Belik v. Carlson Travel Group, Inc.

864 F. Supp. 2d 1302, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 60337, 2011 WL 2221224
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Florida
DecidedJune 6, 2011
DocketCase No. 11-21136-CIV
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 864 F. Supp. 2d 1302 (Belik v. Carlson Travel Group, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Belik v. Carlson Travel Group, Inc., 864 F. Supp. 2d 1302, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 60337, 2011 WL 2221224 (S.D. Fla. 2011).

Opinion

ORDER

CECILIA M. ALTONAGA, District Judge.

THIS CAUSE comes before the Court upon Defendant, Carnival Corporation’s (“Carnival’s]”) Motion to Dismiss ... (the “Motion”) [ECF No. 16], filed May 2, 2011. Carnival seeks to dismiss Plaintiff, Michael Belik’s (“Belik[’s]”) Complaint [ECF No. 1] under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). The Court has carefully considered the parties’ written submissions and applicable law.

I. BACKGROUND1

In April 2010, Plaintiff, Michael Belik (“Belik”), went on a cruise (the “Cruise”) aboard the Valor, organized by Defendants, Carlson Travel Group, Inc. d/b/a SinglesCruise.com; Carlson Travel Holdings, Inc.; Travel Leaders Leisure Group, LLC; and Travel Leaders Group LLC (collectively “SinglesCruise Defendants”). (See Compl. ¶¶ 9, 18, 20). The Singles-Cruise Defendants operate a website with the URL www.SinglesCruise.com, in which they claim to be the “largest singles cruise operator in the United States.” (Id. ¶ 28). During SinglesCruise trips, SinglesCruise Defendants offer certain “exclusive events” put on by “professional cruise directors.” (Id.). One of the events is the “Cozumel Beach Party excursion” (the “Event”). (Id.).

While on the Cruise, on April 9, 2010, Plaintiff attended the Cozumel Beach Party excursion. (See id. ¶20). The Event, which took place at Señor Frog’s in Cozumel, Mexico (see id. ¶ 20), was advertised as having a “water slide directly into the ocean” and “unlimited drinks for thee and a half solid hours” (id. ¶ 28). Patrons were “allowed and encouraged to slide, jump, and dive into the waters below the seawall on and surrounding the Señor Frogs [sic] premises.” (Id. ¶ 22). Despite this encouragement, there were no warnings regarding the dangers of partaking in these activities, and no warnings regarding the shallow water depth surrounding Señor Frog’s. (See id. ¶¶ 22, 24). Although shallow, the depth of the water was “not readily apparent.” (Id. ¶ 23). Rather, the water around Señor Frog’s was “deceptive” and appeared “deeper than it actually [was] ....” (Id.). Even though the water depth was not apparent to Belik, Defendants should have been familiar with the shallow depth. (See id. ¶ 24).

Señor Frog’s was commonly patronized by cruise-ship passengers. (See id. ¶25). Often these passengers uséd a Señor Frog’s provided roof-mounted water slide to “propel” themselves into the Caribbean. (Id.).

Plaintiff was one of the many Singles-Cruise participants who entered the Caribbean while at Señor Frog’s. He did not slide in, but instead dove off the seawall [1306]*1306surrounding Señor Frog’s. (See id. ¶ 22). Belik was unaware of the shallowness of the water and when he jumped in, “he struck his head on the shallow bottom and suffered permanent, debilitating, and serious injuries.” (Id.). He is now a quadriplegic. (See Mot. Opp’n 1 [ECF No. 28]).

Belik states several claims from breaches of duties allegedly owed to him. The SinglesCruise Defendants handled all aspects of the Cruise and Event. (See Compl. ¶ 27). As part of this undertaking, these Defendants represented their “control” over the Event, stating they would “manage the safety and security of these events and provide a safe and high quality event and venue ....” (Id.). The Singles-Cruise Defendants further “allowed and promoted sliding, jumping, and diving into the water from the seawall ....” (Id.). In addition to duties they breached, the SinglesCruise Defendants made material misrepresentations about their employees, safety, vendors’ quality, and locations. (See id. ¶¶ 31-32).

Belik also alleges Carnival owed him a direct duty of care, including the duty to warn of dangers. (See id. ¶ 33). Carnival’s duties arose by virtue of Carnival’s “ongoing contractual and business relationship with the SinglesCruise Defendants.” (Id. ¶34). Carnival “had specific and direct knowledge or constructive knowledge of those excursions, including the Cozumel Beach Party,” and also had knowledge of the types of people attending and activities taking place there. (Id. ¶ 35). Furthermore, SinglesCruise was an agent of Carnival. (See id. ¶ 37).

Plaintiff further alleges that the Señor Frog’s Defendants,2 as the owners or managers of the Señor Frog’s restaurant where he was injured, provided a water side and unlimited drinks. (See id. ¶ 38). Additionally, they “promote[d] and encourage[d] excessive drinking.” (Id. ¶ 39). Specifically, these Defendants served “unlimited alcohol,” offered the slide into the ocean, and knew “others [were] jumping and diving into the ocean from their seawall.” (Id. ¶ 40). Despite being aware of their drunken patrons, these Defendants offered “no reasonable security, no reasonable warnings, no reasonable barriers or discouragement to jumping or diving in the water, no reasonable control of the service of alcohol, and a lack of reasonable management and lack of warnings of the dangers which are not apparent to any jumper or diver.” (Id.). As a result, Plaintiff “dove in and suffered serious permanent and debilitating injuries.” (Id.).

Plaintiff raises multiple claims against Carnival. Plaintiff alleges Carnival was negligent in its policies and procedures, and the SinglesCruise Defendants’ negligent acts are imputed to Carnival through agency and other relationships. (See id. ¶ 42). Belik alleges Carnival knew of the dangers at the Event because Carnival cruises frequently visit Cozumel and Carnival passengers routinely visit Señor Frog’s. (See id. ¶¶ 91-92). Moreover, Carnival was aware of the unlimited drinking, as well as the proclivity of people to jump and dive off the seawall. (See id. ¶ 92). Plaintiff alleges over 30 different “failures” by Carnival. (Id. ¶¶ 93(a)-(ff)).

Plaintiff also alleges Carnival occupied the position of principal to its agents, the SinglesCruise Defendants. (See id. ¶ 98). This is demonstrated through the Singles-[1307]*1307Cruise website, SinglesCruise advertisements, and SinglesCruise representations. (See id. ¶¶ 98-99). Belik further points to the SinglesCruise Defendants’ representation that they are “a travel company acting as an intermediary or agent for ... cruise lines.” (Id. ¶ 99 (emphasis added) (ellipses in original)). He also states Carnival controlled the SinglesCruise Defendants through its ability to terminate the relationship, and its ability to require Singles-Cruise to abide by its rules and regulations. (See id. ¶ 100). Belik then lists over 30 different failures by the Singles-Cruise Defendants (see id. ¶¶ 102(a)-(ff)), and alleges Carnival is responsible and hable for those failures by virtue of the agency relationship (see id. ¶ 105).

In addition to actual agency, Belik alleges the SinglesCruise Defendants were Carnival’s agents either by estoppel or through apparent agency. (See id. ¶¶ 107-10). As a result of the agency relationship, Carnival is allegedly liable as the principal for the over 30 failures perpetrated by the SinglesCruise Defendants. (See id. ¶¶ 112(a)-®, 114-15).

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864 F. Supp. 2d 1302, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 60337, 2011 WL 2221224, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/belik-v-carlson-travel-group-inc-flsd-2011.