26, 2018) (collecting cases).
Still, this Court dismisses Dr. Gunawardana's Title VII claim even under the broad reading of Title VII—as covering employment agencies and labor organizations—because the AVMA is neither an "employment agency" nor a "labor organization." To be an "employment agency" under Title VII, the entity must "regularly undertak[e] with or without compensation to procure employees for an employer or to procure for employees opportunities to work for an employer and includes an agent of such a person." 42 U.S.C. § 2000e. To be a "labor organization" under Title VII, the entity must "[be] engaged in an industry affecting commerce, and any agent of such an organization, and includes any organization of any kind, any agency, or employee representation committee, group, association, or plan so engaged in which employees participate and which exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours, or other terms or conditions of employment, and any conference, general committee, joint or system board, or joint council so engaged which is subordinate to a national or international labor organization." Id.
Here, Dr. Gunawardana alleges that the "AVMA is an employment agency under Title VII because they are the gatekeeper for all veterinary graduates seeking employment in the US, and maintains a career center which functions as a liaison between potential employers and employees" (Doc. 63, p. 20) (emphasis added). Dr. Gunawardana further alleges that the "career center helps match potential employees with employers, and provides job-seeker assistance through tools such as career coaching, resume writing, reference checking, and career learning presentations" (Id. ) (emphasis added).
Dr. Gunawardana fails to allege that the AVMA actively refers veterinarians to animal clinics, hospitals, or other organizations that employ veterinarians. See Zamani v. Am. Dental Ass'n , 1998 WL 812545, at *4 (N.D. Ill. Nov. 18, 1998) (finding that "[o]nly those persons who refer employees to employers, as that term is defined in the statute, are employment agencies") (emphasis added). The closest action to referring as explained in Dr. Gunawardana's opposition to AVMA's Motion to Dismiss is apparently "maintain [ing] an employment website to assist veterinarians with employment ..." (Doc. 92, p. 10) (emphasis added).
Additionally, the AVMA is not a "labor organization" under Title VII because "[o]nly those organizations that deal directly with employers concerning working conditions are considered labor organizations." Zamani , 1998 WL 812545 at *4. Dr. Gunawardana does not assert that the AVMA deals directly with any veterinary employers on issues relating to the working conditions of veterinarians, thus the AVMA is not a "labor organization" under Title VII.
Even under the broadest reading of Title VII—as covering entities beyond employment agencies and labor organizations—Count II must be dismissed because there are no allegations that AVMA discriminated against Dr. Gunawardana based on her race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Dr. Gunawardana, instead, asserts discriminatory policies and practices against foreign veterinary graduates. Therefore, Dr. Gunawardana's Title VII claim, Count II, must be dismissed.
Also, under the "scope of the charge" doctrine, a plaintiff may only bring in federal court claims that were previously presented to the EEOC. See Alexander v. Gardner–Denver Co. , 415 U.S. 36, 47, 94 S.Ct. 1011, 39 L.Ed.2d 147 (1974) ; Miller v. Am. Airlines , 525 F.3d 520, 525 (7th Cir. 2008). Dr. Gunawardana provided her notice of right to sue letter, but failed to provide her EEOC charges, and there are still questions of the scope of Dr. Gunawardana's EEOC charges, and whether they are properly before this Court.
D. Section 1981 (Count III)
Aside from Dr. Gunawardana's release, her claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 also must be dismissed for failure to state a claim. See Getachew v. PartyLite Worldwide, Inc. , 2011 WL 5507382, at *2 (N.D. Ill. Nov. 10, 2011) (dismissing plaintiff's claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1981, though at summary judgment, because plaintiff signed a release "relinquishing any right to bring suit under any federal or state employment law"). Under 42 U.S.C. § 1981, all persons within the jurisdiction of the United States are protected from racial discrimination in the "making, performance, modification, and termination of contracts, and the enjoyment of all benefits, privileges, terms, and conditions of the contractual relationship."
Courts define "race" broadly, and the concept of race discrimination has been expanded to include discrimination on the basis of ancestry or ethnic characteristics. Bisciglia v. Kenosha Unified Sch. Dist. No. 1 , 45 F.3d 223, 229 (7th Cir. 1995) (citing Saint Francis Coll. v. Al-Khazraji , 481 U.S. 604, 613, 107 S.Ct. 2022, 95 L.Ed.2d 582 (1987) ("Congress intended to protect from discrimination identifiable classes of persons who are subjected to intentional discrimination solely because of their ancestry or ethnic characteristics")). But allegations of discrimination based only on "the place or nation of [plaintiff's] origin" are not sufficient to state a section 1981 claim. Saint Francis Coll. , 481 U.S. at 613, 107 S.Ct. 2022. Without an allegation of racial animus, "either explicit or reasonably inferable from the pleadings," a section 1981 claim must be dismissed. Anooya v. Hilton Hotels Corp. , 733 F.2d 48, 50 (7th Cir. 1984).
AVMA contends that Dr. Gunawardana fails to allege that she was discriminated against based on her race or ethnicity (Doc. 81, p. 8). The Court agrees. Dr. Gunawardana alleges that the AVMA discriminated against her due to her birthplace in Sri Lanka and against all foreign graduates (Doc. 63, p. 22-23). Dr. Gunawardana also alleges that "the AVMA's practices disfavor the entry of non-white races into the US workforce, either directly or indirectly" (Id. at p. 23). Dr. Gunawardana continues pleading that the AVMA created the ECFVG policies in such a way as to single out entire groups to minimize their entry to the veterinary field (Id. at p. 22).
These are serious allegations, but they are insufficient to state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1981. See e.g. , Hussein v. Oshkosh Motor Truck Co. , 816 F.2d 348, 352 (7th Cir. 1987) (reversing the district court's decision to dismiss plaintiff's section 1981 claim when plaintiff not only alleged " ‘[he] [is] an Egyptian born naturalized citizen’ but also that he is ‘not a member of the white or caucasion [sic] race, but is rather a member of the Negro or Brown race[ ]’ [and] [t]he complaint further elaborated that, during his employment, [plaintiff] had ‘received numerous ethnic slurs from co-employees and supervisory personnel,’ ... many of which were racially-motivated"); Doe on Behalf of Doe v. St. Joseph's Hosp. of Fort Wayne , 788 F.2d 411, 418 (7th Cir. 1986), overruled on other grounds by Alexander , 101 F.3d 487 (finding that a Korean plaintiff's allegations were sufficient because she "expressly alleged the defendant had discriminated against her because of her race"); Padron v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , 783 F. Supp.2d 1042, 1054 (N.D. Ill. 2011) (denying defendant's motion to dismiss because plaintiffs "allege[d] that they have dark-colored skin, eyes and hair and that they are members of a racial minority, which could give rise to an inference of racial animus"); Abdulrahim v. Gene B. Glick Co. , 612 F. Supp. 256, 262 (N.D. Ind. 1985) (granting defendant's motion to dismiss even when plaintiff alleged that he is Syrian descent whose "skin pigmentation is such that he may be perceived as non-white"); De La Torres v. Gianni Furniture Co. , 1986 WL 6407, at *2 (N.D. Ill. June 5, 1986) (granting defendant's motion to dismiss because "plaintiff's status as a Cuban-American, in itself, does not provide him with membership in a non-white racial group"). Because Dr. Gunawardana fails to allege that the AVMA discriminated against her because of her race, Count III must be dismissed.
E. Fourteenth Amendment (Count IV)
The Fourteenth Amendment protects citizens from conduct by the government—generally not from conduct by private actors. See Nat'l Collegiate Athletic Ass'n v. Tarkanian, 488 U.S. 179, 191, 109 S.Ct. 454, 102 L.Ed.2d 469 (1988) (acknowledging that "[a]s a general matter the protections of the Fourteenth Amendment do not extend to ‘private conduct abridging individual rights’ ") (quoting Burton v. Wilmington Parking Auth. , 365 U.S. 715, 722, 81 S.Ct. 856, 6 L.Ed.2d 45 (1961) ). However, "the conduct of private actors, in some cases, can constitute state action." Hallinan v. Fraternal Order of Police of Chicago Lodge No. 7 , 570 F.3d 811, 815 (7th Cir. 2009). A private actor's conduct will be characterized as state action when the alleged deprivation of constitutional rights are "caused by the exercise of some right or privilege created by the State or by a rule of conduct imposed by the State or by a person who may fairly be said to be a state actor." Id. (quotations omitted).
"The Supreme Court has identified numerous situations where private action can become that of the state, such as: when private actors conspire or are jointly engaged with state actors; where the state compels the discriminatory action; when the state controls a nominally private entity or is entwined with its management or control; or when the state delegates a public function to a private entity." Whitney v. Window to the World Commc'ns, Inc. , 837 F. Supp. 2d 854, 857 (N.D. Ill. 2011) (citing Hallinan , 570 F.3d at 815–16 ). "Over time, Supreme Court and Seventh Circuit precedent have revealed that these cases do not so much enunciate a test or series of factors, but rather demonstrate examples of outcomes in a fact-based assessment." Hallinan , 570 F.3d at 816.
The AVMA is not a state actor—it is a private association. As a result, AVMA argues that Dr. Gunawardana does not properly plead facts that, if true, establish AVMA as a state actor (Doc. 81, pp. 9-11). The Court agrees. Dr. Gunawardana pleads "[a]ll state regulatory boards require applicants to complete AVMA-accredited or AVMA-administered programs as a prerequisite for state veterinary licensure" (Doc. 63, p. 23). Dr. Gunawardana alleges "[t]he United States Department of Education [USDE] recognizes the AVMA COE as the sole accrediting authority for veterinary education, and tapped them for additional responsibilities previously held by a USDE subcommittee" (Id. ). Dr. Gunawardana continues by pleading that "AVMA is a gatekeeper for Title IV and Title VII federal funding, and administers/distributes federal grants" (Id. ). As a catch-all, Dr. Gunawardana includes an allegation that "AVMA officials are pervasively intertwined with state agencies including regulatory boards, federal departments and the military" (Id. at p. 24).
In Sanjuan , the Seventh Circuit rejected a Fourteenth Amendment claim that a certifying board was a state actor:
We agree with the district court, however, that the Board is a private association. It does not issue licenses to practice; it simply certifies achievement of a standard of excellence ... [The fact that ] states make certification by the Board a prerequisite for some public positions does not convert the Board into a state actor, any more than a state's insistence that some employees have advanced degrees converts every college and university into a state actor . If the Board's certification processes are unreliable, that may be a reason why the state should not depend on them; public beliefs that they are reliable (and consequent willingness to rely) do not bestow governmental power on the Board. State and local governments are responsible for their own decisions, and persons aggrieved by those decisions must complain against their authors (the states themselves) rather than against the Board.
40 F.3d at 250 (emphasis added).
Indeed, Dr. Gunawardana's complaint and briefs are full of allegations about the relationship between AVMA, AVMA's branches, the United States Department of Education, and other government agencies and commissions. But nothing in the complaint or briefing reaches the ultimate issue: whether AVMA makes the sole decision to issue a veterinary license. Like the medical board in Sanjuan , 40 F.3d at 250, AVMA issues certifications—not licenses to practice veterinary medicine.
Even if AVMA's actions could be construed as state action, Dr. Gunawardana must allege a deprivation of a property right. Citizens Health Corp. v. Sebelius , 725 F.3d 687, 694 (7th Cir. 2013) (noting that "[t]he threshold question in any due process challenge is whether a protected property or liberty interest actually exists"). "To maintain a claim of property over a government-issued benefit, such as a license or permit, a plaintiff must show she has ‘a legitimate claim of entitlement to it’ rather than a ‘unilateral expectation to it.’ " Dyson v. City of Calumet City , 306 F.Supp.3d 1028, 1041 (N.D. Ill. 2018) (quoting Bell v. City of Country Club Hills , 841 F.3d 713, 717 (7th Cir. 2016)) (citations omitted). "More specifically, ‘where state law gives people a benefit and creates a system of nondiscretionary rules governing revocation or renewal of that benefit, the recipients have a secure and durable property right, a legitimate claim of entitlement.’ " Quick v. Illinois Dep't of Fin. & Prof'l Regulation , 468 F. Supp. 3d 1001, 1007 (N.D. Ill. 2020) (quoting Chicago United Indus., Ltd. v. City of Chicago , 669 F.3d 847, 851 (7th Cir. 2012) ).
Dr. Gunawardana claims AVMA violated her protected property interest in a "US veterinary license she is entitled to" (Doc. 63, p. 27). The problem is Dr. Gunawardana's license was not revoked, nor was Dr. Gunawardana renewing her license. Dr. Gunawardana failed the anesthesia section of the CPE three times (Doc. 63-1). Without completing the CPE, Dr. Gunawardana has not earned the ECFVG certification. Without the ECFVG certification, Dr. Gunawardana is not entitled to a veterinary license because "the ECFVG tests the professional skills of foreign veterinary graduates seeking to practice in the USA, and provides the educational certification necessary for that purpose" (Id. at p. 5). Thus, Dr. Gunawardana does not have a property right in a veterinary license, and Count IV must be dismissed.
F. Sherman Act (Count V)
Unlike Dr. Gunawardana's other claims, the release does not bar her from bringing antitrust claims. See Sanjuan , 40 F.3d at 250 ("conclud[ing] that plaintiffs’ release does not prevent them from making an antitrust claim in court"). Dr. Gunawardana's antitrust claims are based on the alleged violations of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act. "The purpose of the Sherman Act is to protect consumers from injury that results from diminished competition." Agnew v. Nat'l Collegiate Athletic Ass'n , 683 F.3d 328, 334 (7th Cir. 2012) (citing Banks v. NCAA, 977 F.2d 1081, 1087 (7th Cir. 1992) ). To plead a violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, Plaintiffs must plead: "(1) a contract, combination, or conspiracy; (2) a resultant unreasonable restraint of trade in [a] relevant market; and (3) an accompanying injury." Id. at 335 (quoting Denny's Marina, Inc. v. Renfro Prods., Inc., 8 F.3d 1217, 1220 (7th Cir. 1993) ).
"Substantial market power is an essential ingredient of every antitrust case under the Rule of Reason." Sanjuan , 40 F.3d at 251 (citations omitted). Dr. Gunawardana has not pled that AVMA's activities led to a decrease in output in the market which causes higher prices to consumers. In fact, Dr. Gunawardana pleads the opposite. According to Dr. Gunawardana, AVMA is flooding the veterinary market (Doc. 63, p. 30). See id. ("[b]y flooding the market with graduates from distributive model schools, [AVMA] place[s] active restrictions against specific groups including foreigners, minorities and graduates from traditional research-model institutions"). To allege that AVMA's activities has led to higher prices to consumers, Dr. Gunawardana continues by noting that "[g]raduates from the vocational model schools are provided incentives for employment in the Banfield system, which, according to clients’ accounts, charges inflated prices and prescribes numerous unnecessary services" (Id. at p. 32). Accordingly, Dr. Gunawardana's claims regarding violations of Section 1 of the Sherman Act must be dismissed.
Section 2 of the Sherman Act prohibits "the employment of unjustifiable means to gain that power" and requires "two elements: (1) the possession of monopoly power in the relevant market and (2) the willful acquisition or maintenance of that power as distinguished from growth or development as a consequence of a superior product, business acumen, or historical accident." United States v. Grinnell Corp. , 384 U.S. 563, 570–71, 86 S.Ct. 1698, 16 L.Ed.2d 778 (1966). The first element "contains two-sub requirements: (1) a relevant market; and (2) possession of monopoly power in that market." Ploss v. Kraft Foods Grp., Inc. , 197 F. Supp. 3d 1037, 1069 (N.D. Ill. 2016).
Here, Dr. Gunawardana has failed to identify a relevant market. See id. at 1070–71 (acknowledging that "[c]ourts should dismiss antitrust claims based on a market argument only when it is certain that ‘the alleged relevant market clearly does not encompass all interchangeable substitute products or when a plaintiff fail[s] even to attempt a plausible explanation as to why a market should be limited in a particular way’ ") (quoting In re Dairy Farmers of Am., Inc. Cheese Antitrust Litig. , 767 F. Supp. 2d 880, 901 (N.D. Ill. 2011) ). "In an area that is not obviously commercial, and thus where the Sherman Act's application is not clearly apparent, [ ] it is incumbent on the plaintiff to describe the rough contours of the relevant commercial market in which anticompetitive effects may be felt, even when a quick-look approach is all that is called for." Agnew , 683 F.3d at 345.
Even assuming that Dr. Gunawardana's relevant market is the "veterinary market," Dr. Gunawardana's complaint still falls short as she fails to plead that AVMA's actions have an anticompetitive effect on the veterinary market. Again, Dr. Gunawardana pleads that AVMA conspires with the Banfield Hospital and several distributive model veterinary schools to flood the market with graduates from distributive model schools, thus actively restricting against specific groups "including foreigners, minorities and graduates from traditional research-model institutions" (Doc. 63, p. 29-30). While this is a serious allegation, "the Sherman Act is not a precursor to the Civil Rights Act of 1964." Sanjuan , 40 F.3d at 252.
Stopping the analysis at this initial step, while proper, would be incomplete because Dr. Gunawardana fails to state a claim under Section 2 of the Sherman Act for additional reasons. For instance, Dr. Gunawardana fails to allege facts supporting the notion of AVMA's possession of monopoly power. "Ultimately, the allegations must show that the defendant has the ‘power to control prices or exclude competition in a relevant market.’ " Ploss , 197 F. Supp. 3d at 1071 (quoting MCI Commc'ns Corp. v. Am. Tel. & Tel. Co. , 708 F.2d 1081, 1106 (7th Cir. 1983) ). Dr. Gunawardana's allegations do not include facts regarding AVMA's power to control prices or exclude competition in any market. If the relevant market is the "veterinary market," the high prices, according to Dr. Gunawardana's allegations, is a result of the Banfield system—not AVMA. As far as excluding competition in the veterinary market, Dr. Gunawardana again alleges that the AVMA is flooding the veterinary market. Changing the relevant market to the "veterinary market in Missouri" does not help Dr. Gunawardana, as her allegations fall victim for the same reasons. If the relevant market is the market over certifying foreign graduates for licensure purposes, Dr. Gunawardana admits that AVMA's ECFVG is actually more practical, viable, and less expensive than the alternative (Doc. 92, p. 15).
Besides failing to plead facts demonstrating the first element of a monopolization claim under Section 2 of the Sherman Act, Dr. Gunawardana also fails to plead facts demonstrating the second element of a monopolization claim—that AVMA engaged in anticompetitive conduct. Thus, Dr. Gunawardana fails to state a claim under the Section 2 of the Sherman Act, and Count V must be dismissed.
G. Section 1985(3) (Count VI)
Dr. Gunawardana also fails to state a claim under Section 1985(3). "A plaintiff raising a claim under Section 1985(3) must allege (1) the existence of a conspiracy, (2) a purpose of depriving a person or class of persons of equal protection of the laws, (3) an act in furtherance of the alleged conspiracy, and (4) an injury to person or property or a deprivation of a right or privilege granted to U.S. citizens" Majeske v. Fraternal Order of Police, Local Lodge No. 7 , 94 F.3d 307, 311 (7th Cir. 1996).
Here, Dr. Gunawardana fails to plausibly allege any conspiracy. Dr. Gunawardana brings suit against the AVMA and its subsidiaries asserting "AVMA's membership is widespread; that they perform many different functions; and have affiliations with many organizations including state and federal entities, a conspiracy within AVMA members, within its committees, and/or between AVMA and outside entities, is more than plausible" (Doc. 63, p. 34). From Dr. Gunawardana's complaint, this Court may be able to generously construe an allegation that AVMA conspired with Banfield, vocational and distributive model veterinary schools, and other agencies and organizations. "But without any detail to flesh out this conclusory assertion, it lacks plausibility ...." Ma v. CVS Pharmacy, Inc. , 833 Fed.Appx. 10, 14 (7th Cir. 2020).
Dr. Gunawardana provides no basis for inferring that Banfield or other entities agreed, explicitly or implicitly, with AVMA to deprive her of equal protection of the laws. See id. (citing Twombly , 550 U.S. at 556-57, 127 S.Ct. 1955 ; Indep. Tr. Corp. v. Stewart Info. Servs. Corp. , 665 F.3d 930, 939 (7th Cir. 2012) ). Also, Dr. Gunawardana's complaint lacks any suggestion that Banfield shared in a common purpose with AVMA to obstruct her rights. Dr. Gunawardana alleges certain "vocational schools have received massive financial support from the Banfield hospital system owned by MARS Inc." (Doc. 63, p. 32). The complaint also alleges "[i]n conspiracy with the Banfield system and several vocational model veterinary schools, the AVMA continues to restrict the market against graduates from both non-accredited institutions and traditional institutions" (Id. at p. 38). But the complaint "lacks allegations permitting an inference that the alleged conspirators had a racial or other class-based motive ...." Ma , 833 Fed.Appx. at 14. Instead, based on Dr. Gunawardana's allegations, Banfield has financial motives and the schools’ motives are grounded in providing employment for their graduates. Thus, AVMA's Motion to Dismiss is granted as to Count VI.
H. Title III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12181 – 12189 (Count VII)
Although the release bars Dr. Gunawardana's claim under 42 U.S.C. § 12189, Count VII also should be dismissed as untimely. "[D]ismissal is appropriate when the plaintiff pleads himself out of court by alleging facts sufficient to establish the complaint's tardiness." Cancer Found., Inc. v. Cerberus Capital Mgmt., LP , 559 F.3d 671, 674–75 (7th Cir. 2009) (citations omitted).
See Mancuso v. Danfoss, Inc. , 6 F. App'x 391, 395 (7th Cir. 2001) (holding that district court did not abuse its discretion enforcing settlement agreement and dismissing plaintiff's ADA claims where plaintiff agreed to waive her ADA claim).
The Seventh Circuit has acknowledged that "the most appropriate state limitations period applies" to a plaintiff's claim of discrimination under 42 U.S.C. § 12189. Soignier v. Am. Bd. of Plastic Surgery , 92 F.3d 547, 550 (7th Cir. 1996). In Soignier , the plaintiff, a plastic surgeon from Dallas, Texas, failed the oral portion of the Board certification process four times. Id. at 549. Determined to pass the oral portion, the plaintiff attempted the oral portion again in November 1992. Id. Unlike his other attempts, the plaintiff asked the Board to accommodate his disabilities by requesting "more time to take the test, use of models and paper drawings during the test, time to rephrase questions or rewrite them if necessary, and different examiners than those who had administered his past tests" Id. at 549–50. The Board did not accommodate all of the plaintiff's requests, and he failed the oral portion for a fifth time. Id. at 550. The plaintiff then appealed this outcome to the Board. Id . In November 1994, the Board upheld the November 1992 examination result because the Board found that the examination was conducted fairly. Id . On May 9, 1995, the plaintiff sued the Board under 42 U.S.C. § 12189 of the ADA in the United States District Court for Northern District of Illinois. Id.
To evaluate whether the plaintiff's discrimination claim against the Board under 42 U.S.C. § 12189 was time-barred, the district court had to determine the applicable statute of limitations and when the claim began to accrue. Id. The district court acknowledged that Illinois’ two-year statute of limitations period for personal injury actions applied because the case was brought in Illinois. Id. The district then found that the plaintiff's claim accrued in November 1992, but plaintiff did not file his complaint in federal court until May 1995. Id. Accordingly, the district court dismissed the suit as time-barred. Id.
On appeal, the Seventh Circuit confirmed that the district court "correctly applied Illinois’ two-year statute of limitations for personal injuries as the most analogous limitations period for [plaintiff's] ADA claim." Id. at 551. The Seventh Circuit then held that the two-year clock starts on the date that the plaintiff took the exam without the accommodations requested, because by that date plaintiff "was aware of each of the elements of his ADA claim: (a) [plaintiff] was a qualified person with a disability; (b) the law required the Board to provide [plaintiff] with reasonable accommodations during the test; and (c) the Board allegedly failed to provide those accommodations." Id. at 553-54 (citations omitted).
Following the Seventh Circuit's decision in Soignier , Dr. Gunawardana's claim under 42 U.S.C. § 12189 must be dismissed as untimely. Like Soignier , Illinois’ two-year statute of limitations period for personal injury actions applies as it is the most analogous limitations period for Dr. Gunawardana's ADA claim. Under Illinois’ two-year statute of limitations period, Dr. Gunawardana had until October 2018 to file her complaint as she took the anesthesia portion of the CPE exam without the accommodations requested in October 2016 (Doc. 63, p. 35; Doc. 63-1, pp. 60-63). But Dr. Gunawardana filed her complaint on February 1, 2019—four months after the statute of limitations expired (Doc. 2).
Dr. Gunawardana argues that her claim is not barred because it is a continued violation and relies on Scherr v. Marriott Int'l, Inc. , 703 F.3d 1069 (7th Cir. 2013). In Scherr , the plaintiff requested an ADA-compliant hotel room. Id. at 1071. However, the hotel had installed spring hinge doors on the bathroom doors of some of its rooms, including the plaintiff's ADA-complaint room. Id. Ultimately, the plaintiff was injured when the spring hinged door closed automatically and knocked the plaintiff down. Id. The plaintiff brought suit under Title III of the ADA seeking injunctive relief against the hotel and fifty-six of the hotel's other locations for using spring-hinged doors. Id.
In Scherr , "[plaintiff] brought her ADA claim in November 2010 ... more than four years after her actual injury in March 2006." Id. at 1075. The hotel contended that the plaintiff's claim was "time-barred because she knew of the alleged problem with the spring-hinged doors long before she filed her personal injury action, let alone her ADA claim." Id. The plaintiff, on the other hand, argued that "a plaintiff seeking injunctive relief from ongoing violations, the cause of action continues to accrue each day the defendant remains in violation of the ADA." Id. The Seventh Circuit noted that the plaintiff "alleged that she is currently aware of what she believes to be ongoing ADA violations at the [hotel], and that she would return to the hotel but for these ongoing violations." Id. at 1076. The Court then held that "[b]ecause the violations [plaintiff] alleges are continuing, the applicable statute of limitations does not bar her claim." Id.
Dr. Gunawardana's reliance on Scherr is misplaced. As shown above, Scherr did not involve a claim of discrimination under 42 U.S.C. § 12189 against a private entity offering a professional certification. Dr. Gunawardana also has not alleged an ongoing ADA violation like the ongoing ADA violation in Scherr . Dr. Gunawardana alleges that the AVMA's ADA violation is ongoing because it still has a policy of requiring a request for accommodation 90 days before the exam date (Doc. 63, pp. 35-36). But unlike the plaintiff in Scherr —who alleged that she would return to the hotel but for the ongoing violations—Dr. Gunawardana has not alleged that she would retake the CPE but for AVMA's ongoing ADA violations. In fact, Dr. Gunawardana alleged she already retook the CPE in November 2017 (Doc. 63, p. 7; Doc. 63-1, p. 1-15).
In her opposition to AVMA's Motion to Dismiss, Dr. Gunawardana argues that "Plaintiff's consistent position was that she is not willing to retake the exam in its current form, with all its violations of civil rights and equal protections, and complete lack of transparency or oversight" (Doc. 92, p. 17). Nonetheless, she retook the CPE in November 2017.
Accordingly, Soignier controls the Court's decision with respect to Dr. Gunawardana's claim under 42 U.S.C. § 12189, and Count VII must be dismissed as untimely.
III. MR. SEELY'S CLAIMS
A. Standing
Article III of the Constitution limits the judicial power of federal courts to adjudicating "cases" and "controversies." Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. , 551 U.S. 587, 597, 127 S.Ct. 2553, 168 L.Ed.2d 424 (2007). "One of the controlling elements in the definition of a case or controversy under Article III is standing." Id. (internal quotations, citations, and alterations omitted). "[T]he irreducible constitutional minimum of standing consists of three elements." Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins , 578 U.S. 330, 136 S.Ct. 1540, 1547, 194 L.Ed.2d 635 (2016). A plaintiff must have (1) suffered an injury in fact, (2) that is fairly traceable to the defendant's challenged conduct, and (3) is redressable by the Court. Id.
Here, Mr. Seely's alleged injuries are not fairly traceable to AVMA's challenged conduct. Mr. Seely allegedly suffered by having to accompany Dr. Gunawardana for the November 2017 CPE, economic damages from Dr. Gunawardana's loss of earnings in the veterinary field, and as a direct consumer of veterinary services—"which are not limited to companion animal veterinary care" (Doc. 63, p. 38). This creative attempt at pleading a concrete injury still amounts to indirect suffering, which does not create standing. Under Mr. Seely's logic, everyone would be able to sue their spouse's employer because of the damages it causes to the household. This logic, however, has been rejected by district courts in the Seventh Circuit. See e.g., Feng v. Sandrik , 636 F. Supp. 77, 82 (N.D. Ill. 1986) (acknowledging that "spouses of individuals who have been victimized by employment discrimination cannot be said to fall within the class of persons Title VII was intended to protect"); Diffay v. Am. Tel. & Tel. Co. , 1988 WL 53209, at *12 (N.D. Ill. May 13, 1988) (noting that spouse's claim is based on the adverse effect of a previous decision as to her husband—thus "[s]he is without standing to sue under Title VII"); Simonsen v. Bd. of Educ. of the City of Chicago , No. 01-C-3081, 2001 WL 1250103 (N.D. Ill. Nov. 8, 2001) (holding that four relatives lacked standing because "[n]othing in the complaint alleges that any defendant took any action against them[ ] [and] [the] [fact] [t]hat they may be indirectly suffering the consequences of [plaintiff's] suspension is not sufficient to create Article III standing"). Accordingly, Mr. Seely and his claims (Counts VIII and IX) must be dismissed.
B. ADA Claim (Count VIII)
Even if Mr. Seely had standing, his ADA claim fails to allege a specific disability. The Seventh Circuit has held that short, plain statements, as long as they include a specific disability, pass the Rule 12(b)(6) test. See Tate v. SCR Medical Transp. , 809 F.3d 343, 345 (7th Cir. 2015) ("[a]nd surely a plaintiff alleging discrimination on the basis of an actual disability under 42 U.S.C. § 12102(1)(A) must allege a specific disability"). Here, Mr. Seely did not allege a specific disability. His ADA discrimination claim, therefore, must be dismissed.
C. Sherman Act (Count IX)
Besides the lack of standing, Mr. Seely's Sherman Act claim fails for the same reasons as Dr. Gunawardana's claims. Like Dr. Gunawardana's allegations, Mr. Seely has failed to allege that AVMA's activities has led to a decrease in output in the market which causes higher prices to consumers. Mr. Seely, instead, vaguely alleges:
- The AVMA is the gate-keeper with sole authority on who enters the veterinary profession in the US;
- AVMA consists of active market players with a personal stake in controlling the numbers entering the market, thus keeping prices high;
- In conspiracy with the Banfield system and several vocational model veterinary schools, the AVMA continues to restrict the market against graduates from both non-accredited institutions and traditional institutions.
(Doc. 63, p. 37-39). Accordingly, Mr. Seely's claim regarding violations of Section 1 of the Sherman Act must be dismissed.
Similar to Dr. Gunawardana's claim under Section 2 of the Sherman Act, Mr. Seely also fails to identify a relevant market. The closest Mr. Seely comes to identifying a relevant market is the "veterinary field." (Doc. 63, p. 37). Even if Mr. Seely identified a relevant market, Mr. Seely's claim does not contain facts that AVMA has the power to control prices or exclude competition in the market. Mr. Seely conclusively alleges that AVMA is the gate-keeper with sole authority on who enters the veterinary profession in the United States, but this is not enough. Ploss , 197 F. Supp. 3d at 1071 ("[u]ltimately, the allegations must show that the defendant has the power to control prices or exclude competition in a relevant market") (quotations omitted). Mr. Seely also fails to plead facts demonstrating the second element of a monopolization claim—that AVMA engaged in anticompetitive conduct. Thus, Mr. Seely fails to state a claim under Section 2 of the Sherman Act, and Count IX must be dismissed.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, AVMA's Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim (Doc. 80) is GRANTED , and this entire action is DISMISSED with prejudice . The Clerk of Court shall enter judgment accordingly and close this case.