Luz Zendejas v. 1 Stop Auto Repair Inc
2:24-cv-07564
C.D. Cal.
Sep 25, 2024
Check Treatment
Docket
Opinion Summary

Facts

  1. Plaintiffs Ryan O'Donnell and Michael Goree failed to pay traffic fines, resulting in their vehicles being towed, impounded, and sold to URT at below market value without compensation [lines="21-23"].
  2. Under the Municipal Code of Chicago, vehicles are subject to towing for unpaid tickets after a defined period, which involves various escalating enforcement actions [lines="52-70"].
  3. The City of Chicago's enforcement scheme aims to collect debts, represented by significant revenue generated from fines, towing, and storage fees [lines="89-94"].
  4. O'Donnell's vehicle was sold for $273, with no opportunity for compensation or credit against his debt [lines="108-110"].
  5. Plaintiffs argue that the City's practices violate the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment and Illinois law [lines="121-122"].

Issues

  1. Whether the enforcement scheme allowing the City to tow and sell vehicles constitutes a violation of the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment [lines="121-122"].
  2. Whether the plaintiffs' unjust enrichment claims against the City and URT can stand independently from the taking claims they are based upon [lines="284-288"].

Holdings

  1. The court dismissed the claims under the Takings Clause as it found no violation, adhering to prior rulings that established the City's scheme was constitutionally permissible [lines="282"].
  2. The plaintiffs’ claims for unjust enrichment were dismissed because there is no stand-alone claim for unjust enrichment under Illinois law [lines="285-286"].

OPINION

LUZ ZENDEJAS v. 1 STOP AUTO REPAIR INC D/B/A SATICOY AUTO CENTER; ASTRA HOLDING, INC.; AND DOES 1 TO 10

Case No.: 2:24-cv-07564-MEMF-E

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

September 25, 2024

MAAME EWUSI-MENSAH FRIMPONG

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY THE COURT SHOULD NOT DECLINE TO EXERCISE SUPPLEMENTAL JURISDICTION OVER PLAINTIFF‘S STATE LAW CLAIMS

On September 5, 2024, Plaintiff LUZ ZENDEJAS filed a Complaint against Defendants 1 STOP AUTO REPAIR INC D/B/A SATICOY AUTO CENTER; ASTRA HOLDING, INC.; and DOES 1 to 10, asserting: (1) a claim for injunctive relief arising out of an alleged violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA“), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101, et seq.; (2) a claim for damages pursuant to California‘s Unruh Civil Rights Act (“Unruh Act“), Cal. Civ. Code §§ 51-52, et seq.; (3) a claim for damages pursuant to the California Disabled Persons Act, Cal. Civ. Code § 54, et seq.; (4) a claim for damages and injunctive relief pursuant to the Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19955, et seq.; and (5) a claim for negligence. 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 pendant jurisdiction.” Id. at ¶¶ 6-7.

Principles of pendent jurisdiction have been codified in the supplemental jurisdiction statute, 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.‘” (emphasis added) (quoting ).

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 or 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. A “high-frequency litigant” is “a plaintiff who has filed 10 or more complaints alleging a construction-related accessibility violation within the 12-month period immediately preceding the filing of the current complaint alleging a construction-related accessibility violation” and “an attorney who has represented as attorney of record 10 or more high-frequency litigant plaintiffs in actions that were resolved within the 12-month period immediately preceding the filing of the current complaint alleging a construction-related accessibility violation.” Cal. Civ. Proc. Code §§ 425.55(b)(1) & (2). High frequency litigants are also required to state: (1) whether the complaint is filed by, or on behalf of, a high-frequency litigant; (2) in the case of a high-frequency litigant who is a plaintiff, the number of complaints alleging construction-related accessibility claim filed by the high-frequency litigant during the 12 months prior to filing the instant complaint; (3) the reason the individual was in the geographic area of the defendant‘s business; and (4) the reason why the individual desired to access the defendant‘s business.” See id. § 425.50(a)(4)(A).

In light of the foregoing, the Court orders Zendejas to show cause in writing why the Court should exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the Unruh Act claim, the California Disabled Persons Act claim, the California Health and Safety Code claim, and the negligence claim. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c). In responding to this Order to Show Cause:

  1. Zendejas shall identify the amount of statutory damages Zendejas seeks to recover.
  2. Zendejas and Zendejas’ 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). This includes, but is not limited to:
    1. the number of construction-related accessibility claims filed by Zendejas in the twelve months preceding the filing of the present claim; and
    2. the number of construction-related accessibility claims in which Zendejas‘s counsel has represented high-frequency litigant plaintiffs in the twelve months preceding the filing of the present claim.

Zendejas shall file a Response to this Order to Show Cause by no later than fourteen days from the date of this order. 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, the California Disabled Persons Act claim, the California Health and Safety Code claim, and the negligence claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 25, 2024

MAAME EWUSI-MENSAH FRIMPONG

United States District Judge

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