Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-02231/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-02231-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 120
Nature of Suit: Marine Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 46:31301 Federal Maritime Lien Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHULA VISTA MARINA/RV PARK, 

LTD,

Plaintiff,

v.

M/Y OYEME, U.S.G. Official No. 

514480, AND ALL OF HER ENGINES, 

TACKLE, ACCESSORIES, 

EQUIPMENT, FURNISHINGS AND 

APPURTENANCES, in rem,

Defendant.

Case No.: 3:17-cv-2231-L-WVG

ORDER GRANTING SECOND EX 

PARTE APPLICATION FOR 

APPOINTMENT OF SUBSTITUTE 

CUSTODIAN AND FOR 

AUTHORIZATION FOR 

MOVEMENT OF DEFENDANT 

VESSEL

Pending before the Court is Plaintiff's Second Application for Appointment of 

Substitute Custodian and for Authorization for Movement of Defendant Vessel1

("Application"). For the reasons stated below, the Application is granted.

 

1 Plaintiff does not actually request to move Defendant; however, the application 

implies that, if necessary, Plaintiff should be permitted to move Defendant to another slip 

in the same marina. Accordingly, no other movement is contemplated by this Order.

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Defendant is a 60 ft. wooden motor yacht built in 1968, and registered with the 

United States Coast Guard under Documentation No. 514480. Plaintiff contends it 

provided wharfage services to Defendant pursuant to the License Agreement dated June 

3, 2013. (Verified Compl. Ex. A, see docs. no. 1 & 11.) As alleged in the verified 

complaint, Defendant's ostensible owner James S. Twemlow made regular monthly 

payments; however, the account eventually fell into arrears. On November 13, 2015, 

Plaintiff informed Mr. Twemlow that Defendant was flooded with water and not 

seaworthy. Plaintiff requested Mr. Twemlow to remove Defendant from the marina for 

repairs, or the License Agreement would be terminated. Approximately a year later, 

Plaintiff again informed Mr. Twemlow that Defendant was still not seaworthy, but 

permitted Defendant's tenancy at the marina to continue, with the understanding that Mr. 

Twemlow would undertake the necessary repairs. As Defendant remained in the same 

condition, on October 16, 2017, Plaintiff notified Mr. Twemlow that the License 

Agreement would terminate as of October 21, 2017, and that following that date, if 

Defendant was not removed, wharfage fees would accrue at the higher transient vessel 

rate. At the same time, Plaintiff notified Mr. Twemlow that Defendant's account was 

$1,895.92 in arrears, and demanded payment within 15 days. Mr. Twemlow responded 

that he was unable to pay the arrears, repair Defendant, or remove it from the marina. 

Plaintiff claims that as of October 31, 2017, Defendant's account has accrued $3,460.52 

in arrears.

On November 1, 2017, Plaintiff commenced this action in rem against Defendant, 

her engines, boilers, tackle, apparel, furnishings, appurtenances, etc., and all other 

necessaries thereunto appertaining and belonging. Plaintiff asserted breach of the 

License Agreement, trespass, and quantum meruit claims, and requested Defendant's 

arrest, declaration of a maritime lien for $3,460.52 plus additional wharfage fees through 

the date of arrest, interest and costs, Defendant's sale, and ability to credit bid at the sale. 

The Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1333(1).

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A party providing necessaries to a vessel on the order of its owner or a person 

authorized by the owner has a maritime lien on the vessel. 46 U.S.C. § 31342. Use of a 

wharf is a necessary for purposes of maritime liens. Ex parte Easton, 95 U.S. 68, 77 

(1877); see also id. at 73; The Western Wave, 77 F.2d 695, 698 (5th Cir. 1935); see also 

Farwest Steel Corp. v. Barge Sea-Span 241, 769 F.2d 620, 623 (9th Cir. 1985), quoting 

Equilease Corp. v. M/V Sampson, 568 F. Supp. 1259, 1263 (E.D. La. 193), aff'd 742 F.2d 

852 (5th Cir. 1984) (the supplies and services "reasonably needed in the ship's business" 

give rise to maritime liens). 

Plaintiff made a prima facie case that it provided wharfage services to Defendant, 

which gave rise to a maritime lien. Accordingly, the Court has granted Plaintiff's ex parte 

application to issue a warrant for Defendant's arrest, and ordered the Clerk of the Court to 

issue the warrant commanding the United States Marshal to take Defendant into custody.

Based in the representations of Plaintiff's General Manager Andrea La Valley, 

Defendant is unseaworthy and located in a slip in Plaintiff's marina at 550 Marina 

Parkway, Chula Vista, California (the "Marina"). (Decl. of Andrea La Valley in Support 

of Second Ex parte Application for Appointment of Substitute Custodian and for 

Authorization for Movement of Defendant Vessel, doc. no. 9-1 ("La Valley Decl.") ¶2.) 

Although the United States Marshal is ordered to arrest Defendant, Defendant's custody 

requires the services of one or more keepers, and does not include charges for wharfage 

and needed for Defendant's safekeeping. (Application at 2.) Plaintiff represents that 

United States Marshal is unable to perform these services at a price comparable to 

Plaintiff's. (La Valley Decl. ¶8.)

Accordingly, upon arrest, Plaintiff has offered to assume the responsibility for 

Defendant's custody and safekeeping in the slip where she is currently located or another 

suitable slip at the Marina, and act as her substitute custodian until further Order of this 

Court. (Application at 1; La Valley Decl. ¶¶3 & 9.) Plaintiff promises to provide the 

necessary services, that it has the expertise and facilities needed to perform them, as well 

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as sufficient insurance to protect it against occurrences of negligence. (La Valley Decl. 

¶¶ 3-6.) Plaintiff promises to perform these services at a cost not to exceed prevailing 

rates of the Port of San Diego. (Id. ¶5.e.) 

Based on Plaintiff's foregoing representations and promises, IT IS HEREBY 

ORDERED as follows:

1. Plaintiff's Ex Parte Application is granted. 

2. The United States Marshal for the Southern District of California shall be, and 

is hereby, authorized and directed upon seizure pursuant to the arrest warrant of 

Defendant, her engines, boilers, tackle, apparel, furnishings, appurtenances, etc., and all 

other necessaries thereunto appertaining and belonging, to surrender the possession 

thereof to the Substitute Custodian named herein. Upon such surrender the United States 

Marshal shall be discharged from his duties and responsibilities for Defendant's 

safekeeping and held harmless from and against any and all claims whatever arising out 

of said substituted possession and safekeeping.

3. Plaintiff is hereby appointed Substitute Custodian for Defendant, her engines, 

boilers, tackle, apparel, furnishings, appurtenances, etc., and all other necessaries 

thereunto appertaining and belonging, to retain her in its custody for possession and 

safekeeping. Plaintiff shall provide the expertise, facilities and insurance, and perform all 

services necessary for Defendant's safekeeping and custody, as represented and promised 

in the Application and Declaration of Andrea La Valley (docs. no. 9 & 9-1), which are 

incorporated herein by reference, and as required to comply with this Order. 

4. Plaintiff shall release the United States and the United States Marshal from any 

and all liability and responsibility arising out of the care and custody of Defendant, her 

engines, boilers, tackle, apparel, furnishings, appurtenances, etc., and all other necessaries 

thereunto appertaining and belonging, from the time the United States Marshal transfers 

possession of Defendant to Plaintiff. Furthermore, Plaintiff shall hold harmless and 

indemnify the United States and the United States Marshal from any and all claims 

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

Defendant, her engines, boilers, tackle, apparel, furnishings, appurtenances, etc., and all 

other necessaries thereunto appertaining and belonging.

5. Plaintiff's attorney shall forthwith serve a copy of this Order to any and all 

person(s) believed to be Defendant's owner(s).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 14, 2017

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