Gianocostas v. RIU Hotels, S.A.

19 Mass. L. Rptr. 42
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedJanuary 27, 2005
DocketNo. 002862
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 19 Mass. L. Rptr. 42 (Gianocostas v. RIU Hotels, S.A.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gianocostas v. RIU Hotels, S.A., 19 Mass. L. Rptr. 42 (Mass. Ct. App. 2005).

Opinion

Hinkle, J.

The plaintiffs filed this negligence action against the defendants following the death of their daughter Jennifer due to allegedly deficient medical treatment received while she was vacationing in the Dominican Republic. All defendants moved to dismiss the action on the ground of forum non conveniens. In a Memorandum of Decision and Order dated June 27, 2001, this Court allowed that motion [13 Mass. L. Rptr. 444]. In Gianocostas v. RIU Hotels, S.A., 59 Mass.App.Ct. 753 (2003), the Appeals Court affirmed the dismissal as to all defendants except Interface Group - Massachusetts, LLC dba GWV International (“GWV”) and remanded the case to this Court:

for further consideration of whether the Dominican Republic offers an adequate remedy with respect to the plaintiffs’ claims against GWV and, if so, whether the action should proceed against the defendants jointly in Massachusetts or the Dominican Republic, or whether the action against GWV should be tried separately in Massachusetts and the action against Riu Hotels should proceed in the Dominican Republic.

Id. at 762.

BACKGROUND

The following facts are taken from the complaint, depositions and affidavits filed by the parties in connection with defendants’ motion to dismiss. In February of 1999, Jennifer Gianocostas, the plaintiffs’ only child, was a well-controlled, insulin-dependent diabetic when she began considering a vacation with friends for her college spring break. In February, Jennifer and her friend Jacqueline Dondero (“Dondero”) visited the American Automobile Association of Southern New England (“AAA”) in Saugus, Massachusetts and discussed possible vacation destinations with an AAA travel agent, Anthony Mavrakos (“Mavrakos”). Jennifer spoke to Mavrakos on several occasions regarding her vacation plans. If there were any specific questions about different hotel properties, Mavrakos would have sought the answers from GWV and relayed the information to Jennifer. According to Dondero, Jennifer informed Mavrakos that she was a diabetic and would need a hotel room with a refrigerator for her insulin and a hotel offering medical services. Mavrakos denies any conversation with Jennifer concerning medical issues.

After examining brochures in the AAA office and having discussions with Mavrakos, Jennifer and her friends Dondero and Cheiyl Darrigo (“Darrigo”) selected a GWV vacation package to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. GWV is a Massachusetts-based tour operator which sells package tours consisting of air transportation, hotel accommodations and ground transfers. GWV does not own or operate any of the hotels or other services offered through its packages. Jennifer’s vacation package consisted of seven nights at the Hotel Riu Mambo in Puerto Plata from March 13 through March 20, 1999.

The Hotel Riu Mambo in Puerto Plata (“the Hotel”) is part of a chain of Riu Hotels that bear the “Riu” trade name. Riusa II, S.A., the marketing and promotional arm of the foreign defendants, began a relationship with GWV in June of 1998. The goal of the relationship was to sell vacation packages promoting hotel accommodations in various Riu Hotel destinations. GWV paid to reserve blocks of rooms in several hotels, [43]*43including the Hotel. The foreign defendants created a color advertisement with a description of the Hotel which was placed in GWV’s Sunsations Catalogue. Mavrakos had the Sunsations Catalogue.

Jennifer, Dondero and Darrigo arrived at the Hotel in Puerto Plata on March 13, 1999. Janet Harris (“Harris”), a GWV destination representative, provided them with an orientation to Puerto Plata and told them she was available to assist them if necessary. Harris gave them her telephone number. Harris had worked for GWV as a destination representative in the Dominican Republic for five years. Her job responsibilities included meeting tour participants at the airport, accompanying them to their buses for transfer to the hotel, conducting weekly orientation meetings, making herself available to tour participants by answering questions by telephone and during certain hours at many of the hotels, and acting as a liaison with service providers.

On Monday, March 15, 1999, Jennifer became ill and vomited periodically through the night. Dondero called the front desk of the Hotel jfor assistance. A hotel representative put her in touch with the Doctor Correa International Touristic Medical Service and CIA (“the Clinic”), which had a contractual relationship with the Hotel to provide medical services to its guests. Dondero described Jennifer’s medical condition to the doctor and said that Jennifer was a diabetic. The doctor did not appear to understand the words “diabetic” or “diabetes.” The doctor told Dondero that Jennifer would be fine and that the pharmacy would re-open in the morning. The next day, Jennifer contacted Harris, who recommended that she stay hydrated. Harris did not know at that point that Jennifer suffered from diabetes.

On Wednesday morning, March 17, 1999, Jennifer still felt ill and went to the Clinic, where she stayed overnight. The doctor at the Clinic assured Dondero and Darrigo that Jennifer would be fine. Mrs. Gianocostas spoke to Harris by telephone that day, explained that Jennifer was a diabetic and expressed concern that the clinic doctor did not appear to understand the word “diabetes.” Mrs. Gianocostas told Harris that she would bring Jennifer home if she could not receive proper medical care in the Dominican Republic. Harris told Mrs. Gianocostas that Jennifer’s condition was improving. Mr. Giancostas also spoke to Harris several times that day, and Harris assured him that Jennifer had a common stomach ailment and was in good hands at the Clinic. Harris stated that the care was excellent and said that she was from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Mr. Gianocostas understood this to mean that he and Harris had a common understanding of what she meant by excellent medical care. According to Harris, however, she never made any statements to the Gianocostases concerning the competence of the Clinic doctors.

Jennifer was discharged from the Clinic on Thursday, March 18, but her vomiting and weakness persisted throughout the day. When Dondero called the Clinic and spoke to the doctor on duty, he informed her that he had consulted with the doctor who had previously treated Jennifer, and they agreed that her condition was caused by “nervousness.” Later that evening, Jennifer telephoned the Clinic and asked that the doctor come to see her. The doctor examined Jennifer and diagnosed her with gastroenteritis. At approximately 11:00 p.m., the doctor brought Jennifer back to the Clinic.

In the early morning on Friday, March 19, 1999, the doctor telephoned Dondero and Darrigo and asked them to bring Jennifer’s glucose tester to the Clinic. When they arrived at the Clinic, Jennifer was hallucinating and unable to operate her glucose tester. After Jennifer’s eyes rolled back into her head, she was transported via ambulance to the Grupo Medico Dr. Bournigal, S.A. (“the Bournigal Hospital”) in Puerto Plata. After being contacted by the Gianocostases, Harris visited Jennifer at the Bournigal Hospital on Friday. Mrs. Gianocostas informed Harris that she intended to fly to the Dominican Republic immediately. Harris stated that this was unnecessary because the medical care at the hospital was fine.

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Related

Gianocostas v. RIU Hotels, S.A.
21 Mass. L. Rptr. 276 (Massachusetts Superior Court, 2006)

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Bluebook (online)
19 Mass. L. Rptr. 42, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gianocostas-v-riu-hotels-sa-masssuperct-2005.