Bradley v. International Voyager Media, Inc.

50 V.I. 51, 2008 WL 8709094, 2008 V.I. LEXIS 14
CourtSuperior Court of The Virgin Islands
DecidedSeptember 11, 2008
DocketCivil Jury No. ST-03-CV-0000417
StatusPublished

This text of 50 V.I. 51 (Bradley v. International Voyager Media, 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
Bradley v. International Voyager Media, Inc., 50 V.I. 51, 2008 WL 8709094, 2008 V.I. LEXIS 14 (visuper 2008).

Opinion

HOLLAR, Judge

MEMORANDUM OPINION

(September 11, 2008)

Before the Court is Defendant International Voyager Media, Inc. d/b/a Abarta’s [hereinafter “IVM”] Motion for Summary Judgment requesting the dismissal of the instant action filed by Plaintiff Angela Bradley [hereinafter “Plaintiff”] with prejudice. Also before the court is the [58]*58request by co-defendant A.H. Riise [hereinafter “Riise”] that, should the Court grant summary judgment to IVM, the order explicitly note that the ruling does not affect Riise’s cross-claim against IVM for breach of contract.

Defendant IVM contends that Plaintiff cannot sue IVM under the theory of Respondeat Superior because the person who operated the booth that caused the injury that is the subject of this litigation Jeanne McPherson [hereinafter McPherson] was not an employee of IVM but rather an independent contractor. In response, Plaintiff filed an Opposition to Defendant IVM’s Motion for Summary Judgment, requesting the denial of IVM’s motion because the Plaintiff’s claim is not based exclusively on the theory of “respondeat superior”. More specifically, Plaintiff maintains that IVM would still be liable for McPherson’s actions even if she were an independent contractor because IVM retained a right of supervision over her. Plaintiff also contends that IVM should be found liable under a theory of premise liability because IVM held a possessory interest in the property where the accident occurred. For the reasons that follow, IVM’s Motion for Summary Judgment will be DENIED. Further, Riise’s request that the court explicitly note that IVM may still be liable to Riise on the cross claim is MOOT.

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

On November 8, 2002, Plaintiff was struck on the head by the outer shutter of an information booth or kiosk [hereinafter “the Booth”] while walking along the waterfront in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. The Booth is owned by Riise who contracted with IVM to provide employees to man the booth and distribute literature provided by both Riise and IVM. IVM in turn contracted with McPherson to staff Riise’s booth. While working in the Booth McPherson’s duties included distributing Riise’s and IVM’s publications, directing foot traffic to Riise’s stores, providing information to tourists, and performing other services as required by IVM.1 Plaintiff claims that McPherson, who was working in the Booth at the time, negligently dropped the booth shutter down while she was walking by. As a result, the Plaintiff sustained injuries to her skull.

On August 27, 2003, Plaintiff filed an action in negligence against both Riise and IVM claiming inter alia that both defendants were the [59]*59co-owners of the Booth and were both negligent through their agents, servants, and/or employees.2 During discovery, Plaintiff subsequently discovered the booth was erected on land owned by Isidore Paiewonsky and Associates, Inc. [hereinafter “Paiewonsky”]; that the kiosk was constructed by Fine Woodworking Shop, and designed by Mike DaHaas. In addition to their answer to Plaintiff’s original complaint, Riise filed a cross complaint on October 24, 2003 against IVM alleging that IVM breached its contract with Riise by not tendering a defense or indemnifying co-defendant Riise. On April 26, 2005, as a result of subsequent discovery, Plaintiff filed a motion to amend her complaint to add the additional parties of Paiewonsky, Mike DeHaas, and Fine Woodworking Shop, Inc. After a hearing held on January 4, 2006, the court granted the Plaintiff’s motion to amend its complaint to add parties.

Defendant Paiewonsky filed an answer to Plaintiff’s second amended complaint along with a cross-complaint against IVM claiming IVM breached its contract with Riise by failing to indemnify and tender a defense for Paiewonsky. Riise again filed an answer to Plaintiff’s second amended complaint together with a cross-complaint against IVM for breach of contract by failing to indemnify and tender a defense for Paiewonsky. On November 16, 2005, IVM filed this Motion for Summary Judgment. Riise filed a Response emphasizing that IVM’s motion has no affect on the contractual issues between Riise and IVM. IVM filed a Reply to Riise’s Response to IVM’s Motion for Summary Judgment requesting that the Court find that IVM has no contractual liability to Riise arising out of the contract.

II. SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD

Pursuant to Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court shall grant a motion for summary judgment “if 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 judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Crv. P. 56(c). The purpose of the summary judgment procedure is to “pierce the pleadings and to assess the proof in order to see whether there [is] a genuine need for trial.” LaFrance Equipment International Corp. v. Reed, 20 V. I. 111, 113-115 (Terr. Ct. 1983).

[60]*60The court recognizes that summary judgment is a drastic remedy, and therefore, must resolve all doubts as to the existence of genuine facts against the moving party, and view all inferences drawn from the facts in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Paez v. Pittsburgh-Des Moin Corp., 21 V.I. 237 (Terr. Ct. St. C. 1985). Thus, the threshold inquiry becomes whether there are “any genuine factual issues that properly can be resolved only by a finder of fact because they may reasonably be resolved in favor of either party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 250, 106 S. Ct. 2505, 91 L. Ed. 2d 202 (1986). Anderson mandates that a motion for summary must be granted unless the party opposing the motion demonstrates “that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Id. at 248.

III. ANALYSIS

In its Motion for Summary Judgment IVM contends it cannot be held liable for any negligence of McPherson, because pursuant to the employment contract between IVM and McPherson, McPherson was an independent contractor. In her Opposition, Plaintiff barely addresses this issue, instead focusing on reasons why IVM is liable even if the Court finds that McPherson was an independent contractor. Co-defendant Riise interjected itself into this particular controversy by asking the court to declare the court’s decision ineffectual against its cross-claim against IVM. Hence, four (4) issues are before the Court for resolution: (1) whether McPherson was an independent contractor or an employee of IVM;3 (2) whether Defendant IVM’s had a lease or a license; and (3) whether the motion for summary judgment has any bearing on the contractual dispute between IVM and Riise.

A. McPherson was an employee of IVM and not an independent contractor

Under Virgin Islands Law the rules of the common law, as expressed in the restatements of law approved by the American Law [61]*61Institute, shall be the rules of decision in the Courts of the Virgin Islands in cases in which they apply, in the absence of local law to the contrary4. V.I. Code Ann. tit. 1, § 4.

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Related

Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.
477 U.S. 242 (Supreme Court, 1986)
Wandell v. Ross
245 S.W.2d 689 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1952)
Friend v. Gem International, Inc.
476 S.W.2d 134 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1971)
Paez v. Pittsburgh-Des Moines Corp.
21 V.I. 237 (Supreme Court of The Virgin Islands, 1985)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
50 V.I. 51, 2008 WL 8709094, 2008 V.I. LEXIS 14, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bradley-v-international-voyager-media-inc-visuper-2008.