Plata American Trading, Inc. v. Lancashire

This is an action by two plaintiffs, the shipper of goods and the one to whom it had sold the goods. The action relates to a shipment of tallow from Houston, Texas, to Hamburg, and is brought against the ocean carrier on the bill of lading, against the marine underwriter under a policy of insurance, and against a cargo inspector and surveyor who had issued his certificate as to quantity. The bill of lading, the insurance certificate and the inspector’s certificate all refer to a shipment of 501 tons of tallow. In fact, only 375 tons were received by the vessel and that was the quantity which…