Opinion ID: 776458
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: six-month limitations period

Text: 22 The court dismissed Do's and Pham's remaining wage claims on the basis of the six-month limitations period for in rem actions contained in 46 U.S.C. § 10602 and the six-month limitations period specified in the contracts. Do and Pham argue that the limitations periods do not apply because the contracts are void as a matter of law. 23 Ocean Pacific entered into written contracts with Pham and Do pursuant to 46 U.S.C. § 10601. 5 Section 10602 creates in rem liability for seamen's wages when fish are caught pursuant to an agreement under § 10601. Do and Pham contend that because the contracts they signed do not bear the signatures of the trawlers' masters and owners, the contracts do not satisfy § 10601 and are, therefore, void. See Seattle-First Nat'l Bank v. Conaway, 98 F.3d 1195, 1198 (9th Cir.1996) (holding that a void contract cannot trigger § 10602's statute of limitations). 24 Do's and Pham's contracts are beset by several potential infirmities, including the absence of an owner's signature on either contract and the misidentification of the vessel on which Pham worked. We, however, need not reach those issues in light of our decision in Harper v. United States Seafoods, No. 01-35264, 278 F.3d 971 (9th Cir.2002). In Harper, we held that contracts very similar to those at issue here were invalid because they lacked a master's signature as required by § 10601(a). In this case, there is no evidence indicating that the masters of the Ocean Peace or Seafreeze signed or otherwise participated in making the contracts Do and Pham signed. For that reason, the six-month limitations periods prescribed by the contracts and § 10602 do not apply. 25 AFFIRMED in part, REVERSED in part, and REMANDED for proceedings consistent with Harper v. United States Seafoods. Each party is responsible for its own costs on appeal.