Perez v. NCL (BAHAMAS) LTD.
Filing
17
ORDER denying 8 Defendant's Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim. Signed by Judge Federico A. Moreno on 11/6/2017. (lfs)
UNI
TED STATES DI
STRI COURT FOR THE
CT
SO UTHERN D I
STRI OF FLO RI
CT
DA
M i iDi s on
am
vi i
Ca e N um be :1 22018- V - O REN O
s
r 7Cl M
J SE R .
O
PEREZ, s Pe s lRepr s nt tve of
a r ona
e e ai
t Es a e ofH ORTEN SI SAN TOS,
he t t
A
De e ed;MARI
c as
ANO SANTOS(on) a
s ; nd
HORTENSI SANTOS(
A
daughe)
tr,
Pl nt fs,
ai if
NCI ( I AS)LTD . b/ NORW EGI
, BAIAM
d/ a
AN
CRU I I N E,
SE -I
De e nt
f nda .
O RDER DENYI M OTI TO PI I
NG
ON
SM SS
THI CAUSE ca bef e t Cou tupon Def nda ' M oton t Dim is Compli
S
me or he
r
e nts
i o s s
ant
( E.8) fl on Auaus 8.2017.
D. , ied
t
TIE COURT hasc i e t moton,t r pons i opposton,t r pl peri nt
I
onsder d he
i he es e n
ii he e y, tne
pori oft r cor a bei ot r i e f l advi e i t pr i es i i
tons he e d, nd ng he w s uly
s d n he em s , t s
AD JU DG ED t t m oton i D EN I .
hat he
i s
ED
1
.
Backaround
Thi tagi c e a ie outof t deah Hore i Sa os a pa s nge onboar t
s r c as rs s
he t
tnsa nt ,
se r
d he
s ui s ought by J e R. Per z,as Per onal
os
e
s
De en nts c ui e s p,t G e away. Thi s t i br
f da ' r s hi he t
Re e e a i of t Es a e of M s Sa os M a i no Sa os s of M s Sa os a
pr s nt tve
he t t
. nt ' ra
,
nt , on
. nt ; nd
Hort i Sant ,daught ofM s.Sant Pl ntf salege t on M ay 31,2016,M s.Sant
ens a
os
er
os. ai i f l hat
os
wasij r whie t s p wa i U. trioralwaes Spe fcal Pl ntfsalget t
n ued l he hi s n S. ert i tr. cii ly, ai if le ha
M s Sa os was s at d i t s p' di ng a e when a he pas e
. nt
e e n he hi s ni r a
not r s nger who w a be ng
,
s i
e c re i a whe c i by a Nor gi e oye sa med i o M s San os pi ng he
s o td n
elhar
we an mpl e, lm
nt
. t , nni
r
t s ag ns t t e s wass a e a .Shorl t r afe ,M s.Sa oswase c td t he
oro ai t he abl he
e td t
ty he e t r
nt
s ore o r
c bi whe e s s e nty be n vomii M s San oswast t n t t s p' clni
a n
r he ubs que l ga
tng. . t
hen ake o he hi s i c
whe e s was i ubae N or i n' onboar physcan r comm e d t t M s Sa os
r he
nt td. weg a s
d
ii e
nde ha
. nt
unde go he ogl n t si e r sx hour a t an e
r
m obi e tng ve y i
s nd hat
ndos opy s d be pe f me a
c
houl
ror d t
t ne r thos t lwhe t s p docke a CosaM a M e c t nextpol ofcal
he a es pia
n he hi
d t t
ya, xio, he
4
l.
U pon a rvali Cos a M a Nor
ri n
t
ya, wegi n' m edi a s a fand c ew die t d M s Sa os
a s
c l tf
r
rce
. nt
t a l alhos t .The a t ndi phys ci n a t hos t or r a s
o oc
pial
te ng
i a t he pial de ed onog am ,but ne t r
r
ihe
t s
he onogr m , nor t e
a
he ndos opy ur d by t onboa d phys c an we e pe f m e M s
c
ge
he
r
ii
r
r or d. .
Sa oss r ltve i or
nt ' ea i nf med t at ndi physc a t M s Sa os woul be fyi ba k t
he te ng
i i n hat . nt
d
l ng c o
M i mii me ae y.Ther a tr M s Sa oswas dic r d and boa de a pl ne t M i
a m dit l
e fe , . nt
s ha ge
r d
a o ami
wher he c ton de e i r t whie on t ti ht Upon a rval M s Sant wa t ke t
e r ondii
t ro aed
l
he l g .
ri , .
os s a n o
t e hos tlwhe e s wa uli t l pr
h
pia
r he s tma ey onounce de
d ad.
Pl ntfs Compl nti l s t coun s Count li a wr f deah c am unde
ai if '
ai nc ude wo
t.
s
ong ul t l i
r
t FlrdaW r ulDeah Ac,Fl Stt j768.6- i t i i tont s p t tl t
he oi
ongf
t t a. a.
1 26, f he ncden he hi ha ed o
M s Sa t ' de t t k pl e i U . t ni oralwa e s Pl ntfspl d Countl,a wr ul
. n os s ah oo ac n S. e t i
t r . ai if ea
l
ongf
d t cai unde t Deah on t Hi Se Ac,46 U. C.jj 303018,i t aler tve
eah l m
r he t
he gh as t
S.
- n he t nai ,
i t eve t tt s p wa out i ofU . t t ilwaer .Nor gi n m ove t dim is
n he nt ha he hi s sde
S. eni ora t s
we a
so s s
Count lbec us t De h on t Hi Se Ac ,r t r t n Fl i l w,s d a y.
a e he at
he gh as t ahe ha orda a houl ppl
Nor a moves t dim is Count1 f f iur t sa e a c am upon whi r if c n be
wegin
o s s
1 or al e o t t
li
ch ele a
g a td puru t Fe a Rul of Ci lPr e e 1 b)6) Thi Cour ha maii
r ne
s ant o derl e
vi oc dur 2( ( . s
t s rtme
j iditonpurua t 28U. C.j1
urs ci
s nt o
S. 333.
lI.
LezalSt
andard
û pl di t tsaesa cli f r ifmus conti ...a s ta pl n saeme of
$ ea ng ha t t
A
am or ele
t
an
hor nd ai t t nt
t cam s ngt tt pla ri enildt r if'Fed.R. v. 8a ( .W henr i ona
he li howi ha he e de s tte o ele.
'
Ci P. ()2)
ulng
motont dim is a c tm us viw t c
i o s s , our
t e he ompli i t lghtm os f vor et t pli ifa
ant n he i
t a abl o he a ntf nd
a c p t epanipswelpla e fcsa tue S eS.J sph' Hop. I c v Hop.Cop.o
c e t h litf
l ed d at s r . e t o e s s , n . . s r f
zr. 7 F. 948,95 ( 1h Ci.1 6) To s vi a moton t dimis a k mpl ntmus
'?, 95 2d
17
4 1 t r 98 . ur ve
i o s s, i
co ai
t
c an s fcintf cualma t ,a ce ed a tue,t it t acli t r le t ti plusbl on is
ont i ufi e a t
ter c pt s r o sae a m o ei f ha s a i e t
f e.'As r v l ,556U. 662,678(
ac '' hc qh . qbal
S.
2009)( i BelAt.Cor v Twombl 5 U.
quotng l l p. .
y, 50 S.
5 57 ( 07) Deald f t alegainsar notrquie butapladi mus ofe mor
44, 0 20 ). tie acual l to e
e rd,
e ng t fr e
t i a l a c l i ' o t f r a c r ciai oft ee e soft c us ofa ton.
han t be s nd onc usons' r ' o muli e tton he lm nt
l
a
he a e
ci '
'
Twombl 55 U. a 555.Jac s v l t Telcomm. 372 F. 1
y, 0 S. t , k on .Belsouh e
,
3d 250,1 ( 1h Ci.
263 1 t r
2004) (k' s vi a moton t dimis pli if mus do mor t n meel sae l l
i'o ur ve
l
i o s s, antfs
t
e ha
r y tt ega
con usons t y ar r r d t alege s
cl i ; he e equie o l
ome s cii f t bas f t econcusonsorf c
pe fc acual es or hos
l i
ae
dimis loft i c am s') l s t t c
s s a he r l i . . n hor, he ompli tm us notmer l a lge m ic
'
an
t
ey le
s onduc ,butmus
t
t
de onsr t t tt pl a ri k ntte t r lef' l ,556 U . a 677m ta e ha he e de s i il d o e i . qbal
e
'
S. t
78.
1 .
11
A nal i
vss
A.
Deat on t H i Se A c and Fl i sW r
h
he gh as t
or da'
ongf D e h A c
ul at
t
The pa te qui e wih whe he Fl i sW r ulDeah Ac ort Deah on t Hi
ri s bbl t
t r orda' ongf
t t he
t
he gh
Sea Ac a i .The Compl ntas e t Countlunde Fl i l w,a aler tve y,Cou 1
s t pples
ai s rs
r orda a nd t na i l
nt 1
unde fder llw.The De h on t Hi Se Ac pr des a c us ofac i Cwhe
re a a
at
he gh as t ovi
a e
ton s neve t
r he
de h ofan i vi li ca e by wr ula ,neglct ordef tocc rng on t hi s as
at
ndi dua s us d
ongf ct
e ,
aul ur i
he gh e
b ond 3 nauialmiesfom t s eoft Unie Stt ...' 46 U. C.j 3030 By is
ey
tc
l r he hor
he td aes '
S.
2. t
t r s t Dea h on t H i Sea Actdoe not c r de hs r s tng f om i de s oc ni
e m , he
t
he gh
s
s
ove at e uli r nci nt cu ng
wihi sat t ni oralw a er - up t t e m ies of a St t s s e.The di tnc i i c uc a
tn te e t i
t s
o hr e l
f
a e' hor
s i ton s r i l
be aus r c r unde t De h on t H i Se A c i lm ie t pe uni r l s w hie cl m s
c e e ove y
r he at
he gh as t s i t d o c a y os , l ai
re
t .
ni
/#.
23363- V ,20 W L
C1
08
f non- cu a y l s a e ba r d.Smih v Car val Ctr ,No. 07or
pe ni r os r
s
o da a s
e
o
t
2704459 a *l( D.Fl J 24,2008) l com parion,Fl ri 1 w i m or gener us as i
, t S. a. une
.n
pemisrc r ofpe ay l s.See Fl Stt 768. ( (i- s vi ng s e ma as
r t e ove y
cunir os
a. a . 212) i-he ur vi pous y lo
l
r ove f l s of t dec den ' c pa ons p a pr e i a f m ent pai a
ec r or os
he
e t s om ni hi nd ot cton nd or
al n nd
s feigfo t ed t o ij r ' .
u frn r m h ae f nu y.)
'
Nor a s poston i t tCountls d be dim is bec e t dea h oc ure i
wegin'
ii s ha
houl
s s ed aus he t c r d n
i em ai
nt tonalwa e s a t ,Fl i l i i pplc bl l s
t r nd hus orda aw s na ia e. n uppor,Nom e an r i on t
t
gi eles
he
a tda tof Br t Be n,t Die or of Pas e
fs vi
e t nna he r ct
s nger a Cr Cl m s,w hi h s a e t t a t
nd ew ai
c t t s ha t he
tme oft i de t tr ule i M s Sa os s de t t s p was i i er tona waer ,
i
he nci nt ha es t d n . nt ' a h, he hi
n nt nai l t s
t er by r uli i t a ia i oft Deah on t Hi Sea Ac .The ge r lr e i t ta
h e es tng n he pplc ton he
t
he gh s t
ne a ul s ha t
t moton t dim issag t Cou tsr vi i lm ied t t f c ner oft compli a
hc i o s s t e, he
r ' e ew s i t o he our or s he
ant nd
ma notc i rm at r outi t pl di wihoutc
y
onsde
te s sde he ea ngs t
onve tng t de enda ' m oton i o
ri he f nts i nt
one f s
or ummayj
r udgme .Cr l v Mor St e De Witr ue vî,(t. l . 87 F.
nt owel . gan anly an te % r . 7?, nc,
.
Supp.2d 1
287,1 ( D.Fl 2000) Nor gin ctsBi ly v Car mar #Arl ,461F.d
290 S. a.
. we a ie cke . e k
nc.
3
1 ( 1h Ci.200 ,f t pr ii t ti ume swhih aece r lt Plitfs cli
325 1 t r 6) or he oposton ha '
doc nt c r nta o anif' am
ma be c i r d whe r i on t moton t dimi s' To t t e Nor
y
onsde e
n ulng
he
i o s s.
'
ha nd, wegin ur s t
a ge he
Cour t r y on M r Be m a s a fda tt di m i s Count1 H oweve ,N or e a m i c tues
t o el
. r n' f i vi o s s
.
r
w gi n s onsr
Bi k e ' hol ng.l Bi kly, he El ve h Cicui hel t t
c l y . di n c e t
%
e nt r t d ha :
g l e t pl ntf rfr t c ran document i t c ant
W her he ai if ees o e ti
s n he ompli
a t e doc e s a e c nta t t pl i tf cai ,t n t
nd hos
um nt r e r l o he a n ifs l m he he
Cour m a c i r t doc
t y onsde he
umen s pa t of t pladi f
t
r
he e ng or
pupos ofRul 1 b)6)dimis l a t defnda ' at hi
r es
e 2( ( s s a, nd he e nts tac ng
s h doc e s t t m oton t di m i s w il not r r
uc
um nt o he
i
o s s
l
equie
c n eso o t emo init amo in frs mmayj dg n .
o v rin f h to n o
to o u r u me t
461F.d a 1 n. ( tng Br sv Bl e Cr s ( Bl Shil l . 1 6
3 t 330 7 cii
ook . u o s f ue ed, nc, 1
F. 1 64,1 69 ( 1hCi.1 )(mphassa
3d 3 3 1 t r 997) e
i dded)
.
Thi Cour coul r l on M r Ber a s a fda t i Pl ntf s ha r er nc i i t i
s
t
d ey
. m n' f i vi f ai i f d ef e ed t n he r
Compl nt bu t y di not Seealo Fr a v Ro Carbbean Cruie ,Lt ,772 F. 1
ai , t he d .
s anz . yal i
ss d
3d 225,
1 38 ( 1h Ci.201 (ef i t co i r t pase
237- 1 t r
4) r usng o nsde he s nger tcke c rc t dee t
i t onta t he fndan
a tc t is moton t dim is b aus t pli if di nota tc t tcke c r c t t e
ta hed o t
i o s s ec e he antf d
ta h he i t onta t o h
c ai a t c ai madenome i oft conta )
ompl nt nd he ompl nt
nton he rct.
Cii j dii efi en Nor gi hi i s t i t e ofma ng a c c of
tng u cal fci cy, we an ghlght he mporanc
ki
hoie
l w de e m i ton a t ltga i s out e .Thi Cour s r s N or e a s conc l ,but not a
a
t r na i t he ii ton'
st
s
t ha e
w gi n'
e'
n
t
t e
he xpens of a w e lpl ade Com pl nt or i c r ve i of t Fede al Rul of Ci l
e
l- e d
ai ,
n ont a nton
he
r
es
vi
Pr e e' if r c ne s ' r r m e . A s t Count 1 t Com pl i a l ge t t ç
oc dur s çou or r ' equie nt
o
, he
a nt le s ha t
upon
i or a i a b i ,' he i de i vi M s Sa os t pl ce w hie t s p w as i U.
nf m ton nd elef' t nci nt nvol ng . nt ook a
l he hi
n S.
t r ior a w a er . le na i y,i Pl i if a e m i t n a t s p w a i i e a i lw a e s
e rt i l t s A t r tvel f a ntf s r sake nd he hi s n nt m tona t r
a t tm e of t i de ,t en Co 1 under t D e t on t Hi Sea A c a i s See
t he i
he nci nt h
unt 1
he a h
he gh
s t pple .
Fe r lRul ofCi lPr e e 8( ( mitng pla ng i t alenai ) l t l t
de a e
vi oc dur a) per ti e di n he tr tve. mporanty, he
Co liti n tsln a t te lc to o te p rie ta to s C Rily v NCL ( h ma )
mpan s o i t s o h o ain f h etn n c in . f d e .
e
Ba a s
Lt ,82 F,Supp.2d 1
d 4
355,l ( D.Fl 201 ( a i motont dimisi amartmeca e
360 S. a. 0) grntng i o s s n
ii
s
wh e Pli if di notalge whe et ne i nta i t pl e) Acc di y,t Cour
er antfs d
le
r he glge ctons ook ac . or ngl he
t
ne d notr l o Nor gin' pr f r d a fda tbec us i f ls ou sde t f c ne s oft
e
ey n
we a s ofe e fi vi a e t a l t i hc our or r
he
Com pl nt Thus N or
ai .
, wegi n' m oton t dim i sC oun li de e
a s
i o s s
t s ni d.
B.
Count1 - Faiure t St e a C l m
1
l
o at
ai
Next Nor gi move t dim isCount1 be us Pl n if f lt sa e a cli u n
, we an
so s s
1 ca e aitfs ai o tt
am po
whih r i c n b gr nt d unde Fede alRul of Ci l Pr dur 1 b)6) The e s e of
c elef a e a e
r
r
e
vi oce e 2( ( .
s enc
N or
wegi nf a gum enti t tPl i if f ie t pr r y a l ge a c ai f neglge undert
a s r
s ha a ntf s a l d o ope l le
l m or
i nce
he
Deat on t H i Seas A ct
h
he gh
.
5
Topla neglge i amaii ca e $apl ntf mus alget t( )t dee ntha
e d i nce n
rtme s ,i ai if t le ha 1 he fnda d
ad t t p oe th paniffo ap riua ij r ( )ted fn a t e c e ta d t ( )te
uy o r tc te litf r m a t lr nu y; 2 h ee d n b a h d h t uy; 3 h
c
b e c a tal a d p o i tl c u e tepan ifsij r 'a d( )t ep an ifs fee a t a
ra h cu ly n r xmaey a s d h litf n u y n 4 h litf u fr d cu l
,
h m.' an 772 F. a l ( tngCha r v Car v Cor 693F. l 1 (11h
ar 'Fr za,
3d t 253 cii
paro . nial p,
3d 333. 336 t
Ci.201 ) Al f elm e sa epr enti Pli if 'Compl i .
r 2). l our e nt r es n antfs
ant
Fis,Pl nif alge t tNom e an ha a dut t execie r a ona e c r i ()
rt aitfs le ha
gi
d
y o r s e s bl ae n: 1
pr ry moniorng o asitng i ta pori whe charbound pase s ( pr ry
opel
t i r ssi n rns tng
el is nger' 2) opel
,
tai ng a s per sng is cr i opeai mot i d whe lhar' ( i e tng
r ni nd u vii t ew n
rtng
orze
ec is 3) mplmeni
,
a p o raep iisa d p o e u e f ra d e sng p s e g r wh s fe o b a d ij re ,()
p r p it ol e n r c d r s o d r si a s n es o u f r n o r n u is 4
c
'
p o cl te tn o tn ig t ij rdp se e swhi a o r t es i ; n ( )a s rn t a te
r p ry raig r e dn o nu e a sng r l b ad h h p a d 5 su ig h t h
e
hos t a physci ns t w hi i r e s is pa s
pial nd
ia o
ch t ef r t s cnge s m e t t s m e sanda d of r as
r
e he a
t r
e onabl
e
c e t whih is o me c pr esi s ar s j c.A s p owneri onl la e t is
ar o c t wn dial of sonal e ub e t hi
s y ibl o t
pa s
s enge s f m e ca ne i nc i is c
r or di l glge e f t onduc br ac t c re ' g r dut t c ci e
t e hes he ar i r s ene al y o xer s
le ona e cae u r t cicumsa e .'Fr z 772 F. a 1 (ii Ke mar c v
t as bl r nde he r tnc s' an a,
r
3d t 233 ctng r e .
Compagni Ge al Tr s l i ,358U. 625, ( 959).
e ner e an atantque
S. 630 1 )
Se
cond,N or e a pur t dl br c d s i dutes by, i e ala,f lng t p opery
w gi n
por e y ea he a d i
nt r i aii o r l
moniora a ss i t ta pora i oft whe c rbound pas e rt tsa me i o M s
t nd s it n he r ns tton he
elhais nge ha lm d nt
.
San os a pr ry tea M s Sa osw hie s wasaboa d t s p.
t nd ope l r t . nt
l he
r he hi
Thid,Pl ntfsal t tûl or a s ne i nc pr mael c ed gra bodiy
r ai if lege ha t wegin') glge e oxi t y aus e t l
ham t Ms Sa os a uli tl pr mael ca e he de t i t t butf ( egin'l
r o . nt , nd tmaey oxi t y us d r ah, n ha, or Nonv a s
ne i e M s Sa os debiiai ij i woul notha occ rdv
glgenc , . nt ' lttng n ures d
ve ure '
'
Fo rh,Plitfsalg t a M s Sa t s fe e ' e ee b d l ij r r s t g i h r
u t an if l e h t . nos uf rd k v r o iy nu y e uln n e
e
s
i
de t a ( r f l hass fr t l sofs
ah, nd hel amiy
ufeed he os uppor a s l ce fom t daeoft i i nt
t nd ewi s r he t he ncde
t he de h,a f ur l s ofs
o r at nd ut e os
uppor a s vi es snce he pa s ng...'
t nd er c i
r si
'
W he he N onv a br ac d t alege du i i a que ton t tc
t r
egi n e he he l d tes s
s i ha annota s d no
nd houl t
be ans e e a t s sage. one he e s Pl i if 'w e lpl de a l ga i a e m or t n a m e e
w r d t hi t N t l s , a ntf s l- ea d le tons r
e ha
r
r c t ton of t f c s a pl us bl r i e a entte e t r le . A cc di y, N or
e ia i
he a t nd a i y a s n il m nt o e i f
or ngl
wegi n'
a s
m oton t di m i s Count1 i de e
i o s s
1 s ni d.
IV.
C oncl on
usi
N or egi n' m oton t di m i s Count l i de ed be us r i e on N ol e a s
w a s
i o s s
s ni
ca e elanc
w gi n'
pr f r afi vi w oul be i pr r a t s s a a bec us Pl ntf s ade t l pl a d i
of e ed fda t
d
m ope t hi t ge nd
a e ai i f
qua e y e de n
t ale nai Addii l t moton t dimis Count 1 i de ed be aus Pl i if ha
he tr tve.
tonaly, he
i o s s
1 s ni
c e antfs ve
ade t y pl a a pl us bl e il e t r le .
qua el e ded
a i e nttem nt o e i f
DN ADODRDiCabraMaiFlorida,this 1 &oNvme
O E N REE n h e t i
ms m
foeb
r
,
2017.
'.
.. '
.
.>
.
FED
CO A .M O REN O
UN I
TED STA TES DISTRI J D G E
CT U
Copi f ni he t
es ur s d o:
Couns ofRe or
el
c d
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?