In the Matter of Tidewater Marine Towing, Inc. v. Curran-Houston, Inc., and Dow Chemical Co. v. Debra Ann Vicknair, Claimant-Appellant

OPINION

POLITZ, Circuit Judge:

The district court dismissed the wrongful death action of Debra Ann Vicknair, concluding that “there is no cause of action for death for a common-law spouse under the general maritime law.” For the reasons assigned herein, we affirm that dismissal. 1

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

On September 4, 1979, the propeller of the M/V WHITEFACE struck-a high pressure gas pipeline belonging to Dow Chemical Company, causing an explosion which killed deckhand Daniel Dupre. Invoking Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(h) and Supplemental Admiralty Rule F, the owners of the WHITE-FACE filed a petition for…