Opinion ID: 764967
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Did the court err by allowing Hawaiian Cruises to amend its answer?

Text: 33 Under 46 U.S.C. 183(a), a shipowner may limit its liability to the value of the owner's interest in the vessel. Under 46 U.S.C. 185, the owner must petition the court for such limitation of liability within six months after a claimant shall have given to or filed with [him] written notice of claim. Sana points out that he first demanded maintenance and cure of Hawaiian Cruises on August 8, 1995. He argues that this demand triggered the six month period for seeking limitation of liability. Since Hawaiian Cruises did not assert this defense until January 14, 1997, Sana claims that it is barred. 34 Whether the time limitation in 185 applies to an answer's assertion of the defense in 183(a) is a question of first impression in this circuit. Several other circuits have concluded that it does not. See, e.g., Signal Oil & Gas Co. v. Barge W-701, 654 F.2d 1164, 1173 (5th Cir. 1981); The Chickie, 141 F.2d 80, 85 (3rd. Cir. 1944); Murray v. New York Cent. R.R. Co., 287 F.2d 152, 153-54 (2nd Cir. 1961). In Murray, the court noted that the plaintiff controls the timing of the lawsuit. See id. If the time limitation applied to answers, the defendant would have to bring a 185 action within six months of a claim without knowing whether the plaintiff intended to sue. See id. This would be undesirable. 35 Like the other circuits that have examined this issue, we conclude that the time limitation in 185 does not apply in these circumstances. The court did not err in allowing Hawaiian Cruises to amend its answer.