Cook v. MillerCoors, LLC

829 F. Supp. 2d 1208, 2011 WL 5359713, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125183
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedOctober 28, 2011
DocketCase No. 8:11-cv-1488-T-33EAJ
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 829 F. Supp. 2d 1208 (Cook v. MillerCoors, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cook v. MillerCoors, LLC, 829 F. Supp. 2d 1208, 2011 WL 5359713, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125183 (M.D. Fla. 2011).

Opinion

ORDER

VIRGINIA M. HERNANDEZ COVINGTON, District Judge.

This matter comes before the Court pursuant to Defendant MillerCoors LLC’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint (Doc. # 4), filed on July 5, 2011. Plaintiff Heather Lynn Cook filed a Response in Opposition to the Motion (Doc. #21) on August 11, 2011. MillerCoors filed a Reply (Doc. #26) on August 29, 2011, and Cook filed a Response to the Reply (Doc. # 29) on September 9, 2011. For the reasons that follow, the Court grants the Motion.

I. Background

This suit arises from a motorcycle accident that occurred on July 18, 2008, in Pinellas County, Florida. (Doc. #3 at ¶¶ 18-22). The operator of the motorcycle, John Prado, was killed instantly and Cook, who was a passenger, was injured. (Id.) Prior to the crash, Mr. Prado had consumed several “Sparks” alcoholic beverages containing caffeine and other stimulants. (Id.) The Sparks product was manufactured, marketed and sold by MillerCoors. (Id. at ¶ 5).

Cook filed suit in state court on June 6, 2011. In her Complaint, Cook argues that alcoholic beverages such as Sparks containing stimulants are “uniquely dangerous” because they appeal to younger drinkers and because the addition of caffeine enables one to drink more alcohol without feeling as intoxicated as one normally would. (Id. at ¶ 6). Despite this perception, however, the stimulants do not reduce alcohol’s negative effects on motor skills and visual reaction times. (Id. at ¶ 9). Thus, consumers of these beverages are more likely to “engage in dangerous behavior such as driving.” (Id. at ¶ 8). After consuming Sparks, Mr. Prado “neither felt nor subjectively appeared impaired” but toxicology reports from his autopsy revealed that his blood alcohol level was 0.10 at the time of the crash. (Id. at ¶¶ 19, 22).

Cook’s Complaint asserts three counts against MillerCoors. In Count I, Cook alleges that the combination of alcohol and stimulants created a latent inherent danger and MillerCoors failed to warn Mr. Prado of that inherent danger. (Id. at ¶¶ 24-25). In Count II, Cook alleges that the addition of stimulants to the alcoholic beverage constituted a design defect. (Id. at ¶ 30). In Count III, Cook alleges that MillerCoors negligently manufactured Sparks, knowing that it was unreasonably dangerous and that inexperienced drinkers would be more likely to drink to excess due to the addition of stimulants. (Id. at ¶ 35). Cook also asserts a claim of auto negligence against the Estate of Prado (Count IV).

MillerCoors removed this action to this Court on diversity grounds on July 5, 2011 (Doc. # 1)1, and simultaneously filed a Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) (Doc. # 4). MillerCoors argues that the risks associated with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol are well known, therefore MillerCoors cannot be held responsible for Mr. Prado’s choice to consume Sparks then illegally operate his motorcycle. (Doc. # 4 at 6-7).

MillerCoors further argues that the addition of stimulants “did not lessen Mr. [1212]*1212Prado’s responsibility to refrain from operating his motorcycle while under the influence of alcohol.” (Id. at 7). MillerCoors asserts that Mr. Prado’s actions, not the manufacture of Sparks, proximately caused Cook’s injuries, and that MillerCoors owed no duty to prevent Mr. Prado from injuring her. (Id. at 10,13). Finally, MillerCoors argues that federal law preempts Cook’s failure-to-warn claim, and that Sparks is not inherently dangerous. (Id. at 15,17).

MillerCoors also argues that the Estate of Prado is not subject to suit. The Court will address this claim separately because joinder of the Estate, if proper, would defeat diversity in this action because Mr. Prado was a resident of Florida.

II. Legal Standard

On a motion to dismiss, this Court accepts as true all the allegations in the complaint and construes them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Jackson v. BellSouth Telecomms., 372 F.3d 1250, 1262 (11th Cir.2004). Further, this Court favors the plaintiff with all reasonable inferences from the allegations in the complaint. Stephens v. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., 901 F.2d 1571, 1573 (11th Cir.1990) (“On a motion to dismiss,' -the facts stated in [the] complaint and all reasonable inferences therefrom are taken as true.”).

However, the Supreme Court explains that:

While a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual allegations, a plaintiffs obligation to provide the grounds of his entitlement to relief requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do. Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.

Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) (internal quotations and citations omitted). A plausible claim for relief must include “factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). Courts are not “bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation.” Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 286, 106 S.Ct. 2932, 92 L.Ed.2d 209 (1986).

The Court notes that the Motion to Dismiss has not been converted into a motion for summary judgment because the Court has not considered matters outside the pleadings.2 “Rule 7(a) defines ‘pleadings’ to include both the complaint and the answer, and Rule 10(c) provides that ‘[a] copy of any written instrument which is an exhibit to a pleading is a part thereof for all purposes.’ ” Horsley v. Feldt, 304 F.3d 1125, 1134 (11th Cir.2002) (quoting Fed. R.Civ.P. 7(a) and 10(c)). Thus, the Court has not considered the various exhibits included with Cook’s response in opposition to the motion to dismiss but not attached to a pleading.3 (Doc. # 21).

[1213]*1213III. Auto Negligence against the Estate of Prado (Count IV)

As a preliminary matter, this Court must address the viability of Cook’s claim against the Estate of Prado. A finding by this Court that Cook has stated a valid claim against the Estate would require remand since the Estate’s presence in this matter would destroy diversity.

Under 28 U.S.C. § 1441

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829 F. Supp. 2d 1208, 2011 WL 5359713, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125183, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cook-v-millercoors-llc-flmd-2011.