Opinion ID: 329474
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: american's cross-claim.

Text: 55 The district court correctly held that American had no right of indemnification, express or implied, against Wheeling as a stevedore employer, because, as we pointed out above, the second clause of the first sentence in § 905(b) eliminated the Ryan remedy. But American also asserts a claim for contribution. 56 If it should be determined that Wheeling's only negligence is that of employees performing stevedoring duties, there will be no joint tortfeasor liability. Halcyon Lines v. Haenn Ship Corp., 342 U.S. 282, 72 S.Ct. 277, 96 L.Ed. 318 (1952); Atlantic Coast Lines R. Co. v. Erie Lackawanna R. Co., 406 U.S. 340, 92 S.Ct. 1550, 32 L.Ed.2d 110 (1972). 20 We have held, however, that Wheeling may be held liable for negligence as a Pro hac vice owner for nonstevedoring, owner negligence. If both Wheeling, as Pro hac vice owner, and American, as vessel owner, are found to be negligent, joint tortfeasor contribution between them in this noncollision maritime case is available. Cooper Stevedoring Co. v. Fritz Kopke, Inc., 417 U.S. 106, 113, 94 S.Ct. 2174, 40 L.Ed.2d 694 (1974). In Cooper Stevedoring, the Court did not determine whether contribution should be determined in accordance with the comparative degree of fault of the parties. 417 U.S. at 108 n. 3, 94 S.Ct. 2174. However, more recently, the Court in a maritime collision case, reversed the long line of authorities providing for equal contribution in favor of a comparative negligence rule of contribution. United States v. Reliable Transfer Co., --- U.S. ---, 95 S.Ct. 1708, 44 L.Ed.2d 251 (1975). We see no reason why the Reliable Transfer rule should not apply in noncollision, as well as in collision maritime cases. 57 Since Wheeling's potential liability as a Pro hac vice owner raises the possibility of a claim by American for contribution under Cooper Stevedoring and Reliable Transfer, the order granting summary judgment in Wheeling's favor against American must also be reversed. 58