Colon et al v. United States of America et al

Filing 88

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION. Signed by Judge K. Michael Moore on 11/7/2011. (rg1)

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I TH E UN I
N
TED STA TES DI
STR I C O U R T
CT
FO R TH E SO U TH ER N DI
STRI T O F FLO R I
C
DA
Ca e No.1 1 4- V - O OM
s
0- 429 Cl M
JOS CO LON ,
Pl ntf ,
ai i f
VS
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11 1 ED STATES OF AM EM CA,
.
N
Def nda .
e nt
/
M EM O R AND U M O F DE CI O N
SI
1
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I TR O D UC TI N
N
O

Thsmatri b f r t Co r f rd cso f lo n ao ed y n nj r til ed
i te s e o e he u t o e iin ol wi g n a , o -u y ra h l
W e es y,Se e be 28,2011 i For Pi r e,Fl rda.Pl ntf,J e Col s eksda a
d da
ptm r
, n t ec o i
ai if os
on, e
m ges
fom
r

e e n ,Unie St t s f amot ve cl ac i nti vi Col a J W .
f nda t
t d a e , or
or hi e cde nvol ng on, nd ohn

W oo d,a e pl eoft Unie St t sDepa t e ofAgrc t e. The Cou t ha ng f l
n m oye
he t d a e
rm nt
iulur
r, vi uly

c i er t t si onyand doc e my e de r c ve a ti l aswel ast a ia e (
ons ed he e tm
um nt vi nce e ei d t ra ,
l he pplc bl
lw
a

da gume sofc ms ,or land wrte now fndst tPli ifs lt not ng on hi
r
nt
ot el a
itn,
i ha antf hal ake hi
s

cam a dj g n s al ee trdi fvo o De e d n .
li n ud me t h lb ne e n a r f fn a t
I.
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FI D I G S O F FA CT j
N N

1 ThsCo r h ss b e t te j rs ito o ti matrp ru n t teF d rlTo t
. i u t a u j c matr u idcin f h s te u s a t o h e ea r

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Cli sAc,28U. C.j 1 46b) Thec c oflw frs h a a ton i t lw oft plc
a
t
S.
3 ( .
hoie a o uc n ci s he a
he a e

1I i t Co tsi en i t ta fndi off ctt ti m or pr ryconsnld asa
t s he ur' nt ton ha ny i ng a ha s e ope l
t e
conc son ofl a a c uson oflw t ti m o e pr ry c tue asa fndi off c
l i
aw nd ny oncl i
a ha s r ope l onsr d
i ng a t
s l e s c t u d not ihs a ng t r s tve l ton i t sopi on i w hi h e c m a
ha l o ons r e
w t t ndi he e pec i oca i n hi ni n
c ah y
be f nd.
o

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wh r tet r o c re FDI vM e e,5 0U. 471 47 ( 9 4 (iigM ie v
e h o t c u rd. C
v r 1 S. , 8 1 9 ) ctn re .

De l Co n , 3 U. 25 29n. ( 9 7 ; td S ae v. u i, 7 U. 1 0 1 3( 9 3 .
K b u 4 3 S. , 4 1 7 ) Uni tts M nz 3 4 S. 5 , 5 1 6 )
e
Thi ut m obie a ci ntoc ur e i Fl i s t Cour a i sFl rdat tl w. SeeHunt r
s o
l c de
c r d n orda, o he
t pple o i or a
e

v U i d Sae , 61F. u p. 6 , 8( . Fl. 9 7 (ç e a et ealg dtriu a t
. t tts 9
e
S p 2 6 26 M D. a 1 9 ) fblc us h l e o t s c
g
e
o
oc e i t saeofFl i ,Fl i ne i nc 1w wilbea idi t pr ents t'.
c d n he tt
orda orda glge e a l pple n he es ui'
)
2 Pl ntf,J e Col wa drvi we t
ai if os
on, s i ng sbound o St t Roa 76,aloknownaslKam e
n ae
d
s
f r r
Hi h a 'whe hesr c ataie pule b apikup tuc drve byJ W ool d,a
g y,
' n
tu k r lr ld y c
r k i n
ohn
ar n

empl ye oft Unie St t sDe rmentofAgrc t e,a a nc oft De e
e he t d a e pa t
iulur n ge y he f ndan Unied
t t
St t . Tr a 1 1
ae
. t 20- 21.

3 J W oolr wa ope a i agove m e ownedvehi ea wasa t tm eoft
ohn
a d s r tng
nl nt
cl nd
t he i
he

ac i nta tng wihi t c s a s opeofhi empl y wih t Unie St t De rme of
c
ci
t n he our e nd c
s
o t he t d aes pa t nt
Agr ulur De . era Stp.a 4. W ool r wa d i ng aDodge 15 Ram pi k- tu k wih
i t e. f Pr til i t
a d s rvi
00
c up r c t
ext dedca a puli ataie wih aPolrsRa rsx- e e on boa d. Tr a 63.
e
b nd lng r lr t
a i nge i whe l r
r
.t
4 W oolr wa ta i ea t
a d s r velng sbound on Ka rHi
nne ghwa a a oxi a ey 1 00a. whe
y t ppr m t l 0: m
n

hem de a lf t ' ont t on-a p f 195Norh. W hiemaki t tt ' t tal at c
e t ul o he r m or n
t
l
ng ha ul he r ier ta hed
n
t hi tuc wa snz k by t ca drvenby Col Tr a 63- .
o
r k st c
he r i
on. . t 71
11
1.

D I USSI N
SC
O

Fl i t tl w c r st de e nai ofwhehe t De e ntwa ne i nti t s
orda or a ontol he t nni ton
t r he f nda
s glge n hi
c e. l Fl i ne i enc i dei as
as n orda, glg e s fned ,
t f l et us r as bl c r ,whi i t c et ar s na y ca e'l
he aiur o e e ona e a e
ch s he ar hat ea o bl r f
u
pe s w oul us unde lke cic s a e .N e i nc i doi s e hi t a
r on
d e
r i r um t nc s glge e s ng om t ng hat
r as bl ca e ulpe s woul no do unde lkecic sa eso f ii t do
e ona y r f
ron
d t
r i r um t nc r alng o
s ehi t tar as bl c r ulpe s wo d do unde lkecic sa s
om t ng ha e ona y a ef r on ul
r i r um t nce .

2

i

Fl i a St nda d J r I tu tons Cha e I -Neglge ;s e as Ht e , 961 F.
or
a r u y nsr c i , pt r V
i nce e lo mtr
supp.a 268.
t
l t c s t Cour e l t ne i ncei t c extofamot vehi e a cde . Fl i
n hi a e he
t vauaes glge
n he ont
or
cl c i nt or da

S au e j31 .2 p o ie tetafclw a pl a l t v h ce ma i lf h n tm s I
tt s 6 1 2 r vd s h rfi a p i be o e ils kng e t a d u . t
c
st e ,
at

Thedrve ofave c ei e ngt t n t t l twihi a i e s c i ori o a
i r
hil nt ndi o ur o he ef t n n nt r e ton nt n
a ly, prva e r
le
i t oad, or d i wa s l yi l t rg - - y t an ve c e
rve y hal ed he ihtofwa o y hil
a oa hi fom t o
ppr c ng r he ppost die ton,orve cl l wf l pas i on t l tof
ie r c i
hi es a uly sng he ef
t t ni ve c e whi i wihi t i e s c i or s cos t r t a t
he ur ng hi l , ch s t n he ntr e ton
o l e he e o s o
consiut an i edit ha ar A vi ai oft ss c i i anonc i i lta fc
tt e mm ae z d. ol ton hi e ton s
rm na r fi
i r c i puniha easam ovi vi ai a pr dedi c ptr31
nfa ton,
s bl
ng ol ton s ovi n ha e 8.

Fl tt j31 1 Theç omi drve'ofavehi ea oac ngfom t o ie
a. a. 6.22.
t
onc ng i r'
cl ppr hi r he ppost
die ton oft drve t ni lf, st rg t as um et tt d i rt ni l h,wilobe
r c'
he i r ur ng e tha he i ht o s
ha he rve ur ng e
l y

t l a yil t rg - - yt hi Ke rv.Caa v,78So. 571 572( a.1 )
he a nd ed he ihtofwa o m. r
rwa
2d , Fl 955 ;
Ma el v. l25 So. 263, ( a.Dit Ct Ap 2dDit 1 ) W ac rv.W ils 208
c il Nea, 3 2d
264 Fl s. . p.
s. 971 ; ne
li,

So2 6 3( l. s. . p 2 Dit 1 68.Ho v r i i e u lytu t a teo o n
. 7 Fa Dit CtAp . d s. 9 ) we e,t s q al r e h t h nc mig
drve who pr e i o a i e s c i m us a s us r s
i
oce ds nt n nt r e ton
t lo e ea onabl ca e.U . FieI .Co.v.
e r
S. r ns

Pr r si eCa u l I . , 2 S 2 41 , 5( a Dit Ct Ap 2 Dit 1 78 .Th
o sv s at ns Co.36 o. d 4 41 Fl. s. . p. d s. 9 ) e
Fl i aSe ond Diti tCour ofAppea cl fe t rght a r ponsbiii sofadrverwho
or
c
src
t
l mii d he i s nd es
i lte
i
hast rghtofwa sa i
i
y, ttng,
A m ot ita
ors boutt e era i e s c i wih t ta ûcsgna i hi f vorhast
o nt n nt r e ton t he r f i l n s a
he
rghtofwa Healoha arg t asum eo he swilobe t 1 a e r iedue
i
y.
s s i ht o s
t r l y he aw nd xe cs
c r t a d a a c de . Howe r e n t
a e o voi n c i nt
ve , ve hough hehasa f vor e lg hem us
a abl i ht
t
e r ier a ona ec r t dee mi t the ei noi pe ngta fcwhi woul
xe cs e s bl a e o tr ne ha t r s m ndi r fi
ch
d
i des epa s t ough t i e s c i Hehasnote cs r as
mpe af s age hr
he nt r e ton.
xer ied e onabl c e
e ar
onc he know sors d ha k w n t ta he m o or s i goi t r n ar lgh
e
houl ve no ha not r t i t s ng o u ed i t
and ha ac e ropporuniy t a d t c lson.
s la
t t o voi he olii

3

1 . iigMa Nel v Ne l25 S 2 26 ( a Dit CtApp 2 Dit 1 71 ( i t s
d ( tn c il . a, 3 o.d 3 F1. s. . . d s. 9 ) ct i
a on
omi e );s ealo Sama v. pe,633So.2d570,572( a DitCtApp. hDit 1 )
d.) e s l n Coo r
F1. s. .
4t s. 994)

M a nv Re c ,1 7 S 2 38 3 ( a Dit Ct Ap 2 Dit 1 5 ) Ta k t v. ra k 98
s . mik 0 o.d , 9 Fl. s. . p. d s. 9 8 ; c et Ha tc ,
So. 896,897( a Dit CtApp.3 Dit 1 )
2
Fl. s. .
d s. 957 .
l e m i ng t bur nsofpr r quie by e chpa t t Cour unde sa t ti
n xa ni he de
oof e r d
a
ry, he
t
r t nds ha n
Flr at ei ar bu tbl pr umpton ofne i eon t pa tofadrverwho c lde wih
o i her s e ta e es
i
glgenc
he r
i
oli s t

t ra - oft ca i fontofhi Clmpitv.Sae 78 So.2d570,573 ( a 2001;Gule
he rend he r n r
m. a t
ls, 6
Fl. ) l
v.Bo s 1 So. 26( a 1 .Ho ve,t Co ti una r ofa smia pr umpton
, 74 2d Fl. 965) we r he ur s wae ny i lr es i
whi o aesi i tncesofdrve smaki al f t n a r san onc i l
c per t n nsa
i r
ng e t ur c os
om ng ane.M or ove ,i
e rn
r vi i t posur ofFl rdat r l asi a i t mo orve c ea i t , he Cou t
e e ng he t e
o i o t aw t pples o t
hil ccden s t
r
unde sa t tavi a i ofa ta fcsa u edoesnotcr a esrc la lt nordoe i pr de
tnds ha
olton
rf ttt
e t ti t ibiiy,
s t ovi

pr ofne i e s h t ta vi aton onl pr vi se de e ofneglgenc Br ki v.
oo
glgenc , uc ha
ol i
y o de vi nc
i e. ac n

Boe , 5 S 2 5 0, 4 5 ( a 1 8 )ctn d l s sv Se b a dCo s Li Ralo d, 1
l 4 2 o. d 4 5 4-45 F1. 9 4 iig e e u . a o r at ne i a 28
r
S 2 1 8 2 ( a 1 7 ) Ev nwi t ee d n ed rv dfo p o o avoain,
o. 9 , 01 F1. 9 3 . e t h vie c eie r m r of f ilto
h
pr aec us andot relme sofneglge mus bepr ni pe nty.LL TheCo t
oxi t a e
he e nt
i nce t ove nde nde l (
ur
not t twhie t sfa e k a ssst Cour i isunde sa ng oft posur ofFlrda
es ha
l hi r m wor s it he
tn t
rt ndi
he t e
oi
mot ve cl t tlw,t r wa no e denc pr en e a t ti t tW oolr wasciedf rhi
o hi e or a he e s
vi e es t d t he ral ha
ad
t o s
a to sont tmor ng.I lg oft s Col bor t bur n ofpr ng b a pr ponde a eof
ci
ha
ni
n iht hi, on e he de
ovi y
e
r nc
t e i nc alf elment ofne i nce-du y ofc r ,br a h oft tdu y,c us ton,a
he de e l our e
s
glge
t
ae ec
ha t a a i nd

da es Clmpit786So. a 573(ii J fe isv.AmevLe i I ,698So.2d368,
ma . n t,
2d t
ctng efre
r asng.nc.
37071( a. s. .App.5hDit 1 .
- F1 DitCt
t s. 997)

Ast tiro fc i ti c s ,h Co r ma ma ej d me t rg r i t ece iii o
he re f a t n h s a e te u t y k u g n s e adng h r dblt f
y
4

.
wt

t ine s st tc
he t s e ha omebef ei. Se Ca o- va v. Curi Riha ds I . 993 F. 1500,
or t e r Gal n
ts c r on. nc,
2d

1 0 ( 1hCi.1 9 )(iigCh i Be g I c v. meM ii Co.8 3 F.d 1 5 1 8n.
5 4 1 t r 9 3 ctn rs r . n . Ac
nng , 9 2 23 , 23 2
( 1hCi.1 (e ni ngt tt c tmus weih t e de ea ma crdi lt
1 t r 990) rcog zi ha he our t g he vi nc nd ke e biiy
dee i tons) A wine s tsi
t nai l.
t s ' e tmonyma bebeivedi f li par,ore iel dic ed.
y
le n ul,n t ntr y s ount
Se oor v.
e
e Ches e ke& Ohi R .Co. 3 U . . 573, ( 951 .
a a
o
, 40 S
576 1 )
TheCour fndsW oolr ac edi e wine sa hi des rpto oft a ci ntla t
ti
a d r bl t s nd s c i i n he c de e ds he

Cou t concudet thewa notneg i nti hi c
o
l ha
s
lge n s onduc . W o a d e ane t the wasa t
t
olr xpli d ha
t he
i e s c i ofKn rHi
nt r ton
nne ghwa a t 195Norh on-amp whiet lg wa yelow . Tr.at
y nd he t r
l he i ht s l
71 8 .Hede c i d t da a beng cla and t r c tonsa dr a e ane t the
s rbe he y s i e r
he oad ondii
s y, nd xpli d ha
c d s e Col so omi ve cl atadit nc of1 yar fom t ta fclg . W ool r
oul e
on' nc ng hi e
sa e
20 ds r he r fi i ht
ad
a s e t tCol woul ha t so f t ta tc lghtwhi h,by W ool r sesi ae,
s u d ha
on
d ve o t p or he r fs i
c
a d' tm t woul
d
ber by t tm eCol r c t i t r e ton.Tr 63;71 8 W oolr expli d hi
e
he i
on ea hed he n e s c i
.
- 0.
ad
a ne s
f la iy wih ditnc sa ar ul ofhi r i r e i usng arfet e f ta malc r .
ami'rt t sa e s es t
s outne ol n i
il o fec ni
ontol

Tr a 6 Hea s i caedhi f mii rt wih t i e s c i whe et ac de occ r d as
. t 6.
l o ndi t s a la iy t he nt r e ton
r he ci nt ure
heta e st o t tit r e i fe ntyand lve ne r Tr a 76r l hr ugh ha n e s cton r que l
i s a by. . t 77.
Alem ai l Col ofer d no e a ton f why, pie cea c tons he di not
t tvey, on f e
xplna i or
des t l r ondii ,
d
s t whiee e
ee h
t xt nded c b pi
a ckup tu k puli ataie i t i e s ton. Hedoe c am he
rc
lng r lr n he ntr eci
s li

s t a t lghto rt i e s ton wasye l NorwasCol n a et ofe a r a on a t
aw t he i ve he ntr eci
low.
o bl o f r e s s o
why

di notsow do ora yhi b ea untlt ve ym omentbef r hehi t ta lra
d
l
wn ppl s r ks i he r
oe
t he r ie t

a mos hi f l s e off t fve mie pe hour
l
s ul pe d orp i
ls r
.
Col of e e no e de e ore a ton t twoul alow t Co tt comet t
on f r d
vi nc
xpl nai ha
d l he ur o
o he
c l sont tW ool dwasneglgen . Ther i no pr s
onc i ha
ar
i t
es
e umpton t tsmpl be aus W ool d
i ha i y c e
ar
5

a r sCol sonc ng lne t tW ool r wasneglge . Col
c os
on'
omi a ha
ad
i nt
onpr s n edno e denc
eet
vi e
ofa

cia i ore n ar onsr ci oft ac i ntwhi h wo d c nc t Cour t t
tton, ve ec t u ton he c de
c
ul onvi e he
t ha

a tonsc tt e negi nc Quiet c rr Col was1 yadsa ywhe
ci onsiutd lge e. t he ontay, on
20 r wa
n
bega t t nt ough hi l . W ih 1 ya dsbewee Col a t poi a whih
n o ur hr
s ane
t 20 r
t n on nd he nt t c
he

W oolr sta lr Col r a ona y s d ha be n a et sop, l down,o
a d' r ie , on e s bl houl ve e bl o t sow
r
eva i aci t a d drvi he d on i ot sd ofW oolr staiera f l
sve ton o voi i ng a
nt he i e
a d' r l t ul
Col di none oft s and ofer no e a ton f rt aci nshedi t ke.
on d
he e,
f s
xplnai o he to
d a

I .
V

C O N CL USI N
O

Ac or ngl t Cour f ist fnd ne i nceon t pa tofW oolr and i t . o t
c di y, he
t al o i
glge
he r
ad
n ul n he
n

Pa
R

De e
f ndan ,t Unied St es TheCour t r f edoesno r c t que tonof
t he t
at .
t he e or
t ea h he si
be a enonea eawa de t t Pli ifi t sca e. Fi lJ m e wilbe e e e
c us
r
r d o he antf n hi s
na udg nt l
ntr d
Unie St t sby s pa ae Or .
td ae
e r t der
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'

DO A OR R DiCa est a ,lrahsYiyoNoe e,01
NE ND DE E n hmbraMi Foi til f vmbr21.
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Al c
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6