Pettit v. Carnival Corporation, No. 1:2014cv24773 - Document 17 (S.D. Fla. 2015)

Court Description: ORDER Granting 9 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Senior Judge James Lawrence King on 8/10/2015. (jw)

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Pettit v. Carnival Corporation Doc. 17 I TH E UN I N TED STATES DISTR I CO UR T CT FO R TH E SO UTH ERN DISTR I O F FLOR I CT DA M I M ID I SIO N A VI CA SE N O. 1 CV 4- 24773-1m G 1 REBECCA PETTI T, Pl i if a ntf , VS. CARN I AL CORPORATI , V ON Def enda . nt / O RD ER G R ANTI DEFEN DAN T' M O TION FO R SUM M A RY JU D G M EN T NG S TH IS CA USE com es bef e t Cour upon Def or he t endant s M oton f Sum m a y ' i or r 5.Dee n ve o u r u me t n he J gme t( 9 ,fl M ay 8, 201 l fnda tmo sfrs mmayj dg n o t ud n DE ) ied bai ta Plitf fldhe Co ant( 1,whih sae acam f pes a ij r ss h t anif ie r mpli DE ) c tts li or ron l nuy s de he year s at e of lm iatons t ut i t i due t D ef nda ' alege neglgence, out i of t oneo e nts l d i pr de f by Pl ntf stc tcontac .l r pons Pl ntf a guest t lm ia i ovi d or ai if i ke r t n es e, ai if r hat he i t tons perod s d be equiabl t l d,a t tgenui di put ofm a eralf ct pr ude t i houl t y ole nd ha ne s es t i a s ecl he e tyofs mmayj gme t nr u r ud n . BA CK G R O UN D The f l i f sar undiput olow ng act e s ed: Plitf wa a pa s ng r a a d t e Ca n va Br e e whe s wa ij r d i a an if s s e e bo r h r i l e z n he s n u e n si a f l i de on Sept be 24,2013.Pror t embar ng on Br ze,Pl ntf lp- nd- al nci nt em r i o ki ee ai if 'TheCo r ha a ii a l c nsd r d Pli tf sRe po ei Opp ii n ( 24) fld u t s dd ton ly o i e e an if s ns n osto DE , ie J e24, 5 a d De e ntsRe y i Su or ( 1 ,fld J y 1 201 un 201 , n f nda ' pl n pp t DE 6) ie ul , 5. Dockets.Justia.com c mpltd a Gu s c t Co ta t Ac no e g me t i whih s û fi e t t o ee e tTike n r c k wl d e n , n c he l fnng d) ha a ghe viwe a d k ha a o po tniy t r a alt t r a c ndii nsassa e i s ) e d n ) d n p ru t o e d l he e ms nd o to ttd n te c nrc a t t(he u esl dla a c pte qals c tr a c diins' h o ta t nd ha s ) nd rtoo nd c e ld l u h ems nd on to . ' The tc t c r ctcont ns bot a f um s ec i cl e,nam i t Sout n Di ti t i ke ont a ai h or el ton aus ng he her sr c of Fl i as t a opra e ve orda he ppr it nue f t s ac i and a sa ut of lm ia i ,w hi or hi ton, tt e i t tons ch p o de ta a cam f rpes na ij y l h l no bemanana eune ssldwihi r vi s h t ny li o ro lnur ' al t s iti bl ls e t n on ye ratrt d t ofij r ' e a fe he ae nuy. ' O n Sept be 1 201 onl t el days bef e t de i undert one year em r 2, 4, y w ve or he adlne he s aut oflm ia i ,Pl ntf t ed s ti t Elvent J ci Cicui i a f M i i t t e i t tons ai if ll ui n he e h udi al r t n nd or am D a Count Fl i Pl ntf di nots ve D ef nda untlneary t o m ont l er on de y, orda. ai if d er e nt i l w hs at , N ove be 11, 201 D ef nt tmel tl is fr t and onl r ponsve pl ng on m r 4. enda i y sed t s s y es i eadi D ec be 1,201 i w hi Def ndantm oved t di m is t s a e cour ac i bas on em r 4, n ch e o s s he t t t ton ed t t m s of t f um s ecton cl e c ai i t tc t contact Ther afe on he er he or el i aus ont ned n he i ke r . e t r, De cember 1 201 Pl ntf t ed herCom pl ntbef e t sCour . 7, 4, ai if ll ai or hi t STA NDA RD O N SUM M ARY JUD G M ENT Sl Co ts algrn s s-he ur h l a t ummayj dgme i t mo nts owst tt r i no r u nt f he va h ha hee s g n nedipuea t a y maeilfc a dtemo nti e ildt j dg n a amatr e ui s t s o n tra a t n h va s ntte o u me t s te oflw. Fe R.Ci a ' d. ' v.P.5 ( ) A pa t a s ri t ta f c c n tbe or i ge ney 6 a. ry s e t ha a t a no ng s nui l diput m us s s ed t uppor t as ri by lc tng t pari ul r pa t of m a eral i t t he se ton %ii o tc a rs t i s n he r cor i udi de ii ,doc ent ,el toni l s or i or aton,afs t or e d, ncl ng pos tons um s ec r caly t ed nf m i tdavis d ca a ins si ai s (n l ng t os ma f r p pos s of t mo i n onl , e lr to , tpulton i cudi h e de o ur e he to y) adm i sons,i e r t y ans er or ot m a eral or s i t tm a e i s ct do si nt r oga or w s her t i s; how ng ha t ral ied 2 notes abls t abs t ih he ence orpr ence ofa ge ne diput ort ta adver epary ca es nui s e, ha n s t nnot p o c a s i ee d nc t s ppo t h f c . 1 a 5 c ( ) û n dee mi ngwhehe r du e dmisbl vi e e o u r t e a t' d. t 6( ) 1 .i t r ni ' l t r s ummayj gme i a pr p it,te fcsa i ee c sfom t f csae ve d i r ud nt s p o rae h a t nd nfrn e r he a t r iwe n t lghtm os f vor bl t t non- ovi pary,a t bur i pl ce on t m ovi he i t a a e o he m ng t nd he den s a d he ng pa y t e t ih bot t a ence of a genui m at ral f t a t i i e il t rt o s abls h he bs ne e i ac nd hat t s ntted o j d nta a mat r o lw. Matu hia Elc l s Co v Ze t Ra o Cor ,47 u gme s te f a ' s s t e . ndu . . . nih di p. 5 ' U. 57 5 6- ( 98 . S. 4, 8 87 1 6) l o po i amoin frs n p sng to o ummayj dgme ,teno mo n pat ma n rl r u nt h n- vig ry y ot ey s e y on t pl ngs but m us s ol l he eadi , t how by afi t , depos tons, ans s t fdavis ii wer o i er ogat i and adm i s onst ts fc f t exi tde onsr tng a ge ne is f nt r ores, si ha pecis ac s s m t a i nui s ue or til Se Fe R. v. 5 c ,( ) s e a s Ceotx Cop.v Cate t 477 U. 31 3 ra . e d. Ci P. 6( ) e ; e lo l e r . r t, S. 7, 23 2 ( 98 ) Fu t r t e se e of a û cntla'o e d n e i s p r of t n 4 1 6 . rhe , he xit nc l i il' f vi e c n u po t he on s mov n ' posto i i ufiin ;t r mus be e d nc on whih t j r c ul a ts iin s ns fce t hee t vie e c he uy o d r as e onabl fnd f t non- ovant Ander en v.Li t Lobb I ,477 U . 242,252 y i or he m . s bery y, nc. S. (98 . ke s ,ac u tne d n tpemi ac s t got aj y whe t i ee c st t 1 6) Li wie o r e o r t a e o o ur n he nfr n e ha ar dr wn fom t evi e a r he dence,a upon whi t non- ovantr i ,a e ûi pl usbl ' nd ch he m eles r ûm a i e. ' Mas s t 475U. a 59 9 Mie v Jfe s C/p## O tu hia, S. t 2-4; z . efron / . fEdu . 93F. 7 ,7 3 . c, 3d 39 4 ( 1h Ci.1 6) 1 t r 99 . Att s mma yj gme sa , h j g sf c i i nott i ih t e i e e he u r ud nt tge t e ud e' un ton s o v g he v d nc we a de er i t tut oft m a t r butt de e m i w het t e i a genui is nd t m ne he r h he te , o t r ne her her s ne s ue f ti . Ander on, U . a 249.l m a ng t sde er i i t Cour m us dec de or ral' ' s 477 S. t n ki hi t m naton, he t t i whi i uesa e m at r a . m a e i f ti one t m i af e t out e oft ca e. ch ss r e i l A t ral ac s hat ght f ct he com he s 3 1 at248.û nl diput ove f t t m i afec t out om e oft s tunder t d. i y s es r ac s hat ght f t he c o he ui he go enig 1w wilp o ry p e ldet e r o s v r n a l r pel r cu he nty f ummayj gme t Fa ta dipue r ud n. cu l s ts t tar ir e ha e rel vantorunneces a y w ilnotbe count d. 1 The Coul m us alo de e m i sr l e ' d. ' ' t t s t r ne whet t diput about a m at i l f i i her he s e era act s ndeed ge ne t t i ,ûi t evi nce i nui s ha s lf he de s s c t tar a o a ej y c l rtr aveditf t n nmo ngpa t '1 ; e ,eg. u h ha e s n bl ur oud eun r c or he o vi ry. d.s e . , ' Ma ie Co igso a.l c v tdSt e , 2 F. 1 0,1 75 ( 1h Ci.1 91 . rn atn fAl , n . .Unie ats 93 2d 37 3 1 t r 9 ) DI SCU SSI N O Pl ntf concedes t t s ac i was fl out de t s at e of lm ia i t ai if hat hi ton ied si he t ut i t tons o w hih t pa tes bound t m s ves i t tc t conta .A tem ptng t si se t s c he ri he el n he i ke r ct t i o de t p hi obvi def t i he Compl nt Pl ntf as t Coul t equia y t lt s a ut of ous ec n r ai , ai if ks he 'o t t bl ol he t t e lm iatons cl m i genui i s of m a e i f t exit as t w he he D e e i t i , ai ng ne s ues t ral ac s o t r f ndants ' c onduc li t lnequia y caus t Pl ntf nott f l s t i f r cour . Enum e a i t bl ed he ai if o ie ui n ede al t' ' r tng t s is s Pli ifca mst a De e nt 1 f ie t n iy Pli ifofisit n i t he e s ue , antf li h t f nda ; ) a ld o otf antf t n e ton o e o c isf r s lc i ca s ,a d 2)ha r p a e y wav d is d f ns ofi o r nf r e t o um e e ton lu e n s e e tdl i e t e e e mpr pe venue f cl ms unde t $75, a ounti contover y t es d of l U. C. or ai r he 000 m -n- r s hr hol 8 S. j 1 32. 3 Equiabl t lng r e s t t doc rne t tper is a cour t t la sat e t e oli ef r o he t i ha mt t o ol t ut oflm ia i w her t cour tndst tan i i t tons e he ts ha nequiabl e t e venthaspr vent e ed pl ntf tm el acton. Exa pl of i ai ifs i y i m es nequiabl e s i ude cas t e vent ncl es w her t def ndantm i ea t pl i ifi o a l ng t s a ut y perod e he e sl ds he a ntf nt lowi he t t or i go l p e wh r pli tf ha no r a o bl wa ofd s ove i t wr ng t l a s , e e an if s e s na e y ic rng he o per t a e aga ns hi or he ,orwher pl i iftm el fl a t hni l pe r t d i t m r e a ntf i y ies ec caly def tve pl ng,but i al ot r r pec s act w ih t pr ec i eadi n 1 he es t s t he oper dii nce lge t tt lm ia i pe i i i ended t i ur ha he i t ton r od s nt o ns e. Ps r y v Ro lCarbb a Cr ie ,Lt ,9 F.Su u n . ya i e n us s d. 26 pp.2d 1 , 1 28 29 ( D. 325 3 - S. 4 Fl .201 )( ga o,J)( ii g Ju tc v Unie St e ,6 F. 1 74 1 9 ( 1h a 3 Un r . c tn s ie . td ats 3d 4 , 47 1 t Ci.1 93 .The b d n i on t pli ift de nsr t t te t b e t lng i r 9 ) ur e s he antf o mo tae ha quia l oli s appr i e,a equiabl t lng i notava l e t a pl ntf w ho f l t brng oprat nd t e oli s iabl o ai if ais o i s t i a tm el f s on des t know i t t lm iatons pe i i r ng.1 ui n i y a hi pie ng hat he i t i r od s unni d. a 1 t 329. Upon cons der i , t Cour fnds t t equiabl t lng of t sat e of i aton he he t ut t i ha t e oli lm ia i w oul be i i t tons d nappr i t The f um s ec i cl opr a e. or el ton ause cl r y sat t a1 ea l t es hat 1 diput s lbe ltgat i t Sout r D iti t of Fl i unl s i i a c ai ove s es hal ii ed n he he n sr c orda es t s l m r whiht fdea c rsoft Unie Sae lc s j c matrj rs cin. fn nti c he e rl ou t he td tts a k ube t te u idito Dee da s notalege t ha t n any acton i t s cas whi h woul ha s l d o ve ake i n hi e c d ve uggesed t Pl ntf t o ai if t tD ef ha endantwas w ai ng t f um s ecton cl e i t tcke c r ,and cl m s vi he or el i aus n he i t ontact ai a r l a e no s b e t t s c in 1 3 s a nti c to ry r qu r me t dmiat r t u j c o e to 3 2' mou -n- on r ve s e ie n . y M or eover Pl ntf fl he sat c ' ac i onl t el da bef e t r ng ofhe , ai if ied r t e oul ton y w ve ys or he unni t r contact s a ut of lm iatons a f l d t s r her com pl ntupon Def ndant f r ual t t e i t i , nd aie o e ve ai e or neary sxt days t eafer A c di y,t f tt Pl ntf i taly fl hercl m i l iy her t . cor ngl he ac hat ai if nii l ied ai n s a e cour,and t tD ef ntm oved t dim i Pl ntf's sat coul acton on t bas s tt t ha enda o s ss ai i t t e ' i t he i ofi pr m operve onl afert sat e oflm ia i had r was a pr nue y t he t ut i t tons un, oduc of t r n t k de ga va i y' neglge on t par ofPl ntf couns .See Critv.Car valCor s41 F. ret ' i nce he t ai ifs el s ni p. 0 App' 1 , 2 ( 1h ci.2 0): Th ,Pli if ha f ie t c ry h r b de of x 97 03 1 t r 01 . us antf s a ld o a r e ur n s wi ie ia e c u t on t pat of Dekn nt s fce t j tf t ho ng n qutbl ond c he r l da ufiint o usiy he 2 Cri i a unpubls st s n i hed deci i , whi t Cour consde ed as non- ndi but son ch he t i r bi ng per uasveaut iy.See 11 h Ci.R.36s i hort t r 2. 5 extaor nar r m edy ofequia et lng. r di y e t bl oli CO NCLU SI N O Afer ca ef e der ton a t Cour bei ot r ie f l a s i i t r ul onsi a i nd he t ng he w s uly dvied, t s O RD ER ED , ADJUD G ED , and DECR EED t t D ef ha endants M oton f Sum m a y ' i or r J g t t( 9 be a t es mei, r by GRANTED . ud m n DE ) , nd h a s he e DO NE AND O R DERED i Cham ber a t J es Lawr n s t he am ence K i Fede al ng r J tce Buidi a Unied St ts Courhous i M i m i M i m iD a Count Fl i , us i l ng nd t at t e, n a , a - de y, or da t s 1 h day ofAugus ,2015, hi 0t t G x J M ES LA W REN CE K I G N I TED STA TES D I STRI J D CT U Cc: A I couns ofre I el cord 6 V

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