Bertrand v. Cordiner Enterprises, Inc.

53 V.I. 280, 2010 V.I. LEXIS 38
CourtSuperior Court of The Virgin Islands
DecidedJune 2, 2010
DocketCivil No. ST-08-CV-457
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 53 V.I. 280 (Bertrand v. Cordiner Enterprises, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of The Virgin Islands primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bertrand v. Cordiner Enterprises, Inc., 53 V.I. 280, 2010 V.I. LEXIS 38 (visuper 2010).

Opinion

CARROLL, Judge

MEMORANDUM OPINION

(June 2, 2010)

THIS MATTER is before the Court on multiple Motions to Dismiss. The Court held oral argument on the Motions on January 5, 2010. Emily Shoup, Esq., of Bryant Barnes Beckstedt & Blair, LLP, appearing on behalf of Defendant Mystic Granite and Marble, Inc., argued Mystic’s Motion to Dismiss based on lack of personal jurisdiction. Russell Pate, Esq., and W. Mark Wilczynski, Esq., of the Law Office of Wilczynski & Garten, PC., appeared on behalf of Defendants Michael Cordiner and Island Tile and Marble, LLC. Attorney Pate argued Cordiner and Island Tile’s Joint Motion to Dismiss based on the exclusivity of the workers’ compensation scheme. Attorney Wilczynski argued Cordiner and Island Tile’s Motion to Dismiss Abaco’s Cross-Claim. Defendant Abaco Machines USA, Inc., was represented by Richard H. Dollison, Esq., of Stryker, Duensing, Casner & Dollison, who argued in opposition to the Motion to Dismiss Abaco’s Cross-Claim. David J. Cattie, Esq., of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, LLC, appearing on behalf of Defendant Cordiner Enterprises, Inc., argued Cordiner Enterprises’ Motion to Dismiss and/or to Strike, a motion which all other Defendants have joined. David Bomn, Esq., and Adam Thorp, Esq., of The Bomn Firm, P.L.L.C., and Paul Platte, Esq., of Rogers, Townsend & Thomas, P.C., appeared on behalf of Plaintiff Beryl Bertrand. Attorney Platte argued in opposition to all Motions to Dismiss the Complaint. After oral argument, the Court approved the joint stipulation filed by Plaintiff and Island Tile to dismiss all claims against Island Tile.

[287]*287FACTS

I. INTRODUCTION

On April 17, 2008, Jacques-Pierre Bertrand (“Bertrand”) was crushed by a marble slab he was attempting to unload from a shipping container. At the time of the accident, he was working for his employer, Defendant Island Tile and Marble, LLC (“Island Tile”).1 He died from his injuries on April 29, 2008. Beryl Bertrand (“Plaintiff’), as administratrix of Bertrand’s estate, brought this wrongful death and survival action. For the purpose of deciding the Rule 12(b)(6) motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim, the Court accepts the facts as stated by Plaintiff.

II. PURCHASING AND LOADING THE MARBLE

The marble slab that fell on and killed Bertrand was purchased from Defendant Mystic Granite and Marble, Inc. (“Mystic”), a Florida company. It was brought from Florida to Island Tile’s company property in the U.S. Virgin Islands by Defendant Michael Cordiner (“Cordiner”). Cordiner routinely travelled to Florida to purchase marble and tile from Mystic. Plaintiff alleges that he did so individually and as an agent for Defendant Cordiner Enterprises (“Cordiner Enterprises”). Over time, Cordiner developed a business relationship with Mystic. He would Call or e-mail Mystic to select marble he wished to purchase. He then travelled to Florida to procure the slabs. Mystic would allow Cordiner to bring a shipping container to, or leave it on, its Florida lot. Mystic employees sometimes assisted Cordiner to load his container. Cordiner then arranged for the container to be shipped to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Cordiner often purchased the marble on credit. Mystic’s invoices to Cordiner state at the bottom, “We retain ownership and property rights to the material sold until their entire payment is settled.” In addition to responding to Cordiner’s purchase requests, Mystic also provided samples of marble to Cordiner by shipping them to Island Tile in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

III. THE ACCIDENT

On April 17, 2008, Bertrand was in an Island Tile shipping container, unloading slabs of marble. A slab slipped and toppled on Bertrand and [288]*288crushed him. His twin brother discovered him crushed under the slabs and attempted to assist him. Bertrand died twelve days later. Plaintiff asserts that Cordiner ordered Bertrand to enter into the device without warning him of the danger, and, when Bertrand was inside, jarred the device with a forklift, causing the slab to fall. Plaintiff also alleges that the marble was secured by a clamp manufactured by Defendant Abaco Machines USA, Inc. (“Abaco”), and that the clamp failed. Plaintiff further alleges that Mystic and Cordiner failed to properly secure the marble in the shipping container.

DISCUSSION

I. MICHAEL CORDINER’S MOTION TO DISMISS WILL BE GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART BECAUSE HE ENJOYS IMMUNITY ONLY FOR THE ACTS THAT HE COMMITTED ON BEHALF OF BERTRAND’S EMPLOYER, ISLAND TILE.

Michael Cordiner moves to dismiss Plaintiff’s action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) because, he contends, Plaintiff’s sole remedy against a co-employee for the injuries suffered in the course of employment lies in the workers’ compensation scheme.

A. Standard for a Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss

Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure2 allows defendants to seek dismissal of complaints when the complaints “fail[ ] to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.” As it considers such a motion, the Court will separate the factual allegations from the legal conclusions, and accept the factual allegations as true. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, _ U.S. _, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949, 173 L. Ed. 2d 868 (2009); Phillips v. County of Allegheny, 515 F.3d 224, 231 (3d Cir. 2008). It will construe the Complaint in the light most favorable to the Plaintiff. Phillips, 515 F.3d at 231. The Court will then determine whether, “under any reasonable reading of the complaint, the plaintiff may be entitled to relief.” Id.

Rule 12(b)(6) motions test the sufficiency of the pleadings and are designed to “screen out cases” in which there is no remedy for the wrong alleged or no relief could possibly be granted. Port Auth. of New York and [289]*289New Jersey v. Arcadian Corp., 189 F.3d 305 (3d Cir. 1999). Motions to dismiss may allege that the complaint fails to state sufficient facts to establish plaintiff’s entitlement to relief, or that the complaint states a legal theory that is not cognizable as a matter of law. In this case, Cordiner contends that Plaintiff states a legal theory that is not cognizable as a matter of law because it is preempted by the workers’ compensation scheme.

The Court will separately consider those acts that Cordiner is alleged to have performed on behalf of Island Tile, Bertrand’s employer, and those acts he is alleged to have performed individually or on behalf of Cordiner Enterprises.

B. Cordiner Is Entitled to Dismissal for Acts Performed On Behalf of Island Tile.

The Virgin Islands Legislature established a workers’ compensation scheme, V.I. CODE Ann. tit 24, §§ 250-92 (1997), which, in many cases, is the exclusive remedy for personal injury claims brought by employees against their employers. Tit.

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Bluebook (online)
53 V.I. 280, 2010 V.I. LEXIS 38, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bertrand-v-cordiner-enterprises-inc-visuper-2010.