Moran Towing & Transportation Co., Inc., Assignee of Time, Inc., Libellant-Appellee v. Conners-Standard Marine Corp.

316 F.2d 811 MORAN TOWING & TRANSPORTATION CO., Inc., Assignee of Time, Inc., Libellant-Appellee, v. CONNERS-STANDARD MARINE CORP., Respondent-Appellant. No. 355. Docket 28124. United States Court of Appeals Second Circuit. Argued May 8, 1963. Decided May 8, 1963. Vincent A. Catoggio, New York City (Purdy, Lamb & Catoggio, New York City), for appellant. Eugene Underwood (Burlingham, Underwood, Barron, Wright & White, New York City, E. Lisk Wyckoff, Jr., New York City, of counsel), for appellee. Before FRIENDLY, KAUFMAN and MARSHALL, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM. [1] In this libel, filed in 1957, after a trial before Judge Murphy on the issue of liability, 189 F.Supp. 955, an appeal to this Court from the interlocutory decree, 285 F.2d 368, 86 A.L.R.2d 1227, and proceedings before a commissioner to fix damages, appellant tug-owner has made what it regards as the discovery that the courts have lacked "jurisdiction" in admiralty from the outset because libelant tug-owner was suing on a claim for damages suffered by its tow which had been assigned to it. Apart from all other considerations, we find no support for the contention that admiralty will not entertain a suit by an assignee; the contrary sensible rule seems well-established. Cobb v. Howard, 5 Fed.Cas.No. 1133, No. 2924 (S.D.N.Y.1856); Henry Admiralty Jurisdiction and Procedure (1885), § 108; American Steel Barge Co. v. Chesapeake & Ohio Coal Agency Co., 115 F. 669, 673-674 (1 Cir. 1902); The Mandu, 102 F.2d 459, 461-462 (2 Cir. 1939). We affirm the judgment in open court.