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RIVERA v. SHEPPARD (2021)

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.2021-09-17No. No. 20-17477

Summary

Holding. The court reversed the district court's dismissal and remanded the case, finding that the detainee's allegations of disability and discriminatory denial of accommodations were sufficient to survive the early dismissal threshold.

A pretrial detainee appealed the dismissal of his Title II Americans with Disabilities Act claim. The district court had rejected the lawsuit on the grounds that the detainee failed to adequately describe his disability status or demonstrate intentional discrimination. On appeal, the court found that the detainee's allegations—including references to a spine impairment that limited his ability to use toilets and showers independently, and claims that officials refused to provide necessary accommodations—were sufficient when read generously to proceed past the dismissal stage.

The appellate court concluded that the detainee had stated enough facts to require the defendants to respond to the complaint rather than have the case thrown out entirely. The court emphasized that under disability law, physical barriers preventing disabled individuals from accessing prison facilities such as bathrooms and showers can constitute unlawful discrimination.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

  • Whether a pretrial detainee adequately pleaded disability status under the ADA
  • Whether allegations of denied accommodations state a Title II discrimination claim
  • Standards for evaluating complaints filed by prisoners in civil rights actions

Procedural posture

The detainee appealed from the district court's dismissal of his ADA Title II action under the screening standards for prisoner litigation.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Pretrial detainee Benny G. Rivera appeals from the district courts judgment dismissing his action alleging violations under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo the district courts dismissal under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Resnick v. Hayes, 213 F.3d 443, 447 (9th Cir. 2000). We reverse and remand.

The district court dismissed Riveras ADA claim because Rivera failed to allege facts sufficient to show that he was a qualified individual with a disability and that defendants intentionally discriminated against him because of his disability. However, in his original complaint, Rivera alleged that he has a spine impairment, and in his second amended complaint, Rivera alleged that he was limited in his ability to perform major life activities, such as using the toilet and shower unaided, and that defendants discriminated against him by denying him the required accommodations. Liberally construed, these allegations “are sufficient to warrant ordering [defendants] to file an answer.” Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 1113, 1116 (9th Cir. 2012); Simmons v. Navajo County, 609 F.3d 1011, 1021 (9th Cir. 2010), overruled on other grounds by Castro v. County of Los Angeles, 833 F.3d 1060 (9th Cir. 2016) (en banc) (setting forth the elements of an ADA Title II claim); see also 42 U.S.C. § 12102(1)(A) (“The term ‘disability’ means ․ a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual[.]”); Pierce v. County of Orange, 526 F.3d 1190, 1196 (9th Cir. 2008) (holding that physical barriers that denied disabled inmates access to prison facilities, such as bathrooms, showers, and other common areas, violated the ADA).

REVERSED and REMANDED.