Rivera v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, No. 1:2015cv24173 - Document 59 (S.D. Fla. 2016)
Court Description: OPINION AND ORDER granting 47 Motion for Summary Judgment. Closing Case. Motions Terminated: 47 Defendant's MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., 46 Defendant's MOTION in Limine to Exclude Plaintiff's Expert under Daubert filed by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.. Signed by Judge Patricia A. Seitz on 12/8/2016. (yha) NOTICE: If there are sealed documents in this case, they may be unsealed after 1 year or as directed by Court Order, unless they have been designated to be permanently sealed. See Local Rule 5.4 and Administrative Order 2014-69. Modified text on 12/8/2016 (yha).
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Rivera v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd Doc. 59 U NI TED STATES DISTR I T C O URT C SO UTH ERN DISTRICT OF FLO RIDA CA SE NO .1 2417 Cl SEl TU RNO FF 53- V- TZ/ I DO RA RI ERA, SI V Pl ntf, ai if RO YA L CARI BBEAN CRU I SES LTD . , A LI BERI CORPORATI D/ A AN ON B/ ROYA L CARI BBEAN I TERN ATI N ONA L, Def endant . / O RDER G R ANTI M O TI N FO R SUM M AR Y JUD GM ENT NG O THI M ATTER i bef et Cour on Def S s or he t endantRoyalCarbbean Cr s Lt ' M oton f i uies d.s i or SummayJ me ( 47 .Pl nifcl mss si e a flwhiewaki ont a ie-ovee r udg nt DE- ) aitf ai he lpp d nd el l l ng o n c c rd sage onboar D ef t d endantsshi because Def ' p endantf l t w ar hert tt sage toorw asi aied o n ha he t l ce. Dee a c tndst tii e ildt s fnd nt one ha ts ntte o ummayj me be a eihasnodut t wanhe ofa r udg nt c us t yo r r n open and obvi i sage and because Pl ntf hasnotpr ded evi ous ce t ai if ovi dencet est i t o ablsh hat Def endantsaleged neglgence pr mat y caus herdam ages. V i i t r d evi ' l i oxi el ed ew ng he ecor dence i t n he lghtm os f abl t t Pl ntf ,t Cour fndsPl ntf hases abls a genui i ue of i t avor e o he ai if he ti ai if t ihed ne ss mat i f ast Def eral act o endantsdut ofwar buthasnotmetherbur ast pr m a e caus ' y n, den o oxi t e. Pl ntf pr ai if oduced no expertt tm ony even t es i hough e tt tm ony i r r t esabls medi xper esi s equied o t ih cal c ustonf Pl ntf cli dij is Theeor,heCour mutgan s a ai or ai ips ame nure . rf e t t s r t ummayj gme fr r ud nt o D ef endant . 1. U ndi ed M at i Fact sput er al s Pli ifa dhe f l weepa sngesonDee a ' Alu eo heSe scuies p.g antf n r amiy r se r fnd nts lr ft a r s hi DE 47( f' Sttme ofUndipue Fat C1 '!1;DE 56( .sRepons t Def' SOF!1. De.s ae nt s td cs SOF' ) ) Pl' s e o .s )1 O n Novem ber l5,201 Pl ntf and herf iy had tcket t atend dl G am es'i t s p' 4, ai if am l i s o t dce ' n he hi s Dockets.Justia.com Stdi B.g 47( .sSOF! 9,1 1 ;DE 56( .sRepons t Def' SOF! 9 1 1 . Sh u o DE Def' ! 2-3) Pl' s e o .s ! , 2-3)J e ha pr vi sya tn d adif e s w i S udi B c le Que twhe ea e c me r we e d e ou l te de fernt ho n t o ald s, r udin e mbe s r i tdt c o oano iesa .( 5 ( .sSae ntofAddii lMaeilFa t !!2nvie o ome nt n-c tge DE 6 Pl' ttme tona tra cs 3, 5) DE 58( f' Res et Pl' Sttme tofAddii MaeilFa t ! 2- 5. Onteda of ; De.s pons o .s ae n tonal tra cs ! 3, )1 h y t i de ,Pl ntf ar ved a St o B s ty bef e Sl Gam es' began. Upon ar i ,she coul he nci nt ai if ri t udi hor l or tce ' rval d set sa ,( 47( .sSOF !1 ;DE 56( .sRes et De.sSOF!l 1buta c di e he tge DE Def' 8) PI' pons o f' 8), c or ng t he tsi o r etmony, h wa una r t tt sa wasc r i ie.( 47- ( veaDe 5 7- . s e s wae ha he tge oveed n c DE 1 Ri r p. 9: 9)) No b ria sorsa hi r ss pa ae t sar a efom t sa ee r nc g 56 ( .s a rc de tnc on ope e r td he tic s r he t g nta e. DE Pl' Sttme tofAd tonal t ilFa t ! 8- ;DE 5 ( f' Repons t Pl' Sttme of ae n dii Maera cs ! 9) 8 De.s s e o .s ae nt Addii al tra Fa t ! 8-)1Noonewaso t sa whe s arv g 47( f' SOF ton Maeil cs ! 9. n he tge n he ried.DE De.s :1 ) DE 56( .sResons t De.sSOF!1 )1 8; Pl' p e o f' 8. Pli ifpoc e dt wakd t saraet me the fmiyi tefon r l( 47 1 antf r e de o l own he tic s o e r a l n h r t ow. DE ( ve aDe 57: 5- . Ass se pe on ot ie sa ,s sipeda f l ba k r ont t Ri r p. 1 25)1 he t p d t he c tge he lp nd el c wa d o he t ,causng hert l on herback,hi herhead,l e cons ousnes and suf era concusson and loor i o and t os ci s f i tau . g 47- ( v r De 62: - 65:- 0) DE 56( .sSttme tofAddii Maei r maz DE 1 Riea p. 2122; 5 1 ; Pl' ae n tonal tral Fa t ! 1 . S wastke t t i ima' wh r s esa do r gh.( 47- ( veaDe cs ! 6)1 he a n o he nfr l ee h tye veni t DE 1 Ri r p. y 6 2-)) Th ne da ,atrt s prt n dt For La r e, orda Pli ifwa tk nt a 4: 6 . e xt y fe he hi eure o t udedal Fl i , antf s a e o hospiali For Lauder e and was r eas t s e day.1 at64: 7t n t dal el ed he am d. 1 25. Pl ntf fl t sacton on N ovem ber6,2015. The Cour' Januar 29,201 Schedulng ai if ied hi i ts y 6 i Or rquie Plitf t s rehe e erdicos e byJ y27,201 ( 1 1OnJ y27, 6, der e rd anifo ev r xp t sl urs ul 6.DE 4. ul 201 Pli ifs ghta e ensonuntl gus 1 20l ( 25,whihDefn ntdi n oppo ea dt antf ou n xt i iAu t 9, 6 DE ) c e da d ot s n he 1Su oB ha bla h rsyl sai wi t sag a tefoorlve.( 47 1( veaDe tdi s e c e -t e e tng t he t e t h l e l DE - Ri r p. h 47: 1 . 3- 7)1 2Thee tn ofPlitf' ij isi i dipue ( 58( .sRep.oPl' Sae n o xe t anifs nure s n s t. DE Def' s t .s ttme t f Ad to lMaei Fat ! l 1 )1 diina tral cs ! 7- 9 . Coutgrne g 261 anifdicosdt e da g e rso Au t1 2 6 Dr Da d r a td DE .Plitf sl e hre ma e xpet n gus 9, 01 - . vi Pet s an orhopedi s geon,Dr.Cher Surl f a neur ps er on, t c ur i of , o- ychol s ,and D r Shar Yegi a ogit . on an, neur ogit- butf l t pr de Dr Surl f' exper r ol s3 aied o ovi . of s t eportatt tm e ast r hat i he eportw as i omplt 4 ( 49- a 2.Pl nifalof ldt ma he e ersa ia ef de iinwihi nc ee. DE 1 t 1 aitf s aie o ke r xp t valbl or posto t n 1 da atrdicos r a rquie b t Or rRe rngJ n Sc dulngRe t( 1 a 4. 4 ys fe sl ue s e rd y he de quii oit he i por.DE 2 t q M a sr t J dge Tur ft en or r d Pl i tf t ma he e e t a ia e by Se t m b r22, gita e u nof h de e a n if o ke r xp r s va l bl pe e 201 ( 43. Howe r s a ai fie t dos Asars tM a srt J dgeTur fodee 6.DE ) ve, he g n ald o o. e ul, gitae u nof r rd Pl ntf' e rssrc enf n c inc wihCour or r.g 51) ai ifs xpet tik or on-ompl e t a t des DE . I I. Sum m ar Judgm entSt y andard Summar ud nti a op it whe tepla ngss ow t tter i noge neis eas yj gme s ppr rae n h e di h ha h e s nui su t an maeralfc a dt tt mo ngpat i enildt aj gme a amat oflw.And ron o y t i a t n ha he vi ry s tte o ud nt s ter a es v fi ryLob y,nc,477U. 2 2 ( 98 ; He t x nw.o ,I .v EmplyesHe t . bet b l . S. 42, 47 1 6)HCA a1h % fGa. nc . o r alh l s Co.240 F. 982, ( 1h Ci. ) l ma ngt sa s s me , heCour mu tviw t n. , 3d 991 1 t r 2001. n ki hi s e s ntt t s e he r d and al f uali er ecor I act nf encest efom i t lghtm os f abl t t non- ovi pary. her r n he i t avor e o he m ng t Stwar v Ha y He ma ' Che hieBrd , n ,1 7 F.d 1 1 ( lhCi.1 7) e t . pp r n s s r ige I c. l 3 278, 285 l t r 99 . Oncet m ovi pary dem onsr est abs he ng t tat he ence ofa genui i ue ofm at alf ,t ne ss eri act he non- ovi pary mus pr de evi m ng t t ovi dence t s o how t e i a genui i ue f t al M at hia El her s ne ss or ri . sus t ec. I dus Co.v Ze t Radi Cor , U. 574,5 ( 986) Thenon- ngpa t ma no r y n . . nih o p.475 S. 87 1 . movi ry y t el s el on t pl ngs,butm us s ol y he eadi t how by r d evi ecor dence,i t way ofafi t ,deposii n he fdavis tons, ans st i er ogat i and adm isi ,t ts fi f sexitdem onsr i a genui i ue f wer o nt r ores s ons ha peci c act s tatng ne ss or til Se Fe R. v. 56c,()s ealoCeotxCor v CJ/e/47 U. 31 3 ( 9 .A ra. e d. Ci P. () e; e s l e p. . r/, 7 S. 7, 24 1 86) m e e çsci il 'ofevi r l ntla' dence suppori t opposi pary' poston w ilnotsuf ce;i t t e tng he ng t s ii l fi ns ead, her 3Pl ntf di notdicl e any labiiy expert. ai if d s os i lt s 4Dr Surof pr vi d h re r r po t Se e r22, l ( 49- a 2. . l f o de e xpe t e r on ptmbe 20 6. DE 1 t j mus beas fce s ngt tt j yc dr s bl fndfrt tpat An ron, U. a t ufiint howi ha he ur oul eaona y i o ha ry. des 477 S.t 25 s ealo Wale v Dar y 911F. l 73,1 77 ( 1hCi.1 90) 2; e s kr . b 2d 5 5 1 t r 9 . 1 1. 1 D icus on s si Feder m artme l gover t scase. Underm artme l ,t esabls a neglgence cl m , al ii aw ns hi ii aw o t ih i ai apl ntf mus s t t( )tedee n h daduyt prtc t pli iffo apatc a ij r ai if t how ha l h fnda t a t o oe the antf rm riulr nuy; ( t d e n be c dt tduy;3)t bra ha t l a poxi tl c usdt plitf' 2) he efnda t ra he ha t ( he e c cual nd r maey a e he anifs y ij r a d( t pl ntf s frdat lh nuy; n 4)he ai if ufee cua ann.fl nv No e a Cr s Li Lt ,93F.Su pki . nvgin uie ne d. pp. 3 l l ,1 9 ( D.Fl 201 ( ii Ch par o v Car v Cor ,693F. 1 3,l 6 ( 1h Ci. d 3 l 3l S. a. 5) ctng a r . nial p. 3d 33 33 1 t r 201 ). Ea helme i e s nta t a n glge ecai a Pl ntf c nnotsmpl r s ont e 2 ) c e nt s s e il o e i nc l m nd ai if a i y et h ale ainsofhe c antt dee ts lg to r ompli o fa ummayj r udgme .fu v Car v Cor ,l 4F. nt go . nial p. 5 Supp. 3d l 1 1 ( D. a. 1 . 34 , 345 S. Fl 20 5) I t scas Pl ntf mai ai t Def n hi e, ai if nt ns hat endantowed hera dut ofcar butbr y e, eached t hat dut by f lng t war heroft i sage. She cl mst Def y aii o n he ce t ai hat endant sf l et w ar caused hert ' aiur o n o f l nds frij is icldi ac nc son,r urngs z e a dba ka ne kij is ala ufe nure ,n u ng o usi ec ri eiurs n c nd c nure . D ef endantdoesnotdi put t asa s pow ner i ow espass s e hat hi ,t enger a dut ofr onabl car under s y eas e e tecic tnc s T rsv Car v Cop.635Fe Appx.5 6 ( 1hCi.2 5) Howe r h rumsa e . ore . nial r , d, 95, 01 1 t r 01 . ve, i se n s n e kig ummayj gme ,Dee n c e t t n .Fis,t tiha nodut t r ud nt fnda t ontnds wo higs rt ha t d yo s fcaly w ar Pl ntf oft i sage becaus t i w hi i a slppe y s f was open and pecii l n ai if he ce t e he ce, ch s i r ur ace, obvi ous. Second,D ef endantar guest even i i br hat f t eached a dut Pl ntf cannotshow t t y, ai if hat he br each pr mat y caused heraleged damages. I r pons Pl ntf ar oxi el l n es e, ai if guest t open a hat he nd obvi docti i i ous rne s napplcabl butof er no r d evi i e, f s ecor dencet esablsh pr m at caus o t i oxi e e. A st Def o endantsdut t w ar Pl ntf hases abls a genui i ue f t al W hie ' yo n, ai if t ihed ne ss or ri . l gener l t e i no dut t war ofdanger t ar open and obvi i nat e,a diput ast aly her s yo n s hat e ous n ur s e o wh te t d ge wa ope a obviuspe e t afcua is f t j y.Compar Coh nv eh r he an r s n nd o rs ns a t l sue or he ur e e . Car v Cor ,945F.Su 2 l 1 1 - ( D. a. 3 (i ngt tsar on ag ngplnk nial p. pp. d 35 , 357 58 S. Fl 201 ) fndi ha tis a a w er open and obvi t a pl ntf who had been on sever prorcr s and w asf ii w ih t e ous o ai if al i uies am lar t he s p' die akme tpr e s wi Mei t v Car v Cor ,49F.Supp3 1 0,1 94- ( D. hi s s mb r n oc s) t rdeh . nial p. h d 09 0 95 S. Fl 201 (idi ta si r c nstononas p' fo ma notbeob oust aplitf ev n a. 4) fn ng h t lppey onde ai hi s lor y vi o anif e i pl ntf pr ousy vi t t tpari arl i becauset t scondii m ay have changed f ai if evi l sied ha tcul ocaton he loor tons bewe nviis.l t sc s ,Pli iftsiidta s ha prvi l viie Stdi B a dobsre t e st) n hi a e antf etfe h t he d e ousy std u o n ev d ohe pa sng r waki onano iesa .( 5 ( .sSttme ofAddii lMaeilFa t !! t r se es l ng n-c tge DE 6 Pl' ae nt tona tra cs 2-,5)1Dui bot viis tesa wa smial c ordwihbl t bl s grylghtng.g 3 . rng h st,h tge s i lry ol e t ue o uih- e i i DE 47 l( veaDe 58:9- l 6-0)1Pli ifas t tfe t tbeor se ngont tesa , - Ri r p. 1 23; 02: 1 . antf lo esiid ha f e tppi o h tge s wa u waet sa ewasc rd i ie.( 47- ( v aDe 58:9- )1 Viwi t s he s na r he tg ovee n c DE 1 Rier p. 1 23 . e ng hee f t i lghtm os f abl t Pl ntf ,t e i a ques i ofmat i f ast whet t i was ac s n i t avor e o ai if her s ton eral act o her he ce open and obvi ous. However ast pr m a e caus Pl ntf has notsatsfed herbur , o oxi t e, ai if ii den. Pl ntf hast ai if he bur t esabls t Def den o t ih hat endant sconductcaus hert f land t t f lpr m at y caus ' ed o al hat he al oxi el ed t camedij ist he ba a ne k, swela t s z e .Esa ihi me c lc usto he li nure o r ck nd c a l s he eiurs tbls ng dia a ain r q r st tsi e uie he e tmony ofa e r.Kel rv NCL ( hamas,Lt , l W L 44 51 a *1( D. n xpe t lne . Ba ) d.20 6 40 0, t S. Fl.Aug. 201 )(i er t si a 22, 6 i Exp t e tmony i r quie t e tbls me c lc us tonf c ndii not s e r d o sa ih dia a a i or o tons ra l obs r a eors c ptbl t e l ton b ly p s .';s ealoJ sv Ro Ca i e e diy e v bl us e i e o vauai y a erons' e s one . yal rbb an ) Cr ie ,Lt ,201 W L 8 61a *6( D.Fl.Aprl4,2 3)(s-er i nodoub t a a e s ntal us s d. 3 6953 t S. a i 01 s-h e s l t h t n se i el ementofPl ntf sneglgence cl m i hi bur ofi r ai if' i ai s s den ntoduci exper t tm ony t es abls ng t es i o t ih me c c us ton.) Pl ntf ha notoferd a e r t tmon s M or ove , h me c dial a ai ' . ai if s ' f e ny xpe t esi y. e r t e dial condii s cl m st have r uled f om herf lar notr l obs vabl t a l per on. tons he ai o es t r al e eadiy er e o ay s Pl ntf t tfed t s susai neck and head t auma t r t i quadr ai if es ii hat he t ned r hat esuled n anopsi a condii a ton 5Pl ntf m edi expersw er srcken f f l e t m aket ai ips cal t e ti or aiur o hem avaiabl f deposii i l e or ton n a c r nc wih Cour or r . ( 51J c o da e t t de s DE . wihhe pei r vii a siursg 47- ( veaDe 7 1 23),a wela poblmswi t r rpheal son nd ez e DE 1 Ri r p. 2:9- 1 s l s r e t h concentaton,m em or l and hi bl pr sur 1 at 1 1- . None oft e condii ar ri y oss gh ood es e. d. 06: 21 hes tons e r l obs vabl t a I per eadiy er e o ay son. M or eover Pl ntf t tfed t prort t i dent she sufer , ai if es ii hat i o he nci , f ed fom back pai i at1l3: 7,and hi bl pr sur 1 a 11 1 5. Exper t i ony i t ef e r n, d. 5gh ood es e. d. t 4: t estm s her or n es yt ditng s whihale e ij isweepoxi t yc usdbyhe fla whihwee ec sar o si uih c lg d nure r r mael a e r al nd c r not W ihoutexpe t tm ony,Pl ntf ca . t rt es i ai if nnots if herbur n ofes abls ng pr m a e caus ats y de t ihi oxi t e a dDee n i e tte t aj me a amatroflw. n fnda t s nild o udg nt s te a A ccor ngl i i di y, t s O RD ERED THA T () Dee n Roy Cai a Cr ssLTD.sMotonf Su r J gme ( 47 i 1 fnda t al rbbe n uie ' i or mmay ud nt DE- q s GRANTED.TheCour wile t as paaej gme . t l ner e rt ud nt ( ) Al ot rp ndi motonsa eDENI AS M OOT. 2 l he e ng i r ED ( Thi c s i CLOSED. 3) s ae s D N A DO D RDiMi i li, iF edyf eebr21. O E N R E E n a , od ts 'aoDcm e 06 m F rah , # - * PATRI I A .S Z A UN I TED STATES D1 RI J DG E S CT U cc: H onor e W ilam C .Tur f abl li nof A l Couns ofRecor l el d 6
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