ORDER CONSTRUING DEFENDANTS' FILINGS AS AN ANSWER TO THE COMPLAINT

(Docs. 8, 11)

BARBARA A. McAULIFFE, Magistrate Judge.

On March 19, 2015, Plaintiff filed a complaint seeking relief pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), et al., against Defendants Kenneth Bocchini and Susan Bocchini ("Bocchini Defendants") as the operators of a business located in Fresno, California ("the Property").1 (Doc. 1). On March 31, 2015, Plaintiff filed a return of service, titled Summons Returned Executed, documenting that the Bocchini Defendants were properly served with the Summons and Complaint. (Docs. 4, 5). Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(a), the Bocchini Defendants were required to file a responsive pleading on or before April 20, 2015.

Shortly after Defendants were served, Defendants, appearing pro se, filed an application for a stay with an attached letter to the Court responding to the allegations in Plaintiff's Complaint. (Doc. 8). In that letter, Defendants explained that they have made several modifications to the property and that the changes render the property ADA compliant.2 Defendants also stated that they "are looking forward to seeing Jose Escobedo in Court." (Doc. 8 at 3). In a second letter filed with the Court on May 15, 2015, Defendants explain that additional ADA modifications have been made at the Property in response to Plaintiff's Complaint. (Doc. 11). The Bocchini Defendants again expressed that they "are looking forward to meeting with Mr. Escobar [sic] to discuss a resolution." (Doc. 11).

By filing several letters with the Court responding to the allegations in Plaintiff's complaint, the Court finds that Defendants have sufficiently indicated their intent to defend against this action. Defendants are without counsel and the Court recognizes that it must be "sensitive to the challenges faced by pro se litigants unfamiliar with the judicial process." See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dept., 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988), overruled in part on other grounds by Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). Accordingly, in the interest of justice, the Court construes Defendants' letters filed on April 28, 2015 and May 20, 2015 as an answer or otherwise responsive pleading to Plaintiff's Complaint. See Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir.1986) ("Cases should be decided upon their merits whenever reasonably possible.").3

Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that

1. Kenneth and Susan Bocchini's documents filed on April 28, 2015 and May 18, 2015 are construed as an ANSWER to the Complaint. (Docs. 8, 11).

2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve this order on Defendants via United States mail at the following address:

IT IS SO ORDERED.