The Plymouth
Supreme Court of the United States
The steam-propeller Falcon, employed by its owners in navigating our ’great northern lakes, anchored beside the wharf of Hough & Kershaw, in Chicago River; “navigable water.” Upon the wharf large packing-houses were built, and these, at the time, were filled: with valuable stores.
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The steam-propeller Falcon, employed by its owners in navigating our ’great northern lakes, anchored beside the wharf of Hough & Kershaw, in Chicago River; “navigable water.” Upon the wharf large packing-houses were built, and these, at the time, were filled: with valuable stores. Owing to the negligence of those in charge of the Falcon, the vessel took fire; and the flames, stretching themselves to the wharf and packing-houses, set these last on fire, which with their stores were wholly consumed. Hough & Kershaw filed, accordingly, in the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois,…
1Opinion of the CourtJustice Nelson
The court below dismissed the libel for want of jurisdiction; and that question is the only one that has been argued in this court.
It will be observed, that the entire damage complained of by the libellants, as proceeding from the negligence of the master and crew, and for which the owners of the vessel are sought to be charged, occurred, not on the water, but on the land. The origin of the wrong was on the water, but the substance and consummation of the injury on land. It is admitted by all the authorities, that the jurisdiction of the admiralty over marine torts depends upon locality — the…
2Cited by376 opinions
- East River Steamship Corp. v. Transamerica Delaval Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · 1986
- Argentine Republic v. Amerada Hess Shipping Corp.Supreme Court of the United States · 1989
- Executive Jet Aviation, Inc. v. City of ClevelandSupreme Court of the United States · 1972
- Kermarec v. Compagnie Generale TransatlantiqueSupreme Court of the United States · 1959
- Jerome B. Grubart, Inc. v. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co.Supreme Court of the United States · 1995
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