Opinion ID: 794672
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Individuals in Charge of a Vessel

Text: 96 Section 2114, at the time of the events in this case, limited its scope to owner[s], charterer[s], managing operator[s], agent[s], master[s], [and] individual[s] in charge of a vessel. § 13(a), 98 Stat. at 2863. Riverboat's contention that this language does not encompass either Mr. Heitmeier or Mr. Gourguechon is without merit. The plain meaning of the phrase individual in charge of a vessel refers to persons who have control over or responsibility for the vessel's operation. American Heritage Dictionary (4th ed.2000) (defining the phrase in charge of); see also Black's Law Dictionary 685 (5th ed.1979) (defining in charge of as in the care or custody of, or intrusted to the management or direction of). Mr. Heitmeier, as the President, sole shareholder and member of the Board of Directors of both Riverboat Services, Inc. and Riverboat Services of Indiana, Inc., certainly exercises substantial control over the M/V Showboat and its operations; it would be preposterous to suggest otherwise. Similarly, Mr. Gourguechon, as the Director of Marine Operations for Riverboat during the events in this case, was in a position of significant responsibility; among other things, he was in charge of managing the vessel's crew, including making promotion and termination decisions. Indeed, Mr. Gourguechon played a large, if not dispositive, role in the termination decisions in question in this case. Were § 2114 construed so as to not permit the plaintiffs to sue the director of personnel matters—the person actually responsible for the discharges—the statute indeed would be enfeebled. We therefore hold that both Mr. Heitmeier and Mr. Gourguechon qualify as individual[s] in charge of a vessel and may be sued in their individual capacities under the terms of § 2114.