Wiradihardja v. Bermuda Star Line, Inc.

802 F. Supp. 989, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13141, 1992 WL 214306
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedSeptember 1, 1992
Docket89 Civ. 3927 (SWK)
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 802 F. Supp. 989 (Wiradihardja v. Bermuda Star Line, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wiradihardja v. Bermuda Star Line, Inc., 802 F. Supp. 989, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13141, 1992 WL 214306 (S.D.N.Y. 1992).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

KRAM, District Judge.

This action under the Jones Act, 46 U.S.C.App. § 688, 1 arises from injuries that plaintiff, Martin Wiradihardja (“Wiradi-hardja”), allegedly sustained as a result of a subordinate crew members’ assault while Wiradihardja was aboard the Bermuda Star Line (“BSL”) vessel the S.S. QUEEN OF BERMUDA (the “S.S. QUEEN”). Presently before the Court is BSL’s motion, pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, for an order granting it summary judgment dismissing the complaint's negligence and unseaworthiness claims. Also before the Court is Wiradihardja’s cross-motion, pursuant to Rule 37 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, for an order granting it sanctions, including striking BSL’s answer, due to BSL’s failure to comply with discovery orders.

BACKGROUND 2

During June, 1988, plaintiff Wiradihardja was employed as a food manager aboard the S.S. QUEEN. 3 In Wiradihardja’s capacity as the S.S. QUEEN’s food manager, his responsibilities included supervision of the vessel’s food service, food suppliers and food service crew members. Deposition of Martin Wiradihardja, dated Oct. 16, 1989 (“Tr.”), at 16, 74.

On June 30, 1988, Wiradihardja was in his office adjacent to the vessel’s crew mess hall doing paperwork at his desk when a member of the food service staff known to Wiradihardja as Winston Wilson, a vegetable cook, appeared at the office doorway twelve to fifteen feet away. (Tr. at 36-37, 40.) Wilson picked up from the crew mess table in the front of Wiradihard-ja’s office a bottle of tabasco sauce and a bottle of ketchup. (Tr. at 38-39.) Wilson launched the bottle of tabasco at Wiradi-hardja. (Tr. at 39-42.) Wiradihardja evaded the projectile. (Tr. at 41-42.) Wilson then cast a bottle of ketchup at Wiradi-hardja, who, in an effort to shield himself, raised his left arm. (Tr. at 40-43.) The bottle of ketchup struck Wiradihardja’s left forearm causing a fracture which necessitated surgical repair. (Tr. at 42-43, 77-78.)

This action was brought in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana to recover damages for the injuries Wiradihardja sustained aboard the S.S. QUEEN, and was transferred to this court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404. The complaint alleges a claim under the Jones Act for negligence, as well as a claim alleging that the vicious propensity of an S.S. QUEEN crew member rendered the vessel unseaworthy.

The parties have concluded extensive discovery. and filed a joint pre-trial order. BSL nevertheless moves for an order granting it summary judgment dismissing the complaint. BSL contends that, as a matter of law, it may not be held liable in tort (or otherwise) for the injuries Wiradi-hardja allegedly sustained aboard the S.S. QUEEN. BSL also argues that Wiradi- *992 hardja has failed-to adduce.evidence sufficient to support a claim for unseaworthiness and contends that it is entitled to an order dismissing this claim as a matter of law.

Wiradihardja opposes BSL’s motion for summary judgment and cross-moves for an order, pursuant to Rule 37(b)(2)(C) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, striking BSL’s answer on account of BSL having misrepresented to the Court its inability to produce personnel files sought by Wiradi-hardja during discovery.

I. Summary Judgment Standard

Under Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, summary judgment is appropriate where “the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories and admissions on file, together with affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” The moving .party bears the initial burden of demonstrating the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Adickes v. S.H. Kress and Co., 398 U.S. 144, 157, 90 S.Ct. 1598, 1608, 26 L.Ed.2d 142 (1970). The movant may discharge this burden by demonstrating to the Court that there is an absence of evidence to support the non-moving party’s case. Celotex Corp. v. Ca-trett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). 4 ' The non-moving party then has the burden of coming forward with “specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial,” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e), by “a showing sufficient to establish the existence of [every] element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” Id. at 322, 106 S.Ct. at 2552.

The court “must resolve all ambiguities and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the party defending against the motion.” Eastway Construction Corp. v. City of New York, 762 F.2d 243, 249 (2d Cir.1985); Lopez v. S.B. Thomas, Inc., 831 F.2d 1184, 1187 (2d Cir.1987); see also Adickes v. S.H. Kress and Co., 398 U.S. at 158-59, 90 S.Ct. at 1608-09. But the court must inquire whether “there is sufficient evidence favoring the non-moving party for a jury to return a verdict for that party,” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2510, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986), and grant summary judgment where the non-movant’s evidence is merely colorable, con-clusory, speculative or not significantly probative. Id. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. at 2510-11; see Knight v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 804 F.2d 9, 12-15 (2d Cir.1986), cert. denied, 480 U.S. 932, 107 S.Ct. 1570, 94 L.Ed.2d 762 (1987); Argus Inc. v. Eastman Kodak Co., 801 F.2d 38, 45 (2d Cir.1986), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 1088, 107 S.Ct. 1295, 94 L.Ed.2d 151 (1987). The non-movant must “do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp.,

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Bluebook (online)
802 F. Supp. 989, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13141, 1992 WL 214306, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wiradihardja-v-bermuda-star-line-inc-nysd-1992.