7 F.2d 949 | S.D. Cal. | 1925
This is a libel in personam against respondents Marco H. Heilman, individually, and Heilman Commercial Trust & Savings Bank, a corporation. The claim is for money damages on account of personal .injuries alleged to have been sustained by libelant 'while being gratuitously transported in a certain fishing boat, called Traveler, from the port of San Pedro, Cal., to San Clemente Island, in the Pacific Ocean. It is alleged that the fishing boat Traveler was unseaworthy, unfit, and unsafe for the carrying of libelant on said voyage, and that by reason thereof and of respondents’ negligence libelant has sustained injuries and damage to the extent of $100,300 lawful money of the United States, for which amount she asks a decree against respondents.
The ease is unique. Neither proctor, in argument or on brief, has cited any analogous or parallel ease in admiralty, and I have not discovered any by an extended independent research. The decision of this cause must therefore be based upon, principle, rather than upon authoritative analogous decisions of admiralty courts;
The serious and close question in the cause is whether, under the facts as shown by the evidence, respondents’ liability has been established. I am of the opinion that, although libelant may have sustained injuries on the voyage on the Traveler, she is not entitled to recover damages therefor from the respondents herein. The pertinent facts found by the court may be stated as follows;
Some time in May, 1923, an incorporated nonprofit association of citizens of California, styled the “American Narcotic Crusade,” decided to take an ocean voyage to the Island of San Clemente, situate about 50 miles from the mainland. The purpose of the excursion was twofold — primarily, to gaid publicity for the association in its work of combat against the so-called drug evil; and, secondarily, so that the members thereof could inspect and survey San Clemente Island as an adaptable place for the treatment of drug addicts. One Rex Goodeell, who was a member and officer of the association, either volunteered to or was delegated by the association to arrange for and procure means of transportation for the voyage, and accordingly called on respondent Mareo H. Heilman, who was and is an executive officer of the respondent Heliman Commercial Trust & Savings Bank, .a corporation. Goodeell solicited the loan of a private yacht, which Heliman personally owned, for the contemplated voyage.
Neither of the respondents are or were members of the American Narcotic Crusade, and neither of them had any knowledge of the contemplated voyage and excursion, until Goodeell solicited the loan of the yacht from Heilman. Neither of the respondents had taken any part in the activities of the American Narcotic Crusade, and neither of the respondents were to or did- receive any benefit whatsoever from the association, or , on account of the voyage which resulted in this suit. The loan of the boat and its erew~7 was purely gratuitous. '
At the time Goodeell solicited the loan of the yacht from Heilman he was the United States collector of internal revenue for the Southern California district and was a personal friend of respondent Heilman. Hellman informed Goodeell that his yacht was unavailable at the time, as it was then, being painted. He told Goodeell, however, that ' the Heliman Commercial Trust & Savings Bank -had some fishing boats, and that he might be able to get one of them for him, asking Goodeell whether a fishing boat would meet his requirements; and, upon Goodeell replying that it would be highly satisfactory for the trip, Heilman instructed his private"! secretary to arrange to have the fishing boat Congress, the property of the respondent corporation, ready to take a party with Collector Goodeell to San Clemente Island on June 1, 1923.
Respondent Heilman personally had no further or other connection with the matter involved in this, suit in any way, except to tell his private secretary to provide the crew for the boat. He did request of Good-cell that he be permitted to furnish the lunch for the party, but was told by Goodeell that a member of the association wished to supply the food for the party. Heilman did
Heilman’s private secretary communicated with and advised one Thomas, who was manager of the respondent corporation at San Pedro, Cal., of Goodcell’s solicitation, and requested and instructed Thomas to have the Congress ready at a certain landing place ip Wilmington Bay, Cal., on the morning of June 1, 1923. Thomas got in touch with one Bareot, a watchman of the hank, and told him to roach one Zabica, who was an experienced fisherman and boatman, and have Zabica get the Congress ready to go out as requested. Zabica reported to Thomas that the Congress was not available, on account of the condition of the batteries therein, and upon Zabiea’s suggestion Thomas directed that the fishing boat Traveler be substituted and used for the contemplated trip. The Traveler was also property of the respondent corporation, and the substitution and use of it in lien of the Congress was unknown and unauthorized by respondent Heilman personally, hut was an act of Thomas on his own initiative.
On the morning of June 1,1923, pursuant to invitations sent out by the association to its members without the knowledge of respondents, a party of 16 or more men and women, consisting of officers and members Of the association, photographers, and newspaper men, assembled at the place of embarkation for the contemplated voyage. The libelant, Mi® Hogan, was a member and officer of the association, had been invited without the knowledge of cither respondent to take the trip, and was a member of the party that assembled.
When Goodeell saw and inspected the Traveler, he observed its size, equipment, and condition, and noticed^ also, the light summer attire of the party assembled, and particularly of the ladies thereof. Thereupon he called the entire group of men and women together, and addressed them en masse, in an effort to dissuade them all, and especially the ladies, from taking the trip in such light attire and upon the Traveler, calling attention of all to the limitations of the boat, as well as to the fact that it was a fishing boat. The Traveler was in plain view of the entire party, including the libel-ant, and all had ample opportunity to decline to go aboard. One of the ladies of the party, who apparently acted as spokesman, objected to postponing or deferring the voyage, as it ha,d been given wide publicity, and all of the others acquiesced. The libel-ant, Miss Hogan, made no protest or objection, but went aboard.
After it was decided by the assembled group of men and women to take the trip on the Traveler, Mr. Goodeell and others of the party stated that they would endeavor to make the boat as comfortable as possible, in view of the determination of the party to go, and of their own volition and suggestion they brought to the Traveler some canvas for covering and protection against anticipated wind and wave, and also some collapsible or folding chairs, which they arranged in the Traveler and upon the deck thereof. The craft was merely a purse seine fishing boat, and was not fitted, equipped, intended, or used for passenger service. It was, however, a seaworthy, safe, secure, and adequately equipped purse seine fishing boat, with gasoline engine and equipped with several bunks below.
After these preparations had been made in the presence of all, including libelant, the Traveler sailed out into the ocean with libel-ant) and 16 or more men and women, aboard. As it entered the trough of the sea in the channel between the mainland and. Santa Catalina Island, libelant became violently seasick, and on account of the rocking and rolling of the boat she was thrown or fell against an iron rail on the boat, and was also struck by the chair that was thrown about the deck as a result of the sea. On the outward passage, at some point which is uncertain, on account of a conflict in the evidence, a turntable which was part of the fishing equipment of the boat became unfastened and swung around, throwing several of the party who were upon it in a heap on the deck, and in the scramble one of the ladies accidently kicked libelant in the' hack. Libel-ant was not upon the turntable at the tiftie, but so close thereto that the lady came, in contact with her in the manner stated.
Although the day was serene and clear, and the weather mild, and the sea reasonably calm, until the boat started homeward hound from San Clemente Island, the spray and wind caused libelant to be uncomfortable
On the course to San Clemente Island, and at the direction of the party, the boat put in at Avalon harbor, Santa Catalina Island, and .some of the party went ashore in a small boat to buy food for the party, later returning to the Traveler with the food. A photographer, who had been a member of the party from Wilmington, left the boat at Avalon, saying that he did not desire to continue, but would return to the mainland by other means. The libelant, Miss Hogan, could have gone ashore at Avalon, but did not do so> and did not request or demand that she be taken ashore, or that she be permitted to 'leave the Traveler, but instead, of her own volition, and notwithstanding the knowledge that she had gained of the boat’s movements and of the condition of the sea, she remained on board the Traveler on the voyage to San Clemente Island.
The sea between Santa Catalina and San Clemente Islands is always turbulent and rough, and strong winds are usually encountered on this passage. Such conditions prevailed on the day in question. But nothing eventful or extraordinary occurred until the Traveler left San Clemente Island for the mainland along toward dusk on June 1,1923. Upon- arrival at San Clemente Island in the late afternoon, the Traveler was anchored in a sheltered place, and most of the party went ashore on. the island to make the survey and inspection, which was one of the objects of the trip. Miss Hogan remained aboard, however, on account of her indisposition, but did partake of the luncheon which was served aboard the Traveler to the party before sailing homeward.
There was some debate between Goodcell and the captain as to whether' an attempt should be made to return to the mainland at once, or whether the party'should stay overnight on San Clemente Island. The captain, who had been supplied by Mr. Thomas, ealled attention to the hazard of attempts ing to return at night, stating that the sea was especially rough between Santa Catalina and San Clemente Islands at night, and that he thought it would be better to return the foEowing morning, when it was more calm. But Mr. Goodcell and some others of- the party persuaded the captain to saE on the return trip and not stay overnight at San Clement© Island.
The Traveler had not proceeded far when nightfall set in, and the boat rocked so violently that most of the party became frightened and were ordered below by the captain. Some of the ladies, including libelant, occupied the bunks and were protected from the spray and wind as much as possible by coverings. One of the crew, Nicholas Batistieh, by name, in attempting to comply with an order from the captain to go below, where most of the party had gone, was thrown overboard and drowned. A Ebel by his administratrix on behalf of dependent relatives was heard simultaneously with this proceeding, and has also this day been decided. 7 E.(2d) 953. ■
The evidence indicates that knowledge of the drowning of Batistieh was kept from most of the party, and particularly the ladies thereof, and that they did not know of it until the foEowing day, when the Traveler reached the mainland. A short time after Batistieh was thrown overboard the captain concluded that, because of the high sea and wind, it was safer to return to San Clemente Island than to attempt to make the port of Wilmington that night, and he turned the Traveler around and sailed back to San Clemente Island,, where aE of the party, including libelant, remained aE night on board the Traveler; Miss Hogan occupying one of the bunks and being supplied with such covering as was available.
Early the foEowing morning, when the sea was calm and the wind had subsided, the Traveler saüed homeward and docked at Wilmington harbor the same day. Whereupon the party, including libelant, disembarked and dispersed. Just .after leaving San Clemente Island, homeward bound, a> tiEer rope aboard the' Traveler broke and was repaired in a very short time. No one was injured or damaged by this incident, and it is of no significance whatever in the determination and decision of this libel, as it occasioned no injury of any -kind to libel-ant or any other person, and because it hap-' pened in calm water and did not incapacitate the Traveler at aE. •
Under the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the respondent Heilman cannot be considered a tort-feasor, or in any manner personally Hable for Miss Hogan’s injuries. The status of respondent Heilman Commercial Trust & Savings Bank toward, the party was that of a gratuitous bailor.
Tho Narcotic Crusade and its agent, Good-cell, solicited the loan of the boat, and the act of the respondent Heilman Commercial Trust & Savings Bank in acceding to the request of Goodcoll possessed none of the elements of a contract, and involved no invitation whatever which can bring this libel-ant within the rule of law applicable to passengers. It may be conceded, although not without doubt, that the rale of ordinary care toward libelant was required of respondent bank in this matter. The evidence shows,however, that it has met its obligation in this respect; the Traveler being seaworthy.
The libelant sustained no injury that was not the result of the ordinary and known perils of the sea, or incidental to customary and normal movement of a boat such as the Traveler upon tho surface of the ocean. Miss Hogan chose to take the voyage, after being fully informed and apprised of the size; condition, and equipment of the Traveler, and even remained aboard after reaching Santa Catalina Island, where she could have disembarked. All of the injuries of which she complains are the result of the elements, and no act of the crow proximately caused any of her hurts. Even after Goodcoll advised her and the other ladies not to take the trip on the Traveler, she insisted on doing so; and under such emsnms lances, she must be held to have assumed all the risks incident to traveling on such a boat on such a voyage.
It is claimed that the boat rocked and rolled because it had no ballast. But tho weight of those aboard tended to accomplish the same purpose as ballast. And, moreover, there being' no express or implied obligation to ballast, under a gratuitous bailment such as shown by the evidence in this libel, no liability attached because of tho failure to ballast tho boat.
There was no negligence on the part of the captain in leaving San Clemente Island homeward on the evening of June 1st, and, if such act should be characterized as negligent, it is no aid to libelant’s case, as she sustained and suffered no injury whatever by reason of it. And just as soon as good judgment and sound discretion dictated to the captain that it was unwise to attempt to make the passage further he returned to shelter at San Clemente Island.
In view of my conclusion that no negligence or liability whatever has been proven against either respondent, it becomes unnecessary to consider the question of libel-ant’s damage.
Proctors for respondents will prepare a decree in accordance with this memorandum opinion and the answer to the amended libel, and present the same under the rules.