Allard v. Eisenhauer

971 F. Supp. 2d 458, 2013 WL 5177737
CourtDistrict Court, D. New Jersey
DecidedSeptember 13, 2013
DocketCivil No. 11-3279 (NLH/KMW)
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 971 F. Supp. 2d 458 (Allard v. Eisenhauer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. New Jersey primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Allard v. Eisenhauer, 971 F. Supp. 2d 458, 2013 WL 5177737 (D.N.J. 2013).

Opinion

OPINION

HILLMAN, District Judge.

This matter comes before the Court by way of Third-Party Defendant City of Sea Isle City’s motion [Doc. No. 24] seeking summary judgment pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 with respect to Third-Party Plaintiff Carolyn Eisen-hauer’s claim that it is liable for Plaintiffs damages as Eisenhauer’s employer. The Court has considered the parties’ submissions and decides this matter pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 78.

For the reasons expressed below, Third-Party Defendant City of Sea Isle City’s motion for summary judgment will be denied.

I. JURISDICTION

The Court exercises jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332 based on diversity of citizenship and an amount in controversy in excess of $75,000. Plaintiff Nancy Allard (hereinafter, “Al-lard” or “Plaintiff’) is a citizen of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Defendant and Third-Party Plaintiff Carolyn Ei-senhauer (hereinafter, “Eisenhauer”) is a citizen of the State of New Jersey. Therefore, complete diversity of citizenship exists between the parties. The amount in controversy is met because the allegations contained in Plaintiffs complaint sufficiently demonstrate that the damages sought are in excess of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs.

[460]*460After Plaintiff initiated suit against Ei-senhauer, Eisenhauer filed a third-party complaint against the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol1 and Sea Isle City, New Jersey. For purposes of assessing whether complete diversity of citizenship exists between the parties, the Court need only consider the citizenship of Plaintiff and Defendant Eisenhauer and not that of Third-Party Defendant City of Sea Isle City (hereinafter, “Sea Isle City”) because, “it is not required that diversity of citizenship exist between the third-party defendant and the plaintiff, or ... between defendant, as third-party plaintiff, and the third-party defendant.” New Hampshire Ins. Co. v. Diller, 678 F.Supp.2d 288, 292 (D.N.J.2009) (citing Spring City Corp. v. Am. Bldgs. Co., 193 F.3d 165, 169 (3d Cir.1999)).

II. BACKGROUND

The basic facts of this case are undisputed and relate to Plaintiffs allegations that she sustained serious injuries after being struck by a car driven by Eisenhauer in the summer of 2009. That summer, Ei-senhauer was beginning her second season as a lifeguard for the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol. (Third-Party Defendant’s Statement of Undisputed, Material Facts [Doc. No. 24-1] (hereinafter, “Sea Isle City’s Statement”), ¶¶ 1-2; Defendant and Third-Party Plaintiffs Counter Statement of Undisputed Material Facts [Doc. No. 25] (hereinafter, “Eisenhauer’s Statement”), ¶¶ 1-2.) At that time, Eisenhauer was under the age of eighteen and held the status of a junior lifeguard.2 (Tr. of Eisenhauer’s Dep. [Doc. No. 24-2] 12:10-12, 26:7-17.)

On June 27, 2009, the date when Plaintiff was struck, Eisenhauer was assigned to start her shift working on the 43rd Street beach in the morning and then, come noon, she was to complete her shift working on the 65th Street beach. (Sea Isle City’s Statement ¶¶ 7-9; Eisenhauer’s Statement ¶¶ 7-9.) Eisenhauer was “expected” to find her own means of transportation from one beach assignment to the next. (Eisenhauer’s Statement, ¶¶ 6-7; Sea Isle City’s Statement, ¶ 15.) On the date in question, Eisenhauer used her father’s 3 2002 Toyota Camry to travel from her morning assignment at the 43rd Street beach to her afternoon assignment on 65th Street. (Sea Isle City’s Statement ¶ 9; Eisenhauer’s Statement ¶ 9.) While en route to her second assignment on 65th Street beach,4 Eisenhauer struck Plaintiff [461]*461and knocked her over as Plaintiff was crossing Landis Avenue. (Plaintiffs Complaint [Doc. No. 1] (hereinafter, “PL’s Compl.”), ¶ 3.) Plaintiff sustained serious and permanent physical injuries stemming from the accident. (Id. ¶ 5.) Based on these facts, Plaintiff asserts a negligence claim against Eisenhauer and demands judgment for compensatory damages, interest, and costs of suit. (Id.)

As set forth supra, after Plaintiff brought this action, Eisenhauer filed a third-party complaint against Sea Isle City claiming that as an employee of the Beach Patrol, she was acting as an agent and/or representative of Sea Isle City at the time of the subject accident. (Defendant and Third Party Plaintiff Complaint [Doc. No. 17] (hereinafter, “Eisenhauer’s Compl.”), ¶ 4). Furthermore, Eisenhauer asserts that to the extent her conduct constitutes negligence, Sea Isle City is responsible for Plaintiffs damages on the basis of vicarious liability. (Id. ¶ 5). Sea Isle City subsequently answered Eisenhauer’s third-party complaint and raised several affirmative defenses, including that Eisenhauer was not acting within the scope of her employment at the time of the accident.5 (Third-Party Defendant’s Answer to Ei-senhauer’s Complaint [Doc. No. 19] (hereinafter, “Sea Isle City’s Answer”) 2.)

III. DISCUSSION

A. Summary Judgment Standard

Sea Isle City, as Eisenhauer’s employer at the time of the accident, now seeks the entry of summary judgment in its favor on Eisenhauer’s claims for defense and indemnification, based on its contention that she was not acting within the scope of her employment at the time of the accident. (Third-Party Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. No. 24-1] (hereinafter, “Sea Isle City’s Mot.”) 6.) Summary judgment is appropriate where the Court is satisfied that “ ‘the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.’ ” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986) (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 56).

An issue is “genuine” if it is supported by evidence such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict in the nonmoving party’s favor. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A fact is “material” if, under the governing substantive law, a dispute about the fact might affect the outcome of the suit. Id. “In considering a motion for summary judgment, a district court may not make credibility determinations or engage in any weight of the evidence; instead, the non-moving party’s evidence ‘is to be believed and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in his favor.’” Marino v. Indus. Crating Co., 358 F.3d 241

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971 F. Supp. 2d 458, 2013 WL 5177737, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/allard-v-eisenhauer-njd-2013.