Rinker et al v. Carnival Corporation et al

Filing 278

ORDER granting in part and denying in part 196 Motion to Dismiss Counts XI and XIV of Amended Complaint and Motion to Strike; Answer due 12/21/2011. Signed by Judge Patricia A. Seitz on 12/14/2011. (ls)

UNI
TED STATES DI
STRI CO URT
CT
SOUTHERN DI
STRI OF FLORI
CT
DA
CA SE NO.09- 4- V- TZ/ M ONTON
2315 CI SEI Sl
SAN D R A RW K ER,
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CARNI
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Def nda s
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ORDER GR ANTI DEFENDANT PATEL' M OTI TO DI I AND
NG
S
ON
SM SS
G M NTI I PART AND DENYI I PART M OTI TO STRI
NG N
NG N
ON
KE
THI M ATTER i be or t Cour on De e antRama
S
s f e he
t
f nd
nbha PaelsM o i t Dim is
i t ' ton o s s

Count XIa XI ofPli ifsAme dCompli a M oton t Sti ( 1 .Thi
s nd VI antf
nde
ant nd i o rke DE- 96q s

a to aie fo ij re s san db Plitf, n r Ril r a rs ed v lp dme igts
cin rs s r m n u is u tie y an if Sa d a r , he h e eo e nn ii
ke
a r De e
boa d f ndan Ca i lCor ' s p a wa pr de wihm e c c ebyt s p- r
t m va
p.s hi nd s ovi d t
dial ar
he hi boa d
docor De e ntPael a t s p- r nur e zPl ntf Sec Am e ed Compl i
t , f nda
t , nd he hi boa d s s. ai ifs ond
nd
ant

alge t e c sa i tPael(1 ne i nc ( batey;a ( batr f t a t of
le s hre ount gans t : ) glge e; 2) tr nd 3) tey or he cs
Nu s sLa a Dor hl Pa e movest dimist bater cli andt cli t hol hi
r e w nd
me . t l
o s s he t y a m
he am o d m
vi rousy la e f t ba tre c
ca i l i bl or he te is omm it d byN u s sLa a Dor hl Pa e alo s kst
te
r e w nd
me . t l s ee o

srk s v rl l g to , a a rp s4 () 4 () 5 , () 61a a d6 () Ass t o t beo
tie e ea al ains p rg a h 8 c, 8 e, 0 51a , () n 4 a . e f rh lw,
e
t M oton t Dimi si g a e ast t ba tr co sa t M oton t Sti i gr nt d a t
he
i o s s s r nt d o he te y unt nd he
i o rke s a e s o

p rg a h 4 ()a d48e a dd ne a mo tnaloh rr s cs
a a rp s 8 c n () n e id s o i 1 te e pe t,
l hiet c sar numbe ed Xla XI t y a er ly c s5 a 6.Fors
W l he ount e
r
nd V, he r ea l ount nd
ome
un w n r as a de pie t pot nta f c uson,Pl i iff l t r num be t c s
kno
e on, nd s t he e i l or onf i
a ntf aied o e
r he ount
whe s fld he Se ond Ame ed Compl i .
n he ie r c
nd
ant
2 s p- r nur e ha bee dimis d asDe e
The hi boa d s s ve n s s e
f ndan sbe us t Cour lc d
t ca e he
t a ke

p ro a j rs ito o e t e Se DE- 6 & 1 .
es n l u idcin v r h m. e 1 6 68

1. FactualA legat ons
l i

Ac r ng t t a lga i i t Sec Ame d Compl nt Pl i ifwa a
co di o he le tons n he ond
nde
ai , antf s
pa s nge a d Ca ni ' s p Spii, nNove r2008, n s de l d meni ts
s e r boar r vals hi
rt i
mbe
whe he ve ope
ngii,
ba tr mi a ose
ce e a, nd t omyelts Pli ifs
ii. antf oughtte m e f ahea hewhiea dt s p
r at nt or
dac
l boar he hi

fom t s p' doc or Patl a t s p' nur e ,La a Dor hl Paela t s p'
r he hi s t , e , nd he hi s s s w nd
me . t nd he hi s
nurespr d me c lc r t Pli if Ne t rPa e nort nureswe e lc ns d by a sae
s ovi ed dia a e o a ntf . ihe t l
he s
r ie e
ny tt

i teUn td Sae o i t ej rs ito o t es i sta .Plitf wa u a r o t s
n h ie tts r n h u id cin f h hp' l g an if s n wae fhi
i onnaton a t tm es r ceve t m e c c e
nf
i t he i he e i d he dial ar .Thus Pli ifale st tPaela t
, a ntf l ge ha t nd he

nur e di notobt i pr
ss d
an operi or d cons ntfom Pl ntf. Co e nty,Pli ifal est t
nf me
e r
ai if ns que l a ntf leg ha

s ewa s be tt ab te yb Pae a db teisb t en re wh n te t c e h rd rn
h : u j c o atr y tl n atre y h u s s e h y ou h d e ui g
te t e .Pl ntf s e t hol Pa e labl unde et rat o y o r po a s roror
r am nt ai if e ks o d t l i e
r ihe he r f es nde t upe i
appa e age y f t ale d bat re c
r nt nc or he l ge te i s omm it d byt nur e . Paelm ove t dimi sbot
te
he s s t
so s s h
ba t y cl i s
ter a m .

Pl i ifa s alege a c tofneg i nc a i tPae .Pli ifalege t tPae was
antf lo l s oun
lge e ga ns tl antf l s ha tl

n gie tb : a fii gt p o d Plitf wi p o e me ia c r ; b fiigt p o ry
e l n y () aln o rvie an if t r p r d c l ae ( ) aln o r pel
g
h
di nos he ;()rndei te t ntwiho t pr rlce e ;( fii t rcommend
ag e r c e rng rame t ut he ope i ns s d) alng o e
Pl ntf i dit e cu i fom t s p;()fii t ha pr pe lce e t pr tc
ai ifs mme ae va aton r he hi e alng o ve o r i ns s o acie

me ii ei t j rs ci no tes i o te Saeo Caio na a d( n gie a miitain
dcn n he u idito f h hp r h tt f lf r i; n 9 e l nt d n sr t
g
o
o me iain .Pae s e t srk o l tealg to si ()a d () Ad to al, ae as
f dc to s tl e ks o tie ny h le ain n c n e. diin ly P tl lo
s ekst srkeot ral ga i r ga di hi a t nur e lc ns e.
e
o ti he le tons e r ng s nd he s s' i e ur

I .Le St
I gal andar f 12( ()M oton t Dimis
d or b)6
i o s s

A moint ds s p ru nt oRue 1 ( )6 o teF d rlRue o Ci iPr c d r
to o imis u s a t l 2 b ( ) f h e ea ls f vl o e u e
2

t t t s fcenc oft c pli a pr de t tapa t m a move t Cour t dim isa
ess he ufi i y he om a nt nd ovi s ha
ry y
he
to s s

cli frSal et saeacai upo whih rle c n beg a e ' Fe R.Ci P.12( ( .
am o ç iur o tt l m n c eif a
f
r ntd. d. v.
'
b)6)
Suc amoton doesnotdec dewhet rt pl ntf wiluli ael pr vai on t m e is but
h
i
i
he he ai if l tm t y e l he rt ,
i t a whehe s h pli ifhaspr ry satd a cai and s d t e or bepe te t
nse d
t r uc antf
ope l t e
lm
houl her f e
nnitd o

ofe evi nc i s
fr de e n uppor t e .Br v Baset,69F. 1 1 (11hCi.1 ) To
therof andt . s t
3d 539, 550 t r 995 .
s vvea moton t dim is a c
ur i
i o s s , ompli mus c an al gai a e s d t ea h m ae i l
ant t ont i le tons ddr s e o c
tra
elm e ( c s a y t s ti a r c e y unde s
e nt i e s r o usan e ov r
ne
r ome vi l l ga t or ' Roer Awar Woman
ab e e l he y.'
.
e

Ct.o Ch ie I c, 5 F.d 6 8 6 4 ( lhCi. 01.Thi maeil a b ete die to
rf r oc , n .2 3 3 7 , # 1 t r 20 ) s tra c n e ih r rc r
i e e il s i at68 buti mus bef c ua .Be l l Cor v Twomby 1 S. .1
nf r nta , ee d
3,
t t a t l l At. p. .
l 27 Ct 955,

1 6 ( 0 7 .Th s tco ls r alg to , n nu tdd d to o f cso lg l
9 5 2 0 ) u ,k l ncu o y le ains u wa n e e ucins f a t r e a
l
c usonsm a que a ng a f c swilnotpr entdim is . Twombl 1 S.Ct a 1
oncl i
s r di s a t l
ev
s s al'
'
y, 27
. t 965.

Pla ngst tt r nomor t nc usons aenote ildt t a s i oft t i t y
e di ha s e
a
e ha oncl i , r
ntte o he sumpton nzhg) he

mu tb s p re b fcu l l g to . As co t . q al 1 9S. .1 7 1 5 ( 0 9 .
s e u po td y a t a al ains' h rj v I b , 2 Ct 93 , 9 0 2 0 )
e
'
Fi l whenac ai i c le dunde Rul 1 b)6) ac twilpr s t ta1
naly,
ompl nt s halnge
r e 2( ( , our l e ume ha 1
we lpl de aleg to a etuea vi w t pladi i t lghtm os f vo abl t t
l- ea d l a i ns r r nd e he e ngs n he i
t a r e o he

pli if Ame i Unie L4 l .Co.v Mari z,480F. 1 43,1 ( 1h Ci. )
antf. rcan td 4 ns
. tne
3d 0 066 1 t r 2007 .
1 1 D i c s on
1 . s us i
A . The M oton t Di m i s
i o s s

Bot ba tr c am saleget tPat a t nur e di notobt i i or
h te y l i
l ha el nd he s s d
an nf med c e
ons nt
be or te tng Pli ifbec us Pl ntf wasnott d t tPa e a t nu s swe enotlc ns d
f e rai
antf a e ai if
ol ha t l nd he r e r
ie e

i t eUntdS ae o t j rs ito o tefa o tes i ween tq aiidt da n s
n h i tts r he u id ci n f h lg f h hp, r o u lfe o ig o e
e
Pl i if a we enottane t de e ta di
antf, nd r
r i d o t c nd agnos t s m pt sofi e i diea e .Pa e
e he y om
nf ctous s s s t l
3

movest dimist batr camsfrt r a ons ( )be us i or tonrgadi lc i
o s s he te y li o wo e s : 1 ca e nf mai e r ng iensng
i nott t ofi or ton am e c pr de m us dicl et obt i i or
s
he ype nf ma i
dial ovi r
t s os o an nf med c e and
ons nt

( bec us MartmeLa doe no rquiePat a t nure t belce edi t Unie
2) a e ii
w s t e r el nd he s s o i ns n he td

Sae o tej rs ito o tefa o t s p.Pae as mo e t d s s tecam f r
tts r h u idcin f h lg f he hi tl lo v s o imis h li o
vi a i la lt bec us Pl ntf ha no a qua el pld f c swa r ntng t i
c rous ibiiy a e ai if s t de t y e a t r a i he mposton of
ii
via i la lt Bec us Pl ntf ha f ied t aleg acai f bat r a i tPae o t
c rous ibiiy. a e ai if s al o l e l m or te y ga ns tl r he
nu s ,t Cour ne nota es t is ofviarouslabiiy.
r es he
t ed
ddr s he s ue
c i i lt

Ac r ngt t Resatme ( co ofTorsj 1
co di o he t e nt Se nd)
t 3:

Ana tri s be t ola i t t a o h rf rb teyi
co s u j c t ibl y o n t e o atr f
i
()hea si e ngt c us ahamf orofe i c a twiht pes oft
a ct ntndi o a e r ul fnsve ontc t he ron he
ot rorat r pe s o an i i nta e i ofs h acont t a
he
hid r on, r mm ne ppr henson uc
ac, nd

( ahamf c a twiht pes oft ot rdie l ori r tyr uls
b) r ul ontc t he ron he he rcty ndiecl es t.
Pl ntf c
ai ifs ompli a lgest tPaela t nur e bat r d he b aus t y i e i ly
ant le ha t nd he s s te e r ec e he ntntonal
t he he wihoutobt ni t pr ri or e c e . Pae a guest Pl ntf ha not
ouc d r t
ai ng he ope nf m d ons nt tl r
hat ai if s

s fcintypld al c ofi o d co e .Thus t is be or t Cour i whe he t
ufi e l e a k nf nue ns nt
, he s ue f e he
t s t r he
i o m a i t Pli ifal swasnotdicl e i t t ofi o m a i a docor o m e c
nf r ton hat a ntf lege
s os d s he ype nf r ton
t , r dial
s ni pr de , us dic os i or rt obt i a i or e c e .
e ces ovi r m t s l e n de o an n nf m d ons nt

Pl i ifsSec Am e
antf
ond
nded Co pl ntciest t c e t s
m ai t o wo as s o uppor he ba tr c am s
t r te y l i .
h s s ie
ai if nvol
ur re
Howe r t e c s do nots
ve , hos a es
uppor hercai .Bot ca e ct d by Pl ntf i ved s ge is
t
lm
a net ri ve a is oft doc orscr de il .I M e etk v Ele y,370 So.
nd ihe nvol d n s ue he t ' e nta s n r s y . l nb
2d

1 1 ( a.3dDCA 1 ,hepl ntf e esl saedt t doco prort r nopl t
222, 223 Fl
979) t ai if xpr sy tt o he tr i o hi asy
s ge yt ts di no wa t ope a i pero m e on a c ran pori ofhe nos Des t
ur r ha he d t nt he r ton f r d
e ti
ton
r e. pie
t tcla diec i t doct i edt pl i ifse e sde ie a pe f me s ge y on a
ha e r r ton, he
or gnor he antf' xpr s sr s nd ror d ur r

4

, r tk nvol d
et ac
ons nt not a k
pa tcul rpar ofhe nos 1 Thus M e es y i ve acompl e l k ofc e , al c
ri a
t
r e. d.

ofi or c e .I Wal v Brn,1 F. 478,481(t Ci.1 ,t doco hadobai d
nf med ons nt n l . i 38 2d
5h r 943) he tr
t ne
c e t pe f m s ge y ba e on a i ore tbe ifa
ons nt o ror ur r s d
n nc r c le boutt pli ifsco to Oncet
he antf' ndii n.
he
s g ybeg n a whie t pl i ifwa silc cous,he docordic r t tt pl i ifs
ur er
a nd l he antf s tl ons i t
t s ove ed ha he antf '
co ton wa f rwore t n orgi ly bei ve I Thedoc o pr e ded wih t mor
ndii
sa
s ha i na l le d. d
t r oc e
t he e
i ol d s g y wihouti o mi t pl ntf oft s rous ssoft o r ton a is
nv ve ur el t
nf r ng he ai if he e i ne
he pe a i nd t

atenda rs .I Pl ntfli t sc e,doe notale t ts di notcons ntt te me ,a
t nt iks d ai it n hi as
s
lge ha he d
e o rat nt s
i M e es y o t ts wasnott d abo he te t e a isas oc a e rs ,a i Wal.
n r tk r ha he
ol
ut r r am nt nd t s i t d iks s n
l
Thus neiheroft e c s sa ea iabl
, t
hes a e r pplc e.
Pl i ifha notpr de a a hort t s
antf s
ovi d ny ut iy o uppor he t or t ts c d onl gi
t r he y ha he oul y ve
i or e c e t r c vem e c lca ei Pa e and t nur e fr td s l edt i lce i a
nf m d ons nt o e ei
di a r f t l
he s s is i cos her i nsng nd

t i tai ng.Be us t f c saleg b Pl i ifdo no esa ih a lgaly r cog z t or
her r ni
ca e he a t l ed y antf
t t bls e l e nied he y
f l k ofi or e c e ,Pl i ifhasf ie t al ba tr by Pat ort nures3
or ac
nf m d ons nt antf
al d o lege te y
el he s .

Co e u n l, u t XIa dX1 aed s se wihp eu ie4
nsq e ty Co n s n V r imis d t rj dc .
B. The M oton t St i
i o r ke

Pae move t srkepaag a 50,51a ,61a a 64() whihaepa t t batr
tl
s o ti r rphs
() () nd a , c r r of he tey
c am s Be us t bater cli ha bee dimi s d, hem o i t srket ealegai nsi
l i . ca e he t y a ms ve n s s e t
ton o ti hes l to s

3 hienotr s d byPa e , antf ba tr cai a ealo defce be us t y do not
w l
aie
t l Pl i ifs te y l ms r s
i int ca e he
al i en t ca e ha m f orofe i co a tby Pa e ort nur es
lege nt t o us r ul
f nsve nt c
t l he s .
4n herr s et t M oton,Pli ifhasa ked f rlavet ame i t Cour gr nt
1
e pons o he
i
a ntf
s
o e
o
nd f he
t a s
t M o i t Dimi s Howe r Pl ntf hasno ha t e at
he ton o s s .
ve , ai if
w d hr e tempt t pr ry pl a he
s o ope l e d r
cl i sand ha be n u e t do s She hasno of e e a f t t w oul cur t
am
s e nabl o
o.
t f r d ny ac s hat
d e he
d i i ncesi he tr tt e compl nt Furhe m o e,a t tme Pl i iffld he Sec
efc e i n r l s hr e
ai s. t r r t he i
antf ie r ond
Am e d Compli dic r wa ne ry compl e.De pieha ngt benek ofdic r
nde
ant s ove y s a l
et
s t vi he
t
s ove y,
Pl i ifsco pl ntwa sildefcent Ac or ngl n ndm e i notwa r nt
antf' m ai
s tl i i . c di y, me
nt s
ra ed.
5

moo.Pae as move t srkepaa a 48()a 48/) bec us hi lc oft s ci e
t tl lo
s o ti rgrphs c nd
5 a e s a k he pe t d
i
lc ns doesnotr nde hi team e ofPl ntf ne i n .Pli ifoppos t moton
ie es
e r s r t nt
ai if glge t antf
es he i

be us Patlfie t co ywih Loca Rul 7.()3) whihr r t pa test c e and
ca e e ald o mpl t
l e 1a ( , c equies he ri o onfr
ate t r ol t is prort flng t m oton.Und t r e t Cour ha dic e i t
tmpt o es ve he s ue i o ii he
i
er he ul, he
t s s r ton o
de amoton bas d on af iur t c
ny
i
e
a l e o ompl andt Cour dec i st e r s isdic e i he e.
y
he
t lne o xe cie t s r ton r
Pl ntf alo a gue t pr c i ng me cne i t por ofSa Di o consiut ne i ncepe
ai if s r s hat a tci
dii n he t
n eg
tt es glge
r
s unde Caioz al Pl i if howeve ,ha notpl d s h acli i t Sec Am e
e
r lf ni aw. antf,
r s
e uc
am n he ond
nded
Co a nt La t Pl ntf a guest tPa e ' f iu et belc ns d i Caiom i o t
mpli . s , ai if z
ha t ls al r o i e e n lf a r he

j rs ito o t fa o t es pi ag o n t s o n g ie c .Pae ' lc o alc ns fo
u idcin f he lg f h hi s r u d o h w e lg n e t ls a k f ie e r m
Caio ao t j rs cino teta o tes i d e n tb is l rn e P tlsme ia c r
lf mi r he u idito f h l g f h hp o s o y tef e d r ae' d c l ae
ne i nt Consquenl t motont srkei grntd a t paa a 48()a 48()
glge .
e ty,he i o ti s a e s o rgrphs c nd e .
Acc di y,ti he eb
or ngl i s r y
O RDERED TH AT;

1. Ra a
m nbha PaelsM oton t Dim isCount X1a Xl ofPl ntf sAm e d
i t '
i o s s
s
nd V
ai if
nde

Co an a dM oi nt Srke( 1 6 i GRANTED i pat n DE ED i p r:
mplit n
to o ti DE- 9 ) s
n r a d NI n at
a. TheM oto t Dimisi g a ed a t Count X1a XI .
in o s s s r nt s o
s
nd V
sr e pa a a a l ge:
'hes r gr phs le

4 .On o a u tea o ed t, anifSa daRik rwa ij r dd et t futa d
8
r bo t h b v ae Plitf n r n e s nu e u o he a l n
ne i e eofDe e nt Ra a
glg nc
f nda , m nbha Pa ela orhi age t ,s r nt,and/ e pl esas
i t nd/ s n s e va s
or m oye
f lw s
olo :
#**

c Kno ngl r rng te t e t pas e r whie lc ngt pr rlc ns t
. wi y ende i r am nt o s nge s l a ki he ope ie es o

p a tc me iiei t j rs ito o t s i, ri t eStt o Caio na
rcie d cn n he u idcin f he hp o n h ae f lf r i.
#* #

e Fal gt h vep o e lc ns st p a tc me iiei tej rs it n o t es i o t
. ii o a r p r ie e o r cie dcn n h u idci f h hp r he
n
o
St t ofCa ior a.
ae
lf ni
6

b.TheM otont Sti i grntda t pa a a 48()a 48()a de e as
i o rke s a e s o r grphs c nd e nd nid
m ooti a lot r s c s
n l her e pe t .

2. De e ntPaels l fl a a werb De m ber21 2011
f nda
t hal ie n ns
y ce
,
.

A

DONEAND ORDERED i MimiFlrd ,hs/T dyof cmbe, 01 .
n a , oia ti
a De e r2 1
-

*

f

PA TRI I A .S TZ
A
UN I
TED STA S DI
STRI J D GE
CT U

cc:

A1 c
l ouns lofr cor
e
e d

7