AGC, LLC v. CENTURION AIR CARGO, INC.

Filing 21

ORDER Granting 9 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Senior Judge James Lawrence King on 9/23/2015. (jw)

I TH E U N I
N
TED STAT ES D ISTR ICT C O U R T
FO R TH E SO UTH ERN D I
STR I O F FLO R I A
CT
D
M I M ID I SI N
A
VI O

CA SE N O . 1 CV - 61 K1 G
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VS.

CEN TU RI A l CAR GO ,I C.
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f nda .

/
O RD ER G R AN TI G DEFEN D AN T' M O TI N FO R SU M M AR Y JU DG M ENT
N
S
O
TH I CA U SE c esbef e t Cour upon Def nda CEN TU RI A 1 CA RGO ,
S
om
or he
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e nt
ON R

I ' Motonf Summa yJ
NC s i or
M
)
5. antf
r udgme t(he' oi ' ( 9) fl Aprl13,201 :Pli ifs
n t k ton' DE , ied i
.

Compli ( 1 saesasngl cli f deayda
ant DE ) tt i e am 0r l mage unde Aril 1 oft Conve i l
s
r tce 9 he
nton br
t Unis atonofCerai Rul f l er ton Carige byAi,M ay 28,1
he fc i
t n es or nt na i al ra
r
999,S.Tr at Doc
e y
.

No.l
06-45,2242U. '. 350(hei onte Conve i '. Cour he r o a ar me on
N.'S. t i ral
I
M
nton' The
)
t a d r l gu nt
t M oto dur ng t Pr t i lCo e e e on J 1 201
he
i n i he e ra nf r nc
une 2, 5.
BA CK G R O U ND 2

OnFebr r 8,201 Ce uronAi Cago,nc.(i ntron' entr i oa
uay
4 nt i r r I l u i ' eed nt n
ce
)
i ee ntofAicaf Cha tr't i e ment' wihAGC,LLC (k 'f t ai
i
Agr me
r r t re'(he s e ' t
Agr
)
çAGC' or he r
)
ta por ofmac ne y fo Br zi t M i f t s m of$1 000,whih AGC pai t
r ns t
hi r r m a l o ami or hc u
90,
c
do
Cen uron upon e c i oft conta . fe be ng tans or e f om Br zi t M i m i t
t i
xe uton he
r ct A t r i r p t d r
a l o a , he

l The Co t ha a tonaly c i r d Pl i if s Re pons i O ppost on t D e e nts
ur s ddii l ons de e
a ntf
s
e n
ii o f nda '

Moton f Summar J
i or
y udgmen ( 1 )a Defnda ' Re y i Suppo tofis Moton f
t DE 2 nd e nts pl n
r t
i or
Su r J me ( 1 .
mmay udg nt DE 4)
2The f l w i f t a e undi put .
olo ng ac s r
s ed

mac ne ywast be ta l de fom Ce uron' aic af ont t aic af ofa he ai fe g
hi r
o r nsoa d r
nt i s r r t o he r r t not r r r i ht
c
ompa a t n town t St J
ny nd he l
o . ohns Ne oundl .
, wf
and
Thec go wast nttvel s he e t de r fom Ri deJ neio, Br i,on Fe ua y
ar
e a i y c dul d o pa t r
o
a r
az l
br r
1 201 a 1 30 GM T,a a vei M i on Fe ua y 11 201 a 00: GM T.On Febr r
0, 4 t 6:
nd ni n ami
br r ,
4 t 30
ua y
1) 201 t t nttves he ewa dir pt d, a trt c r o wasl d on t c rer d
(, 4, he e a i c dul s s u e fe he a g
oade
he ha t e
Ce uron ar a ti Ri deJ neio, when at t bei ope atd by Ce uron' l alar t
nt i icr f n o
a r
ow ug ng r e
nt i s oc ipor
g ound ha e sc lded wih t ar r f' N o. 3 e ne,c usng e e i da a andplci
r
ndlr oli
t he ic a ts
ngi a i xt nsve m ge
a ng
t ar a toutofs r c At9: p.m .
he icr f
e vie.
38
EST on Febr y 1 201 Ce uron no ii A GC t t
uar 0, 4, nt i
tfed
ha

i wa sn iga ar rf t Ri d Jn iot ie c egh lc a trtih 'b c u etei a d ig
t s e dn n ic a to o e a er o l s u t e h re lg t' e a s h f n ln
r
h
c mp n ht n o gh )e ie . Th rs u ar rf d l ee tec r ot M imi nFe r ay
o a y io e f t e ngn s' e e c e ic at ei r d h ag o a o b u r
'
v
1 201
3, 4.

AGC s eksdamage i t t a a
e
s n he otl mountof$245, c
200, omprsng l m ura e ur
ii i
de r ge xpos e

g2h u s a $50 0p rh u 'i t a u to $ 00 0a d' u o p c e p y n 'i t e
4 o r) t ,0 e o r'n he mo n f 21 ,0 n ç t f o k t a me t'n h
o
a
mountof$35, AGC di nota t l i urt da
200.
d
cualy nc he mage i s eksasde r ç
ste
murage i
expos e ''
ur
.

AGC ma a pa ntof$32, f de ura cha gest t ai feghtc
de yme
000 or m r ge r o he r r i ompa t twa
ny ha s
s he e t tyt m a hi r fom M im i Fl i t St J ,
c duld o l he c ne y r
a , orda o . ohns Newf
oundlnd.
a
The A gr e e be w e n AG C a Ce uron s a e , i peri ntpa t
e m nt t e
nd nt i t t s n tne
r,

I i a e t t no tme i fxe f r c plton of ca ra her unde .
t s gr ed ha
i s i d o om e i
rige e
r

. . .

( n u in d e no u d ra et c mme c o c mpeeta p rai n o e fc
Ce t ro j o s t n e tk o o n e r o lt rns o tto r fe t
delve y ofca go wihi a pa tc a tme. N o em pl ee age o r pr e a i
i r
r
t n ny riulr i
oy , nt r e es nt tve

o g nu inl i a to ie t bid g nu in b a sae n s o
f ce tro s uh rz d o n ce t ro ) y ny ttme t r
r pr s nt to oft da e ortm e ofde rur , a valordur ton of a ti .
e e e ai ns he t s i s
pa t e ni
ai
ny l ght

Agre nta !2..
e me t ( 1
LE GA L STA ND A RD

Sl Co r s alga ts mmayj d me ti te mo a ts o t tt r i n g n i e
i- u t h l rn u r u g n f h v n h ws ha hee s o e u n
-he

ds uea t a ymae ilfc a dt mo a t se t ld t j d me ta amatro lw 'Fed.R.
ip t s o n tra a t n he v n i ni e o u g n s te f a '
t
.

Ci P.56() A pa t ase tng t taf tc nnotbeori ge ney diput mus s
v.
a. ry sri ha ac a
s nui l s ed t uppor t
t he
a s ri by çctng t pa tc a pa' of m ae il i t r cor , i l ng de ii
s e ton
lii o riul r ls
t
tra s n he e d nc udi
postons
,
doc e s el toni a l sor d i or ton, a ûda t or de l r tons si ai (ncudi
um nt, ecr c ly t e nf ma i
f vis
c a a i , tpultons i l ng

t e ma f pur es of t moi onl ,a si , i erogat y ans er or ot r
hos de or pos
he ton y) dmisons nt r or
w s
he
matra s ors
e i l; howi t tm ae il ct d do notesa ih t abs nc o pr e e ofa genui
ng ha tra s ie
t bls he e e r es nc
ne
diput ort a a r e pary c nnotpr uce a isbl e de e t s ppor t f c .'I a
s e, hat n dve s
t a
od
dm s i e vi nc o u
t he a t ' d t

5 ()1.S n d tr nig wheh rs mmay j d me ti a p o rae t f t and i er es
6 c( ) i eemi n
l
te u r u g n s p r p its he ac s
nf enc
fo t fc sar vi we i t lghtmos f vor e t t non- movi pary,and t bur n i
r m he a t e e d n he i
t a abl o he
ng t
he de s
pl e on t movi pa t t esa ih bot t a e e ofagenui m ae ilf ctand t ti i
ac d
he
ng ry o t bls
h he bs nc
ne tra a
ha t s

e t ld t j d me ta amatro lw. Mas s i Elc l du Co.v.Zenih Radi Cor ., 475
ni e o u g n s te f a ' tu ht e . h s
t
'
a
t
o
p
.

U. 574,58 87( )
S.
6- 1986 .

l o po i ga mo in f rs mmayj d me t te n nmo i p ry ma n trl s ll
n p sn
to o u r u g n, h o - vng a t y o ey o ey
on t pl a ngs but m us s
he e di ,
t how by a tda t , de ii ns a w e s t i er oga or e , and
fi vis pos to , ns r o nt r t i s
a s i t ts c fc f t e s de o tai a ge ne is f til Se Fe R.Ci P.
dmisons ha pe ii ac s xit m nsr tng
nui s ue or ra . e d.
v.

56() ( ) s ealo Cel e Cop.v Catet,477U. 31 323- ( 986) Furt r t exitnce
c, e; e s otx r . r t
S. 7, 24 1
he , he se
.

ofa k ci il ' ofe de e i s ppor oft non- ova ' posto i i ufi i nt t r mus be
i ntla' vi nc n u
s
t he
m nts ii n s ns fc e ; he e
t

e ie c o whih t j r c ud ra o a y tn fr t n n mo a t Andersen v. fi rt
vd n e n c he uy o l e s n bl s d o he o - v n
be y
.

Lo b ,I c, 7U. 2 , 2( 9 6 . ke s ,ac u t e dno p nni a c s t g t aj r
b y n . 47 S. 42 25 1 8 ) Li wie o r n e t e t a e o o o u y
whe t i kr nc t ta e dr wn fom t e de , and upon whi t nonn he nf e es ha r a
r he vi nce
ch he
mova r i
nt eles

,

ar Si pl i e.'M at
e im ausbl '
sushia, 47 U . a 592- M i v
t
5 S. t
94; ze .

Jfe s n Cj Bd O u . 9 F.d
efr o /
y
fEd c, 3 3

739,7 ( 1h Ci.1 .
43 1 t r 996)

Atte s mmayj dg n sa e tej d e sf n to i n tt k i h te e ie c a d
h u r u me t tg , h u g ' u cin s o o d g h vd n e n
we

3

de e ne t tut of t m a t r butt deenni whehert r i a ge ne i s f ti .''
t nui he r h
he te ,
o t ne
t he e s
nui s ue or ral

An s 477 U. a 249. l maki t sdee naton, t Cou tm us de dewhi is a e
der on,
S. t
n
ng hi tnni i he
r
t ci
ch s ues r
matra.A m a e il f c i one t tm i afec t out
eil
t ra a t s
ha ght f t he come of t c s . 1 at248.lonl
he a e d.
ç y
dipu e ove f ds t t m iht a f d t out
s ts
r a ha g fe he come of t s t u r t gove ni l w wil
he ui nde he
r ng a
l

p o e l p e ld t e ty o s mmay j d n ,Fa t a d s u e t a ae ir lv n o
r p ry r cu e he nr f u r u gme t cu l ip ts h t r ree a t r
unne es a y wilnotbe c ed.' d TheCour m us alo deer newhehe t diput a
c sr l
ount 'I
t t s t mi
t r he s e bouta
m a e i f c i i ed ge ne ta i,l t ee i e c i s hta ar a o a ej r c udrt r
t ral a t s nde
nui , h t s df h v d n e s uc h t e s n bl u y o l eu n
i

ave di tf t no ovi pa t .'f . s e eg. Ma ieCo tn so a,I c v Uni d Sa e ,
r c or he nm ng ry '# ; e , . , rn
aig fAl. n . . t tts
e

932F. 1 0,1 ( 1hCi.1 )
2d 37 375 1 t r 991,
DI
SCUSSI N
O

Dee da t e kss mmayj d me o teb ssta t eewa n d lyi t d lv r
fn n s e u r u g nt n h a i h th r s o ea n he eiey
oft m a hi r pur ua t t Agr me be a e t Agr e e e i ty saest t
he c ne y s nt o he ee nt c us he e m nt xplcil t t ha
De e ntdi notund tke t de i rt mac ne ywihi a pr s rbe tm e. l res
f nda d
era o lve he
hi r t n ny e c i d i
n pons
e,
Pli ifa guest tt Cou ts d i e t ttm ewasoft es e duet t naur oft
antf r
ha he
r houl nf r ha i
he s nce
o he t e he
cont act
r .

TheM onte Conve i hasc plt pr mptveefec o ra 1c am swihi is
r al
nton
om e e ee i f t ve 1 l i
tn t

s o e a dp o ie t tkintec ni g o p se g r, a g g a dc r o, nya to f r
c p , n r vd s ha ' l h a a e f a s n es b g a e n ag a cin o
l
da a howeve f
m ges
r ounde , whe he unde t sConve i o i c r c ori t torot r s
d
t r
r hi
nton r n onta t n or
he wie

,

c n o yb b o g t u j c t tec dto a s c l t o la ii a aes to ti t s
a nl e r u h s be t o h on i ns nd u h i s f ib ly s r e u n hi
i
mi
t
Co
nventon. M ontea Co nto , a t 29.Thus t M onte lCo nton pr dest
i '
'
r l nve i n r.
, he
r a nve i
ovi he
exc us ve r m e esf cl i s wihi is s pe a pr cl
l i e di or a m
t n t co , nd e udescl i s r ga di c r d m a t r
a m e r ng ove e
te s

t tdonotme tt Conventon' c ie i a t t e e t e ee islabiiy lm iai .
ha
e he
i s rtra nd o he xtnt hey xc d t i lt i t tons

4

W ih r pe t del i t c r i ge ofca go, t Conven i p ovi s'
t es ct o ays n he a ra
r he
ton r de .

The ca rer i la e t da a oc sone by dea i t ca rage by ai of
ri s ibl br m ge ca i d
ly n he ri
r
pas e e s ba ag or c r o. N e r h es , t c r i s l not te la e f
s ng r , gg e
ag
ve t el s he a rer hal
n i bl or
dama occ i d b dely i i pr st ti a iss r nt a age st a l
ge asone y a f t ove ha t nd t e va s nd nt ook l
mea ur t atc d r a ona y be r r d t avoi t damage or t t i wa
s es h oul e s bl
equie o
d he
ha t s
i p sbl f i ort m t tke s me u es
m os i e or t he o a uch as r .
M ontea Conventon, t 19.
r l
i ar.

Ast M o r alConve i pr desno c ie i f esabls ng aprm af i c s f
he nte
nton ovi
rtra or t ihi
i ace a e or
de a da es t Cour l
l y mag , he
t ookst Fl i c r ctl w t de em i whehe t t day
o orda onta a o t r ne
t r he wo
-

de a i fom t tnt tve s hed ewhih oc ured i t i t ntmat rc n f m t bassofa
viton r he e a i c ul
c c r n he nsa
te a or he i
cl i f da age . s a sa tng poi , ar viw oft Agr me r vea st istnnsa ec e r
a m or m s A
tri
nt e e
he ee nt e l hat t e
r la

an una bi
d m guous Thus lhepa te i e mus b glane fom t f co ne soft
.
,i
t
ri s' ntnt t e e d r he our r r
he
doc en ,a i s h a s t i , t lnguageis fi t be te de oft pa te i ent
um t nd n uc
iuaton he a
tel s he s vi nce he ri s' nt ,
a is pl n m e ng c r s 'Pr k v Kole C7y Pl z J I ,550 F.
nd t ai ani ont ol . ' eta . tr / a a f nc.
App' 830
x

,

834( lh
1t

Ci. 3 .
r 201 )
Thee es pr sonsoft Agr eme sa et t' tm e i fxed f rt co plton of
xpr s ovii
he e nt t t ha f i s i
no
o he m e i
ca a ' nd t Ce uron di no k
ni ge'a hat nt i
d t i ra t c
unde tke o omm e e orc
nc
ompl t tans ra i or
e e r po tton
e f ctde i r ofc go wihi a pa tc artm e'Nonehees ,Pli tf woul ha t Cour
fb
lve y ar
t n ny riul i . '
t l s a n if
d ve he
t
l be
ook yond t t r soft co r tt dee ne t ttm e wa oft es e bas upon t
he e m
he ntac o tnui ha i
s he s nce ed
he

s be tmatro t c n rc. ta e d Pli t fo fr t ed po iintsi n o J f Aln,
u j c te f he o ta t To h t n , ani fe s h e sto e t y f ef a
f
mo
A GC' Pr sde ,i whih M r Aln saes Sha ' t pur eoft e iec r c , tm e bei
S e i nt n c
.
a t t , t ts he pos
t
he ntr onta t i
ng
(ft e s nce c t r ng a aipl ne. You donotc re a aipl neunl s tm ei oft
) he s e , hare i n r a
ha tr n r a
e s i s he

e s n e Yo j t o t o i.tsn td n . e id'
s e c . u us d n'd tl' o o e P ro .
'
5

l t f c oft cl ra una bi
n he a e he ea nd m guouslnguaget t e f c t ttm ewasnotoft
a
o he fe t ha i
he
e s nc i t exe uton oft Agr me , M r Al n' de ii t tmony w hi h s e t
s e e n he c i
he ee nt . a s poston esi
c e ks o
,
cr um ve orc r c t pr sonsoft c r c i ofno m o e a ot r i e
ic
nt ontadit he ovii
he onta t s
m nt nd he w s
,

i ufi e t c e t a ge ne diput ofam ae i f c . Se B& G Ave u a
ns fcint o r a e
nui s e
tral a t e
nt r

,

LLC v G- t Lt
. sie d.

P ' p,97So. 308( a.3dDCA 201 Accor ngl t Courtfndst tPl ntf cli f
s
hi
3d
F1
2)
di y, he
i ha ai ips am or
.

deay da gesm us f i, a dDee a tsmoi nf rs mmayj d me tmus b g a td
l
ma
t al n
fnd n ' to o u r u g n
t e rn e
.

CONCLUSI
ON
The ef e i i ORDERED , ADJUDG ED ,a DECREED t tDef nda ' M oton f
r or , t s
nd
ha
e nts
i or

SummayJ
r udgme ( 9)be a t smei, hereby GR ANTED
nt DE
, nd he a s

.

DONE AND ORDERED i Cha be s a t J me La e e Ki F
n
m r t he a s wr nc ng
e r J tc
de al usie

Buidi a Unie St t Cou t e i M im i M i miDadeCount Fl i t s23 d day of
l ng nd td aes rhous , n a , a y, orda, hi r
Se embe ,201
pt
r
5.

Cc
:

Al c
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e
e d

M ES LA R CE KI G
N
I
TED STA TES D I
STRI J
CT

6

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