Girard v. M/Y Quality Time

Filing 48

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW. Signed by Judge K. Michael Moore on 2/6/2014. (rg1)

UN I
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Def nt
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FI D I G S O F FA CT AN D CO NC LU SI NS O F LAW
N N
O

THI CAUS c me b f r t e Co r u o a n nj r tilo Oco r7 2 3 Th
S
E a e o e h u t p n o -u y ra n tbe , 01 . e
ve s lM/ Quaiy Ti (she Qualt Ti ')rn a ound on De mber26,201 nea Ke
se Y
lt me t
t
iy me' a gr
ce
2, r y

W e t F o ia Tra Tr ( No. 2 , t3 S la es r ie weer n ee b Plitf Ar a d
s, lrd . il . ECF 4 ) a . av g e vc s r e d r d y an if n u
Gia d a Ke W es M a i As it nc I a 5. The Pa te do notdiput t ta s l
r r nd y
t rne ssa e. d. t
ris
s e ha
avage

a r i due,bu diag e a t t qua um oft ta r #.a 8.UPON CONSI
wad s
t s r e s o he nt
ha wad.J t
DEM TI
ON
oft e de epr s nt t pe tne pori oft r cor and be ng ot r s f l ad s d
he vi nc e e ed, he ri nt tons he e d,
i
he wie ' y vie
ul
i t pr m i es t Co te e st f l i Or r
n he e s , he ur nt r he olow ng de .
FI DI G S O F FA CT
N N

To Swi l i t o rand opeaoroft Qualt Ti ,a 2005 42-ootM ei a
ny ndel s he wne
rt
he
iy me
f
rdin
moory ht I a 3.TheQualt Ti i i urdby BoatU. I ur nc l a 21
t ac . d. t
iy me s ns e
S. ns a e. d. t 9-221.
2. Ar
naud Gi a d o r t s K e W es M a i A s i t nc a s l e c pa TralTr,a 1
r r pe a e
y
t r ne s s a e, a vag om ny. i
. t 2.

Gia d ha as i d t s va c am i t s ma tr t hi s l i vi l a i
rr
s sgne he al ge l i n hi
te o m e f ndi dualy nd s
r pr e i hi s l i t spr e ng. l a 70 .
e es ntng m e f n hi oc edi
d. t -71

Giar ha be n ac i i t s vag i ty f a oxi a ey t ry ye r a ha
rd s e
tve n he al e ndusr or ppr m t l hit a s nd s

prvi l c ee s l wok i t KeyW es a e Se j.a 1
e ousy ompltd avage r n he
t r a. e .z t 2.
;
5. J fr y Sundwalwor f Ke W es M a i As it e. l a 1
e fe
l
ks or y
t rne s sanc d. t 23. Sundwal willkel
l l i y
r c ve a pe ce age ofa s l e a r i t s Ca e 1 a 206. Gia d,Sundwa l a
e ei
r nt
ny avag wa d n hi s . d. t
rr
l, nd

KeyW e tM ai As itnce(ûheSavor' pr de sl geasit ei t smatr
s rne ssa û
t l s' ovi d ava ssanc n hi te .
)

Th S lo so rt t eM/ M a i P n y (teM a i P n yl a2 -o tfb r ls s f.
e av r peae h V gc e n sh
û
gc e n ', 3 f o i ega s kif
Tr a Tr , t 1 -1 75
i l . a 2 3, -76.

The M a c Pel y c es among o he iems a hydr ulc pump, unde wa e drls a
gi
m ani ,
t r t ,
a i
r t r il ,

twlne a as
o i , nd pud.J s t76,1
#-a
59.

8. On De e r26,201 t Quaiy Ti wa e r ut t Ke W es fom St Peerbur
c mbe
2, he lt me s n o e o y
tr
. t s g,
Fl i wih Swi l a fveot rpas e r on boar l a 3.
orda, t
ndel nd i he
s nge s
d. d. t

Ata p o maey 82 pm. h Qu l y Ti snzk as b r e o j c a d b g n tkn
p r xi tl :2 . t e ai me t c u me g d b e t n e a a ig
t
on wae i t No t s Cha la oac ng Ke W es. J. a 4. Swi l pr l
tr n he rhwet nne ppr hi
y
t - t
1
L
ndel ompty
anc e t Qualt Ti i pr e tdwaes J=a 211.
hord he
iy me n otce tr. # t
1 The Coas Gua d r ponde t t dite s c l and a ve on t s ne wihi ffe n
0.
t
r es
d o he sr s a l
ni d
he ce
t n ite
m i es. Tri Tr,at2 11.
nut
al .

11 Gia d hea d t dites calon t r o. l a 1 Gia d de re on t M a c Pe
. rr
r he sr s l
he adi d. t 3. r r pa td
he gi nny,

pike up Sundwal a arveda t s e a a oxi tl 8: p. J a 1 98.
c d
l, nd ri t he c ne t ppr maey 49 m. . t 3,
Z

1 Att tme t Savor rac d t Quaiy Ti t Coat Guad had rni
2. he i he l s e he he lt me, he s
r
e oved t
he
pa sng r a ha be de trngt vese.J . t67,1 .
se e s nd d gun waei he s l #aa
51
1 The Coa tG ua d pum p w as l i pr m e and c d no r m ove t w a er f om t e ne
3.
s
r
osng i
oul t e
he t r
he ngi
r ,whi h ha r c a w a e l velofa l as t o a a hal f t d.a 15
oom
c d ea hed
tr e
t e t w nd
f ee .I t -16,151
-53.

2

1 The Sal s us t M a c Pe my' pump t de t t engi r
4.
vor ed he gi r s
o waer he
ne oom a t se'
nd he t l
n
com part ent Tri Tr,at 15-17,213.
m . al .

1 The geneao wa t ned of by Swi l beor t Coas Guad arve Jl a 21
5.
rtr s ur
f
ndel f e he
t r ri d. -a t 4.
t
Howe r t Savor di notr c ve a cla c
ve , he l s d
e ei
e r omm uni ton fom Swi l a t whe he
cai r
ndel s o
t r
t ge r t a t i rerwe e on orof. 1 at1 -20,1
he ne a or nd he nve t
r
f d. 9
66. The Sa vor be ive t
l s le d hat

t r ma ha be n a a tveelcrcc r ntont Quaiy Ti a t s cilca ton
hee y ve e n ci e ti ure
he lt me nd ook pe a ui
a a r s t l a 1 -20,1 1
s e ul. d. t 9
02, 65.
1 The i c oft a i tc us d t pr l s tt t arahol i t fbe gls hul of
6.
mpa t he ccden a e he opeler haf o e
e n he i r a s l

t QuaiyTi I a 1
he lt me. d. t 29.

1 Sundwalc
7.
l onduce a di outi oft Qualt Ti t atmptt pl t hol Tra
td ve sde he
iy me o te
o ug he e. il
Tr,a 1 -1 159 1. Thi di w as co uc ed i t da knes a i l d t r s of
. t 7 8, -16
s ve
nd t n he r s nd nc ude he ik

c na twih t j g e p o le b a e . I .a 20 2 1 5 0 l ma ha e b e ls
o tc t he a g d r pelr ld s d t - 2, 0 -1 6. t y v e n e s
da r t a tmptt pl t hol fom i i t ve s l I at1
nge ous o te
o ug he e r nsde he s e . d. 08.
1 Sundwa lpa c d t hol wih a f m pa c and awooden we
8.
l t he he e t oa
t h,
dge,whih waspr de b
c
ovi d y

t Coas Guad.Jla 24-25.
he
t r .s t
t
1 Onc t fo ng wa unde con r ,t Savor we e a et sabiie t boa t ough t
9. e he l odi
s
r tol he l s r bl o t lz he t hr
he
us oft e e t i pum p. I a 6.
e he l c rc
d. t

20.
The Coas Gua d r m aned o t s e f a l s t ry-hr e mi e a trt M a c
t
r e i
n he c ne or t ea t hit t e
nut s fe he gi
Pe a rve a a sse i de t i t ves el Tra Tr,a 287. The Coas Gua d
nny ri d, nd s it d n waerng he s . il . t
t
r
de r e w ih a ls x pas e r ,i udi Sw i l a a oxi a el 9: p. . l a 1
pa t d t l i
s nge s ncl ng
ndel, t ppr m t y 22 m d. t 00.
21 The Sa vor t e t ve s t Spe r s Boa ya d i K e W es a t ves e w a ha ed
.
l s ow d he s el o
nce '
t r n y
t nd he s l s ul
outoft w a e a a oxi a e y m i ght l a 1 -1 ,1
he t r t ppr m t l dni . d. t 00 01 28.

3

22.
The s cr m ofs l ge s viespr de by t Savor co it d ofpa c ng,pumpi
pe tu
ava er c
ovi d
he l s nsse
t hi
ng,
a t ng, c a enonna s va s r c . I a 115.
nd owi whi h r
l al ge e vies d. t
23. i t s vag ope a i t M a c Per t on wa e due t a br n pi Tra
Durng he al e r ton, he gi
my ook
tr
o
oke pe. i l
Tr,a 11 -1 Thi st ton s e
. t 7 8. s iuai ubs quen l sa lz 1 a 119.
ty tbii ed. d. t
24. s l
The avageoper ton t k pl ewihi t Ke W es Na i lW idlf Re uge. l a 29ai oo ac t n he y
t tona l ie f
d. t
30. The e i no i ca i of a e r e a dn age c us d by t a ci nt or a
r s
ndi ton
ny nvi onm nt l m
a e
he c de ,
ny

s cii a tmptt r dy s h pos i ednmag by t Savor . Def' Pr e Fi ngs
pe fc te
o eme uc
sbl
e
he l s
.s opos d ndi

ofFa ta ConcusonsofLa ( No. ) a 1
c nd
l i
w ECF 41 , t 3.
25. one poi durng t ni t wi s ed r a he t nt knot . Tra Tr,a 85.
At
nt i he ght he nd pe e c d we y
s
il . t

Ot r s t wi s d rnge a o mael bewe ni and t re n knot. J a
hewie he nd pee a d pprxi t y t en ne
hite
s #= t
289.
26.The w a he ghtw a a oxi a e y t o f e a m a m um on t ni i ques i l a
ve i
s ppr m t l w e t t xi
he ght n
ton. d. t
83. The w a s wer m ode a e. I a 211
ve
e
r t d. t .
27.The tda c r nton t ni i que to w asa oxi a el 1 6 knot . I a 96.
i l ur e
he ght n s i n
ppr m t y .
s d. t
28.Gi a d a Boa U . l ur nce coul notag e on a s t l m e va ue t r ol t s m a t r
r r nd
t S. ns a
d
re
e te nt l o es ve hi te .
Tra Tr,a 223
i l . t -225.

29.Thepr c s lyval oft Quaiy Ti was$1 000,a s
e-a uat ue he lt me
85,
s upporedbyt t tmony of
t
he esi

maies r e o a da j trBrt Calo .L s t2 2 2 9
rn u v y r n duso e t rs n t a 5 , 5 .
l
30.Thec toft rpaisfo Spe e ' Boayadwa $44,99. L. a 1
os he e r r m
nc rs t r s 1 55. I, t 40.
J
.

4

CO N C LU SI N S O F LA W
O

Th sa to i wihn te a miat a d maii j rs cin oft e Co r p ru n t 2
i cin s t i h d r l n rt u idito
y
me
h ut us a t o 8
U. C.j1
S. 333.
2. The 1 w of s vag r w a dst vol a y s l f r t s ce s u r c oflf orpr r y
a
al e e r he unt r a vor o he uc s f l es ue i e
ope t
i pe ie a s a. O c an Se v ce .Tow i & Sal eml v.Br n, 81 F. Supp. 1
m rl d t e
e
ri s
nc
vac nc.
ow
0
258,

1 ( D. a.1 .He e t r i nodiput t tt Savor r rd s e suls l
262 S. Fl 993) r ,he e s
s e ha he l s endee ucc s f avage
s r i s Tra Tr,a 8. The onl is i diput i t qua
e vce . i l . t
y s ue n s e s he nmm ofa r as bl s l
e ona e avage
a r l
wa d. d.
3. Savage a r a e ca c a e a ape c nt e oft vaue oft s l d ve s l whih i
l
wa ds r l ult d s
r e ag
he l
he avage s e , c s
obt ne by s r tng t r pai c t fom t ve s ls pr - s ly vaue. Se Be h
ai d
ubtac i he e r oss r
he s e ' e ca uat l
e ac

Sav c Co p o F a v. Ca t m, 01F. p 4 9 4 2 48 ( D. l.1 61.
la e r . f l . The p'To 2
Su p. 7 , 8 - 3 S. F a 9 )
4. The e i no pr cie f r a t de e m i a s l ge a r Bi c yne Towi & Savage
r s
e s o mul o t r ne a va wa d. s a
ng
l ,

l v.Kio Ala Lt ,No.02nc.
l fa d.
22644 CI 2004 W L 331
V,
0573,a *6 ( D.Fl.Se .30,
t S. a pt
2004) Rahe,s l ge a r a edeemi on a fc s cfc bass Jl W hee l ge
. t r ava wads r tr ned
a t pe ii i. -a
t
r ar
val sa e i ve awar ofm or t n t nt pe c ta e r r Ata i M a i Towi
ue r nvol d,
ds
e ha we y r en r a e. lnts rne
nc.

I v. / Elz beh,346F.Supp. 1 1 4 ( D.Fl 2004)
nc. M V ia t
2d 266, 27 S. a.
.
Thefco st beco i e whe detnui ngas l gea r a un a e:a t de eeof
a tr o
nsderd n e ni
ava wa d mo t r ) he gr
da rfom whih t vese wa rs d;b)t pos-as t vaue oft vese;c t
nge r
c he s l s ebue
he tc ualy l
he s l ) he
rs i ure i svi t ve s lfom t i
ik nc rd n a ng he s e r he mpendi pei;d)t pr mptmde a s l
ng rl he o i
nd kil
diplyed by t s l r ;e t vaue oft pr t e oyed by t s vor;a 9 t
sa
he avo s ) he l
he opery mpl
he al s nd he
tm e a l bor e nde i r
i
nd a
xpe d n ende i t s l ge s r c Se The Bl kw a l 77 U . 1
rng he a va e vi e. e
ac l,
S. ,

*1 (969) B. Bur u W is lrv.Unie Stts 702 F. 333,339 ( Ci.1 .
3 1 ; V. ea imule
td ae ,
2d
2d r 983)
Thi Cour w ilc i e c oft f t s i t n:
s
t l onsder a h he ac or n ur

a. The Deg eeofDa rf o whih t Ve s lwa Re c
r
nge r m
c he s e s s ued

The Quaiy Ti wa rs ue fom a l deg e ofda r By t tme t
lt me s e c d r
ow r e
nge.
he i he
Savor a rve t Coa t Gua d ha ale
l s ri d, he
s
r d r ady r m o d t pa s nge s a had
e ve he s e r nd
be
gun de a e i t ves el The w e t w a m ode a e a w as nott uluous
w t r ng he s .
a her s
r t nd
um t
Ors or y.
t m

b. The Pos- ualy V a ue oft Ves e
tcas t l
he
sl

The pos- avage pr -e rval oft ve s i $1 800. TralTr,a 1
ts l , e r pai ue he s el s 40, 45. i . t 40,
259. Thi fgur i obt i by s r tng t cos ofr pa r ,$ 1 55,fom
s i e s aned
ubtaci he t e is 44, 99. r
t pr - as t val ton of$1 000. Se i
he e c ualy uai
85,
e d.
c. The Iik I ure i Sa ng t Ves e fo t I ndi Pe i
ts nc r d n vi he s l r m he mpe ng rl
The Sal st rs i udi di ng outi t ves el whih i l d t rs
vor ook iks ncl ng vi
sde he s , c nc ude he ik

ofc ng i o c a twih t Qualt Ti spr lrbl s None oft
omi nt ontc t he
iy me' opele ade .
he
rs t ke by t Sal s we e unlke t e f ce t ca l by s vor . Riks
iks a n
he vor r
i hos a d ypi ly
al s
s
mus be o oft or na y i o de t lbe aly awar d i s vage c es B.
t
ut he di r n r r o i r l
de n al
as . V.

Bur au W is ule ,702 F. at340.
e
im l r
2d
d. The Pr
omptt a SkilDiplyed by t Sal s
iude nd l s a
he vor
The Savor a ve on t s e pr
l s ni d
he c ne ompty f l ngt a i
l olowi he ccdenta dipl ye a
nd s a d
l ve ofs l a ene gy t be e c e ofpr es i ls vor .
e l kil nd r o
xpe t d
of sona al s
e. The Val oft Pr ry Em pl
ue he ope t
oyed by t Sal s
he vor
The Sa vor utlz t M ag c Pe
l s ii ed he
i nny,a w e las pr m mi y,a pum p,a t lne
s l , i l
ow i ,

a di ng equi t t pump,pac a t t Quaiy Ti . Thepr ry
nd vi
pmen, o
th nd ow he lt me
ope t
e pl d by t Sa vor w a no outoft or na y f pr es i na s l s
m oye
he l s s t
he di r or of s o l a vor .

6

f The Ti ea La Expende i Re rngt Sa vag Se vies
.
m nd bor
d n nde i he l e r c
The Savo se nde a oxi ael f hotr oflbor usng t m e a one
l r xpe d ppr m t y our ls a , i wo n nd
ves e . W hie t s l ge wa s c s u ,t s l ge i ve no t ualrs
sl
l he ava
s uc es f l he ava nvol d
mus iks
t pe s
o r ons or pr ry or s ci he oi m or galan r Bi ca
ope t
pe al r s
l t y. s yne To i &
w ng

Sal ce.I .v.Kio Ala.Lt ,Ca eN o.02va nc
l f d. s
22644 CI 2004 W L 331
V,
0573,a
t

*6( D. a.Se .30,2004)
S. Fl pt
.
6. A s l ge i vi no s i s ls or e pm e or s g t a t a ountof da e i
ava nvol ng
pecal kil
qui nt
i nik n m
ng r s
c i r d a l l ve s l ge a i e val nt t a s l
ons de e
ow e l a va nd s qui e o
a vage a a d of 5- 0% of t
w r
1
he
ve s ' pos - a ua t val . M i m iY a htDr ve s I v.M / A 1 A c es , e N o. 06s els t c s ly ue
a
c
i r . nc.
V l c s Cas

61 2 - V,2 0 W L 2 8 3 9 a * ( D.Fl.Au .2 ,2 0 ) s e as Reibe
7 9 CI 0 7
4 4 0 , t 4 S. a g 9 0 7 ; e lo la l
Sal ce a To nc.I v.35'SeaRa Ca eN o.2: c 3 Ft va nd wi nc.
v, s
09- v- 29- M 99SPC,2011 W L

1
058863,a *1 ( . Fl.Ma .21 2011.
t 2 M D. a r , )
Thi Cour fndst tt swa a 1 l ls l ge bec us t e wer no s c a s l
s
t i ha hi s ow eve ava
a e her
e
pe i l avage
s ls r quied a t r wa no sgnii a a o t of da r i ve The s l
kil e r nd he e s
i fc nt m un
nge nvol d.
avage

c it d ofno ma s l
onsse
r l avage o r tonsi udi pumpi pa c ng,a t ng,bu di
pe a i ncl ng
ng, t hi nd owi
t d
no i l r c ofpas e r who ha be n r
t ncude es ue
s nge s
d e emove fom t ve s by t Coa t
d r he s el
he
s
Gua d.
r

8. Thi Cour fndst tt Savor a e e il d t an a r on t hi h end oft 5- 0%
s
ti
ha he l s r ntte o
wa d
he g
he 1
s cr a t s l
pe tum s he avage wa a ni tm e t di ri ured t rs ofbei c by t
s t ghti , he ve nc r he ik
ng ut he
pr le ,a t Savor wer pr m pta e fcen . Thi Cour t r o e fndst tt
ope lr nd he l s e o
nd fi i t
s
t he ef r i ha he

Savor aee ildt a a r of1 % oft QuaiyTi spos-a uat val
l s r ntte o n wad 0
he lt me' tc s ly ue.
9. Thi Cour f rhe fnds t tbe a e t Sa vor ar pr e s ona s t y a e e il d t a
s
t u t r i ha c us he l s e of s i l , he r ntte o n
uplf of 2% of t ves els pos - as t va ue i a ton t t pr vi l c l ul t d
it
he s '
t c ualy l n ddii o he e ousy a c a e

7

pe c nt e. M i Ya Drve s l ,2007 W L 2484309,a *4;Trplc c I .v.
r e ag
nmi cht i r . nc.
t
i e he ke nc

Ceol Yac Cha tr Li td,Ca eNo.05- 1 CI 2007W L 91
r e ht res mie s
21 82 V,
7276,a * ( D.
t 6 S.
Fl M a.25,2007 ;Po tEvegldesLamc Sevi .I v.M / Siuai ,Cas No.
a. r
) r ra
t h r ce nc.
Y t tons e

1 - 0 71Cl 2 1W L 1 9 01 , t* ( D. a M a . 9, 01 )
0 6 5 - V, 01
1 6 7 a 8 S. Fl. r 2 2 1.
1 Thi Cour t r f e de e mi t tt Savor ar e ild t a t t la r of 1 of
0. s
t he e or t r nes ha he l s e ntte o o a wa d
2%

t Qualt Ti s pos-as ly vaue of $1 800. Tra Tr,a 1 259. Thi
he
iy me' tc uat l
40, 45. il . t 40,
s
fgtr co e t $1 8 05.
i le m s o 6, 96.
C O N CLU SI N
O
Fo t f e ng r a ons i i
r he or goi e s , t s

ORDERED AND ADJ
UDGED t a j d me ti h r b e trd i fvo o Plitf a d
h t u g n s e e y n ee n a r f anif n
agans De e nt Def nda i her by or r d t pa Pli ift s of $1 896. Thi
i t f nda . e nt s e
de e o y antf he um
6, 05. s
Cas i DI I
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