Lopez v. Triangle Fire, Inc. et al

Filing 76

ORDER Denying Defendant's Motion for Judgment as a Matter Of Law Based Unpon Insufficient Service. Signed by Senior Judge James Lawrence King on 6/9/2017. (jw)

Case 1:15-cv-22209-JLK Document 76 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/09/2017 Page 1 of 6

U NI
TED STATES D I
STRI CO URT
CT
SOUTH ERN DI
STRI O F FLOR I
CT
DA
M I IDI SI N
AM
VI O
CA SE NO.1 22209- V- NG
5C1 KI
O SV A LD O LO PEZ,

Pl ntf,
ai if

TRI
ANGLE FI I ,
RE, NC.RAQUEL CANO,
a ORLANDO ALFONSO ,
nd
Def nda s
e nt .

ORDER DENYI DEFENDA NTS'M OTI FOR JUD GM ENT A S A M A TTER
NG
ON
O F LAW BASED UPO N I SU FFI ENT SERVI
N
CI
CE

THI M ATTER c me b f r teCo r u n Dee da tsmo in f rj g n a a
S
o s e o e h u t po f n n ' to o ud me t s
m at rOfl w pur ua t Rul 50 oft Fe alRul ofCi lPr dur fl durng t
te
a
s nt o
e
he der
es
vi oce e, ed i he
ti oft smate a t cl eofPl ntf s c e-n- ef DE 70.The Cour hasaddii ly
ral hi
t r t he os
ai if ' as i chi .
t
tona l

c n i r dPli ifsr s o ei o po iin t t mo in ( 7 ) a wel sDe e d n s
o sdee antf' e p ns n p sto o he to DE 3 , s l a f n a t'

r pl i s pp r oftemo im ( 7 )
e y n u o t h tc DE 4 .
1I
. NTROD UCTI
ON
Thr
ough t i t ntm oton,De e nt s e r i
he ns a
i
f nda s e k elefbas d upon,i e ala,t
e
nt r i he
a fr a i def ns ofi ufi e ofs vit ofpr s whi wasr s i Def nda s
fim tve e e ns fci ncy er c
oces , ch
aied n
e nt '
tr tr s
s s e ponsvc pl adi lie. Def nda s i talans r a s eque l i Def nda s'
i
e ng, . , e nt ' nii
we , nd ubs
nty n
e nt
a we t t a e d compl i . 2For hi pa t Pl ntf c edesD ef nda sr s t
ns r o he m nde
ant
s r, ai if onc
e nt aied he

1 rt r a o ssae i o n c r o J ne8 2 7,heCou t le d rj ce De e a s
Fo he e s n tt d n pe ou t n u , 01 t
r ar a y e e t d fnd nt'
r maniga g me t i s p r o j d me ta amatro lw.
e i n r u n s n u po t f u g n s te f a

2see DE 8;s alo DE 1 .
ee s
5

Case 1:15-cv-22209-JLK Document 76 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/09/2017 Page 2 of 6

i ufi e y ofpr s def ns i t i ans r ,buta guest Cour s d de t
ns fcinc
oce s e e n he r we s
r
he
t houl ny he

m o i and tnd t tDef ndant wai d t sa tr a i de ens t ough t rc
ton
i ha
e
s ve hi fs m tve f e hr
hei onduc i t s
t n hi
Case.

l .LE G A L ST A N D A R D O N M O TI N FO R JU D G M EN T A S A M A TTER O F LA W
I
O

A j g n a amatro 1w i war n e o l i ifdu ig atilb j r apa t ha
ud me t s te f a s ra td ny t l rn ra y u y ry s
l
bee f l hea d on a is a t r i no l l s scinte denta y bas sf a
n uly r
n s ue nd he e s egaly uf e vi ir
i or

r a o bl j r t fn f rt a pa t o t a is . Fe R. v P. 0 a ( ) W h n e au tn
e s na e u y o b d o h t ry n h t sue' d. Ci. 5 ( ) 1 . e v la ig
'
Rul 50 m otons coursm us c i ra1 oft e de and r as bl i er sars ng
e
i ,
t
t onsde l he vi nce
e ona e nf ence ii
t r f om i t lghtmos f abl t t nonm ovi pa t Bec t v Cl.po ytn
he e r n he i
t avor e o he
ng ry. kwih . ' fDa o a
/

se /S r s Fl , F,d 1 5 1 6 ( lh Ci.1 95 .
lc' ho e , a.58 3 5 4, 5 0 1 t r 9 )
/
1 1 DI
1 . SCUSSI N
O

Asa i ta m at r t Cour woul poi outt i uf e s r ce i a wa va e
n nii l te , he
t
d nt
hat ns icint e vi s
i bl

d f n eu e teFe e a Ruls whc i e plcti t Ru e1 h ( )sae n t ta
ee s nd r h d r l e , ih s x i i n he l 2( ) 1 ttme t ha
f l et tm el and pr ry r s oras e tt sde e er s t i iswai r Fe R.Ci P.
aiur o i y
ope l aie
s r hi f ns e uls n t
ve . d.
v.

1 h ( ) s eas Fe . Ci . 1 b . s h,ns ice ts r c i n tne e s rl aft l
2( ) 1; e lo d R. v P. 2( ) As uc i uf in evie s o c s a iy aa

fa i ac s i t wa t a alc ofs j c mat r urs ci nwou db .
l w n a e n he y h t a k ube t te j idito
l e
Tur ng t t c e a ha nea l t oyea sha pas e snce De e nt frt
ni o he as t nd, ry w
r ve s d i
f nda s is

r s d t sdef ns i t ri talans r a i a1 oft ttm eD e enda sneve s
aie hi e e n hei nii
we , nd n l ha i
f
nt
r ought
r i ba e on t a lgedl i uf ints r c Durng t et ye s Def
elef s d
he le y ns sce e vie. i hos wo ar , endant aced
s t

a t u h p r o a j rs ci nov rt e h d b e pr pe l pef ce . i i no ast ai n
s ho g e s n l u idito e h m a e n o ry re t d Th s s t iu to
whe e any Def nda lcked notc ofort opporuniy t f l pa tcpa e i t sa i
r
e nt a
ie
he
t t o uly ri i t n hi cton.
Al Deknda spr pty a a e i t sc eand ans r d t com pl ntffee da afe
l f nt om l ppe r d n hi as
we e he
ai it n ys tr

Case 1:15-cv-22209-JLK Document 76 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/09/2017 Page 3 of 6

t c
he ompl i w a fl and e h De endanthasa tvel pa tci t d i t sm at t ough
ant s ied,
ac
f
c i y ri pa e n hi ter hr
ea h sage ofltgaton a lt w a t ough ti l
c t
ii i l he y hr
ra .
Durng t nea l t o yea ssnc Def nda ssr ta wer t c pl nta
i he ry w
r i e
e nt s ns ed he om ai nd

a a ed i t sc e,i w oul have bee smpl f Pl ntf t c et s r c i s i
ppe r n hi as t
d
n i e or ai if o ur he e vi e s ue f
De endant ha move f r i ba e upon t sdef ns a br
f
s d
d or elef s d
hi
e e nd oughtt sm a t t i s , but
hi ter o s ue
i t d De e nt s tbac a alowed tm et pas ,r s tng i m or and m o e of
nsea
f nda s a
k nd l
i o s e uli n
e
r
Pl ntf scl m f lng out i t sa ut oflm ia i . Ye , durng al t stm e,
ai if ai ali
sde he t t e i t tons3 t i
l hi i
Def nda sneve t t a tr a i s e offlng a m oton t s k r i fbas upon t s
e nt
r ook he fs m tve t p ii
i o ee ele
ed
hi
de ens W ih r s tt t sdef e, he gr
f e. t e pec o hi ens t
oundsf whi h havebe pr enta compl t
or c
en es
nd
ee
t e ietm e t sm at ha bee pe ng,Def nda si e t Cour- a t d
he ntr i hi ter s n ndi
e nt gnor d he
tm nda e

d a lnef rt esl ofd s stvemo insc n ane i iss he uln o de ( 9 .
e di o h i
ng ipo ii
to o t i d n t c d ig r r DE )

F rhemo e i f ?p era siulto s( 31 DE 4 ) Dee da t siult dt t
u t r r ,n wt r til tp ai n DE ; 4 , f n n s tp ae o he
Co r' j rs ito o rt smalrwi u r ii a y p ro l'rs ito is sa d
u ts u id cin ve hi te t t asng n e s na J id cin sue n
ho
u
ot r ie f ied t r s t sis i t pr ti si atonsora t pr t i conf e
he w s a l o aie hi s ue n he eral tpul i
t he e ral
er nce

d s t t efc t a t ep era si lto r q r st p rist ls i IUn s s do
e pie h a t h t h rtil tpu ain e uie he a te o it C
AI dipo e f
M otonsor Ot M ate sRe rng Ac i b t Cour' a t Cour e i il as t
i
her
t r quii
ton y he
t' nd he
t xplcty ked he
pa tesdurng t pr ti e e e e i t ew e ea pe ng is r m ani t be
ri
i he e ral onf r nc f her r ny ndi s ues e i ng o

r s le S ei.(mp sss pp id .
e ov d. e d e ha i u le )

3The sa ut oflm iatonsf wilulvi a i oft Fai LaborSt ndar Acti t ree
tt e i t i
or lf oltons he r
a
ds
sh
yea s and t sat esoflm ia i i Fl i f br c ofor contac a qua um
r,
he t ut
i t tons n orda or ea h
al
r t nd nt

meui aef u y as l t Co r we et d s s t sa to wi u p eud c t a alb t
r t r o r e r . f he u t r o imis hi c in t t rj ie od y, 1 u
ho
f mont ofPl ntf' e pl e w ih Def nda swoul f l outi t s aut of
our
hs
ai ifs m oym nt t
e nt
d a l sde he t t e
lm ia i f FLSA ,a al butone ye and f m ont woul f lout i t sa ut sof
i ttons or
nd 1
ar
our
hs
d al sde he t t e
lmia i f br ac ofor conta and qua um m e ui.
i ttons or e h
al r ct
nt
r t

Case 1:15-cv-22209-JLK Document 76 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/09/2017 Page 4 of 6

Tha Def nda shave had no i of a ha ac i l pari pa e i t sca e fom
t e nt
tce , nd ve tvey tci t d n, hi s r

i i e to t ye r a o i pli I d e , fnd n s i e ga e i s bsa ta ds o e y
t nc pi n wo a s g s an. n e d De e a t :) n g d n u tn il ic v r
s
a dt o d p iins i)atn e aCou to d r ds tlme tc nfr nc , i)tldamo i n
n o k e osto ,i te d d
r- r e e ete n o e e e ii le
to

frs
o ummayj g n ( ihma enome to o t sis ) i atn d ap era
r ud me t wh c d
n i n f hi sue ,v) te de r til
c n e e e( ndma nome tono t i is e , )at n e f c ln rc ls( ndma eno
o fr nc a
de
n i f h s s u ) v te d d wo ae da al a
d

me to o t sis ) v )fldar ne dmo in f rs
n in f hi sue , i ie e we to o umma yj d n ( n ma eno
r u gme t a d d
me tono t i is e , ndvi)al we ctz nso t sDitit ob c le i frt d y of
n i f h s s u ) a i lo d iie f hi src t e ald n o wo a s
ti ( t e nate i t alr t Cour t t spendi defns untlt cl eof
ral wihout ve tmptng o e the
t o hi
ng e e i he os

Plitf c s -n c e TheCo r i a s a utl a r o t ef c t tDe e a swe e
an ips a e i- hig.
u t s lo c ey wae f h a t ha fnd nt r

s e ng tr u h t i mo insf rs mmayj dg n ,af v r b er ig o a e e to
e ki ,h o g her to o u r u me t a o a l uln n n x mp i n
is w hi i def e c
s ue ch, n ens ouns lsown w or ,i S r i porant't Def ndant a t i
e'
ds s û y m t ' o
ve
e
s nd he r

i ty,ye t motonswe efl a atmewhe Defnda sa enty bei (
ndusr t he i
r ied t i
n e nt ppar l leved but

wi hedfo t eCo r)t t heCo r lc dpe s na j idito o rt m .
t l r m h u t ha t
h
u t a ke ro lurs ci n ve he
Th c s sctdbyDee a si s p r o t ermo i nf rj g n a amatro
e a e ie
fnd nt n u po t f h i to o ud me t s te f
lw a e f c ua l and pr
a r a t ly
ocedur l i ppost t t i t ntm at r Se Sc
aly na
ie o he ns a
te . e hnabelv.W e l,
ls

9 F.d72 ( 1h Ci.1 )( imisnga to f ris sce ts r c a s mma y
22 2 6 1 t r 991 ds s i cin o n uf in evie t u r

j d me tsa eatrc s ha be npe ig f ro l t nmo t s ; e alo Olhed v Pu b o
u g n t g fe a e d e ndn o ny e n h ) s e s d l . e l
DeBa aLo i,SA. 5 F.d 1 01 ( 1hCi. 00 )(etnga i de a lj d m e ta
hi ra . , 58 3 2 0 1 t r 2 9 s ti sde f ut u g n nd
i tu tn d sre c ul t ds s e s whe edee d n wa no p o ry s r e ) s ea s
nsr cig itit o ' o imis a t r f n a t s t r pe l ev d ; e lo
t

Clr v Ci o b l n,l 6F. D. 4 ( D. .1 93 ( imisnga to f ri uf in
a k . t fze u o 5 R. 68 N. Ga 9 ) d s s i ein o ns fc e t
y
s r iea s mmayj g ntsa atrc s h db e p ndng f rony tnmo t ) s e
e vc t u r ud me tge fe a e a e n e i o l e n hs; e
alo Bar v.One Touc D ie ,LLC,No.1 CV - 91 DE 78( . Fl. rl2 2 6
s
r
h r ct
5- 23 ,
M D. a Ap i 2, 01 )

Case 1:15-cv-22209-JLK Document 76 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/09/2017 Page 5 of 6

( s s i a i f i ufi e s vi a motont dimi sa afercas hadbe
dimisng cton or ns fcint er ce t i o s ss tge t
e
en

pe di fro y sx mo t s .
n ng o nl i n h )
The ef e ba ed upon t cr um s a spr e i t sc e,t Cour concl , as
r or , s
he ic t nce es nt n hi as he
t
udes

t S c ndCic i d di t matro Das o v Fee yn , n . 8 9F.d 1 98( d Ci.
he e o
r ut i n he te f tk w . /# e I c , 9 2 2 2 r
1 90 ( wm a , .,ha De e da t h vewave te ri ufiin y o s r ied fns e e
9 ) Ne n J) t t fn n s a
i d h i ns fce c f e v c e e t v n
t
hough khe de e ew a as e td i a tm el a we . 1 a 1303;s al o Re zv, S
i
t
f ns
s s re n i y ns r' d. t
'
ee s nt
w#

T anp.Co.I c,1 5F. D. 93 6 -701( . Ga 1 98 .Li t ed fnd nti
r s
, n . 8 R. 6 , 97
M D. . 9 ) ke h e e a n
D atk Def nt coul ha a s d have s
s ow, enda s
d ve nd houl
oughtr i fbas on i quac of
ele
ed
nade
y
s r ce l bef e t y di Def nda s'l ngt pa tci ton i t sc eand s t ntal
e vi ong or he d. e nt e hy ri pa i n hi as
ubs a i

e g g me to t ltgai nma hney a1 h wa t r u h d s o r s mmayj g n ,
n a e n f he ii to c i r lt e y h o g ic vey, u r ud me t
pr ti c er nc calnda cal a Pl i ifs c e-n- hi a ti w a r nt t c l i
eral onf e e, e r l, nd antf as i c ef t ral r a s he oncuson
t tt afim a i def ns ofi ufi i nts r ce ofpr es hasbe w aved.
ha he fr tve e e ns fc e e vi
oc s
en i
To a l w as ee s ulas e ton oft sdef ns afe t ye r ofltga i ba ed
lo
uc s f s r i
hi e e t r wo a s ii ton, s
upon Def nt 'nom i wrte pr e vai oft de ens by r i i i i t i a w e s
enda s
nal it n es r ton he f e
a sng t n her ns r ,

woul be i
d nequiabl t Pl ntf . ns tc e s r c ofpr s i aw ava edef ns unde
t e o ai if I ufl i nt e vi e
oce s s
i bl
e e
r
Rul 1 oft Fede alRul ofCi lPr edur ,a t Courttndsi ha be n wai by
e 2 he
r
es
vi oc
e nd he
s
t s e
ved

Def nda s conduc .The e or t Rul 50 m oto i de ed wih r s tt t s sc e y
e nt '
t
r f e, he e
i n s ni
t e pec o he uf i nc
ofs r c is
e vi e s ue.
l CO NCLUSI N
V.
O
The ef e,i i O RDERED,ADJUDG ED ,a DECR EED t tDef
r or t s
nd
ha
enda s'm o i
nt
ton

f r ud me ta amatroflw p rua tt Rul 5 oft Fe e a Rulso Ci l o e r
o j g n s te a u s n o e 0 he d r l e f vi Pr c du e
( 70)be,andt s mei,herbyDENI
DE
he a s e
ED.

Case 1:15-cv-22209-JLK Document 76 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/09/2017 Page 6 of 6

DO NE AND O RDERED i Cha be s a t J e La e e Ki Fede a J tc
n
m r t he am s wr nc ng
r l us ie
Buidi a Unied St t sCourhous M im i Fl i ,t s9t da ofJ
l ng nd t
ae
t e, a , orda hi h y
une,201 .
7

J ES LA W N CE KI
AM
NG
UN I
TED STATES DI
STRI
CT
GE
SOUTHERN DI
STRI OF FL RI
CT
DA
cc
:

AI c
l ouns ofre
el
cord

6