Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co. v. Gulf Refining Co.

TUTTLE, Circuit Judge.

These libels, combined for trial below and for argument on appeal here, present common questions of fact and law arising out of a single incident, an explosion aboard barges of the Black Warrior Towing Company while they were discharging their cargo of gasoline at the Gulf Refining Company dock terminal near Gretna, Louisiana. The various parties raise issues concerning negligence, Section 3 of the Harter Act, 46 U.S.C.A. § 192, Section 1 of the Limited Liability Act, 46 U.S.C.A. § 182, and the effect of an exculpatory clause in the transportation contract between the…