Document: 515 U.S. 189115 S.Ct. 2091132 L.Ed.2d 148 CITY OF MILWAUKEE, Petitioner,v.CEMENT DIVISION, NATIONAL GYPSUM COMPANY, et al. No. 94-788. Supreme Court of the United States June 12, 1995. Syllabus * After a ship owned by Cement Division National Gypsum Co. and insured other respondents sank in winter storm while berthed slip petitioner Milwaukee (City), brought this admiralty suit for damages, alleging that City had negligently breached its duty as wharfinger. The denied fault filed counterclaim damage to dock, was negligent leaving virtually unmanned. During course litigation, District Court, inter alia, found both parties were apportioned liability primarily Gypsum; entered partial judgment stipulated amount respondents' excluding prejudgment interest; request such interest, holding fact Gypsum's loss attributable own negligence existence genuine dispute over City's special circumstances justifying departure from general rule interest should be awarded maritime collision cases. Appeals disagreed reversed latter ruling, holding, among things, mutual cannot provide basis denying after v. Reliable Transfer Co., 421 397, 95 1708, 44 251, announced requiring damages assessed on proportionate when an allocation can reasonably made. Held: Neither good-faith nor justifies denial case. Throughout history, cases have established awarded, subject limited exception "peculiar" or "exceptional" circumstances. legitimate difference opinion issue is not circumstance, but merely characteristic most ordinary lawsuits. Nor does magnitude plaintiff's qualify feature. Although it might appear somewhat inequitable award large sum against relatively innocent party, any unfairness illusory, because relative has already been taken into consideration under calculating which party responsible. In light Transfer, would unfairly penalize twice same mistake. Pp. ____. 31 F.3d 581 (CA7 1994), affirmed. STEVENS, J., delivered all Members joined, except BREYER, who took no part decision David A. Strauss, Chicago, IL, petitioner. Harney B. Stover, Jr., Milwaukee, WI, respondents. Justice STEVENS Court. 1 This case negligence. question presented whether fact, together with liability, justified Court's 2 Respondents are owner insurers E.M. Ford, Milwaukee's outer harbor Christmas Eve 1979. At time disaster, Ford city (City). severe storm, she broke loose her moorings, battered headwall slip, water, sank. She subsequently raised repaired. 3 1980 Ford's owner, (National Gypsum), City, invoking jurisdiction.1 complaint alleged wharfinger assigning vessel berthing known unsafe heavy winds failing give adequate warning hidden dangers slip. plaintiff sought $4.5 million, later increased $6.5 million. $250,000 dock. unmanned winter, means aboard monitoring weather conditions summoning help. 4 1986 conducted 3-week trial liability. Finding negligent, court determined bore 96% responsibility 4% fault. Given disparity parties' final giving effect (and awarding pleadings) essentially left each bear losses. 5 interlocutory appeal ruling.2 Seventh Circuit agreed conclusion at fault, owner's "more egregious" than City's, rejected clearly erroneous. Div., Na- tional 915 F.2d 1154, 1159 (1990), cert. denied, 499 960, 111 1583, 113 648 (1991). making analysis record, two-thirds one-third City. Id., 1160. 6 [3] 7 Thereafter settlement fixing $1,677,541.86.3 claim submitted decision. A satisfied. 8 then $5.3 million interest.4 request. It noted "an calculated date rather district court's jurisdiction," App. Pet. Cert. 21a, held explained: 9 "In instant record shows outset there [respondents'] good faith warn agents [National Gypsum] (who planning leave FORD during holidays) could create ship. appeals ensued [City's] ascribed Gypsum]. Thus, situation concludes Gypsum's] contributory inequitable." 22a.5 10 reversed. 1994). prior announcement comparative 251 (1975), some courts order mitigate harsh effects earlier commanding equal division whenever resulted parties, even though one only slightly negligent. view, however, divided "thrown overboard" replaced longer interest. F.3d, 584-585. also read our West Virginia States, 479 305, 311, n. 3, 107 702, 706, 93 639 (1987), disapproving "balancing equities" method deciding allow 585. 11 Appeals' deepened existing circuit split regarding criteria Compare, e.g., Inland Oil & Transport Ark-White Towing 696 321 (CA5 1983) (genuine setting interest), Alkmeon Naviera, S.A. M/V Marina L, 633 789 (CA9 1980) (contrary rule). We granted certiorari, 513 ----, --- ---- (1995), now affirm. II 12 Congress enacted statute governing postjudgment federal see 28 U.S.C. § 1961, comparable legislation Far indicating legislative determination absence indicates governed traditional judge-made principles. Monessen Southwestern Railway Morgan, 486 330, 336-337, 108 1837, 1842-43, 100 349 (1988); Rodgers 332 371, 373, 68 5, 6-7, 92 L.Ed. (1947). Those principles well developed admiralty, where "the Judiciary traditionally lead formulating flexible fair remedies." U.S., 409, S.Ct., 1715. 13 decrees included provisions Del Col Arnold, (3 Dall.) 333, 624, prize decided 1796, we affirmed decree libellant day capture." 334. Amiable Nancy, 16 Wheat.) 546, 456 (1818), considered similar decree. augmenting lower court, directed additional funds court. 562-563. Nancy arose out "gross wanton" seizure Haitian near island Antigua Scourge, American privateer. 546-547, 558. his Story explained "loss supposed profits" Nancy's voyage recoverable, prime cost, value property lost, loss, injury, diminution value, reason upon valuation, afforded true measure assessing damages." 560 (emphasis added). applied Umbria, 166 404, 421, 17 610, 617, 41 1053 (1897), explaining "in total vessel, thereon, net freight pending collision." (Emphasis added).6 14 Courts consistently correctly construed decisions these establishing cases, See, F.2d, 327; Central Rivers Towing, Inc. Beardstown, 750 565, 574 1984); Ohio River Peavey 731 547, 549 (CA8 797; Parker Yazoo Inc., 794 591, 594 (CA11 1986). 15 essential rationale ensure injured fully compensated loss.7 Full compensation long recognized basic principle law, "[r]estitutio integrum leading maxim ascertain resulting Standard Southern Pacific 268 146, 158, 45 465, 467-68, 69 890 (1925) (citing Baltimore, 75 (8 Wall.) 377, 385, 19 463 (1869)). By compensating "for use money due accrues until entered," Virginia, 310-311, 2, helps achieve goal restoring condition enjoyed before injury occurred. President Madison, 91 835, 845-846 1937). Despite admiralty's hospitality never automatic. Scotland, 118 507, 518-519, 1174, 1175, 30 153 (1886), stated "allowance absolute right. Whether ought allowed depends case, rests very much discretion tribunal pass subject, jury." See Maggie J. Smith, 123 349, 356, 159, 162, 175 (1887). attempted exhaustively catalogue will justify do so today,8 obvious example "undue delay prosecuting lawsuit." General Motors Corp. Devex Corp., 461 648, 657, 103 2058, 2063, 76 211 (1983). Other may appropriately invoked warranted facts particular asks us characterize two features litigation sufficiently unusual make whole. First, stresses loss. carries little weight. If penalty bad conduct argument taken. But penalty; element just compensation. 18 "good faith" resonance venerable common-law unliquidated claims (those precise computed). contests faith, usually party's ultimate exposure uncertain. liquidated/unliquidated distinction faced trenchant criticism number years.9 Moreover, "has become firmly entrenched law." Moore-McCormack Lines, Richardson, 295 583, 592 (CA2 1961).10 Any fixed allowing liquidated difficult if impossible reconcile presumption. Yet unless willing adopt rule—which —uncertainty about outcome preclude sum, extraordinary circumstance 798. 20 second purportedly feature Leaving aside empirical aberration, responsible vessel's As result, party. 21 "replaced rule, required whatever degree been, made." McDermott, AmClyde, 511 114 1461, 1462, 128 (1994). picture, recovery reduced remaining different performed acts instead being engaged heroic maneuvers avoided damages. compensate responsible.11 22 unmoved contention situation. Indeed, converse true: unfair. Kennedy he sitting Ninth Circuit, "under apportionment seem mistake." 798, 12. Such double commended neither logic fairness; rise relic history ceased serve purpose wake Transfer. 23 Accordingly, hold Questions related calculation award, including rate applied, remain open consideration, first instance, 24 Affirmed. 25 BREYER syllabus constitutes prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Lumber 200 321, 337, 26 282, 287, 50 499. "The shall original jurisdiction, exclusive of: (1) civil saving suitors remedies they otherwise entitled." 1333(1). authorized 1292(a)(3), states: "(a) Except provided subsections (c) (d) section, jurisdiction from: . (3) Interlocutory judges thereof determining rights liabilities allowed." arriving more $5.4 $192,000. multiplied one-third, subtotal $1,805,829.98 From subtotal, subtracted $128,288.12, offset responsibility. obligation 40-45. figure based assertion compounded continuously, sinking commercial averaged period assessment. Plaintiff's Brief Issue Prejudgment Interest 80-C-1001 (ED Wis.), pp. 24-26. did express view correctness analysis, we. note passing discrepancy between delays plagued litigation—a factor traceable relied status municipality alternative ground 22a-23a. portion inconsistent precedent, pursue Anna Maria, (2 327, 335, 252 (1817) (Marshall, C.J.) (remanding instructions suffered libellants, doing which, cost cargo, charges, premium insurance, paid, allowed") added); Manitoba, 122 97, 101, 1158, 1160-61, 1095 (1887) (approving, dicta, allowance "interest decree"). compensatory nature outside context. E.g., (1987); Funkhouser J.B. Preston 290 163, 168, 54 134, 136, 78 243 (1933); Miller Robertson, 266 243, 257-258, 73, 78-79, 265 (1924). cf. Blau Lehman, 368 403, 414, 82 451, 457, 403 (1962) (" 'interest recovered according rigid theory withheld, given response considerations fairness' ") (quoting Board County Comm'rs Jackson 308 343, 352, 60 285, 289, 84 313 (1939)). that, always committed judicial discretion, judge's must supported relevance hand. generally Friendly, Indiscretion About Discretion, Emory L.J. 747 (1982). "It distinction, respect, simply sound one." Funkhouser, 136 Bernhard Rochester German Ins. 79 Conn. 388, 398, 65 137-138 (1906); T. Sedgwick, Measure Damages 315 (9th ed. 1912)). 655-656, 10, 2062, (1983); D. Dobbs, Law Remedies 3.6(3) (2d 1993); C. McCormick, §§ 51, 54-56 (1935); Rothschild, Interest: Survey Suggestion, 77 Nw.U.L.Rev. 192 Circuits applicability, least bar. Borges Our Lady Sea 935 436, 444 (CA1 1991); Hillier 740 586 1984), 469 1190, 105 961, 83 966 (1985); Norfolk Shipbuilding Drydock M/Y La Belle Simone, 537 1201, 1204-1205, (CA4 1976); 594. although small resolved principle. Notwithstanding negligence, repairing dock headwall. supra.

Category: 7