Opinion ID: 481695
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Granite City's Negligence

Text: 7 The district court found Granite City negligent for failing to exercise reasonable care during its bailment of HTC-28. Specifically, the court found that the loading method used was not appropriate for an old barge in deteriorating condition, like HTC-28. The court also found Granite City negligent for its failure to properly inspect the barge for leaks when the draft after loading was greater than allowed. Finally, the court found that Granite City should not have left HTC-28 in the piling fleet unsupervised. 8 Granite City contends that its visual inspection satisfied its duty of care as a stevedore. Appellant also contends that the evidence established its method of loading as proper. Furthermore, Granite City had no duty to check the barge when it remained in the piling fleet after loading because its bailment had ended. 9 A district court's conclusion of negligence is a finding of fact, United Barge Co. v. Notre Dame Fleeting & Towing Service, 568 F.2d 599, 602 (8th Cir.1978), and will not be overturned on appeal unless clearly erroneous. Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(a); Ohio River Co. v. Peavey Co., 731 F.2d 547, 549 (8th Cir.1984). We have carefully reviewed the record before us and we find the district court's findings supported by the record and are not clearly erroneous.