Opinion ID: 534048
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: facts

Text: 4 Appellant filed her complaint against appellees on June 25, 1987. She alleged that during a cruise on the Steamship M/V Stardancer in March and April of 1987, she was assaulted, battered, sexually harassed, sexually molested, kidnapped, and raped by a member of the ship's crew. As a result, she argued, appellees were liable for failing to maintain the ship in a safe condition, failing to warn appellant of its unsafe condition, and failing to provide appellant with adequate medical care. 5 The cruise was from San Pedro, California to Mexico, and back to San Pedro. Appellant had purchased her ticket in Washington. Appellees did not have any offices in Washington, nor did they normally conduct business or begin cruises from there. Their contacts were primarily in California and Florida. On December 9, 1988, the district court dismissed the complaint for lack of in personam or in rem jurisdiction over appellees, without prejudice to bring this action in another forum. The court found that absent arrest or seizure of the ship in Washington, the court had no jurisdiction over it. 6 Appellant did not appeal this order within the 30 days required by F.R.A.P. 4, but instead, on March 8, 1989, filed a motion for relief under Fed.R.Civ.P. 60(b)(6), which allows courts to vacate final orders and judgments for any other reason justifying relief from the operation of the judgment not mentioned in parts (1) through (5). Appellant maintained that unless the court transferred the claim to California or Florida, appellant might be barred by the California statute of limitations, or by a provision on the cruise ticket that barred claims for personal injuries filed more than a year after the incident. 7 On April 20, 1989, the district court denied the motion. It found that appellant failed to show extraordinary circumstances that would justify overturning the judgment. Appellant timely appeals.