ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT FOR PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE AND CURE

ALAN C. KAY, Senior District Judge.

For the following reasons, the Court GRANTS IN PART AND DENIES IN PART Plaintiff Chad Barry Barnes's Motion for Summary Judgment for Payment of Maintenance and Cure. The Court GRANTS the motion as to Barnes's entitlement to maintenance and cure, DENIES WITHOUT PREJUDICE the motion as to the amount of such payments, and DENIES WITHOUT PREJUDICE the motion as to Defendants' liability for punitive damages and attorney's fees.

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On January 1, 2013, Plaintiff Chad Berry Barnes filed a Verified Complaint against Sea Hawaii Rafting, LLC, Kris Henry, and a number of Doe defendants, in personum, and M/V TEHANI, HA-1629 CP, and her engines, equipment, tackle, stores, furnishings, cargo and freight, in rem (together, "Defendants"). (Doc. No. 1 ("Compl.").) On August 20, 2013, Barnes filed a Motion for Summary Judgment for Payment of Maintenance and Cure, asking for summary judgment as to Count III of his complaint. (Doc. No. 25 ("Mot.").) In support of his motion, Barnes filed a concise statement of facts, as well as a number of exhibits. (Doc. Nos. 27, 36.)1 Defendants filed their memorandum in opposition to the motion, as well as a concise statement of facts and a number of exhibits, on October 22, 2013. (Doc. Nos. 34, 35.) Barnes did not file a reply.

A hearing on the motion was held on November 12, 2013.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND2

This matter arises under admiralty law. Barnes alleges that he was employed by Defendant Kris Henry and/or Defendant Sea Hawaii Rafting as a crew member on the vessel M/V TEHANI. (Compl. ¶¶ 14-15; Mot. at 2, Exs. A & C.) On July 3, 2012, Barnes was injured when a small explosion occurred under the deck of the boat as Barnes was starting its engine and helping to launch it into the Honokohau Small Boat Harbor in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. (Compl. ¶¶ 12-13; Opp'n at 3.) Barnes alleges that he suffered severe physical and emotional injuries as a result of the accident that require "ongoing medical treatment, loss of time from work, and may have left him permanently disabled." (Compl. ¶¶ 16-17.) He has been unable to work since the accident. (Affidavit of Chad Barnes ("Barnes Aff.") ¶ 26.)

In his complaint, Barnes brings the following claims: (1) negligence under the Jones Act, 46 U.S.C.App. § 688, against the in personam Defendants (Count I); (2) unseaworthiness as against the M/V TEHANI (Count II); (3) maintenance, cure, and wages under general maritime law (Count III); (4) compensation and recovery for negligence pursuant to the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, 33 U.S.C. § 905, against the in personam and in rem Defendants (Counts IV-VII); (5) individual liability of Defendant Kris Henry and the Doe Defendants for the negligence of Sea Hawaii Rafting, pursuant to a theory of "piercing the veil of limited liability" (Count VII); and (6) intentional and/or negligent infliction of emotional distress as against all Defendants (Count VIII). (Id. ¶¶ 23-71.) Barnes seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, and recovery of attorney's fees.

In the instant motion, Barnes asks the Court to grant summary judgment as to Count III, his claim for recovery of maintenance and cure pursuant to general maritime law. Specifically, Barnes asks the Court for an order requiring Defendants to pay him, retrospectively and prospectively, maintenance payments fixed at an amount that meets his reasonable, actual costs of food and lodging, and cure, or the costs of his medical treatment until he reaches Maximum Medical Improvement ("MMI"). (Mot. at 2.) Barnes also requests that the Court award him attorney's fees and costs involved in bringing the instant motion, as well as punitive damages for Defendants' "willful failure to pay Maintenance and Cure." (Id. at 7-8.)

STANDARD

Summary judgment is appropriate when a "movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). The central issue is "whether the evidence presents a sufficient disagreement to require submission to a jury or whether it is so one-sided that one party must prevail as a matter of law." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 251-52, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).

The moving party bears the initial burden of demonstrating the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). If that burden has been met, the nonmoving party must then come forward and establish specific material facts in dispute to survive summary judgment. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 588, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). The Court must draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party. Id. at 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348.

In supporting a factual position, a party must "cit[e] to particular parts of materials in the record ... or show[] that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact." Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(c)(1). The nonmoving party "must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts." Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 585, 106 S.Ct. 1348. "[T]he requirement is that there be no genuine issue of material fact.... Only disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 247-48, 106 S.Ct. 2505 (emphasis in original). Also, "[t]he mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the non-moving party's position is not sufficient[]" to defeat summary judgment. Triton Energy Corp. v. Square D Co., 68 F.3d 1216, 1221 (9th Cir.1995). Likewise, the nonmoving party "cannot defeat summary judgment with allegations in the complaint, or with unsupported conjecture or conclusory statements." Hernandez v. Spacelabs Med. Inc., 343 F.3d 1107, 1112 (9th Cir.2003).

DISCUSSION

Barnes argues that there is no genuine issue of material fact in dispute as to his entitlement to maintenance and cure. Specifically, Barnes argues that Defendant Kris Henry, in a signed statement to the U.S. Coast Guard dated July 6, 2012, admitted all of the facts necessary to establish Barnes's entitlement: that Barnes was a crew member on the M/V TEHANI, and that he was injured while acting in the service of the vessel. (Mot. at 7, Ex. A.)

Defendants do not appear to dispute that Barnes was injured while working on the M/V TEHANI, but argue that the Court should nevertheless deny Barnes's motion because they are entitled to make an investigation and require documentation prior to making any payments for maintenance and cure. (Opp'n at 7.)3

I. The Obligation to Pay Maintenance and Cure

When a seaman is injured in the service of his vessel, the shipowner has an obligation to pay maintenance (room and board), cure (medical expenses), and unearned wages. Vaughan v. Atkinson, 369 U.S. 527, 531-33, 82 S.Ct. 997, 8 L.Ed.2d 88 (1962); Lipscomb v. Foss Maritime Co., 83 F.3d 1106, 1109 (9th Cir.1996). The entitlement to maintenance and cure continues until the seaman reaches "maximum cure" — a recovery as complete as the injury allows. Permanente S.S. Corp. v. Martinez, 369 F.2d 297, 298-99 (9th Cir.1966) (stating that the obligation to furnish maintenance and cure "continues until the seaman achieves maximum recovery; that is, until the seaman is well or his condition is found to be incurable."); see also Berg v. Fourth Shipmor Assocs., 82 F.3d 307, 309 (9th Cir.1996) (same). When a seaman is injured in the service of a vessel, the employer must pay maintenance and cure even where the employer is not at fault. Aguilar v. Standard Oil Co. of N.J., 318 U.S. 724, 730, 63 S.Ct. 930, 87 L.Ed. 1107 (1943); Crooks v. United States, 459 F.2d 631, 632 (9th Cir.1972).4

A plaintiff's burden of proof on a maintenance and cure claim is slight: he need only establish that he was injured or became ill while "subject to the call of duty as a seaman." Aguilar, 318 U.S. at 732, 63 S.Ct. 930. Further, the Court resolves any ambiguities or doubts as to the seaman's right to receive maintenance and cure in favor of the seaman. Vaughan, 369 U.S. at 532, 82 S.Ct. 997. As the Supreme Court has noted, a "shipowner's liability for maintenance and cure [is] ... not to be defeated by restrictive distinctions nor `narrowly confined.'" Id. at 532, 82 S.Ct. 997 (quoting Aguilar, 318 U.S. at 730, 63 S.Ct. 930).

In the instant case, while Defendants argue that Barnes has failed to adequately respond to their requests for information or document his claims for maintenance and cure, it does not appear that Defendants dispute Barnes's entitlement to maintenance and cure. Indeed, during the hearing on the instant motion, defense counsel stated that Defendants do not contest that Barnes is entitled to maintenance, and, in their opposition, Defendants do not dispute Barnes's contention that he was injured while in the service of the M/V TEHANI.

Further, Barnes has introduced evidence that Defendant Kris Henry admitted in a written statement that Barnes was injured while working on the M/V TEHANI. Specifically, Barnes has introduced a Report of Marine Accident, Injury or Death form that Defendant Kris Henry signed on July 6, 2012 detailing the July 3, 2012 accident and stating that Barnes was working as a "captain/crew" on the M/V TEHANI at the time of the accident, that he had been working in his present position for four months and on the vessel for one month, and that he was injured when an explosion occurred as he was starting the vessel's engine. (Mot. Ex. A.)

The Court therefore finds that there is no factual dispute that Barnes is entitled to maintenance and cure from July 3, 2012 (the date of the accident) until the time he reaches maximum cure.5 The Court thus GRANTS Barnes's motion as to Barnes's eligibility for maintenance and cure.

II. Amount of Maintenance and Cure

A. Maintenance

In determining maintenance, the Court must look at both reasonable expenses and Barnes's actual expenses. Specifically, "[a] seaman is entitled the reasonable cost of food and lodging, provided he has incurred the expense." Hall v. Noble Drilling, Inc., 242 F.3d 582, 587 (5th Cir.2001). Determining the maintenance award involves three steps:

Id. at 590.

Applying this framework to the instant case, the Court concludes that the evidence Barnes has presented is insufficient for the Court to determine the proper amount of maintenance. Barnes argues in his motion that the maintenance rate should be set "at a minimum of $50 per day." (Mot. at 6.) Defendants argue that Barnes has failed to establish either his actual expenses, or the reasonable expenses in his locality. (Opp'n at 10.)

First, as to Barnes's evidence of actual expenses, he provides a letter detailing his actual living expenses since July 3, 2012, including $500 per month for rent, $200 per month for utilities, $45 per day for food, and $400 per month for groceries.6 (Mot. Ex. D.) Barnes states that, because his apartment has no kitchen, he eats most of his meals out. (Mot. Ex. 2 (Affidavit of Chad Barnes) at ¶ 5.) As such, it appears that his actual expenses for food include his claimed $45 per day for meals eaten out, but should not include his claimed $400 per month in grocery costs. Thus, Barnes appears to claim that his actual expenses are $2,050 per month, or approximately $68 a day.7

Defendants argue that Barnes's letter itemizing his expenses, absent substantiation with receipts, is insufficient to establish his actual expenses. (Opp'n at 10.) Generally, however, a seaman's burden in producing evidence establishing his actual expenses is "feather light." Yelverton v. Mobile Laboratories, Inc., 782 F.2d 555, 558 (5th Cir.1986); see also Hall, 242 F.3d at 590. Indeed, a plaintiff's own testimony as to the cost of room and board in the community where he is living is sufficient to support an award. Yelverton, 782 F.2d at 558; see also Morel v. Sabine Towing & Transp. Co., Inc., 669 F.2d 345, 347-48 (5th Cir.1982) (noting that, while a plaintiff's own testimony is not "the most probative evidence one might conceive," the district court nevertheless did not err in admitting and considering it, given the Supreme Court's emphasis that doctrines of maintenance and cure are to be construed liberally and in favor of the seaman). Barnes has submitted as an exhibit a letter itemizing his monthly expenses. (Mot. Ex. D.) Barnes has thus sufficiently proffered evidence that his actual monthly expenses are $2,050 per month, or approximately $68 a day. The Court therefore turns next to an assessment of Barnes's claimed actual expenses in light of reasonable expenses for a seaman in his locality. See Hall, 242 F.3d at 590.

With respect to reasonable expenses, Barnes proffers a 2006 report of economist Jack P. Suyderhoud (the "Suyderhoud Report"). (Mot. Ex. I.) Importantly, however, this district court has previously rejected the Suyderhoud Report as insufficient, absent more explanation, to establish the reasonable cost of food and lodging in Honolulu. See Keliihananui, 2010 WL 2176105, at *9. The Suyderhoud Report calculated the cost of living in Hawaii as $57 per day for a seaman-plaintiff in Miller v. Smith Maritime, Ltd., Civ. No. 05-00490 HG-BMK. The report calculates this amount based on two sets of data: one set from the Economic Research Institute providing information for a single minimum wage earner living with friends or parents contributing partial rent, and the second from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics providing data on single-person households with annual income in the $50,000 to $70,000 range.

As this district court noted in Keliihananui, however, the Suyderhoud Report does not explain why the data it uses are the appropriate measures for maintenance for seamen, or how the data were used to calculate the average daily cost of living. Further, some of the data used in the Suyderhoud Report's calculations clearly should not be included in the maintenance calculation (e.g., "consumables," "entertainment," and "miscellaneous"). See Keliihananui, 2010 WL 2176105, at *9. As the court in Keliihananui stated, without more precise information, the Court cannot determine whether $57 per day is a reasonable amount to cover food and lodging in the Honolulu area. Further, Barnes himself states that the estimated costs in the Suyderhoud Report "have undoubtedly increased significantly in the time since the report was prepared." (Mot. at 6.) Barnes has nevertheless failed to proffer any additional evidence as to reasonable costs in the Honolulu area.

Barnes is entitled to maintenance in the amount of the actual cost of his food and lodging, "up to the reasonable amount for [his] locality." See Hall, 242 F.3d at 590. Barnes has failed, however, to provide the Court with evidence regarding the current costs of food and lodging in Honolulu such that the Court can make a determination as to the reasonable costs in the area. Because Barnes has failed to provide the Court with sufficient information to determine the reasonable amount of maintenance for a seaman in his locality (Honolulu), the Court cannot make a determination as to the proper amount of maintenance at this time. Thus, while the Court concludes that Barnes is entitled to maintenance from the date of the accident, July 3, 2012,8 until the time he reaches maximum cure, the Court nevertheless concludes that Barnes has failed to prove the proper amount of maintenance.9

B. Cure

As discussed above, an injured seaman is also entitled to "cure," or reimbursement for medical expenses. See, e.g., Lipscomb, 83 F.3d at 1109. The entitlement to maintenance and cure continues until the seaman reaches "maximum cure" — a recovery as complete as the injury allows. Permanente, 369 F.2d at 298-99 (stating that the obligation to furnish maintenance and cure "continues until the seaman achieves maximum recovery; that is, until the seaman is well or his condition is found to be incurable."); see also Berg, 82 F.3d at 309 (same).

In his motion, Barnes does not specify the amount of medical expenses he seeks to recover from Defendants. Barnes states that he received emergency treatment after the accident on July 3, 2012, and that he is still being treated for his injuries and has not yet reached maximum cure or MMI. (Mot. at 4.) To substantiate his claim, Barnes submits (1) July 10, 2012 patient notes from Dr. Lambert Lee Loy of Keauhou-Kona Medical Clinic, (Ex. F); (2) a October 18, 2013 letter from Dr. Victoria K. Reed, Psy.D, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist at West Hawaii Community Health Center, (Ex. G); and (3) patient notes prepared by Dr. Marko Reumann of Big Island Comprehensive Neurological Services dating from August 17, 2012 to October 10, 2013. (Ex. H.) In July of 2012, Dr. Loy noted that Barnes suffered from postconcussion syndrome, acute pain due to trauma in his shoulder, spine, chest, and limb, and "late effect of burn of other extremities." (Ex. F.) Dr. Reed's letter diagnoses Barnes with Major Depressive Disorder and Cognitive Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, as well as "Psychological Factors Affecting Hypothyroidism, Diabetes Mellitus Type II, High Cholesterol and Tinnitus," and states that his prognosis is moderate so long as he continues with cognitive behavioral therapy. (Ex. G.) Dr. Reumann's patient notes state that Barnes suffers from prolonged postconcussion syndrome, headaches, tinnitus, and memory problems as a result of the July 3, 2012 accident. (Ex. H.)

Defendants argue that they have a right to conduct a reasonable investigation into Barnes's claims for cure, but have been thwarted by Barnes when they have tried to do so. Specifically, Defendants argue that Barnes has provided very few medical records in response to their discovery requests, and that those records he did provide were insufficient for Defendants to determine the origin, nature, and scope of Barnes's injuries. (Opp'n at 12.) Defendants emphasize that Barnes has provided no receipts or invoices to substantiate his claims, and that the providers listed on the HMSA explanation of benefits, (see Mot. Ex. J,) differ from those listed in Plaintiff's response to Interrogatory No. 6, and from the providers whose patient notes Barnes attaches as exhibits to his motion. (Opp'n at 12-13, Ex. D (Answer to Interrogatory #6.)) As such, Defendants argue that there are issues of fact as to the nature, cause, and extent of Barnes's injuries and medical costs.

In his motion, Barnes asks for an order finding that Defendants are liable for payment of his "outstanding medical bills caused by this injury," as well as for his "future medical care" and for reimbursement of HMSA payments made for treatment of his injury. (Mot. at 7.) Barnes fails to identify, however, exactly what his "outstanding medical bills" are, how much he seeks for future medical care and for what duration of time, and how much money he seeks in reimbursement for HMSA payments made on his behalf. The HMSA statement of benefits Barnes provides as Exhibit J lists a number of claims for which HMSA has apparently paid various providers on Barnes's behalf; however, it is unclear whether this list of payments is exhaustive of Barnes's medical expenses, or whether all of the charges relate to the injuries attributable to the accident on the M/V TEHANI. (See Mot. Ex. J.) The Court is therefore unable to make a determination at this time as to the proper amount of cure.

In sum, the Court GRANTS Barnes's motion insofar as it finds that Barnes is entitled to maintenance and cure from July 3, 2012 until the time he reaches maximum cure. The Court DENIES Barnes's motion insofar as Barnes has failed to prove the proper amount of maintenance or cure.

III. Attorney's Fees and Costs and Punitive Damages

Barnes also requests that this Court award him the attorney's fees and costs involved in bringing the instant motion, as well as punitive damages "for the willful failure to pay Maintenance and Cure." (Mot. at 7-8.) Outside of Barnes's request, neither party addresses this issue in its briefing.

A. Attorney's Fees

Attorney's fees incurred in order to secure a maintenance and cure award may be recovered only when the failure to provide maintenance and cure is "arbitrary, recalcitrant or unreasonable." Kopczynski v. The Jacqueline, 742 F.2d 555, 559 (9th Cir.1984); see also Vaughan, 369 U.S. at 530-31, 82 S.Ct. 997 (allowing attorneys fees against shipowner who willfully and persistently failed to investigate a claim for maintenance and cure).

Here, Barnes makes no legal arguments or factual assertions in his motion to support his request for an award of attorney's fees. His complaint contains the allegation that the Defendants "knew of the injuries which [Barnes] received, and the medical care which [Barnes] needed and received, and knowingly, willfully and callously denied [Barnes] his medical and compensation benefits...." (Compl. ¶ 73.) Barnes has not, however, supported this conclusory statement with specific factual allegations, either in his complaint or in the instant motion. Specifically, Barnes has made no allegations regarding when he first requested maintenance and cure from Defendants, what documentation he provided to support his claim, and whether and how Defendants responded. Indeed, it is not clear to the Court whether Barnes made any demand for maintenance and cure prior to filing the instant suit. The Court is therefore unable to make a finding as a matter of law that Defendants' failure to provide maintenance and cure thus far is "arbitrary, recalcitrant or unreasonable." See Kopczynski, 742 F.2d at 559. The Court DENIES Barnes's motion to the extent he seeks an award of attorney's fees.

B. Punitive Damages

In addition to attorney's fees, Barnes seeks punitive damages "for the willful failure to pay Maintenance and Cure." (Mot. at 8.) Generally, shipowners are entitled to investigate and require corroboration of a claim for maintenance and cure prior to making any payments. See MNM Boats, Inc. v. Johnson, 248 F.3d 1139 (5th Cir.2001); McWilliams v. Texaco, Inc., 781 F.2d 514, 519-20 (5th Cir. 1986); Snyder v. L & M Botruc Rental, Inc., 924 F.Supp.2d 728, 734 (E.D.La. 2013); Bickford v. Marriner, 2012 WL 3260323, at *4 (D.Me. Aug. 8, 2012); Sullivan v. Tropical Tuna, Inc., 963 F.Supp. 42, 45 (D.Mass.1997). This entitlement to investigate is tempered, however, by a seaman's ability to seek punitive damages for "the willful and wanton disregard of the maintenance and cure obligation." Atlantic Sounding Co., Inc. v. Townsend, 557 U.S. 404, 424, 129 S.Ct. 2561, 174 L.Ed.2d 382 (2009).

As was true of his request for attorney's fees, Barnes makes no legal arguments or factual allegations in his motion to support his request for punitive damages. Barnes's complaint alleges that Defendants "have acted with malice, in a gross, willful and wonton manner regarding the denial of the medical and compensation benefits and other matters outlined in this pleading...." (Compl. ¶ 76.) The complaint does not, however, set forth any specific factual allegations supporting this conclusory statement. Defendants, on the other hand, state that they have attempted to investigate Barnes's maintenance and care claims, but have been thwarted by Barnes's failure to cooperate fully with their discovery requests. (Opp'n at 11-12.) In light of the dearth of facts surrounding Barnes's request for maintenance and cure and Defendants' response, the Court cannot make a determination at this time that Defendants have acted so willfully and wantonly in failing to pay him maintenance and cure that an award of punitive damages is appropriate. The Court therefore DENIES Barnes's motion to the extent he seeks punitive damages.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS IN PART AND DENIES IN PART Barnes's Motion for Summary Judgment for Payment of Maintenance and Cure. The Court GRANTS the motion as to Barnes's entitlement to maintenance and cure, and finds that Barnes is entitled to maintenance and cure from July 3, 2012, the date of his injury, until he reaches maximum cure. The Court DENIES WITHOUT PREJUDICE Barnes's motion as to the amount of such payments, and DENIES WITHOUT PREJUDICE the motion as to Defendants' liability for punitive damages and attorney's fees.

IT IS SO ORDERED.