14-004845 Tesia Riddle vs. Publix, Inc. Status: Closed Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, January 6, 2015.

STAT E O F FLORID A

COMMISSIO N O N HUMA N RELATION S

TESI A RIDDLE .

Petitioner , FCH R Cas e No . 2014-0084 4

v . DOA H Cas e No . 14-484 5

PUBLIX , INC . FCH R Orde r No . 15-01 9

Respondent .

/

ORDE R REMANDIN G CAS E T O ADMINISTRATIV E LA W JUDG E

FO R FURTHE R PROCEEDING S O N PETITIO N FO R RELIE F

Thi s g Closin r Orde e th f o n consideratio r fo n Commissio e th e befor s i r matte Fil e

an d Relinquishin g Jurisdiction , 6 y , d date Januar , 2015 issue d i n th e above-style d e cas b y

Administrativ e La w Judg e Linzi e F . Bogan .

Finding s o f Fac t an d Conclusion s o f La w

Judg e Bogan' s s dismis n Commissio e th tha Petitioner' s recommend r orde t s

allegation s o f unlawfu l accommodatio n publi c discriminatio n fo r lac k o f jurisdiction ,

base d n ther t conclusio o tha e th n i e suppor s n n i t o th a Florid e Civi l 199 Right s Ac t o f 2

tha t a s "grocer y store" suc , a , i Respondent " accommodation c "publi a s h fo r s purpose o f

Sectio n 760.08 , Florid a Statutes . Citin g n i r Orde e Recommende th d Bake r v . Mayco m

Communication s / Sprint-Nextel , DOA H Cas e . No th 08-580 9 (Decembe r 22 , 2008) , e

orde r states , tha t t e "th fac retai l s store ar t no e ) (i.e y grocer . stores specificall y i liste d n

sectio n 760.02(11 ) o [th sectio e th Florid e f a n Civi l f o t Ac Right s 2 199 definin g "publi c

accommodation" ] e t tha t inten th legislativ a s reflect e e statut doe s no t encompas s suc h

establishments. "

I n a cas e i n whic h s wa e h allege r Petitione a d unlawfull y i discriminate d agains t n

th e manne r i n whic h h e wa s treate d a t e attempte h d grocerie o a a y fo r t s pa s Win n Dixi e

grocer y e th t tha e not e , "W l Pane n Commissio a , store commented Administrativ e La w

Judge' s conclusio n tha t ' a n Win Dixi e ' accommodation c publi a t y s i e stor i grocer no s

limite d t o th e fact s develope d i n thi s case an , d tha t circumstance s coul d exis t i n h whic a

grocer y stor e coul d b e foun d " accommodation'. c 'publi e b o t a Morale s v . Win n Dixi e

Stores , Inc. , FCH R Orde r . No 09-02 4 (Marc h 16 , 2009) .

Further , i n Fabian o v . Targe t Corporation r Orde FCH , R No . 2009) 09-05 7 (Jul y 1 , ,

a e th t e not e tha , stated l Pane n Commissio "W definitio n o f 'publi c accommodations '

include s '[a]n y , counter h , lunc , cafeteria , restaurant lunchroom sod a fountain , othe o r r

facilit y principall y engage d i n sellin g d foo fo r consumptio n o n th e premises , including ,

bu t no t limite d to , an y suc h y facilit locate d i n a retai l 'an establishment'.. . and.. . y

FCH R Orde r No . 15-01 9

Pag e 2

establishment. . .withi n th e premise s o f h whic i s physicall y covere locate d an y suc h d

establishment , an d whic h hold s itsel f t ou covere a s servin g patron s o f suc h d

establishment. ' Section s 760.02( 1 l)(b ) d an (d) , Florid a Statute s Consequently (2007) . ,

i n ou r view , i f a d foo d t a n i d s describe e statute above establishmen th , i s locate , n withi a

'retai l store, ' th e 'retai l store ' d woul b e a 'publi c accommodation ' b y definition ,

regardles s tha t th e statut e doe s t no y specificall sa y tha t 'retai l stores ' ar e publi c

accommodations. "

Finally , i t tha d note t i n b d shoul e Baker r , supra , cite d i n th e orde currentl y befor e

th e Commission , Petitione r s issue a wa t Orde o Sho w n r d e Caus e t o presen t th factua l

basi s o n whic h a s wa t Responden tha d contende r Petitione t "publi c accommodation. "

Base d o n th e foregoing , n i t exis n ca s tha t e conclud e w circumstance h whic a

grocer y stor e fall s withi n statutor y th e definitio n o f "publi c accommodation. " And , whil e

Petitione r di d respon d t o Respondent' s n Motio n t o Dismiss , th e recor d reflect s o

directio n t o Petitione r t o addres s e th e issu tha establis o f whethe r fact s exis t t o h t

Responden t i s a "publi c accommodation " withi n e th definitio n o f th e Florid a Civi l Right s

Ac t o f 1992 .

Whil e i t ma y wel l i n thi s s r e tha t th e tha conclusio b ultimat matte reache d i e n t

Responden t i s no t a "publi c t curren e th n give t e e conclud postur w " accommodation, tha e

o f th e cas e th e matte shoul r b d remande d e t o th e e Administrativ La w Judg e fo r furthe r

proceeding s o n th e Petitio n fo r Relief .

Exception s

Neithe r o f th e partie s file d e th o s exception t Administrativ e La w Judge' s Orde r

Closin g Fil e an d Relinquishin g Jurisdiction .

Reman d

Th e matte r i s REMANDE D e th t o Administrativ e La w Judg e fo r furthe r

proceeding s o n th e Petitio n fo r Relief .

DON E AN D ORDERE D thi s ^da y o f )71QAXA_ 2015 .

FO R TH E FLORID A COMMISSIO N O N HUMA N RELATIONS :

Commissione r Michae l Keller , Pane l Chairperson ;

Commissione r Rebecc a Steele ; an d

Commissione r Bill y Whitefo x Stal l

FCH R Orde r No . 15-01 9

Pag e 3

2015 ,

i n Tallahassee , Florida .

Commissio n o n Huma n Relation s

407 5 Esplanad e Way , Roo m 11 0

Tallahassee , F L 3239 9

(850 ) 488-708 2

Copie s furnishe d to :

Tesi a Riddl e

850 8 Nort h 12 t h Street , Apartmen t A

Tampa , F L 3360 4

Publix , Inc .

c/ o Edmun d J . McKenna , Esq .

Ogletree , Deakins , Nash ,

Smoa k & Stewart , P.C .

10 0 Nort h Tamp a Street , Suit e 360 0

Tampa , F L 3360 2

Linzi e F . Bogan , Administrativ e La w Judge , DOA H

Jame s Mallue , Lega l Adviso r fo r Commissio n Pane l

I HEREB Y CERTIF Y th f o y e a t tha cop foregoin g e th o t d bee n s ha abov maile e

liste d addressee s thi s CKLP da y of (

Cler k o f th e Codmnissio n

Florid a Commissio n o n Huma n Relation s