The Eva D. Rose

166 F. 101 | 4th Cir. | 1908

WADDILL, District Judge

(after stating the facts as above). From the foregoing statement of facts, it is clearly seen that the only question before this court is one of costs. The libelants having by agreement, after filing the libel, received the cargo attached, no decree in their favor was necessary. The court decided adversely to their claini for shortage of cargo, directed certain seamen to be paid, and divided the costs. Manifestly the court had the right to do this, if that was its judgment of what was right in the premises, and from what was done the libelants did not appeal. Subsequently, and within a few days, the case was reopened, upon a petition filed by respondent, and, as the court says, at the instance of both parties, and in a short time— within 16 days of the original hearing — -a decision was rendered upon the case as reopened.

The court, of its own motion, could have ordered the reopening of the case, where it is recited thal “the former decree was entered under a misapprehension as to some of the facts, and upon papers improperly filed.” Such authority would seem to- be undoubted. This would be true of any court, certainly during the term at which the judgment was rendered, and doubtless, on appropriate pleadings, after the term; but in a court of admiralty, which is deemed always open (section 571, Rev. St. [ U. S. Comp. St. 1901, p. 475]), there can be no question of the authority to do so, upon application seasonably made (The Vaderland [D. C.] 19 Fed. 527; Cohen on Admiralty, 279; Benedict’s Admiralty, § 548).

The giving or withholding costs is a matter in the discretion of the court (Benedict’s Admir. § 550), and one which is not subject to review, where that is the sole question involved. Dubois v. Kirk, 158 U. S. 58, 15 Sup. Ct. 729, 09 L. Ed. 895; Wright v. Gorman-Wright Co., 152 Fed. 408, 81 C. C. A. 534; the latter being a recent decision of this court.

Counsel for appellant refer to the case of Kell v. Trenchard, 146 Fed. 245, 76 C. C. A. 611, also a decision of this court, as containing a contrary doctrine; but a careful review of that case will be found not to support the view contended for. That case turned upon whether certain expenses of a re.ceiver were meant to be covered by a decree of this court, awarding costs.

The controversy in this case probably arises because the amount of costs involved, 81,030.52, is undoubtedly heavy. But it will be found that the larger items of the bill, with the exception of $120.95, the examiner’s fee, which from the amount of testimony taken is reasonable, consists of one item of wharfage, $304; three caretakers, $151.'-40, $136, and $28 respectively • appellant’s witnesses alone cost $87.20. The item for wharfage and watchmen arose almost entirely from the failure of the appellant, respondent below, to bond'the vessel, which he had authority to do, and as appears from this record was able to do; and while it may have been best for the court to have sold the property pending the litigation, because expensive to keep, no such motion seems to have been made, and certainly the appellant is not in a position to complain of any failure in this regard, since the master' had secured permission to give the bond and procure the release of the vessel, and neglected to do so. The suggestion was made in argument that the bond was not given because appellant hoped to secure damage's for the detention of his vessel. Thai phase of the case need not be considered, though it is a fact that in the answer filed as early as the 10th of October, 1906, a claim of $150 was made for damages, and $25 per day for demurrage or detention.

For the reasons herein stated, the decree of the lower court will be affirmed.

* For other cases see same topic & § number in Dec. & Am. Digs. 1907 to date, & Rep'r Indexes