Court Opinion

ID: 74611
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 08:51:55+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:38.960235
License: Public Domain

POLO RALPH LAUREN, L.P., Polo Ralph Lauren Corp., f.d.b.a. General Accident Insurance Co. of
America, Plaintiffs-Appellants,

                                                     v.

             TROPICAL SHIPPING & CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD., Defendant-Appellee.

                                                No. 98-5729.

                                      United States Court of Appeals,

                                              Eleventh Circuit.

                                               June 21, 2000.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.(No. 97-01720-CV-KMM),
K. Michael Moore, Judge.

Before COX, DUBINA and KRAVITCH, Circuit Judges.

        KRAVITCH, Circuit Judge:

        This appeal centers on what recourse, if any, an owner of goods lost at sea has against the carrier

when the owner of the goods is not a named party to the bill of lading. We also address the novel issue of

what cause of action is afforded under the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 46 U.S.C.App. § 1300-1315 (1999)

("COGSA").

                          I. BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

        Appellants Polo Ralph Lauren, L.P. ("Polo") and its subrogated insurer, General Accident Insurance

Company ("General Accident"),1 seek damages for cargo lost overboard while in transport with Appellee

Tropical Shipping & Construction Company ("Tropical"). Polo apparently entered into a bailment contract2

with Drusco, Inc. ("Drusco") for the manufacture and delivery of 4643 pairs of mens' pants. Under the terms

of this agreement, Polo sent fabric to Drusco in Florida, which Drusco then cut and pre-assembled before

shipping the fabric pieces to the Dominican Republic to be sewed into finished pants. Drusco entered into

similar arrangements with several other clothing manufacturers and combined the pants from all of the

   1
    For clarity, this opinion refers only to Polo.

   2
    This contract was never made part of the record.
manufacturers into two large sealed containers that it delivered to Tropical. Drusco also arranged for the

return shipment of the finished trousers to Florida where it would add designer accoutrements before

returning them to the manufacturers for sale to retailers.

         While en route from the Dominican Republic to Florida, the container containing Polo's cargo was

lost overboard in rough seas. General Accident paid Polo $197,907.80 for its loss. Polo, in a three count

complaint against Tropical filed in the Southern District of Florida, asserted claims for breach of contract,

bailment, and negligence. In a motion for partial summary judgment, Tropical sought judgment on the

contract claim or, in the alternative, to limit the extent of damages recoverable by Polo to the value of the

fabric shipped to Drusco. The district court granted the motion as to the contract claim on the ground that

Polo did not have standing because it was not named in the bills of lading. The court also granted summary

judgment to Tropical on the bailment and negligence claims as preempted by COGSA.3 Polo timely

appealed, challenging both the district court's conclusion that COGSA provides an exclusive remedy and that

Polo is barred from seeking redress under COGSA.

                                              II. DISCUSSION

A.       COGSA—An Exclusive Remedy

         COGSA, enacted in 1936, governs "all contracts for carriage of goods by sea to or from ports of the

United States in foreign trade." 46 U.S.C.App. § 1312 (1999). "The purpose of COGSA was to achieve

international uniformity and to redress the edge in bargaining power enjoyed by carriers over shipper and

cargo interests by setting out certain duties and responsibilities of carriers that cannot be avoided even by

express contractual provision." Thomas J. Schoenbaum, Admiralty and Maritime Law § 8-15, at 537 (2d

ed.1994). Although the act is not explicit, courts have agreed that a plaintiff states a prima facie claim under

COGSA by demonstrating delivery of goods in sound condition to a carrier and their subsequent receipt in

     3
    The contract claim was not originally styled as a COGSA claim in the complaint, although COGSA was
asserted as one basis for the court's jurisdiction, but the court and the parties treated the claim as such. The
preemption argument did not appear in the briefs; the parties presumably raised it during oral argument.

                                                       2
damaged condition. The burden then shifts to the carrier to establish that the damage was not caused by its

negligence. See id. § 8-22, at 556.

          The first question before us is whether this COGSA cause of action excludes all other remedies.

Citing St. Paul's Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Marine Transp. Servs. Sea-Barge Group, Inc., 727 F. Supp. 1438,

1442 (S.D.Fla.1989), the district court held that COGSA provided an exclusive remedy and therefore

preempted Polo's tort claims. On appeal, Polo challenges the district court's reliance on St. Paul Fire &

Marine and offers contrary appellate authority for the proposition that COGSA does not preclude tort law

claims.

          We conclude that because COGSA applies in this case, it provides Polo's exclusive remedy.4

COGSA was intended to govern all contracts for carriage of goods between the United States and foreign

ports. See 46 U.S.C.App. § 1312 (1999). Although the statute is silent on its preemptive scope, it states that

it does not supersede any laws "insofar as they relate to the duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of the ship

or carrier prior to the time when the goods are loaded on or after the time they are discharged from the ship."

Id. § 1311. Because COGSA governs during the time after cargo is loaded and before it is removed from the

ship, the implication from this provision is that COGSA, when it applies, supersedes other laws. The few

courts addressing this issue have reached the same conclusion. See Sail America Found. v. M/V T.S.

PROSPERITY, 778 F. Supp. 1282, 1285 (S.D.N.Y.1991); St. Paul Fire & Marine, 727 F. Supp. at 1442; B.F.

McKernin & Co. v. United States Lines, Inc., 416 F. Supp. 1068, 1071 (S.D.N.Y.1976).

          We have found no cases in which a court has allowed a tort claim to proceed when COGSA applies.

A few courts have permitted cargo owners or shippers to bring bailment claims against vessel owners, but

only after a determination that COGSA liability did not lie. See Tuscaloosa Steel Corp. v. M/V "NAIMO",

1993 A.M.C. 622, 626-27 (S.D.N.Y.1992) (equity permitted a cargo owner to bring a tort claim against a

negligent vessel owner who was not a "carrier" within the meaning of COGSA); DB-Trade Int'l, Inc. v.

    4
     Polo does not dispute that COGSA governs this controversy. See Appellants' Br. at 18.

                                                        3
Astramar, 1988 A.M.C. 766, 767 (N.D.Ill.1987) (same); cf. Nichimen Co. v. M/V FARLAND, 462 F.2d 319,

325-26 & n. 1 (2d Cir.1972) (had COGSA not applied to plaintiff's claim, the defendant carrier would have

had to meet a different standard defending against a federal bailment claim).

         Even though Polo concedes that COGSA applies, it maintains the viability of its tort claims as

brought under COGSA. In Polo's view, because COGSA incorporated elements of tort law, it may bring a

tort claim even if a contract claim under COGSA would fail. We disagree. That COGSA claims are hybrids

born of elements from contract and tort does not change the fact that the resulting claim is a unitary statutory

remedy, rather than an array of common law claims.5

        Many courts have recognized that a COGSA claim against a negligent carrier for lost or damaged

goods comprises elements of both contract, arising from the breach of the contract of carriage, and tort,

issuing from the breach of the carrier's duty of care. See Associated Metals & Minerals Corp. v.

ALEXANDER'S UNITY MV, 41 F.3d 1007, 1017 (5th Cir.1995) (COGSA claim against negligent carriers for

lost goods or damaged was a hybrid contract and tort claim and was thus a "preferred maritime lien");

Texport Oil Co. v. M/V AMOLYNTOS, 11 F.3d 361, 367 (2d Cir.1993), overruled on other grounds by Wilton

v. Seven Falls Co., 515 U.S. 277, 115 S. Ct. 2137, 132 L. Ed. 2d 214 (1995) (collateral source rule applies to

COGSA claim because it is a mixture of contract and tort); All Alaskan Seafoods, Inc. v. M/V SEA

PRODUCER, 882 F.2d 425, 430 (9th Cir.1989) (cargo claims under Ship Mortgage Act sounded in tort and

thus were entitled to preferred lien status); Oriente Commercial, Inc. v. The American Flag Vessel, 529 F.2d
221, 223 (4th Cir.1975) (COGSA claims against negligent carriers bore an element of tort and are thus

"preferred maritime liens" against defaulted vessels).

    5
     Polo's complaint therefore should have stated a single COGSA claim instead of three separate causes
of action. At some point in the proceedings before the district court, the contract claim was treated as the
COGSA claim, thus segregating the remaining tort claims even though it appears that Polo intended all three
claims as COGSA claims.

                                                       4
           Although recognizing the COGSA claim's hybrid nature, these cases do not stand for the proposition

that COGSA provides various causes of action, both contract and tort, from which a plaintiff may choose in

seeking redress from a negligent carrier. Nothing in the language of COGSA or the cases interpreting it leads

us to believe otherwise. We therefore conclude that COGSA affords one cause of action for lost or damaged

goods which, depending on the underlying circumstances, may sound louder in either contract or tort.

           The parties here agree that COGSA applies to Polo's claim against Tropical. Because COGSA

provides an exclusive remedy, the district court properly granted summary judgment on Polo's actions in

bailment and negligence.6

B.         Polo's Standing to Bring a COGSA Claim

           In its motion for partial summary judgment, Tropical sought judgment on Polo's COGSA claim7 on

the ground that Polo was not named in the bills of lading. The district court rejected Polo's argument that it

was a third-party beneficiary to the bills of lading and granted summary judgment. In its motion for

reconsideration Polo raised the alternative argument that the terms and conditions in the bills of lading

contained numerous references to the "owner of the goods" as distinct from both shippers and consignees,

and that owners of the shipped goods were a readily identifiable class of persons intended to be benefitted

by the terms of the bills of lading. Tropical maintains that Polo waived this argument by failing to raise it

earlier.

           Polo sufficiently raised the third-party beneficiary argument before the district court. Polo's reliance

on the bills of lading's references to the term "owner of the goods" to sustain Polo's breach of contract claim

     6
      If Polo's argument, at its root, is merely that determination of a proper party in interest for a COGSA
claim should not be limited to contract principles but should also make reference to tort claims, that argument
is adequately addressed in this court's conclusion, infra, that the district court failed to consider fully Polo's
ability to bring a COGSA claim as owner of the lost goods.
     7
     As noted earlier, the court treated Polo's contract claim as a COGSA claim.

                                                         5
is not a new argument, but part and parcel of its original argument that it was an intended third-party

beneficiary to the bills of lading. The argument therefore is properly before us.

         Polo is not named in the bills of lading. Contracts bind only named parties unless both parties to the

contract clearly express an intent to benefit a third party. See Blu-J, Inc. v. Kemper C.P.A. Group, 916 F.2d
637, 640 (11th Cir.1990). This rule of strict construction applies with equal force in contracts of carriage.

See Hale Container Line, Inc. v. Houston Sea Packing Co., 137 F.3d 1455, 1465 (11th Cir.1998). The third

party need not be mentioned by name as long as the contract refers to a "well defined class of readily

identifiable persons" that it intends to benefit. Generali v. D'Amico, 766 F.2d 485, 490 (11th Cir.1985)

(internal quotations omitted). Polo argues that the inclusion of the "owner of the goods" in the bills of lading

evinces a clear intent to benefit that class of persons.

        The two bills of lading underlying this action list two different companies in the Dominican Republic

as shipper/exporter, Drusco as both consignee and notifying party, and Tropical as carrier. The owner of the

goods is not specified anywhere on the forms. The front of the forms, however, contains the following clause:

        In accepting this ocean bill of lading the shipper, consignee and owner of the goods agree to be
        bound by all of its stipulations, exceptions, and conditions, whether written, printed, or stamped on
        the front or back thereof, any local customs or privileges to the contrary notwithstanding.8

        The back of the bills of lading uses the phrase "shipper, consignee or owner of the goods" repeatedly

in defining the conditions of the contract of carriage. The final clause of the bills iterates that the "Shippers,

Consignees and Owners of the goods and the Holder of the Bill of Lading expressly agree to all its terms."9

Polo argues that these recurring references to the "owner of the goods" intend to benefit Polo.

        Our research found one case presenting strikingly similar facts, the reasoning of which we find

persuasive. In All Pacific Trading, Inc. v. Vessel M/V HANJIN YOSU, 7 F.3d 1427 (9th Cir.1993), the court

considered a consolidated action brought by nine owners of damaged goods and their insurers. Eight of the

    8
     Compl., Ex. A, in R., Tab 1.

    9
     Pl's Mot. for Recons., Ex. A, in R., Tab 41.

                                                        6
nine plaintiffs delivered their goods to different non-vessel-operating common carriers ("NVOCCs") who

issued bills of lading to the shippers and then delivered the goods to the carrier, who in turn executed separate

bills of lading with the NVOCCs. See id. at 1429-30. The cargo owners were not named in the bills of lading

with the carrier. See id. at 1430. The court rejected the carrier's argument that the plaintiff cargo owners

lacked standing to sue because it found that the cargo owners were actual parties to the bills of lading under

their definition of "Merchant." See id. at 1431-32. As with the bills of lading before us, those bills of lading

contained a clause obligating the "owner of the goods" to their terms. See id. at 1432.

         Polo's parallel contention is that well-established principles of maritime law grant an owner of lost

or damaged cargo standing to sue for damages based on its proprietary interest in the goods, even if the owner

is not explicitly named in the bill of lading.10 See, e.g., Schoenbaum, supra, § 8-10.11 Relying on the repeated

references to the unnamed "owner of goods" in the bills of lading, Polo maintains that it is a proper party in

interest to seek recovery from Tropical for the lost cargo.12

    10
       This argument was raised in Polo's response to Tropical's motion for partial summary judgment. See
Pl.'s Resp. & Mem. of Law in Opp'n to Def.'s Mot. for Partial Summ. J. at 3, in R., Tab 29.

   11
      Tropical voices concern over the possibility of double recovery in the suits brought by Drusco and Polo.
Polo acknowledges its obligation to Drusco, however, and any remaining apprehensions "are matters for
practical determination." Compagnie De Navigation Fraissinet & Cyprien Fabre, S.A. v. Mondial United
Corp., 316 F.2d 163, 172 & n. 14 (5th Cir.1963). For example, on remand, Polo could agree to consolidate
its claim with Drusco's or reduce its request for damages by the amount sought by Drusco in its complaint.
The record demonstrates that Drusco and Polo are amenable to making such arrangements. See Pl.'s Reply
to Def.'s Resp. to Pl.'s Mot. for Recons., Ex. A, in R. Tab 45 (letter from Drusco's counsel to Polo's counsel);
Notice of Pendency of Other Actions and Mot. to Consolidate, in R., Tab 10 (filed by Polo).
    12
      Admiralty cases, like any other, must be brought by a real party in interest. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 17(a);
Farbwerke Hoeschst A.G. v. M/V "DON NICKY", 589 F.2d 795, 797 (5th Cir.1979) ("The Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure are fully applicable in admiralty cases."). Depending on the circumstances of the underlying
transaction, a proper admiralty plaintiff might be the shipper or consignee named in the bill of lading, or the
owner of the goods, with consideration given to which party had a proprietary or financial stake in the lost
or damaged goods, and which party bore the risk of loss. For example, when a shipper sells goods to a buyer,
determination of whether the seller or buyer is the real party in interest turns on whether title to the goods
passed from the former to the latter at the point of shipment or of receipt of the goods. See Grant Gilmore
& Charles L. Black, Jr., The Law of Admiralty § 3-6 at 100-08 (2d ed.1975). This case presents somewhat
unusual circumstances in that the goods were being sent and received by the same party.

                                                       7
          Under either theory of recovery, Tropical contends that summary judgment was appropriate because

Polo never presented sufficient evidence of its ownership of the lost goods. The record generated by this case

is regrettably sparse, but our review of its limited contents finds evidence of Polo's ownership of the goods

sufficient to withstand summary judgment. Polo submitted an affidavit of Karen Jeannetti-Pascucci, Senior

Director of Treasury and Risk Operations at Polo,13 which attested that "POLO RALPH LAUREN owned

100% of the subject cargo, which consisted of 4,643 pairs of finished pants, at the time of the loss."14 Polo

also presented deposition testimony of Daniel H. Moss, Executive Vice-President of Drusco, who stated that,

"The cargo was dropped overboard. It was Polo's fabric. I owe Polo for the fabric."15 Mr. Moss further

testified that, under Drusco's contract with Polo, "Polo ships me their fabric.... I cut it. I ship it to the

Dominican Republic.... I buy what is known as trimmings or sundries and add that to it. I add the value of

the labor to stitch it together. I ship it back."16 The bills of lading, with their numerous references to "owner

of the goods," were also before the district court.

          The bills of lading between Tropical and Drusco recurrently refers to the "owner of the goods" and

specifically binds the "owner of the goods" to its terms and obligations, creating the possibility that Polo

would have standing to sue as owner of the goods or as a third-party beneficiary to the bills of lading.

Although this court does not express an opinion on whether Polo ultimately will be able to prove ownership

of the lost trousers, there was sufficient evidence before the district court of Polo's ownership to render

improvident its grant of summary judgment on Polo's COGSA claim.

   13
     Tropical questions the affidavit because Polo filed a correction after learning that the affidavit misstated
that Polo had already paid Drusco for its services. This error, however, does not undermine the accuracy of
the remainder of the affidavit.

    14
        Pl.'s Resp. & Mem. of Law in Opp'n Def's Motion for Partial Summ. J., Ex. 1 ¶ 2, in R., Tab 29.

    15
        Pl.'s Mot. for Partial Summ. J. as to Damages, Ex. 1 at 8, in R., Tab 36.

    16
        Id. at 8-9, in R., Tab 36.

                                                       8
C.        Polo's Agency Argument

          Polo contends in the alternative that it has standing to sue under the bills of lading as an undisclosed

principal to Drusco, who acted as its agent in signing the bills of lading. See New Jersey Steam Navigation

Co. v. Merchants' Bank, 47 U.S. (6 How.) 344, 380-81, 12 L. Ed. 465 (1848). Tropical and Polo dispute

whether this agency argument was presented sufficiently to the district court or whether it is being raised for

the first time on this appeal. This court's review of the record comports with the latter view. In its complaint

and response to Tropical's motion for partial summary judgment, Polo asserted its rights only as owner of the

goods and as third-party beneficiary to the bill of lading, but never raised an agency argument.17

          This court may consider an issue not brought before the district court in the following narrow

exceptions:

          First, an appellate court will consider an issue not raised in the district court if it involves a pure
          question of law, and if refusal to consider it would result in a miscarriage of justice. Second, the rule
          may be relaxed where the appellant raises an objection to an order which he had no chance to raise
          at the district court level. Third, the rule does not bar consideration by the appellate court in the first
          instance where the interest of substantial justice is at stake. Fourth, a federal appellate court in
          justified in resolving an issue not passed on below ... where the proper resolution is beyond doubt.
          Finally, it may be appropriate to consider an issue first raised on appeal if that issue presents
          significant questions of general impact or of great public concern.

Narey v. Dean, 32 F.3d 1521, 1526-27 (11th Cir.1994) (quoting Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc. v. Fernandez,

741 F.2d 355, 360-61 (11th Cir.1984)).

          Polo propounds four of these five bases as justification for considering its agency argument, none

of which are availing. First, determination of the existence of an agency relationship is a factual question.

Second, we do not find that the interest of substantial justice is at stake here when Polo forsook its

opportunity to present its agency argument to the district court. Third, the resolution of this issue, in light

of the scanty record, is hardly beyond doubt. Finally, although this court appreciates Polo's view that matters

     17
      Even if Polo had raised it, there is no evidence in the record to support Polo's contention that Drusco
acted as its agent. Although Polo cites portions of its bailment agreement with Drusco, that agreement was
never made part of the record. In addition, the testimony of Drusco's Vice-President regarding its relationship
with Polo could be characterized equally well as that of agent or independent contractor.

                                                          9
of great moment are implicated by this appeal, we cannot agree that resolution of Polo's relationship with

Drusco in this instance warrants exception to the general rule that matters must be presented before the district

court in the first instance. We therefore decline to consider Polo's agency argument.

D.        Damages

          If Polo is allowed to maintain any cause of action against Tropical, Tropical contends that its damages

should be limited to $35,155.25, the value of the fabric that Polo delivered to Drusco. Polo counters that

well-established maritime law sets the value of lost goods as the fair market value of the goods upon their

arrival, and that the value of the then-finished pants totaled $179,916.25.18 Resolution of this issue is best

left to the district court in the first instance if it finds that Polo is entitled to damages.

                                               III. CONCLUSION

          Based on the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM the district court's grant of summary judgment on Polo's

bailment and negligence claims and REVERSE the district court's grant of summary judgment to Tropical

on Polo's COGSA claim and REMAND for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

          AFFIRMED in part; REVERSED and REMANDED in part.

     18
      Polo acknowledges that $27,977.75 of that amount would be set aside for Drusco for the value of its
services performed. See Appellants' Reply Br. at 10. Under the terms of its insurance policy, General
Accident paid Polo the market value of the lost goods plus 10%, for a total payment of $197,907.80.

                                                        10