Jaber v. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd.
Filing
92
ORDER Granting 79 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and Denying 81 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Senior Judge James Lawrence King on 3/2/2016. (jw)
UNI
TED STATES DI
STRI COURT
CT
SOUTH ERN DI
STR I O F FLORI
CT
DA
CASE NO .1: c 20158- NG
14- vK1
SAM I J
HA ABER,
Pl i if
antf,
VS.
NCL (
BAHAM AS)LTD. / / NCL,
d ba
De e nt
f nda .
/
O RDER G RANTI PLAI FF' M O TI N FOR PARTI SUM M ARY
NG
NTI S
O
AL
JUDG M ENT AND DENY I G DEFEN DANT' M O TI N FOR SUM M ARY
N
S
O
JUDG M ENT
THI CAUSE c me be o et e Co r u n c o smo insf rs mmay j d me t
S
o s f r h u t po r s to o u r u g n :
Plitf S I J
an if AM HA ABER' M o in f r Pa t l S
S to o ri umma y J d n ( 7 , fld o
a
r u gme t DE 9) ie n
J n r 1 , 0l , ndDe e a tNCL (
a uay 8 2 6 a
fnd n
BAHAM AS)LTD.sM o in f rSu r J g nt
' to o mma y ud me
( 81,Eld o J n a y 25 201 Plitf ha mo d f rpa ta s
DE 4 e n a u r , 6. an if s ve o ril umma yj g n a t
r ud me t s o
la lt Def nda hasm oved f dim is .The motonsa e f l bref .
i biiy. e nt
or s s al
i
r uly i ed
BACKG RO UND
The undiput ma era f a e asf l s The bunk be on D e enda ' s p, t
s ed t i l ads r
olow .
ds
f
nts hi he
Nor gi St , e ehel up by a hydr ulc s
we an ar w r
d
a i uppor s t t tw oul l e ove tm e a
t ysem ha
d oos n r i nd
ca e t bedst no l
us he
o
ongerr m ai s c e and uprght W hen t hydr ulc s
e n e ur
i .
he
a i uppor s t m s
t ys e
l e
oos ned,Def nda ' polcy was t have is ca pe e s drl a hol a i er a sa lzi
e nt s i
o
t r nt r il
e nd ns t t bii ng
pi
n.
W hie o a r r tona voya a r t Nor gi St , Pli ifs bunk bed f l
l n ec ea i l
ge boa d he
we an ar a ntf '
el
Open a sr
nd tuck he i t he l Def nda had i t ld t pi e mecha s i
r n he ad.
e nt
nsale he nhol
nim n
Pl i ifs bunk,I t days pror t t a i , t se r r ponsbl f a t ndi t
antf
n he
i o he cc dent he t wa d es
i e or te ng o
Pl ntf c n notce t tt pi was m isng. Afe t ac de ,t s e r i pec e
ai irs abi
i d ha he n
si
tr he ci nt he t wa d ns t d
t bunk a notce t tt pi wassilm i sng.
he
nd i d ha he n
tl s i
Def nda a gues t tPl ntf ha f ld t mee is bur n on t ee gr
e nt r
ha ai if s aie o
tt
de
hr
ounds:
b e c o a d t of c r ;( ) c us to o ij r ( )n tc oft e d n r us c n to
r a h f uy
a e 2 a ain f n u y; 3 o ie h a geo o diin.
Pl ntf c am st ti hasm e isbur a t la lt a r
ai if l i ha t
tt
den s o ibiiy nd equessat i on da a .
t ral
m ges
LEG AL STA NDA RD
i 'e Co r s l g a t s mma y j d me t i t e mov n s ws t t t r i no
i h u t hal r n u r u g n f h
f
a t ho ha hee s
ge ui d s t a t a maei lfc a d t emo a ti e tte t j d me ta amatro
n ne ipue s o ny tra a t n h v n s n ild o u g n s
te f
lw. Fe .R.Ci P.5 ( ) A p ry a s rig t taf c c n tbe o i ge ui l dipu e
a ' d
'
v. 6 a . a t s e t ha a t a no
n
r s n ney s td
mus s
t uppor t as eri by ' tng t pa tc arpa t ofm a e i s i t r or , i l ng
t he s ton
' i o r iul
ci
rs
t ral n he ec d nc udi
de ii , docum e s e e toni ly s or i or a i
postons
nt , l c r ca l t ed nf m ton, a fda t
f i vis
de a a i ,
clr tons
siu ain (ncu n t s ma ef rpu p e o t mo in o y, d s ins i er gao y
tp lto s i ldig ho e d o r os s f he to nl a miso ,ntro t r
a twer orot m a e i s;or s
rs s
her t ral
howi t m a e i s ct d do not esa ih t a e e or
ng hat t ral ie
t bls he bs nc
pr e e ofa ge ne diput ort ta a r e pary c
es nc
nui
s e, ha n dve s
t anno pr
t oduc a isbl e denc
e dm s i e vi e
t s pp r t e fc . 1 . a 5 ( )1 . d n d tr ii wh t e s mmay j d n i
o u o t h a t' d t 6 c ( ) i eem nng eh r u r u gme t s
'
l
a opra e,t f c s a i e e esf om t f t a e viw ed i t lghtm os f vor e t
ppr it he a t nd nf r nc r he ac s r e
n he i
t a abl o
t non- ovi pa t a t bur i pl ed on t m ovi paly t e t ih bot t
he
m ng ry, nd he den s ac
he
ng ' o sabls
t
h he
a s nc ofa g nune mae ilfc a d t a i i e tte t j d n a a matroflw.
be e
e i
tra a t n h t t s n ild o u gme t s
te
a '
'
M atu t El .I
s shia ec ndus Co.v Ze t Radl Cor ., 475U. 574,
.
. nih
'
o p
S. 586- (1 .
87 986)
11 pas voya s sx ot rpa s nge son t N or gi St ha r pore bei sr k by
ge , i he s e r
n t
he
we an ar d e td ng tuc
f lng bunk beds l
ali
.
2
l o osn a mo i f r s mmay j g nt t no - ig pa t ma n t rl
n pp i g
ton o u r ud me , he n movn ry y o ey
s el on t pl adi ,butm us s
ol y
he e ngs
t how by afi t , de ii ,ans r t i e r t i ,
fdavis postons
we s o nt r oga ores
a admi sonst s cii f ct e s de ons r tng a ge ne is f ti . See Fed.R.
nd
si
hat pe fc a s xit m ta i
nui s ue or ral
Ci P.5 c ,( ) s e as Ceo e Co p.v Catet 4 U. 31 3 - 4 ( 98 ) Fu t r
v. 6() e ; e lo ltx r . r t, 77 S. 7, 23 2 1 6 . rhe ,
t exit nc of a is i il ' of e de e i s
he
se e
'c ntla'
vi nc n uppor of t non- ovants poston i
t
he
m
'
ii s
i ufiint t e e mus b e i e c o whih t ej r c ul r a o a y fnd f rt e n nns fcc ; h r
t e v d n e n c h u y o d e s n bl i o h o
mova .
nt Ande s v.Lyp ry Lobb I . 477 U. 242, 2 2 ( 98 . ke s , c u tn e
r en
'e /
l
y, nc ,
S,
5 1 6) Li wie a o r e d
n tpemi ac s t g t aj r whe t e if r n e t tae d a fo t e e d n e a
o r t a e o o o u y n h n e e c s ha r r wn r m h vie c , nd
upon whih t non- ova r i ,a e ki a i e.' M atus t 475 U. a 592- *M i
c he
m
nt eles r implusbl ' s hia,
S. t
94, ze
v Jf e s n C/? .O u .9 F.d73 , 43( 1h Ci.1 96 .
. efr o ' Bd fEd c, 3 3 9 7 1 t r 9 )
/
)
Att e s mmay j g n sa ,t j d ' f ncin i n tt S ih t e i nc
h u r ud me t tge he u ge s u to s o o k g he vde e
we
a de e m i t tut oft ma t r butt de e m i whe hert e i a genui is f
nd t r ne he r h
he te ,
o t r ne
t
her s
ne s ue or
til'Ander on,477 U . a 249.I m a ng t sdeer i ton,t Cour mus de dew hih
ra .'
s
S. t
n ki hi t m na i he
t t ci
c
is ar m aera .A m a e i lf c i one t t mi a f tt out e of t ca e. 1 a
s ues e t i l
t ra a t s
ha ght fec he com
he s d. t
248.donl diput s ove f t t tm i a f tt out om e oft s tunde t gove ni
i y s e
r ac s ha ght fec he c
he ui
r he
r ng
1w wi p o ry p e lde t e e ty of s
a
l r pel r cu h n r
l
umma y j d m e t Fa t l dip t s t t a e
r u g n . cua s u e ha r
ir e ntor unne s a y w ilnotbe count .' f The Coul mus a s de e m i w he her
relva
ce s r
l
ed ' #.
'
t
t l o t r ne
t
t diput about a m a e i f c i i d ge ne, t ti ,tf t evi nce i s h t ta
he s e
t ral a t s ndee nui ha s d he de
i
s uc ha
ra o a e j r c u d r t n a v r it f r t no vng pa t. f ;s e eg. M a ie
e s n bl u y o l eur
e d c o he nmo i
ry ' #. e , . , rn
'
Ct /g.o a, nc v UntdSt e , 3 F.d 1 7 ,1 75( 1hCi.1 91 .
/ ' 5 fAl .I . . ie ats 9 2 2 3 0 3 1 t r 9 )
l/? 7
DI
SCUSSI N
O
1
.
No genui diput ast any m at i f tr
ne s e o
eral ac egardi br
ng each ofdut ofcare
y
De e
f ndantcl m st tt r i no evi
ai ha he e s
dence t ti br ched a dut ofca e be us t
ha t ea
y
r ca e he
e de e s
vi nc howst i r i y i pe t t bunk,t spa tc a bunk ha notf le o n
hat t outnel ns c ed he
hi ri ulr
d
al n pe
ye d rng t s p riulr vo g ,a t misn pi wa j ta grt io p e a i nay
t u i hi a tc a ya e nd he s i g n s us
aut us r c uto r
mea ur .Howe r t r ca be la lt f neglge whe t a e e ofapr a i y
s e
ve , he e n
i biiy or
i nce
n he bs nc
ec utonar
m e ur cr t s a urr as na e rs Pl ntf ct t de ii t tm ony whi h s
as e ea e n le o bl ik. ai if ies o poston esi
c hows
t tDef nda ' empl esr ponsbl f rm ai a ni t bunk we e a a e oft need f r
ha
e nts
oye es
ie o
nt i ng he
r w r
he
o
a pi t sa lze i and t tt pi w a m i sng.Pl i ifha a qua el esa ihe t tt
n o t bii t
ha he n s s i
antf s de t y t bls d ha he
f iur of D e endants empl e t r plce t pi know i i was m i sng, w as
al e
f
'
oye o e a
he n,
ng t
si
unr s bl
ea ona e.
I.
I
Noge nediput ast a ma e i f c r g di c us i o ij y
nui s e o ny t ral a t e ar ng a aton f n ur
Def nda a gue t Pl ntf has notdefnii y pr d t tt m isng pi wa
e nt r s hat ai if
i tvel ove ha he s i
n s
t c e oft bunk' c l e.Howe r Def nta t t tt pi w a puti pl ce t
he aus
he
s olaps
ve , enda dmis ha he n s
n a o
ke t be uprghta w ihoutt pi i f lon Pl i ifshe . The sewa d r s
ep he d i
nd, t
he n, t et
antf
ad
t r e ponsbl
ie
f m ai ani t bunk bed t cil c
or nt i ng he
a ty oncede t tm isng pi ca e i t f l
s ha s i
n us d t o al:
Q: Bu i i hthe i t he dce ry iwa n' h l i ?
t f t i r n he a la l t s t o dng
A:
Y e sr
s i.
DE 84-l a 37.The m e e i i ton,w ihout cia i t r or evi nce, t t s m ehi
t
r nsnua i
t
tton o ec d de
ha o t ng
ot rt n t m isng pi ca e t be t f ldoesnotcr t a i s ofdiput m a e i l
he ha he s i
n us d he d o al
ea e n s ue
s ed t r a
f d a t ea a i Pl i ifhas a qua el esa ihe wih r e e e t r or e denc
a s o us ton. antf
de t y t bls d t ef r ne o ec d vi e
t tt a e oft pi w a t ca eoft f l.
ha he bs nce he n s he us
he a l
4
11
1.
No ge ne diput ast any m at i f tr
nui
s e o
er al ac egar ng notce
di
i
Fi ly,D e e nt ar s t t i had no notce a coul not ha known of t
na l
f nda
gue ha t
i nd
d
ve
he
da r eondii oft bunk bec us nont oft s p' ot r f lng bunks we e l t
nge ous
ton
he
a e
he hi s he ali
r oca ed
i Pl i ifs ca n.As pr ous cours ha r ogni d i a l
n antf
bi
evi
t ve ec zt n naogous st tons, t r r
iuai
o equie
Pl ntf ,a a pr equiie t i
ai if s
er st o mposng labiiy,t demonsr t t tt er s ope a orha
i i lt o
ta e ha he uie
rt
d
a t orconsr tve notce ofan uns e condii whi t c uie oper t cr t d w oul
c ual
tuc i
i
af
ton
ch he r s
a or ea e
d
ke
l ad t a a ur r s t2 Se Roc y v. Ro Carbbe Cr se ,Lt ,No.99- Ve o n bs d e ul. e
yal
i an ui s d.
C1 708-
GOLD, 0 W L 42 99 ,a * ( D. a Fe 2 , 001 .
2 01
0 3 t 3 S. Fl . b. 0 2 )
The ef e i i O RDERED,ADJUD GED,and DEC REED t tPl ntf' M oton
r or , t s
ha ai ifs
i
f r Pata S
o ril ummay J d m e t ( 7 ) b ,a t s me i,h rby GRANTED a t
r u g n DE 9 e nd he a s e e
so
Ia lt a d De e a ts M oi n f rSu r J d n ( 81 b ,a d t s me i,
ibiiy, n
fnd n ' to o mma y u gme t DE ) e n he a s
he e DEN I
r by
ED.The ti s heduld on t t w e c endar c m enci M a c 21,
ral c
e
he wo- ek al
om
ng
rh
2016,a 9: a. . be a t s m e i,he e CANCELLED and RESCH ED ULED f
t 00 m , , nd he a
s r by
or
t t o- e k ca e r comm e ng Aprl 18, 2016 at 9: a. . a t a t J m es
he w w e
l nda
nci
i
00 m , t he t he a
La e e Ki Fe r J tce Buidi 99 N . 4t Stee ,Elve h Fl ,Courr
wr nc ng de al usi
l ng,
E. h r t e nt oor
toom #2,
M i m iFl i
a
orda.
2 I ever, eve i t r wer a notce r quiem e ,sx ot pa s nge s r pore bunks
dow
n f he e
e
i e r nt i her s e r e td
f lng o te s me s i De e da td d no ne d t b o no iet tt e s c b k be
al n h a hp. fn n i t e o e n tc ha h pe 6c un d
i
wa f uly.Def nda ' a gum e s r ga di t a e e ofa dut t w a n f i f t s m e
sa t
e nts r
nt e r ng he bs nc
y o r a l or he a
r
easons.
DO NE AND O RDERED i Cha r a t J m es La ence K i Fe r lJ tce
n
mbe s t he a
wr
ng de a usi
Buidi a Unied St t Court e,i M im i M i iD a Count Fl i t s 2nd
l ng nd
t
aes
hous n a , am - de
y, orda, hi
da ofM a c 201
y
r h, 6.
AM ES LA W NCE K I G
N
I
TED STATES DI
STRI J DGE
CT
Cc: A l couns lofr or
l
e
ec d
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