Court Opinion

ID: 8788356
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-26 13:42:13.709147+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:03:12.221898
License: Public Domain

PER CURIAM.
The only question raised here is whether, in exercising his rights after the adventure was broken up by the inability of the barge to proceed — an inability caused by the negligence of the Bern — the cargó owner, or rather his successor, the underwriter, acted reasonably and with fairness towards the tug owner. As the case is presented the alleged improper action was the selling of the coal- here. Respondent contends that it should have been transshipped, carried to its destination. (New Eondon), and there tendered to the consignee, and, in case of his refusal to accept, suit brought against the consignee.
It was, of course, the duty of the insurance company to make the loss as small as possible. As it was also its interest to do so, there is a ground of presumption that it acted at least in good faith; Whether it was better to transship and send the cargo forward or to realize the loss here was a question of judgnient. The-commissioner and the court below have found that the libelant exercised an honest judgment. There is nothing to show the contrary.
The burden of claimant’s complaint is that, although the commissioner has found that the cargo was not injured, it was sold at con-' siderably less than the market price. The cargo was not physically injured, but it was commercially injured, because coal coming from a boat which has been in a disaster never does get the full market price. If the claimant is contesting this case because, as it claims, it is frequently subjected to greater damage claims than necessary, the moral is that it should follow up the disposition made of the cargoes in this situation. If it thinks private sales do not give full value, it should ask the cargo owner to put the coal up at public sale, or it should ask for an opportunity to find buyers or to buy the coal itself. It cannot stand off, doing nothing, and then complain, in the absence of bad faith, that something better might have been done.
The decree is affirmed, with interest and costs.