The Ocean Queen
The Ocean Queen
Opinion of the Court
This is a suit for collision. Upon full heáring, a decree was entered for the libelant, with an order of reference to compute the damages. The commissioner has made his report to this court, to which the claimant excepts, principally on the ground that the commissioner, in assessing the damages to the cargo, took the price it would have brought at the port of destination, instead of the price paid at the port of shipment I think the exception to this point is well taken. It is open to the objections taken by Mr. Justice Story in the case of The Lively [Case No. 8,403). Though that was not a case of damage by collision, it was a case of damage by another kind of tort. His remarks are therefore apt and to the point. To estimate the damages by what the cargo would have sold for if it had reached the port of destination partakes in some measure of conjecture, and assumes that for certain which is after all contingent. The schooner in this case might never have
Let the report be referred back to the commissioner to be corrected in the particulars named, in conformity with this opinion.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The OCEAN QUEEN
- Status
- Published