Lobegeiger v. Celebrity Cruises, Inc.

869 F. Supp. 2d 1356, 2013 A.M.C. 1254, 2012 WL 2402785, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 89884
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Florida
DecidedApril 13, 2012
DocketCase No. 11-21620-CIV
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 869 F. Supp. 2d 1356 (Lobegeiger v. Celebrity Cruises, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lobegeiger v. Celebrity Cruises, Inc., 869 F. Supp. 2d 1356, 2013 A.M.C. 1254, 2012 WL 2402785, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 89884 (S.D. Fla. 2012).

Opinion

ORDER

CECILIA M. ALTONAGA, District Judge.

THIS CAUSE came before the Court on Defendant, Celebrity Cruises, Inc.’s (“Celebrity[’s]”) Motion for Summary Judgment (“Motion”) [ECF No. 96], filed March 8, 2012. Celebrity seeks summary judgment as to Count IV (negligent hiring of shipboard medical doctor), Count V (negligence of Celebrity by apparent agency), and Count VI (fraudulent misrepresentation) of Plaintiff, Elise R. Lobegeiger’s (“Plaintifff’s]”) Second Amended Complaint (“Complaint”) [ECF No. 47]. Plaintiff filed a Memorandum in Opposition ... (“Response”) [ECF No. 121] on March 26, 2012, and Celebrity filed a Reply ... (“Reply”) [ECF No. 139] on April 5, 2012. The Court has carefully considered the Motion, the parties’ submissions, the record, and the applicable law.

I. BACKGROUND1

This matter arises from injuries Plaintiff sustained as a passenger aboard the Celebrity Mercury (“Mercury”). Plaintiff booked a cruise with Celebrity by entering into a ticket contract (“Ticket Contract”). {See Celebrity’s Statement of Undisputed Material Facts (“SMF”) ¶1 [ECF No. 96]). The Ticket Contract provides:

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO GUESTS.
YOUR CRUISE/CRUISETOUR TICKET CONTRACT CONTAINS IMPORTANT LIMITATIONS ON THE RIGHTS OF PASSENGERS. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CAREFULLY READ ALL TERMS OF THIS CONTRACT, PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO SECTION 3 AND SECTIONS 9 THROUGH 11, WHICH LIMIT OUR LIABILITY AND YOUR RIGHT TO SUE, AND RETAIN IT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
1. INTRODUCTION:
This Cruise/CruiseTour Ticket Contract (the “Ticket Contract”) describes the terms and conditions that will apply to the relationship between the passenger [as defined] and the Carrier [as defined] of the Vessel with respect to the Cruise or CruiseTour covered by this Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement supersedes any other written or oral representations or agreements relating to the subject matter of this Agreement or the Cruise or the CruiseTour.
Hi *
4. MEDICAL CARE AND OTHER PERSONAL SERVICES:
a. Availability of Medical Care. Due to the nature of travel by sea and the ports visited, the availability of medical care [1359]*1359onboard the Vessel and in ports of call may be limited or delayed and medical evacuation may not be possible from the Vessel while at sea or from every location to which the Vessel sails.
b. Relationship with Service Providers. To the extent Passengers retain the services of medical personnel or independent contractors on or off the Vessel, Passengers do so at their sole risk. Any medical personnel attending to a Passenger on or off the Vessel, if arranged by Carrier, are provided solely for the convenience of the Passenger, work directly for the Passenger, and shall not be deemed to be acting under the control or supervision of the Carrier, as Carrier is not a medical provider. Likewise, any onboard concessions (including but not limited to the gift shops, spas, beauty salon, art program, photography, formalwear concessions) are either operated by or are independent contractors on board the Vessel, on Transport or elsewhere and are provided solely for the convenience of Passenger. Even though the Carrier shall be entitled to charge a fee and earn a profit for arranging such services, all such persons or entities shall be deemed independent contractors and not acting as agents or representatives of Carrier. Carrier assumes no liability whatsoever for any treatment, failure to treat, diagnosis, misdiagnosis, actual or alleged malpractice, advice, examination or other services provided by such persons or entities. Guest acknowledges that the Vessel’s hair dresser, manicurist, art auctioneer, gift shop personnel, spa personnel, wedding planners and other providers of merchandise and personal services are employees of independent contractors and that Carrier is not responsible for their actions.
c. Payment for Medical or Personal Care Services. Passenger shall pay for all medical care or other personal services requested or required, whether on-board or ashore, including the cost of any emergency medical care or transportation incurred by Carrier. If Passenger is unable to pay and the Carrier pays for such expenses, then Passenger shall reimburse Carrier for those expenses.
11. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY:
a. CARRIER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INJURY, DEATH, ILLNESS, DAMAGE, DELAY OR OTHER LOSS TO PERSON OR PROPERTY, OR ANY OTHER CLAIM BY ANY PASSENGER CAUSED BY ACT OF GOD, WAR, TERRORISM, CIVIL COMMOTION, LABOR TROUBLE', GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE, PERILS OF THE SEA, FIRE, THEFTS OR ANY OTHER CAUSE BEYOND CARRIER’S REASONABLE CONTROL, OR ANY ACT NOT SHOWN TO BE CAUSED BY CARRIER’S NEGLIGENCE.
b. PASSENGER AGREES TO SOLELY ASSUME THE RISK OF INJURY, DEATH, ILLNESS OR OTHER LOSS, AND CARRIER IS, NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR PASSENGER’S USE OF ANY ATHLETIC OR RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT; OR FOR THE NEGLIGENCE OR WRONGDOING OF ANY INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PHOTOGRAPHERS, SPA PERSONNEL OR ENTERTAINERS; OR FOR EVENTS TAKING PLACE OFF THE CARRIER’S VESSELS, LAUNCHES OR TRANSPORTS, OR AS PART OF ANY SHORE EXCURSION, TOUR OR ACTIVITY.

(Id ¶ 2; Ticket Contract [ECF No. 96-1] (alterations in original)).

[1360]*1360On boarding the Mercury, Plaintiff signed and completed an Xpress Pass, which states:

I, Elise Lobegeiger certify that I am over 18 years of age, and that during the online check-in process, I read and accepted all of the conditions stated on the cruise ticket contract with authority and on behalf of the following guests:
Guest from Primary Reservation: Elise Lobegeiger

(SMF ¶ 10; Xpress Pass [ECF No. 96-2] (alterations in original)). On a guest’s presentation to the Mercury’s infirmary, a form titled “Medical Facility—Consultation Request—Guest” (“Medical Form”), is completed. (See SMF ¶ 11). A Medical Form [ECF No. 96-3] was completed in Plaintiffs case. (See id). The Medical Form states, “Physicians are independent contractors,” in bold font. (Id; Medical Form).

Dr. Charles Laubscher (“Dr. Laubseher”) is a physician from South Africa. (See SMF ¶ 11). Celebrity and/or Defendant, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (“RCCL”) has a medical department comprised of a vice-president, assistant vice-presidents, directors, managers, and possibly supervisors. (See PL’s Statement of Undisputed Material Facts (“SMFO”) ¶ 12 [ECF No. 121]). The head of this department is Dr. Arthur L. Diskin (“Dr. Diskin’’), whose official title is “Vice President, Global Chief Medical Officer, Royal Caribbean Cruises International.” (Id).

Although requests for references for Dr. Laubscher were sent out in Dr. Diskin’s name, references were actually returned to and reviewed by registered nurse Karen Adair (“Adair”). (See id. ¶ 13). On March 26, 2012, Celebrity and RCCL (collectively, “Cruise Defendants”) provided Plaintiff with Chapter 5 of their medical employee manual entitled “MEDICAL—RCL; Chapter 5—Processes” (“Medical Manual”) [ECF No. 121-3]. (Id ¶ 14).

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869 F. Supp. 2d 1356, 2013 A.M.C. 1254, 2012 WL 2402785, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 89884, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lobegeiger-v-celebrity-cruises-inc-flsd-2012.