Opinion ID: 253344
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: In Rem Action

Text: 11 It is contended, however, in support of the in rem action that a ship as an entity is capable of committing torts for which she is accountable, irrespective of any warranty of seaworthiness or any showing of fault on the part of those who own or control her, and that, therefore, the District Court's failure to consider the in rem libel constitutes reversible error. 12 For this proposition we are referred to language in several early American cases, but these fail to support the appellant's argument, because the language was addressed to situations readily distinguishable. It has been held, for example, that a vessel used for an illegal purpose, such as the violation of an embargo 2 or for piracy, 3 may be seized and condemned in spite of the innocence of the owners. It should be noted, however, that these cases did not decide that a vessel might be condemned and sold where no violation had been committed by someone in control. 4 It is one thing to hold that a conviction or liability in personam is not a cindition precedent to the action in rem; it would be quite another to say that the vessel may be held accountable as an entity when there has been no violation of the warranty of seaworthiness or a breach of duty on the part of anyone. 13 Even in actions against a vessel upon claims sounding in tort (distinguished from unseaworthiness), where the concept of her liability despite the owner's non-liability has been applied, recovery has always been predicated on a showing of fault on the part of someone. 5 This doctrine of in rem liability has been extended to a ship under bare-boat charter, but not in the absence of proof of negligence of the crew 'appointed and paid by the charterers.' The Barnstable, 1901, 181 U.S. 464, 21 S.Ct. 684, 685, 45 L.Ed. 954. 14 Certainly, the case of Grillea v. United States, 2 Cir., 1956, 232 F.2d 919, also relied upon by the appellant, does not deviate from the Barnstable ruling. It is true that in upholding an in rem action, Judge Learned Hand, writing for the majority, stated: 15 '   we see no reason why a person's property should never be liable unless he or someone else is liable 'in personam. 232 F.2d at page 924. 16 In a later opinion, however, Latus v. United States, 2 Cir., 1960, 277 F.2d 264, Judge Hand makes it clear that his statement in Grillea is applicable only in an action for unseaworthiness. He explained: 17 Grillea v. United States, 2 Cir., 232 F.2d 919 merely held that a longshoreman might sue a ship in rem if he were injured by her unseaworthiness, which no one denies.' 277 F.2d at page 267. 6 18 It would be strange indeed if such a cause of action as is here asserted against the ship could exist in the law without attention having been called to it in the numerous cases which have been litigated upon the theory of negligence and unseaworthiness. If a species of liability for personal injuries could be maintained against the ship without regard to seaworthiness or fault on anyone's part, then plaintiffs, usually not lacking in alertness, have been singularly neglectful in asserting rights of this character. Why debate issues of seaworthiness or negligence if the vessel is responsible anyway? Surely in many of the contested cases the vessel was not beyond the reach of process, and use of the suggested theory, if supportable, would have been attempted. We know no precedent for requiring her to respond as an absolute insurer for personal injury where there has been no violation of any warranty of seaworthiness and it is not established that anyone connected with her has been at fault. Essentially, the libellant's position amounts to an insistence that even if there is no liability for unseaworthiness because in legal contemplation the 'ship' is no longer a ship, there should still be recovery as though for unseaworthiness. 19 Affirmed.