In the Matter of the Complaint in Admiralty of Salmon Bay Barge Line, Inc., as...
Trial Court Opinion
1. THE HONORABLE KYMBERLY K. EVANSON 2.
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8. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE 9.
IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPLAINT IN ADMIRALTY 10. OF SALMON BAY BARGE LINE, INC., AS OWNERS AND/OR OPERATORS OF THE Case No. 2:25-cv-01703-KKE 11. TUG LUTHER OFFICIAL NUMBER 566412, AND THE BARGE LAFARGE ORDER GRANTING MOTION 12. TRADER OFFICIAL NUMBER 607612 FOR FOR ENTRY OF DEFAULT EXONERATION FROM AND/OR JUDGMENT 13. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY 14.
THIS MATTER comes before the Court on Limitation Plaintiff Salmon Bay 15.
16. Barge Line, Inc.’s Motion for Entry of Default Judgment against all claimants who failed 17. to appear or file claims in this action by the Court-ordered deadline. The Court has 18. reviewed the Motion, the supporting declarations, the record in this case, and the 19. applicable law, and finds as follows: 20.
1. This limitation action was properly initiated pursuant to 46 U.S.C. § 30501 21. et seq. and Supplemental Rule F of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
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2. On October 21, 2025, the Court entered its Order Directing Notice and 23.
24. Publication to Interested Parties and Enjoining Prosecution of Claims, which established 25. November 21, 2025 as the deadline for filing claims and answers in this action.
1. 3. Limitation Plaintiff fully complied with all notice and publication 2. requirements of Supplemental Rule F and the Court’s orders.
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4. Only one claimant, Michael Fantazia, timely filed a claim in this action.
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No other person or entity filed a claim, answer, or request for extension by the November 5.
21, 2025 deadline.
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7. 5. On January 16, 2026, the Court entered an Order determining that all non- 8. appearing claimants were in default.
9. 6. Limitation Plaintiff now seeks default judgment against all non-appearing 10. claimants pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(b) and Supplemental Rule F.
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7. Limitation Plaintiff seeks declaratory relief only and does not seek 12. monetary damages from any defaulted claimant.
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8. Entry of default judgment is appropriate under Rule 55(b), Supplemental 14.
15. Rule F, and the factors set forth in Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470 (9th Cir. 1986).
16. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 17.
1. Limitation Plaintiff’s Motion for Entry of Default Judgment is hereby 18.
GRANTED.
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2. Default judgment is entered in favor of Limitation Plaintiff Salmon Bay 20.
Barge Line, Inc. and against all persons or entities who failed to file a claim or answer in 21.
22. this action by November 21, 2025.
23. 3. All such non-appearing claimants are forever barred, estopped, and 24. enjoined from asserting any claim, demand, or cause of action against Limitation 25.
1. Plaintiff, the T/V LUTHER, or the Barge LAFARGE TRADER arising out of or relating 2. to the incident alleged in this limitation action.
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4. This Order does not affect the rights, claims, or defenses of the appearing 4. claimant, Michael Fantazia.
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5. The Clerk is directed to enter the accompanying Default Judgment.
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7. SO ORDERED this 29th day of January, 2026.
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A 10.
Kymberly K. Evanson 11.
United States District Judge 12.
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5 Presented By: HOLMES WEDDLE & BARCOTT, P.C.
4. Ni - □□ {G2 —~ Michael A. Barcott, WSBA #13317 ‘|| Daniel P. Barcott, WSBA #50282 3101 Western Ave, Suite 500 ‘|| Seattle, Washington 98121 7|| Telephone: 206-292-8008 ‘|| Facsimile: 206-340-0289 g Email: [email protected] [email protected] g || Attorneys for Limitation Plaintiffs 10.
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26./| ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR ENTRY OF DEFAULT JUDGMENT - Page 4 of 5 HOLMES WEDDLE & BARCOTT, PC Case No. 2:25-cv-01703-KKE S101 WESTERN AVENUE, SUITE 500 1.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 2.
The undersigned certifies under penalty of perjury 3.|] of the laws of the State of Washington that, on the 22nd day of January, 2026, the foregoing was electronically filed with the Clerk of Court using the CM/ECF system, which will send notification of such filing to the following: 5.
Attorney for Claimant Michael Fantazia 6.|| Nigel T. Stacey, WSBA #55458 STACEY & JACOBSEN, PLLC 7.| 4039 21% Ave W, #401 Seattle, WA 98199 206-282-3100 nstacey(@maritimelawer.us 9.
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26.|| ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR ENTRY OF DEFAULT JUDGMENT - Page 5 of 5 HOLMES WEDDLE & BARCOTT, PC Case No. 2:25-cv-01703-KKE 3101 WESTERN AVENUE, SUITE 500
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.