Court Opinion

ID: 8123568
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 15:03:11.209202+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:39:07.327810
License: Public Domain

Benedict, J.
The bill of lading, stating as it does that the cask therein described was in good order when shipped, coupled with proof that when the cask was delivered the head had been out and replaced, and some of the contents of the cask were missing, casts upon the ship the burden of showing that the bursting out of the head and consequent loss of contents from the cask arose from a peril of the sea. The only evidence tending to show this is testimony to the effect that heavy weather was experienced during the voyage, and that some barrels and boxes of the cargo got loose. There is no direct evidence that the cask in question got loose, or that it was stowed where it could have been injured by other cargo that did get loose, nor is there any testimony from which it can be properly inferred that such was the fact. For all that is proved, the injury to the cask may have been caused by a fall from the slings in discharging. In this state of the proofs, the right of the libelant to recover the damage caused by the breaking of the cask and loss of contents is clear.
Let a decree be entered for libelant, with an order of reference.