Document: 523 U.S. 491118 S.Ct. 1464140 L.Ed.2d 626 CALIFORNIA and State Lands Commission, Petitioners,v.DEEP SEA RESEARCH, INC., et al. No. 96-1400. Supreme Court of the United States Argued Dec. 1, 1997. Decided April 22, 1998. Syllabus * The S.S. Brother Jonathan its cargo sank off coast California in 1865. Shortly after disaster, five insurance companies paid claims for loss certain cargo, but it is unclear whether ship remaining were insured. There no evidence that either or have attempted to locate recover wreckage. In this action, respondent Deep Sea Research, Inc. (DSR), which has located wreck, seeks rights vessel under Federal District Court's rem admiralty jurisdiction. moved dismiss, claiming possesses title wreck Abandoned Shipwreck Act 1987(ASA)-which provides Government asserts transfers a any "abandoned shipwreck'' embedded State's submerged lands on included, eligible inclusion, National Register-or Cal. Pub. Res.Code Ann. §6313-which vests all abandoned shipwrecks tide lands-and therefore DSR's action an against violation Eleventh Amendment. DSR countered ASA could not divest federal courts exclusive maritime jurisdiction conferred by Article III, §2, Constitution requested warrant arrest cargo. concluded failed demonstrate "colorable claim'' ASA; found pre-empts §6313; issued vessel's arrest; appointed custodian made salvor; decided would defer adjudication until completed salvage operation. Ninth Circuit affirmed, agreeing Amendment does bar court's over proceeding as application did prove wreck's uninsured portion should be treated abandoned. Held: 1.The where res within possession. Pp. ____-____. (a) unique role cases cl. Constitution. That encompasses proceedings rem. also constrained, however, Early appear assumed courts' actions despite Subsequent decisions altered explaining wholly exempt from Ex parte New York, 256 490, 41 588, 65 L.Ed. 1057 (New York I). Thus, held lacked tugboat operated State, 503, 592, 1063 II), Florida invoke block artifacts possession was unlawful, Dept. v. Treasure Salvors, Inc., 458 670, 102 3304, 73 (plurality opinion). However, those opinions address situations comparable case, I, although styled actually, explained decision, personam state official; II suit property employed governmental use. Assertions might read suggest court may undertake interest without consent, regardless status res, divorced context case reflexively applied very different circumstances presented case. Also, because Salvors addressed only authority issue artifacts, references what lower done if adjudicating artifacts' do control outcome here. Nor fact been cited general proposition cannot adjudicate claim prevent more nuanced decision (b) considering applies possession, involving Government's sovereign immunity provide guidance, recognized correlation between principles applicable Government. Based longstanding precedent barred actually disputed e.g., Davis, 10 Wall. 15, 19 875, Jonathan, shipwreck. 2.Because conclusion purposes influenced assumption relevant inquiry, remanded reconsideration abandonment issue, with clarification meaning "abandoned'' conforms law. full consideration ASA's remand negate need §6313, and, thus, declines analysis. F.3d 379, affirmed part, vacated remanded. O'CONNOR, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. STEVENS, filed concurring opinion. KENNEDY, opinion, GINSBURG BREYER, JJ., joined. Joseph C. Rusconi, Oakland CA, petitioners. David Frederick, Washington, DC, amicus curiae, special leave Fletcher Alford, San Francisco, respondent. Justice O'CONNOR 1 This various historic shipwreck, requires us interaction courts. Respondent ship, known California's territorial waters. When turned resolution vessel, contended precluded light asserted We conclude 2 dispute before arises out assertion both 220-foot, wooden-hulled, double side-wheeled steamship struck rock July 1865 during voyage Francisco Vancouver. It took less than hour sink, most ship's passengers crew perished. lost accident, included shipment up $2 million gold Army payroll some estimates place at $250,000. See Nolte, Shipwreck: Discovered, Chronicle, Feb. 25, 1994, p. reprinted App. 127-131. One few parts recovered wheel, later displayed saloon Crescent City, California. R. Phelan, Gold Chain 242 (1987). 3 totaling $48,490 itself Wreck Steamship Times, Aug. 26, 1865, 140-147. Prior location recovery shipwreck occurred 1930's, when fisherman 22 pounds bars minted believed come Jonathan. died, revealing source his treasure. supra, 130. appears 4 1991, Northern seeking intervened, asserting based 1987(ASA), Stat. 432, 43 U.S.C. §§2101-2106, "and determined inclusion Register,'' §2105(a)(3). According California, land Register Historic Places (National Register). laid §6313 (West Supp.1998) (hereinafter §6313), "to . California.'' 5 initially dismissed prejudice initiative. reinstated 1994 four one-half miles apparently rests upright sea floor 200 feet water. several including china, bottle champagne, brass spike hull, sought award efforts recovering ship. claimed right ownership purchase subrogation interests had 6 response, entered appearance limited purpose filing motion dismiss complaint lack therefore, statutory claims, argued requesting well order appointing salvor 7 two hearings motions. first focused waters, second concerned possible abandonment, embeddedness, historical significance issues res. For pending motions, stipulated upon belonging 8 After hearings, law, reasoning established preponderance abandoned, floor, listing required establish ASA. 883 F.Supp. 1343, 1357 (N.D.Cal.1995). As law claim, §6313. Accordingly, subject further court, ordered take determination "the manner proceeds therefrom, distributed.'' F.Supp., 1364. 9 stated deciding "any individual items personal abandoned,'' " [a]t stage litigation, asking fees otherwise make regarding distribution contents.'' Id., 1354. thought prudent course completes Following ruling, appealed, arguing hinge demonstration 383 (C.A.9 1996). sufficient "assert[ing] lands.'' 385. Underlying argument challenge ruling statute. maintained colorable ASA, ample wrong test "requir[ing] shown affirmative act part original owner demonstrating intent renounce ownership.'' Ibid. 11 Appeals orders. pre-empted statute "takes meet requirements are courts.'' 384. With respect presumed "a power duty determine falls matter jurisdiction,'' "it appropriate district require present i.e., Register, dismissing case.'' 386. reasoning, "in addressing questions state's rights,'' establishes qualifying then transferred State. 387. Consequently, view, question meets implicating Amendment.'' 12 specifics err concluding reasoned that, absence definition "Congress presumably intended apply evolved law.'' explained, occurs affirmatively renounced give rise inference abandonment. Here, concluded, "failure infer clearly erroneous,'' given companies' insured undisputed technology developed recently. 388. rejected bid treat property, "divid[ing] into unabandoned portions ASA'' lead fate, which, "confusing inefficient,'' "inconsistent rule treating wrecks legally unified '' 389. 13 Summarizing [b]ecause reluctant find finding partial deprive holding access forum, we hold abandoned.'' (internal citation omitted). reserved there point "becomes so negligible'' entire declined judicial notice pendency appeal, Register. 14 By must afforded Amendment, diverged other Courts bare Zych Wrecked Vessel Believed Lady Elgin, 960 F.2d 665, 670(C.A.7), cert. denied, 506 985, 113 491, 121 430 (1992); Maritime Underwater Surveys, Unidentified, Sailing Vessel, 717 6, (C.A.1 1983).* granted certiorari depends consider related 520 ----, 117 2430, 138 192 (1997). 15 extends Cases Jurisdiction.'' Art. 1. since birth Nation, [m]aritime commerce jugular vein Thirteen States.'' F. Frankfurter & J. Landis, Business (1927). [t]he body throughout nation every shade Constitutional Convention.'' constitutional provision incorporated Judiciary 1789, retained "admiralty jurisdiction'' then. 28 §1333(1). "maritime causes begun carried rem, is, thing offender defendant name description enforce lien.'' Madruga Superior Cal., County Diego, 346 556, 560, 74 298, 301, 98 290 (1954). 16 Judicial shall construed extend equity, commenced prosecuted one Citizens another Subjects Foreign State.'' Although terms, "would restrict III diversity courts,'' Seminole Tribe Florida, 517 44, 54, 116 1114, 1122, 134 252 (1996), interpreted broadly. See, Blatchford Native Village Noatak, 501 775, 779, 111 2578, 2581, 115 686 (1991). precedents, sued own citizens, see Hans Louisiana, 504, 33 842 (1890), official immune taken capacity, Smith Reeves, 178 436, 20 919, 44 1140 (1900). 17 always charted clear path disposition "prize'' vessels captured wartime bounty even officials raised objection. Peters, Cranch 115, 139-141, 53 (1809). Story 18 [federal] founded thing; interpose merely character defendant, actor. Besides, language [Eleventh] [A]mendment equity. ' But not, correctly speaking, equity; often spoken contradistinction both.'' Story, Commentaries §1689, pp. 491-492 (5th ed. 1891). riding Circuit, expressed same view Bright, 24 Cas. 1232, 1236, 14,647 (CC Pa. 1809), he reasoned: [I]n generally persons bound produce it, equivalent, decides whom distributes accordingly. such depend good will enable execute decree. All world parties suit, sentence. her decided. she lie by, decree passed say party, bound, want court.'' 21 statements little proceedings, subsequent understanding role. (1921) I), operation thereby rejecting views Justices Washington. 497-498, S.Ct., 589-590. On day, likewise wrongful death brought Erie Canal, specifically rely holding. recent (1982), "bars owned state.'' 682, 3313 quotation marks A plurality suggested distinguished ground unauthorized, their arrest. 695-699, 3320-3322 (citing Young, 209 123, 441, 52 714 (1908), Tindal Wesley, 167 204, 770, 42 137 (1897)). "since they execution arrest.'' U.S., 697, 3321. 23 reference crux Both requirement imposing burden criteria set forth F.3d, 386, 1349. Other action. Zych, F.2d, 670. our approach glosses important distinction unlike Amendment's type "whether exercising seize belongs 683, 3314; id., 3321 ("In warrant, decide extent claimants sovereigns voluntarily assert res''). 25 I situation libel damages tugboats chartered nature [the Superintendent Public Works York], individually, [official] capacity.'' 501, 591. described being "at times mentioned absolute control, public service uses 508, 592. White Salvors: 26 "The re reflect concern seized [They] apposite examples line concerning Government, foreign government consistent interpretation respective doctrines pertaining been, proper presentation entity modify judgment accordingly.'' 709-710, 3327 (opinion dissenting part) (emphasis added). 27 true fractured opinion) ("The consent''); 711, 3328 (White, ("It beyond reasonable obligations contract unless consents''). Those assertions, possession-albeit unlawfully-of issue. them. Amendment] -or permit-a artifacts.'' 699, 3322 added); 700, (noting while justified advanced [them], analysis, us''). solely adjudicated rather particularly comes posture, makes actual see, Idaho Coeur d'Alene Idaho, 521 ---------, 2028, 2043-2045, 438 (1997) (O'CONNOR, judgment); 2043-2045 (SOUTER, dissenting), disputes relating interests, necessarily follow actions, exercise possess. 29 213, 773-774; 710, (discussing analogy 875 (1869), "proceedings lien forbidden where, sustain proceeding, invaded process 77 20. referred "an mere constructive implied reason favorable implication.'' 21; Siren, 152, 159, 129 (1868) (describing "exemption direct whilst custody''). jurisprudence respecting governments sovereign's Pesaro, 255 216, 219, 308, 309, 592 (federal suggestion government's vessel). 30 While Davis century ago, fundamental premise remains valid constitutionally area possess "consistent principle exempts [State] disturbance virtue process.'' 21. sovereign, occasion proceed 31 below properly inquiry. Appeals' contents affected concerns partially fate Moreover, inquiry preliminary one, premature "for complete competing reevaluated. Because record Court, decline resolve remand, 32 Our grant encompassed operates transfer covered pre-emption assuming respects vacated, 34 ordered. 35 concurring. 36 Members dissenters agreed "did consent.'' 3313; 699-700, 3322; 703, 3324, part). reasons reaching common different, am now persuaded reached position Washington (that action) attention. believe mistake officers. 37 My error, writing plurality, (1897), Lee, 106 196, 240, 171 (1882), supported entitled binding property. Under cases, acting lawful meant them bind 687-688, 3316 emphasized awarding plaintiff subsequently State''). sound ejectment parcel real estate dispute; moreover, seemed focusing validity warrant. 38 Having characteristics quoted pages opinion,* convinced entirety. agree 39 BREYER join, 40 join my opinion's discussion embed nonpossession analysis cases. subsisting doubts surrounding STEVENS' today, ought evident open reconsideration. syllabus constitutes prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Timber Lumber Co., 321, 337, 282, 287, 50 499. petition pending, Sixth adopted Circuit. Fairport Int'l Exploration, Shipwrecked Known Captain Lawrence, 105 1078 (C.A.6 1997), 96-1936. Fletcher, Historical Interpretation Stan. L.Rev. 1033, 1078-1083 (1983) basis interpretation).

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