Pasternack v. Lubetich

The King County Superior Court quieted title to a 28-foot boat in the plaintiff Howard N. Pasternack and ordered Martin Lubetich to return possession of the craft to the plaintiff and to pay $3,500 in damages for plaintiff’s loss of use of the vessel. Lubetich appeals. This appeal comes to us only on the question of the trial court’s jurisdiction. It is appellant’s contention that an action to determine title to a vessel and the right to possession is essentially an in rem proceeding within the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal district court sitting as a court of admiralty. Respondent’s…