John L. Peytavin v. Government Employees Insurance Company

GEWIN, Circuit Judge:

Unable to demonstrate diversity jurisdiction, this plaintiff-appellant nevertheless seeks to sue in federal court for whiplash injuries sustained in a rear-end car collision by invoking the district court’s admiralty jurisdiction under a claim that the defendant’s conduct amounted to a maritime tort. In his complaint, John L. Peytavin alleged that he was parked on a floating pontoon at a ferry landing in the Mississippi River waiting in line to obtain a ticket to board the ferry when his car was struck from the rear by a car operated by Mrs. Eva Bourgeois Dufresne. After…