Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-01986/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-01986-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 120
Nature of Suit: Marine Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1333ad Admiralty

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18-CV-1986-WQH(WVG) 

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

TAYLOR BOWKER, 

Plaintiff,

v. 

M/V TATÚ et al., 

Defendants.

 Case No.: 18-CV-1986-WQH(WVG) 

ORDER: 

(1) GRANTING MOTION FOR 

ISSUANCE OF WARRANT IN REM

THEREBY 

 (a) ISSUING ARREST 

WARRANT IN REM; 

 (b) DIRECTING UNITED STATES 

MARSHAL TO ARREST VESSEL; 

(2) GRANTING MOTION FOR 

SUBSTUTITUTE CUSTODIAN 

THEREBY 

 (a) APPOINTING NATIONAL 

MARITIME SERVICES AS 

SUBSTUTITE CUSTODIAN; 

 (b) PERMITTING CUSTODIAN 

TO MOVE VESSEL, IF 

NECESSARY; and 

(3) GRANTING MOTION FOR 

EXPEDITED DISCOVERY AND 

APPOINTING APPRAISER. 

[Doc. Nos. 4, 5 &6.] 

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A. (Doc. No. 4.) Emergency Motion for the Issuance of a Warrant of Arrest and 

Order Directing the U.S. Marshal to Arrest the M/V “Tatu” 

 This matter is before the Court upon the emergency motion of Plaintiff, Taylor 

Bowker, for an Order authorizing the issuance of a warrant for the arrest of Defendant M/V 

Tatú, Official Number: 734665, her engines, bowsprit, anchor, cables, chains, rigging, 

tackle, apparel, furniture and all accessories, hereunto appertaining and belonging to her, 

in rem (herein, collectively: “M/V Tatú” or “the Vessel”) which Vessel is the subject of 

the instant admiralty action for the foreclosure of preferred maritime liens. The Court has 

reviewed the Verified Complaint and related documents filed in accordance with the 

requirements of Rule C(3) of the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty and Maritime Claims, 

as amended. It appears that Plaintiff has set forth therein a prima facie showing that an 

action in rem exists to support the issuance of an arrest warrant for the M/V Tatú. 

 “Maritime liens arise for the unpaid provision of necessaries, breaches of maritime 

contracts, unpaid seaman’s wages, unpaid cargo freight, preferred ship mortgages, as well 

as in other circumstances.” Ventura Packers, Inc. v. F/V Jeanine Kathleen, 305 F.3d 913, 

919 (9th Cir. 2002); see also Madeja v. Olympic Packer, LLC, 155 F. Supp. 2d 1183, 1205 

(D. Haw. 2001) (“Like other maritime liens, a seaman’s wages lien . . . is enforceable in an 

action in rem.”) (quoting Governor & Co. of the Bank of Scot. v. Sabay, 211 F.3d 261, 268 

(5th Cir. 2000)). 

 “An action in rem may be brought . . . [t]o enforce any maritime lien.” Fed. R. Civ. 

P., Supp. Admiralty Rule C(1)(a). To commence an action in rem against a vessel, the 

plaintiff must file a verified complaint that describes the vessel “with reasonable 

particularity” and states that the vessel “is within the district” or will be so “while the action 

is pending.” Fed. R. Civ. P. Supp. Adm. & Mar. Cl. R. C(2); see Madeja v. Olympic 

Packers, LLC, 310 F.3d 628, 637 (9th Cir. 2002). If the plaintiff meets these conditions, 

the district court must take the boat into custody—unless the plaintiff requests otherwise—

by issuing an arrest warrant to be served by the marshal. See Fed. R. Civ. P. Supp. Adm. 

& Mar. Cl. R. C(3)(a)-(b), E(3)(b). The arrest warrant should issue “upon a prima facie 

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showing that the plaintiff has an action in rem against the defendant . . . and that the 

property is within the district.” Fed. R. Civ. P., Supp. Admiralty Rule C, Advisory 

Committee Notes to 1985 Amendment. 

 This Court has reviewed Plaintiff’s Verified Complaint and supporting papers, 

which describe the defendant Vessel with particularity and establish that it is currently 

located within this District at Shelter Island Marina, 2071 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, 

CA 92106. Moreover, because plaintiff has made a prima facie showing that the conditions 

for a maritime in rem action exist, the requested Vessel arrest warrant must issue. 

Accordingly, the Court ORDERS as follows: 

 1. Pursuant to Supplemental Rule C(3)(a), the Court will separately issue a 

warrant for the arrest of the M/V Tatú. The Clerk of Court is directed to deliver said 

warrant, together with other appropriate process, to the United States Marshal for 

execution. 

 2. The United States Marshal, forthwith upon receipt of same, shall execute the 

aforesaid warrant for arrest against the M/V Tatú, her engines, bowsprit, anchor, cables, 

chains, rigging, tackle, apparel, furniture and all accessories, hereunto appertaining and 

belonging to her, in rem, by affixing a copy of this Order and of the Summons and Verified 

Complaint, in a conspicuous place aboard said Vessel, and by leaving a copy of the same 

with the Master or other person having possession of said Vessel. 

B. Doc. No. 5. Emergency Motion for the Appointment of A Substitute Custodian 

and Permission for the Custodian to Move the Vessel If Necessary for Security 

Reasons 

 On August 27, 2018, the Verified Complaint was filed seeking the arrest of the M/V 

Tatú, Official Number: 734665, her engines, bowsprit, anchor, cables, chains, rigging, 

tackle, apparel, furniture and all accessories, hereunto appertaining and belonging to her, 

in rem, pursuant to Rule C of the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime 

Claims. The Vessel is located at Shelter Island Marina, 2071 Shelter Island Drive, San 

Diego, CA 92106. 

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 On August 28, 2018, Plaintiff requested that the Court to issue a warrant of arrest 

commanding the United States Marshal for this District to arrest and take into custody the 

M/V Tatú until further Order of this Court respecting the same. It is contemplated that the 

United States Marshal will be able to seize the M/V Tatú, her engines, bowsprit, anchor, 

cables, chains, rigging, tackle, apparel, furniture and all accessories, hereunto appertaining 

and belonging to her. Custody of the Vessel with thereafter require the services of one or 

more keepers. 

Custodian for the M/V Tatú 

 After arrest, the Vessel will be kept within the Southern District of California. In the 

interest of allowing the equipment to remain in the hands of a competent person and to 

save unnecessary expenses, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s request to appoint the following 

substitute custodian of the Vessel: 

National Maritime Services 

2715 West Coast Hwy - Suite B 

Newport Beach, CA 92663 

Telephone: (949) 631-6715 

TeleFax: (954) 602-9246 

(hereafter, “Substitute Custodian.”). Substitute Custodian will charge a rate consistent with 

its normal rates for the custodial care of vessels as represented on Exhibit A attached to the 

Emergency Motion for the Appointment of a Substitute Custodian and Permission for the 

Custodian to Move the Vessel for Security Reasons, filed in this matter. (Doc. No. 5-1.) 

 Plaintiff and National Maritime Services in consideration of the Marshal’s consent 

to the substitution of custody of the Vessel, have agreed to release the United States and 

the U.S. Marshal from any and all liability and responsibility arising out of the care and 

custody of the Vessel, from the time the Marshal transfers custody of the Vessel over to 

the Substitute Custodian, and Plaintiff and National Maritime Services further agree to hold 

harmless and indemnify the United States and the U.S. Marshal from any and all claims 

whatsoever arising out of Substitute Custodian’s possession and safekeeping of the Vessel. 

The Substitute Custodian has also represented that it carries adequate liability insurance. 

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 THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the United States Marshal be 

authorized and directed to surrender the possession and custody of the Vessel to National 

Maritime Services and that upon such surrender the Marshal shall be discharged from his 

duties and responsibilities for the safekeeping of the Vessel and held harmless for any and 

all claims arising whatsoever out of said substituted possession and safekeeping of the M/V 

Tatú. 

 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the M/V Tatú be allowed to be moved from the 

location of arrest and attachment to the premises of Substitute Custodian, or elsewhere, 

within this District as Substitute Custodian deems proper and necessary, in order to 

accommodate the orderly business of the Port and safekeeping of the Vessel. However, the 

Vessel may not be transported outside of the Southern District of California; it shall remain 

here at all times. 

C. Doc. No. 6. Emergency Motion for Expedited Entry, Inspection and Appraisal 

of the M/V Tatú 

 This matter is before the Court upon the Plaintiff’s Emergency Motion for Expedited 

Entry, Inspection and Appraisal of the M/V Tatú. Local Civil Rule E(1)(d) provides that 

“[o]rders for the appraisement of arrested . . . property for the purpose of bonding and sale 

may be entered as a matter of course by the clerk of the district court at the request of any 

interested party.” Plaintiff has made such a request. For good cause shown, the Court 

ORDERS that Christian & Co., 1276 Scott Street, San Diego, CA 92106 shall be appointed 

to board, enter, inspect, and examine the M/V Tatú for the purposes of appraisal of the 

Vessel. In the alternative, if Christian & Co. is unavailable, Todd & Associates, Inc., 2390 

Shelter Island Drive Suite 220, San Diego, CA 92106 is appointed as the backup, secondary 

appraiser. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: August 29, 2018 

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