Case Background
Laura Valoppi, a 67-year-old woman and longtime member of the Del Norte Club in Sacramento, filed a lawsuit against Arcade Baptist Church of Sacramento, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the health club. The case went to trial in Sacramento County Superior Court in December 2025, with the Honorable Lauri A. Damrell presiding.
The Cause
Valoppi alleged the club violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and California's Unruh Civil Rights Act by failing to maintain functional pool chair lifts. She claimed that between June 30 and August 3, 2023, both the indoor and outdoor swimming pool chair lifts at the facility were non-operational, which denied her full and equal access to the pools.
The Injury
According to Court documents, Valoppi underwent foot surgery in May 2023 and could not stand on her right foot during her recovery period. She relied on a knee scooter for mobility and needed the pool chair lifts to safely enter and exit the swimming pools, which served as her primary form of exercise. Without functioning chair lifts, she was forced to hop down pool stairs on one foot and required staff members to physically lift her out of the water by her arms after each workout. She claimed this caused her significant discomfort and humiliation.
Damages Sought
Valoppi sought at least $80,000 in damages under the Unruh Civil Rights Act, claiming $4,000 for each of the 20 occasions she alleged the club violated disability access laws. She also requested attorney's fees and Court costs.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff: Laura Valoppi
· Counsel for Plaintiff: Michael Tsivyan
Defendant: Arcade Baptist Church of Sacramento, a California nonprofit corporation
· Counsel for Defendant: Shane Singh | Genna Promnick-Pavlov | Grace E. Mehta
Key Arguments by Counsel
Plaintiff's Claims
Valoppi's attorney argued that the club failed to maintain the pool chair lifts in operable working condition as required by federal disability access regulations. The complaint stated that when Valoppi contacted the club in late June 2023 after her surgery, she was initially told both chair lifts were broken and needed batteries.
Executive Director Taylor Clifton later emailed Valoppi and acknowledged the indoor pool chair lift was "working" but "not to its best capabilities" due to power issues. Clifton stated that staff could assist with turning the chair and that the club planned to replace the equipment.
Valoppi's complaint detailed that on June 30, 2023, when she arrived at the club for her first visit after surgery, the indoor pool chair lift did not work. Staff confirmed the outdoor pool chair lift was also non-functional. The club allegedly kept telling her the replacement equipment was on order and in transit, but the lifts were not repaired until August 4, 2023.
The Plaintiff claimed she used the swimming pool on 16 occasions during this period without access to a functioning chair lift, and that on four additional occasions she could not use the pool at all because both lifts were broken and no staff members were available to assist her.
Defense Position
Arcade Baptist Church denied the allegations and raised 32 affirmative defenses in their answer to the complaint. The church contended that Valoppi failed to state facts sufficient to support her claims and that any alleged barriers were isolated and temporary interruptions due to maintenance or repairs.
The defense argued the church provided alternative methods of access by offering staff assistance. They also asserted that Valoppi lacked standing to seek relief for barriers that did not affect her specific disability and that the Plaintiff failed to comply with California's SB 1186 requirements for disability access lawsuits.
The church maintained it acted in good faith and that any proposed access changes would create an undue burden or be structurally impracticable. Defense counsel also argued that Valoppi's claims were barred by the statute of limitations and that any damages she suffered were caused by her own actions or omissions.
Trial Proceedings
The case went to trial on December 2, 2025 in Department 22 of the Sacramento County Superior Court. A jury of twelve persons was selected and sworn in to hear the case. Both sides presented witnesses and evidence over the course of the trial.
The jury received a special verdict form with four questions to guide their deliberations. The questions addressed whether Valoppi proved she had a disability during the relevant time period, whether the facility was not readily accessible, whether Valoppi was denied full and equal enjoyment of the facility because of her disability, and whether any accessibility issues were due to temporary maintenance or repairs.
Jury Verdict
On December 11, 2025, the jury returned its verdict in favor of the Defendant.
The jury answered "Yes" to the first question, finding that Valoppi proved she had a disability between June 30 and July 27, 2023.
The jury also answered "Yes" to the second question, finding that the Defendant's facility was not made readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities on at least one occasion during that time period.
However, on the critical third question, the jury answered "No." They found that Valoppi did not prove that as a result of the facility's accessibility issues, she was denied full and equal enjoyment of the Defendant's facility because of her disability.
Because the jury answered "No" to the third question, they did not reach the fourth question regarding whether the accessibility problems were due to temporary maintenance or repairs.
On December 12, 2025, Judge Damrell entered judgment on the verdict. The Court ordered that Plaintiff Laura Valoppi shall take nothing from the Defendant Arcade Baptist Church of Sacramento by virtue of her complaint. The judgment declared the Defendant entitled to recover reasonable costs and disbursements incurred in the action, with the specific amount to be determined.
Court documents are available upon request at [email protected]
