Wentz v. Hartge

CHESNUT, District Judge.

The object of this suit in admiralty is to obtain damages for the sinking of a cabin cruiser. The plaintiff, Marshall H. Wentz, was the owner of the boat Almar, which, off and on prior to its sinking on February 19, 1952, had been customarily docked at the boatyard of the defendant, Robert W. Hartge. The contention of the libellant is that he as the owner of the boat was the bailor and Hartge, as proprietor of the boatyard, was the bailee, and that the sinking of the boat was due to the negligence of Hartge. The testimony of numerous witnesses has been heard in open…