Crout v. Haverfield International, Inc.

269 F. Supp. 3d 90
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. New York
DecidedSeptember 7, 2017
Docket6:14-CV-06520 EAW
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 269 F. Supp. 3d 90 (Crout v. Haverfield International, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Crout v. Haverfield International, Inc., 269 F. Supp. 3d 90 (W.D.N.Y. 2017).

Opinion

DECISION AND ORDER

ELIZABETH A. WOLFORD, United States District Judge

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Brenda Crout (“Plaintiff’) filed this wrongful death action on January 22, 2014, in the Supreme Court of New York, Kings County, relating to a tragic helicopter accident in which Dale R. Crout (“the decedent”) and helicopter pilot Mackenzie Bleth (“Bleth”) died. (Dkt. 1). Defendant Haverfield International, Inc. (“Defendant”) removed the action to the Eastern District of New York on April 7, 2014. (Id. at 1-2).1 The case was transferred to this [93]*93Court by Stipulation and Order on September 9, 2014. (Dkt. 16).

Presently before the Court are cross-motions for partial summary judgment. (Dkt. 36; Dkt. 42). Plaintiff seeks summary judgment on the issue of Bleth’s negligence (and thereby Defendant’s vicarious liability), and for dismissal of Defendant’s affirmative defense of the decedent’s comparative negligence. (Dkt. 39). Defendant seeks summary judgment on the applicable standard of care for Bleth’s negligence, and as to Plaintiffs claim for negligent hiring and training. (Dkt. 43).

For the reasons stated below, Plaintiffs motion for partial summary judgment (Dkt. 36) is denied, and Defendant’s motion for partial summary judgment (Dkt. 42) is granted.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND2

On the morning of November 15, 2012, shortly before noon, a helicopter owned by Defendant, -piloted by Bleth, and carrying the decedent took off on the second of three days of planned flights to inspect power lines in the vicinity of Corning, New York. (Dkt. 39 at 3; Dkt. 44 at ¶¶ 5-8, 11).

In control of the aircraft was Bleth, a 24-year-old pilot Defendant hired less than a month prior. (Dkt. 38 at ¶¶ 24-25). Bleth held appropriate “FAA licenses and certifications” to fly the helicopter. (Dkt. 44 at ¶13). Bleth and the decedent—a First Class Linesman for New York State Electric and Gas Corporation—were tasked with doing a “powerline patrol,” which “requires a helicopter to fly close to wires, towers and utility structures,” generally at speeds between 30 and 45 knots. (Dkt. 38 at ¶¶ 5, 11, 58; Dkt. 52 at 3). Powerline patrol is a high-risk job. (Dkt. 38 at ¶ 17; Dkt. 52 at 5).

Bleth’s first day flying powerline patrol had been the previous. day, November 14, 2012, during which he and the decedent had completed 6.2 hours of aerial inspections. (Dkt. 38 at ¶73). Before this first powerline mission, Defendant provided Bleth with 2.1 hours of total flight training, and 27.2 hours of ground training. (Id. at ¶¶27, 70; Dkt. 52 at 7). Defendant released Bleth to fly powerline patrol on November 9, 2012. (Dkt. 38 at ¶ 40; Dkt. 52 at 10).

The decedent had performed inspections on the same powerlines in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and was “more than proficient” in reading a powerline map. (Dkt. 38. at ¶ 63; Dkt. 52 at 25; Dkt. 59 at 8). The November 15, 2012, flight was operated pursuant to 14 C.F.R. Part 91. (Dkt. 38 at ¶ 20; Dkt. 52 at 6; see, e.g., Dkt. 37-4 at 2 (National Transportation Safety Board’s (“NTSB”) report stating that “[t]he aerial observation flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91”); Dkt. 37-21 at 2 (same)).

For context, a description of the construction of power transmission wire systems is necessary. A wire or series of wires that runs perpendicular to another set of wires is called a “tap” line. (Dkt. 38 at ¶ 50; Dkt. 52 at 12). A shield wire, which protects power transmission lines from lightning strikes, generally runs along the top of the towers. (Dkt. 38 at ¶ 8; Dkt. 52 at 12). The shield wire is typically smaller than power transmission wires and can be more difficult to observe. (Dkt. 38 at ¶ 49; Dkt. 52 at 12). During powerline [94]*94patrol, a pilot should anticipate that there is a shield wire, even if he cannot see one. (Dkt. 38 at ¶ 53; Dkt. 52 at 12). Transmission and static lines are, at times, difficult to see, and can be invisible, during power-line patrol. (Dkt. 52 at 22; Dkt. 59 at 1). The visibility of a wire can change from moment to moment. (Dkt. 52 at 23; Dkt. 59 at 2).

Defendant, requires its pilots and passengers to attend a safety briefing, called a “tailboard,” before takeoff. (Dkt. 38 at ¶ 42; Dkt. 52 at 11); During the tailboard, the pilot and the inspector discuss the powerline'transmission map for the lines they plan to inspect. (Dkt. 38 at ¶43).3 Defendant requires details of the tailboard to be recorded in a document and signed by eaich person in the helicopter. (Id. at ¶ 42; Dkt. 52 at 11). No such document has been recovered or produced for the November 15, 2012, flight. (Dkt. 38 at ¶ 46; Dkt. 52 at 11).

The November 15, 2012, flight took off at 11:49 AM. (Dkt. 38 at ¶ 75; Dkt. 52 at 17). At 12:11 PM, the vertical strut on the helicopter’s right landing skid struck a shield wire on a tap line 96 feet above the ground. (Dkt. 38 at ¶¶ 77, 83; Dkt. 52 at 18-19). The helicopter had been flying at approximately 43 knots in level flight. (Dkt. 38 at ¶ 79; Dkt. 52 at 18). The impact with the tap line caused the helicopter to crash, killing both Bleth and the decedent. (Dkt. 44 at ¶ 11; Dkt. 49 at 4). The helicopter ignited once it hit the ground. (Dkt. 37-4 at 2). Neither weather nor any mechanical issue caused the crash. (Dkt. 38 at ¶¶ 89-90; Dkt. 52 at 19-20).

There is no transcript or any recording of the communications between Bleth and the decedent during the November 15, 2012, flight. (Dkt. 38 at ¶ 94; Dkt. 52 at 20).

DISCUSSION

I. Standard of Review

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 provides that summary judgment should be granted if the moving party establishes “that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). The court should grant summary judgment if, after considering the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, the court finds that no rational jury could find' in favor of that party. See Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 380, 127 S.Ct 1769, 167 L.Ed.2d 686 (2007) (citing Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586-87, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986)).

Once the moving party has met its burden, the .opposing party “must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.... [T]he nonmoving party must come forward with specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial ” Caldarola v. Calabrese, 298 F.3d 156, 160 (2d Cir. 2002) (quoting Matsushita Elec., 475 U.S. at 586-87, 106 S.Ct. 1348). “[T]he mere existence of some alleged factual dispute between the parties will not defeat an otherwise properly supported motion for summary judgment....” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.,

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269 F. Supp. 3d 90, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/crout-v-haverfield-international-inc-nywd-2017.