Mendez v. TACA International Airlines, S.A.

Filing 24

ORDER GRANTING 20 Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge K. Michael Moore on 4/23/2012. (rg1)

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I THE UNI N TED STATES DI STRICT COURT FO R TH E SO UTH E RN DI STRI T O F FLO R I C DA Cas N o.1: 1 c 23061 K M M e 1 - v- YORLENE M EN DEZ, Pli if antf, VS. TACA W TERN ATI ONAL AI NES,S. , RLI A. De e nt f nda . O R DER G M N TI G DEFEN D AN T ' M O TI N FO R SU M M A RY JU D G M EN T N S O THI CAUSE c m e bef e t Cour upo De e nt TACA l em a i l Ailne , S a or he t n f nda nt tona ri s S. ' Mo in f rSl r J d me t( No 2 ) Plitf fld aRe p ns ( No 2 ) A. to o l S mmay u g n ECF . 0 . anif ie s o e ECF . 2 a d Dee d n fld a Re l ( n fn a t ie py ECF No 2 ) Th M o in i n w rp f r r ve Up n . 3 . e to s o ie o e iw. o c i r ton of t M oton,t pe tne pori of t Re or a bei ot r s f ly onsde a i he i he ri nt tons he c d, nd ng he wie u l a s d i t pr m ie , hi Cour e e st f l ngOr r dvie n he e s s t s t ntr he olowi de . L BAC K G R O UN D 1 Thsi ap ro a ij r a to g v r e b t eCo ve to f rteUn fc to o Ceti i s e s n l nu y cin o en d y h n ni n o h iiain f ran Rul f l e a i lCa ra by Ai,a t 55,M a 28,1 es or nt m tona ri ge r r. y 999,S.Tr a y Doc No.1 45,2242 et . 06- U. T..35 (h E o te l Co v n in). De e d n TACA I tr ain l Ailn s S. N. S 0 te ç nr a n e to ' M fn a t ne n to a rie , A (C f TACA' i a i e ai lari t tsr c Ce r la Sout Amei Pl ntf Yore ' s n ntm tona ilne ha e vies nta nd ) h rca. ai if lne M ende i ape m a ntr sde oft Unie Stt who move fom N iar guai 1 . z s r ne e i nt he t d a es d r c a n 991 1The fcs heen ae tke fom Pl nifsCompli ( No.1 ;Def ntsM oi f a t ri r a n r aitf ant ECF ) enda ' ton or Slmma y J l r udgme ;Pl n if sRe pons t De e nts M oton f Sum ma y J m e ;a nt aitf s e o f nda ' i or r udg nt nd De enda ts Re y. Al f c s a e c tue i t lghtm os f vo a e t Pli if a t nonf n ' pl l a t r onsr d n he i t a r bl o antf s he m ovant . 1 On Nove be 8,201 M e m r 0, ndez was ta lng fo M a gua, Ni a ag t M i mi r vei r m na c r ua, o a , Fl i a a pa s nge onboa d TACA Ailne FlghtTA360. M e z' r e vai i caes orda, s se r r ri s i nde s es r ton ndi t t ts was% sgne t s t21 - % ail s a l a e on t rghtsde oft plne. D urng ha he i d o ea D se e t oc t d he i i he a i t ti ht M e z wa a he l g , nde s woke by a bl t he ebo . Shet n l d t s e wha ca e t n ow o r l w he ooke o e t us d he i c t h reb w b tt l (he c ul s ewa t e se r e st twa pasng b wi t mpa t o e lo u ç l s ) o d e s h twad s ha s si y t he a h c rs' M e d zDe ,a 98( No 2 -) Emb ras d b c us s ewa çe rn , M e d z a t. n e p. t ECF . 2 1. ' a rse e a e h s t a ig' n e t ' di nots y a hi t t fi hta tnda . M e d a nyt ng o he lg te nt ndez howe r s e nty tl d a c , ve , ubs que l i e ompl i ant wih TACA t r u h TACA' we st (heç e Co lif' I t eW e Co lit M e d z t ho g S b ie t û b mpan ) n h W . b mpan , n e if r dTACA t a s et s(e td i ase s a 21 'wh natih atn a thth rt t t e n o me h t h t s ae n ill e t d' e lg t te d n i e û h h wa wi c r o ge )lf sd o ( e)eb w. W e Co .a 1( No. - )(mp ssa d d . On at n h r et ie f h r lo ' b mpl t ECF 21 1 e ha i d e lz ' , Nove r 1 201 TACA i s a l te t M e z apol zi f a çi onve e ' a mbe 7, 0, s ued e tr o nde ogi ng or ny fnc nince' nd ç s m f t's had expe i nc d. Seve alwe l tr M e ç co or' he di re e r eks ae ndez al ges a r pr e a i fom le e es nt tve r TACA c t c e he ,i or on a t d r nf med he t t a ti a tnda ha admit t hitng he wih a r ha lght te nt d ted o ti r t be r c r a ofe e he tl ee tcke s ...i r c ton of wha ha ne .' M endez ve age a q nd f r d r çu' i t t n e ognii t ppe d ' De ,a 111.M e z cai st ts t ned down t ofe . p. t nde l m ha he ur he f r The da a tr he fi fom Ni a ag , M e z viie a Chiopr di Ce e a y fe r lght r c r ua nde st d r a c ntr nd c npl i d ofs ve e ebow pan i he rghtebow . One da a trhe vii t t Chiopr c i oi ane e r l i n ri l y fe r st o he r a tc Ce e ,M e ntr ndez viie he prm a y ca e physci but di not r por a ebow pa n t he st d r i r r i an d e t ny l i o r physcin. On Nove r23,201 M ende viie a orhope s a c pl ne of biat al ia mbe 0, z std n t dit nd om ai d l er 2I M e z' de ii , howe r M e z cli e t ts wa sti ac os t a se i s t n nde s poston ve , nde am d ha he s itng r s he il n ea 21 wih he rgh ebow cos s t t ce r a se oft c n. M e C t r i t l l e t o he ntal i l he abi ndez De ., a 99. W he p t n as a t t dic e ked bou he s r panc bewee he r e va i he web c y t n r es r ton, r ompli , a he de ii a nt nd r poston t si e tmony, M e z c am e t t he da e fle out t we c nde l i d ha r ught r ild he b ompl i a M e ant nd ndez ç nf e t rghtwih t l f oft a se.'I at1 . s us d he i co t he e t he il ' d. 01 ebo pan. On J 8,2011,M e l w i une ndez unde we s ge y t tea LaerlEpi r nt ur r o r t t a condylts (. ii ie. tn i eb w)i h rrg tebo On Au s 2 2 1 M e e fldt ei tn a to . e ns lo n e ih l w. gu t 5, 01 , nd z ie h nsn t ci n I. I LEGAI STANDARD , Su r j d me tma b e trdo l wheet eei n g n i is eo maeil a t mmay u g n y e ne e n y r h r s o e une su f tra f c. Twis v Ku v 2 F.d 1 51 1 5 ( 1h Ci.1 9 ) The mo n p ry h st e b r e o s . r , 5 3 5 , 5 4 1t r 9 4. vig a t a h u d n f me tn t s e a tn sa d r Adc e v.SH.Kr s & Co. 3 U. 1 4,1 7 ( 9 0 . eig hi x cig tn ad. ik s . es , 98 S. 4 5 1 7 ) M or ove ,i pa t mus s e r ç ry A t uppor isa s ri t tt r i no ge ne is ofm a e ilf c by t t s e ton ha he e s nui s ue t ra a t Gii t pa tc a pa t of m ae il i t r c d, i l ng de ii ns doc l e s ctng o riul r rs tra s n he e or ncudi posto , lm nt, elcr c l so e i or ton, a fda t or de a a i , si ai e toni aly t r d nf ma i fi vis clr tons tpul tons , a iso , dm s ins i e r t y a we s orot m ae il .' Ric y v.S.Nucla Ope a i Co. No.1 11 nt rogaor ns r , her tra s'' t he er r tng , 0- 962, 2 1W L 1 0 5 , t*1( 1h Ci. r 2 2 1 (uoi Fe . Ci . 5 ()1) Anis e 01 49 3 8 a 1 t r Ap . 0, 01 ) q tng d R. v P. 6 c( ). su off c i t t ra' i i i a l le e nt oft c am l r t a i bl s t ntve lw a t s t t i l' f t s ega l me ma he l i mde he pplca e ubsa i a whc mih a fc t eo to o tec s .Ale v. s nFo d . n . 1 F.d6 2 6 6( 1h ih g t fe t h u c me f h a e ln Tv o o s l c, 21 3 4 , 4 1 t Ci.1 9 ) Anis eo fc i S e uie'ft r c r tk na awhoec u dla arto a tir r 9 7 . su f a t s ç n n 'i he e o d a e s g l o l e d ain lre off c t fnd f t nonmovi pary.I a t o i or he ng t d. I a yi t s sa r t ditit c t mus vi w t e de e a a1 f cual n ppl ng hi t nda d, he src our t e he vi nc nd l a t i ee e t r rm i t lg mos f vorbl t t pa t o i t moton.Ll çl eme e nfrnc s heefo n he iht t a a e o he ry pposng he i Is t' r 'h e se c o asitlao e d n ei s p o t ft e (o mo a ts po iin wi b i u tce t xitn e f cn il f vie c n u p r o h n n v n ') sto l e ns fi in ; l teemu tb e ie c o whc tej r c u dr ao a l fn f rt (o mo a t. An es n h r s e vd n e n ih h u y o l e s n by i d o he n n v n l' d ro ' v. beryLobby.l , U. 242,252( 986) Li t nc.477 S. 1 . 1 1 AN ALY SI 1. S Th Mo te lCo ve to g v mst ela ii o ari ec ni r f rp ro a ij e t e n ra n ni n o e h ib ly f iln a es o e s n l nmis o t pm s s enge s i i e a i la rt a pora i A ri e 1 oft Conventon pr dest tc r i r r n nt m tona i r ns tton. tcl 7 he i ovi ha a r e s 3 aeo yla l frij re t p%sng r ç p nc n i o o l t a t ea cd n whihc u e t r nl ibe o nu is o e e s f o o dt n ny h t h c ie t c a s d he u i d ah o ij r to p a e o b ad te ar rf o i t c u s ofa y o te o eain o e t r nu y o k lc n o r h ica t r n he o re n f h p rto s f e mbar ng or die ba ki ' M onte Conve i S.Tr ay Doc.No. 1 45, 1 ki s m r ng. ' r al nton, et 06999 W L 3 2 2 3 ,Ar.1 () (mp a i a d d . Th U. S p e Co r h sh l t a a a cd n 3 9 7 4 t 7 1 e h ss d e ) e S. u r me u t a ed h t n c ie t aie t e Aril 1 ç ny i ap se g rsij r i c u e b a t x e td o u u u le e t rs s md r t e 7 ç l f a s n e ' nu y s a s d y n me p ce r n s a v n c o o h p e i ta i e tr a t t ep se g r' h we e,t e te ij r id s u a l r s t r a p nng h t s x en l o h m s n e, o v r ç n h n u y n ip tby e ul ' wh s fom t pa s nge ' own i e na r c i t t us l nor l a e r he s e rs ntr l ea ton o he ua , ma , nd xpec e ope ai oft t d r ton he ar r f,i ha notbee c us d by a a i nt and Aril 17 ... ca ic a t t s n a e n ccde , tc e nnota y.' Ai Fr e v. ppl ' r anc Sa , 47 U. 3 2, 5( 98 )3 ks 0 S. 9 40 1 5 . He e, i i unne es a y t de e m i whehe t a l ed i i nt consiu e a r t s c s r o t r ne t r he leg nc de tt t s n ç ccde ' wihi t m e ni of t M ontea Conve i be us Pli if ha f ie t t i nt' t n he a ng a he r l nton ca e antf s a ld o e tbl h a y c usll k b t e h rij r a d h re p re c a ap se g ro b ad TACA sa i n a a i e we n e n u y n e x ein e s a s n e n o r s n AilnesFlg TA360. Pl n ifdi no obs r e a ri i ht aitf d t e v nyone srki he ebow .M e ti ng r l ndezDe ,a 98. p. t M oe v r Plitf salg d ij r t h rrgh eb w i i c n itn wih te s a a sg me t r o e, anif le e n u y o e i t lo s n o sse t t h e t s in n c ai d i he r er ton,a t W eb Compli s fld wih TACA one wee a trher ont ne n r es vai nd he ant he ie t k fe ti ht lg . The e de e M e z pr f r t s vi nc nde ofe s o uppor he a c mt of t al ge i de i t r c ot he le d nci nt s i ufk in t de e t TACA' M o i f Sum ma y J ns t e t o f a S ton or r udgme . M e z cli t ta TACA nt nde a ms ha r pr e ai con a t d he ,a itd la lt a ofe e he t hr e tc s ...i r cognii n e es nt tve t c e r dm te ibiiy, nd f r d r t e iket t n e to ofwha ha ne ' M e z De ,a 111. M ende st si ony c tt e i t ppe d. ' nde p. t z' e tm onsiut s nadmisbl he r ay si e a s a i uns nd s uppore by a o he pori oft Rec d. Se Prt ha d v.S.Co.Se v. 92 F. td ny t r ton he or e ic r r , 3d 3tBec us t M onte lConve i onl r c l c m e i o f ce i i a opra e t r l on t a e he ra nton y e enty n nt or , t s ppr i t o e y c e it r e i t W a s w con nton whe e t equi l nt pr son of t M onte l as s n e pr tng he ra ve i r he va e ovii he ra Conve i i s t tvel t s m e' Uaa v.Am .Ailnes I ,576 F.Supp.2d 1 nton s ubsan i y he n .' z ri . nc. 354,1 360 (ii Paa sv. ctng rdi GhanaAiwa Lt ,3 F. r vs d. 48 Supp.2d 1 111( D. Y.2004:. 06, S. N. 4 1 3 ,1 3 ( 1h Ci.1 9 )(oli t a ten n- v n c ul n tu eia misb eh as yt 1 0 1 5 1 t r 9 6 h dng h t h o mo a t o d o s n d sil e ra o d fa s mmayj d me twhe ta h a sy c ud n tb r d c dt a a misbefr a til. ee t u r u g n n h t e ra o l o e e u e o n d si l o m t ra) Me ndez f rher c am s t t t a ogy lte s r eve fom TACA esa ihe a c us l ut l i ha he pol e tr he ec i d r t bls s a a c n e to t h rij r . Thec r f l wo d d f r lte,ho ve,d sn ta mi l bit , o n cin o e nu y aeul r e o m etr we r oe o d t i l y y a i a f rfom ça knowl ng t i i n ' a M e z cai ,P1' Re p., at3,t l te m e e y nd a r tc edgi he nc de t' s nde l ms .s s he e t r r l a k o e g sMe d zsb le ta a icd n t o plc .Fnal, o s pp r t ij r t h r c n wld e n e ' eif h t n n ie t o k a e i ly t u o t he nu y o e rg ebow,M e z cai si herde ii t ts w a s t d o t lf sde oft pl ne. iht l nde l m n poston ha he s eae n he e t i he a Me ndez' t tmony i s fs r i t ubsa it d, a c r di ed by t unc r re s esi s el- e vng, ms t nta e nd onta ct he ontove td tihtr e v ton a he own prort si o lg es r a i nd r i e tm ny. M e z' ç ci il ofevi nce'i s ppor of nde s ç ntla s de ' n u t he poston i t r f r i ufi e t de e tTACA' M oton f Summ a y J m e . r ii s he e o e ns fcint o f a S i or r udg nt I CONCLUSI V. ON Fo t f eg ngr a ons i i r he or oi e s , t s ORDERED AND ADJ UDGED t t Def nda TACA I e ai na Ailne , S. ' ha e nt nt m to l ri s A.S M oinf rS mma yJ d me t( No 2 )i GRANTED. to o u r u g n ECF . 0 s Al cai ag ns Def nda TACA I e a i lAilnes S. .a e DI I l l ms ai t e nt nt m tona ri , A r SM SSED W I TH PREJ CE. The Clr oft Cou ti diec e t CLOSE t sca e Al pe ng motons a e UDI e k he r s r td o hi s . l ndi i r DENI AS M OOT. ED D N A DO D R DiCabraMi ,liats ' aoA r,02 O E N R E E n hm e t a Fod, iI V y f pi21. s mi r h l . c c: Al couns ofr c d l el e or M I A EL M O O RE CH I TED STATES D I STRI JUDG E CT

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