Jeffers v. Kerzner International Hotels Limited et al

Filing 43

ORDER Granting 16 Motion to Dismiss. Signed by Senior Judge James Lawrence King on 7/23/2018. See attached document for full details. (jw)

U NI
TED STA TE S D I
STRICT C O U RT
SO UTH ERN DI
STRI OF FLORI
CT
DA
Cas N o.1 c 21 J
e
7- v- 202- LK
M AU R A J
EFFERS,
Pl i if
a nt f,

KER ZN ER I TERN A TI AL HO TELS
N
ON
LI I
M TED , Ba m i n co pa
a ha a m ny;
KERZNER I
NTERNATI AL BAHAM AS
ON
LI I
M TED , Ba m i n com pa
a ha a
ny;
KER ZN ER m TERN A TI AL RESORTS,I C.
ON
N ,
aFl rdac or ton;
o i om a i
HARBORSI AT ATLAN TI DEVELOPM EN T
DE
S
LI I
M TED , Ba m i n com pa
a ha a
ny;
HAM ORSI AT ATLAN TI M ANAGEM ENT
DE
S
LI I
M TED , Ba m i n com pa
a ha a
ny;
HARBORSI RESORT VACATI OW NERSHI
DE
ON
P
ASSOCI ON LI I
ATI
M TED ,a Ba m i n com pa
ha a
ny;
BRO O KFI
ELD A SSET M A N A GEM EN T,l C . a
N ,
Ca di n c por ton;
na a or a i
BROO KFI
ELD H O SPI LI
TA TY
PROPERTI LLC,aDeawa ec
ES,
l r ompany;
STARW OO D H OTELS & RESORTS
W ORLDW I E,I ,a M ar a co por i n;
D NC.
ylnd r ato
VI
STAN A SI A TU RE EXPERI CES,l C .
GN
EN
N ,
aDelwa ecor a i a
a r
por ton; nd
VI
STAN A VA CA TI OW NERSH I m C . a
ON
P,
,
Fl i c por ton.
or da or a i

De e
f ndan s
t.
/

ORDER GR ANTI DEFENDANTS'M O TI TO I
NG
ON
NSM I
SS
THI M ATTER comesbef et Cour upo Ha bori a Ata i De opm e t
S
or he
t n r sde t lnts vel
n
Li ie Har s de a AtantsM a ge e Li ied, a bo sde Res tV a a i O wne s p
m t d, bor i t l i
na m nt m t H r r i
or c ton
r hi

As ociton Li ied,St r
s ai
m t
a wood Hot l & Res t W ordwi I . Vit na Si t e
es
ors
l de, nc, sa
gnaur

Expeince ,I .a Vit Va ai Ownes p,l ' (ole tvel (H,S& T Dee nt')
re s nc, nd sana c ton
rhi nc.s c lci y,i
fnda s'

Moto t Dimis( E.1 )a Kez rl enai lHotl Li td,Ke z rl enai
in o s s D. 6 nd rne ntr tona es mie r ne ntr tonal
Ba
hnmasLi ie Ke z rl t r tonalRe ors I , ookfel As etM a men , nc. a
m t d, r ne n e na i
s t, nc.Br i d s
nage t I , nd

Br il Hos tlt Pr ri ,LLC' ( l tvey,d & B Dee nt' M otont Dimis
ookfed piaiy ope tes
S coleci l :K
fnda s' i o s s
)
( E. . ai iffldherRepons i Opposton t bot M otonst Dimis( E.35) The
D. 23) Pl ntf ie
s en
ii o h i o s s D.
.
H,S& T Dee
fndant fl t rRe y( E.3 .TheK & B Dee
s ied hei pl D. 6)
fndant alofldt rRe y
s s ie hei pl
( E.37 . Pli ifobti dla fom t Cour a sldhe Sure yt t K & B
D. )1 antf ane e ve r he
t nd e r rpl o he

Dee nt'Re y( E.40)
fnda s pl D.
.
1
.

Bac ound
kgr

Pli iffld he Ame
antf ie r
nded Compl nton Aprl3,201 pur tng t alege a ca e qf
ai
i
7, pori o l
us
a i f ne i nc The ei Pl ntf al ge t s wa sa nga TheHa bor i a Ata i
cton or glge e. r n, ai if le s hat he s t yi t
r sde t l nts
Res ton Pa a s l lnd, s a The Baha a o M ay 21 201 Ata oxi el 1135 p. .
or
r die sa Na s u,
m s n
, 3. ppr mat y ; m ,

Pli ifsi d a f lon t balr m loorofhe g sr m .
a ntf lppe nd el
he taoo l
r ue too

Th t M oi n t Dimisma et rei e t a a g me t:( ) o u n n c n e in k
e wo to s o s s k h e d ni l r u n s 1 f r m o o v ne s
c
()fi r t fl wi n t saue o lmiain;a d ( )fi et c mpy wi Rue 8 o t e
2 a l e o ie t he tt t f i tto n 3 al o o l t l f h
u
hi
ur
h
Fe r Rul ofCi lPr e e.TheH,S & T De e nt a s a gue f l r t pr ry pl a
de al es
vi oc dur
f nda s lo r
aiu e o ope l e d
pu tve da age .
nii
m s
I . L e St
I
gal andard

l d i ng a m o i n t dimis t Cour mus a e a c pl nts wel- e
n ec di
to o s s , he
t
t cc pt
om ai '
lpl d

al ai as tue Erc s v Par s,551 U. 89,94 (
leg tons r . ik on . du
S.
2007) Suc algai mus be
.
h le tons t
c tue i t lghtmos f vo a e t t pl ntf.Am.De alAs ' v Ci Cor ,605 F.
onsr d n he i
t a r bl o he ai if
nt s n . gna p.
3d

1 8 ,1 8 ( 1hCi. 01 )Cna ay igtes fiinc o tec mpan,g Co rjl ts
2 3 2 8 1t r 2 0.t n lzn h ufce y f h o lit t ut i t)
l
he
mi
gt)co iertont t wel- ea d fct algai ,doc t c nta t orrfr nc i
is nsd ai o he lpl de a ual le tons umens e rl o ee e ed n
1Addii aly, teK & B Dee d nsfldaNoieo S ppe na Auh rt ( E. )
ton l h
fn a t i
e
tc f u lme tl to iy D. 42.
2

tec mpan , ndmatr j dcal n tc d. fa Gr sa v Fis UninS c,I c, 5 F.d 8 0
h o li ta
te s u iily oie '
'
a t . r t o e . n .3 8 3 4 ,
845( lh Ci.2004) TheCour ma alo c ul doc t t tae atc t t moton t
1t r
.
t y s ons t umens ha r ta hed o he i o
dimis unde t tnc por ton by r e e ' docrne. The Elve h Cic thasdetne t
s s
r he t or a i
i
ef r nce' ti
e nt r ui
i d he
i o po a i by r er ncedoc rnet m e n:
nc r r ton
ef e
ti o a

( d c me tatc e t a moin t dimisma b c n i rd b t c u t
A1 o u n ta h d o
to o s s y e o sdee y he o r
wih u c n e t gtemoi ni t o ef rs mmayj dg n o l i t eatc e
to t o v ri h to no n o u r u me t ny f h ta h d
n
d c me t i: ( ) c nr l t te panif cam; a d ( ) u ds td . . .
o u n s 1 e ta o h litf s li n 2 n ipue .
(
i s e 'i t s c extm e nst tt a he i iy oft doc e i no
undiputd' n hi ont
a ha he ut ntct
he um nt s t
c l d.
halenge

Ho se r Fed , 0 F.d 11 ,1 3 ( 1h Ci. 0 )(ne n lctto so te ) s ea s Da
rly . lt 3 4 3 25 1 4 1 t r 20 2 itr a iai n mi d ; e lo y
t
v T y o , 0F.d 1 7 ,1 6( 1hCi. 0 5 .
. a l r 40 3 2 2 27 1 t r 2 0 )
11
1.

Di c s on
s us i

Ar ng t t Ba m in l w a i ,De e
gui ha ha a a pples f ndant c end t tPl i ifs cai i tme
s ont
ha antf' l m s i ba r d.
re
a. Choi ofLaw
ce

A f er lditi c tsti i di r iym us a y t c ce of1w r l soft f um
ed a srct our itng n ve st
t ppl he hoi
a ue
he or

sae. T mpe Vi I e t nt,. M v Uni Ca t Parne s Z I . 9 F. 111 111
t t ru t ne nv s me s 1
V
. on pial t r
nc , 2 3d
0, 5

( 1hCi.1 . aprlmi r matr t Cour deer neswhehe t is s
1 t r 996) As ei nay te ,he
t t mi
t r he sue oundsi t t
n or,
c r t,pr pe t l ec.Gr po Tee s ,S. p Te e ndo Communs Gr ,I . 485 F.
ontac s o ry aw, t
u
lvia A. . l mu
. p. nc,
3d

1
233,1 40 ( t Ci.2007) tl t c e oftr a tons Fl i r ol s c lc- -a
2 11h r
. sn he ontxt o t ci , orda es ve ontitoflws
quesi
tons a or ng t t ( os sgnii nt r ltons p' t s.' 1 The t t i ve
cc di
o he m t i fca
ea i hi e t' d.
es nvol s

c i rton of f rlva fcor:( )t plc wher t ijty occ rd;( t plt
onsdeai
our ee nt a t s 1 he a e
e he n tr
ure 2) he a e

wh r tec nd tc u i t eij r o c re ( )t ed miie rsd nc , ain lt , lc o
ee h o uc a sng h n u y c u rd; 3 h o cl , e ie e n to aiy p a e f
i or ai a pl e ofbusnes oft pa tes a ( t plc wher t rltons p,i
nc porton nd ac
i s he ri ; nd 4) he a e
e he eai hi f
3

a bewe t pa tesi ce eed. i lv NY Hol n ,I ,81 F. 686,694( 1h Ci.
ny, t en he ri s ntr M che . P digs nc. 6 3d
1t r
201 )
6.
Ge r ly, i
ne a l n

tr c s s te l c to wh r te ij r o c re i te d csv
o t ae , h o ain ee h n u y c u r d s h e iie

c i r ton i deer ni t a i a e c ceofl w. eBiho v Fl S i t Pai Co ,
onsde a i n t mi ng he pplc bl hoi
a Se s p . a. pecaly nt .

3 9So 2 9 9 1 01( a 1 8 ) d-l eplc o ij r i o p riua i ra ei tec s o
8 . d 9 , 0 F1. 9 0 .ilh a e f n uy s f a t lr mpo tnc n h a e f
lc
p ro a ij re a d o ij re t tngbeti s'Re ttme t( c nd o Co fito La j
es n l n u is n f nu is o a i l hng . sae n Se o ) f n l f ws
'
c
1 c nt f l t s c e,a Pli if si d a f l i The Ba m asand pr s s a c us of
45 m . . n hi as s antf lppe nd e l n
ha
e ent a e
a ton f ne i nce,hi f t rwei i f vorofa yi t l ofTheBa mas
c i or glge
t s ac o
ghs n a
ppl ng he aw
ha .
The s co f t a s f vor The Ba m a .Pl i ifs a gumentt tsgni a as c s
e nd acor l o a s
ha s antf ' r
ha i sc nt pe t
ofDef nda s ne i ntc
e nt ' glge onductoc ure i Fl i be aus isbusnes o r tonsa e lca e
c r d n orda c e t
i s pe a i
r o td
t r i unperuasv Bec e Pl ntf a lges t tDe e nt f ie t pr ry m ant i is
he e s
s i e. aus ai if le
ha f nda s a ld o ope l
i an t

p e s s r s t g i h rij r i Th Ba a s t pa ewh r t ec n u t a sn teij r
rmie , e uln n e nu y n e h ma ,he lc e e h o d c c u ig h nu y
i
i ne es a iy i The Ba m as
s c s rl n
ha .
W ih r pe t t t t r f t ,Fl i has a si r l tons p t t pa tes a t
t es c o he hid acor orda
lght e ai hi o he ri nd he
c
onduc al d i t s c e.Onl t outofel n Def nda s a e i or a e i Fl i
t lege n hi as
y wo
eve
e nt r nc por t d n orda.
Not t tndi t pl c of i om or ton or ad i sr tve l to oft De enda s i i
wihsa ng he a e
nc
ai
m nitai ocai n
he f nt, t s
not et e h De e ntsbusne soper t i sgni an pa t i The Ba m a .
abl hat ac
f nda ' i s
aed, n i fc t r, n
ha s
The f t a fnalf c orf vor a i a i ofBa m in lw .Pl ntf a guest t
ourh nd i a t a s pplc ton
ha a a
ai if r
hat he

r ai hi bewe t pa te i ce er d i Fl i by vit of t f c t t De e nt'
eltons p t en he ris s nt e n orda
rue
he a t ha
f nda s
busnes ope ai ns a e bas i Fl i Thi i, a i unperua i gi n t f c t t
i s
r to
r
ed n orda. s s gan,
s sve ve he a t ha
Pl ntf ' r a i hi t t D e e nt s e s f om he s i a f l d i he s a a The
ai i f s el tons p o he f nda s t m r
r lp nd a l ur ng r t y t
H a bor i atAta i Res t
r s de
l nt s or .

4

Afe consde i whe he Fl i orThe Ba mashast mos sg fca r ltons p
tr
i rng
t r orda
ha
he
t i ni nt ea i hi

t t pa tes a t c
o he ri nd he onduc alege i t sc e t Cour fnds t t s al ar tppe i
t l d n hi as , he
ti
hat he c es e i d n
f vorofTheBaha . antf scl m f ne i ncei gove ne by t 1w ofTheBa m as
a
mas Pl i if ai or glge
s
r d he a
ha .
b. St ut ofLi iatons
at e
m t i

I t Elve h Cic t dimis lon saut oflmia i gr
n he e nt r ui, s s a
t t e i t tons oundsi a o it dfi i
s ppr prae t t s
i

a r ntfom t f e oft c
ppa e r he ac
he ompli t tt cai i tme- r 'fa Gr t 358 F. à
ant ha he l m s i bared.'
asa,
3d t

8 5 ( tma ctto o te ) Se to 9 .0 Flrd S au e , r v d st a t wl e t ec us
4 i e l i ins mi d . cin 5 1 , o i a ttts p o i e h t s h n h a e
n
a
t
l
ofa ton a os i a he sa e ort t y oft Unie Stt s ori a f ei c nty,a is
c i r e n not r tt
enior
he t d a e , n or gn ou r nd t

lwsf bi t m antna oft a to be us ofl ps oftm e no a ton s lbe mai ai d
a or d he i e nce he ci n ca e a e i , c i hal
nt nt

i t ssae. j95.0,Fl Stt l TheBa ma ,t saueoflmiai f neglge ea toùs
n hi tt '
' 1 a. a. n
ha s he ttt i ttons or i nc ci !
;

i t rey asfo t ed t o t ea cd n . e Ch p e 8 ( mi to )o t S aue La o
s h e e r r m h ae f h c ie t S e a tr 3 Li t in f he ttt w f
a

Th Ba a s P r 1 a !9.
e h ma , a t 1 t
Plitf alg sta s e wa ij r d o M a 21 2 3. d rBa a a lw,Plit f
anif le e h t h s nu e n y , 01 Un e h min a an i
f
had untlM a 21 201 t i tt e he cai .Pl ntf fld he Compl i on M ar h 3l 201
i y , 6 o nsiut r l m ai if ie r
ant
c , 7.
Ac r ngl t Cour fndst tt saut oflmia i ha expied a c ei tm e- r e
co di y, he
t i ha he t t e i ttons s
r nd as s i ba r d.
I .
V

Conc us on
l i

I i ORDERED.
ts
ADJUDG ED,and DECREED asf l :
olows
1. Ha bor i a Ata i De l
r sde t lnts ve opme Li ied,Ha bor i a Ata i M a eme
nt m t
r sde t l nts nag nt
Li t d, Ha bor i Re o t Vac ton Ownerhi A s oc ai Li ie Str
mie
r sde s r
ai
s p s i ton m t d, a wood
Hot s& Re orsW ordwi e,I ,Vit na Si t e Expere s l ,and Vit na
el
s t
l d nc. sa
gnaur
ince , nc.
sa

Va ton Ownerhi I ' M oton t Dimis( E.16)be a t smei herby,
cai
s p, nc.s i o s s D.
, nd he a s e
G R ANTE D ;

5

2. Ke z
r ner l t r tona Hotl Li t K e z r l t r tona Ba mas Li ied,
n e nai l
e s mied, r ne n e nai l ha
mt
Ke z
r ner l t r tona Re ors l , Br
n e nai l s t, nc. ookfel As e M a ge e s l , aj
d
st
na m nt nc. ld

Br i d Hos t iy Pr ri ,LLC' M oi t Dimis( E.23)be,a t
ookfel
pialt ope tes
S ton o s s D.
nd he
s m ei he e GRANTED;
a s r by,

P an ifsAme d d Co lit( E.5 b ,a t sme i h rby DI I ED
litf'
n e mpan D. ) e nd he a s ee , SM SS
wih prj c ;
t eudie
4. A1 pe ng m o i a e DENI asm oot a
1 ndi
tons r
ED
; nd

5. TheCl r s l CLO SE t sc e.
ek hal
hi as
ng der l usie
DONE a ORDERED i Chambe s a t J mes La e
nd
n
r t he a
wr nce Ki Fe a J tc

Buidi a Unie St t sCourhous i M im i Fl i ,on t s23r da ofJ y,
l ng nd t d a e
t e n a , orda
hi d y ul 2018.

* 4 #' *
AM ES LA RENCE KI G
N
I
TED STATES DI
STRI J
CT U

c:
e

AI couns lofr c
I
e
e ord

6

'
E