Cobb v. Aramark Sports & Entertainment Services, LLC

933 F. Supp. 2d 1295, 2013 WL 1145420
CourtDistrict Court, D. Nevada
DecidedMarch 18, 2013
DocketNo. 3:11-CV-0840-LRH-WGC
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 933 F. Supp. 2d 1295 (Cobb v. Aramark Sports & Entertainment Services, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Nevada primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cobb v. Aramark Sports & Entertainment Services, LLC, 933 F. Supp. 2d 1295, 2013 WL 1145420 (D. Nev. 2013).

Opinion

AMENDED ORDER

LARRY R. HICKS, District Judge.

Before the court is defendant Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services, LLC’s (“Aramark”) motion for summary judgment. Doc. # 28.1 Plaintiff Jaclyn Cobb (“Cobb”) filed an opposition (Doc. # 33) to which Aramark replied (Doc. # 38). This Order amends Order # 39.2

1. Facts and Procedural History

Plaintiff Cobb is seeking recovery for a knee injury allegedly sustained while para-sailing with an affiliate of defendant Ara-mark.

On June 15, 2010, Cobb paid to go parasailing on Lake Tahoe through an operation ran by Zephyr Cove Resort (“Zephyr”). Before going on the boat for parasailing, Cobb signed a waiver of liability entitled Acknowledgment and Assumption of Risk and Waiver of Liability (“Waiver”). The waiver stated in relevant part:

In consideration of my being allowed to participate in the parasailing activities operated and conducted by [Zephyr], I hereby RELEASE and WAIVE ... any and all claims that I may have ... against [Zephyr], and any of [its] affiliates ... I specifically RELEASE [Zephyr], and any of [its] affiliates ... from ... all claims for ... injury or death to persons caused by negligence of any one of them arising out of my participation in the parasailing activities. I AGREE NOT TO SUE ... the aforementioned parties for any injuries or damages that I might hereby receive from my participation in the parasailing activities, whether or not such injury, loss or damage results from the afore[1297]*1297mentioned parties’ negligence or from any other cause.

Doc. # 28, Exhibit A.

After signing the waiver, Cobb boarded the parasailing vessel and, along with another family member, went parasailing in a tandem harness. At some point during the trip, adverse weather conditions, including high winds, caused the parasailing trip to be called short. As she was being reeled back into the boat Cobb struck her knee on the boat causing significant injury.

Subsequently, Cobb filed a complaint for negligence against Aramark. Doc. # 1, Exhibit A. Thereafter, Aramark filed the present motion for summary judgment contending that Cobb expressly waived her right to sue. Doc. # 28.

II. Legal Standard

Summary judgment is appropriate only when “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.Civ.P. 56(c). In assessing a, motion for summary judgment, the evidence, together with all inferences that can reasonably be drawn therefrom, must be read in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986); County of Tuolumne v. Sonora Cmty. Hosp., 236 F.3d 1148, 1154 (9th Cir.2001).

The moving party bears the burden of informing the court of the basis for its motion, along with evidénee showing the absence of any genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). On those issues for which it bears the burden of proof, the moving party must make a showing that is “sufficient for the court to hold that no reasonable trier of fact could find other than for the moving party.” Calderone v. United States, 799 F.2d 254, 259 (6th Cir.1986); see also Idema v. Dreamworks, Inc., 162 F.Supp.2d 1129, 1141 (C.D.Cal.2001).

To successfully rebut a motion for summary judgment, the non-moving party must point to facts supported by the record which demonstrate a genuine issue of material fact. Reese v. Jefferson Sch. Disk No. 14J, 208 F.3d 736 (9th Cir.2000). A “material fact” is a fact “that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). Where reasonable minds could differ on the material facts at issue, summary judgment is not appropriate. See v. Durang, 711 F.2d 141, 143 (9th Cir.1983). A dispute regarding a material fact is considered genuine “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving- party.” Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. The mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the plaintiffs position will be insufficient to establish a genuine dispute; there must be evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the plaintiff. See id. at 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

III. Discussion

A. Applicable Law

In its motion, Aramark argues that this action-, and thereby the express waiver, is governed by federal admiralty law. See Doc. # 28. An action falls within the admiralty jurisdiction of the federal courts under 28 U.S.C. § 1333(1) when: (1) the underlying tort occurred on navigable waters; and (2) the actions giving rise to the tort claim bear a significant relationship to traditional maritime activity. Chamis v. Watersport Pro, LLC, 2009 WL 2581699, *2-3, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS [1298]*129876022, *5-6 (D.Nev.2009) (citing Sisson v. Ruby, 497 U.S. 358, 365-66, 110 S.Ct. 2892, 111 L.Ed.2d 292 (1990)).

The court has reviewed the documents and pleadings on file in this matter and finds that this action- falls within the court’s exercise of admiralty jurisdiction. First, the alleged injury occurred on Lake Tahoe, a navigable waterway that lies within the borders of Nevada and California. Where, as here, a body of water forms a border between two states and is capable of supporting maritime commerce, it is considered navigable for the purpose of establishing admiralty jurisdiction. Chamis, 2009 WL 2581699, *2-3, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76022, *6. Second, para-sailing bears a significant relationship to traditional maritime activities sufficient to establish admiralty jurisdiction. See e.g., In the Matter of Skyrider, 1990 WL 192479, *3, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16510, *10 (D.Haw.1990) (“Careful and safe navigation of vessels in navigable waters have always been a fundamental admiralty concern. Navigation is an essential component in the parasailing activity.”); UFO Chuting of Hawaii, Inc. v. Smith, 508 F.3d 1189

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Bluebook (online)
933 F. Supp. 2d 1295, 2013 WL 1145420, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cobb-v-aramark-sports-entertainment-services-llc-nvd-2013.