Ahlshlager v. Imhof

PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION ORDER Plaintiff Nicole Ahlschlager (“Plaintiff”) brings this action under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) seeking injunctive relief and compensatory damages from John Imhof, in his official capacity as Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Social Services (“SCDSS”). Now before the Court Plaintiff seeks a mandatory preliminary injunction directing SCDSS to immediately permit her to have her service dog with her at the homeless shelter operated by SCDSS, where she and her family currently reside. Complaint (“Compl.”), ECF 1, at 1. For the following reasons, Plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction is GRANTED. BACKGROUND Plaintiff and her family — her common law husband, Joshua Goodman (“Plaintiff’s husband”), and two minor children — have been residing at a Suffolk County shelter, Workforce Development Center (“WDC”), since being evicted from their home in September 2024. Compl.

20-22. Plaintiff and her family live in a room on the second floor of the shelter. Id. 23. Plaintiff suffers from cerebral palsy and various mental health afflictions. Id. 10; Declaration of Tamar Lavy, M.D. (“Lavy Decl.”), ECF 5-7, 4; Ahlschlager Affidavit (“Pl.’s Aff.”), ECF 5-9, 4. Approximately two and a half years ago, Plaintiff obtained a service dog. Compl. 17. Plaintiff’s children named her service dog “Nightmare” after the dog in the movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Pl.’s Aff.