Rak v. C-Innovation, L.L.C.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

KYLE RAK, CIVIL ACTION

Plaintiff

VERSUS NO. 23-619

C-INNOVATION, L.L.C., ET AL., SECTION: “E” (3)

Defendants

ORDER AND REASONS

Before the Court is a Motion for Reconsideration filed by Plaintiff Kyle Rak.1 C-

Innovation, L.L.C. (“C-I”), Island Ventures 6, L.L.C. (“Island Ventures”), and Galliano

Marine Services International, L.L.C. (“GMSI”) (collectively, the “Defendants”) filed an

opposition.2 Rak filed a supplemental memorandum.3 The Defendants filed a

supplemental memorandum in opposition.4

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Kyle Rak alleges he sustained personal injuries in an incident that

occurred at the SleepIn Hotel and Casino in Georgetown, Guyana, on October 10, 2022,

after his superintendent “suddenly, and without warning or provocation, assaulted and

shoved [him] to the ground.”5 At the time of the incident, Rak was employed as a pilot

technician of Remotely Operated Vehicle systems (“ROV Systems”)6 by Defendant C-I, a

marine services company that provides ROV Systems and related services on vessels as a

1 R. Doc. 58.

2 R. Doc. 62.

3 R. Doc. 63.

4 R. Doc. 65.

5 Am. Comp., R. Doc. 8 at p. 3. Rak alleges he suffered, “among other injuries, a blow to the head, loss of

consciousness, concussion and a broken right wrist.” Id.

6 “ROV Systems are unoccupied machines used for underwater exploration that are operated remotely by

individuals located above the water’s surface.” May 17 Order, R. Doc. 56 at p. 5 n.27 (quoting R. Doc. 37-5

at ¶ 2; R. Doc. 43-1 at ¶ 2).

third-party contractor to clients in the oil and gas industry.7 During the 10-month

tenure of his employment with C-I, Rak worked in Guyana aboard the ISLAND

PERFORMER, a vessel owned by Defendant Island Ventures.8 On October 11, 2022, the

day after the incident between Rak and his superintendent, C-I terminated Rak’s

employment.9 On February 17, 2023,10 Rak filed this action asserting claims under

theories of negligence and unseaworthiness, for maintenance and cure, and for

retaliatory discharge and wrongful termination.11 All of Rak’s claims are based on the

premise that he was a seaman under the Jones Act at the time of his alleged injury.12

On April 9, 2024, after the close of discovery, the Defendants moved for summary

judgment, arguing that Rak’s claims fail as a matter of law because he was not a Jones

Act seaman (the “Motion for Summary Judgment”).13 The Court’s Order and Reasons

issued on May 17, 2024 (the “May 17 Order”), granted summary judgment in favor of the

Defendants on all of Rak’s claims, finding “[t]he record reveals no evidence from which

reasonable persons might draw the conclusion that Plaintiff is a Jones Act seaman,”14

and the Court entered final judgment in favor of the Defendants and against Rak.15 In

reaching that decision, the Court relied heavily on a Fifth Circuit opinion that rejected

the seaman status of a plaintiff under “substantially similar” facts to the instant case.16

7 May 17 Order, R. Doc. 56 at pp. 4-5 (citing R. Doc. 37-5 at ¶¶ 1, 4, 6; R. Doc. 43-1 at ¶¶ 1, 4, 6).

8 Id. at p. 5 (citing R. Doc. 37-5 at ¶¶ 7-8; R. Doc. 43-1 at ¶¶ 7-8).

9 Id. (citing R. Doc. 37-5 at ¶ 13; R. Doc. 43-1 at ¶ 13).

10 Original Comp., R. Doc. 1.

11 Am. Comp., R. Doc. 8 at pp. 5-9.

12 46 U.S.C. § 30104 et seq.; see R. Doc. 8. In their briefing on the Defendants’ Motion for Summary

Judgment, the parties agree all of Rak’s claims are based on the premise that he was a Jones Act seaman.

R. Doc. 37-5 at ¶ 16; R. Doc. 43-1 at ¶ 16.

13 Defs.’ Mot. for Summ. J., R. Doc. 37 at p. 4.

14 May 17 Order, R. Doc. 56 at pp. 17-18.

15 R. Doc. 57.

16 May 17 Order, R. Doc. 56 at p. 14.

In Santee v. Oceaneering International, Inc. (hereinafter, the “First Santee Decision”),17

the Fifth Circuit determined “an ROV [Systems] technician, employed by a land-based

contractor that neither owned nor operated the vessel from which the plaintiff worked,

failed to establish” Jones Act seaman status “even though he spent ‘nearly all’ of his

employment with the vessel.”18 As expressed in the May 17 Order, this Court determined

it was “bound to” apply the First Santee Decision to the facts of this case and,

consequently, found “Rak’s connection to the ISLAND PERFORMER was not

[sufficiently] substantial in nature” to satisfy the operative seaman status test.19

Four days after this Court issued the May 17 Order, the Fifth Circuit withdrew the

First Santee Decision and granted a petition for panel rehearing.20 On June 13, 2024,

Rak filed the instant motion urging the Court to reconsider its May 17 Order under

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e) in light of the “intervening change in law” affected

by the Fifth Circuit’s withdrawal of the First Santee Decision.21 On August 7, 2024, the

Fifth Circuit issued a corrected Order and Reasons in Santee (hereinafter, the “Second

Santee Decision”)22 and the next day this Court granted Rak leave to supplement his

Motion for Reconsideration in light of the Second Santee Decision.23

17 23-20095, 95 F.4th 917 (5th Cir. Mar. 12, 2024) [hereinafter First Santee Decision].

18 May 17 Order, R. Doc. 56 at pp. 14-15 (citing First Santee Decision, 95 F.4th at 928).

19 Id. at p. 17 (citing First Santee Decision, 95 F.4th at 927-28).

20 23-20095, 2024 WL 3755955 (5th Cir. May 21, 2024).

21 R. Doc. 58. Plaintiff also brings his Motion for Reconsideration under Rule 60(b). See id. “The

difference between a Rule 60(b) and 59(e) motion is based on timing.” Reyes v. Julia Place Condo.

Homeowners Ass’n, Inc., 12-2043, 2016 WL 4272493, at *2 (E.D. La. Aug. 15, 2016). “If the motion is filed

within twenty-eight days of the final judgment, then it falls under Rule 59(e).” Id. (citing FED. R. CIV. P.

59(e)). “However, if the motion is filed more than twenty-eight days after the final judgment, but not

more than one year after the entry of judgment, it is governed by Rule 60(b).” Id. (citing FED. R. CIV. P.

60(b)). Because Plaintiff filed the instant Motion for Reconsideration 27 days after the Court’s May 17

Order and issuance of final judgment, the Court will evaluate the motion as a motion for reconsideration

under Rule 59(e).

22 Santee v. Oceaneering International, Inc., 23-20095, 2024 WL 3680806 (5th Cir. Aug. 7. 2024)

[hereinafter Second Santee Decision].

23 R. Doc. 64.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

Courts have considerable discretion when evaluating the merits of a motion for

reconsideration pursuant to Rule 59(e).24 To prevail on a Rule 59(e) motion, the movant

“must clearly establish either a manifest error of law or fact or must present newly

discovered evidence,” but cannot “raise arguments which could, and should, have been

made before the judgment issued.”25 Indeed, because “[a] Rule 59(e) motion ‘calls into

question the correctness of a judgment,’” it “is not the proper vehicle for rehashing

evidence, legal theories, or arguments that could have been offered or raised before the

entry of judgment.’”26

In deciding motions under the Rule 59(e) standards, courts in this district

consider the following factors:

(1) whether the movant demonstrates the motion is necessary to correct

manifest errors of law or fact upon which the judgment is based;

(2) whether the movant presents new evidence;

(3) whether the motion is necessary in order to prevent manifest

injustice; and

(4) whether the motion is justified by an intervening change in the

controlling law.27

“Altering or amending a judgment under Rule 59(e) is an ‘extraordinary remedy’ used

‘sparingly’ by the courts.”28

24 See, e.g., In re Transtexas Gas Corp., 303 F.3d 571, 581 (5th Cir. 2002); Baker v. Fedex Ground

Package, 04-3401, 2007 WL 3334387, at *1 (E.D. La. Nov. 7, 2007).

25 Schiller v. Physicians Resource Group Inc., 342 F.3d 563, 567 (5th Cir. 2003) (citations omitted)

(internal quotation marks omitted).

26 Templet v. HydroChem Inc., 367 F.3d 473, 478-79 (5th Cir. 2004) (quoting In re Transtexas Gas Corp.,

303 F.3d 571, 581 (5th Cir. 2002)).

27 Castrillo v. American Home Mortg. Servicing, Inc., 09-4369, 2010 WL 1424398, at *4 (E.D. La. Apr. 5,

2010). Rules 59 and 60 set forth deadlines for seeking reconsideration of final judgments. See Carter v.

Farmers Rice Milling Co., Inc., 33 F. App’x 704 (5th Cir. 2002); Lightfoot v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 07-

4833, 2012 WL 711842, at *2 (E.D. La. Mar. 5, 2012).

28 Reyes, 2016 WL 4272493, at *3 (quoting Templet, 367 F.3d at 479).

I. The Court’s May 17 Order relies on the First Santee Decision.

A plaintiff asserting claims under the Jones Act “has the burden of establishing

seaman status” at the time of the subject incident.29 If reasonable persons could draw

conflicting inferences, seaman status is a question for the jury and summary judgment

must be denied.30 Nevertheless, summary judgment is proper when the underlying facts

are undisputed and the record reveals no evidence from which reasonable persons

might draw conflicting inferences about whether the claimant is a Jones Act seaman.31

In Chandris, Inc. v. Latsis, the Supreme Court established a two-pronged test to

determine whether a party is a seaman under the Jones Act.32 “To be a seaman: (1) the

plaintiff’s duties must contribute to the function or mission of the vessel, and (2) the

plaintiff must have a connection to the vessel or fleet of vessels that is substantial in

duration and nature.”33 In the May 17 Order, this Court found:

In this case, the parties do not dispute that Plaintiff Rak’s work aboard the

ISLAND PERFORMER satisfies Chandris’ first prong . . . [n]or do the

parties dispute that Rak satisfied the ‘substantial in duration’ requirement

of Chandris’ second prong . . . . The parties disagree only as to whether

Rak satisfied the second prong of the Chandris analysis that he had a

connection to the vessel that was substantial in nature.34

29 Barrett v. Chevron, U.S.A., Inc., 752 F.2d 129, 132 (5th Cir. 1985).

30 Buras v. Commercial Testing & Eng’g Co., 736 F.2d 307, 309 (5th Cir. 1984); Chandris, Inc. v. Latsis,

515 U.S. 347, 369 (1995). Cf. Landry v. Amoco Production Co., 595 F.2d 1070 (5th Cir. 1979) (reversing

district court’s denial of plaintiff’s motion for a directed verdict because “the facts governing plaintiff's

status as a seaman were established beyond cavil”); White v. Valley Line Co., 736 F.2d 304, 305 (5th Cir.

1984) (“[T]he issue of seaman status is ordinarily a jury question, even when the claim to seaman status is

marginal.”).

31 Id. See also, e.g., Prinzi v. Keydril Co., 738 F.2d 707, 709 (5th Cir. 1984) (finding the parties agreed the

relevant facts were not in dispute and reasonable persons could not have differed with respect to the

inferences drawn from those facts).

32 515 U.S. at 376.

33 Second Santee Decision, 2024 WL 3680806, at *3 (citing Chandris, 515 U.S. at 368).

34 May 17 Order, R. Doc. 56 at pp. 8-9 (citations omitted).

Accordingly, the Court’s decision considered only the merits of the “substantial in

nature” component of the Chandris test’s second prong.35

The Fifth Circuit has clarified that the “substantial in nature” inquiry must

consider the plaintiff’s “service, his status as a member of the vessel, and his

relationship as such to the vessel and its operations in navigable waters.”36 Observing

that “seamen and non-seamen maritime workers may face similar risks and perils,” the

en banc Fifth Circuit instructed district courts to undertake three “additional inquiries”

when resolving the “substantial in nature” element in Sanchez v. Smart Fabricators of

Texas, L.L.C.:

(1) Does the worker owe his allegiance to the vessel, rather than simply to

a shoreside employer?

(2) Is the work sea-based or involve seagoing activity?

(3) (a) Is the worker's assignment to a vessel limited to performance of a

discrete task after which the worker's connection to the vessel ends, or

(b) Does the worker's assignment include sailing with the vessel from

port to port or location to location?37

Courts in the Fifth Circuit weigh the Sanchez factors to determine whether plaintiffs

satisfy Chandris’ “substantial in nature” element.38 As discussed in the May 17 Order,

the Defendants “do not dispute the second Sanchez factor.”39

In ultimately granting summary judgment against Plaintiff Rak, the Court

applied the First Santee Decision and concluded “Rak’s connection to the ISLAND

PERFORMER was not substantial in nature” under Chandris because he did not satisfy

35 See generally May 17 Order, R. Doc. 56.

36 Naquin v. Elevating Boats, LLC, 842 F.Supp.2d 1008, 1016 (E.D. La. Jan. 3, 2012) (citing Chandris, 515

U.S. at 359-60; Swanson v. Marra Bros., Inc., 328 U.S. 1 (1946)).

37 Sanchez v. Smart Fabricators of Texas, L.L.C., 997 F.3d 564, 574 (5th Cir. 2021) (en banc).

38 See, e.g., Matter of Ingram Barge Co., L.L.C., 22-30577, 2023 WL 6123107, at *6 (5th Cir. 2023).

39 May 17 Order, R. Doc. 56 at p. 10.

the first or third Sanchez factors.40 In the First Santee Decision, the Fifth Circuit

determined the plaintiff in that case did not satisfy the first and third Sanchez factors

because:

[T]he plaintiff failed ‘to establish allegiance to the vessel’ or that he was

‘permanently assigned to work aboard’ the vessel, even though he ‘spen[t]

nearly all of his total employment time’ aboard the vessel on 21- to 28-day

hitches during the five-year period leading up to his alleged injury, which

occurred aboard the vessel . . . [and finding] the plaintiff was ‘a transient

employee of a contractor to [the] vessel,’ who performed services on behalf

of his land-based employer, rather than ‘an entrenched crewmember of

the vessel.’41

Reasoning that “this Court is bound to the Fifth Circuit’s determination [in the First

Santee Decision] that the third Sanchez prong weighs against an ROV [Systems]

technician who is ‘assigned as a transitory worker limited to the performance of a

discrete task,’” this Court ultimately found Rak’s connection to the ISLAND

PERFORMER was not substantial in nature under Chandris.42

II. The Second Santee Decision represents an intervening change in

controlling law that warrants reconsideration of the Court’s May 17

Order granting summary judgment against Plaintiff Rak.

The parties agree the Second Santee Decision found the Santee plaintiff’s

“allegiance to both his shoreside employer and the vessel on which he sustained

injuries” “sufficed to create some fact issue” as to the first Sanchez factor,43 and that “the

plaintiff’s work on the vessel [as an ROV Systems technician] was not discrete,”44

indicating the third Sanchez factor also weighs in the plaintiff’s favor. In the Second

40 Id. at p. 17.

41 Id. at p. 11 (quoting First Santee Decision, 95 F.4th at 927-28).

42 Id. at p. 17 (quoting First Santee Decision, 95 F.4th at 927-28).

43 R. Doc. 65 at p. 6 (citing Second Santee Decision, 2024 WL 3680806, at *4); R. Doc. 63 at p. 3 (“Santee

possessed dual allegiance to both a vessel and his shoreside employer.”).

44 R. Doc. 65 at p. 6 (citing Second Santee Decision, 2024 WL 3680806, at *5); R. Doc. 63 at p. 4

(“Santee’s job assignment was not a discrete, transient job like the work done by longshoremen when a

vessel calls in port.”).

Santee Decision, the Fifth Circuit panel reversed the district court’s denial of the Santee

plaintiff’s motion to remand, finding the ROV Systems technician in that case “has at

least some possibility of proving his Jones Act claims on the facts alleged.”45 In issuing

that decision, the Fifth Circuit corrected its opinion on two issues that show there has

been an intervening change in law with respect to Plaintiff Rak’s seaman status in this

case. First, the Second Santee Decision clarified that “a maritime worker may possess

allegiance to both a vessel on which he has had longstanding employment and his

shoreside employer” and ultimately found “[t]he record evidence from Santee’s affidavit

and work history documents is sufficient to create at least some fact issue.”46 Second,

“[w]ith respect to the assignment factor,” the Second Santee Decision found the

plaintiff’s “assignment was not a discrete, transient job like the work done by

longshoremen when a vessel calls in port.”47 In reaching its conclusion on the

“assignment factor,” the Fifth Circuit was persuaded by the plaintiff’s employment

record, which demonstrated “he was not assigned to a short-term, transitory task on the

vessel,” as well as his affidavit, which expressed “he never had an end date to his

assignment,” “he was indefinitely assigned” to a particular vessel, and “the nature of the

ROV work was critical to the vessel’s mineral exploration and drilling operations and

was conducted for an indefinite period of time.”48

In his Motion for Reconsideration, Plaintiff Rak asks the Court to reconsider its

May 17 Order granting summary judgment on behalf of the Defendants, contending the

Second Santee Decision represents “an intervening change in [controlling] law that—

when applied to this case—shows this Court’s May 17 [Order]” “should be reconsidered

45 Second Santee Decision, 2024 WL 3680806, at *1.

46 Id. at *4.

47 Id.

48 Id. at *5.

and reversed.”49 Specifically, Rak argues the corrected Order and Reasons establishes

that he “qualifies for seaman status,” or “[a]t a minimum, [establishes] a genuine fact

dispute exists as to [his] seaman status, warranting denial of Defendants’ Motion for

Summary Judgment.”50

In opposition, the Defendants urge the Court to construe the Second Santee

Decision narrowly and deny Plaintiff’s Motion for Reconsideration.51 The issue before

the Santee court was whether the plaintiff’s Jones Act claims were “fraudulently

pleaded”—i.e., “pleaded where there is no possibility that the plaintiff can prove seaman

status.”52 While “Jones Act cases are not removable from state court,” a fraudulently

pleaded Jones Act claim does not bar removal.53 “Thus, remand [to state court] is

inappropriate where ‘resolving all disputed facts and ambiguities in current substantive

law in plaintiff’s favor, the court determines that the plaintiff has no possibility of

establishing a Jones Act claim on the merits.’”54 The Defendants note the Fifth Circuit’s

corrected Order and Reasons held “the defendants failed to prove [the Santee plaintiff]

fraudulently plead[ed] his Jones Act claims” on a motion to remand and argue this

change in law “does not cure” Plaintiff Rak’s failure to “present[] sufficient evidence to

defeat summary judgment and establish his own status as a Jones Act seaman” in this

case.55

The Defendants correctly point out that a plaintiff need only show “at least some

possibility of proving his Jones Act claims” to remand a case to state court when their

49 R. Doc. 58; R. Doc. 63 at pp. 4-5.

50 R. Doc. 63 at p. 4.

51 R. Doc. 65 at p. 7.

52 Second Santee Decision, 2024 WL 3680806, at *3.

53 See Holmes v. Atlantic Sounding Co., Inc., 437 F.3d 441, 445 (5th Cir. 2006).

54 Second Santee Decision, 2024 WL 3680806, at *3 (quoting Holmes, 437 F.3d at 445).

55 R. Doc. 65 at pp. 7-8, 10.

litigation adversary challenges the claims as “fraudulently pleaded.”56 However, the

Defendants misstate the burden on summary judgment as requiring Plaintiff Rak “to

present competent evidence to affirmatively satisfy each of the Sanchez factors.”57 In

this case, Rak asserts claims under the Jones Act and therefore bears the burden of

establishing his seaman status at trial.58 The Defendants moved for summary judgment

on Rak’s seaman status “indicating an absence of evidence to support the elements of

Rak’s Jones Act claims.”59 As discussed in the May 17 Order, when a movant seeks

“summary judgment on the ground that the nonmovant has no evidence to establish an

essential element of the claim, the nonmoving party may defeat a motion for summary

judgment by ‘calling the Court’s attention to supporting evidence already in the record

that was overlooked or ignored by the moving party.’”60

“[T]he district court has considerable discretion in deciding whether to reopen a

case in response to a motion for reconsideration” raised under Rule 59(e).61 While

“[r]econsideration of a judgment after its entry is an extraordinary remedy that should

be used sparingly,” such action is warranted in this case.62 Plaintiff Rak has sufficiently

demonstrated that the Motion to Reconsider “is justified by an intervening change in the

controlling law”63 upon which the Court based its May 17 Order granting summary

judgment in favor of the Defendants and against Rak. Applying the First Santee

Decision to the facts of this case, the Court found there was no genuine issue of material

56 Id. at p. 11 (citing Walker v. Nabors Offshore Drilling, Inc., 91 F. Supp. 2d 907, 909 (E.D. La. Mar. 23,

2000)).

57 Id. at p. 12.

58 See Barrett, 752 F.2d at 132.

59 R. Doc. 65 at p. 11.

60 May 17 Order, R. Doc. 56 at p. 3 (quoting Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 332–33 (1986)).

61 See Lavespere v. Niagara Mach. & Tool Works, Inc., 910 F.2d 167, 174 (5th Cir. 1990).

62 Templet, 367 F.3d at 479.

63 See Castrillo, 2010 WL 1424398, at *4.

fact as to Rak’s seaman status.°+ However, applying the Second Santee Decision to the

facts of this case, Rak’s opposition to the Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment

raises genuine issues of material fact as to his seaman status.65 Because reasonable

persons could draw conflicting inferences as to Rak’s seaman status, the issue is a

question for the jury and the Court will vacate the May 17 Order and final judgment.*¢

Accordingly;

CONCLUSION

IT IS ORDERED that the Plaintiff Kyle Rak’s Motion for Reconsideration is

GRANTED.”

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Court’s May 17 Order and Reasons is

VACATED.®8

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Court's May 17 Judgment is

VACATED.°9

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Defendants’ Motion for Summary

Judgment is DENIED.”°

New Orleans, Louisiana, this 22nd day of August, 2024.

SUSIE MORGAN

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

64 May 17 Order, See R. Doc. 56 at p. 17.

65 See R. Doc. 43.

66 See Buras, 736 F.2d at 309; Chandris, 515 U.S. at 369.

67 R, Doc. 58.

68 May 17 Order, R. Doc. 56.

69 R, Doc. 57.

70 Dets.’ Mot. for Summ. J., R. Doc. 37.

11