United States v. Atlantic Refining Co.

DICKINSON, District Judge.

This litigation has reached its final stage. The sole' question to be now answered -is that of. the sum of money which the libelant should recover in damages. The damages awarded were to compensate the owner of a vessel injured or destroyed. The ideal of such compensation is to restore the vessel as she was. That the owner should recover the cost of restoration is clear enough, but it is difficult to accept the thought that the money ' loss could exceed the money value of what was lost. Some plausibility is given to such a claim by viewing the obligation as one to…