Opinion ID: 6501165
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Suit Follows

Text: CBM sued Reef in the District Court of the Virgin Islands alleging Reef negligently secured the vessels and then breached the License Agreement by not paying for the damage they caused. The parties agreed to a bench trial. In preparation, the District Court set 1 They placed loose items inside the enclosed pilot houses, tied impact-absorbing fenders, and moored each vessel to the dock. Reef’s captains did not use anchors or remove the canvas awnings running the length of each vessel. CBM’s dock manager observed that the Reef captains “did a proper job.” (App. at 10.) 2 The dock was not in perfect condition when the vessels arrived. Before the storm, CBM’s then-Operations Manager took underwater and water-level photographs of the dock, which revealed cracked, deteriorated concrete and rusted rebar. CBM made no structural repairs before Hurricane Irma. 2 deadlines to identify all expert witnesses, direct and rebuttal. Nearly ten full months after those deadlines passed, and about 45 days before trial was scheduled to begin, CBM moved to designate Dr. Brian K. Haus as an expert. 3 The District Court denied the motion. Then, less than one month before trial, and more than two years after CBM filed its complaint, CBM moved to disqualify Reef’s counsel citing a conflict of interest. According to CBM, Reef’s attorneys had drafted the License Agreement that Reef now argues was unenforceable. The District Court denied the motion. Following trial, the District Court found for Reef, holding that CBM had not proved breach or causation. CBM now appeals. 4