Regina M. Muratore v. M/s Scotia Prince, Etc., Prince of Fundy Cruises, Ltd.

845 F.2d 347
CourtCourt of Appeals for the First Circuit
DecidedApril 20, 1988
Docket87-1641
StatusPublished
Cited by62 cases

This text of 845 F.2d 347 (Regina M. Muratore v. M/s Scotia Prince, Etc., Prince of Fundy Cruises, Ltd.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the First Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Regina M. Muratore v. M/s Scotia Prince, Etc., Prince of Fundy Cruises, Ltd., 845 F.2d 347 (1st Cir. 1988).

Opinion

LAFFITTE, District Judge.

Plaintiff-appellee commenced this action to recover damages for physical injuries and mental pain and suffering sustained while on board the M/S Scotia Prince. After a bench trial in admiralty, the United States District Court for the District of Maine granted judgment for plaintiff on her claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress and awarded five thousand dollars in compensatory damages and twenty-five thousand dollars in punitive damages. Muratore v. M/S Scotia Prince, 656 F.Supp. 471 (D.Me.1987). On appeal, defendant-appellant Prince of Fundy Cruises, Ltd. (“Prince”) seeks review of the district court’s findings that: 1) plaintiff was not bound by the one year contractual limitation provision specified in the master ticket; 2) defendant was liable for the actions of the photographers; 3) plaintiff is entitled to recover for intentional infliction of emotional distress; and 4) plaintiff is also entitled to an award of punitive damages. We affirm the district court’s thorough and comprehensive opinion but reverse that part of the judgment awarding appellee punitive damages.

I. FACTS

Prince was the bareboat charterer of the M/S Scotia Prince, a cruise ship owned by Transworld Steamship Company, Inc. (“Transworld”). In September of 1984, Prince had contracted with Floating Fleet, Ltd. (Floating Fleet) to operate all of the *349 hotel services on board the cruise ship. Floating Fleet then contracted with In-termed Photos, Ltd. (Intermed) to operate a photographic concession on board the cruise ship. Floating Fleet provided In-termed complimentary berths, darkroom and other space. In return, Intermed would give Floating Fleet a share of the profits from the photographic concession.

Plaintiff, a resident of Massachusetts, and her traveling companion, Marlene LeM-oine, planned a round trip voyage on the M/S Scotia Prince between Portland, Maine and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia through Peter Pan Tours during the Labor Day weekend of 1984. Peter Pan Tours provided them with bus transportation between Springfield, Massachusetts and Portland, Maine.

While plaintiff was still on the bus in Portland, William F. Donovan, the Peter Pan Tours guide, left the bus to receive the group’s travel documentation. Prince issued to the Peter Pan Tour group a master ticket numbered “T73643” and its accompanying ticket jacket. The letter “T” designated a tour group ticket as opposed to a ticket issued to an individual passenger. Donovan signed the work sheet on the line marked “tour escort signature.” Prince also issued to Donovan boarding passes, meal vouchers and gambling chits. The handling of this group excursion was performed in accordance with Prince’s usual ticketing procedure. 1 Donovan returned to the bus and distributed boarding passes, meal vouchers and gambling chits issued by Prince to each passenger in the tour group, including plaintiff and her traveling companion.

Master ticket T73643 contained certain terms and conditions of passage including warnings of the existence of such terms and conditions. The word “important” was printed in bold type. The terms and conditions themselves were set forth in twelve paragraphs beginning on the inside of the front cover, indicating in unambiguous language that the conditions were continued inside the back cover. Paragraph nine states:

TIME LIMITATION — SUITS.

Suits and actions to recover for loss of life or personal injury to passengers shall not be maintainable unless instituted within one (1) year from the date when death or injury occurred. Suits and actions to recover for claims other than personal injuries or loss of life shall not be maintainable unless commenced within six (6) months from the date on which the claim accrued or loss occurred.

Plaintiff never physically possessed master ticket T73643 and its accompanying ticket jacket containing the terms and conditions of passage. The three documents (boarding passes, meal vouchers and gambling chits) that plaintiff possessed did not contain or refer to any of the terms and conditions.

On boarding the cruise ship, photographers Mark Ayling and Martyn Moore were taking the passengers’ pictures. Plaintiff informed the photographers that she did not want her photograph taken. When they proceeded to disregard her request, plaintiff turned her back to them and walked backwards onto the cruise ship. One of the photographers took her picture from the back. The following day, plaintiff’s picture was displayed along with other passengers’ pictures and offered for sale. Plaintiff’s picture, however, had been “doctored” with a picture of a gorilla face that had been appended to cover the back of plaintiff’s head.

As plaintiff and her friend were proceeding to the cafeteria for breakfast, plaintiff slipped and fell down a flight of stairs. At the time of the fall, the stairs were carpeted. Plaintiff was disturbed from the fall and went to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee and a cigarette. Afterwards she completed an accident report and returned it to the manager of Floating Fleet. At that time, plaintiff refused medical assistance from the cruise ship’s medical doctor.

*350 Throughout the cruise, plaintiff had repeated confrontations with the photographers. On one occasion, a photographer dressed in a gorilla costume approached plaintiff. Again she turned her back. One photographer then shouted to the other, “take the back of her — she likes things from the back.” Plaintiff understood the remark to be lewd and offensive. On another occasion, the photographers attempted to photograph plaintiff while she and her traveling companion sat in the coffee shop. Though she covered her face with her hands the picture was taken. Plaintiff was embarrassed by the pictures and felt harassed on her weekend voyage. The record discloses that plaintiff spent several hours in her cabin in order to avoid the photographers.

Sometime after departing from the M/S Scotia Prince, plaintiff began to experience severe bruising and physical discomfort, in particular, lower back pains. This pain continued in varying degrees. Her injury interrupted activities such as lifting, gardening, or walking for extended periods of time. She is, however, able to work and engage in normal social activity.

On March 7, 1986, over a year and a half after the cruise, plaintiff filed a complaint against M/S Scotia Prince, Transworld and Prince. Prior to the bench trial, plaintiffs in rem claims against M/S Scotia Prince were dismissed for failure to obtain in rem jurisdiction over the vessel. Plaintiff’s in personam claims proceeded to trial against Prince and Transworld. Based on the photographers’ conduct, plaintiff asserted a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress. She further alleged that Prince was negligent in maintaining the stairways and as a result she slipped and fell down the stairs and injured her back. Prince and Transworld raised the defense that plaintiff’s action was time barred by the one year contractual limitation provision specified in the Contract of Passage.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Tantalos v. Oroverde Corp.
D. Puerto Rico, 2023
Kennedy v. Carnival Corp.
385 F. Supp. 3d 1302 (S.D. Florida, 2019)
Sawyer Brothers, Inc. v. Island Transporter, LLC
887 F.3d 23 (First Circuit, 2018)
Patricia Franza v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.
772 F.3d 1225 (Eleventh Circuit, 2014)
L'Heureux v. Murphy
Maine Superior, 2013
Tello v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.
939 F. Supp. 2d 1269 (S.D. Florida, 2013)
Doyle v. Graske
565 F. Supp. 2d 1069 (D. Nebraska, 2008)
Kahumoku v. Titan Maritime, LLC
486 F. Supp. 2d 1144 (D. Hawaii, 2007)
Casavant v. Norwegian Cruise Line, Ltd.
829 N.E.2d 1171 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 2005)
Jane Doe v. Celebrity Cruises, Inc.
394 F.3d 891 (Eleventh Circuit, 2004)
Peterson v. Scotia Prince Cruises Ltd.
328 F. Supp. 2d 119 (D. Maine, 2004)
Carlisle v. Carnival Corp.
864 So. 2d 1 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2004)
Stires v. Carnival Corp.
243 F. Supp. 2d 1313 (M.D. Florida, 2002)
Wallis v. Princess Cruises, Inc.
306 F.3d 827 (Ninth Circuit, 2002)
Poe v. PPG Industries
782 So. 2d 1168 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2001)
Doe v. Celebrity Cruises
145 F. Supp. 2d 1337 (S.D. Florida, 2001)
Mendelson v. Delaware River & Bay Authority
112 F. Supp. 2d 386 (D. Delaware, 2000)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
845 F.2d 347, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/regina-m-muratore-v-ms-scotia-prince-etc-prince-of-fundy-cruises-ca1-1988.