Case Name: BRAND vs. TOURNE & BECKWITH ET AL.
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1836-06
Citations: 10 La. 130
Docket Number: 
Parties: BRAND vs. TOURNE & BECKWITH ET AL.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Reports
Volume: 10
Pages: 130–131

Head Matter:
BRAND vs. TOURNE & BECKWITH ET AL.
Easteiust Bist.
June, 1836.
APPEAL PROM THE COÜRT OP THE FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT.
The owners of steam-boats are liable for the injury done and loss sustained by individuals, through the negligence or misconduct of their masters.
This is an action against the defendants as joint owners of the steam-boat Abeona, to render them liable and recover the sum of one thousand five hundred and sixty dollars, for the loss of twenty-six hogsheads of sugar, occasioned by the negligence and misconduct of the commander of said steamboat, in running down and sinking the schooner Cultivator, in the Mississippi, on which the sugar was shipped, from the parish of St'. James, for New-Orleans.
The defendants pleaded a general denial. The testimony in this case is similar to that in the case of Sauné vs. Tourné & Beckwith, 9 Louisiana Reports, 425 and 428.
The district judge was of opinion the loss and sinking of the schooner was occasioned by an unavoidable accident, not to be placed to the blame or account of either party. Judgment was given for the defendants, and the plaintiff appealed.
Shepard and JDeblieux, for the plaintiff.
.D. Seghers, contra.
SteTm-boatTare liable for the injury done, and loss sustained tLoug^thlTne-gi1Sence masters,

Opinion:
Bullard, J.,
delivered the opinion of the court.
This suit is brought to recover the value of twenty-six hogsheads of sugar, part of the cargo of the schooner Cultivator, which was sunk in consequence of a collision with the steam-boat Abeona, belonging to the defendants. The evidence is substantially the same which we had before us in the case of the owner of the schooner against the same . ii-parties, and we then came to the conclusion, after very deliberate reflection, that the defendants were in fault and liable for the loss. The District Court having thought otherwise, we have again maturely considered the case and are of opinion that the plaintiffs are entitled'to recover. For the reasons and grounds of this opinion, we refer to the case above mentioned, decided at the May term. 9 Louisiana Reports, 425 and 428.
It is shown that the sugar of the plaintiff was worth sixty dollars per hogshead.
It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the District Court be avoided and reversed, and it is further adjudged and decreed, that the plaintiffs recover of the defendants the sum of one thousand five hundred and sixty dollars, with costs in both courts.