Pettit v. Carnival Corporation

Filing 17

ORDER Granting 9 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Senior Judge James Lawrence King on 8/10/2015. (jw)

I TH E UN I
N
TED STATES DISTR I CO UR T
CT
FO R TH E SO UTH ERN DISTR I O F FLOR I
CT
DA
M I M ID I SIO N
A
VI
CA SE N O. 1 CV 4- 24773-1m G
1
REBECCA PETTI
T,

Pl i if
a ntf ,
VS.

CARN I AL CORPORATI ,
V
ON
Def
enda .
nt
/

O RD ER G R ANTI DEFEN DAN T' M O TION FO R SUM M A RY JU D G M EN T
NG
S
TH IS CA USE com es bef e t Cour upon Def
or he
t
endant s M oton f Sum m a y
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i or
r

5.Dee n ve o u r u me t n he
J gme t( 9 ,fl M ay 8, 201 l fnda tmo sfrs mmayj dg n o t
ud n DE ) ied
bai ta Plitf fldhe Co ant( 1,whih sae acam f pes a ij r
ss h t anif ie r mpli DE ) c tts li or ron l nuy
s de
he
year s at e of lm iatons
t ut
i t i
due t D ef nda ' alege neglgence, out i of t oneo
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i

pr de f by Pl ntf stc tcontac .l r pons Pl ntf a guest t lm ia i
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ai if i ke
r t n es
e, ai if r
hat he i t tons

perod s d be equiabl t l d,a t tgenui di put ofm a eralf ct pr ude t
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ne s es
t i a s ecl he

e tyofs mmayj gme t
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BA CK G R O UN D
The f l i f sar undiput
olow ng act e
s ed:

Plitf wa a pa s ng r a a d t e Ca n va Br e e whe s wa ij r d i a
an if s
s e e bo r h r i l e z
n he s n u e n
si a f l i de on Sept be 24,2013.Pror t embar ng on Br ze,Pl ntf
lp- nd- al nci nt
em r
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ki
ee
ai if

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u t s dd ton ly o i e e an if s ns n
osto DE , ie
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un
201 , n f nda ' pl n pp t DE 6) ie ul , 5.

c mpltd a Gu s c t Co ta t Ac no e g me t i whih s û fi e t t
o ee
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s ) e d n ) d n p ru t o e d l he e ms nd o to
ttd n

te c nrc a t t(he u esl dla a c pte qals c tr a c diins'
h o ta t nd ha s ) nd rtoo nd c e ld l u h ems nd on to .
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The tc t c r ctcont ns bot a f um s ec i cl e,nam i t Sout n Di ti t
i ke ont a
ai
h or
el ton aus
ng he
her sr c

of Fl i as t a opra e ve
orda
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or hi ton,
tt e
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ch

p o de ta a cam f rpes na ij y l h l no bemanana eune ssldwihi
r vi s h t ny li o ro lnur ' al t
s
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on ye ratrt d t ofij r '
e a fe he ae nuy.
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O n Sept be 1 201 onl t el days bef e t de i undert one year
em r 2, 4, y w ve
or he adlne
he
s aut oflm ia i ,Pl ntf t ed s ti t Elvent J ci Cicui i a f M i i
t t e i t tons ai if ll ui n he e h udi al r t n nd or am D a Count Fl i Pl ntf di nots ve D ef nda untlneary t o m ont l er on
de
y, orda. ai if d
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l w
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N ove be 11, 201 D ef nt tmel tl is fr t and onl r ponsve pl ng on
m r
4. enda i y sed t s s
y es
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D ec be 1,201 i w hi Def ndantm oved t di m is t s a e cour ac i bas on
em r
4, n
ch
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t t m s of t f um s ecton cl e c ai i t tc t contact Ther afe on
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el i
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e t r,

De
cember 1 201 Pl ntf t ed herCom pl ntbef e t sCour .
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ai
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STA NDA RD O N SUM M ARY JUD G M ENT

Sl Co ts algrn s
s-he ur h l a t ummayj dgme i t mo nts owst tt r i no
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nt f he va h
ha hee s
g n nedipuea t a y maeilfc a dtemo nti e ildt j dg n a amatr
e ui s t s o n tra a t n h va s ntte o u me t s te
oflw. Fe R.Ci
a ' d.
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v.P.5 ( ) A pa t a s ri t ta f c c n tbe or i ge ney
6 a.
ry s e t ha a t a no
ng
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s ed
t uppor t as ri by lc tng t pari ul r pa t of m a eral i t
t he se ton
%ii o
tc a rs
t i s n he
r cor i udi de ii ,doc ent ,el toni l s or i or aton,afs t or
e d, ncl ng pos tons
um s ec r caly t ed nf m i
tdavis

d ca a ins si ai s (n l ng t os ma f r p pos s of t mo i n onl ,
e lr to , tpulton i cudi h e de o ur e
he to
y)
adm i sons,i e r t y ans er or ot m a eral or s i t tm a e i s ct do
si
nt r oga or
w s
her t i s; how ng ha
t ral ied
2

notes abls t abs
t ih he ence orpr ence ofa ge ne diput ort ta adver epary ca
es
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s e, ha n
s
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p o c a s i ee d nc t s ppo t h f c . 1 a 5 c ( ) û n dee mi ngwhehe
r du e dmisbl vi e e o u r t e a t' d. t 6( ) 1 .i t r ni
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ummayj gme i a pr p it,te fcsa i ee c sfom t f csae ve d i
r ud nt s p o rae h a t nd nfrn e r he a t r iwe n
t lghtm os f vor bl t t non- ovi pary,a t bur i pl ce on t m ovi
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m ng t nd he den s a d
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pa y t e t ih bot t a ence of a genui m at ral f t a t i i e il t
rt o s abls
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ne
e i ac nd hat t s ntted o

j d nta a mat r o lw. Matu hia Elc l s Co v Ze t Ra o Cor ,47
u gme s
te f a ' s s t e . ndu . . . nih di p. 5
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U. 57 5 6- ( 98 .
S. 4, 8 87 1 6)

l o po i amoin frs
n p sng
to o ummayj dgme ,teno mo n pat ma n rl
r u
nt h n- vig ry y ot ey
s e y on t pl ngs but m us s
ol l
he eadi ,
t how by afi t , depos tons, ans s t
fdavis
ii
wer o
i er ogat i and adm i s onst ts fc f t exi tde onsr tng a ge ne is f
nt r ores,
si
ha pecis ac s s m t a i
nui s ue or

til Se Fe R. v. 5 c ,( ) s e a s Ceotx Cop.v Cate t 477 U. 31 3 ra . e d. Ci P. 6( ) e ; e lo l e r . r t,
S. 7, 23
2 ( 98 ) Fu t r t e se e of a û cntla'o e d n e i s p r of t n 4 1 6 . rhe , he xit nc
l i il' f vi e c n u po t he on
s

mov n ' posto i i ufiin ;t r mus be e d nc on whih t j r c ul
a ts iin s ns fce t hee
t
vie e
c he uy o d
r as
e onabl fnd f t non- ovant Ander en v.Li t Lobb I ,477 U . 242,252
y i or he
m
.
s
bery
y, nc.
S.

(98 . ke s ,ac u tne d n tpemi ac s t got aj y whe t i ee c st t
1 6) Li wie o r e o r t a e o o ur
n he nfr n e ha
ar dr wn fom t evi
e a
r he dence,a upon whi t non- ovantr i ,a e ûi pl usbl '
nd
ch he
m
eles r ûm a i e.
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Mas s t 475U. a 59 9 Mie v Jfe s C/p## O
tu hia,
S. t 2-4; z . efron / . fEdu . 93F. 7 ,7 3
.
c,
3d 39 4
( 1h Ci.1 6)
1 t r 99 .

Att s mma yj gme sa , h j g sf c i i nott i ih t e i e e
he u r ud nt tge t e ud e' un ton s o v g he v d nc
we
a de er i t tut oft m a t r butt de e m i w het t e i a genui is
nd t m ne he r h
he te ,
o t r ne
her her s
ne s ue
f ti . Ander on, U . a 249.l m a ng t sde er i i t Cour m us dec de
or ral'
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s 477 S. t
n ki hi t m naton, he
t t i

whi i uesa e m at r a . m a e i f ti one t m i af e t out e oft ca e.
ch ss
r
e i l A t ral ac s
hat ght f ct he com
he s
3

1 at248.û nl diput ove f t t m i afec t out om e oft s tunder t
d.
i y s es r ac s hat ght f t he c
o
he ui
he

go enig 1w wilp o ry p e ldet e r o s
v r n a l r pel r cu he nty f ummayj gme t Fa ta dipue
r ud n. cu l s ts
t tar ir e
ha e rel vantorunneces a y w ilnotbe count d. 1 The Coul m us alo de e m i
sr l
e ' d.
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'
t
t s t r ne

whet t diput about a m at i l f i i
her he s e
era act s ndeed ge ne t t i ,ûi t evi nce i
nui s ha s lf he de
s

s c t tar a o a ej y c l rtr aveditf t n nmo ngpa t '1 ; e ,eg.
u h ha e s n bl ur oud eun r c or he o vi ry. d.s e . ,
'
Ma ie Co igso a.l c v tdSt e , 2 F. 1 0,1 75 ( 1h Ci.1 91 .
rn atn fAl , n . .Unie ats 93 2d 37 3 1 t r 9 )
DI
SCU SSI N
O

Pl ntf concedes t t s ac i was fl out de t s at e of lm ia i t
ai if
hat hi ton
ied si he t ut
i t tons o
w hih t pa tes bound t m s ves i t tc t conta .A tem ptng t si se t s
c he ri
he el
n he i ke
r ct t
i o de t p hi
obvi def t i he Compl nt Pl ntf as t Coul t equia y t lt s a ut of
ous ec n r
ai , ai if ks he
'o
t
t bl ol he t t e
lm iatons cl m i genui i s of m a e i f t exit as t w he he D e e
i t i , ai ng
ne s ues
t ral ac
s
o
t r f ndants
'
c
onduc li
t lnequia y caus t Pl ntf nott f l s t i f r cour . Enum e a i
t bl
ed he ai if
o ie ui n ede al
t'
'
r tng

t s is s Pli ifca mst a De e nt 1 f ie t n iy Pli ifofisit n i t
he e s ue , antf li h t f nda ; ) a ld o otf antf t n e ton o
e o c isf r s lc i ca s ,a d 2)ha r p a e y wav d is d f ns ofi o r
nf r e t o um e e ton lu e n
s e e tdl i e t e e e mpr pe
venue f cl ms unde t $75, a ounti contover y t es d of l U. C.
or ai
r he
000 m
-n- r s hr hol
8 S.

j 1 32.
3
Equiabl t lng r e s t t doc rne t tper is a cour t t la sat e
t e oli ef r o he t i ha
mt
t o ol t ut
oflm ia i w her t cour tndst tan i
i t tons
e he
ts
ha
nequiabl e
t e venthaspr vent
e ed
pl ntf tm el acton. Exa pl of i
ai ifs i y
i
m es
nequiabl e s i ude cas
t e vent ncl
es
w her t def ndantm i ea t pl i ifi o a l ng t s a ut y perod
e he e
sl ds he a ntf nt lowi he t t or
i

go l p e wh r pli tf ha no r a o bl wa ofd s ove i t wr ng
t l a s , e e an if s e s na e y
ic rng he o
per t a e aga ns hi or he ,orwher pl i iftm el fl a t hni l
pe r t d
i t m
r
e a ntf i y ies ec caly
def tve pl ng,but i al ot r r pec s act w ih t pr
ec i
eadi
n 1 he es t
s t he oper dii nce
lge
t tt lm ia i pe i i i ended t i ur
ha he i t ton r od s nt
o ns e.

Ps r y v Ro lCarbb a Cr ie ,Lt ,9 F.Su
u n . ya
i e n us s d. 26
pp.2d 1 , 1 28 29 ( D.
325 3 - S.

4

Fl .201 )( ga o,J)( ii g Ju tc v Unie St e ,6 F. 1 74 1 9 ( 1h
a
3 Un r . c tn s ie . td ats
3d 4 , 47 1 t
Ci.1 93 .The b d n i on t pli ift de nsr t t te t b e t lng i
r 9 )
ur e s he antf o mo tae ha quia l oli s
appr i e,a equiabl t lng i notava l e t a pl ntf w ho f l t brng
oprat nd
t e oli s
iabl o
ai if
ais o i

s t i a tm el f s on des t know i t t lm iatons pe i i r ng.1
ui n i y a hi
pie
ng hat he i t i
r od s unni d.
a 1
t 329.
Upon cons der i , t Cour fnds t t equiabl t lng of t sat e of
i aton he
he t ut
t i
ha
t e oli
lm ia i w oul be i
i t tons
d
nappr i t The f um s ec i cl
opr a e.
or
el ton ause cl r y sat t a1
ea l t es hat 1

diput s lbe ltgat i t Sout r D iti t of Fl i unl s i i a c ai ove
s es hal
ii ed n he
he n sr c
orda es t s l m
r

whiht fdea c rsoft Unie Sae lc s j c matrj rs cin. fn nti
c he e rl ou t he td tts a k ube t te u idito Dee da s
notalege t ha t n any acton i t s cas whi h woul ha s
l d o ve ake
i n hi
e
c
d ve uggesed t Pl ntf
t o ai if
t tD ef
ha
endantwas w ai ng t f um s ecton cl e i t tcke c r ,and cl m s
vi he or
el i
aus n he i t ontact
ai

a r l a e no s b e t t s c in 1 3 s a nti c to ry r qu r me t
dmiat r t u j c o e to 3 2' mou -n- on r ve s e ie n .
y
M or
eover Pl ntf fl he sat c ' ac i onl t el da bef e t r ng ofhe
, ai if ied r t e oul ton y w ve ys or he unni
t
r

contact s a ut of lm iatons a f l d t s r her com pl ntupon Def ndant f
r ual t t e
i t i , nd aie o e ve
ai
e
or
neary sxt days t eafer A c di y,t f tt Pl ntf i taly fl hercl m i
l iy
her t . cor ngl he ac hat ai if nii l ied
ai n

s a e cour,and t tD ef ntm oved t dim i Pl ntf's sat coul acton on t bas s
tt
t
ha
enda
o s ss ai i t t e
' i
t
he i
ofi pr
m operve onl afert sat e oflm ia i had r was a pr
nue y t he t ut
i t tons
un,
oduc of t r n
t k de
ga
va i y' neglge on t par ofPl ntf couns .See Critv.Car valCor s41 F.
ret '
i nce
he t
ai ifs
el
s
ni
p. 0

App' 1 , 2 ( 1h ci.2 0): Th ,Pli if ha f ie t c ry h r b de of
x 97 03 1 t r 01 . us antf s a ld o a r e ur n

s wi ie ia e c u t on t pat of Dekn nt s fce t j tf t
ho ng n qutbl ond c
he r
l da ufiint o usiy he
2 Cri i a unpubls
st s n
i hed deci i , whi t Cour consde ed as non- ndi but
son
ch he
t
i r
bi ng
per uasveaut iy.See 11 h Ci.R.36s i
hort
t r
2.
5

extaor nar r m edy ofequia et lng.
r di y e
t bl oli
CO NCLU SI N
O

Afer ca ef e der ton a t Cour bei ot r ie f l a s i i
t
r ul onsi a i nd he
t ng he w s uly dvied, t s

O RD ER ED , ADJUD G ED , and DECR EED t t D ef
ha
endants M oton f Sum m a y
'
i or
r

J g t t( 9 be a t es mei, r by GRANTED .
ud m n DE ) , nd h a s he e
DO NE AND O R DERED i Cham ber a t J es Lawr
n
s t he am
ence K i Fede al
ng
r
J tce Buidi a Unied St ts Courhous i M i m i M i m iD a Count Fl i ,
us i
l ng nd
t
at
t e, n a , a - de
y, or da

t s 1 h day ofAugus ,2015,
hi 0t
t

G

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J M ES LA W REN CE K I G
N
I
TED STA TES D I
STRI J D
CT U

Cc: A I couns ofre
I
el
cord

6

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