{ "id": 4258755, "name": "JAMES MACK et al., Plaintiffs and Respondents-Appellees, v. ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES, LTD., Defendant and Petitioner-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "Mack v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.", "decision_date": "2005-10-20", "docket_number": "No. 1\u201404\u20142168", "first_page": "856", "last_page": "872", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "361 Ill. App. 3d 856" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "318 U.S. 660", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 364115 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1943, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/318/0660-01" ] }, { "cite": "34 J. Marshall L. Rev. 751", "category": "journals:journal", "reporter": "J. Marshall L. Rev.", "weight": 3, "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "752-53", "parenthetical": "noting the high number of illnesses and injuries occurring at sea" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "17 Nova L. Rev. 575", "category": "journals:journal", "reporter": "Nova L. Rev.", "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "592, 594" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "307 F. Supp. 2d 1372", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp. 2d", "case_ids": [ 9272784 ], "weight": 3, "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1374" }, { "page": "1374" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp-2d/307/1372-01" ] }, { "cite": "1993 A.M.C. 1633", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.M.C.", "weight": 8, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1635" }, { "page": "1638-39" }, { "page": "1639" }, { "page": "1638" }, { "page": "1638" }, { "page": "1639" }, { "page": "1639" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "188 F. Supp. 219", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 1433766 ], "weight": 7, "year": 1959, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "221" }, { "page": "220" }, { "page": "220" }, { "page": "220" }, { "page": "220-21" }, { "page": "221" }, { "page": "221" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/188/0219-01" ] }, { "cite": "13 N.E. 781", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "year": 1887, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "107 N.Y. 228", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "case_ids": [ 2211787 ], "year": 1887, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ny/107/0228-01" ] }, { "cite": "28 N.E. 266", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "weight": 3, "year": 1891, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "267" }, { "page": "267" }, { "page": "267" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "154 Mass. 272", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mass.", "case_ids": [ 806938 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1891, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "276-77" }, { "page": "276" }, { "page": "276" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mass/154/0272-01" ] }, { "cite": "134 F. 159", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 3863278 ], "year": 1904, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "160" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f/134/0159-01" ] }, { "cite": "294 F. 400", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 6736903 ], "year": 1923, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "402" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f/294/0400-01" ] }, { "cite": "11 F. Supp. 832", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 4144949 ], "year": 1935, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/11/0832-01" ] }, { "cite": "310 F. Supp. 1033", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 167054 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1969, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1042" }, { "page": "1042" }, { "page": "1042" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/310/1033-01" ] }, { "cite": "1981 A.M.C. 2674", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.M.C.", "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "2677" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "536 F. Supp. 100", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 3438597 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "103-104" }, { "page": "103-04" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/536/0100-01" ] }, { "cite": "251 F. 826", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 3981980 ], "year": 1918, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "830-32" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f/251/0826-01" ] }, { "cite": "254 F. 397", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 6732651 ], "year": 1918, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "399" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f/254/0397-01" ] }, { "cite": "848 F.2d 1364", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 1783439 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1369" }, { "page": "1369-70" }, { "page": "1371" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/848/1364-01" ] }, { "cite": "308 Ill. App. 3d 314", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 261318 ], "year": 1999, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "330-31" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/308/0314-01" ] }, { "cite": "79 Ill. App. 3d 591", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5610474 ], "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "593" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/79/0591-01" ] }, { "cite": "264 U.S. 109", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6137780 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1924, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "124" }, { "page": "587" }, { "page": "277" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/264/0109-01" ] }, { "cite": "98 L. Ed. 290", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed.", "year": 1954, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "296" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "346 U.S. 556", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6931676 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1954, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "560-61" }, { "page": "300-01" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/346/0556-01" ] }, { "cite": "477 U.S. 207", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6206351 ], "weight": 5, "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "222-23" }, { "page": "189-90" }, { "page": "2494" }, { "page": "189-90" }, { "page": "2494" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/477/0207-01" ] }, { "cite": "28 U.S.C. \u00a7 1333", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "U.S.C.", "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(1)" }, { "page": "(1)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "358 U.S. 625", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 3651900 ], "weight": 6, "year": 1959, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "628" }, { "page": "553" }, { "page": "408-09" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/358/0625-01" ] }, { "cite": "332 Ill. App. 3d 461", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 1033916 ], "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "464" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/332/0461-01" ] }, { "cite": "107 F. Supp. 2d 1135", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp. 2d", "case_ids": [ 11246383 ], "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1140-41" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp-2d/107/1135-01" ] }, { "cite": "722 F.2d 861", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 10602463 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "864" }, { "page": "866" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/722/0861-01" ] }, { "cite": "816 F.2d 1360", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 1678067 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1364" }, { "page": "1364" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/816/1360-01" ] }, { "cite": "273 F.3d 520", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.3d", "case_ids": [ 9457368 ], "weight": 4, "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "523" }, { "page": "523" }, { "page": "525" }, { "page": "525" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f3d/273/0520-01" ] }, { "cite": "306 F.3d 827", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.3d", "case_ids": [ 11440152 ], "weight": 4, "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "835" }, { "page": "835-37" }, { "page": "835-36" }, { "page": "835" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f3d/306/0827-01" ] }, { "cite": "407 U.S. 1", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 9136358 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "9-10" }, { "page": "520" }, { "page": "1913" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/407/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "499 U.S. 585", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 11320033 ], "weight": 9, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "590" }, { "page": "629" }, { "page": "1525" }, { "page": "589" }, { "page": "629" }, { "page": "1525" }, { "page": "595" }, { "page": "633" }, { "page": "1528" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/499/0585-01" ] }, { "cite": "139 Ill. 2d 229", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5573832 ], "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "237" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/139/0229-01" ] }, { "cite": "98 Ill. 2d 359", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3121605 ], "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "363-64" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/98/0359-01" ] }, { "cite": "904 So. 2d 430", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "So. 2d", "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "864 So. 2d 1", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "So. 2d", "case_ids": [ 9291887 ], "weight": 8, "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "5" }, { "page": "5" }, { "page": "5" }, { "page": "5" }, { "page": "7" }, { "page": "6" }, { "page": "7" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/so2d/864/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "176 Ill. 2d 570", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "292 Ill. App. 3d 350", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 1725132 ], "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "356-57" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/292/0350-01" ] }, { "cite": "1990 A.M.C. 1452", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.M.C.", "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "and cases cited therein" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "895 F.2d 107", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 10527732 ], "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/895/0107-01" ] }, { "cite": "46 U.S.C. \u00a7 688", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "U.S.C.", "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "318 U.S. 660", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 364115 ], "weight": 6, "year": 1943, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/us/318/0660-01" ] }, { "cite": "307 F. Supp. 2d 1372", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp. 2d", "case_ids": [ 9272784 ], "year": 2004, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp-2d/307/1372-01" ] }, { "cite": "1993 A.M.C. 1633", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.M.C.", "weight": 2, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1639-40" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "188 F. Supp. 219", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 1433766 ], "year": 1959, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/188/0219-01" ] }, { "cite": "310 F. Supp. 1033", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 167054 ], "year": 1969, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1042" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/310/1033-01" ] }, { "cite": "536 F. Supp. 100", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 3438597 ], "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "103-04" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/536/0100-01" ] }, { "cite": "848 F.2d 1364", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 1783439 ], "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1369" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/848/1364-01" ] }, { "cite": "477 U.S. 207", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6206351 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "222-23" }, { "page": "190" }, { "page": "2494" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/us/477/0207-01" ] }, { "cite": "28 U.S.C. \u00a7 1333", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "U.S.C.", "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(1)" } ], "opinion_index": 1 } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1524, "char_count": 39060, "ocr_confidence": 0.794, "pagerank": { "raw": 5.978335678018288e-08, "percentile": 0.3718599038013413 }, "sha256": "50b6467e7f2fb40b45f0175fccf7b319263f41e1babae350bdae7e414edb2a3b", "simhash": "1:d8285b54645bc9bc", "word_count": 6338 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:43:20.596028+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "JAMES MACK et al., Plaintiffs and Respondents-Appellees, v. ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES, LTD., Defendant and Petitioner-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE GREIMAN\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nPlaintiffs James and Sheila Mack brought suit against defendant Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Ltd., alleging that James cut his foot in the swimming pool area of a cruise ship owned and operated by defendant. Plaintiffs alleged that defendant was liable for negligently maintaining its swimming pool area; that defendant was vicariously liable for the negligent medical treatment James received from defendant\u2019s on-board physician; and that defendant was liable to Sheila for loss of consortium. Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 308 (155 Ill. 2d R. 308), defendant now appeals the trial court\u2019s interlocutory orders reinstating the plaintiffs\u2019 vicarious liability count and denying defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss.\nPlaintiffs filed suit on November 29, 2001. Defendant moved to dismiss the vicarious liability and loss of consortium counts of plaintiffs complaint on the grounds that federal admiralty law did not recognize those causes of action. Initially, the trial court granted defendant\u2019s motion; however, on June 2, 2004, the trial court granted plaintiff\u2019s motion to reinstate the vicarious liability count after considering the recent holding of the Florida appellate court in Carlisle v. Carnival Corp., 864 So. 2d 1 (Fla. 2003), appeal allowed, 904 So. 2d 430 (2005). Carlisle held that a passenger injured by the negligent treatment of a cruise line\u2019s on-board physician could maintain a vicarious liability cause of action against the cruise line.\nDefendant also moved to dismiss the case on the grounds that the forum selection clause in the ticket contract between the parties required plaintiffs to bring suit in Miami, Florida. The case proceeded to an evidentiary hearing on this issue.\nNancy Calvo Varela testified that on March 2001, plaintiffs met with her to discuss Mediterranean cruises. Varela, a travel agent for American Express Travel, doing business as Crossroads Travel Service (hereinafter Crossroads Travel), provided plaintiffs with several brochures. Varela testified that on March 14, 2001, Sheila visited Crossroads Travel to place a deposit on a cruise offered by defendant. On June 8, 2001, Sheila visited Crossroads Travel to make final payment on the cruise. On June 28, 2001, Sheila visited Crossroads Travel a fin\u00e1l time to pick up her trip information. Varela identified a ticket booklet at the hearing. While not identical, the booklet was essentially the same as the one Varela testified that she had given Sheila. It provided in relevant part:\n\u201cIT IS AGREED BY AND BETWEEN PASSENGER AND CARRIER THAT ALL DISPUTES AND MATTERS WHATSOEVER ARISING UNDER, IN CONNECTION WITH OR INCIDENT TO THIS CONTRACT SHALL BE LITIGATED, IF AT ALL, IN AND BEFORE A COURT LOCATED IN MIAMI, FLORIDA, U.S.A., TO THE EXCLUSION OF THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER STATE, TERRITORY, OR COUNTRY. PASSENGER HEREBY WAIVES ANY VENUE OR OTHER OBJECTION THAT HE MAY HAVE TO ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BEING BROUGHT IN ANY COURT LOCATED IN MIAMI, FLORIDA.\u201d\nVarela testified that on June 28, 2001, when she gave Sheila the ticket booklet, she explained that Sheila should read the booklet and that it would need to be signed before the plaintiffs could board the ship. Varela did not discuss the substance of the booklet or specifically refer Sheila to the forum selection clause. Varela testified that the booklet would have contained both ground transportation vouchers that would have allowed plaintiffs to board the bus from the airport in Rome to the pier in Civitavecchia, Italy, and tickets that would allow them to board the ship once they arrived at the pier. Varela testified that if a cruise passenger arrived at the dock without a ticket, he would be required to sign a ticket dockside before boarding the ship. Sheila testified that she, James and their daughter met with Varela in early March 2001 to discuss booking a cruise. On March 14, 2001, Sheila placed a deposit on the trip and Varela gave her an itinerary, a confirmation slip from Fun Jet airline and confirmation vouchers for plaintiffs\u2019 transportation from the airport to the ship. On June 8, 2001, James made the final payment on the trip. On June 28, 2001, Sheila received a folder from Varela that included plaintiffs\u2019 airline tickets and luggage tags. Sheila testified that she did not receive a ticket booklet. James testified that his wife was responsible for making all of the arrangements for the trip. He also did not receive a ticket booklet at any time.\nPlaintiffs testified that upon their arrival in Rome, they were directed to a bus that would transport them to the cruise ship in Civitavecchia, Italy. Defendant\u2019s staff asked plaintiffs to present their ground transportation tickets, which they did not have. Nonetheless, plaintiffs were permitted to board the bus because their names appeared on the passenger list. Plaintiffs testified that when they arrived at the pier, defendant\u2019s representatives requested that plaintiffs present their tickets to board the ship, which plaintiffs also did not have. Plaintiffs were directed to wait in the \u201cproblem\u201d line. Plaintiffs were each asked to sign a small perforated sheet that provided:\n\u201cTHIS IS YOUR CRUISE TICKET CONTRACT. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ ALL TERMS OF THIS CONTRACT (PP1-2). THIS TICKET IS NOT TRANSFERABLE AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO ALTERATIONS BY THE GUEST.\u201d\nPlaintiffs testified that nothing was attached to the small sheet.\nPlaintiffs signed the perforated sheet after being informed that no family member could board the ship without signing the document. Sheila assumed the document was to open an on-board charge account. James admitted that he did not scrutinize the perforated sheet. When the plaintiffs signed the perforated sheet, both were distracted by their young daughter and had had little rest since leaving for their trip.\nConcerning the hardship that plaintiffs would endure if forced to litigate their case in Florida, Sheila testified that James is partially paralyzed and that he is unable to use the bathroom and must use a urine bottle when traveling. James testified that he must switch to a smaller wheelchair when he boards airplanes and must carefully monitor what he eats and drinks. James testified that both his wife and daughter would accompany him to Miami, Florida, to litigate the suit because he requires Sheila\u2019s help in traveling and his second-grade daughter would have nobody to take care of her in Chicago. Nonetheless, plaintiffs admitted that since his injury, James had taken trips to New York, Denver and Canc\u00fan.\nOn July 12, 2004, the trial court made several factual and legal findings. The trial court found that plaintiffs never received a complete ticket contract containing the forum selection clause, and the only portion of a ticket contract ever provided by defendants to plaintiffs was the perforated sheet to which nothing was attached. Furthermore, the trial court found that at no time was the forum selection clause otherwise communicated to plaintiffs by defendant or Crossroads Travel. Accordingly, plaintiffs never accepted the terms of the clause. The court further found that litigating the suit in Miami, Florida, would be \u201cextremely difficult, if not impossible\u201d for James, given his physical handicap and financial hardships. Accordingly, the trial court denied defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss.\nThe trial court certified the following two questions to this court:\n\u201c1. Under federal admiralty law, is a state court bound to apply federal admiralty precedent precluding vicarious liability claims against cruise lines for the alleged negligence of shipboard doctors, or is it free to permit such a vicarious liability claim against a cruise line?\n2. Under federal admiralty law, does a passenger\u2019s signature on a ticket contract which contains a forum selection clause bind the passenger to the forum designated therein despite the passenger\u2019s claim that he did not timely receive or read the forum selection clause?\u201d\nOn October 20, 2004, pursuant to Rule 308, we granted defendant\u2019s application to appeal. After the parties had fully briefed their arguments, on March 31, 2005, defendant moved to strike plaintiffs\u2019 argument that the forum selection clause should not be enforced because enforcement would cause them undue physical and financial hardship. According to the motion, on October 22, 2004, defendant served plaintiffs with interrogatories inquiring about any trips James had taken since his original deposition. Plaintiffs had failed to respond to the interrogatories. On April 11, 2005, we allowed the motion and took it with the case.\nWe will first address the outstanding motion. In reviewing the trial court\u2019s order denying defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss, this court is confined to consider evidence and matters considered by the trial court in issuing its order. Wieser v. Missouri Pacific R.R. Co., 98 Ill. 2d 359, 363-64 (1983); Logan v. Old Enterprise Farms, Ltd., 139 Ill. 2d 229, 237 (1990). The trial court\u2019s July 12, 2004, determination that the case should not be dismissed was based on the evidence presented during the evidentiary hearing. Defendant\u2019s interrogatories were served after this court had granted defendant\u2019s application for appeal. Because we review only the matters considered by the trial court, plaintiffs\u2019 failure to respond to the interrogatories at issue has no bearing on our analysis. Accordingly, we deny defendant\u2019s motion to strike plaintiffs\u2019 argument regarding the physical and financial hardship they would experience as a result of enforcement of the forum selection clause.\nWe turn now to the trial court\u2019s second certified question regarding the enforceability of the forum selection clause. Defendant contends that the trial court erred in refusing to dismiss this suit based upon the forum selection clause in the ticket contract because the evidence adduced at the hearing supports the conclusion that the forum selection clause was reasonably communicated to plaintiffs. Plaintiffs respond that the evidence indicated that the clause was not reasonably communicated and that the evidence further indicated they would suffer physical and financial hardship if the clause were enforced.\nA cruise ticket is a maritime contract governed by federal admiralty law. Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc. v. Shute, 499 U.S. 585, 590, 113 L. Ed. 2d 622, 629, 111 S. Ct. 1522, 1525 (1991). Forum selection clauses are \u201c \u2018prima facie valid.\u2019 \u201d Shute, 499 U.S. at 589, 113 L. Ed. 2d at 629, 111 S. Ct. at 1525, quoting The Bremen v. Zapata Off-Shore Co., 407 U.S. 1, 9-10, 32 L. Ed. 2d 513, 520, 92 S. Ct. 1907, 1913 (1972). Nonetheless they are subject to \u201cjudicial scrutiny for fundamental fairness.\u201d Shute, 499 U.S. at 595, 113 L. Ed. 2d at 633, 111 S. Ct. at 1528. Federal courts have employed a two-pronged \u201creasonable communicativeness\u201d test to determine whether a contract clause was reasonably communicated to a passenger and was, therefore, contractually binding. Wallis v. Princess Cruises, Inc., 306 F.3d 827, 835 (9th Cir. 2002); Ward v. Cross Sound Ferry, 273 F.3d 520, 523 (2d Cir. 2001). Unless both prongs of the test are met, the contract clause will not be enforced. See Wallis, 306 F.3d at 835-37; Ward, 273 F.3d at 523. The first prong of the test examines the appearance of the ticket, including \u201c \u2018 \u201csize of type, conspicuousness and clarity of notice on the face of the ticket, and the ease with which a passenger can read the provisions in question.\u201d \u2019 \u201d Wallis, 306 F.3d at 835-36, quoting Deiro v. American Airlines, Inc., 816 F.2d 1360, 1364 (9th Cir. 1987), quoting Shankles v. Costa Armatori, S.P.A., 722 F.2d 861, 864 (1st Cir. 1983). The second prong of the test focuses on external circumstances, such as the passenger\u2019s familiarity with the ticket, the time and incentive under the circumstances to study the provisions of the ticket, and any other notice the passenger received outside of the ticket. Ward, 273 F.3d at 525. In order to determine whether a clause was reasonably communicated, a court applies \u201c \u2018 \u201can analysis of the overall circumstances on a case-by-case basis, with an examination not only of the ticket itself, but also of any extrinsic factors indicating the passenger\u2019s ability to become meaningfully informed of the contractual terms at stake.\u201d \u2019 \u201d Wallis, 306 F.3d at 835, quoting Deiro, 816 F.2d at 1364, quoting Shankles, 722 F.2d at 866. Courts may also consider physical or financial impediments suffered by plaintiffs when deciding whether to enforce a forum selection clause. Walker v. Carnival Cruise Lines, 107 F. Supp. 2d 1135, 1140-41 (N.D. Cal. 2000). Because the trial court\u2019s determination that the forum selection clause would not be enforced depended on its factual findings, we will not reverse unless those findings were contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence. Hernandez v. New Rogers Pontiac, Inc., 332 Ill. App. 3d 461, 464 (2002).\nAt the evidentiary hearing, Varela testified that she gave plaintiffs the ticket booklet containing the forum selection clause before embarking on their trip. Varela further testified that the booklet would have contained plaintiffs\u2019 bus and cruise tickets. Plaintiffs testified that they were not given the booklet. Plaintiffs\u2019 testimony was supported by the uncontested fact that, upon arrival in Italy, plaintiffs were unable to provide defendant\u2019s representatives with either the bus or cruise tickets. Plaintiffs further testified that the perforated sheet they signed dockside was not attached to a larger document containing the forum selection clause. While defendant now argues that a document containing the clause would have been attached to the perforated sheet, it offered no direct testimony to that effect during the hearing. Plaintiffs\u2019 testimony further indicated that, though James had taken several trips since the cruise, traveling to Miami, Florida, to litigate the case would be difficult because of James\u2019 disability and because Sheila and plaintiffs\u2019 daughter would be forced to accompany him. The court found that plaintiffs were never given any document containing the forum selection clause or otherwise informed of the content and restrictions imposed by the clause. Consequently, plaintiffs had not accepted the terms of the clause. The court further found that forcing plaintiffs to litigate in Miami, Florida, would cause undue hardship. Given the evidence presented during the hearing in support of the trial court\u2019s conclusion and the scant evidence presented to dispute it, we cannot say that the trial court\u2019s conclusion that the forum restriction was not reasonably communicated to plaintiff was contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence.\nWe turn now to the trial court\u2019s inquiry as to whether federal law requires dismissal of plaintiffs\u2019 vicarious liability count. Defendant argues that, in reinstating the vicarious liability claim, the trial court ignored a largely established rule of law which precludes vicarious liability counts against carriers for the alleged negligence of shipboard doctors. Plaintiffs respond that the trial court was correct to follow the more reasoned approach of modern cases, which allows vicarious liability claims against carriers.\nTorts committed within the boundaries of maritime jurisdiction are subject to maritime law. Kermarec v. Compagnie Generate Transatlantique, 358 U.S. 625, 628, 3 L. Ed. 2d 550, 553, 79 S. Ct. 406, 408-09 (1959). Generally, under maritime law, a carrier owes a duty to its passengers to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances. See Kermarec, 358 U.S. 625, 3 L. Ed. 2d 550, 79 S. Ct. 406. Section 1333(1) of the Judiciary and Judicial Procedure Act provides that \u201c[t]he district courts shall have original jurisdiction, exclusive of the courts of the State, of: (1) Any civil case of admiralty or maritime jurisdiction, saving to suitors in all cases all other remedies to which they are otherwise entitled.\u201d 28 U.S.C. \u00a7 1333(1) (2000). Section 1333(1), known as the \u201csaving to suitors\u201d clause,\n\u201cleaves state courts competent to adjudicate maritime causes of action in proceedings in personam and means that \u2018a state, \u201chaving concurrent jurisdiction, is free to adopt such remedies, and to attach to them such incidents, as it sees fit\u201d so long as it does not attempt to [give in rem remedies or] make changes in the \u201csubstantive maritime law.\u201d \u2019 [Citations.] Stated another way, the \u2018saving to suitors\u2019 clause allows state courts to entertain in personam maritime causes of action, but in such cases the extent to which state law may be used to remedy maritime injuries is constrained by a so-called \u2018reverse-Erie\u2019 doctrine which requires that the substantive remedies afforded by the States conform to governing federal maritime standards.\u201d Offshore Logistics, Inc. v. Tallentire, 477 U.S. 207, 222-23, 91 L. Ed. 2d 174, 189-90, 106 S. Ct. 2485, 2494 (1986), quoting Madruga v. Superior Court, 346 U.S. 556, 560-61, 98 L. Ed. 290, 296, 74 S. Ct. 298, 300-01 (1954), quoting Red Cross Line v. Atlantic Fruit Co., 264 U.S. 109, 124, 68 L. Ed. 582, 587, 44 S. Ct. 274, 277 (1924).\nAlton & Southern Ry. Co. v. Alton Transportation Co., 79 Ill. App. 3d 591, 593 (1979); In re Chicago Flood Litigation, 308 Ill. App. 3d 314, 330-31 (1999).\nWe note that federal courts follow two approaches to a passenger\u2019s claim of medical negligence against a carrier. The traditional maritime rule provides:\n\u201cWhen a carrier undertakes to employ a doctor aboard ship for its passengers\u2019 convenience, the carrier has a duty to employ a doctor who is competent and duly qualified. If the carrier breaches its duty, it is responsible for its own negligence. If the doctor is negligent in treating a passenger, however, that negligence will not be imputed to the carrier.\u201d Barbetta v. S/S Bermuda Star, 848 F.2d 1364, 1369 (5th Cir. 1998).\nThe Korea Maru, 254 F. 397, 399 (9th Cir. 1918); The Great Northern, 251 F. 826, 830-32 (9th Cir. 1918); Di Bonaventure v. Home Lines, Inc., 536 F. Supp. 100, 103-104 (E.D. Pa. 1982); Cimini v. Italia Crociere International S.P.A., 1981 A.M.C. 2674, 2677 (S.D.N.Y. 1981); Amdur v. Zim Israel Navigation Co., 310 F. Supp. 1033, 1042 (S.D.N.Y. 1969); Branch v. Compagnie Generale Transatlantique, 11 F. Supp. 832 (S.D.N.Y. 1935); Churchill v. United Fruit Co., 294 F. 400, 402 (D. Mass. 1923); The Napolitan Prince, 134 F. 159, 160 (E.D.N.Y. 1904); O\u2019Brien v. Cunard Steamship Co., 154 Mass. 272, 276-77, 28 N.E. 266, 267 (1891); Laubheim v. De Koninglyke Neder Landsche Stoomboot Maatschappy, 107 N.Y. 228, 13 N.E. 781 (1887).\nThe Barbetta court articulated the \u201ctwo justifications\u201d for the age-old rule:\n\u201cThe first justification emphasizes the nature of the relationship between the passenger and the physician, and the carrier\u2019s lack of control over that relationship. ***\n\u2018The work which the physician or surgeon does ... is under the control of the passengers themselves. It is their business, not the business of the carrier. ... The master or owners of the ship cannot interfere in the treatment of the medical officer when he attends a passenger. He is not their servant engaged in their business, and subject to their control as to his mode of treatment.\u2019\n[Citations.] *** [T]he courts have also recognized a second restrictive force. ***\n\u2018[A] shipping company is not in the business of providing medical services to passengers; it does not possess the expertise requisite to supervise a physician or surgeon carried on board a ship as a convenience to passengers. A ship is not a floating hospital; a ship\u2019s physician is an independent medical expert engaged on the basis of his professional qualifications and carried on board a ship for the convenience of passengers, who are free to contract with him for any medical services they may require.\u2019 \u201d Barbetta, 848 F.2d at 1369-70, quoting O\u2019Brien, 154 Mass. at 276, 28 N.E. at 267, and Amdur, 310 F. Supp. at 1042.\nAs the Barbetta court pointed out, both justifications for the rule concern the control the shipowner exercises over its on-board doctor.\nNonetheless, in recent years, federal and state courts have declined to follow the traditional rule that a carrier will not be held liable for negligent treatment rendered by its on-board doctor. A federal district court first called the rule into question in 1959 in Nietes v. American President Lines, Ltd., 188 F. Supp. 219, 221 (N.D. Cal. 1959). In Nietes, the court refused the defendant shipowner\u2019s request to follow what it considered an outdated and \u201cancient rule\u201d and dismiss a wrongful death suit brought against the defendant pursuant to the doctrine of respondeat superior. Nietes, 188 F. Supp. at 220. The Nietes court held:\n\u201c[WJhere a ship\u2019s physician is in the regular employment of a ship, as a salaried member of the crew, subject to the ship\u2019s discipline and the master\u2019s orders, and presumably also under the general direction and supervision of the company\u2019s chief surgeon through modern means of communication, he is, for the purposes of respondeat superior at least, in the nature of an employee or servant for whose negligent treatment of a passenger a shipowner may be held liable.\u201d Nietes, 188 F. Supp. at 220.\nSeveral courts have rejected the Nietes court\u2019s reasoning and have adhered to the rule that an on-board physician\u2019s negligence will not be imputed to the carrier (see, e.g., Barbetta, 848 F.2d at 1371; Amdur, 310 F. Supp. at 1042; Di Bonaventure, 536 F. Supp. at 103-04); nonetheless, other federal and state courts have followed Nietes. In Fairley v. Royal Cruise Line Ltd., 1993 A.M.C. 1633 (S.D. Fla. 1993), and Huntley v. Carnival Corp., 307 F. Supp. 2d 1372 (S.D. Fla. 2004), a federal district court criticized and refused to follow the Barbetta rule, opting instead to follow Nietes. In Carlisle, the Florida appellate court also found \u201cNietes to be the most persuasive precedent,\u201d and rejected a motion to dismiss a negligence claim based on vicarious liability against a defendant cruise line. Carlisle, 864 So. 2d at 5.\nNotably, in addition to being criticized and rejected in the cases cited above, the rule barring vicarious liability claims against carriers for their on-board physicians\u2019 negligence has similarly been criticized by legal scholars. See, e.g., T. Dickerson, The Cruise Passenger\u2019s Dilemma: Twenty-First-Century Ships, Nineteen-Century Rights, 28 Tul. Mar. L.J. 447, 452, 495-96 (2004) (criticizing the old line of cases as antiquated and \u201cunfair,\u201d and noting that courts and commentators have criticized the rule); B. Herschaft, Cruise Ship Medical Malpractice Cases: Must Admiralty Courts Steer by the Star of Stare Decisis, 17 Nova L. Rev. 575, 592, 594 (1992) (advocating the \u201cwell-reasoned decision of Nietes\u201d and opining that \u201c[i]t would be in the best interests of the traveling public for admiralty courts to revoke this harsh policy of holding carriers harmless for the torts of physicians engaged by them\u201d and that \u201cthe judiciary has sufficient reason to resurrect the Nietes opinion *** so that public policy will be satisfied in admiralty as well as other areas of law\u201d); Note, Malpractice on the Love Boat: Barbetta v. S/S Bermuda Star, 14 Tul. Mar. L.J. 381, 391 (1990) (characterizing the Barbetta holding as \u201cflawed\u201d and \u201coutmoded\u201d); see also T. Gionis, Paradox on the High Seas: Evasive Standards of Medical Care \u2014 Duty Without Standards of Care; a Call for the International Regulation of Maritime Healthcare Aboard Ships, 34 J. Marshall L. Rev. 751, 752-53 (2001) (noting the high number of illnesses and injuries occurring at sea).\nThe above-cited cases and scholarly works identify several compelling reasons to depart from the established rule barring vicarious liability claims. Whether vicarious liability will be imposed generally turns on the ability of the principle to control the acts of his agent and on a variety of other factors, including \u201cwhether the work is \u2018part of the regular business of the employer\u2019; whether the contractor is engaged in a distinct calling; the degree of skill of the contractor; who supplies the locale, tools and instrumentalities; the period of employment and the method of payment.\u201d Fairley, 1993 A.M.C. at 1635, quoting Restatement (Second) of Agency \u00a7 220(2) (1958). The Barbetta court justifies its holding that liability for an on-board doctor\u2019s negligence should not be imputed to a cruise line by reasoning that the passenger, rather than the shipowner, controls the relationship between the passenger and the on-board doctor. The Carlisle court explained that the underlying basis for this justification is the statement passengers who fall ill at sea\n\u201c \u2018may employ the ship\u2019s surgeon, or some other physician or surgeon who happens to be on board, or they may treat themselves if they are sick, or may go without treatment if they prefer.\u2019 \u201d Carlisle, 864 So. 2d at 5, quoting O\u2019Brien, 154 Mass. at 276, 28 N.E. at 267.\nThe Carlisle court noted that a cruise line has a general duty to exercise reasonable care. Accordingly, the court referred to the O\u2019Brien justification as a \u201cfiction\u201d and noted that \u201cabsent from this list is the option of demanding that the captain fulfill the duty of reasonable care \u2018in some other way,\u2019 likely because that concept was no more realistic in 1891 than it is today.\u201d Carlisle, 864 So. 2d at 5. Instead, both the Carlisle and the Huntley courts found that a passenger does not have control over his relationship with a ship\u2019s doctor because \u201ca cruise passenger at sea and in medical distress does not have any meaningful choice but to seek treatment from the ship\u2019s doctor.\u201d Carlisle, 864 So. 2d at 5; Huntley, 307 F. Supp. 2d at 1374; 17 Nova L. Rev. at 588-89; 14 Tul. Mar. L.J. at 389-90. The Fairley court also rejected the Barbetta court\u2019s first justification, finding that a passenger has little control over his relationship with an on-board doctor and stating:\n\u201cContrary to the reasoning of Amdur and Barbetta, [passengers] are not \u2018free to contract with [an on-board doctor] for any medical services they may require.\u2019 [Citations.] If a passenger is ill, and port is distant, the ship\u2019s doctor is the passenger\u2019s only resort, since evacuation by air rescue is expensive, possible and appropriate only for emergencies. Further, the passenger may be reluctant to seek treatment from an unknown doctor in a foreign country.\u201d Fairley, 1993 A.M.C. at 1638-39.\nThe second justification for the Barbetta rule is that shipowners are not in the business of providing medical care. However, it is entirely foreseeable that some cruise passengers at sea will develop medical problems. Carlisle, 864 So. 2d at 7; 17 Nova L. Rev. at 590; see also 34 J. Marshall L. Rev. 751. Accordingly, \u201c[t]he treatment of cruise passengers by the ship\u2019s doctor *** is not alien to maritime pursuits.\u201d Carlisle, 864 So. 2d at 6; Huntley, 307 F. Supp. 2d at 1374. The Nietes court recognized the \u201cdifficulty inherent\u201d in having a nonprofessional employer exercise control over a skilled physician, but reasoned that \u201cthe distinction no longer provides a realistic basis for the determination of liability in our modern, highly organized industrial society.\u201d Nietes, 188 F. Supp. at 220. The court concluded:\n\u201cSurely, the board of directors of a modern steamship company has as little professional ability to supervise effectively the highly skilled operations involved in the navigation of a modern ocean carrier by its master as it has to supervise a physician\u2019s treatment of shipboard illness. Yet, the company is held liable for the negligent operation of the ship by its master. So too, should it be liable for the negligent treatment of a passenger by a physician or nurse.\u201d Nietes, 188 F. Supp. at 220-21.\nMoreover, the realities of an on-board physician\u2019s relationship with a shipowner indicate that the physician is akin to an employee rather than an independent contractor.\n\u201c \u2018[A physician] is a staff officer aboard ship; and signs the articles as a member of the ship\u2019s company. He is subject to the ship\u2019s discipline under the general maritime law and is subject to the lawful commands of the master. When sick or injured he is entitled to the remedies of maintenance and cure, the Jones Act, and of a seaworthy ship. Like the steward or radio operator, the ship\u2019s doctor is a seaman for purposes of personal injury remedies and for wage relief. The professional standing of a physician is not a valid argument for affording him a special status when a member of the ship\u2019s company. He must, in truth, be regarded as on par with fellow officers.\u2019 \u201d 17 Nova L. Rev. at 585, quoting M. Norris, The Law of Maritime Personal Injuries \u00a7 3:10, at 75 (4th ed. 1990).\nFurthermore:\n\u201cAccording to one local South Florida attorney, doctor contracts vary with each cruise line. For instance, some cruise lines may choose certain doctors for specific cruises. In other cases, the doctor may be employed for a fixed period of time such as six months. If these procedures are standard in any way, it would be fatuous for a carrier to insist that it has no capacity to evaluate a doctor\u2019s services, because it apparently has already done so by its selective employment practices.\u201d 17 Nova L. Rev. at 587.\nAdditionally, scholars and courts have reasoned that vicarious liability for an on-board physician\u2019s negligence should be imposed because cruise lines \u201creap[ ] the benefits of carrying a doctor aboard [their] vessels.\u201d Fairley, 1993 A.M.C. at 1639; Nietes, 188 F. Supp. at 221; 17 Nova L. Rev. at 590-91. While carriers do not have a duty to supply an on-board doctor, they do owe passengers in need a duty to provide reasonable medical attention under the circumstances. Fairley, 1993 A.M.C. at 1638. \u201cThis duty can be discharged by putting into port or summoning air rescue, or by carrying a physician, depending on the seriousness of the malady.\u201d Fairley, 1993 A.M.C. at 1638. The cruise line benefits because it \u201cavoids many of these costs and inconveniences by the economic expedient of carrying the ship doctor.\u201d Fairley, 1993 A.M.C. at 1639; Nietes, 188 F. Supp. at 221; 17 Nova L. Rev. at 590-91. The cruise line further benefits \u201cby advertising the availability of the ship doctor, since the presence of a qualified physician on board, with a well-equipped and well-staffed infirmary, is an enticement to purchase the ticket.\u201d Fairley, 1993 A.M.C. at 1639. As one scholar observed:\n\u201cFierce competition among various cruise lines has led to the publication of elaborate, colorful brochures touting services aboard vessels, some of which specifically mention that they have medical facilities on board. For example, a brochure for Perillo Caribbean Cruises describes the cruise vessel and states: \u2018Stereo music and telephone in every cabin. Beauty salon, barber, hospital.\u2019 \u201d 14 Tul. Mar. L.J. at 389.\nFinally, the above-cited cases and articles reason that to impose vicarious liability on a cruise line for the negligent treatment of passengers by its on-board physician is not unreasonable because \u201cthe cruise line is already held vicariously liable for the negligence of the same ship\u2019s doctor in the treatment of hundreds of people \u2014 the crew\u2014 under the maritime duty to provide maintenance and cure.\u201d Carlisle, 864 So. 2d at 7, citing De Zon v. American President Lines, Ltd., 318 U.S. 660, 87 L. Ed. 1065, 63 S. Ct. 814 (1943); 14 Tul. Mar. L.J. at 391.\nWe agree with the well-reasoned approach of Nietes, Huntley, Fairley and Carlisle. A passenger on a ship who falls ill has no reasonable choice but to seek treatment from the on-board physician and therefore has little control over their relationship. Furthermore, that an illness would occur at sea should be anticipated, particularly by the cruise industry, and most certainly illnesses do regularly occur at sea. See 34 J. Marshall L. Rev. 751. Accordingly, providing medical treatment for its passengers should be considered a part of a cruise line\u2019s business, as evidenced, in part, by federal maritime law\u2019s willingness to impose vicarious liability on shipowner\u2019s for their on-board physician\u2019s negligence in treating crew members. Moreover, cruise lines benefit from carrying on-board physicians.\nFurthermore, while we acknowledge that we are bound by federal statute to follow federal maritime law in this matter (see 28 U.S.C. \u00a7 1333(1) (2000); Offshore Logistics, Inc., All U.S. at 222-23, 91 L. Ed. 2d at 189-90, 106 S. Ct. at 2494), Nietes and the federal cases that have followed its reasoning and holding indicate that the question of whether a vicarious liability claim against a shipowner for the negligent treatment by its on-board doctor will stand under maritime law is not settled at this time. Accordingly, for the reasons stated above, we elect to follow the holding of the federal courts in Nietes, Huntley and Fairley.\nWe therefore affirm the trial court\u2019s interlocutory orders denying defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss and reinstating plaintiffs\u2019 vicarious liability count.\nAffirmed.\nCAMPBELL, J., concurs.\nNotably, even if the trial court had found that a document containing the forum selection clause were attached to the perforated sheet signed by plaintiffs dockside, Ward suggests that a finding that the clause was not reasonably communicated would nonetheless be proper. In Ward, the plaintiff received the ticket containing language limiting the time in which she could bring a cause of action moments before boarding the boat. The Ward court held that \u201cpossession of the ticket for such a short period of time was insufficient\u201d to notify the plaintiff of the limitation language contained therein. Ward, 273 F.3d at 525.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE GREIMAN" }, { "text": "PRESIDING JUSTICE QUINN,\nspecially concurring.\nI concur with the majority\u2019s conclusions on both of the issues before us. I agree that the factual findings made by the circuit court as to the paucity of evidence that the Macks received the forum selection clause are not against the manifest weight of the evidence. The evidence presented by both sides would have provided a basis for the circuit court to rule in either party\u2019s favor. While it would seem to be extremely easy for the defendant to have retained a copy of the forum clause signed by the plaintiffs, the defendant did not take this precaution. Consequently, I agree with affirming the circuit court\u2019s finding on this issue.\nAs to the issue of whether a vicarious liability claim may be stated by a passenger against a shipowner for alleged negligent treatment by its shipboard doctor, I concur with the majority that, on the facts of this case as presented to us, the circuit court correctly denied defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss. It is important to note that in reaching this conclusion, this court acknowledges that we are bound by section 1333(1) of the Judiciary and Judicial Procedure Act to follow federal maritime law in this case. 28 U.S.C. \u00a7 1333(1) (2000). See Offshore Logistics, Inc. v. Tallentire, 477 U.S. 207, 222-23, 91 L. Ed. 2d 174, 190, 106 S. Ct. 2485, 2494 (1986). Unfortunately, federal maritime law may charitably be described as in a state of flux at this time.\nThe defendant argues that De Zon v. American President Lines, Ltd., 318 U.S. 660, 87 L. Ed. 1065, 63 S. Ct. 814 (1943), is dispositive. There, the Supreme Court reviewed the claim of a seaman against his employer based on the alleged negligence of a shipboard doctor in treating the seaman\u2019s injuries. The Supreme Court held that, pursuant to the Jones Act (46 U.S.C. \u00a7 688 (2000)), a shipowner is liable in damages for injuries suffered by a seaman as the result of any negligence on the part of the ship\u2019s physician in treating the seaman. In a footnote, the Supreme Court pointed out that \u201cliability to a passenger injured by the negligence of a ship\u2019s doctor has been denied\u201d by several lower courts on grounds that the medical service was the doctor and the patient\u2019s business and the treatment was not in pursuance of the doctor\u2019s duty to the ship or the ship\u2019s duty to the passenger. De Zon v. American President Lines, Ltd., 318 U.S. at 666 n.2, 87 L. Ed. at 1070 n.2, 63 S. Ct. at 818 n.2. While the Supreme Court referred to these lower court holdings as being decided by \u201cjudges of great learning,\u201d the Court\u2019s ruminations on this point were clearly dicta as the plaintiff before them was employed as a seaman by the shipowner and was therefore protected under the Jones Act.\nIn the absence of Supreme Court precedent, we are compelled to consider the other federal court decisions which have addressed the issue of vicarious liability of shipowners for the actions of their shipboard doctors. As explained by the majority, in Nietes v. American President Lines, Ltd., 188 F. Supp. 219 (N.D. Cal. 1959), Fairley v. Royal Cruise Line Ltd., 1993 A.M.C. 1633 (S.D. Fla. 1993), scad Huntley v. Carnival Corp., 307 F. Supp. 2d 1372 (S.D. Fla. 2004), federal district courts held that a shipowner may be held liable for the negligent treatment of a passenger by a shipboard physician employed by the shipowner.\nAs the majority acknowledge, several federal courts have rejected the reasoning of these cases and have adhered to the rule that an on-board physician\u2019s negligence will not be imputed to the carrier. See Barbetta v. S/S Bermuda Star, 848 F.2d 1364, 1369 (5th Cir. 1988), Amdur v. Zim Israel Navigation Co., 310 F. Supp. 1033, 1042 (S.D.N.Y. 1969); Di Bonaventure v. Home Lines, Inc., 536 F. Supp. 100, 103-04 (E.D. Pa. 1982). Also see Cummiskey v. Chandris, S.A., 895 F.2d 107 (2d Cir. 1990), 1990 A.M.C. 1452 (1990) (and cases cited therein).\nMy concurrence with the majority\u2019s holding that the plaintiffs complaint alleging that Royal Carribean Cruises may be held vicariously liable for the negligence of its shipboard doctor states a claim sufficient to withstand defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss is dependent upon the fact that the doctor is an employee of Royal Carribean Cruises. Defendant has not asserted that the doctor in this case was an independent contractor. While the court in Fairley v. Royal Cruise Line Ltd., 1993 A.M.C. at 1639-40, considered whether a theory of apparent agency might apply in cases where the doctor is not an employee of the carrier, thankfully, we do not have to consider this issue.\nFinally, I agree with the majority that we should not limit our ruling on the certified questions to merely reviewing the questions themselves; rather, we should also consider the appropriateness of the order giving rise to the appeal. Billerbeck v. Caterpillar Tractor Co., 292 Ill. App. 3d 350, 356-57 (1997), appeal denied, 176 Ill. 2d 570 (1998).", "type": "concurrence", "author": "PRESIDING JUSTICE QUINN," } ], "attorneys": [ "Eaul J. Kozacky & Associates, P.C., of Chicago (Paul J. Kozacky, Jerome R. Weitzel, and Jeffrey S. Becker, of counsel), for appellant.", "Paul B. Episcope, L.L.C., of Chicago (Michael T. Mullen and Anthony J. Masciopinto, of counsel), for appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "JAMES MACK et al., Plaintiffs and Respondents-Appellees, v. ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES, LTD., Defendant and Petitioner-Appellant.\nFirst District (4th Division)\nNo. 1\u201404\u20142168\nOpinion filed October 20, 2005.\nQUINN, P.J., specially concurring.\nEaul J. Kozacky & Associates, P.C., of Chicago (Paul J. Kozacky, Jerome R. Weitzel, and Jeffrey S. Becker, of counsel), for appellant.\nPaul B. Episcope, L.L.C., of Chicago (Michael T. Mullen and Anthony J. Masciopinto, of counsel), for appellees." }, "file_name": "0856-01", "first_page_order": 874, "last_page_order": 890 }