NESTOR TORRES AND DONNA TORRES, HIS WIFE, APPELLANTS,
v.
OFFSHORE PROFESSIONAL TOUR, INC., APPELLEE
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Torres appeals a summary judgment dismissing his negligence and strict liability claims against a boat race promoter. The court held that Torres stated a valid negligence per se claim based on the promoter's alleged failure to secure required permits, and that releases cannot insulate the promoter from liability for breaching statutory duties designed to protect participants.
The court held that Torres established sufficient facts to defeat summary judgment on a negligence per se claim. The releases cannot insulate OPT from liability for breaching positive statutory duties designed to protect the person executing the release, as enforcing such releases would violate public policy. The court reversed and remanded because material factual issues remained regarding OPT's conduct and whether it constituted negligence per se.
[1] A release or waiver of liability does not insulate a boat race promoter from liability for breach of a statutory duty designed to protect the well-being of the person exe…
[2] Negligence per se arises from a violation of a statute that establishes a duty to protect a specific class of persons from a particular type of injury.
Previewing 2 of 4 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“Negligence per se arises from a violation of any statute which establishes a duty to take precautions to protect a particular class of persons from a particular injury or type of injury.”
Establishes the legal standard for negligence per se that Torres must satisfy
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceNestor Torres was injured in a boat crash while participating in a celebrity boat race conducted by Offshore Professional Tour, Inc. (OPT). Prior to t…
The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.
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BASKIN, Judge.
Plaintiffs Nestor Torres, and his wife Donna Torres, [collectively “Torres”], appeal from a final summary judgment in favor of Offshore Professional Tour, Inc. [OPT].
Nestor Torres was injured in a boat crash while participating in a celebrity boat race conducted by OPT. Torres sued OPT seeking damages on theories of strict liability and negligence, and later amended the complaint to assert breach of statutory and regulatory duties. Prior to the race Nestor Torres executed three releases: 1) “Agreement of Release” on the Offshore Entry Blank; 2) “Release and Waiver of Liability and Indemnity Agreement”; and 3) “Agreement of Release for Membership.” OPT filed a motion for summary judgment asserting that the documents Torres had executed released it from liability. At the hearing on the motion, Torres argued that the first two releases apply to other races and parties and that the third release does not relieve OPT from liability arising from breach of statutory and/or regulatory duty. In opposition to summary judgment, Torres submitted expert affidavits concerning OPT’s failure to satisfy statutory requirements. OPT asserted that it was not sanctioned, warned, cited, or penalized for any violations. The trial court granted OPT’s motion and entered final summary judgment.
Torres argues that OPT’s failure to secure certain permits was a violation of section 327.48, Florida Statutes (1991),1 and state and federal regulations designed to protect boaters and spectators. The failure, Torres asserts, constitutes negligence per se; thus, the releases do not insulate OPT from liability in this action.
Negligence per se arises from a violation of any statute which establishes a duty to take precautions to protect a particular class of persons from a particular injury or type of injury. deJesus v. Seaboard Coast Line R.R. Co., 281 Só.2d 198, 201 (Fla.1973). Plaintiff must establish membership in the class of persons the statute intended to protect, demonstrate that the injury is of the type the statute was designed to protect, and show that the injuries are a proximate result of the violation of the statute. deJesus, 281 So. 2d at 201.
The facts Torres alleged in support of the cause of action are sufficient to establish these elements and defeat OPT’s motion for summary judgment: As a boater, Torres was a member of the class of persons the statute was designed to protect; the statute endeavors to avoid injuries caused by boating accidents; Torres’s injuries are a proximate result of a boating accident which occurred during a race for which the promoter did not secure a permit. The enforcement of a release or waiver immunizing a boat race promoter from liability for breach of a positive statutory duty designed to protect the well-being of the person executing the release, see John’s Pass Seafood Co. v. Weber, 369 So. 2d 616, 618 (Fla. 2d DCA 1979), would be contrary to public policy. See Rollins, Inc.1 v. Heller, 454 So. 2d 580 (Fla. 3d DCA 1984), review denied, 461 So. 2d 114 (Fla.1985).
We hold that the trial court erred in entering summary judgment when issues of fact remain unresolved regarding OPT’s conduct, and whether the conduct amounts to negligence per se. See Moore v. Morris, 475 So. 2d 666 (Fla.1985). We therefore reverse the summary judgment and remand for further proceedings.
Our holding makes it unnecessary for us to address the other releases or to reach the remaining points raised on appeal.
Reversed and remanded.
. Section 327.48 provides: "Any person directing the holding of a regatta, tournament, or marine parade or exhibition shall secure a permit from the coast guard when such event is held in navigable waters of the United States. A person directing any such affair ... shall notify the sheriff of the county, ... in order that appropriate arrangements for safety and navigation be assured. Any person or organization sponsoring a regatta or boat race ... shall be responsible for providing adequate protection to the participants...." (Emphasis added.)
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Fisel v. Wynns, 650 So. 2d 46 (Fla. 5th DCA 1994)…olation establishes negligence per se. Negligence per se arises when a statute, which establishes a duty to take precautions to protect a particular class of persons from a particular injury, is violated. Torres v. Offshore Professional Tour, Inc., 629 So. 2d 192, 193 (Fla. 3d DCA 1994); Palmer v. Shearson Lehman Hutton, Inc., 622 So. 2d 1085, 1090 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993); deJesus v. Seaboard Coast Line R.R. Co., 281 So. 2d 198, 201 (Fla.1973). The legislative purpose of Chapter 588 was to keep livestock from wa…
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JM Fam. Enters., Inc. v. Winter Park Imports, Inc., 10 So. 3d 1133 (Fla. 5th DCA 2009)…ment of an exculpatory clause that effectively immunizes a party from liability from breach of a positive statutory duty to protect the well-being of others, the exculpatory clause will not be enforced.”); Torres v. Offshore Professional Tour, Inc., 629 So. 2d 192, 194 (Fla. 3d DCA 1993) (same); John’s Pass Seafood Co. v. Weber, 369 So. 2d 616, 618 (Fla. 2d DCA 1979) (same). GRIFFIN, LAWSON and COHEN, JJ., concur.…
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Bergetta B. Mihelich v. Travers, 889 So. 2d 837 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004)…tatute is applicable, it follows that the “sponsor” of the event, SLSC, is liable for damages that proximately result from a violation of the statute.1 Furthermore, the release signed by Gerald is not a defense. Torres v. Offshore Professional Tour, 629 So. 2d 192 (Fla. 3d DCA 1993). AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED IN PART AND REMANDED. PALMER and ORFINGER, JJ., concur. . We express no view as to whether sufficient evidence has been proffered to create a jury issue of a statutory violation or proximate causatio…
Authorities Cited
- Moore v. Morris, 475 So. 2d 666 (Fla. 1985)
- In re Transition Rule 15, 281 So. 2d 198 (Fla. 1973)
- Rollins, Inc. v. Heller, 454 So. 2d 580 (Fla. 3d DCA 1984)
- John's Pass Seafood Co. v. Weber, 369 So. 2d 616 (Fla. 2d DCA 1979)