Pucci v. Carnival Corp.

146 F. Supp. 3d 1281, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 156042, 2015 WL 7272764
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Florida
DecidedNovember 18, 2015
DocketCASE NO. 15-22241-CIV-ALTONAGA/O’Sullivan
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 146 F. Supp. 3d 1281 (Pucci v. Carnival Corp.) 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
Pucci v. Carnival Corp., 146 F. Supp. 3d 1281, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 156042, 2015 WL 7272764 (S.D. Fla. 2015).

Opinion

ORDER

CECILIA M. ALTONAGA, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

THIS CAUSE came before the Court on Defendant, Carnival Corporation’s (“Carnival[’s]”) Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint (“Carnival Motion”) [ECF No. 29], filed August 27, 2015; and Defendant, Cruise Ship Excursions, Inc.’s (“CSE[’s]”) Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint (“CSE Motion”) [ECF No. 34], filed September 21, 2015. Plaintiffs, Alfred Pucci (“Alfred”) and Michael W. Pucci (“Michael”) (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) filed a Response... (“Carnival Response”) [ECF No. 35] to the Carnival Motion on September 24, 2015; Carnival filed a Reply.. .(“Carnival Reply”) [ECF No. 39] on October 13, 2015. Plaintiffs filed a Response... (“CSE Response”) [ECF [1284]*1284No. 38] to the CSE Motion on October 8, 2015; CSE filed a Reply.. .(“CSE Reply”) [ECF No. 42] on October 22, 2015. The Court has carefully reviewed the parties’ written submissions, the record, and applicable law.

I. BACKGROUND1

On August 17, 2014, Judith Pucci (“Judith”) boarded Carnival’s ship, The Valor, for a seven-night cruise from Puerto Rico to the Virgin Islands. (See Am. Compl. ¶ 12). She was traveling, with her son, Michael, his wife, and their three children. (See id.). While aboard The Valor, on August 17 or 18, 2014, Judith inquired into participating in a snorkeling excursion promoted by Carnival and operated by CSE, called the Champagne Catamaran Sail and Snorkel (“Champagne Excursion”). (See id. ¶¶ 21-22). Carnival marketed, promoted, advertised, and sold shore excursions, including the Champagne Excursion, directly to passengers "at excursion desks aboard The Valor, as well as on its website, brochures, and television system. (See id. ¶ 14). Carnival and CSE (collectively, “Defendants”) contracted-to offer the Champagne Excursion, and shared in the profits and losses associated with the excursion’s success or failure. (See id. ¶ 19).

Carnival was informed Judith was-not a good1 swimmer,2 but Carnival employees, agents and/or personnel assured Judith the Champagne Excursion was safe and appropriate for her, despite her limited abilities and advanced age. (See id. ,¶ 21). Carnival marketed the Champagne Excursion as an “easy” excursion. (See id.). Through its marketing and sales process, Carnival assured Judith and her family that booking a “Carnival shore excursion” ensured the highest safety standards were followed. (Id. ¶ 22). Consequently, Judith purchased a ticket for the Champagne Excursion. (See id. ¶ 14).

On August 18, 2014, Judith boarded CSE’s vessel, The Adventuress, to embark on the Champagne Excursion. (See id. ¶¶ 7, 46). The Champagne - Excursion involved sailing in‘the U.S. Virgin Islands from St. Thomas to St. John, and snorkeh ing off Honeymoon Beach, which has been the site of several snorkeler and swimmer drownings. (See id. ¶¶ 19-20). Defendants knew or should have known the snorkeling portion of the Champagne Excursion was not appropriate for all passengers and posed an increased risk of injury and death to inexperienced passengers. (See id. ¶ 20).

Personnel aboard the Champagne Excursion encouraged and allowed Judith to enter the water without sufficient education, training, and instruction, despite her lack of snorkeling experience and limited swimming abilities. (See id. ¶ 23). Personnel never performed an in-water safety evaluation during the Champagne Excursion to ensure Judith could safely snorkel. fSee id. ¶ 25). Defendants also failed to have sufficient personnel available or assigned to monitor the snorkeling participants, such as by looking out for, recognizing, and responding to dangers presented by the water conditions or the actions/inac-tions of snorkeling participants. (See id. ¶ 27). Personnel further failed to implement a. “buddy system” for snorkeling; thus, Judith snorkeled alone without prop[1285]*1285er training or monitoring, and became separated from the other snorkelers. {See id. ¶¶ 24-26).

Eventually, personnel “aboard the excursion” noticed Judith floating face down near a reef, in an area inappropriate for snorkeling. {Id. ¶ 28). By the time Defendants’ agents, servants, and/or employees responded to Judith’s aid, she’ was unresponsive. (See id. ¶ 29). Personnel pulled Judith from the water and attempted resuscitation, but Judith passed away. (See id. ¶ 30). A subsequent autopsy determined drowning as the cause of death. (See id.). '

Following Judith’s death, Alfred (Judith’s husband) and Michael filed this lawsuit against Defendants. (See generally Compl. [ECF No. 1]). In the Amended Complaint, Plaintiffs assert the following claims against Carnival: Negligence (Count I), Negligent-Selection/Retention of Tour Operator (Count III), Negligence for Apparent Agency or Agency by Estoppel (Count IV), Negligent Misrepresentation (Count V), Fraudulent Misrepresentation (Count VI), and Joint Venture (Count VII). (See generally Am. Compl.). Plaintiffs also bring two claims against CSE: Negligence (Count II), and Joint Venture (Count VII). (See generally id.). Plaintiffs’ negligence -claims (Counts I and II) are predicated on a long list of actions and omissions by Defendants including: failing to warn Judith of the hazards associated with snorkeling for an inexperienced snorkeler, failing to provide Judith with adequate aquatic safety'instructions, failing to supervise snorkelers, and failing to timely render aide to Judith. (See id. ¶¶ 39-49).

Plaintiffs’ misrepresentation claims against Carnival (Counts V-and VI) -are based on Carnival’s alleged misrepresentation to Judith" the .Champagne Excursion was “easy” and safe, despite her lack of experience and swimming ability. (See id. ¶¶ 63-70). Plaintiffs predicate their Joint Venture theory of liability (Count VII) on numerous facts, such as: (1) Defendants entered into an agreement, “whether by formal contract or through their subsequent and ongoing course of conduct” (id ¶ 77), whereby Carnival sold tickets for the Champagne Excursion and CSE operated the excursion; (2) Defendants had joint and/or shared control over aspects of the joint venture; (3) Defendants had' a joint proprietary and/or ownership interest in the Champagne Excursion; and (4) Defendants'shared profits and losses sustained from the joint venture. (See id. ¶¶ 77-82).

Plaintiffs seek compensatory damages (including damages for Alfred’s lost support and services, companionship and protection, and mental pain and suffering, and Michael’s mental pain and suffering), punitive damages, interest; and costs associated with bringing the action. (See id. ¶ 87). Defendants seek to dismiss all claims against them. (See generally Carnival Mot. & CSE Mot.).

II. LEGAL STANDARD

“To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’ ” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)).

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146 F. Supp. 3d 1281, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 156042, 2015 WL 7272764, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pucci-v-carnival-corp-flsd-2015.