Gilbert v. Samra ( 2023 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 DARREN GILBERT, Case No. 1:22-cv-00552-ADA-BAM 12 Plaintiff, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 13 v. REGARDING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT 14 HARKIRAT SINGH SAMRA dba BILL’S SPORT & BAIT SHOP, et al., (Doc. 21) 15 Defendants. FOURTEEN (14) DAY DEADLINE 16 17 18 On October 24, 2022, Plaintiff Darren Gilbert (“Plaintiff”) filed a motion for default 19 judgment against Defendants Harkirat Singh Samra dba Bill’s Sport & Bait Shop and Fahmi 20 Abdo Alsumeri (collectively, “Defendants”). (Doc. 19.) No opposition was filed. The motion 21 was referred to the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302. The 22 Court finds the matter suitable for decision without oral argument pursuant to Local Rule 230(g), 23 and the hearing set for December 9, 2022, was previously vacated. (Doc. 21.) 24 Having considered the moving papers and the record in this action, the Court 25 RECOMMENDS that Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment be GRANTED in part as herein 26 detailed. 27 /// 28 1 I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND 2 On May 6, 2022, Plaintiff filed this action pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act 3 of 1990 (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq., California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, California 4 Civil Code § 51, and California Health and Safety Code, alleging violations at Bill's Sports & 5 Bait Shop, located at 2001 Crows Landing Rd, Modesto, California, 95358 (the “Facility”), 6 which is owned, operated, and/or leased by Defendants. (Doc. 1 ¶ 7.) 7 Plaintiff alleges that he is substantially limited in his ability to walk, must use a 8 wheelchair, knee scooter, or prosthetic for mobility, and is physically disabled under state and 9 federal law. (Id. ¶ 8.) Plaintiff asserts that the Facility at issue presents barriers that interfered 10 with, if not outright denied, his ability to use and enjoy the goods, services, privileges, and 11 accommodations offered at the Facility. (Id. ¶ 10.) Plaintiff’s complaint seeks damages, 12 attorneys’ fees and costs, declaratory relief, and injunctive relief. (Id. ¶ 2.) 13 On May 19, 2022, Plaintiff served Defendant Alsumeri by personal service of the 14 summons, complaint, and relevant case documents. (Doc. 4 at 2.) On July 12, 2022, Plaintiff 15 served Defendant Samra by leaving copies of the complaint, summons, and relevant case 16 documents with a person “apparently in charge of the office or usual place of business” at 2001 17 Crows Landing Rd, Modesto, California, 95358. (Doc. 7 at 2.) On July 13, 2022, copies of the 18 summons, complaint, and relevant case documents were subsequently mailed to Defendant 19 Samra at 2001 Crows Landing Rd, Modesto, CA 95358 via First Class postage. (Doc. 7 at 3.) 20 Defendants did not respond to the complaint. The Clerk of the Court entered default as to 21 Defendant Alsumeri on June 22, 2022. (Doc. 6.) The Clerk of the Court entered default as to 22 Defendant Samra on September 20, 2022. (Doc. 17.) 23 Plaintiff filed the instant motion against Defendants on October 24, 2022, seeking default 24 judgment in the total sum of $7,173.44 for statutory damages and attorneys’ fees and costs, 25 along with injunctive and declaratory relief. (Doc. 19-1.) Plaintiff served Defendants with a 26 copy of the motion by mail. (Doc. 19-7.) 27 On December 2, 2022, the Court issued its initial Findings and Recommendations on 28 Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment. (Doc. 21.) On January 19, 2023, the Court issued an 1 order vacating those findings and recommendations and an order to show cause regarding 2 supplemental jurisdiction. (Doc. 23.) Plaintiff responded to the Order to Show Cause. (Doc. 3 24.) 4 On March 15, 2023, the Court issued its Findings and Recommendations recommending 5 declining supplemental jurisdiction and dismissing Plaintiff’s Unruh Act claim, California 6 Health and Safety Code claim, and any other state law construction-related accessibility claim 7 without prejudice pursuant to the Ninth Circuit’s recent guidance in Vo v. Choi, 49 F.4th 1167 8 (9th Cir. 2022). (Doc. 25.) On June 6, 2023, the Court entered an Order Adopting the Findings 9 and Recommendations Declining Supplemental Jurisdiction of State Law Claims. (Doc. 26.) In 10 that Order, the Court declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s Unruh Act 11 claim and Plaintiff’s Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19955 and § 19959 claims and dismissed 12 those claims without prejudice. (Doc. 26 at 2.) 13 II. LEGAL STANDARD FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT 14 Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(b)(2), a plaintiff can apply to the court for 15 a default judgment against a defendant that has failed to plead or otherwise defend against the 16 action. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). “Upon default, the well-pleaded allegations of a complaint 17 relating to liability are taken as true.” Dundee Cement Co. v. Howard Pipe & Concrete Prods., 18 Inc., 722 F.2d 1319, 1323 (7th Cir. 1983); TeleVideo Sys., Inc. v. Heidenthal, 826 F.2d 915, 917- 19 18 (9th Cir. 1987). 20 Factors which may be considered by courts in exercising discretion as to the entry of a 21 default judgment include: (1) the possibility of prejudice to the plaintiff; (2) the merits of 22 plaintiff’s substantive claim; (3) the sufficiency of the complaint; (4) the sum of money at stake in 23 the action; (5) the possibility of a dispute concerning material facts; (6) whether the default was 24 due to excusable neglect; and (7) the strong policy underlying the Federal Rules of Civil 25 Procedure favoring decisions on the merits. Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir. 26 1986); PepsiCo, Inc. v. Cal. Sec. Cans, 238 F. Supp. 2d 1172, 1174 (C.D. Cal. 2002). 27 /// 28 /// 1 III. DISCUSSION 2 A. Service of Process 3 In deciding whether to grant or deny a default judgment, a court should assess the 4 adequacy of the service of process on the party against whom default is requested. See, e.g., 5 Trujillo v. Harsarb, Inc., No. 1:21-cv-00342-NONE-SAB, 2021 WL 3783388 at *4 (E.D. Cal. 6 Aug. 26, 2021) (“As a general rule, the Court considers the adequacy of service of process before 7 evaluating the merits of a motion for default judgment.”); Coach, Inc. v. Diva Shoes & 8 Accessories, No. 10-5151 SC, 2011 WL 1483436 at *2 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 19, 2011); Katzakian v. 9 Check Resolution Service, Inc., No. 1:10-cv-00716 AWI GSA, 2010 WL 5200912 at *2 (E.D. 10 Cal. Dec. 15, 2010). 11 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4 sets forth the requirements for serving an individual 12 within a judicial district of the United States. An individual may be served by: 13 (1) following state law for serving a summons in an action brought in courts of general jurisdiction in the state where the district court is located or where service 14 is made; or 15 (2) doing any of the following: 16 (A) delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint to the individual personally; 17 (B) leaving a copy of each at the individual's dwelling or usual place of 18 abode with someone of suitable age and discretion who resides there; or 19 (C) delivering a copy of each to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process. 20 Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(e). California Code of Civil Procedure further provides that: 21 In lieu of personal delivery of a copy of the summons and complaint to the 22 person to be served as specified in Section 416.10, 416.20, 416.30, 416.40, or 416.50, a summons may be served by leaving a copy of the summons 23 and complaint during usual office hours in his or her office or, if no physical address is known, at his or her usual mailing address, other than a 24 United States Postal Service post office box, with the person who is apparently in charge thereof, and by thereafter mailing a copy of the 25 summons and complaint by first-class mail, postage prepaid to the person to be served at the place where a copy of the summons and complaint were 26 left. 27 Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 415.20(a). 28 /// 1 According to the proofs of service on file, on July 12, 2022, Plaintiff served 2 Defendant Samra by leaving copies of the complaint, summons, and relevant case 3 documents with John Doe, who appeared to be aged 45 to 55 and was “apparently in 4 charge of the office or usual place of business” at 2001 Crows Landing Rd, Modesto, CA 5 95358. (Doc. 7 at 2.) On July 13, 2022, copies of the summons, complaint, and relevant 6 case documents were subsequently mailed to Defendant Samra at 2001 Crows Landing 7 Rd, Modesto, CA 95358 via First Class postage. (Doc. 7 at 3.) Defendant Alsumeri was 8 personally served with the summons, complaint, and relevant case documents on May 19, 9 2022. (Doc. 4 at 2.) The Court therefore finds that Plaintiff properly served Defendants 10 Defendants Harkirat Singh Samra and Fahmi Abdo Alsumeri pursuant to Federal Rule of 11 Civil Procedure 4(e)(1) and 4(e)(2). 12 C. The Eitel Factors Weigh in Favor of Default Judgment 13 The Court finds consideration of the Eitel factors weigh in favor of granting default 14 judgment in favor of Plaintiff as to Defendants Defendants Harkirat Singh Samra dba Bill’s Sport 15 & Bait Shop and Fahmi Abdo Alsumeri. 16 1. Possibility of Prejudice to Plaintiff 17 The first factor considers whether a plaintiff would suffer prejudice if default judgment 18 were not entered. See PepsiCo, Inc., 238 F. Supp. 2d at 1177. Generally, where default has been 19 entered against a defendant, a plaintiff has no other means by which to recover against that 20 defendant. Id.; Moroccanoil, Inc. v. Allstate Beauty Prods., 847 F. Supp. 2d 1197, 1200-01 (C.D. 21 Cal. 2012). Here, the Court finds Plaintiff would be prejudiced if default judgment were not 22 granted. This factor weighs in favor of default judgment. 23 2. Merits of Plaintiff’s Claims and Sufficiency of the Complaint 24 The second and third Eitel factors, taken together, “require that [the] plaintiff[s] state a 25 claim on which [they] may recover.” PepsiCo, Inc., 238 F. Supp. 2d at 1175. Notably a 26 “defendant is not held to admit facts that are not well-pleaded or to admit conclusions of law.” 27 DIRECTV, Inc. v. Hoa Huynh, 503 F.3d 847, 854 (9th Cir. 2007). 28 1 In the motion for default judgment, Plaintiff appears to have abandoned his California 2 Health and Safety Code claim. (See generally Doc. 19-1.) Moreover, Plaintiff’s Unruh Act and 3 Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19955 and § 19959 claims were dismissed without prejudice 4 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(4). (Doc. 26.) The Court therefore limits its discussion to 5 Plaintiff’s claims arising under the ADA. 6 “An ADA plaintiff suffers a legally cognizable injury under the ADA if he is 7 ‘discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, 8 services, [or] facilities ... of any place of public accommodation.’” Chapman v. Pier 1 Imports 9 (U.S.) Inc., 631 F.3d 939, 952 (9th Cir. 2011) (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 12182(a)). As relevant here, 10 discrimination is defined as “a failure to remove architectural barriers . . . where such removal is 11 readily achievable.” 42 U.S.C. § 12182(b)(2)(A)(iv). 12 “To prevail on a Title III discrimination claim, the plaintiff must show that (1) [he] is 13 disabled within the meaning of the ADA; (2) the defendant is a private entity that owns, leases, or 14 operates a place of public accommodation; and (3) the plaintiff was denied public 15 accommodations by the defendant because of [his] disability.” Molski v. M.J. Cable, Inc., 481 16 F.3d 724, 730 (9th Cir. 2007) (citing 42 U.S.C. §§ 12182(a)-(b)). “To succeed on a ADA claim 17 of discrimination on account of one’s disability due to an architectural barrier, the plaintiff must 18 also prove that: (1) the existing facility at the defendant’s place of business presents an 19 architectural barrier prohibited under the ADA, and (2) the removal of the barrier is readily 20 achievable.” Parr v. L & L Drive-Inn Restaurant, 96 F. Supp. 2d 1065, 1085 (D. Hawai’i 2000) 21 (emphasis in original). 22 A private party is only entitled to injunctive relief under Title III of the ADA, however, 23 the ADA gives the court discretion to award attorney fees to the prevailing party. Molski, 481 24 F.3d at 730. 25 Plaintiff alleges that he is substantially limited in his ability to walk and must use a 26 wheelchair, knee scooter, or prosthetic for mobility and that he therefore is disabled as defined by 27 applicable law. (Doc. 1 ¶ 8.) Plaintiff also alleges that the Facility is a public accommodation 28 and open to the public. (Id. ¶ 9.) Plaintiff further alleges that Defendants own, operate and/or 1 lease the Facility and the architectural barriers identified are easily removed without much 2 difficulty or expense. (Id. ¶¶ 7, 21.) 3 Plaintiff further contends that he lives less than ten miles from the Facility and visited the 4 Facility on December 18, 2021, to buy refreshments. (Id. ¶ 10). Plaintiff asserts that he could not 5 locate a designated accessible parking stall in the Facility’s parking lot and that he needed to park 6 at the gas pump and then walk using his prosthetic across uneven surfaces to reach the Facility’s 7 entrance. (Id. ¶ 10(a).) Additionally, within the Facility, Plaintiff alleges that the merchandise 8 aisles lacked sufficient clear width, so it was difficult for Plaintiff to make his way around the 9 store without tripping. (Id. ¶ 10(b).) Plaintiff further asserts that the transaction counter was too 10 high, and if Plaintiff were to return to the Facility using his wheelchair, it would be difficult for 11 him to reach over the counter to pay. (Id. ¶ 10(c).) These allegations are taken as true due to 12 Defendants’ default, and Plaintiff has met his burden of stating a prima facie claim for 13 discrimination under Title III. Plaintiff is thereby entitled to injunctive relief for the violations of 14 the ADA. 15 For the reasons set forth above, the Court finds that the second and third Eitel factors 16 weigh in favor of default judgment. 17 3. The Sum of Money at Stake in the Action 18 Under the fourth factor cited in Eitel, “the court must consider the amount of money at 19 stake in relation to the seriousness of Defendant’s conduct.” PepsiCo, Inc., 238 F. Supp. 2d at 20 1176; see also Philip Morris USA, Inc. v. Castworld Prods., Inc., 219 F.R.D. 494, 500 (C.D. Cal. 21 2003). 22 Here, Plaintiff seeks actual attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in the amount of $3,173.44.1 23 The amount of money at stake is relatively small and it does not seem unreasonable in light of the 24 allegations contained in the complaint. Accordingly, this factor does not weigh against entry of 25 default judgment. 26 27 1 In his Motion for Default Judgment, Plaintiff also sought a single statutory minimum penalty assessment of $4,000.00 pursuant to the Unruh Act. (Doc. 21-1 at 6.) However, Plaintiff’s 28 Unruh Act claim was dismissed without prejudice pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(4). (Doc. 30.) 1 4. The Possibility of a Dispute Concerning Material Facts 2 Following the Clerk’s entry of default (Docs. 6, 17), the Court may assume the truth of 3 well-pled facts in the complaint and, thus, there is no likelihood that any genuine issue of material 4 fact exists. See, e.g., Elektra Entm’t Grp. Inc. v. Crawford, 226 F.R.D. 388, 393 (C.D. Cal. 2005) 5 (“Because all allegations in a well-pleaded complaint are taken as true after the court clerk enters 6 default judgment, there is no likelihood that any genuine issue of material fact exists.”). Further, 7 Defendants’ failure to file an answer in this case or a response to the instant motion supports the 8 conclusion that the possibility of a dispute as to material facts is minimal. This factor therefore 9 weighs in favor of default judgment. 10 5. Whether the Default Was Due to Excusable Neglect 11 The sixth Eitel factor considers the possibility that Defendants’ default resulted from 12 excusable neglect. PepsiCo, Inc., 238 F. Supp. 2d at 1177. Courts have found that where a 13 defendant was “properly served with the complaint, the notice of entry of default, as well as the 14 paper in support of the [default judgment] motion,” there is no evidence of excusable neglect. 15 Shanghai Automation Instrument Co. v. Kuei, 194 F. Supp. 2d 995, 1005 (N.D. Cal. 2001). 16 Upon review of the record, the Court finds that the default was not the result of excusable 17 neglect. See PepsiCo, Inc., 238 F. Supp. 2d at 1177. As discussed above, Defendants were 18 properly served with the complaint and the motion for default judgment, which included 19 notification of the Clerk’s entry of default. (See Docs. 4, 7, 18, 19-7.) Despite service, 20 Defendants have not appeared. Thus, the record suggests that Defendants have chosen not to 21 participate in this action, and not that the default resulted from any excusable neglect. 22 Accordingly, this factor weighs in favor of the entry of a default judgment. 23 6. The Strong Policy Favoring Decisions on the Merits 24 “Cases should be decided upon their merits whenever reasonably possible.” Eitel, 782 25 F.2d at 1472. However, district courts have concluded with regularity that this policy, standing 26 alone, is not dispositive, especially where a defendant fails to appear or defend itself in an action. 27 PepsiCo, Inc., 238 F. Supp. 2d at 1177; see also Craigslist, Inc. v. Naturemarket, Inc., 694 F. 28 Supp. 2d 1039, 1061 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 5, 2010). Although the Court is cognizant of the policy 1 favoring decisions on the merits, that policy is unavailable here because Defendants have not 2 responded. Accordingly, the Court finds that this factor does not weigh against entry of default 3 judgment. 4 D. Damages 5 1. Injunctive Relief 6 Plaintiff seeks injunctive relief under the ADA for violations alleged in the complaint. In 7 particular, Plaintiff seeks an injunction requiring removal of all architectural barriers to Plaintiff’s 8 access to the facility. 42 U.S.C. § 12188 provides that “injunctive relief shall include an order to 9 alter facilities to make such facilities readily accessible to and usable by individuals with 10 disabilities to the extent required” the ADA. 42 U.S.C. § 12188(a)(2). Pursuant to federal and 11 state law, Plaintiff is entitled to the removal of those architectural barriers which he encountered 12 on his visit to the facility that violated the ADA. Therefore, an injunction should issue requiring 13 Defendants to: (1) provide a properly configured and identified designated accessible parking 14 stall with adjacent access aisle; (2) provide and maintain proper clear width of the routes of travel 15 through public areas of the interior of the Facility; and (3) provide a properly configured 16 accessible transaction counter. (Doc. 19-6 at 2.) 17 2. Statutory Damages 18 Plaintiff seeks statutory damages in the amount of $4,000.00 as authorized by California 19 law. (Doc. 19-1 at 6.) The Unruh Act provides for minimum statutory damages of $4,000 for 20 each violation. Cal. Civ. Code § 52(a); Grove v. De La Cruz, 407 F. Supp. 2d 1126, 1133 (C.D. 21 Cal. 2005). As Plaintiff’s Unruh Act claim was dismissed without prejudice pursuant to 28 22 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(4), Plaintiff is not entitled to statutory damages of $4,000.000. (Doc. 26.) 23 3. Attorneys’ Fees and Costs 24 Plaintiff also seeks an award of attorneys’ fees and costs. The ADA authorizes the award 25 of attorney's fees and costs for an action. See 42 U.S.C. § 12205. Attorney fee awards are 26 calculated using the lodestar method, which multiplies the numbers of hours reasonably spent on 27 the matter with a reasonable hourly rate. Vogel v. Harbor Plaza Ctr., LLC, 893 F.3d 1152, 1160 28 (9th Cir. 2018). The district court has the discretion to make adjustments to the number of hours 1 claimed or to the lodestar, but is required to provide a clear but concise reason for the fee award. 2 Gates v. Deukmejian, 987 F.2d 1392, 1398 (9th Cir. 1992). 3 Here, Plaintiff's counsel seeks an award of $3,173.44, including $2,356.00 in attorney 4 fees, plus $817.44 in litigation costs. (Doc. 19-1 at 8.) Specifically, Plaintiff requests: (1) 5 $1,620.00 for 5.4 hours of work expended by attorney Tanya E. Moore at an hourly rate of $300; 6 (2) $448.50 for 3.9 hours of work expended by paralegal Whitney Law at an hourly rate of 7 $115.00; and (3) $287.50 for 2.5 hours of work expended by paralegal Isaac Medrano at an 8 hourly rate of $115.00. (Id.) 9 Hourly Rates 10 As indicated, Plaintiff requests an hourly rate of $300.00 for work by attorney Tanya 11 Moore and $115.00 for work by paralegals Whitney Law and Isaac Medrano. (Id.) Courts in this 12 district have found these rates reasonable for the services of attorney Moore and for the services 13 of her paralegals. See Trujillo v. Singh, Case No. 1:16-cv-01640 LJO-EPG, 2017 WL 1831941, 14 at *3 (E.D. Cal. May 8, 2017); accord e.g., Trujillo v. GH Food Mart, Inc., No. 1:20-cv-00368- 15 AWI-SKO, 2020 WL 4697139, at *7 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 13, 2020); Trujillo v. La Valley Foods, Inc., 16 No. 1:16-cv-01402-AWI-BAM, 2017 WL 2992453, at *5 (E.D. Cal. Jul. 14, 2017); Trujillo v. 17 Lakhani, No. 1:17-cv-00056-LJO-SAB, 2017 WL 1831942, at *7 (E.D. Cal. May 8, 2017). The 18 Court therefore finds the requested hourly rates to be reasonable for Ms. Moore and her 19 paralegals. 20 Attorney Time Expended by Ms. Moore 21 Plaintiff seeks recovery for 5.4 hours of work performed by Ms. Moore at $300.00 per 22 hour. (Doc. 19-1 at 8.) When considering the billing entries and time records submitted by 23 Plaintiff's counsel, the Court finds that the 5.4 hours billed by Ms. Moore is reasonable. The 24 Court will recommend awarding Ms. Moore $1,620.00 for 5 hours of work to litigate this case. 25 Paralegal Time Expended by Ms. Law and Mr. Medrano 26 Plaintiff seeks compensation for 3.9 hours expended by paralegal Whitney Law at 27 $115.00 per hour, and 2.5 hours expended by paralegal Isaac Medrano at $115.00 per hour. (Doc. 28 19-1 at 8.) For the reasons below, the Court must reduce the number of hours expended by Mr. 1 Medrano on the Motion for Default Judgment. On October 14, 2022 and October 17, 2022, Mr. 2 Medrano billed 1.5 hours preparing the motion for default judgment and the supporting 3 documents. (Doc. 19-3, Ex. A to Moore Decl. at 4.) However, the motion for default judgment 4 filed in this case is nearly identical to motions for default judgment filed by Ms. Moore in other 5 actions before this Court. Accordingly, the Court finds that one hour of Mr. Medrano’s time is 6 sufficient to prepare the motion. Trujillo v. La Valley Foods, Inc., 2017 WL 2992453 at *7. The 7 Court will therefore deduct 0.5 hours from Mr. Medrano’s time. 8 Based on the above, the Court will recommend Plaintiff be awarded 5.9 hours of paralegal 9 time comprised of 3.9 hours for Ms. Law ($115.00 hourly rate) and 2.0 hours for Mr. Medrano 10 ($115.00 hourly rate) for a total of $678.50. 11 4. Litigation Expenses and Costs 12 Plaintiff requests to recover litigation expenses and costs of $817.44. (Doc. 19-1 at 8.) 13 Under the ADA, a district court, in its discretion, can allow the prevailing party other than the 14 United States to recover a reasonable attorney’s fee, including litigation expenses and costs. 42 15 U.S.C. § 12205. The costs here include the court filing fee, costs of service, and fees for a pre- 16 filing investigation, which are compensable. See Trujillo v. La Valley Foods, Inc., 2017 WL 17 2992453, at *7 (finding costs for court filing fee, costs of service, and fee for a pre-filing site 18 inspection of the facility compensable); (Doc. 19-2, Moore Decl. ¶¶ 12-14; Doc. 19-3, Ex. B to 19 Moore Decl. at 6-7, Ex. C to Moore Decl. at 9; Ex. D to Moore Decl. at 11) Accordingly, the 20 Court recommends that plaintiff be awarded the sum of $817.44 for litigation expenses and costs. 21 IV. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 22 Based on the foregoing, the Court HEREBY RECOMMENDS as follows: 23 1. Plaintiff's motion for default judgment be GRANTED IN PART as to Defendants 24 Harkirat Singh Samra dba Bill’s Sport & Bait Shop and Fahmi Abdo Alsumeri. 25 2. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b), the Court determines that there 26 is no just reason to delay entry of judgment. 27 3. Defendants Harkirat Singh Samra dba Bill’s Sport & Bait Shop and Fahmi Abdo 28 Alsumeri be found and declared to be in violation of Title III of the Americans 1 with Disabilities Act; 2 4. Defendants Harkirat Singh Samra dba Bill’s Sport & Bait Shop and Fahmi Abdo 3 Alsumeri be ordered to make the following modifications to the facility known as 4 Bill's Sports & Bait Shop, located at 2001 Crows Landing Rd, Modesto, California 5 95358, such that each item is brought into compliance with the accessibility 6 requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and California Code of 7 Regulations, Title 24, as follows: 8 a) Provide a properly configured and identified designated accessible 9 parking stall with adjacent access aisle; 10 b) Provide and maintain proper clear width of the routes of travel 11 through public areas of the interior of the Facility; 12 c) Provide a properly configured accessible transaction counter. 13 7. Judgment be entered in Plaintiff's favor and against Defendants Harkirat Singh 14 Samra dba Bill’s Sport & Bait Shop and Fahmi Abdo Alsumeri in the amount of 15 $3,115.94, consisting of: attorney's fees in the amount of $1,620.00 (5.4 hours at 16 $300 per hour), paralegal fees in the amount of $678.50 (5.9 hours at $115.00 per 17 hour), and costs of suit in the amount of $817.44; 18 8. Plaintiff is HEREBY ORDERED to mail a copy of these findings and 19 recommendations to each of the Defendants at that Defendant's last known 20 address. 21 /// 22 /// 23 /// 24 /// 25 /// 26 /// 27 /// 28 /// 1 These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States District 2 Judge assigned to the case, as required by 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen (14) days after 3 being served with these findings and recommendations, the parties may file written objections 4 with the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings 5 and Recommendations.” The parties are advised that the failure to file objections within the 6 specified time may result in the waiver of the “right to challenge the magistrate’s factual 7 findings” on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. 8 Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)). 9 IT IS SO ORDERED. 10 11 Dated: June 28, 2023 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _ UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28