Unitas Containers Limited v. Oilnet Limited
Filing
41
ORDER Determining Choice of Law and Requiring Additional Briefing re 21 Plaintiff's MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Unitas Containers Limited,. Signed by Senior Judge James Lawrence King on 3/20/2012. (jw)
U NI
TED STATES DISTR I C OU RT
CT
SO UTH ERN D I
STRI O F FLOR I
CT
DA
M i iD i s on
am
vii
Cas N o.11 21085- J
e
CV- LK
UN I S CO NTAI ERS LI I
TA
N
M TED ,
Pl ntf ,
ai if
O I ET LI I
LN
M TED ,
D e e nt
f nda .
/
ORDER DETERM I NG CHOI OF LAW AND REOUI NG ADDI ONK
NI
CE
RI
TI
BRI N G O N PLA I FF' M OTION FO R SUM M A R Y JUD G M ENT
EFI
NTI S
TH I M ATTER com es be or t Cour upon Pl ntf M oton f Sum m a y
S
f e he
t
ai ifs
i or
r
J g n ( # ) De e da tsRe po e i Op ii n ( #28 ,a Pli ifsRe y
ud me t DE 21 , f n n ' s ns n posto DE ) nd antf
pl
( #3 ) The en,t Pa te s e a d tr nai n of da ge f Pli if Unia
DE 2 . r i he ris e k ee mi to
ma s or antf
ts
Cont ner Li ied' uncont t cl i f br h of m a ii e cont ac .Upon c ef
ai s m t s
es ed a m or eac
rtm
r t
ar ul
c i r i oft pl adi ,t Cour fndst addii
onsde aton he e ngs he
t i hat tonalbrefng i r r bef et
i i s equied or he
Courtca m ake a fnaldet m i ton ofdam ages
n
i
er na i
.
l t e a ve syld a to Plitf Unt s Co ane s Li t d (ç t s', a
n h bo - t e ci n, an if ia
nt i r mie d a '
Uni )
Be mudin c r r to a lg st tDe e a tOin tLi td ($ 1e ' ,af r rBrts
r a o po a i n, le e ha f nd n l e mie $ n t' o me iih
Oi )
V igi l l nd cor aton, i i br ch of c t n m a ii e c r t f t l e of
r n sa
por i
s n ea
erai
rtm ontac s or he eas
itr da t n c n ane s (don ane s' f rt i e n to lta po to go s (
n e mo l a k o t i r l t t i r ' o he ntr a i na r ns r f od . Am.
c
)
Co . ! 1 9, 1 DE #1 ) Pl itf Unia s e da ge i t a u of$ 10 1
mpl! , & 0,
6 . an if t s e ks ma s n he mo nt 66 ,94.9
f t l epa ent i a r r ,t r a m e val oft tve m is ng cont ner ,t
or he eas ym s n r ea s he epl ce nt ue he s
si
ai s he
r p i c t f rt er t me c n ane s a c t o r c ve y,ncudi at r y' f e .DE
e ar oss o h eu d o t i r , nd oss f e o r i l ng to ne s e s (
# - ,a 2 .
21 1 t )
W hiei i uncont s edt tDef nda O ine br chedt l econt a s t Pa tes
l ts
e t ha
t nt l t ea
he eas
r ct , he r i
di a eeast t 1 w t tgover t c r t and t r uli dam ages. sar ul oft
s gr
o he a ha
ns he ontac s
he es tng
A
es t he
di agr m enton t gove i l w ,t Pari a gue f confitng i e pr t tons oft
s ee
he
m ng a he tes r
or
lc i nt r e a i
he
cont acualpr sonson da ages. i t nce, ef ndantOine , el ng on Fl i l w ,
r t
ovi i
m
For ns a
D e
l t r yi
orda a
a guest tt r pai c t f t r ur c ai r s d be capped a t f i m a ket
r
ha he e r os s or he et ned ont ne s houl
t he a r r
va ue oft cont i r , hiePl ntf U nia a gue t tt r pa rcos sar r ona e as
l
he
ane s w l ai if t s r s ha he e i
t e eas bl
l as t y ar bel t r pl em entval as s t f t i t contac .To r ol t s
ong
he e ow he e ac
ue
e orh n he
r t
es ve hi
m ate , heCour m us fr tde e m i w hih l w gove nst c r s a t i em r t
tr t
t t i s t r ne c a
r he ontact , nd hen nt et he
cont acualpr vi i on da agesi acc dancew ih t gover ng l w .
r t
o s ons
m
n or
t he
ni a
1 C hoi ofLaw A nal i
.
ce
yss
Be or t Cour c i e r tt i t ntcont ac s i m us fr tde e m i whi h l
f e he
t an nt m e he ns a
r t , t t i s t r ne c aw
g ve nst e c n r c . ege r l LJwye uTil I .Cor v J ( ) Co p. 5 F.
o r h o ta t Se ne al
y
r te ns p. . DC Am. r , 2 3d
ç
1 75 1 8 ( 1hCi.1 5)(i nrc itmr ttoni g neal aq sino 1w.) Th
5 , 5 0 1 t r 99 C ta t ne eai s e r l ueto f a '. e
co
y
'
1An i e m odalt nk cont neri a s fc ai d see t nk t tca be fled wih
nt r
a
ai s el- ont ne t l a ha n
il
t
lqui , uc asga olnea smia pr s a t nl deda r s psf tans r.(
i ds s h
s i nd i lr oduct, nd he oa boad hi or r po t Am.
Co l!1 DE /1 )
mp . 0, /6 .
2
contact a t hea toft sa i a em a ii e c r t f t l eofs ppi c ai r .
r s t he r hi cton r rtm ontac s or he eas
hi ng ont ne s
I te Pate 'b ifng
n h ris re son t s mmayj g n moi Plitf Unia ag st t
he u r ud me t ton, anif ts r ue ha
Engls 1 w apples w hie D ef ntOine ar
ih a
i , l
enda
l t guest tFl i 1 w a i
ha orda a pples.
Typi aly,f al a ialy l w gover m a ii e contac s,unl s t m ate i
c l eder dm r t a
ns rtm
r t
es he
tr s
ihee tyl a. ege e al f ks. Co v Kib 5 U. 1 2 ( 0 )(nay i
n r nl oc lSe n r l
yNorol Ry. . . r y, 43 S. 4, 7 2 04 a lzng
c ieof1w b t e f de a a r l lw o saelw)He e Pl i ifUnia a g st t
ho c a ewe n e r l dmiat a r tt a . r , antf t s r ue ha
y
i has i
t
nvoked an Engls c ce of l c aus cont i wihi t contac s I
ih hoi - -aw l e
a ned t n he
r t . ndeed,
Pl i ifUnia r f r t t pum or e c ce of l w cl e i isA m ended Com pl i a
a ntf
t s e e s o he
t d hoi - -a aus n t
ant nd
a g sf risa i ai n i isRe y S po tngisM o i n f rSu r J g nt (
r ue o t pplc to n t pl up ri t to o mma y ud me . Am.
Co . 8 DE #1 PlsRe y, # a 2 .nr s ns , f n nt l d a gu st t h
mplj ,
6) ' pl DE 32, t ) I e po e De e da Oin r e ha t e
pr vi i i notavald c c of lw c ausebeca ei Sf l t s a et tt a ee e wil
o s on s
i hoi e- -a l
us t tais o t t ha he gr m nt l
bei t r r t da e o c di a c r nc wihEng ih 1w . .'( fsRe po e DE /31
n e p ee nd nf r e n c o da e t
ls a . . De
'
s ns , / ,
a 2 . nc r f c nsde ai nof h c ta t a t c oiep o sona is e,heCo t
t ) Upo a e ul o i r to t e on r c s nd he h c r vii t s u t
ur
tndst tt l as cont a scont n ava i a e or ea eEngls c ce- -a cl us
s
ha he e e
r ct
ai
ld nd nf c bl
ih hoi of l w a e.
S cl ie oflw ca e dr p e u tvey vai whe et un ryi ta a t
s ho c - -a lus s a e r s mp i l ld r he de l ng r ns ci
l
on
i f nda nt l it o ai a i ha a t r' fèc v Und nv ie sat lyd', n n, 48
s u me al n e ton lnc r ce .' on . e r tr L o s Lo do 1
y
'
F.d1 , 295( 1hCi. 998 (uoi
3 285 1 1 t r 1 ) q tngSo:'. r o lyd', 6F.d1 3, 3 2(
yv Cop.fL o s 99 2 35 1 6 2d
Ci.1 9 ) I 1 2,te Unie SttsSu e Co ta tc ae t Br me Te tt
r 9 3). n 97 h
td ae prme ur riultd he e n s o
det r i t r ona e s and enf c biiy of choi e pr s ons i i er tonal
e m ne he eas bl nes
or ea lt
c ovi i
n nt na i
c nrcsM//Brme v Za aO fs r Co.4 U. 1( 9 ) Un rt Br me Tet
o ta t. s e n . pat f-ho e , 07 S. 1 72 . de he e n s,
choi pr si ar unr s
ce ovi ons e ea onabl a une or bl onl w hen:
e nd nf cea e y
( )t i f r to wa i uc d b fa o o re c i g;( t pli if
1 her o ma in s nd e y r ud r ve r a h n 2) he antf
ef e tvel w oul bedeprved ofisda i cour beca eoft i
fci y
d
i
t yn
t
us
he nconve enc
ni e
o un ar s o t c e f r m;( t f nd me t lunf i e s o t e
r f ine s f he hos n o u 3) he u a n a am s f h
c e lw wo dde i t pli tf ofar me y; ( )e o c me oft e
hos n a
ul prve he a n if
e d or 4 nf r e nt h
pr s onswoul c r
ovii
d ontavene a sr publcpolc
t ong
i
iy.
fI on 1 F.d a 1 9 ( ii Br me 40 U. a 1 -1 )
pc , 48 3 t 2 2 ctng e n, 7 S. t 5 8 .
Tur ngt t choi pr son atis i t i t nt a t r i r
ni o he
ce ovi i
s ue n he ns a m te , t eads:d- pr
S-he operlw
l
a
s al Engihlw a a yds t u e t sAg e me ts lbea j c tdb t no
h lbe ls a nd n ipue nd rhi re n hal dudiae y he ne l i j iditono t EngihCo t. ( ta t !24, 1 - a 8 .Co tayt
xcusve urs ci f he ls urs' Conrc,
'
DE# 64, t ) nrr o
D e e nt O inets c act i ton of t pr si t Cour fnds t t t pr son
f nda
l ' har erza i
he ovi on, he
ti
ha he ovi i
cl l os rbesEngls 1 ast 1w gove i t cont ac s I a ton, heCour fnds
earypr c i
ih aw he a
m ng he
r t . n ddii t
ti
t t nat e oft cont ac sa e s fci nty i e natonalast deem t c cepr son
hat he ur
he
r t r ufi e l nt r i
o
he hoi
ovi i
pr um ptvel vald.Fi ly,t Cour fndst tt i t c ce pr son doe notf l
es
i y i na l he
ti
ha he nsant hoi
ovi i
s
al
w ihi a oft f ca egore oft Br
t n ny he our t i s he emen Tes . Accor ngl t Cour fndst tt
t
di y, he
t i ha he
l as contact c ai a vald and enf c e Engls c ce- -a cl us
e e
r s ont n
i
or eabl
ih hoi of lw a e.
I .O ut t
I
s andi I s ofLaw ThatRequi Addii
ng s ues
re
tonalBri
eing
i he a yzi f ei l t di ti cour m aycons de any r e
t n nal ng or gn aw, he srct
W
t
i r
el vantm at ralor
ei
s ce,i l ng t tm ony,w het or nots it by a pary or adm i sbl unde t
our nc udi es i
her
ubm ted
t
si e
r he
Fede alRul ofEvi
r
es
dence. Tri dad Foundr t Fabri i v.M / K. S.Cam il 966
' ni
'
y t
catng
V A.
la,
F. 61 , 5 ( 1h Ci.1 92 ; R. V. 4 1 Exa e o s hs r e a er lva
2d 3 61 1 t r 9 ) FED. Cl P. 4.. mpls f uc ou c s r ee nt
4
s aut ,cas a ,and af
t t es elw
ûdavis s it by a t neys wih a t ough know l dge oft
t ubm ted
tor
t hor
e
he
f ei l .See e. ,Tri dad Foundr & Fabri i g, 966 F. a 61 -1 (nayzn
or gn aw
, g. ni
y
catn
2d t 5 6 a l i g
a fdavis of m e be s of t Engls bar and Engls cas aw t det m i applcabl
fi t
m r
he
ih
ih
el o er ne
i e
Eng ih lw)
ls a .
Her des t Pl i if Unias cor e as eri , i bo h t Com pl i a t
e, pie antf
t ' r ct s ton n t he
a nt nd he
s
ummay ud nt re g,ha Engihlw g venst s te, anifUnia fis oct
r j gme b ifn t t ls a o r himatrPlitf ts alt ie
t a s ngl aut iy w ih r pectt Engls l w . A s s
o i e hort t es
o
ih a
uch,t Cour has de er i t t
he
t
t m ned ha
a tona bret t ti udesr e enc t s ce on Engls 1 w i neces a y t addr s
ddii l i sng ha ncl
ef r e o our s
ih a s
sr o
es
t f lwi is soflw: 1 wh t rt la epa me t i ara ss ul belmie t
he olo ng sue a ( ) ehe he e s y ns n re r ho d i td o
t r plc me c t ofhec n a n r ;2 whehe t r parc t of her t r dc t i r
he e a e nt oss t o t i e s ( ) t r he e i oss t eu ne on ane s
s o dbec p dt t fi make vaueoft c n an r;a ( wh t rac r s ul
h ul
a pe o he ar r t l
he o tie s nd 3) ehe ou t ho d
consr a a bi
tue n m guousc r ct pr s on agai tt dr t ?
ont a ual ovii
ns he afer
Accor ngl ha ng consde e t Pari flngsa be ngot rwie a s , i i
di y, vi
i r d he tes' ii
nd i
he s dvied t s
he e O RD ER ED ,ADJU D G ED ,and D ECR EED t tEngls 1 w govem st c r t
r by
ha
ih a
he ontac s
a is i t a
t s ue n he bove- t ed ac i
s yl
ton.
I i f t rO RD ER ED ,A DJU DG ED ,and D ECREED asf l s:
t s urhe
olow
Pl ntf SHALL s ts ement brefngon orbef eAprl20.ZO .
ai if
ubmi uppl
al i i
or
i
r
2.
Def
endants lRESPO ND on orbef e M ay 21.2012.
hal
or
Pl i ifs lR EPLY on orbef e June 4.2012.
antf hal
or
5
DO N E and O RD ER ED i Chamber a t J esLawr
n
s t he am
ence Ki Feder J tce
ng
al usi
Buidi a U nied St t Courhous i M i m i Fl i on t s20t da ofM a ch,201
l ng nd t
a es
t e n a , orda
hi h y
r
2
.
-
CC:
Co n efo Pli t
u s l r anW
J.St phen Si m s
e
m
Si
mmsShowe s LLP
r,
20 S Cha l Ste t
res r e
Suie 702
t
Ba tm o e, D 21
li r M
201
41 7830- 5795
Fa 783- 368
x:
1
Emal Jsmms i s o r.o
i: si @smmsh wesc m
Far i Ja e M ar i , I
rs m s
tn I I
Stoup & M a tn
r
ri
119 SE 1 h Ste t
2t r e
Fo tLa r e, 3331 1 1
r ude dal FL
6- 8 3
954- 8808
462Fa 462x:
0278
Emal f ri @srupa c m
i: ma t to lw.o
n
Co ns l o De nd t
u ef r fe an
Davi M or e M c ona d
d
s
D
l
Mc
Dona d & M c
l
Donal
d
13 SW 1 tSte t
93
s re
Suie 200
t
M i m i FL 331
a ,
35
305- 531
643- 3
Fa 643 4990
x: -
Emal d
i: mm@ mc o ad to n y .o
d n latr e sc m
6
J M EsLAWRENCE KI
NG
S D ln c' COURT
sx r
SOUTHERN DI TRI OFFLORI
S CT
DA
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?