Opinion
No. 2:17-CV-00396-KJM-DB
12-09-2020
ISAIAH BROWN, Plaintiffs, v. ELK GROVE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, Defendant.
ORDER
This ADA case arises out of a dispute between plaintiff Isaiah Brown, who is an individual with a disability, and his school district over plaintiff's desire to play on the varsity basketball team at three separate high schools. Defendant Elk Grove Unified School District ("the District") moves for summary judgment of plaintiff's remaining claims. Mot. for Summ. J. ("Mot."), ECF No. 49. Brown opposes, Pl.'s Am. Opp'n, ECF No. 53, and the District has filed a reply, Def.'s Reply, ECF No. 55. On November 22, 2019, the court heard oral argument on this motion. For the reasons set forth below, the District's motion is DENIED.
I. FACTUAL AND STATUTORY BACKGROUND
A. Factual Background
This case arises from plaintiff's efforts to play on the varsity basketball team at three high schools within the District during the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years. First Am. Compl. ("FAC"), ¶ 5. During the 2014-2015 school year, his junior year of high school, plaintiff attended Franklin High School ("FHS"). Id. During the 2015-2016 school year, his senior year, he attended both Cosumnes Oaks High School ("COHS") and Pleasant Grove High School ("PGHS"). Id. Plaintiff's Individualized Education Plan ("IEP") and Behavior Intervention Plan ("BIP") with the District identify his disability as emotional disturbance, which "causes him to become angry and defiant" and "manifests in emotional outbursts with swearing and yelling." Id. ¶ 8; see also Decl. of Doug Phillips (District Special Education Director) Ex. 10, ECF No. 49-9 at 8-9 (plaintiff's IEP). In 2014, while plaintiff was attending FHS, he claims he was not provided the "full try-out period" and was "excluded from the school's summer basketball program" because of his disability. Id. ¶ 9. Plaintiff transferred to COHS prior to his senior year and alleges coaches there also excluded him from participating in varsity basketball because of his disability. Id. ¶¶ 10-15. Later in 2015, plaintiff transferred to PGHS, where school officials did not allow him to participate in a late tryout for the varsity basketball team. Id. ¶¶ 18-19. The record as relevant to the District's motion relates to events at each of the three schools; subsequent conversations between plaintiff, plaintiff's mother and school officials; as well as conversations leading up to the tryouts at each school.
Defendant has submitted a statement of material facts. See Def.'s Statement of Facts ("DF"), ECF No. 49-2. These facts are supported in part by declarations from District officials who interacted with plaintiff and his mother. See Decl. of Chantelle Albiani ("Albiani Decl."), ECF No. 49-4 (principal of FHS, which plaintiff attended during 2014-2015 school year); Decl. of Bruce Belden ("Belden Decl."), ECF No. 49-5 (athletic director of PGHS, which plaintiff attended during 2015-2016 school year); Decl. of Dale R. Edmiston ("Edmiston Decl."), ECF No. 49-6 (District's athletic director); Decl. of Jesse Formaker ("Formaker Decl."), ECF No. 49-7 (basketball coach at FHS, which plaintiff attended during 2014-2015 school year); Decl. of Christopher Hoffman ("Hoffman Decl."), ECF No. 49-8 (District Superintendent); Decl. of Doug Phillips ("Phillips Decl."), ECF No. 49-9; Decl. of Elizabeth Rayner ("Rayner Decl."), ECF No. 49-10 (Program Specialist for Special Education services in District); Decl. of Patrick Roth ("Roth Decl."), ECF No. 49-11 (boys' varsity basketball head coach at COHS for 2015-2016 year, when plaintiff attended); Decl. of Dwayne Smith ("Smith Decl."), ECF No. 49-12 (boys' varsity basketball head coach at PGHS, which plaintiff attended during 2015-2016 school year). Defense counsel also has provided transcripts of plaintiff's depositions, Ex. 19, Ex. 20, as well as depositions of plaintiff's mother, Ex. 21, Ex. 22, the basketball coach at FHS, Ex. 23, and the basketball coach at COHS, Ex. 24. See Decl. of Dominic Spinelli ("Spinelli Decl."), ECF No. 49-3 (counsel for District).
Plaintiff has responded to defendant's statement of material facts. Pl.'s Resp. to Def.'s Statement of Facts ("PRDF"), ECF No. 54. Plaintiff relies on answers in his own deposition, as well as his mother's and his coaches' depositions, in disputing defendant's material facts. See generally PRDF. Plaintiff also relies on deposition testimony from non-retained expert witnesses, Michael Walker and Glen Basped, Sr., who previously coached plaintiff. See Decl. of Damien Troutman ("Troutman Decl.") Ex. G, ECF No. 45-1 (Coach Walker's deposition testimony); id. Ex. H, ECF No. 45-1 (Coach Basped's deposition testimony). Plaintiff also objects to portions of defendant's statement of material facts. See generally PRDF.
Defendant has replied to plaintiff's responses. See Def.'s Reply to Pl.'s Resp. ("DRPR"), ECF No. 55-3; Def.'s Resp. to Pl.'s Obj., ("DRPO"), ECF No. 55-4. Defendant also objects to some of the evidence on which plaintiff's opposition relies. See Def.'s Obj. to Pl.'s Opp'n, ECF No. 55-1.
The court addresses objections in the discussion below to the extent required to properly resolve the District's motion. In reaching its conclusions here, the court does not rely on any evidence for which it is sustaining an objection.
B. Procedural Background
Plaintiff filed suit against the District in Sacramento County Superior Court on November 8, 2016. Not. of Removal, ECF No. 1, at 1; see also Not. of Removal Ex. A (plaintiff's state court complaint). The District removed the case to this court on February 23, 2017. Id. at 2. Plaintiff filed an amended complaint on April 14, 2017, in which he asserted the following: (1) violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), FAC, ECF No. 7, ¶¶ 27-36; (2) violation of § 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, id. ¶¶ 37-44; (3) violation of the implementing regulations of the Rehabilitation Act, which require an equal opportunity for handicapped students to participate in a school's services and activities, id. ¶¶ 45-52; (4) negligence with respect to the District's duty of care to provide plaintiff equal access, id. ¶¶ 53-58; and (5) negligence per se for defendant's failure to follow the implementing regulations of the Rehabilitation Act, id. ¶¶ 59-65. The parties later stipulated to dismissal of plaintiff's negligence and negligence per se claims. Stip., ECF No. 8.
Two years of litigation followed. The District filed a motion to dismiss all of plaintiff's claims, Mot. to Dismiss, ECF No. 9, and then this court stayed the action until the parties completed settlement discussions, Minute Order, ECF No. 11. When the case did not settle, the court lifted the stay and heard defendant's motion to dismiss on November 3, 2017. See Minute Order, ECF No. 19; Hr'g Minutes, ECF No. 21. The court denied in full the District's motion to dismiss on February 20, 2018, Order, ECF No. 25, and the District then filed its answer, Answer, ECF No. 26.
Defendants filed the instant motion for summary judgment on September 24, 2019. The District argues as a threshold matter the court should dismiss plaintiff's claims for failure to exhaust administrative remedies under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA"). Mem. P. & A., ECF No. 49-1, at 13-16. The District also claims plaintiff cannot establish a disability discrimination claim under the ADA and § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act because: (1) the decision not to select plaintiff for the varsity team in both the 2014-2015 and the 2015-2016 seasons was not due to his disability, id. at 18-20; (2) the decision to not offer a late tryout at PGHS was also not the result of plaintiff's disability, id. at 20-21; (3) the District did not act with deliberate indifference, id. at 21-23; and (4) the District did not violate the implementing regulations of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, id. at 23-24.
C. Statutory Background
The court reviews the relevant parts of the applicable statutes below.
1. The IDEA
The IDEA provides procedural safeguards and requirements for the provision of a free and appropriate public education ("FAPE") to students with a qualifying disability. Students who qualify for special education services will receive an IEP and BIP in accordance with the IDEA. §§ 1414-1415(k). School districts are to resolve disputes regarding a BIP or an IEP using a mediation process; any disputes the mediation process does not resolve requires an impartial due process hearing, and students may appeal the results of these hearings, known as local education agency hearings, to a state educational agency. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(e)-(g). The IDEA provides none of its procedural safeguards "shall be construed to restrict or limit the rights, procedures, and remedies available under the Constitution, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or other Federal laws protecting the rights of children with disabilities." 20 U.S.C. § 1415(1). An exhaustion requirement limits this clause, such that if a plaintiff files a civil action under any of the other laws identified in the statute "seeking relief that is also available" under the IDEA, the plaintiff must exhaust the IDEA procedures—mediation, impartial due process hearing, appeal to state agency—"to the same extent as would be required had the action been brought under this subchapter [of the IDEA]." 20 U.S.C. § 1415(1).
2. The ADA and § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Title II of the ADA provides: "No qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity." 42 U.S.C. § 12132. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act provides: "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability . . . shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." 29 U.S.C. § 794. Given their similarity, the court treats the two statutory schemes as one and evaluates them under a single framework in the analysis below. See Zukle v. Regents of University of California, 166 F.3d 1041, 1045 n.11 (9th Cir. 1999).
II. LEGAL STANDARD
A court will grant summary judgment "if . . . there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). The "threshold inquiry" is whether "there are any genuine factual issues that properly can be resolved only by a finder of fact because they may reasonably be resolved in favor of either party." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 250 (1986).
The moving party bears the initial burden of showing the district court "that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party's case." Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 325 (1986). The burden then shifts to the nonmoving party, which "must establish that there is a genuine issue of material fact . . . ." Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 585 (1986). In carrying their burdens, both parties must "cit[e] to particular parts of materials in the record . . .; or show [] that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact." FED. R. CIV. P. 56(c)(1); see also Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586 ("[the nonmoving party] must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts"). Moreover, "the requirement is that there be no genuine issue of material fact . . . . Only disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 247-48 (emphasis in original).
In deciding a motion for summary judgment, the court draws all inferences and views all evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587-88; Whitman v. Mineta, 541 F.3d 929, 931 (9th Cir. 2008). "Where the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the non-moving party, there is no 'genuine issue for trial.'" Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587 (quoting First Nat'l Bank of Arizona v. Cities Serv. Co., 391 U.S. 253, 289 (1968)).
Where a genuine dispute exists, the court draws reasonable inferences in favor of the non-moving party. Tolan v. Cotton, 134 S. Ct. 1861, 1868 (2014). A court may consider evidence as long as it is "admissible at trial." Fraser v. Goodale, 342 F.3d 1032, 1036 (9th Cir. 2003). "Admissibility at trial" depends not on the evidence's form, but on its content. Block v. City of L.A., 253 F.3d 410, 418-19 (9th Cir. 2001) (citing Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 324). The party seeking admission of evidence "bears the burden of proof of admissibility." Pfingston v. Ronan Eng'g Co., 284 F.3d 999, 1004 (9th Cir. 2002). If the opposing party objects to the proposed evidence, the party seeking admission must direct the district court to "authenticating documents, deposition testimony bearing on attribution, hearsay exceptions and exemptions, or other evidentiary principles under which the evidence in question could be deemed admissible . . . ." In re Oracle Corp. Sec. Litig., 627 F.3d 376, 385-86 (9th Cir. 2010). However, courts are sometimes "much more lenient" with the affidavits and documents of the party opposing summary judgment. Scharf v. U.S. Atty. Gen., 597 F.2d 1240, 1243 (9th Cir. 1979).
The Supreme Court has taken care to note that district courts should act "with caution in granting summary judgment," and have authority to "deny summary judgment in a case where there is reason to believe the better course would be to proceed to a full trial." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255. A trial may be necessary "if the judge has doubt as to the wisdom of terminating the case before trial." Gen. Signal Corp. v. MCI Telecommunications Corp., 66 F.3d 1500, 1507 (9th Cir. 1995) (quoting Black v. J.I. Case Co., 22 F.3d 568, 572 (5th Cir. 1994)). This may be the case "even in the absence of a factual dispute." Rheumatology Diagnostics Lab., Inc. v. Aetna, Inc., No. 12-05847, 2015 WL 3826713, at *4 (N.D. Cal. June 19, 2015) (quoting Black, 22 F.3d at 572); accord Lind v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 254 F.3d 1281, 1285 (11th Cir. 2001).
III. DISCUSSION
A. ADA (First Claim) and Rehabilitation Act (Second Claim)
1. Exhaustion Requirement
As a threshold matter, the court addresses whether plaintiff failed to exhaust administrative remedies under the IDEA. Mem. P. & A. at 13-16. The District argues plaintiff needed to exhaust administrative remedies under the IDEA prior to filing this ADA complaint because his complaint cannot be "transplanted into some context aside from an educational setting." Id. at 15. In opposition, plaintiff asserts his claims do not require exhaustion because he seeks monetary damages, "which are not available under the IDEA." Opp'n at 17 (quoting E.H. v. Brentwood Union Sch. Dist., No. C13-3243 TEH, 2013 WL 5978008, at *5 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 4, 2013) (citing Blanchard v. Morton Sch. Dist., 509 F.3d 934, 936 (9th Cir. 2007)). /////
As noted above, the IDEA provides in pertinent part "that before the filing of a civil action under such laws seeking relief that is also available under this part, the procedures under [20 U.S.C. § 1415] subsections (f) and (g) shall be exhausted to the same extent as would be required had the action been brought under this subchapter." 20 U.S.C. § 1415(l). Whether a plaintiff seeks relief also available under the IDEA and therefore must meet "§ 1415(1)'s exhaustion rule hinges on whether a lawsuit seeks relief for the denial of a free appropriate public education." Fry v. Napoleon Cmty. Sch., 137 S. Ct. 743, 754 (2017). For example, when a denial of FAPE also violates the Rehabilitation Act, "plaintiff must first submit her case to an IDEA hearing officer." Id. To determine when a plaintiff is seeking relief for the denial of a FAPE, courts must look "to the 'substance' of, rather than the labels used in, the plaintiff's complaint . . . or, in legal speak, the gravamen—of the plaintiff's complaint." Id. at 755 (citations omitted). In this inquiry, courts must answer the following questions: "First, could the plaintiff have brought essentially the same claim if the alleged conduct had occurred at a public facility that was not a school—say, a public theater or library? And second, could an adult at the school—say, an employee or visitor—have pressed essentially the same grievance?" Id. at 756 (emphases in original).
Here, the District contends plaintiff's complaint is "an attempt to seek relief that would have been the subject of an IDEA due process complaint." Mem. P. & A. at 14 (citing DSDF 3, 26). In so doing, the District points to declarations recounting demands from plaintiff's mother that his "IEP reflect an offer of FAPE that mandated his participation with a varsity basketball team." Mem. P. & A. at 15 (citing Phillips Decl. ¶¶ 1-3, 5-16 (District Special Education Director describing requests from plaintiff's mother, both informally and during an IEP meeting, that District allow plaintiff to become member of varsity basketball team at each high school as part of his IEP); Rayner Decl. ¶¶ 1-3, 5-13 (Special Education Program Specialist also describing requests from plaintiff's mother that District allow plaintiff to become member of varsity basketball team at each high school); and Hoffman Decl. ¶¶ 1-5 (District Superintendent describing meetings and communications with plaintiff's mother in which he advised her the District was not obligated to permit plaintiff's participation on any varsity basketball team as part of his IEP)). The District also highlights deposition testimony from plaintiff's mother on this issue. See Spinelli Decl. Ex. 21 ("Henry Dep. I") at 102:18-104:08 (Plaintiff's mother stating, "I discussed adding a reasonable accommodation into his IEP, which requested that they input that Isaiah having the ability to play basketball helps him to maintain academic and emotional success, which is a benefit for him."); Spinelli Decl. Ex. 22 ("Henry Dep. II") at 183:09-17 (plaintiff's mother identifying language in a letter that purportedly would have allowed her son to "be afforded the equal opportunity as a student with a learning disability," per IDEA), 184:07-185:06 (discussion of how plaintiff's mother requested this language be included in his IEP during his sophomore year), 185:20-186:02 (discussion of when plaintiff's mother made these requests). Based on these sworn statements, from both District officials and plaintiff's mother, which reveal discussions about plaintiff's disability as related to plaintiff's possible inclusion on the varsity basketball team, the District reasons the gravamen of plaintiff's complaint seeks relief for denial of a FAPE; the District argues plaintiff could not bring claims related to a varsity basketball team against a public theater or library and an adult employee or visitor also could not bring these claims against the District. Mem. P. & A. at 15. Plaintiff disputes that his ADA and Rehabilitation Act claims necessitated meeting the IDEA's exhaustion requirement. As noted, plaintiff seeks only monetary damages, a remedy "not available under the IDEA," and so the exhaustion requirement in 20 U.S.C. § 1415(l) does not apply. E.H., 2013 WL 5978008, at *5 ("Following the relief-centric approach outlined in Payne, because Plaintiff does not seek relief available under the IDEA, he was not obligated to exhaust his IDEA remedies."); see also 20 U.S.C.A. § 1400(d)(1)(A).
Even if plaintiff sought relief available under the IDEA, he would not need to meet the exhaustion requirement because his complaint does not seek "to enforce rights that arise as a result of a denial of a free and appropriate public education [FAPE]." Payne v. Peninsulas Sch. Dist., 653 F.3d 863, 875 (9th Cir. 2011). Nowhere in plaintiff's complaint does he allege the District failed to provide him with a FAPE or failed to modify his IEP; instead, plaintiff alleges the district "'intentionally excluded [him] [...] from two school programs or activities [...] solely on the basis of [his] disability.'" Opp'n at 18 (citing 34 C.F.R. § 104.37(a)(1)).
As plaintiff's counsel maintained at hearing, an adult employee or visitor could allege a similar claim in the collegiate context. Because his claims have "'little to do' with the provision of strictly 'educational services,'" he could have brought them against "any public facility." Duncan v. San Dieguito Union High Sch. Dist., No. 3:18-CV-00321-BEN-BLM, 2019 WL 4016450, at *4 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 26, 2019) (quoting Fry, 137 S. Ct. at 755)). Therefore, because plaintiff's injuries involve questions of exclusion and access as opposed to those which are "educational in nature," the gravamen of his complaint does not implicate the IDEA.
The District's pointing to plaintiff's mother's advocacy during IEP meetings does not alter this conclusion. As the District's own evidence shows, it had never planned to guarantee plaintiff a place on the varsity basketball team as part of an IEP. For example, EGUSD Special Education Director Phillips' states in his declaration, "EGUSD does not offer placement on or any manner of participation with, competitive sports teams, including Varsity Basketball Teams, as part of an offer of [FAPE]. At no time did any of Isaiah Brown's IEP's [sic] include an offer of FAPE that entailed guaranteed placement or participation with a competitive sports team." Phillips Decl. ¶ 3; see also Edmiston Decl. ¶¶ 3-9 (Athletic Director describing his investigation of tryout process for 2015-2016).
As the statements of Special Education Director Phillips and Athletic Director Edmiston show, the process available to plaintiff here would have offered plaintiff no redress. "[C]ourts universally recognize that parents need not exhaust the procedures set forth in 20 U.S.C. § 1415 where resort to the administrative process would be either futile or inadequate." Hoeft v. Tucson Unified Sch. Dist., 967 F.2d 1298, 1303 (9th Cir. 1992). If plaintiff had pursued the available procedures, doing so would have been "either futile or inadequate," given that he did not seek a change in academic placement or special academic instructions. Opp'n at 18-19 (citing K.M. by & through Markham v. Tehachapi Unified Sch. Dist., No. 1:17-CV-01431-LJO-JLT, 2018 WL 2096326, at *9 (E.D. Cal. May 7, 2018)). Moreover, a claim under the ADA or Rehabilitation Act "is not 'precluded or waived based on a parent's consent to an IEP,' [ ] at least where the issue is one that requires specialized expertise a parent cannot be expected to have." A.G. v. Paradise Valley Sch. Dist., 815 F.3d 1195, 1205 (9th Cir. 2016) (quoting J.W. ex rel. J.E.W. v. Fresno Unified Sch. Dist., 626 F.3d 431, 447 (9th Cir. 2010)). Plaintiff's mother did not have "specialized expertise" and plaintiff's current counsel did not represent the mother when she advocated for her son through the IEP process.
In sum, both the remedies sought and the allegations in plaintiff's complaint demonstrate he was not required to exhaust remedies available under the IDEA. The court next turns to the merits of plaintiff's claims under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act.
2. Merits of ADA and Rehabilitation Act Claims
As to each of his alleged ADA violations, plaintiff has offered sufficient evidence to establish a triable question of fact precluding summary judgment, as summarized below.
Under the dual ADA and Rehabilitation Act analysis, a plaintiff must show: "(1) [he] is a qualified individual with a disability; (2) [he] was excluded from participation in or otherwise discriminated against with regard to public entity's services, programs, or activities, and (3) such exclusion or discrimination was by reason of [his] disability." Lovell v. Chandler, 303 F.3d 1039, 1052 (9th Cir. 2002). The parties agree plaintiff was a qualified individual with a disability and he was excluded from participating in varsity basketball teams in the District; the court thus addresses only the third element here.
a) Admissibility of Evidence
The court first addresses defendant's objections to the evidence plaintiff relies on in his opposition, to the extent necessary to clarify the record on this motion. See generally Def.'s Obj. to Pl.'s Opp'n.
Courts are generally "much more lenient" with the affidavits and documents of the party opposing summary judgment, here plaintiff. Scharf v. U.S. Atty. Gen., 597 F.2d 1240, 1243 (9th Cir. 1979). Additionally, "admissibility at trial" depends not on the form of evidence, but on its content. Block v. City of L.A., 253 F.3d 410, 418-19 (9th Cir. 2001) (citing Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 324).
The District objects to some of the testimony plaintiff provided at deposition. Def.'s Obj. to Pl.'s Opp'n at 1-10. Certain of these excerpts comprise plaintiff's answers to questions regarding his previous experiences playing basketball, including prior to the 2014-2015 school year, as well plaintiff's discussion of his disability. Id. at 1 (citing Brown Dep. I 140:1-7); id. at 2 (citing Brown Dep. I 140:17-21); id. at 3 (citing Brown Dep. I 202:10-12; 170:11-19; 170:20-15 [sic]); id. at 4 (citing Brown Dep. I 144:22-145:7; 61:1-13); Id. at 5 (citing Brown Dep. I 61:24-62:13); id. at 6 (citing Brown Dep. I, 163:17-164 [sic]; 161:18-163:9); id. at 7 (citing Brown Dep. I 201:12-202:12); id. at 8 (citing Brown Dep. I 204:5-9); id. at 9 (citing Brown Dep. I 204:10-15; 204:16-205:23). The District objects to this testimony as irrelevant under Federal Rules of Evidence 401 and 402; the District also argues it lacks foundation because plaintiff "has failed to provide evidence of one or more facts, upon which the existence or nonexistence of which the admissibility of the evidence depends," relying on Rules 602 and 702. Id. In some respects, the District objects on grounds of speculation. Id. (objections 12-14). The court disagrees. Plaintiff's previous experiences are relevant to whether the decision to exclude him from participation in varsity basketball was the result of his skills or his disability; the factfinder can determine how much weight to give plaintiff's testimony. Regarding whether plaintiff's testimony in some instances lacks foundation, such an issue is easily resolved at a later stage, with foundational issues likely curable at trial and any sustaining on grounds of speculation immaterial to the analysis here. The court OVERRULES the District's evidentiary objection Nos. 1-14.
The District also objects to any testimony provided at deposition by Coach Basped and Coach Walker, claiming plaintiff did not properly disclose them as experts and their testimony is not relevant under Rules 401 and 402. Def.'s Obj. to Pl.'s Opp'n at 11-31 (making objections on grounds of relevance, foundation and in some cases speculation). As the court discussed with counsel at hearing, both Coach Basped and Coach Walker were non-retained experts; plaintiff did not need to disclose them or describe the scope of their opinions. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2)(B). Moreover, both coaches provide testimony relevant to resolving the case because their opinions of plaintiff's basketball skills based on personal observation could help prove or disprove whether plaintiff's disability served as the "motivating factor" behind the decision to not allow him to play on the District's varsity basketball teams. The court OVERRULES the District's evidentiary objection Nos. 15-30.
Having clarified the record, the court turns to analyze the substance of defendant's arguments on these claims.
b) Exclusion from Participation in FHS and COHS Varsity Basketball
A plaintiff must show any exclusion from participation in, denial of benefits, or discrimination by a public entity "was by reason of his disability." Weinreich v. Los Angeles Cnty. Metro. Transp. Auth., 114 F.3d 976, 978 (9th Cir. 1997) (citing 42 U.S.C. § 12132). Under the ADA, the exclusion must be partially based on a plaintiff's disability, while under the Rehabilitation Act it must be solely based on the plaintiff's disability. Lovell, 303 F.3d at 1052 (citations omitted). Despite this distinction, the court still treats both statutory schemes as one and evaluates them together below. Zukle, 166 F.3d at 1045 n.11.
The District meets its initial burden of pointing to evidence showing it did not exclude plaintiff from participation in varsity basketball at FHS and COHS on account of his disability. Specifically, the District provides sworn declarations describing plaintiff's tryout performances at FHS and COHS, the process of those tryouts, and the follow-up investigations after plaintiff did not make each team. Coach Formaker avers plaintiff's poor performance during tryouts, rather than any disability, disqualified him from the FHS varsity basketball team during the 2014-2015 school year; Coach Roth said the same regarding the varsity basketball team at COHS during the 2015-2016 school year. See DSDF 9 (citing Formaker Decl. ¶ 5 (FHS coach describing how plaintiff's "lack of lateral defensive quickness, a lack of perimeter skills and a lack of ball handling skills" informed his decision not to allow plaintiff on 2015-2016 varsity basketball team); id. 17 (citing Roth Decl. ¶¶ 2-6 (COHS coach describing plaintiff's difficulty executing sets and plays, along with excessive number of attempts to make shots, as informing coach's decision to not allow plaintiff on 2015-2016 varsity basketball team)). Coach Roth and Coach Formaker also made similar statements in their depositions, transcripts of which defendant has provided to the court. See Spinelli Decl. Ex. 24 ("Roth Dep.") at 29:05-30:02, 37:20-38:06 (excerpts from Roth deposition regarding plaintiff's basketball skills); Spinelli Decl. Ex. 23 ("Formaker Dep.") at 21:21-22:12, 27:18-28:02 (excerpts from Formaker deposition regarding plaintiff's basketball skills). Defendant's evidence regarding the process followed during tryouts further supports the District's position that it allowed plaintiff the same opportunities as other players. See Formaker Decl. ¶ 4 (describing three two-hour tryout sessions for FHS 2014-2015 varsity basketball team during which coaches observed players running drills and participating in scrimmages); Roth Decl. ¶ 4 (describing same for COHS 2015-2016 varsity basketball team).
After plaintiff did not make either team at FHS or COHS, defendant investigated whether the coaches discriminated against or excluded plaintiff because of his disability. The District concluded the coaches did not discriminate against plaintiff. The investigations at least support the conclusion the District sought to determine whether the coaches based their decisions on plaintiff's disability, rather than just assume they did not. See Albiani Decl. ¶¶ 4-9 (FHS principal's description of her investigation into whether Coach Formaker discriminated against plaintiff during tryouts for 2014-2015 season); Edmiston Decl. ¶¶ 2-9 (District Athletic Director Edmiston's investigation following plaintiff's tryout at COHS during 2015-2016 school year "did not substantiate that Isaiah Brown was subjected to discrimination by Coach Roth on the basis of Isaiah's disability."). Collectively, this evidence meets the District's initial burden of showing there is no dispute regarding why the District excluded plaintiff from participating in varsity basketball.
The burden thus shifts to plaintiff, who meets this burden by raising a genuine dispute regarding whether the District excluded him from participating in varsity basketball because of his disability. With respect to his basketball skills generally, plaintiff disputes the District's assessment and provides testimony from two coaches, non-retained expert witnesses, who previously watched plaintiff play basketball. PRDF 24 (citing Walker Dep. at 49:14-50:14, 65:16-66:18, 84:13-86:11, 92:03-94:11, 96:20-100:06 (coach with 20-year career describing plaintiff's talent through plaintiff's participation in his basketball organization, Showtime Hoops)); id. (citing Basped Dep. at 138:23-140:12 (describing his basketball career and observations of plaintiff at two camps for "top kids in Northern California," as well as plaintiff's qualifications for varsity basketball)). The testimony of Coach Walker and Coach Basped contradicts that of Coach Formaker and Coach Roth. Furthermore, plaintiff points to evidence from which the factfinder could conclude the behavior of Coach Formaker and Coach Roth leading up to and during tryouts demonstrates they were aware of plaintiff's disability and sought to antagonize him. See Brown Dep. II at 270:07-271:04, 271:19-273:16 (recounting Coach Formaker's "yelling and screaming and cussing" to plaintiff during tryouts); id. at 296:25-299:24, 300:16-301:12, 302:12-303:03, 303:10-304:13 (describing Coach Roth's calling plaintiff by the wrong name "Elijah throughout summer league," and how plaintiff "felt that he doing [sic] it to be disrespectful."). FHS Principal Albiani acknowledged that through her investigation, she "substantiated that inappropriate language was used by Coach Formaker," although she "was unable to substantiate specific verbiage used." Albiani Decl. ¶ 10.
Viewing all the evidence and drawing all inferences in favor of the nonmoving party, the court finds plaintiff has raised triable issues of fact regarding his performance during tryouts and his overall basketball skills. These facts are material to plaintiff's ADA and Rehabilitation Act claims because if plaintiff had the requisite skills to play varsity basketball, but the District denied him the opportunity to do so because of his disability, he will prevail on these claims. It is for a jury to discern whether plaintiff's disability or lack of skills served as the "motivating factor" for his exclusion from participation in varsity basketball. See Martin v. California Dept. of Veterans Affairs, 560 F.3d 1042, 1048 (9th Cir. 2009) ("That is, if the evidence could support a finding that there is more than one reason for an allegedly discriminatory decision, a plaintiff need show only that discrimination on the basis of disability was a 'motivating factor' for the decision.") (citations omitted).
The court DENIES the District's motion for summary judgment of plaintiff's claims the District violated his rights under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act by excluding him from the varsity basketball teams at FHS and COHS.
c) Exclusion from Participation in PGHS Varsity Basketball
The District argues Coach Smith's decision to move forward with his varsity basketball team at PGHS and not provide plaintiff a late tryout was the result of "legitimate non-discriminatory reasons." Mem. P. & A. at 20 (citing DSDF 23). Coach Smith avers any late tryout "would have been very difficult as a practical matter to give a single student a tryout, and it would have been unfair to the student, the team, and the other individuals who had been cut from the team during the regular tryout window." Smith Decl. ¶ 4. This decision "was left to" Coach Smith and District officials "in no way attempt[ed] to persuade" Coach Smith to prevent a late tryout. Id. Director Edmiston avers, "at no time did I ever state Isaiah Brown would be guaranteed a late tryout for the PGHS boys' varsity basketball team." Edmiston Decl. ¶ 13. With these sworn declarations, the District meets its initial burden of pointing to evidence it did not exclude plaintiff from participating in PGHS's varsity basketball team because of his disability.
While plaintiff points only to excerpts of his own deposition on this issue, in doing so he raises a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether his exclusion from participation in tryouts at PGHS was motivated by his disability. Plaintiff testified District officials informed him he could try out for the PGHS team, even though the coach had already selected the team. PRDF 25 (citing Brown Dep. I at 119:21-121:05, 122:06-15 ("That I was cleared to do so, by Rod Edmiston. And I was allowed to be able to try out, and - and all I had to do was just show up to the practice.")). After Athletic Director Edmiston "cleared" plaintiff, plaintiff went to practice for the PGHS varsity basketball team, where Coach Smith told him "to wait three days before they made a decision," id. at 123:07-123:20, 124:09-125:12; after those three days plaintiff's mother received an email stating PGHS would not allow him to try out, id. at 124:22-126:04; see, e.g., ECF No. 49-3 (sealed).
Plaintiff's deposition testimony creates a dispute regarding whether the District excluded plaintiff from trying out to participate in PGHS's varsity basketball team because of his disability. The letter in response to plaintiff's mother describes the process by which Superintendent Hoffman reviewed the information she provided, "specifically considered the language in [her son's] January 13, 2016 IEP Addendum, and further discussed the District's legal obligations to a child with a disability in the area of athletics with [his] Student Services staff." Id. at 58. After this review, the District decided plaintiff's "IEP Addendum [did not] require[] his participation on the team as a specific component of a Free Appropriate Public Education." Id. Viewing all evidence and drawing "reasonable inferences" in favor of plaintiff as the nonmoving party, the court finds there is a genuine issue regarding whether the District ///// initially allowed plaintiff to try out for PGHS's team, but then changed course because of his disability. Tolan, 134 S. Ct. at 1868.
The court DENIES the District's motion for summary judgment of plaintiff's claim the District violated the ADA and Rehabilitation Act when it did not allow him to try out for the PGHS varsity basketball team.
d) Deliberate Indifference
The District argues it did not act with deliberate indifference because the record shows plaintiff's qualifications, rather than his disability, prevented him from making the varsity basketball team at each school he attended. Mem. P. & A. at 21-22. Plaintiff argues there are triable issues of material fact as to whether the District acted with deliberate indifference to his disability, based on deposition testimony from two coaches about their knowledge of plaintiff's disability. Opp'n at 21.
When seeking damages on ADA and Rehabilitation Act claims, a plaintiff must demonstrate defendant's deliberate indifference, which "requires both knowledge that a harm to a federally protected right is substantially likely, and a failure to act upon that likelihood." Duvall v. Cty. of Kitsap, 260 F.3d 1124, 1139 (9th Cir. 2001) (citing City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 380 (1988)). "[T]o meet the second element of the deliberate indifference test, a failure to act must be a result of conduct that is more than negligent, and involves an element of deliberateness." Id. (citing Bartlett v. New York State Board of Law Examiners, 156 F.3d 321, 331 (2d Cir. 1998), reversed on other grounds, 527 U.S. 1031 (1999)). This requirement is not met where a "duty to act may simply have been overlooked, or a complaint may reasonably have been deemed to result from events taking their normal course." Id. (citing Ferguson v. City of Phoenix, 157 F.3d 668, 674 (9th Cir. 1998)).
The District maintains it did not act with deliberate indifference because, in the first place, plaintiff did not request accommodations for basketball and, moreover, because the District utilized non-discriminatory selection criteria in determining whether plaintiff could participate on the varsity basketball teams. Mem. P. & A. at 21. The District highlights plaintiff's own deposition testimony, in which he states he neither required nor requested any accommodations to participate in basketball. DSDF 27 (citing Brown Dep. I 150:05-152:13 (plaintiff stating Coach Formaker at FHS did not "treat [him] any differently" during tryouts and his "learning disability didn't affect [] athletic capabilities to play basketball"); Brown Dep. II 283:10-19, 305:20 -306:01 (stating he did not need accommodations during summer league at COHS); id. at 312:08-12 (stating he did not request "any kind of assistance or accommodations" for tryouts with Coach Roth at COHS)). To support its argument the coaches used non-discriminatory selection criteria, the District here as well points to declarations from each coach describing how plaintiff's performance at tryouts and skills informed their decisions to not place him on the team. See DSDF 17 (citing Roth Decl. ¶¶ 2-6); id. 9 (citing Formaker Decl. ¶ 5).
With respect to deliberate indifference, plaintiff raises a genuine issue of material fact as well, while recognizing that deliberate indifference requires "more than negligent" conduct and imposes a more stringent standard than the "but-for" causation standard for other facets of an ADA claim. Other testimony of coaches and school officials could lead a factfinder to conclude the District knew "that a harm to a federally protected right [was] substantially likely" because District representatives were aware of plaintiff's disability. See Formaker Dep. at 10:16-19, 14:24-17:12 (discussing plaintiff's behavioral incidents and interactions with plaintiff's "special-education case manager, Mike Willis"); Roth Dep. at 9:03-07, 14:14-19 (discussing plaintiff's IEP, which he was aware of because he also taught plaintiff in Economics), 16:02-18, 19:13-25 (admitting awareness of plaintiff's behavioral issues and disability). Plaintiff also raises a genuine dispute regarding the second element of a deliberate indifference claim, "failure to act upon that likelihood," by pointing to evidence of the District's awareness of alleged discrimination, especially after the tryouts at FHS, while making no effort to ensure plaintiff did not experience further discrimination. Albiani Decl. Exs. 1, 2, 4 (plaintiff's mother's complaints during 2014-2015 school year); Edmiston Decl. Ex. 5 (plaintiff's mother's complaint following 2015-2016 school year). Although Principal Albiani's investigation during the 2014-2015 school year concluded Coach Formaker did not discriminate against plaintiff, allegations within the complaint served to put the District on notice of the "likelihood" of discrimination. Albiani Decl. ¶¶ 6-9. Even after the investigation was complete, the District has not shown it took any action to mitigate potential discrimination against plaintiff. See Lovell v. Chandler, 303 F.3d 1039, 1057-58 (9th Cir. 2002) (in failing to alleviate impact of discrimination on individual with disability, defendant acted with deliberate indifference).
The court DENIES the District's motion for summary judgment as to plaintiff's deliberate indifference claim.
B. Implementing Regulations of the Rehabilitation Act (Third Cause of Action)
Finally, the District argues plaintiff cannot prevail on his claim that the District violated the implementing regulations of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act because the coaches evaluated plaintiff on the basis of his "skills and abilities." Mem. P. & A. at 23 (citing DSDF 6-11, 14-22, 27). In opposition, plaintiff argues there are triable issues of material fact, based on evidence showing "the District's manifest lack of investigation into whether Plaintiff could be accommodated under Section 504 and the ADA." Opp'n at 24.
Students have a private right of action against a school district they believe has violated Section 504's "reasonable accommodation" and "meaningful access" implementing regulations. Mark H. v. Lemahieu, 513 F.3d 922, 937-38 (9th Cir. 2008). In this case, plaintiff brings his claim under both prongs of Section 504's implementing regulations, but the District appears to focus on only the requirement of "meaningful access" to the school's programs. Mem. P. & A. at 23. In opposing defendant's motion in this respect, plaintiff points to plaintiff's mother's testimony, which he says supports the conclusion the District provided plaintiff with neither reasonable accommodations nor meaningful access. Opp'n at 22-23. Given the scope of defendant's motion, the court considers meaningful access under the Section 504 implementing regulations below.
To the extent defendant means also to include reasonable accommodations as a basis of its motion, the District does not meet its initial burden of showing there is no genuine factual dispute regarding whether it failed to provide plaintiff with reasonable accommodations for his disability. The regulations require that districts "shall provide non-academic and extracurricular services and activities in such manner as is necessary to afford handicapped students an equal opportunity for participation in such services and activities." 34 C.F.R. § 104.37(a). When an entity is on notice of needed accommodations, it "is required to undertake a fact-specific investigation to determine what constitutes a reasonable accommodation." A.G. v. Paradise Valley Unified Sch. Dist. No. 69 ("A.G."), 815 F.3d 1195, 1207 (9th Cir. 2016) (citation omitted). Here, although plaintiff testified in his deposition he did not request a different tryout process because of his disability, the District is not relieved of responsibility when the District does not provide evidence sufficient to show as a matter of law it undertook any "fact-specific investigation to determine what constitutes a reasonable accommodation." Id. Instead, District officials stated merely that "accommodations and modifications could be provided based on individual needs" if plaintiff made the team. Albiani Decl. ¶ 9; Phillips Decl. ¶ 5 ("[I]f Isaiah Brown made the team, accommodations and modifications, including revisions to the operative BIP, could be provided based on individual needs."). These statements, particularly those of Special Education Director Phillips, only serve to demonstrate the District considered plaintiff's participation on the varsity basketball team through the framework of his IEP as opposed to "what constitutes a reasonable accommodation" under the Section 504 implementing regulations. --------
With respect to physical education and athletics programs available to students, districts "may not discriminate on the basis of handicap." 34 C.F.R. § 104.37(c)(1). Instead, districts "shall provide to qualified handicapped students an equal opportunity for participation." Id. To pursue a claim based on a meaningful access theory, a plaintiff must demonstrate a violation of a Section 504 implementing regulation that "denied [him] meaningful access to a public benefit." A.G., 815 F.3d at 1204 (citation omitted).
On this issue, the District argues it did not deny plaintiff meaningful access to the varsity basketball program because it allowed him to participate in multiple tryouts, during which coaches evaluated him on his skills and abilities. Mem. P. & A. at 23 (citing DSDF 6-11, 14-22, 27). As discussed above, however, evidence in the record could lead a factfinder to determine the District may have not allowed plaintiff "meaningful access" to its varsity basketball teams because of his disability. Plaintiff has pointed to evidence showing his basketball skills qualified him to play on these teams, and evidence supporting an inference the District considered plaintiff's disability in ultimately not allowing him to make the team. See Walker Dep. at 96:20-100:06 (coach with 20-year career describing plaintiff's talent through plaintiff's participation in his basketball organization, Showtime Hoops); Basped Dep. at 138:23-140:12 (describing his basketball career, his observations of plaintiff at two camps for "the top kids in Northern California" and plaintiff's qualifications for varsity basketball); Brown Dep. II at 270:07-271:04, 271:19-273:16 (recounting Coach Formaker's "yelling and screaming and cussing" at plaintiff during tryouts); id. at 303:10-304:13 (describing Coach Roth's calling him "Elijah throughout summer league" and how plaintiff "felt that he doing [sic] it to be disrespectful."). For these reasons, whether the District denied plaintiff "meaningful access" to varsity basketball presents a genuine dispute of material fact.
The court DENIES the District's motion for summary judgment of plaintiff's claim the District violated his right to "meaningful access" under the Section 504 implementing regulations.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, defendant's motion for summary judgment is DENIED. A final pretrial conference is set for March 26, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. The parties SHALL meet and confer and file a joint status report 14 days prior to the final pretrial conference addressing matters the court should consider in setting a trial date. See E.D. L.R. 282. In the meantime, if the parties request referral now to another judge of the court for the purposes of a court-convened settlement before the final pretrial conference, they may file such a request in writing promptly and the court will make the referral. Additionally, if the parties jointly request a virtual trial that can be convened by videoconference, they should so advise the court with a description of their proposed trial procedures and the final pretrial conference may be advanced to an earlier date.
This order resolves ECF No. 49.
IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: December 9, 2020.
/s/_________
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE