Konrad v. South Carolina Electric & Gas Co.

Toal, Justice:

This is an appeal from an order granting summary judgment in favor of both respondents. The issue is whether the trial court erred in applying the three-year federal maritime statute of limitations to injuries arising from the collision of a mast of a sailboat and a transmission line on navigable waters. We hold that federal maritime law applies, and we therefore affirm.

FACTS

On May 27, 1984, Wolfgang Konrad (“Konrad”) was a passenger on a 23-foot sailboat owned by the decedent, George F. Carnes. This sailboat was proceeding in a westerly direction on a saltwater tidal river near…