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

Heading: Valley Line's Liability

Text: 10 The district court found no credible evidence to support a finding that Valley Line's vessel, the M/V NAMOUR, proximately caused the HTC-28 to sink. Granite City, however, contends that the court erred in failing to apply a presumption of negligence. It argues that a presumption of fault arises against the M/V NAMOUR because it was the last comer in the piling fleet. 11 Application of a presumption of fault is not warranted when the factfinder specifically finds an absence of fault from the evidence. Scott v. SS Ciudad de Ibague, 426 F.2d 1105, 1108 (5th Cir.1970); see also Pasco Marketing v. Taylor Towing Service, 554 F.2d 808, 811-12 (8th Cir.1977). Here, the district court specifically found no credible evidence to support Valley Line's liability. Upon review of the record, we cannot say that this conclusion is clearly erroneous. Consequently, the district court's failure to apply the presumption of fault does not constitute error because no evidence supported its application.