sanborn brer

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BILL LANN LEEActing Assistant Attorney GeneralCivil Rights Division

JOHN L. WODATCH Chie!RENEE ". WOHLENHA#$ De%&ty Chie!

Disa'ility Rights $ection

JEANINE ". WORDENJO$E(H C. R#$$OTrial AttorneysDisa'ility Rights $ectionCivil Rights Division#.$. De%art)ent o! J&stice(ost O!!ice Bo* ++,-Washington D.C. /00-12++,-Tele%hone3 4/0/5 -0,2+11+

4/0/5 -0,2///6Tele!acsi)ile3 4/0/5 -0,2776

ALEJANDRO N. "A8OR9A$#nite: $tates AttorneyLEON ". WEID"ANAssistant #nite: $tates AttorneyChie! Civil Division$#;ANNE L. BELLAssistant #nite: $tates AttorneyCali!ornia Bar No. 717070Roo) ,17+


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TABLE OF CONTENTSPage

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II% A"gu,e&1 T!e O&e"$ a&' O2e"ao"$ of !e Ma"3e2la(eC#&e,a Fa#le' o De$#g& a&' Co&$"u( !e Fa(#l#4 #&Co,2l#a&(e #! !e Ne Co&$"u(#o& P"o*#$#o&$ of !eADA %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%5

A% 6!eel(!a#" Sea#&g Lo(a#o&$ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%5

)% Ne Co&$"u(#o& P"o*#$#o&$ of T#le IIIGo*e"&g A((e$$#ble Sea#&g #& A$$e,bl4 A"ea$%%%5

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:% Defe&'a&$ Fa#l o P"o*e a$ a Mae" of LaT!a T!e Ma"3e2la(e C#&e,a$ Co&a#& !e Co""e(Nu,be" of Co,2ao& Sea$ Lo(ae' ;Ne


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TABLE OF AUT7ORITIES

FEDERAL CASES

(age

A&er v. Ro''ins 77, $. Ct. 601 677267/ 4766,5................./

Bartlett v. Ne@ 8or $tate Boar: o! La@ E*a)iners /


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LEGISLATIVE 7ISTORY

H.R. RE(. NO. =1 at +-476605..................................2

E@7IBITS

$"(TE ENGINEERINGG#IDELINEDE$IGNO


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(&rs&ant to the Co&rts Or:er o! A%ril 7- 7666 the #nite:

$tates s&')its this "e)oran:&) as a)ic&s c&riae.

I% INTRODUCTION

De!en:ants have )ove: this Co&rt !or %artial s&))ary

&:g)ent %&rs&ant to R&le 1+4'5 o! the


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i)%le)enting reg&lations to ren:er technical assistance

e*%laining the res%onsi'ilities o! covere: in:ivi:&als an:

instit&tions an: to en!orce Title III in co&rt the De%art)ents

vie@s are entitle: to :e!erence. Brag:on v. A''ott 1/= #.$.

+/= 77 $. Ct. /76+ //0 see also A&er v. Ro''ins 176 #.$.

=1/ 77, $.Ct. 601 67727/ +1 #.$.L.W. =7-+ 4766,5 4agency

%osition entitle: to :e!erence even i! o!!ere: in an a)ic&s

'rie!5. In or:er to %reserve its rights as (lainti!!2Intervenor

the #nite: $tates reserves any an: all legal arg&)ents incl&:ing

'&t not li)ite: to those )a:e herein !or arg&)ent in o&r case at

the close o! :iscovery or at any other ti)e a%%ro%riate in the

co&rse o! the a'ove2ca%tione: litigation. In those instances

@here @e :o not a::ress the assertions o! De!en:ants @e :o not

@aive o&r right to :o so in o&r o@n case or in:icate ac&iescence

to their %osition.

B% T!e A,e"#(a&$ 6#! D#$ab#l##e$ A( of )../%

Congress in enacting the ADA !o&n: that architect&ral

'arriers constit&te: one o! the ty%es o! :iscri)ination

contin&ally enco&nterKe: 'y in:ivi:&als @ith :isa'ilities. =/

#.$.C. 7/7074a5415. To a::ress this !or) o! :iscri)ination

Congress )an:ate: that all co))ercial !acilities an: %laces o!

acco))o:ation :esigne: an: constr&cte: a!ter Jan&ary /+ 766- 'e

rea:ily accessi'le to an: &sa'le 'y in:ivi:&als @ith

:isa'ilities. =/ #.$.C. 7/7-4a5. Congress inten:e: strict

a:herence to the ne@ constr&ction re&ire)ents so that over

ti)e access @ill 'e the r&le rather than the e*ce%tion. H. R.

RE(. NO. =1 at +- 476605. The ADA is geare: to the

!&t&re . . . . Th&s the 'ill only re&ires )o:est e*%en:it&res

2


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to %rovi:e access in e*isting !acilities @hile re&iring all ne@

constr&ction to 'e accessi'le. I:. 4e)%hasis a::e:5.

$ection -0- o! the ADA re&ires that ne@ly constr&cte:

!acilities 'e rea:ily accessi'le to an: &sa'le 'y in:ivi:&als

@ith :isa'ilities . . . in accor:ance @ith stan:ar:s set

!orth . . . in reg&lations iss&e: &n:er this s&'cha%ter. =/

#.$.C. 7/7-4a5. These architect&ral stan:ar:s @ere initially

iss&e: as the A)ericans @ith Disa'ilities Act Accessi'ility

G&i:elines 4FADAAG5 'y the Architect&ral an: Trans%ortation

Barriers an: Co)%liance Boar: 4the FAccess Boar:5 an

in:e%en:ent govern)ent agency charge: @ith :evelo%ing

accessi'ility stan:ar:s. When the De%art)ent %ro)&lgate: its

reg&lation i)%le)enting Title III the De%art)ent in:e%en:ently

a:o%te: these G&i:elines as %art o! its reg&lation / C.


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services !acilities %rivileges a:vantages or acco))o:ations

o! the entity. =/ #.$.C. 7/7/4a5 an: 7/7/4'54754A54i5. It

is si)ilarly illegal to %rovi:e a goo: or service that Fis not

e&al to that a!!or:e: to other in:ivi:&als. =/ #.$.C.

7/7/4a5 an: 7/7/4'54754A54ii5.


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Ca%acity o! $eating in

Asse)'ly Areas

N&)'er o! Re&ire: Wheelchair

$eating Locations

= to /1 7

/+ to 10 /

17 to -00 =

-07 to 100 +Over 100 + %l&s 7 a::itional s%ace !or

Each total seating ca%acity

Increase o! 700

I:. at =.7.-47654a5. $ection =.-- in t&rn sets !orth

re&ire)ents !or the sie %lace)ent an: con!ig&ration o! the

@heelchair locations. I:. at =.--.-. O! signi!icant

i)%ortance to this case are the %rovisions containe: in =.--.-.

(lace)ent o! Wheelchair $eating Locations. Wheelchairareas shall 'e an integral %art o! any !i*e: seating%lan an: shall 'e %rovi:e: so as to %rovi:e %eo%le @ith%hysical :isa'ilities a choice o! a:)ission %rices an:lines o! sight co)%ara'le to those !or )e)'ers o! thegeneral %&'lic. They shall a:oin an accessi'le ro&tethat also serves as a )eans o! egress in an e)ergency.At least one co)%anion !i*e: seat shall 'e %rovi:e:ne*t to each @heelchair seating area. When the seating

ca%acity e*cee:s -00 @heelchair s%aces shall 'e%rovi:e: in )ore than one location. Rea:ily re)ova'leseats )ay 'e installe: in @heelchair s%aces @hen thes%aces are not re&ire: to acco))o:ate @heelchair&sers.

I:.

0% Defe&'a&$ Fa#l o P"o*e a$ a Mae" of La T!aT!e4 7a*e Me !e ADA$ Re8u#"e,e& T!a6!eel(!a#" Sea#&g Lo(a#o&$ #& Mo*#e T!eae"$Affo"' L#&e$ of S#g! o Pe"$o&$ 6!o U$e6!eel(!a#"$ Co,2a"able o T!o$e Affo"'e' Me,be"$

of !e Ge&e"al Publ#(.

As state: earlier the reg&lation re&ires that @heelchair

seating locations 'e %rovi:e: so that they are Fan integral %art

o! any !i*e: seating %lan an: . . . %rovi:e %eo%le @ith %hysical

:isa'ilities a choice o! a:)ission %rices an: lines o! sight

5


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co)%ara'le to those !or )e)'ers o! the general %&'lic. I:. The

)ovie theater in:&stry recognies the i)%ortance o! sight lines.

The $ociety o! "otion (ict&re an: Television Engineers 4F$"(TE5

has iss&e: engineering g&i:elines !or theater :esign F$"(TE

Engineering G&i:eline Design o! E!!ective Cine Theaters EG 72

766= %%. 721 4F$"(TE G&i:eline5 4attache: hereto as E*hi'it

75.

A)ong other things the $"(TE G&i:eline :escri'es vario&s

co)%onents o! a vie@ers Fline o! sight i.e. the vie@ing

angles as they relate to the vie@ers horiontal an: vertical

!iel: o! vision the screen an: vie@ing co)!ort the angles

@hich allo@ vie@ers to see )ovies @itho&t :istortion :istance

!ro) the screen an: the e*tent to @hich the vie@ o! the screen

is o'str&cte:. In so :oing it :e!ines the Fvertical vie@ing

angle to the to% o! the screen as the angle !or)e: 'y the

intersection o! a line horiontal @ith eye level 4a straight2

ahea: vie@5 an: a line !ro) eye level to the to% o! the vie@ing

screen.

The !&ll Fvertical vie@ing angle on the other han: is

:escri'e: as the s&'ten:e: arc o! an angle !or)e: 'y t@o

intersecting lines 2 one :ra@n !ro) a vie@ers eye level to the

to% o! the screen an: the other e*ten:ing !ro) the vie@ers eye

level to the 'otto) o! the screen. $i)ilarly the Fhoriontal

vie@ing angle :escri'es the s&'ten:e: arc o! an angle !or)e: 'y

t@o lines 2 one e*ten:ing !ro) the vie@ers eyes to the le!t si:e

o! the screen an: the other :ra@n !ro) the vie@ers eyes to the

right si:e o! the screen. These !actors an: others liste: in the

$"(TE G&i:elines are &se: 'y the in:&stry to :eter)ine @hether a

6


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vie@er has an e!!ective vie@ o! the i)age on the screen. I:.

They are also &se: to :eter)ine @hether the vie@er has a line o!

sight that res&lts in %hysical :isco)!ort. I:. There!ore the

in:&strys o@n g&i:eline acno@le:ges the i)%ortance o! co)%aring

the &ality o! the vie@ing e*%erience 'y eval&ating the lines o!

sight %rovi:e: to %atrons. I:.

Once )eas&re: Title III re&ires the lines o! sight

%rovi:e: to @heelchair &sers to 'e co)%ara'le to those %rovi:e:

to )e)'ers o! the general %&'lic. FCo)%ara'le is an or:inary

@or: &se: in every:ay %arlance. Gri:er v. Cavaos 677


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@ith the overall intent o! the ADA @heelchair &sers sho&l: 'e

%rovi:e: e&al access so that their e*%erience is e&ivalent to

that o! )e)'ers o! the general %&'lic.7 In other @or:s to

ens&re that @heelchair &sers are %rovi:e: lines o! sight that are

co)%ara'le to the vie@ing angles o!!ere: to the general %&'lic

the lines o! sight %rovi:e: to @heelchair &sers sho&l: not 'e on

the e*tre)es o! the range o!!ere: in the sta:i&) %ortion o!

sta:i&) style theaters. $i)ilarly !or tra:itional theaters they

sho&l: not 'e locate: in a )anner that %rovi:es the) @ith the

e*tre)e range o! sight lines o!!ere: in tra:itional theaters '&t

@ith those availa'le in )ost o! the seats in the theater.

In the only case :eci:e: th&s !ar on this iss&e Lara et

al. v. Cine)ar #$A Inc. No. E(26,2CA210/2H $li% O%. 4W.D.

Te*. A&g. /7 76654attache: hereto as E*hi'it /5 this

inter%retation o! the co)%ara'le lines o! sight %rovision @as

a:o%te:. The co&rt !o&n: that =.--.- re&ire: lines o! sight

%rovi:e: to %atrons in @heelchairs to 'e si)ilar to those

%rovi:e: to an Faverage %atron o! the theater rather than 'eing

relegate: to the @orst seats in the ho&se. I:. at =.


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sight lines 'e %rovi:e:.


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lines o! sight. De!en:ants res%onsi'ility !or co)%lying @ith

the sight line re&ire)ent is not :e%en:ent on the availa'ility

o! co)%ara'le ticet %rices. It is certainly not :e%en:ent on

@hether )ore than one ticet %rice is charge:. In !act even i!

ticets @ere !ree De!en:ants @o&l: still nee: to %rovi:e

@heelchair seating locations @ith co)%ara'le lines o! sight.

Th&s the !act that :e!en:ants charge a &ni!or) %rice !or ticets

is irrelevant.

De!en:ants secon: arg&)ent that they are in co)%liance

@ith the ADA 'eca&se all seats have &ni&e sight lines an: the

@heelchair seating locations are near other seats that have

si)ilar 4i.e. e&ally 'a:5 sightlines is a )isg&i:e: atte)%t to

re)ove the &alitative co)%arison re&ire: 'y the reg&lation. It

is a*io)atic that reg&lations sho&l: not 'e rea: so as to ren:er

ter)s )eaningless. Bartlett v. Ne@ 8or $tate Boar: o! La@

E*a)iners /


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they nee: to 'e &alitatively co)%ara'le to those %rovi:e: to the

general %&'lic i.e. )ore than a han:!&l o! other %atrons.

To 'olster their arg&)ent that the theater co)%lies @ith all

ADA re&ire)ents De!en:ants s&')it the Declaration o! 9evin

Tro&t)an a %rinci%al o! $alts Tro&t)an P 9aneshiro 4F$T95 the

architect&ral !ir) that :esigne: the "aret%lace Cine)a as @ell

as several theaters !or A)erican "&lti2Cine)a Inc. 4FA"C5. The

Tro&t)an Declaration is :e!icient in several @ays 22 'oth !or

@hat it says an: @hat it :oes not say./

To s&%%ort :e!en:ants arg&)ents that sightlines !or

@heelchair seating areas are co)%ara'le to those !or )e)'ers o!

the general %&'lic the Tro&t)an Declaration contains a !e@

isolate: )eas&re)ents relating to t@o !actors that the in:&stry

consi:ers relevant in eval&ating sightlines in )ovie theaters.

$ee E*hi'it 7 4setting o&t several !actors relating to sightlines

that the in:&stry consi:ers in :esigning )otion %ict&re

theaters5. "r. Tro&t)ans )eas&re)ents @ere not :isclose: in his

e*%ert re%ort as re&ire: 'y . (. /+4a5 since "r.

Tro&t)ans e*%ert re%ort containe: no )eas&re)ents relating to

sightlines.- In:ee: instea: o! eval&ating the sightlines

/


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%rovi:e: !or @heelchair seating an: !or )e)'ers o! the general

%&'lic as =.--.- o! the ADA $tan:ar:s :ictates "r. Tro&t)ans

e*%ert re%ort asserts in a concl&sory )anner that FK@hat

constit&tes a goo: line o! sight is a highly in:ivi:&al

:eter)ination. Tro&t)an E*%ert Re%ort at +. Th&s De!en:ants

sho&l: not 'e %er)itte: to '&ttress their s&))ary &:g)ent )otion

@ith "r. Tro&t)ans hereto!ore &n:isclose: )eas&re)ents.=

E*h. / at -6.

=


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"oreover the )eas&re)ents that "r. Tro&t)an %rovi:es in his

Declaration are at 'est @oe!&lly inco)%lete. "r. Tro&t)an has

%rovi:e: isolate: )eas&re)ents !or only a han:!&l o! the @orst

seats in the sta:i&) theaters isolate: )eas&re)ents !or

@heelchair seating locations seats in the sa)e ro@ as @heelchair

seating locations an: seats in ro@s ahea: o! @heelchair seating

locations. In reaching his concl&sions a'o&t co)%ara'ility "r.

Tro&t)an ignores the )aority o! seats in the sta:i&) theaters 22

i.e. all o! the 'etter seats @hich are locate: in ro@s 'ehin:

the @heelchair seating locations an: th&s all seats having

s)aller )ore co)!orta'le vertical vie@ing angles than @heelchair

seats. Accor:ingly "r. Tro&t)an concl&:es that sightlines !or

the @heelchair seats are Fco)%ara'le 'eca&se he only co)%ares

the) to seats that have sightlines that are e&al or @orse in

&ality totally ignoring all seats having 'etter sightlines.

In a::ition the Tro&t)an Declaration %rovi:es a !e@

isolate: )eas&re)ents !or only t@o o! the !actors that are

recognie: 'y the in:&stry as relevant to )otion %ict&re theater

sightlines3 475 the :istance !ro) so)e seats to the screen an:

4/5 the vertical vie@ing angle !ro) eye level at so)e seats to

the to% o! the screen. As the $"(TE G&i:eline an: "r. Tro&t)ans

o@n :e%osition testi)ony )ae clear sightlines involve other

cr&cial co)%onents s&ch as the !&ll vertical angle !or vie@ing

the entire screen !ro) to% to 'otto) the !&ll horiontal angle

!or vie@ing the entire screen !ro) si:e to si:e an: the e*tent

Evans v. Technologies A%%lications P $ervice Co)%any 0


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to @hich a %ersons vie@ o! the screen is o'str&cte:.1 "r.

Tro&t)an has o!!ere: no )eas&re)ents @hatsoever relating to these

cr&cial sightline co)%onents. Th&s De!en:ants have !aile: to

carry their '&r:en o! sho@ing that sightlines are co)%ara'le

since they have !aile: to intro:&ce into evi:ence the :ata

necessary to )ae a co)%arison.

De!en:ants thir: arg&)ent that it @o&l: 'e too :i!!ic&lt

to %rovi:e co)%ara'le sight lines in @heelchair seating areas is

co)%letely &ns&%%orte:. De!en:ants state no reason an: cite no

a&thority !or their contention that it @o&l: 'e too :i!!ic&lt to

ascertain the correct lines o! sight in vario&s asse)'ly areas

incl&:ing )ovie theaters. As the $"(TE G&i:elines :e)onstrate

the )ovie theater in:&stry clearly &n:erstan:s ho@ to )eas&re

sight lines an: has stan:ar:s !or :oing so. $ee E*hi'it 7 at 72

1. De!en:ants also assert in a concl&sory @ay that )aintaining

co)%liance @ith F!ire sa!ety seis)ic an: other a%%lica'le

'&il:ing co:es @o&l: create !&rther co)%lications. As state:

earlier the ne@ constr&ction %rovisions o! Title III re&ire

strict a:herence to the re&ire)ents o! the $tan:ar:s. $&%ra at

12+. Only in rare circ&)stances @here entities can :e)onstrate

that it is str&ct&rally i)%ractica'le to )eet the re&ire)ents

can they !ail to co)%ly @ith %rovisions o! the $tan:ar:s. =/

#.$.C. 7/7-4a5475 / C.


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@ith :i!!ic&lt or co)%le* '&t @ill 'e !o&n: Fonly in those rare

circ&)stances @hen the &ni&e characteristics o! terrain %revent

the incor%oration o! accessi'ility !eat&res. / C.


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Co)%anion seating is e*actly that 2 seating !or co)%anions

o! %eo%le @ho &se @heelchairs that allo@s the) lie )e)'ers o!

the general %&'lic @ho :o not &se @heelchairs the o%%ort&nity to

atten: )ovies s%orts contests concerts an: any other events

that tae %lace in asse)'ly areas in the co)%any o! !rien:s

!a)ily colleag&es an: clients an: not 'e segregate: to sitting

alone or in the co)%any o! strangers. Th&s the reg&lation

re&ires that each @heelchair seating location 'e acco)%anie: 'y

at least one !i*e: co)%anion seat. I:. Altho&gh De!en:ants

arg&)ent is not entirely clear it see)s to center on the ter)

Farea an: i)%lies that in those instances @here @heelchair

seating locations are cl&stere: together only one co)%anion seat

nee: 'e %rovi:e:. The reg&lation :oes not ho@ever :e!ine

@heelchair seating area an: it is not a ter) o! art in:icating an

area @here )&lti%le @heelchair &sers congregate in theaters or

other asse)'ly areas. Instea: the reg&lations &se the ter)

F@heelchair seating area interchangea'ly @ith F@heelchair

location F@heelchair s%ace an: F@heelchair area. / C.


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!i*e: seat 'e %rovi:e: ne*t to each @heelchair seating s%ace. 1+


22/29

)anner that non2:isa'le: %atrons :o 2 )aes clear @here this

seating sho&l: 'e locate:. (eo%le :o not ty%ically sit in !ront

o! or 'ehin: a %erson @ith @ho) they atten: a )ovie %er!or)ance

or s%orts event '&t to the i))e:iate si:e or Fne*t to the) so

they can co))&nicate share !oo: an: :rins an: in the case o!

so)e %eo%le @ith :isa'ilities receive nee:e: assistance @itho&t

:isr&%ting the event. The %lain )eaning o! Fne*t to an: the

co))on acce%te: %ractice o! sitting 'esi:e those @ith @ho) yo&

atten: events in asse)'ly areas )aes it a'&n:antly clear that

Fne*t to )eans to the i))e:iate right or le!t.

5% Defe&'a&$ Fa#l o P"o*e a$ a Mae" of La !aEa(! T!eae" #& T!e Ma"3e2la(e C#&e,a Co&a#&$!e Re8u#$#e Nu,be" of 6!eel(!a#" Sea#&gLo(a#o&$ a&' T!a T!e4 Do No Nee' o P"o*#'e6!eel(!a#" Sea#&g #& Mo"e T!a& O&e Lo(a#o&

As state: earlier =.7.-47654a5 )an:ates the n&)'er o!

@heelchair seating locations that )&st 'e %rovi:e: in asse)'ly

areas. / C.


23/29

overall an: as to ho@ )any @heelchair seating locations are

%rovi:e:., $ince the #nite: $tates has not yet ha: the

o%%ort&nity to con:&ct :iscovery an: co&nt the seats @e cannot

a&thoritatively co))ent on the !act&al inconsistency 'et@een

the). Ho@ever t@o signi!icant legal iss&es are raise:. The

!irst is @hether the @heelchair seating locations %rovi:e: in the

"aret%lace Cine)a co)%ly @ith all @heelchair seating

re&ire)ents o! the $tan:ar:s an: th&s can 'e co&nte: as ADA

co)%liant @heelchair seating locations an: secon: @hether the

@heelchair seating locations the)selves sho&l: 'e co&nte: @hen

:eter)ining i! s&!!icient seating ca%acity e*ists to re&ire

:is%erse: @heelchair seating 4@heelchair seating locations

%rovi:e: in )ore than one %lace in the theater5.

While =.7.-47654a5 o! the $tan:ar:s governs the

calc&lation o! the n&)'er o! @heelchair seating locations that

nee: to 'e %rovi:e: it also )an:ates that accessi'le @heelchair

locations co)%ly @ith =.--./ =.--.- an: =.--.=. I:. at

=.7.-47654a5. I! as @e e*%ect to %rove thro&gh :iscovery so)e

or all o! these F@heelchair seating locations :o not )eet the

ne@ constr&ction re&ire)ents set !orth in the relevant

,


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%rovisions o! the $tan:ar:s the non2co)%liant @heelchair seating

locations sho&l: not 'e co&nte: to :eter)ine @hether De!en:ants

have %rovi:e: a s&!!icient n&)'er o! ADA co)%liant @heelchair

seats. De!en:ants )ay there!ore !all short o! the )ini)&)

n&)'er o! @heelchair seating locations re&ire: 'y =.7.-4765

4a5. Beca&se @e cannot yet :eter)ine @hich @heelchair seating

locations co)%ly @ith the $tan:ar:s it is %re)at&re !or the

Co&rt to r&le on this iss&e.

De!en:ants arg&)ent that in :eter)ining @hether @heelchair

seating locations )&st 'e %rovi:e: in )ore than one %osition in

each theater only !i*e: seats !or non2:isa'le: %atrons nee: 'e

co&nte: is @itho&t )erit. $ection =.--.- e*%licitly reects this

li)itation re&iring :is%erse: @heelchair seating FK@hen the

seating ca%acity e*cee:s -00. I:. at =.--.- 4e)%hasis a::e:5.

In calc&lating the seating ca%acity =.--.- :oes not li)it the

seats co&nte: to those !i*e: seats %rovi:e: to non2:isa'le:

%atrons '&t e*%licitly incl&:es the entire seating ca%acity

incl&:ing @heelchairs. I:. Contrary to the arg&)ent %&t !orth

'y De!en:ants @heelchair seating locations are !i*e: an:

:irectly i)%act the seating ca%acity o! asse)'ly areas. They are

re&ire: 'y the reg&lation to 'e an integral %art o! the !i*e:

seating %lan an: can 'e &se: 'y non2:isa'le: %atrons @hen they

are not nee:e: 'y %eo%le @ith :isa'ilities. I:. Th&s in any

Th&s De!en:ants reliance on the De%art)ents TechnicalAssistance "an&al is )is%lace: 'eca&se he ass&)es @heelchairseating locations are not !i*e: seating. It is also )is%lace:'eca&se De!en:ant )istaenly sites a %ortion o! the TechnicalAssistance "an&al :ealing @ith rea:ily achieva'le 'arrierre)oval @hich incor%orate: a :i!!erent stan:ar: !or @heelchairseating than ne@ constr&ction. The a%%ro%riate section o! theTechnical Assistance "an&al is III2,.170 @hich states in

20


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theater @here the seating ca%acity 4:e!ine: to incl&:e @heelchair

seating locations5 e*cee:s -00 @heelchair seating locations )&st

'e %rovi:e: in )ore than one location.

9% Defe&'a&$ Fa#l o P"o*e a$ a Mae" of La T!a

!e S#?e a&' Co&f#gu"a#o& of !e 6!eel(!a#"Sea#&g Lo(a#o&$ Co,2l4 6#! !e Sa&'a"'$

$ection =.--.- o! the $tan:ar:s re&ires all @heelchair

seating locations to 'e con!ig&re: in accor:ance @ith =.--./

an: to a:oin an accessi'le ro&te. I:. $ection =.--./ re!ers to


26/29

that each o! the @heelchair s%aces is s&!!iciently :ee% as

re&ire: 'y =.--./ 4= inches !or rear a%%roach +0 inches !or

si:e a%%roach5. While a !act&al iss&e see)s to e*ist regar:ing

the @i:th o! the @heelchair seating locations De!en:ants !ail to

set !orth any evi:ence to contra:ict the allegation that the

@heelchair seating locations accesse: !ro) a !ront or rear

a%%roach :o not a:oin an accessi'le ro&te @ith a )ini)&) clear

@i:th o! -+ inches. $ections =.--.- =.-.-. Beca&se they !ail

to a:e&ately assert that they have co)%lie: @ith the reg&lation

:e!en:ants )otion !or s&))ary &:g)ent )&st !ail on this iss&e.

B% Defe&'a&$ Fa#l a$ a Mae" of La o P"o*e T!a T!e4A"e No Re8u#"e' o Ma#&a#& A((e$$#ble Feau"e$ #& !eT!eae"

The Title III reg&lation s%eci!ically states FA %&'lic

acco))o:ation shall )aintain in o%era'le @oring con:ition those

!eat&res o! !acilities an: e&i%)ent that are re&ire: to 'e

rea:ily accessi'le to an: &sa'le 'y %ersons @ith :isa'ilities.

/ C.


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$&))ary J&:g)ent sho&l: 'e :enie:.

Res%ect!&lly s&')itte:BILL LANN LEEActing Assistant Attorney GeneralCivil Rights Division

JOHN L. WODATCH Chie!RENEE ". WOHLENHA#$ De%&ty Chie!Disa'ility Rights $ectionCivil Rights Division

JEANINE ". WORDENJO$E(H C. R#$$OTrial AttorneysDisa'ility Rights $ection

Civil Rights $ection#.$. De%art)ent o! J&stice7=/1 Ne@ 8or Aven&e N.W.Roo) =0=-(ost O!!ice Bo* ++,-Washington D.C. /00-12+,-4/0/5 -0,2///6 4tele%hone54/0/5 -0,2776 4!acsi)ile5

Date:3 A%ril /0 7666

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PROOF OF SERVICE

I Jose%h R&sso :eclare3

I a) over the age o! 7 an: not a %arty to the @ithin

action. I a) e)%loye: 'y the De%art)ent o! J&stice Civil Rights

Division Disa'ility Rights $ection. "y '&siness a::ress is (.O.

Bo* ++,- Washington D.C. /00-12+,-.

On A%ril /0 7666 I serve:

MEMORANDUM OF PLAINTIFF-INTERVENOR UNITED STATES AS AMICUS

CURIAE IN OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANTS PARTIAL MOTION FOR

SUMMARY JUDGMENT

on each %erson or entity na)e: 'elo@ 'y co))on carrier


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LIST OF PERSONS AND+OR ENTITYIES SERVED

(age Wellco)e Es.-/7 $ta!!or: Aven&eCar:i!!2'y2the2$ea Cali!ornia 6/00,

Terence J. 9il%atric Es.7,/0 Bancro!t $treet$an Diego CA 6/70/

Gregory H&rley9&ta Roc+/0 Ne@%ort Ctr. DriveNe@%ort Beach CA 6/++0

sanborn brer

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