Scott Johnson, a resident of Sacramento County, California, has filed a lawsuit against Blvd Coffee Inc., alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Unruh Civil Rights Act. The complaint was submitted on January 28, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. Johnson claims that Blvd Coffee Inc., located at 15525 Los Gatos Blvd., Suite C, Los Gatos, CA 95032, failed to provide adequate accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
Johnson's complaint details his visits to the coffee shop on November 6 and November 7, 2024. During these visits, he encountered several barriers that hindered his access due to his disability. Johnson uses a wheelchair and experiences chronic pressure sores and anxiety ticks. He also relies on a service animal for daily activities. The lawsuit alleges that none of the dining surfaces at Blvd Coffee were compliant with ADA standards, making it difficult for him to use them comfortably. "Plaintiff encountered inaccessible dining tables," the complaint states, highlighting issues such as inadequate knee and toe clearance under tables.
In addition to dining surface issues, Johnson faced challenges in accessing restroom facilities at the coffee shop. The toilet flush control was improperly located on the side closest to the wall rather than on the open side as required by ADA standards. This forced Johnson to leave without flushing the toilet, causing embarrassment. Furthermore, mirrors in the restroom were mounted too high for him to see himself properly.
The lawsuit accuses Blvd Coffee Inc. of failing to design and maintain its facilities in compliance with accessibility laws. It asserts that these barriers could have been removed easily and inexpensively since accessible tables are available for less than $500 and an accessible toilet flushing mechanism costs under $400. Johnson believes that such non-compliance is either due to policy failure or systematic negligence.
Johnson seeks various forms of relief from the court. He requests permanent injunctive relief compelling Blvd Coffee Inc. to remove all architectural barriers within 90 days or another date deemed just by the court. Additionally, he demands biennial Certified Access Specialist (CASp) inspections of the facility to ensure ongoing ADA compliance and implementation of accessibility policies along with annual employee training.
The case is being handled by attorneys Christopher A. Seabock and Sara Johnson from Seabock Price APC law firm based in Pasadena, California. The presiding judge is not named in this document but it falls under Case Number: 25CV457671.