226 F. 963 | W.D. Wash. | 1915
Libelant seeks to recover the value of 250 tons of coal alleged to have been lost by the explosion of a scow of dynamite, through the negligence of the defendant city, through its age-ut. the. port warden, in removing, without the consent or knowl
“An ordinance establishing rules and regulations for the government and control of the navigable waters under the jurisdiction and control of the city of Seattle, establishing and prescribing the powers and duties of the port warden and other officials and employes of the city relating thereto, providing penalties for violation of the provisions hereof. 9 * * ”
And he quotes from sections 337, 43, and 39 of said ordinance, as follows:
“Sec. 337. No master, or other person in charge of any vessel or obstruction, shall attach the same to any city buoy until he shall have obtained permission so to do from the port warden: Provided, that during the night or in bad weather such vessel or obstruction may be attached to any vacant city buoy, but the master, owner or person in charge thereof shall notify the port warden not later than eight (8) o’clock a. m. of the next legal day of such act, stating the name and character of such vessel or obstruction and the probable length of time it is desired to remain at said buoy. Should more than one vessel or obstruction apply for the use of any particular buoy, the port warden shall be the sole judge as to which shall occupy the same, and his decision shall be final and conclusive.”
“Sec. 43. The master, owner, or other person in charge of any vessel made fast to any pier, or other structure owned by or under the authority and control of the city of Seattle, and any vessel lying at anchor in Seattle harbor, or any vessel lying at any pier, obstructing any slip, fairway, or other vessel, shall, when requested by the port warden to change position, immediately proceed as requested or directed. Any failure, neglect or refusal to comply with such request or order shall make it the duty of the port warden to move such vessel, or cause the same to be moved, and the expense of such removal shall be paid by the master, owner, or other person in charge thereof, or by said vessel.”
“Sec. 39. The Harrison Street municipal pier is hereby designated for use temporarily as a powder dock, and for use exclusively for the handling of powder, dynamite and other like explosives, and as a place for vessels carrying as cargo, or part cargo, such explosives. Any vessel shall be allowed to lie at said pier only after a written permit shall have been issued by the port warden.”
Respondent has excepted to the libel upon the grounds:
“(1) That it appears from the libel that the cause of action therein set forth is not an admiralty and maritime cause of action and is not within the jurisdiction of this honorable court.
“(2) That the allegations contained in the libel are not sufficient im law to constitute a cause of action against the respondent, the city of Seattle.
“(3) That the allegations of negligence set forth in said libel are insufficient and not specific.
“(4) That the libel does not allege or specify what acts or neglect of the respondent, the city of Seattle, the libelant relies upon as constituting the cause of action.”
The allegations of the libel, as* against the exceptions, must be taken as true, and, so taken, state a cause of action. The rule of respondeat superior applies to municipal corporations, the same as individuals or private corporations. Workmen v. City of N. Y., supra. The cases died against the rule (Major Reybold [D. C.] 111 Fed. 414, O’Keefe et al. v. Staples Coal Co. [D. C.] 201 Fed. 131, and The Thielbek [D. C.] 211 Fed. 685) are, I think, more strongly in favor of the rule. Faust v. Cleveland, 121 Fed. 810, 58 C. C. A. 194, has no application,
In the instant case, the city, by the act of the port warden, had become a bailee for hire, and removed the coal from a safe place to a place in close proximity of a barge loaded with explosives, without notice to or knowledge or consent of the libelant, and is therefore readily distinguished from the cases relied upon. The principle of respondent’s liability under the facts stated, I think, is based on sound reason and supported by precedent. Workmen v. City, supra. Smith v. Havemeyer, supra; Manhattan Transp. Co. v. New York, supra; Philadelphia Rd. Co. v. Mayor, supra; Roney v. New York et al., supra; O’Rourke v. New York et al., supra; Barber v. Lockwood (D. C.) 134 Fed. 985, at page 987, in which the court said:
“The proprietor of a dock lias no right to invite a boat to use that berth for business purposes, when the situation is such that no work can be done there without exposing the boat to great danger from an existing defect, which could have been discovered and removed by the exercise of a fair degree of prudence. To permit so dangerous an object as the sunken spile to remain where any person has attempted to locate it constitutes a breach of duty and act of negligence for which the defendants must respond.”
How much more forceful would be the suggestion that the port warden would have no right to remove a.scow loaded with merchandise from a safe place to a place in close proximity of a scow loaded with explosives, exposing it to a dangerous destructive agency, which caused its destruction, he having knowledge of such agency.
The exceptions are denied.