Court Opinion

ID: 8639939
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-24 19:51:33.176471+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:56:04.087510
License: Public Domain

BLATCHFORD, Circuit Judge.
The matters of exception to the libel set forth in the answer alleged mere defects of form, and should, under rule 24, have been raised by special exception. Even if tenable, the court would allow the libel to be amended, and without terms. But the exceptive matters must be regarded as having been waived by the claimant, as he allowed the case to be tried on its merits, without insisting in the court below on the exceptive matters at the opening of the trial, as he should have done if he intended to rely on them, in which case the libellant could have amended the libel. The libel must be regarded as containing all proper allegations as to the issues passed upon at the trial. I agree with the district judge, that the materials sued for do not come within the rule that has been applied to cases of the building of a vessel. It is proper to follow the ruling of the district court in Virginia as to the construction of the statute of that state, in force when the supplies were furnished. Under that construction there was a lien on the vessel by the state law for the supplies. That lien can be enforced in admiralty. Decree affirmed.