SUTTON v. ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.

Filing 47

Final Summary Judgment. Signed by Senior Judge James Lawrence King on 1/25/2018. (jw)

UNI
TED STATES DI
STRI COURT
CT
SOUTHERN DI
STRI OF FLORI
CT
DA
M I IDI SI
AM
VI ON
CASE NO .1 c 2470N Kl
6- vNG
J
ENNI
FER SUTTON,

Pl ntf,
ai if
VS
.

ROYAL CARI
BBEAN CRUI LTD ., ak/
SES
/ a
ROYAL CARI
BBEAN CRUI
SES LTD . A
S
LI
BERI CORPOM TI , d/ / ROYAL
AN
ON b a
CARI
BBEAN CRUI Lm E a d ba
SE
nd / /
ROYAL CARI
BBEAN I
NTEM ATI
ONAL,
Def nt
enda .

FI
NAL SUM M ARY JUDGM ENT
THI CAUSE c e bef e t Cour upon Def nda RoyalCa i a sM oton f
S
om s or he
t
e nt
rbbe n'
i or

Su r J me ( #28 ,fld on Nove r 5,201
mmay udg nt DE ) ie
mbe
7.Thi matr i f l bree ,land
s te s uly ifd
uponr e oft r or a c r ulc i r ton, t Cou ttndst tDe e n ' M oton f r
eviw
he ec d nd a ef onsde a i he
rs
ha f nda ts
i o
Summar J dgm e s dbeg a e .
y u
nt houl
r nt d
1 Bac ound
.
kgr

Th sn gl e c a ton aie o to pes n lij re P an ifalg d y s sane i a
i e i n e ci rs s u f ro a nu is litf le e l u ti d n n
g

a cd n d rngacu s a o r te Roy lCa ib a v se I d pe d n eo h Se si J n a y
c i e t u i r ie b a d h
a rb e n e s l n e n e c ft e a n a u r
of201 Spe i aly,Pli ifcli st twhie on t da e foori t on- boa d ni cl a
6. c fc l a ntf am ha
l
he nc l n he
r ght ub,
i i ur
he ii 0 e t bov he
piceofmir wei ng t e ounc 2f 1 fom a lghtfxt e on t ce lng 1 f e a e t
e
ror ghi hr e
es e 1 r

danc too a sr k he i t he d. Pl ntf pike up t pi c of m ir , r pore t
e l r nd tuc
r n he a
ai if c d
he e e
ror e td he
1 anifh sfldh rRep n ei Op o iin( / 5. a De e
Plitf a i e s o s n p sto DE / ) nd f ndantha fld isRepl i Suppor ofSumma y
e
3
s ie t
yn
t
r

l metDE 3 )
pdg n ( # 9.
u

Pl n if i he r pons t Dt e nts saeme ofundiputd fc s d e n ta ref rs mmayj g nt
aitf, n r ts e o f nda ' tt nt
s e a t , o s o ge o u r ud me
p ro e t te weg to te s be tmirr Th Co r a cie n sg tcn e t te weg tofte mirr
up ss o h ih f h u j c ro . e ut srb s o ini a c o h ih
l
h ro

c udi a d c i beow t tDefndantdi nothave any prornotce of a da
oncl ng s es rbed l ha
e
d
i
i
ny ngeri algedl pos t,
t le y ed o
pa s r,a us st wei de crbe byDef ntonl t giecontxtt t al i den .
senge s nd e he ght s i d
enda
yo v
e o he leged nci t

i de t a Roya Cmi a e oye , a we t t s p' me c ce er Pl ntf di not
nci nt o
l
bbe n mpl e nd nt o he hi s di al nt . ai if d
s t i a c ,bl di orot rde e t bl ta at t hea , a wa te t d wih a ie pa k
usan ny ut ee ng,
he t c a e r um o he d nd s r a e t n c c

a i of n.
nd bupr e

Th s j c mir rwa p r o a t I Ex rme' ihi g ma hne wh c ce tsa
e ube t ro s a t f n ' O te 'lg tn c i , ih r ae
MXdic ba llghtng efe tby usng s l r a i m ir s t r fe tlght The mir is l wa
s o- l i i
fc
i ma l ot tng ror o e l c i .
ror t ef s

a sxed t t M X- O by t bols o s e . Pro t t e s b e ti ie t tee h d b e n
f
o he
I
wo t r cr ws ir o h u j c ncd n, h r a e n o

pror i i nt on Roya Ca i a s ves es i vi pa t f lng fom M X- O lghtng
i ncde s
l rbbe n'
s l nvol ng rs ali r
I i i
ma hi ss cis al orfom lg i and s und e pm e ge al .
c ne pe tc ly, r ihtng
o
qui nt ner ly
l . Sum m a y Judgm e St
I
r
nt andar
d

él eCo r s alg a ts mma yj d me ti te mo a ts wsta te ei n g n n
%- u t h l r n u r u g n f h v n ho h t h r s o e uie
-h

ds uea t a ymatilf c a dttmo a ti e tte t j d me t samatro lw. Fe .
ip t s o n tra a t n h v n s n ild o u g n a
te f a ' d R.
'
Ci P.56( .A pat ase tng t tafc cn be ori ge ney diputd mus s
v.
a)
ry s ri ha a t nnot
s nui l s e
t uppor t
t he
as e ton by i tng t pa tc ar pa t of ma e i s i t r c d, i udi de ii ,
s ri
s i o ri ul
ci
rs
t ral n he e or ncl ng postons
doc e s elc r c ly sor d i or ton, afd vt o d caain ,siu ains(n ldn
um nt, e toni al t e nf ma i
fi a is r e lrto s tp lto icu ig

t e ma f p pos s of t moi onl ,a s i , i er t y a wes o ot r
hos
de or ur e
he ton y) dmisons ntrogaor ns r r he
m ae il ;ors
tra s
howi t tm a e il cie do notesa ih t a t orpr s nce ofa ge ne
ng ha t ra s t d
t bls he bs nce
ee
nui

diput ,o t ta a s pa t c
s e r ha n dvere ry nnno p oduc ad isbl e de t s
tr
e m s i e vi nce o uppor t f c ,' f a
t he a t ' #. t

5 ()1.$n d tr nig wh te s mmay j dg n i a p o rae t fcs a d ifr n e
6 c( ) t eemi n eh r u r u me t s p r p it, he a t n n ee c s
l
fom t f cs a e viwed i t lg m os f r e t t non- o ng pa t , a t bur i
r he a t r e
n he iht t avo abl o he
m vi
ry nd he den s
plc on t m ovi pa t t e t bls bot t a e e ofa ge nem a e i f c a t ti i
a ed
he
ng ry o sa ih h he bs nc
nui
t ral a t nd ha t s

e t ld t j d me ta amatro lw. Mas s t Elc I du .Co v Ze ihRa î Cop. 4 5
ni e o u g n s te f a ' tu hi e . n s . . nt do r , 7
t
'
a
U. 5 5 -87( 98 .
S. 74, 86
1 6)

I o p ig amoin frs mmayj d me t ten n- vn p ry ma n trl s ll
n p osn
to o u r u g n, h o mo ig a t y o ey oey
on t pl di , but m us s
he ea ngs
t how by a fda t , de ii , a we s t i e r t i , a
f i vis postons ns r o nt rogaores nd
2

ad isonst ts ii f ct e s de onsr tng a ge ne i s f til Se Fed.R.Ci P.
m s i ha pec fc a s xit m tai
nui s ue or ra . e
v.

5 () () s eas Ceoe Cop.v Car t, 7U. 31 , 2 -2 ( 98 ) F rh r t exit nce
6c , e ; e lo l tx r . tet47 S. 7 3 3 4 1 6 . u te, he s e
ofa ç cntla'ofe de e i s ppor oft non- ova ' poston i i uf i nt t r mus be
l i il' vi nc n u
s
t he
m nts ii s ns fc e ; he e
t

e d n e o whih te j r c ud ra o a l fn f t no - v n.An e s n v fi rt
vie c n c h u y o l e s n b y i d or he nmo a t d r e
be y
.

Lo b ,I c, 7U. 2 2 2 2( 9 6 . ke s ,ac u t e d n tp r tac s t g t aj r
b y n .47 S. 4 , 5 1 8 ) Li wie o r n e o e mi a e o o o u y
whe t i e e s t ta e dr wn fom t e de e, a upon whi h t non- ova r le
n he nf r nce ha r a r he vi nc nd
c he
m nt e is

,

a e Smpl usbl 'M atus t 475 U .S a 5 2 9 Miev Jfe s n C/ Bé O
r d a i e.
i
' s hia,
. t 9 - 4; z . efr o l
y
fEd c,9 F.d
u. 3 3

739,7 ( 1hCi.1996 .
43 1 t r
)

Att s mma yj d me tsa e t ej d e' f ncin i n tt t ih t ee i e c a d
he u r u g n tg , h u g s u to s o o t g h v d n e n
we
d e m i t tuh oft m a tr butt detr i whet r t e i a ge ne is f r til''
etr ne he r t
he te ,
o e m ne
he her s
nui s ue o ra .
Ande s 477 U . a 249.I ma ng t sdee m i ton, t Co tmus de i whi is sa e
r on,
S. t
n ki hi t r na i he ur
t c de ch sue r

m at i l A m atra f c i one t tm i t a f tt out ome oft c s . 1 a 248.t y
t ra .
t il a t s
ha gh fec he c
he a e d. t
ç
onl

dipu es o r f ds t t mi ht a f c t out m t of t s t unde t gove i 1 w wil
s t vt a ha g ft t he co
he ui
r he
m ng a
l

po el p e ld t e ty o s mmay j dg n .Fa t a d s u e t a ae ir lv n o
rp ry r cu e he nr f u r u me t cu l ip ts h t r ree a t r
unne es a y wilnotbe c ed.' d.The Cour mus alo deer i whehe t diput a ta
c sr l
ount 'I
t t s t m ne
t r he s e bou

maeil a ti id e g n i ,h ti,ç t ee i e c i s c t t r a o a ej r c udr tr
tra fc s n e d e une ta s if h v d n e s u h ha a e s n bl uy o l eu n
i
ave ditf t nonm ovi pa t '1 ;s e eg. Ma ieCo t g o a,I c v Uni dSa e ,
r c or he
ng ry. d e , . , rn
'
ai s fAl. n . . t tts
n
e

93 F. 1 1 ( 1hCi.1 )
2 2d 370, 375 1 t r 991.
11 Dic son
1 . s us i

Ge e a maii lw a pis S eKef v Ba a Cr ieLi s I c,8 7 F.d 1 8
n r l rtme a p le . e ee . h ma us ne, n . 6 2 31 ,
1 20(11hCi.1 ) Toesa ih ane i nc cli Pli ifmus s t Defnda ha a
3
t r 989 .
tbls
glge e am, antf t how hat e nt d
d y ofc e De e
ut
ar , f ndantbr ac d t tdut , t ts h br c wa t ac ua a pr xi t c e
e he ha y ha uc ea h s he t l nd o ma e aus

o P an ipsij r ,a d t tPlitf s frd d ma e . r es v NCL ( h ma) Lt , 796
f litf n uy n ha an if ufee a g s So r l .
Ba a s d

3

F.d 1 7 ,1 0( 1h Ci.2 5 .A c us s p o l h sad t t wan p se g r o d ng r
3 2 5 28 1 t r 01 ) r ie hi ny a u y o r a sn e s f a es
t ti ha notc ofand ma no bea r ntt ar s
ha t s ie
y t ppa e o ea onabl pa s nge :
e se r

( h b n h r a an twhih a s po e ' b h vo mus b me s rd i
T) e e c mak g is
c
hi wn rs e a ir t e a u e s
o di r r s bl c r unde t cr
r na y ea ona e a e
r he icumsanc s a sa r whih r quies a a
t e , tnda d
c e r ,s
pr r quiie t i
e e st o mposng labiiy,t tt c ni ha had a t lo c tuc i
i i lt ha he a er ve
c ua r onsr tve

n t eo ters -r ai gc n i o g)
oi f h ik ce tn o dt n .
c
i
Se Male v Ro Carbbe Cr s sLTX --Fe Appx
e ly . yal i an uie
- d.

. ---,

2 7 W L 51 2 61a * ( 1h
01
9 3 t 2 1t

Ci. v. , 7 ( oi Kef ,8 7F.da 1 2 ) I tec us s p d dn th v n tc o te
r No 9 201 ) qu tng ee 6 2 t 3 2 . f h r ie hi i o a e o ie f h
ha r
za dousc ton,a t lorconsr tve o i t ha r
ondii c ua
tuci , r f he za dousc ton i o n a ob oust
ondii s pe nd vi o

a r a ona e pe s t s p hasno dut t wa n. 1 To de
e s bl r on, he hi
y o r d.
monsr e no i e Pl i ifm a poi
tat tc , antf y nt

t p e o sicd nso ij re o s o ta Dee d n h d p e iu l wa n d o t d ng r
o rviu n i e t r nu is r h w h t fn a t a r vo sy r e f he a e
.

SeeSor el,796 F.d a 1
rs
3 t 280.
The e i no e de e i t s r c d e t bls ng t tD e e
r s
vi nc n hi e or sa ihi ha
f ndan wa on notc of t
t s
ie
he

ale d da er c to pos d by t mir ort M X- O lg i mac ne Pl ntf has
lge ng ous ondii n
e
he ror he
I i htng
hi . ai i f

n tc mef r r wih a y e ie et a flig lg tn ( roh r e up n ,whehe i o o o o wad t n vd nc h t al ih ig o t e) q ime t t r n n
n
boa d ni ht ubs r sa a s l
r g cl , e t ur nt, ounges tt te , roh rs a e ,h d ij r d p se geso c e
, h ars o te p c s a nu e
a s n r r rw
mt be s i t pas. The r or c ans no a c de r po t, pass r com m ent or
m r n ht
t
ec d ont i
c i nt e rs
enge
s
c
ompl i s oro he doc
ant , t r ument t tco d t nd t s
s ha ul t o how t tRoyalCa i n s ul ha bet
ha
rbbea ho d vt n
a r oft pot nta f rs a ac i ntt o ur And Pl ntf ha notcome f r r wih a
wa e he e i l o uch n cde o cc .
ai if s
o wa d t ny
e de t De e ntwas a r ofa sm ia ac i nt . Acc di l be aus De e nt
vi nce hat f nda
wa e
ny i l r c de s
or ng y, c e f nda
wa noto notce a t lorc t c i ,oft a l edl da e ouscondii , De e ntdi no
s
n i , c ua
onsm tve he leg y ng r
ton f nda d t

owe Pl ntf a dut t wn n oft a lge y dan ousco ton, and i e ild t s
ai if ny y o r
he le dl
ger
ndii
s ntte o umm a y
r

j d me t
u g n.
Fi l Pli ifs a t
naly, antf
tempt t i voke t docrne of r s i a l tr f is W her
o n
he
ti
e ps oquiu a l.
e

a pia l,te d crn c n d r vd l a ij rd pan ifwih a c mmo -e s if rn e of
p l be h o ti e a t o iel n n u e litf t o n s n e n ee c
c
p

4

ne i nce whe e die t pr of ne i nce i wa i .' Good
glge
r r c oof
glge
s ntng '
year Tie t Rubbe Co. v
r t
r
.
Hu sSu y,I ,358 So.2d 1 , 1 ( a.
ghe ppl nc.
339 341 Fl 1978 . t docrnet a y, antf mus
) For he ti o ppl pli if t

s o ( )s wa wi u f ut ( )tei t naiywa u d rd fnd n ' e cu iec nto,
h w: 1 he s t t a l, 2 h nsmme tl
ho
t s n e ee a ts x l sv o r l
a d ( )t eicd n i o a tp t td e n to c ri t a s n e o n g ie eo tep r o
n 3 h n ie t s f y e ha o s o c u n he b e c f e lg nc n h a t f
de enda .SeeJohns v Unie St e , 333U. 46 ( 9 ) Thi t r pr rquiesapli if
f nt
on . td ats
S. 1 48 . s hid ong e r
antf

es e i ly t r e outo he eq ly pr ba e at r tve c us , a çs d notbe i
s ntal o ul
t r ual o bl le na i a es nd thoul
nvoked i
n
t f ce ofa c
he a
ompe i r as bl i e e e t tt a ci ntwa due t a c us ot r t n
tng e ona e nf r nc ha he c de
s
o a e he ha
def nda ' neglge e. fouii d A.R.Co.v.Fieman' Fund I .Co. 380 F. 541( h
e nts
i nc '
'
sana :
r
s
ns ,
2d
5t

Ci.1 .Her,t r aet co tngras ei ee e t tt MX- O lghtngmac ne
r 967) e hee r he mpei e onabl nfrnc s ha he
I i i
hi
ha a de i def c ,ort tt s r ws by whih t m ir was a fxed l e d unde e t bl
d
sgn e t
ha he c e
c he ror
fi
oos ne
tca y
o
ver tme, e t r of whi h ca e ar no ne i enc on t par of Roy Ca i a .
i
ihe
c
us s e t glg e
he
t
al rbbe n
Ac or ngl pl ntf c nnota i he s l oft doc rne i t sc s .
c di y, ai if a
va l r e f he ti n hi a e

I . nc us o
v co l i n
The undiput f c s s
s ed a t how t tDef ntwasnoto notce oft a lgedl da o
ha
enda
n i
he le y nger us
c ton c e t d by M X- O lg i m a hi . Ac or ngl De e ntha no dut t wa n of
ondii r a e
I ihtng c ne c di y, f nda
d
y o r

s c c n iina dc n o b h l l bef ra yn gie c r ltdt Plitf alg dij re
u h o dto n a n t e ed i l o n e lg n e eae o an ips le e nu is
a
.

The e or i i O RDERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED t Def nda Roya
r f e, t s
hat
e nt
l

Caib a ' M oinf rS mmayJ d me t( # 8 b , n t esmeh r b i, GR ANTED.
rb e n s to o u r u g n DE 2 ) e a d h a ee y s
DONE a ORDERED i Cha r at t J s Lawr e Ki Fe a J tce
nd
n
mbe s
he ame
enc
ng der l usi

Buidi and Unie St esCourhous , M i mi Fl i t s25t da ofJ
l ng
t d at
t e a , orda hi h y anua y, 2018.
r

M ES LA
N CE K I G
N
I
TED STATES DI
STRI J
CT U
SOUTHERN DI
STRI OF FLO I A
CT
c
c:

AI c
I ouns lof r c d
e
e or
5