Opinion ID: 151053
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: OWL Bill of Lading Clause 5(B)(2)

Text: Royal & Sun first asserts that OWL contracted into Carmack liability by virtue of clause 5(B)(2) of its bill of lading. That clause states that OWL's liability for loss or damage to the cargo shall be determined [b]y the provisions contained in any ... national law, which provisions cannot be departed from by private contract to the detriment of the Merchant, and would have applied if the Merchant had made a separate and direct contract with the Carrier in respect of the particular stage of the carriage where the loss or damage occurred and received as evidence thereof any particular document which must be issued in order to make such ... national law applicable[.] J.A. 87. Because its provisions can be departed from by private contract, the Carmack Amendment, however, is not such a national law. See 49 U.S.C. §§ 14101(b)(1), 14706(c)(1)(A); see also Sompo, 456 F.3d at 59-60 (discussing parties' ability to contract out of the Carmack Amendment in the rail context). OWL, therefore, did not contract into Carmack liability.