CAROL PONDERS v. The United States of America, No. 1:2013cv22867 - Document 18 (S.D. Fla. 2014)
Court Description: ORDER granting 16 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Chief Judge Federico A. Moreno on 6/11/2014. (bnt)
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CAROL PONDERS v. The United States of America Doc. 18 UN I TED STATES DI STRI COURT FOR THE CT SO U TH ERN DI STRI OF FLOR I A CT D M i m iD i s on a vi i Cas N um ber 1 22876- I - O R EN O e : 3C V M CA ROL PON D ER S, spe s nal e e e a i of a r o r pr s nt tve t Es a e ofJ SE M AN U EL SEGU N D O, he t t O Pli if antf, VS. U NI TED STA TES O F A M ERI , CA Def nda . e nt / O R DE R G M N TI G SU M M A R Y JU D G M EN T N THI CAUSE ca be or t Cour upo t De e ntsM otonf Summ a yJ m e S me f e he t n he f nda ' i or r udg nt ( E.1 ,tld o M ay 1 201 THE COURT hasc i r d t moton a t pe tne D. 6) ie n 5. 4. onsde e he i nd he ri nt pori oft r c d, ndbei o he wief l a s di t pr m ies i i ADJUDGED t t he tons he e or a ng t r s uly dvi e n he e s , t s ha t motoni GRANTED. antf ha f ie t evi ncea ne i nta tbya i vi ua empl d i s Pli if s a ld o de ny glge c ny ndi d l oye byt Unie St t t tpr ma ey c us d orwoul ha pr ve e t f t lc r a a r s ofM r he t d aes ha oxi t l a e d ve e nt d he a a a dic re t . J eSegmdo. os t Norhass i ntfe evi nces he de ii d de uppori t m e ca cai snec s r t t sc us tng he di l l m es a y o hi a e ofa ton,br ci oughtpuruantt t FedealTol Cl msAc ( s o he r 4 ai t FTCAIASs fist prs ta . he al o een ny e de orar um e a o i t ge ne is a t a m ae i lf c ,t Cour fndst tt vi nce g nt m untng o nui s ue s o ny tra a t he t i ha he De e d n i e tte t s mma yj d me t f n a t s n ild o u r u g n . Fac ua bac ot d t l kgr m Thi m a t ri a w r ulde t ca e Pl i ifCa olPonde s, r ona r pr e a i oft s te s ongf a h s ; a nt f r r pe s l e es nt tve he Es a e ofJ e Se tt os gundo,a l ge m edi alm al a tce wihi t l om e D e e i Ce e unde t le s c pr c i t n he lr t nton nt r r he Dockets.Justia.com F d rl rCli Ac ( e ea To t ams tFTCA)W he J s S g d wa b o e it teKr meDee to Ce tr . n o e e un o s o k d n o h o tn in n e i 201 aTr nse Sum ma ya ompa edhi a not dame c hit r sgnii ntf dibe es n 0, a f r r cc ni m nd e dial so y i fca or a t . M r Seg . undounde we am e c e ua i i udi aphysc e , chc r a e apror r nt dial val ton,ncl ng ial xam whi orobor t d i me c lhit y sgnii an onl f di t . di a sor i fc t y or abees Fr t tm eofhi a ison, r Segundo' or di tcmedi tonswe econtnueda om he i s dm s i M . s al abei cai r i nd hi bl gl os lvel we e monior d t ce daiy,exc ptwhen he r us d.l a ton t a s ood uc e e s r t e wi l e ef e n ddii o dibe i dita m e c tons t me c saf or r d as r eni EKG a hi ani l a s ve al a tc e nd dia i , he dial t f de e c e ng t s va , nd e r f m sofbl wor i udi a A 1 bl t s t e uae bl s or ood k, ncl ng n C ood e t o val t ood ugarte .Re ulsoft r nds s t he c ompr he i e t t we e nor e ptf a e e t d whiebl c lc .The EKG r uls e nsv ess r mal xce or n l va e t ood el ount es t sm ia l di noti c eabnor lfndi ;sg fc t t sca e,t EKG di notr por a t i l ry d ndiat ma i ngs i niiant o hi s he d e t cu e orc oni myoca di ic hr c r al s hemi c ng oran fndi a s it d wih c ona y a tr die e. c ha es y i ngs s oca e t or r re y s as Fr t da eofhi a va i e zy De m be ,Pli ifexhi t no c tpan,s t s om he t s ni l n a l ce r a ntf bied hes i horne s ofbr at we e h, akne s f tgueorot rs m pt sa s i e wih ca di dysunc i On De e be s ,ai he y om s ocatd t r ac f ton. cm r 22,201 howe r hewasev uatd f a s e t oa ,l nn nos and c 0, ve , al e or or hr t ' y e, u ough,a on t mor ng nd he ni ofDe e be 23,201 hec cm r 0, ompl i off e i il Hewasc aned e lng l. omm uni a i a waki ashew as c tve nd l ng . tke b sa f ot Ur ntCa eCe e ont Kr eco pound. hiebengta pore t Ur nt a n y tf t he ge r nt r he om m W l i r ns td o ge Ca e, we ,M r Seg r ho ver . undo s f r d a f tla r hm i t t de pier us t ton e f t,c us d ufe e aa rhyt a ha , s t es cia i fors a e hi de t s ah. The a o y r por fndi i t t t ca e of de t w a s r at r cl r i t l t ut ps e t i ng s ha he us a h s eve e he os e os n he ef a e i des e ng cor y a t r w hi c us d s nt ror c ndi onar re y, ch a e udde c di c de h.N o r or e de e n ar a at ec d vi nc i caest t Def nda ca e t c r a a r hmi ors d ha pr c e ca dicdeah, ndi t hat he e nt us d he a dic rhyt a, houl ve edit d r a t e p cal i lg t ten r l s e ily n ih ofh o ma EKGj s d y b f r . n t ee s i Au u t 01 , aniffld u t a s eo e No eh ls ,n g s 2 3 Plitf ie 2- - s ia an th UntdS ae p rua tot eFe e a To t amsAc ( 8U. C. 26 1 e s q a d ut g is t e ie tts u s n t h d rl r Cli t 2 S. j 7 , t e . n 28U. C. j1 46b)1, le ig n g ie ta t a do sinso o fc r, g ns a de o e s S. j 3 ( () algn e lg n cs n miso f fies a e t, n mply e toft Unied St t s' i he t ae ' . Summ a yJ m e St nda d r udu nt a r S mma yj d me ti a p o raewh nçh r i n g n i is ea t a ymaeil u r u g n s p r p it e tee s o e une su s o n tra fc a dt mo i gpat i e tte t aj d me t samatro 1w.'fa e tv Uni d a t n he v n ry s n ild o u g n a t f a ' mb r . t e ' e Stts 1 8Fe . px 8 5 8 8( 1h Ci. 0 6 ( u t g F dR. V. 5 (). teSu rme ae , 9 d Ap . 3 , 3 1 t r 2 0 ) q o i e . Ci P. 6c ) As h p e n Co r h sisr ce ,f epanln u g o r l 5 ()ma d tstee tyo s mmayj d me t u t a n tu td 'h li a g a e f ue 6 c n ae h nr f u r u g n , t a trade t tm ef dicove y a upon moton,ag ns a pa t who f ist makea s fe qua e i or s r nd i ai t ry al o howi ng s f c entt esabls t e s e e ofa el m e es e i lt t tpary' c s ,a on whi h t t ufi i o t i h he xi t nc n e nt s nta o ha t s a e nd c ha pat wilbe rt bur nofpr a til'CeotxCor v Catet, U. 31 322( 986 . ry l a he de oof tra. l e p. . r t477 S. 7, 1 ) The ' movi pa t be st i talbu de ofs ng ry ar he nii r n howi t c t by r f r nc t m aera son fl,t t ng he our, e e e e o t il ie ha t r a eno ge neis sofmatra f tt bede i d a ti l Ceotx,477 U. 31 Oncet he e r nui s ue e i l ac o c de t ra . l e S. 7. he m ovi pa t ha m e is b de t bur n ofpr ng ry s t t ur n, he de oduci s hs t t no ton hi o he nmovi pa t 'o go ng ry ' t b y n tepe dn sa db (h ijo a fd v t, r yted p sto , ns r t itro ao is e o d h la ig n y t er wn fia is o b h e o iinsa wes o ne r g tre , a ad isons on fl ,desg e s cii f c s s nd m s i ie i nat pe tc a t howi t tt r i a ge ne is f til' ng ha he e s nui s ue or ra . ' Ce otx,477 U. at324.Thenonmovi pa t m us de o tae m or t n a m e e s i il of l e S. ng ry t m nsr t e ha r cntla e de e;i t nonmovi pa t sevi ncei ' r y c or e, i notsgnii a l pr atv vi nc f he ng ry' de s ' el ol abl or s me i fc nty ob i e, s mmay u g n ma b ga kd ' d r o vfie t o b , n .47 U. 2 2, 4 - 2( 9 6 . u r j d me t y e n .An e s n . b ryL b y I c, 7 S. 4 2 9 5 1 8 ) ' - 3- 11 1. Lega Anal i l yss Pl i tf brngs t s c us ofac i f neglgenc aga ns t U nie St esunde t a n if i hi a e ton or i e i t he t d at r he Fe rlTor Cl msAc ( dea t ai t FTCA) 28U. C. . S. j2671 e e a 28U. C.jj1 b)1 .Thesaut , ts q. nd S. 346( ( ) tt e g n r l a t rz ss t a an t h Untd S ae f rd ma e f rpes n lij r c u e b te e eal uho ie ui g is t e ie tts o a g s o ro a nu y a s d y h y s ne i ntorwr ula toromison ofa e oye oft Gove nmentwhiea tng wihi t glge ongf c si ny mpl e he r l ci t n he s opeofhi ofieore oyme .Unie atsv Ore ,425U. 807,81 1 ( 976). c s fc mpl nt tdst e . lans S. 3- 6 1 ,Mean s v Uniedst e ,17 F. 1 1 ( 1hCi.1 (healege t te s ' sausasa e oye . t ats 6 3d 376, 378 1 t r 999) t l d orfa ors tt n mpl e oft govenmentst snequanonoflabiiyunde t FTCA) TheAct ovi st t Unie he r i he i i lt r he . pr de hathe td Stt smaybehed labl f t ne i ntc ae l i e or he glge ondu ofise oye sçn t s ma ra t t ct t mpl e t he ame nne nd o he i s mee tn a ap i aeid vd a u e lk cru tn e . 28U.. j 67 Pli ifnti c s a xe t s rv t n i iu l nd r ie ic msa c s' ' SC. 2 4. ant i h s a e f ha noti ntfed a f de a e pl e w ho w a ne i nt s de ii e r l m oye s glge . I a y ng ap Fede a Tor Cl i s Actcl i ,t c t a y t l oft s a e whe e n nal zi r l t am a m he our s ppl he aw he t t r t aleg tr oc re St v Unie St e 373F. 11 11 ( 1h Ci. he l ed o t cu rd. one . td ats, 3d 29, 30 1 t r 2004) Hee t . r ,he c t pplesFl i sm e c m apr tc t t a (r sa eacli f rne i nc u rFl i a our a i orda' di al l aci e or l w.t o t t ' a m o glge e nde ord lw,apl ntf mus ale t t def nda owed t pl i ifadut ofc r ,t tt de e a ai if t l ge hat he e nt he a ntf y a e ha he f ndan t be c e t t u y a dta teb e c c u e teplitf t s fe da g s'fe sv Ci o t r a h d ha d t , n h t h r a h a s d h an if o u fr ma e . wi . t fs . ' y Pees u g, 0F.d1 6 1 6 ( 1hCi.0 ) Top e al ee Plitf h r n e e t i e t y trb r 26 3 2 0, 2 2 1 t r2 01. r v i h r , an if e e e d d o d ni f t pr ders sanda d ofca e,pr uc e de e t tt pr derbr ac d t dut t r nde he ovi ' t r r od e vi nc ha he ovi e he he y o e r me c lc r i a or ncewih t tr quiiesa r and e t bls t tt br c pr ma ey di a a e n cc da t ha e st tnda d, sa ih ha he ea h oxi t l c u e teij r alg d M os nv Fr n K. i, r, D.P. , 31S 2 3 8 3 9(n DCA a s d h nu y l e . ia . a k Krz J .M , A. 5 o.d 9 , 9 2 d e 1 . meeposi lt ofs c us i i note 988)A r sbiiy uch a aton s nough; ndwheet matrrmansoneofpur a r he te e i e s e uaino c ne t r,o tep o a lte aea b s e ny b lnc d,h c u t a ad t t p c lto r o j cu e r h r b bi is r t e t ve l aa e te o r h s u y o i - 4- die tave ditf t de enda . Goodig v.Uni r t Ho pialBlg rc r c or he f nt n ve si y s t d ., I .445So. 1 ( a. nc, 2d 015 F1 1 4) Se al ,Bei lv faz nb 444 So 2d 953( a.1 . r ,Pli ifne dt pr de 98 . e so se . e y, F1 984) He e antf ede o ovi . e i e c t t rSe u d sij r wa p o i tl c u e b b e c o t p e aln p o e so l v d n e ha M . g n o' nu y s r xmaey a s d y ra h fhe rv iig r fsina sa r of c r -t t i, t lvelof ca e s l, a te t nt whih t nda d a e ha s he e r , kil nd r a me c , i lghtof a1 r e nt n i l elva s r undi cr um sa s i r cognie as a ce a e a a opra e by r a ona y pr uro ng ic t nce , s e zd c ptbl nd ppr it e s bl ud ent smia he t c r pr de s Fl. tt j7 6 1 2 1 a d j7 6.0 3 () i l r alh a e ovi r . a S a. 6 .0 4 ) n 6 1 2()b . Pl i ifhasf ied t a ntf al o pr de a c ovi ny ompetnt e de ofa br ac oft sa r ofca e by an of M r Se e vi nce e h he t nda d r y . gundo' s at nda s 1 taon e t bls d ar ltons p be we n t tc te nt, e l e sa ihe ea i hi t e ha onduc a M r Se t nd . gundo' de t s a h. W hen adeai e al ge t tt Unie St t wa ne i nti pr di medi care, t ne le s ha he t d aes s glge n ovi ng cal a dt a t eUntdS ae ' le e n gie c c usdt ed ti e ij r , t det i must n h t h i tts alg d e l n e a e h ean e nu y he anee e g pr em e ca ore r opi on t si onys fcintt esa ih t tt ale oduc di l xpe t ni e tm uf e o t bls ha he l ge neg i nc of d lge e t eUntdS ae c u e panifsalg dij r fambert 198Fed.Appx at839.Thediti t h i tts a s d litf l e n uy e e , src . . c ti fambe tf our n r ound t tt m e ca neglge ec am f ie bec us La r ha not ha he di l i nc l i a ld a e mbe t d s itd t ny medialt tm o ore r t si onyt s ubm te s a c esi ny xpe t e tm o uppor hi cli a t ere w as no t s a ms nd h e de eofc us ton.'fambe t 1 Fe . Appx. 8 Thepl i ifi t tca ea gue t tt vi nc a ai ' r, 98 d at 38. antf n ha s r d ha he dititc te r d i deer ni t the ha t pr e expe tmedialt si src our re n t mi ng ha d o es nt r c e tm ony prort ti i i o ral n r s o s t te g v mme tsmoi n f rs mmayj d me t 1 at839.The El vent Cicui e p n e o h o e n ' to o u r u g n d. e h r t . diag ee wiht fambe tpl i ifa afi me t dititc tsgr ntofs s r d t he r antf nd tr d he src our ' a u mmayj d me ti r ug n n f voroft Unie St t s Se Bu lrv Uniedst e , a he td a e . e te . t ats 20l1W L 1 01 at*8( S. Marh24, 631 3, D. C. c 2 1 ( rn igteUni dS ae ' to f rs mmayj g n a an t f nne imaeriiga 01 ) g a tn h t tts mo in o u r ud me t g is a o rn t asn n e FTCA cai whe e l ai if ha pr e e no evi nce s h a a fda t fom ot rm e ca lm r s ntf s es nt d pl de , uc s fi vis r he di l pr e sonaso a o he t ofmediale denc , of s i l r ny t r ype c vi e ts o uppor hi cli ' , t s am.) Ronev Unie ats '' . tdst e , 20 W L 5031 , a * D.SC.De .1 ,20 9 (a l Lu k t v 09 307 t 5( . c 4 0 ) s me ; c et Unied St es,2009 W L t at . 1 5 41 a * ( D.M ih J n 2 , 2 0 )(dlitf ha n ts b te a y me ia o ii n 8 6 7, t 5 E. c . u e 9 0 9 s an if s o u mi d n d c l pn o p t e de t s vi nce o uppor hi cl m t s ai . . . . ( h mo in f rs mmayj dg n c u db g a td o ti T1 e to o u r u me t o l e r ne n h s g o n ao e'. r u d 1n .) ' Pl ntf, ai ifhowe , ha f ie t pr dea medial e t pi ont ver s al d o ovi ny c or xper o ni e tm on i hi c s si y nt s a e; s ha ye t e n dic os a e t Theque ton ofwhe he am e cal a ii re pl dt he s t o ve s l e n xper. si t r di pr cttone m oye h e c rec pr e esf t dignos sa te t e cn o r t oc dur or he a i nd r am nt nnot a we e be ns r d wihoute r t tmony. kv : t xpe tesi Rul 26()2)B) F. Ci P. , Tor esv.Sulian, 903 So. 1 ( DCA 2005 ;Thoma v e a( ( , R. V. See r lv 2d 064 2nd ) s . Be ros 348 So.2 9 5 9 8( n DCA 1 7 )(ttn t a e p r tsi n i awa srq ie t ri , d 0,0 2d 9 7 saig h t x e te tmo y s l y e ur d o pr a ca ebas on a i ore dignossort a i oft wr ove s ed n nc r ct a i he dopton he o ngmehod ofte t nt. t rame ) Unde Fl rdalw,hepl i ifhast bur n ofpr ngbyt r o i a t antf he de ovi h egr a e weghtoft e de et t e tr i he vi nc ha t a lgeda tonsbyt he lh c r pr de r pr e e ab he lv ci he at a e ovi r e es ntd r a h oft a e e sa r ofca e ec he cc pt d t nda d r f t he t c r pr de . Re dsv Bu t or he alh a e ovi r ynol . r , 3 9 So2 5 ( s DCA 1 78 . a Mr Segundo 5 .d 0 1 t 9 ) Th t . s f r aca dic a r hm i t tl t hi demiedoesnoti ofis l esa ih ac us ofa ton ufe ed r a rhyt a ha ed o s s n te f t bls a e c i . Fl.S a.j 7 61 2 3( )($ e e itn eo ame c lij l d e n tce t a y i er nce or a tt 6 .0 ( )b E Th x se c f dia n uy o s o rae n nf e pr s m pton ofneg i nc a i tahe t ca epr de . . . eu i lge e ga ns alh r ovi r '. ' ) Uli ael Pl i ifha f l t de o taet ts tm t y, antf s aied o m nsr t ha umm a r yj d me t sn t p r p it a u g n i o a p o rae t t ij n t r . an iffi dd rn d s o eyt p o i ea ys p ri e p r evi et s hs u cu e Plitf al u i g ic v r o r v d n u po t x e t denc o uppor e ve t t cli f ne i enc i pr di me c c r . The Kr m eDe e i Cen e m e c lr c ds he am or glg e n ovi ng di al a e o t nton t r di a e or s uppor t tM r Seg tha . undo waste t df hi dibetcc to i udi as c a dit r a e or s a i ondii n ncl ng pe i l e , ppr pra e o it ,a m e c tons t c dal bl t t ,extnsve1 ts i a anEKG dia i ,wie iy ood ess e i ab e tng, nd , al durngt s r tmet t l i he ho ti ha M r Segmdo wa a de ane a Kr tDe e i Ce er Atm os,t m e a r c dsi t sca e . t s t i e t om t nton nt . t he di l e or n hi s - 6- e tbls t tM r Se sa ih ha . gundohaddibeest tr quie andr ceve , a opra edaiyte t nta a t ha e r d, e i d ppr it l r a me nd c r The e was no i c ton ofcor na y a t r di ea e a i f c , M r Se a e. r ndi a i o r r e y s s , nd n a t . gundo was a s s d s es e t c daiy(xc ptwhe her us d)a ha anor EKG da prort hi unf t t,s n wie l e e n ef e nd d mal ys i o s orunae udde c r a deah. r i no e de e o opi on t si on s a dic t The e s vi nc r ni e tm y uggesi adeviton fom t s a r tng a i r he tnda d ofc r by a e oy of heUnie St t t tldt orwoul ha pr vent t f t la r h i . a e n mpl ee t t d aes ha t o d ve e ed he a a rhytm a Th Dee da tUntd S at h sme isb r e o p o u to a t i s mmayj d me t e fn n ie tts a t t u d n f r d cin t hs u r u g n sa i t ltgain.Plitf ne dedt tgobe tge n he ii to anif e o l yondt pla ngsa by g afda t,orbyt he e di nd ) fi vis he de ii , ns e st i e r t i s a a isonsonfl , i naes i f t s wi t t postons a w r o nt rogaore , nd dm s i ie desg t pecfc ac s ho ng ha t r i age ngis f rti .' otx, U. a 3 Ast nonm ovi pa t Pli tf ne de he e s nui s ue o ral'Cel e 477 S. t 24. he ng ry, a n if e d t pr s nte de et twa m or t n ' e ey c o a e' f whe e de ei nottsg fca l o e e vi nc ha s e ha ' r l ol r bl ' or n vi nc s m ' tinii nty p o tv ,u r j g n ma b ga td.An es nv fi e t Lo b , n .4 7U. 2 2 2 9 rbaie s mma y ud me t y e rn e ' d ro . b ry b y I c, 7 S. 4 , 4 ' 52 (98 .Pli ifha fie t me tt sbur n,fii t de i t te tng medialsafa 1 6) antf s ald o e hi de alng o sgnae r ai c tf s e rs o pr de t ne es a y Rul 26 dicos e f us ofateai medi lpr de a a xpe t, r ovi he c s r e s l ur or e r tng ca ovi r s n e p r, ro h r s d fnd wih r c r e i e c . eRul 2 ( )2 ( .Noa l,s fie t x et o t ewie ee t e o d v d n e Se e 6 a( )C) tby he ald o r pondt t De e ntsM otonf Summ a yJ m e a al. Pl ntf ha noti ntfe a es o he f nda ' i or r udg nt t lThe ai if s de i d ny aleg d neglge i vi ua ,oral ge neg i ntbe vi .Ac or ngl Def nda sM oton f l e i nt ndi d l le d lge ha or c di y, e nt i or Summ a yJ r udgmen i her by GRAN T a t sc eDI I ts e nd hi as SM SSED. ' x *- DONE AN D ORDERED i Cha r a M im i Fl i ,t s n mbe s t a , orda hi da ofJ ,201 y une 4. <7* M' .. ' M ' R wJ ' * v >- FED E O A. UN I TED ES D I STRI J G E CT UD Copi s pr de t e ovi d o: Couns ofRe or el c d
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