Document: 359 U.S. 180 79 S.Ct. 710 3 L.Ed.2d 723 THE MONROSA, Her Engines, Tackle, etc., and Navigazione Alta Italia, Petitioners,v.CARBON BLACK EXPORT, INC. No. 178. Argued March 3, 4, 1959. Decided 30, Rehearing Denied May 18, See 999, 1115. Mr. E. D. Vickery, Houston, Tex., for the petitioners. Joseph T. McGowan, New York City, respondent. Justice BRENNAN delivered opiion of Court. 1 The respondent, Carbon Black Export, Inc., a Delaware corporation, brought libel in admiralty District Court Southern Texas damage sustained to shipment carbon black during an ocean voyage from Houston Orleans various Italian ports. was one rem against vessel question, S. Monrosa, then port on another voyage, personam Monrosa's owner, corporation. latter filed appearance response personam, and, as owner vessel, claim it, prayed defend rem. In respect rem, stipulation abide decree, penal sum $100,000, by claimant National Surety Company, its surety, approved present Italia moved that decline jurisdiction over cause, grounds parties had agreed, provision bills lading covering shipment, controversies regard cargo should be settled only courts Genoa, Italy. granted motion, subject filing bond $100,000 respond whatever judgment might finally rendered cause action question. Appeals Fifth Circuit reversed. It found bill terms inapplicable suits it declined enforce require dismissal personam. 254 F.2d 297. We certiorari, 358 809, 43, 54, because indicated conflict principle between Circuit's views enforceability such provisions those taken Second Circuit, primarily William H. Muller & Co. v. Swedish American Line Ltd., 2 Cir., 224 806. do not believe this case affords us appropriate instance pass upon extent which effect can given stipulations resort country. many printed form prepared carrier presented use shipments vessel. reads: '27.—ALSO, no legal proceedings may Captain or Shipowners their Agents any loss goods herein specified except being understood agreed every other Tribunal place places where were shipped landed is incompetent, withstanding ship legally represented there.' 4 find ourselves agreement with below clause read limiting maintenance cf. Maggie Hammond, 9 Wall. 435, 449—450, 19 L.Ed. 772, maritime lien proper carriage. initial words are particularly restriction actions, rest language intelligible premise.* accordance familiar rule circumstances, we will stretch when party drafting contract has included easily have. Caledonia, 157 124, 137, 15 537, 542, 39 644; Majestic, 166 375, 386, 17 597, 602, 41 1039; Compania de Navigacion La Flecha Brauer, 168 104, 118, 18 12, 15, 42 398. Considerations involved construing exemptions carriers' liability provided Acts Congress are, think, quite different. Consumers Import Kabushiki Kaisha Kawasaki Zosenjo, 320 249, 64 88 30. contract, statute, construe here. 5 Accordingly, after oral argument, have concluded correct holding properly maintainable. Both secured release seizure under libel, amount substantially same recovery damanded libellant. This denominated security elsewhere. need conjure up doubts never expressed. While entitled judgments whether also maintainable, exercise our discretionary aspect case, alone presents question led grant certiorari. appears event respondent able try 6 light these 'were * fully apprehended at time certiorari granted,' Ferguson Moore-McCormack Lines, 352 521, 559, 77 459, 478, 515 (separate opinion), writ dismissed improvidently granted. Rice Sioux City Memorial Park Cemetery, 349 70, 75, 75 614, 617, 99 897; Goins United States, 306 622, 59 783, 83 1027; Moore R. Co., 297 101, 56 372, 80 509; Power North Carolina Public Service 263 508, 44 164, 68 413. Cf. Hammerstein Superior California, 341 491, 492, 71 820, 821, 95 1135; McCarthy Bruner, 323 673, 65 126, 89 547; Layne Bowler Corp. Western Well Works, 261 387, 392—393, 43 422, 423, 67 712; Tyrrell Columbia, 243 1, 37 361, 61 557. Examination merits, bring into 'proper focus' consideration which, though record granting writ, later indicates improvident. supra, page 73, 616. decides questions public importance, them context meaningful litigation. Its function resolving conflicts among Courts judicial, simply administrative managerial. Resolution here await day issue posed less abstractly. 7 Writ dismissed. 8 HARLAN, whom FRANKFURTER, WHITTAKER, STEWART join, dissenting. I cannot agree Court's view Clause 27 lading, fixing Italy, forum shipped, applies actions reading imputes drawing distinction purpose impossible grasp. As said 253, 17, referring earlier 'The 'To say liable, but his seems like talking riddles.' riddle more than half century repeated different does appear improved age.' 10 Apart this, however, see justification reaching validity still remains even embrace proceedings. That course, constitutional strive avoid, ordinary commercial law. take review. And been briefed argued parties. To sure, possible great importance litigants if go forward Texas. But very fact chose institute continue both shows content rely solely vessel's cautions now gratuitously treating purely academic. Moreover, review Chief Hughes once put 'in interest law, exposition enforcement, mere litigants.'* 11 Furthermore, think called circumstances presently contronting manifest granted.' 457, 511 opinion). construction clause, validity, discussed papers. Indeed, apparent surface things position since itself gone consider related actions. 12 Avoidance decision obviously bound recur me unsatisfactory unsound judicial administration. course serves leave lower federal confusion uncertainty make necessary mortgage future constantly mounting calendars could decide today. spoken would inappropriate express my own it. note makes specific recognition boh i n 35 provides: '35.—In Carrier shall discharged all unless suit within year delivery date delivered. Suit deemed until obtained and/or service process appear.' first sentence verbatim § 3(6) Carriage Goods Sea Act, 49 Stat. 1209, 46 U.S.C. 1303(6), U.S.C.A. nevertheless reinforces categories 27, apt accomplish readily available, used bill. S.Rep. 711, 75th Cong., 1st Sess., p. 39.

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