Case: 17-15803 Date Filed: 06/29/2018 Page: 1 of 7
[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT ________________________
No. 17-15803 Non-Argument Calendar ________________________
D.C. Docket No. 1:16-cv-21842-JLK
MARK HORNE, an individual,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
JULIE MARTIN-HORNE, an individual,
Plaintiff,
versus
CARNIVAL CORPORATION, a foreign corporation d.b.a. Carnival Cruise Line, d.b.a. Carnival Cruise Lines,
Defendant-Appellee.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida ________________________
(June 29, 2018) Case: 17-15803 Date Filed: 06/29/2018 Page: 2 of 7
Before WILSON, JORDAN, and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Mark Horne (“Horne”) appeals the district court’s grant of Carnival’s
motion for summary judgment on his claim for negligent failure to warn of a
dangerous condition on a cruise ship, and for negligent maintenance. On their
honeymoon, Horne and his wife Julie were on the cruise ship Fascination, and
went to take pictures of the sunset on an exterior deck. It was a very windy day,
and when they desired to leave the exterior deck the couple had to go through a
heavy metal door. A warning sign on the door said “CAUTION—WATCH YOUR
STEP—HIGH THRESHOLD.” There was no other warning. Julie opened the
door, but had trouble, so Horne grabbed the door along its edge and held it open.
Once Horne walked through the door, he began to release it. The door slammed
shut as Horne released it, closing before he could get his hand free and chopping
off the fifth finger of his right hand at the distal joint.
Horne brought suit against Carnival, alleging failure to warn of a dangerous
condition and negligent maintenance of the door. The district court granted
summary judgment to Carnival, finding that Carnival had no duty to warn because
there was no evidence that Carnival was on notice, actual or constructive, of the
dangerous condition and because the danger was open and obvious. This appeal
followed.
2 Case: 17-15803 Date Filed: 06/29/2018 Page: 3 of 7
We review de novo a district court’s grant of summary judgment, viewing
the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Quigg v. Thomas
Cnty. Sch. Dist., 814 F.3d 1227, 1235 (11th Cir. 2016). Summary judgment is
properly granted only if “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). A
genuine issue of material fact exists when “the evidence is such that a reasonable
jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party.” Quigg, 814 F.3d at 1235
(quotations and alteration omitted).
Because the injury occurred on navigable waters, federal admiralty law
applies to this case. Everett v. Carnival Cruise Lines, 912 F.2d 1355, 1358 (11th
Cir. 1990). To establish his claim for negligence, Horne must show that Carnival
had a duty of care, breached that duty, and that breach was the proximate cause of
Horne’s injury. “[A] cruise line owes its passengers a duty to warn of known
dangers.” Chaparro v. Carnival Corp., 693 F.3d 1333, 1336 (11th Cir. 2012).
However, in order to have a duty to warn of a danger, the cruiseline must have
“actual or constructive notice of the unsafe condition.” Keefe v. Bahama Cruise
Line, Inc., 867 F.2d 1318, 1322 (11th Cir. 1989). Moreover, there is no duty to
warn of open and obvious dangers. See Restatement (Second) of Torts § 343A cmt.
e (Am Law Inst. 1965); Deperrodil v. Bozovic Marine, Inc., 842 F.3d 352, 357 (5th
Cir. 2016); Frasca v. NCL (Bahamas), Ltd., 654 F. App’x 949, 951 (11th Cir.
3 Case: 17-15803 Date Filed: 06/29/2018 Page: 4 of 7
2016) (citing Lamb by Shepard v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 1 F.3d 1184, 1189–90
(11th Cir. 1993)). Whether a danger is open and obvious “is guided by the
‘reasonable person’ standard.” Frasca, 654 F. App’x at 951.
The district court granted summary judgment on the grounds that Carnival
had no duty of care (Horne alleges there was a duty to warn and a duty to maintain)
and so Horne’s claims fail as a matter of law. As to failure to warn, the court held
no duty existed for two reasons: (1) Carnival did not have actual or constructive
notice of the allegedly hazardous condition; and (2) the hazard was open and
obvious. The court separately held that Carnival had no notice that the door was in
a dangerous condition, so the failure to maintain claim failed as well. We will
address each holding in turn.
First, the district court held that there was no evidence that Carnival had
either actual or constructive notice of the allegedly hazardous condition of the
winds causing the door to slam. In Sorrels v. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd., 796 F.3d 1275
(11th Cir. 2015), we addressed actual or constructive notice in the context of a slip
and fall case on a cruise ship. In that case, we held that “testimony of [witnesses]—
that warning signs were sometimes posted on the pool deck after rain—viewed in
the light most favorable to [plaintiff], is enough to withstand summary judgment as
to notice.” Id. at 1289. Likewise, in this case, there is evidence that the cruise line
sometimes posted signs on the deck door in the event of strong winds. These signs
4 Case: 17-15803 Date Filed: 06/29/2018 Page: 5 of 7
would read “caution, strong winds.” There was no such sign on the day of the
incident. Viewed in the light most favorable to Horne, the evidence that Carnival,
in the past, put up signs warning of strong winds creates a genuine issue of fact as
to whether Carnival had actual or constructive notice of the hazardous condition.
Second, the district court held that the danger of the door slamming shut in
high winds was open and obvious, so Carnival had no duty to warn. A cruise line
does not “need to warn passengers or make special arrangements for open-and-
obvious risks.” Deperrodil, 842 F.3d at 357 (5th Cir. 2016); Malley v. Royal
Caribbean Cruises Ltd, 713 F. App’x 905, 908 (11th Cir. 2017). In determining
whether a risk is open and obvious, we focus on “what an objectively reasonable
person would observe and do[] not take into account the plaintiff’s subjective
perceptions.” Malley, 713 F. App’x at 908.
The district court held that the windy conditions and the heavy door were
open and obvious to a reasonable person. Moreover, a reasonable person would
have used the handle of the door instead of holding it by the edge, as Horne did.
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
Case: 17-15803 Date Filed: 06/29/2018 Page: 1 of 7
[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT ________________________
No. 17-15803 Non-Argument Calendar ________________________
D.C. Docket No. 1:16-cv-21842-JLK
MARK HORNE, an individual,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
JULIE MARTIN-HORNE, an individual,
Plaintiff,
versus
CARNIVAL CORPORATION, a foreign corporation d.b.a. Carnival Cruise Line, d.b.a. Carnival Cruise Lines,
Defendant-Appellee.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida ________________________
(June 29, 2018) Case: 17-15803 Date Filed: 06/29/2018 Page: 2 of 7
Before WILSON, JORDAN, and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Mark Horne (“Horne”) appeals the district court’s grant of Carnival’s
motion for summary judgment on his claim for negligent failure to warn of a
dangerous condition on a cruise ship, and for negligent maintenance. On their
honeymoon, Horne and his wife Julie were on the cruise ship Fascination, and
went to take pictures of the sunset on an exterior deck. It was a very windy day,
and when they desired to leave the exterior deck the couple had to go through a
heavy metal door. A warning sign on the door said “CAUTION—WATCH YOUR
STEP—HIGH THRESHOLD.” There was no other warning. Julie opened the
door, but had trouble, so Horne grabbed the door along its edge and held it open.
Once Horne walked through the door, he began to release it. The door slammed
shut as Horne released it, closing before he could get his hand free and chopping
off the fifth finger of his right hand at the distal joint.
Horne brought suit against Carnival, alleging failure to warn of a dangerous
condition and negligent maintenance of the door. The district court granted
summary judgment to Carnival, finding that Carnival had no duty to warn because
there was no evidence that Carnival was on notice, actual or constructive, of the
dangerous condition and because the danger was open and obvious. This appeal
followed.
2 Case: 17-15803 Date Filed: 06/29/2018 Page: 3 of 7
We review de novo a district court’s grant of summary judgment, viewing
the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Quigg v. Thomas
Cnty. Sch. Dist., 814 F.3d 1227, 1235 (11th Cir. 2016). Summary judgment is
properly granted only if “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). A
genuine issue of material fact exists when “the evidence is such that a reasonable
jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party.” Quigg, 814 F.3d at 1235
(quotations and alteration omitted).
Because the injury occurred on navigable waters, federal admiralty law
applies to this case. Everett v. Carnival Cruise Lines, 912 F.2d 1355, 1358 (11th
Cir. 1990). To establish his claim for negligence, Horne must show that Carnival
had a duty of care, breached that duty, and that breach was the proximate cause of
Horne’s injury. “[A] cruise line owes its passengers a duty to warn of known
dangers.” Chaparro v. Carnival Corp., 693 F.3d 1333, 1336 (11th Cir. 2012).
However, in order to have a duty to warn of a danger, the cruiseline must have
“actual or constructive notice of the unsafe condition.” Keefe v. Bahama Cruise
Line, Inc., 867 F.2d 1318, 1322 (11th Cir. 1989). Moreover, there is no duty to
warn of open and obvious dangers. See Restatement (Second) of Torts § 343A cmt.
e (Am Law Inst. 1965); Deperrodil v. Bozovic Marine, Inc., 842 F.3d 352, 357 (5th
Cir. 2016); Frasca v. NCL (Bahamas), Ltd., 654 F. App’x 949, 951 (11th Cir.
3 Case: 17-15803 Date Filed: 06/29/2018 Page: 4 of 7
2016) (citing Lamb by Shepard v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 1 F.3d 1184, 1189–90
(11th Cir. 1993)). Whether a danger is open and obvious “is guided by the
‘reasonable person’ standard.” Frasca, 654 F. App’x at 951.
The district court granted summary judgment on the grounds that Carnival
had no duty of care (Horne alleges there was a duty to warn and a duty to maintain)
and so Horne’s claims fail as a matter of law. As to failure to warn, the court held
no duty existed for two reasons: (1) Carnival did not have actual or constructive
notice of the allegedly hazardous condition; and (2) the hazard was open and
obvious. The court separately held that Carnival had no notice that the door was in
a dangerous condition, so the failure to maintain claim failed as well. We will
address each holding in turn.
First, the district court held that there was no evidence that Carnival had
either actual or constructive notice of the allegedly hazardous condition of the
winds causing the door to slam. In Sorrels v. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd., 796 F.3d 1275
(11th Cir. 2015), we addressed actual or constructive notice in the context of a slip
and fall case on a cruise ship. In that case, we held that “testimony of [witnesses]—
that warning signs were sometimes posted on the pool deck after rain—viewed in
the light most favorable to [plaintiff], is enough to withstand summary judgment as
to notice.” Id. at 1289. Likewise, in this case, there is evidence that the cruise line
sometimes posted signs on the deck door in the event of strong winds. These signs
4 Case: 17-15803 Date Filed: 06/29/2018 Page: 5 of 7
would read “caution, strong winds.” There was no such sign on the day of the
incident. Viewed in the light most favorable to Horne, the evidence that Carnival,
in the past, put up signs warning of strong winds creates a genuine issue of fact as
to whether Carnival had actual or constructive notice of the hazardous condition.
Second, the district court held that the danger of the door slamming shut in
high winds was open and obvious, so Carnival had no duty to warn. A cruise line
does not “need to warn passengers or make special arrangements for open-and-
obvious risks.” Deperrodil, 842 F.3d at 357 (5th Cir. 2016); Malley v. Royal
Caribbean Cruises Ltd, 713 F. App’x 905, 908 (11th Cir. 2017). In determining
whether a risk is open and obvious, we focus on “what an objectively reasonable
person would observe and do[] not take into account the plaintiff’s subjective
perceptions.” Malley, 713 F. App’x at 908.
The district court held that the windy conditions and the heavy door were
open and obvious to a reasonable person. Moreover, a reasonable person would
have used the handle of the door instead of holding it by the edge, as Horne did.
Horne argues that the relevant danger is not the wind, or the heavy door, but rather
the risk that the wind would cause the door to slam so hard and so fast that it would
chop off his finger. Horne contends that this risk is not open and obvious to the
reasonable person. Horne states that although he knew that the door was heavy and
it was windy, he had no reason to believe the door would close so hard and fast
5 Case: 17-15803 Date Filed: 06/29/2018 Page: 6 of 7
that it chopped off his finger. He also states that he had no way of knowing that the
door would slam shut so fast that, despite his best efforts, he could not remove his
hand in time. Based on this testimony, viewed in the light most favorable to Horne,
we hold that a reasonable juror could find that this hazard was not open and
obvious. Thus, we reverse with respect to the duty to warn claim.
Third, the district court held that Horne’s failure to maintain claim fails
because there is no evidence that Carnival had notice that the door was in a
dangerous condition. In order for Horne to succeed on his failure to maintain
claim, he must show that Carnival had actual or constructive notice that the door
was in a dangerous condition. Horne’s expert’s testimony that the door was in a
dangerous condition is only relevant if Horne can first show that Carnival had
actual or constructive notice of this danger. The only evidence Horne presents that
Carnival had actual or constructive notice that the door was dangerous were two
work orders entered, and subsequently closed, for repairs on the door. Plaintiff
presents no evidence that these work orders were not actually performed; in fact,
Carnival’s corporate representative testified that “closing” a work order indicates
that the requested repairs have been completed. Thus, these work orders do not
provide evidence that Carnival had notice that the door remained in a dangerous
condition at the time of the incident. Viewed in the light most favorable to Horne,
the work orders alone do not create a genuine issue of fact about whether Carnival
6 Case: 17-15803 Date Filed: 06/29/2018 Page: 7 of 7
had actual or constructive notice that the door was in a dangerous condition at the
time of the incident. Thus, the district court did not err with respect to the failure to
maintain claim.
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the district court with
respect to the failure to maintain claim, but we reverse with respect to the claim of
duty to warn. The district court’s grant of summary judgment is
AFFIRMED in part, REVERSED in part, and REMANDED for proceedings
not inconsistent with this opinion.