The Mariska
The Mariska
Opinion of the Court
The libel herein alleges that the steamer Jay Gould, owned by libelant, and the steamer Mariska, were jointly at fault in causing the sinking, by collision, of the barge Helena; that the owners of the Helena libeled the Jay Gould and the Mariska for said cause; that no service was had on the Mariska, for the reason that she kept without the jurisdiction; that service was obtained against the Jay Gould, and a decree entered against the
Before said rule 59 was adopted by the supreme court, there was no method by which one tort feasor could cause a joint tort feasor to be brought into a suit to share in the payment of the damages caused by their joint tort. It is only in admiralty that one tort feasor can compel contribution on'the part of a joint tort feasor, and this solely by virtue of said rule 59. In view of the authority by which the supreme court promulgates rules in admiralty, it seems clear that in the construction and interpretation of such rules courts must proceed in analogy to the lines of interpretation and construction of statutes. Proctor for libelant insists that there was an antecedent right in favor of the libelant to have the respondent boar half the damage caused by their joint tort, and that rule 59 simply afforded a remedy by which to enforce that right. From this premise .he reasons that under the principles governing admiralty proceedings the court will afford other adequate remedy where rule 59 does not, by its terms, apply. In my opinion, this is a non sequitur. If the right existed, then the logical deduction from proctor’s reasoning is that rule 59 was unnecessary. But it has been held that, but for rule 39, libelant would not have even the right therein granted. Under familiar rules of statutory construction and interpretation, the scope of this rule could not be enlarged by implication. At common law, even if a judgment were entered against two joint tort feasors, plaintiff would be at liberty to issue execution against one only, and contribution could not be compelled by that one as against the other. In the case at bar the decree against the Jay Gould is not res adjudícala as against the Mariska in any aspect of the case, but I am of the opinion that it is not necessary to base the decision upon that ground. Rule 59 does not extend to the facts of this case. An additional rule would be necessary to cover libel ant’s contentions. The exceptions to the libel are sustained.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- THE MARISKA
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published