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)
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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