Saudi v. S/T Marine Atlantic

159 F. Supp. 2d 483, 2001 A.M.C. 1289, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20863
District Court, S.D. Texas·Decided December 15, 2000·No. No. CIV. A. H-99-2367·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

[485]*485 ORDER

HARMON, District Judge.

Pending before the Court in the above referenced admiralty and maritime personal injury action, arising from the May 17, 1999 fall of Plaintiff Captain Sheriff Saudi (“Plaintiff’ or “Saudi”) from a lifting basket as he was transferred from the tanker Marine Atlantic to the M/V American Discovery because of the collapse of an allegedly defective portside crane on the tanker Marine Atlantic, is inter alia a joint motion for partial summary judgment dismissing Plaintiffs claim for punitive damages (# 182), filed by Defendants Marine Atlantic Ltd., Osprey Ship Management (“Osprey”),1 Marine Transport Corporation (“MTC”), Marine Transport Lines, Inc. (“MTL”), and Koch Shipping, Inc. (“KSI”).

The controlling pleading, Plaintiffs third amended complaint (# 73), alleges six causes of action: (1) negligence and gross under common law against all Defendants; (2) unseaworthy vessel and equipment under maritime law against all Defendants; (3) negligence under the Jones Act against all Defendants; (4) breach of warranty of merchantability under pendant jurisdiction against Defendants Valmet-Appleton, Inc., Appleton Machine Co., Inc., Appleton Marine, Inc. and John Doe Company (designer of the crane), now moot because all these Defendants have been dismissed from this action; (5) strict liability in tort for defective design or manufacture and failure to warn against the alleged designers and/or manufacturers of the crane, Defendants Valmet-Appleton, Inc., Appleton Machine Company, Appleton Marine Company, and John Doe Company, now moot for the same reason as the fourth cause of action; and (6) an action in rem against the tanker Marine Atlantic under maritime law.

The movant seeking a federal summary judgment initially must inform the court of the basis for his motion and point out those portions of the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file that demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact and show that he is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). The movant need not negate the opposing party’s claims nor produce evidence showing an absence of a genuine factual issue, but may rely on the absence of evidence to support essential elements of opposing party’s claims. International Assoc. of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, Lodge No. 2504 v. Intercontinental Mfg. Co., 812 F.2d 219, 222 (5th Cir.1987). The burden then shifts to the non-movant to set forth specific facts and competent summary judgment evidence to raise a genuine issue of material fact on each essential element of any claim on which he bears the burden of proof at trial. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). The substantive law governing the suit identifies the essential elements of the claims at issue and therefore indicates which facts are material. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). The non-moving party may not rest on mere allegations or denials in its pleadings, but must produce affirmative evidence and specific facts. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 256-57, 106 S.Ct. 2505. He meets this burden only if he shows that “a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party.” Id. at 254, 106 S.Ct. 2505. A mere scintilla of evidence will not preclude granting of a motion for summary judgment. Id. at 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

[486]*486All reasonable inferences must be drawn in favor of the non-moving party. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587-88, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538.(1986), citing United States v. Diebold, 369 U.S. 654, 655, 82 S.Ct. 993, 8 L.Ed.2d 176 (1962). Once the burden of proof has shifted to the non-movant, he “must do more that simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” Id. at 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348. Instead he must produce evidence upon which a jury could reasonably base a verdict in his favor. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505. “[TJhere is no issue for trial unless there is sufficient evidence favoring the nonmoving party for a jury to return a verdict for that party. • If the evidence is merely colorable, or is not significantly probative, summary judgment may be granted.” Id., 477 U.S. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505. Moreover the non-movant must “go beyond the pleadings and by her own affidavits or by depositions, answers to interrogatories and admissions on file, designate specific facts that show there is a genuine issue for trial.” Webb v. Cardiothoracic Surgery Assoc. of North Texas, P.A., 139 F.3d 532, 536 (5th Cir.1998). Unsubstantiated and subjective beliefs and opinions are not competent summary judgment evidence. Forsyth v. Barr, 19 F.3d 1527, 1533 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 871, 115 S.Ct. 195, 130 L.Ed.2d 127 (1994); Topalian v. Ehrman, 954 F.2d 1125, 1131 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 825, 113 S.Ct. 82, 121 L.Ed.2d 46 (1992). The non-movant cannot discharge his burden by offering vague allegations and legal conclusions. Salas v. Carpenter, 980 F.2d 299, 305 (5th Cir.1992); Lujan v. National Wildlife Fed’n, 497 U.S. 871, 889, 110 S.Ct. 3177, 111 L.Ed.2d 695 (1990).

Defendants argue that punitive damages are not recoverable under the claims against them under maritime law (negligence, unseaworthiness, and Jones Act). Guevara v. Maritime Overseas Corp., 59 F.3d 1496, 1507 (5th Cir.1995)(ew banc Xspecifically holding that punitive damages under general maritime law are not available to pay maintenance and cure of an injured seaman; because punitive damages are considered non-pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages are barred under the Jones Act, “If the situation is covered by a statute like the Jones Act, the [Death on the High Seas Act], and the statute informs and limits the available damages, the statute directs and delimits recovery available under the general maritime law as well”), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1046, 116 S.Ct. 706, 133 L.Ed.2d 662 (1996). Nor are they recoverable in an action for unseaworthiness. Hunter v. Seabulk Offshore, Ltd., 993 F.Supp.

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Saudi v. S/T Marine Atlantic, 159 F. Supp. 2d 483, 2001 A.M.C. 1289, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20863 (S.D. Tex. 2000).

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