Dean Hedges v. United States of America Environmental Moorings International

SLOVITER, Circuit Judge.

Appellant Dean Hedges, whose sailboat was destroyed by heavy seas after it was moored at the Virgin Islands National Park, appeals from the District Court’s dismissal of his admiralty claim against the United States for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. We must decide whether equitable tolling is applicable to save Hedges’ claim. The District Court for the Virgin Islands had jurisdiction under the Suits in Admiralty Act (“SAA”), 46 U.S.C. §§ 741-752; this court has jurisdiction from the District Court’s final order pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

I

On December 12, 1996,…