Chow v. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority ( 2019 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
TEMAN CHOW, et al.,
Plaintiffs,
v. Case No. 1:19-cv-01354 (TNM)
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN
AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY,
Defendant.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
A young tourist suffered every commuter’s nightmare when his foot and then hand were
mangled in an escalator at the Smithsonian Metrorail Station in Washington, D.C. Teman Chow
and his parents sued the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (“WMATA”), which
owns and operates the station, alleging various negligence claims. WMATA has moved to
dismiss the Chows’ Complaint in part, arguing that several of their claims are time barred or
barred by sovereign immunity. For the reasons below, the Court will grant in part and deny in
part WMATA’s motion.
I.
According to the Complaint, in the summer of 2012, then-14-year-old Teman Chow and
his family traveled from their home in Canada to vacation in Washington, D.C. Compl. ¶ 12,
ECF No. 1. After touring the National Mall one evening, the Chows boarded an escalator at the
Smithsonian Metrorail Station. Id. ¶ 13. At the bottom of the escalator, Teman’s sandal and foot
got caught between the escalator stair and the bottom comb plate. Id. ¶ 14. The escalator
continued to run even though his foot was stuck, causing him severe pain. Id. ¶ 16.
 Teman instinctively reached down to try to free his foot. Id. ¶ 17. But things only got
worse. As Teman tried to rescue his foot, the teeth of the comb plate impaled his hand, which
also became trapped between the escalator’s still-rotating stairs and the comb plate. Id. ¶ 18.
Even with his foot and hand lodged between the escalator stairs and the comb plate, the escalator
continued to function at full power, grinding away at Teman’s foot and hand. Id. ¶ 19. No
automatic safety shutoff mechanism ever engaged. Id. ¶¶ 16, 19.
Meanwhile, Teman’s parents watched in horror. Id. ¶ 20. His father tried to activate the
emergency stop button, but the escalator did not stop. Id. Eventually, another WMATA
customer alerted the station manager who stopped the escalator, while other customers called
9-1-1. Id. ¶¶ 21–22.
Emergency medical technicians arrived, but they were unable to remove Teman’s hand
from the comb plate. Id. ¶ 23. They ultimately removed the entire comb plate, still clenched to
Teman’s hand. Id. ¶¶ 23–24. They rushed Teman to National Children’s Hospital, and doctors
treated him for a severe foot injury and multiple severe injuries to his hand, which the doctors
termed a “de-gloving.” Id. ¶¶ 25–26.
The Chows allege that Teman’s injuries stem from WMATA’s negligence in its operation
and maintenance of the escalator. Id. ¶ 27. First, they assert that the escalator was in disrepair.
Id. ¶ 15. The bottom comb plate, they claim, was missing at least three teeth, and those missing
teeth allowed his sandal and foot to become trapped. See id. ¶¶ 61–67. And, according to them,
the escalator’s safety systems were not functioning properly. See id. ¶ 47b. A comb-step impact
device should cut power to the escalator if an object becomes trapped between the comb plate
and the rotating steps, and an emergency stop button should stop the escalator when pushed. See
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id. ¶ 35. But the Chows allege that neither of these systems activated properly during the
incident. Id. ¶¶ 20, 36.
According to them, WMATA knew that the escalator’s safety systems were
malfunctioning. See id. ¶ 39. Indeed, they claim that just a day before the incident, WMATA
inspected the escalator and determined that the “comb plate, steps, and up-thrust safety devices”
were not in good condition. Id. ¶ 38. And an inspector recommended that WMATA replace the
broken comb plate. Id. Even so, WMATA allowed customers to ride the escalator, unwarned of
the danger lurking beneath their feet. The Chows allege negligence claims, including negligent
maintenance, failure to warn, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Id. ¶¶ 43–89. They
also seek punitive damages. Id. ¶¶ 90–92.
WMATA has moved to dismiss three of the Chows’ claims under Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). Def.’s Mot to Dismiss, ECF No. 13. First, it argues that
Teman’s parents’ claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress is time barred. Def.’s Mem.
in Supp. of Mot to Dismiss (“Def.’s Mem.”) at 4–5, ECF No. 13-1. 1 The Chows now concede as
much. Pls.’ Mem. in Opp’n to Mot. to Dismiss (“Pls.’ Opp’n”) at 3, ECF No. 14-1. Next,
WMATA argues that sovereign immunity bars the claims for negligent training and punitive
damages. See Def.’s Mem. at 7–11, 16–18. Teman agrees that his punitive damages claim
cannot proceed and affirmatively states that he has not brought a claim for negligent training.
Pls.’ Opp’n at 3, 13. The Court will therefore grant WMATA’s motion as to these claims.
Finally, according to WMATA, sovereign immunity bars Teman’s claim for failure to
warn. Def.’s Mem. at 11–16. But for the reasons below, the Court will deny WMATA’s Motion
to Dismiss that claim and grant Teman jurisdictional discovery.
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All citations are to the page numbers generated by the Court’s CM/ECF system.
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II.
“[S]overeign immunity claims are jurisdictional.” Burkhart v. WMATA, 112 F.3d 1207,
1216 (D.C. Cir. 1997). Thus, they are properly evaluated under Rule 12(b)(1). See Loughlin v.
United States, 393 F.3d 155, 162–63 (D.C. Cir. 2004); see also Whiteru v. WMATA, 258 F. Supp.
3d 175, 181–82 (D.D.C. 2017).
Because federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction, they “presume[] that a cause lies
outside this limited jurisdiction.” Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994).
To survive a Rule 12(b)(1) motion, a plaintiff must establish that the Court has jurisdiction by a
preponderance of the evidence. See Lujan v. Defs. of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 561 (1992). “When
ruling on a Rule 12(b)(1) motion, the court must treat the complaint’s factual allegations as true
and afford the plaintiff the benefit of all inferences that can be derived from the facts alleged.”
Jeong Seon Han v. Lynch, 223 F. Supp. 3d 95, 103 (D.D.C. 2016) (cleaned up). In this context,
courts may also “consider the complaint supplemented by undisputed facts evidenced in the
record, or the complaint supplemented by undisputed facts plus the court’s resolution of disputed
facts.” Banneker Ventures, LLC v. Graham, 798 F.3d 1119, 1129 (D.C. Cir. 2015) (cleaned up).
If the Court finds that it lacks jurisdiction, it must dismiss the claim or action. Fed. R. Civ. P.
12(b)(1), 12(h)(3).
III.
Congress created WMATA by approving the Washington Metro Transit Authority
Compact signed by Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. See Pub. L. No. 89-774,
80 Stat. 1324 (1996). “In signing the WMATA Compact, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of
Columbia conferred upon WMATA their respective sovereign immunities.” Beebe v. WMATA,
129 F.3d 1283, 1287 (D.C. Cir. 1997). WMATA is therefore not “liable for any torts occurring
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in the performance of a governmental function,” although the Compact waives sovereign
immunity for torts “committed in the course of any proprietary function.” D.C. Code
§ 1-2431(80).
The D.C. Circuit has “developed two alternative tests for identifying ‘governmental’
functions under the WMATA compact.” Burkhart, 112 F.3d at 1216 (citing Dant v. District of
Columbia, 829 F.2d 69 (D.C. Cir. 1987)). Only one test is relevant here: the discretionary
function test. 2 That test asks whether an activity is “discretionary” or “ministerial,” a dichotomy
employed by the Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”). Id. “Only those activities considered
‘discretionary’ are shielded by sovereign immunity.” Id.
To determine whether the discretionary function exemption applies to WMATA’s
decision not to post warnings at the escalator, the Court first must determine whether any
“‘statute, regulation, or policy specifically prescribes a course of action’” for WMATA to follow.
See Gaubert, 499 U.S. 315, 322–23 (1991) (quoting Berkovitz v. United States, 486 U.S. 531,
536 (1988)). If so, then WMATA has “no rightful option but to adhere to the directive.” Id.
Because no discretion is involved, the exemption does not apply. Abdulwali v. WMATA, 315
F.3d 302, 304 (D.C. Cir. 2003).
“If no course of action is prescribed, [the Court] then determine[s] whether the exercise
of discretion is ‘grounded in social, economic, or political goals.’” Beebe, 129 F.3d at 1287
(quoting Cope v. Scott, 45 F.3d 445, 448 (D.C. Cir. 1995)). “If so grounded, the activity is
‘governmental,’ thus falling within section 80’s retention of sovereign immunity.” Id.
Admittedly, “[a]pplication of the discretionary function test . . . has generated a morass of
2
The first alternative asks whether an activity is a “quintessential[] government” function, like law enforcement.
Burkhart, 112 F.3d at 1216 (citing Dant v. District of Columbia, 829 F.2d 69, 74 (D.C. Cir. 1987)). If it is, the
activity falls under WMATA’s sovereign immunity. Id. But neither party argues that the quintessential government
function test applies here.
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conflicting cases.” Abdulwali, 315 F.3d at 305.
For example, in Abdulwali, the D.C. Circuit held that sovereign immunity bars review of
the design of warning signs on Metro cars. 315 F.3d at 305. In it, a young passenger died when
he tried to pass between two cars while the Metro was moving. Id. at 302–03. The Metro car
had only a sign above the bulkhead door that read “No Passage—Except in Emergency,” and the
young boy’s mother sued alleging that WMATA’s signage was inadequate. Id.
The D.C. Circuit rejected the plaintiff’s argument, noting that WMATA has “broad
discretion to design all transit facilities and to enter into contracts for their operation and
furnishment.” Id. at 304–05 (citing D.C. Code Ann. §§ 9-1107.01(12)(f), 13(a)). It reasoned
that reviewing the adequacy and design of warning signs “would foster judicial second-guessing
of political, social, and economic decisions that [WMATA’s] immunity was designed to
prevent.” Id. at 305 (cleaned up). Thus, the court held that “[d]esigning the bulkhead signs, or
any feature of the Metro system, required judgments that were by their nature susceptible to a
policy analysis,” and “one constant in [the D.C. Circuit’s] precedents is that [WMATA] makes
discretionary choices when establishing plans, specifications or schedules regarding the Metro
system.” Id. (cleaned up).
But in Cope v. Scott, the D.C. Circuit held that the National Park Service’s decision to
post no warning signs at a dangerous curve on a slippery road was not discretionary. 45 F.3d at
451–52. The court rejected the government’s argument that its decisions implicated engineering,
aesthetic, and fiscal concerns, and were thus fraught with public policy considerations. Id. at
451–52. Because the Park Service had “chosen to manage the road in a manner more amenable
to commuting through nature than communing with it” and already had several signs along the
stretch including the dangerous curve, the court found that the discretionary function exception
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was inapplicable to the decisions not to post warning signs. Id.
This case’s path through the discretionary function test “morass” is currently unclear.
While WMATA correctly notes that Teman has not alleged that it “failed to follow any specific
policy, regulation or code provision requiring specific public safety advisories,” dismissal would
be premature. See, e.g., Ignatiev v. United States, 238 F.3d 464, 466–67 (D.C. Cir. 2001).
In the FTCA context, “[n]ormally to survive a motion to dismiss in [the discretionary
function] area, a complaint must either allege facts demonstrating that the challenged actions are
not grounded in public policy considerations or base its claims on government agents’ mandatory
obligations.” Id. at 466. “But if [a plaintiff] allege[s] that such a mandatory policy actually
existed—without knowing whether it did or not—[he] would risk violating Rule 11.” Id. at 467.
To avoid this quandary, the D.C. Circuit has “previously required that plaintiffs be given an
opportunity for discovery of facts necessary to establish jurisdiction prior to decision of a
12(b)(1) motion.” Id.
In Ignatiev, plaintiffs brought an FTCA action based on conduct by the Secret Service,
and the district court dismissed the claim under the discretionary function exception for failure to
identify any mandatory duties the agency allegedly violated. 238 F.3d at 467. The D.C. Circuit
reversed and permitted discovery on whether the Secret Service maintained internal guidelines
that could serve as an actionable source of mandatory obligations. Id.
As in Ignatiev, Teman contends that discovery is necessary “so as to determine the
existence of any such mandatory internal policy and procedure that [WMATA] did not abide
by.” Pls.’ Opp’n at 4. Indeed, he “simply seek[s] to engage in relevant discovery regarding
[his] . . . failure to warn claim, so as to investigate the existence of such mandatory, internal
policies and procedures regarding warnings to patrons on escalators with known safety issues.”
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Id. at 12. Other courts in this Circuit have approved similar requests for jurisdictional discovery.
See, e.g., Loughlin, 393 F.3d at 166–68; Wesberry v. United States, 205 F. Supp. 3d 120, 135–36
(D.D.C. 2016) (granting discovery to determine the applicability of the discretionary function
exception); Sledge v. United States, 723 F. Supp. 2d 87, 94–98 (D.D.C. 2010) (same).
“The district court retains considerable latitude in devising the procedures it will follow
to ferret out the facts pertinent to jurisdiction.” Phoenix Consulting Inc. v. Rep. of Angola, 216
F.3d 36, 40 (D.C. Cir. 2000) (cleaned up). Teman seeks leave to conduct discovery on whether
WMATA has mandatory, internal policies and procedures about warnings to patrons on
escalators with known safety issues. Pls.’ Opp’n at 12. The Court will follow the Circuit’s
instruction in Loughlin that plaintiffs must be afforded this opportunity when the facts are
necessary to establish jurisdiction. 393 F.3d at 167. 3 Because WMATA’s effort to dismiss
Teman’s failure to warn claim is premature, the Court will deny the motion for now.
IV.
For the foregoing reasons, the Defendant’s Partial Motion to Dismiss is granted in part
and denied in part. It is hereby
ORDERED Plaintiffs Chong Wong Chow and Hua Yee Mak’s claim for negligent
infliction of emotional distressed is dismissed and they are dismissed as Plaintiffs. It is further
ORDERED that Teman’s request for punitive damages is dismissed. It is further
ORDERED that the Defendant’s motion to dismiss Teman’s failure to warn claim is
denied without prejudice. It is further
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The Court recognizes that “[i]n order to avoid burdening a sovereign that proves to be immune from suit . . .
jurisdictional discovery should be carefully controlled and limited.” Phoenix Consulting Inc., 216 F.3d at 40. But
“[s]ince internal guidelines can be an actionable source of a mandatory obligation under the FTCA . . . an agency
cannot shield itself from liability simply by denying the allegations of a complaint.” Ignatiev, 238 F.3d at 467
(cleaned up).
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ORDERED that the Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File a Surreply is denied as moot.
SO ORDERED.
2019.07.23
16:07:01 -04'00'
Dated: July 23, 2019 TREVOR N. McFADDEN, U.S.D.J.
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