Summary
In O. Y. Nuri v. The Johanna, 4 Cir., 210 F.2d 261, a suit in admiralty was instituted by the owners of a Turkish vessel which sank as the result of a collision with a German vessel in the North Sea. The trial court declined to accept jurisdiction, largely on the basis of non-availability of witnesses to establish the cause of the collision.
Summary of this case from Anglo-American Grain Co. v. The S/T Mina D'AmicoOpinion
No. 6737.
Argued January 14, 1954.
Decided January 27, 1954.
William G. Symmers, New York City (John W. Oast, Jr., Norfolk, Va., Dow Symmers, and David H. Batchelder, Jr., New York City, on the brief), for appellant.
Michael B. Wagenheim, Norfolk, Va. (Hill Rivkins, Middleton, Louis Warburton, and George B. Warburton, New York City, on the brief), for appellees.
Before PARKER, Chief Judge, and SOPER and DOBIE, Circuit Judges.
This is an appeal from a decree dismissing a suit in admiralty brought by the owners of a Turkish vessel which was sunk as the result of a collision with a German vessel in the North Sea. The appellant has produced in this court evidence which was not before the District Court as to the availability of witnesses to establish the cause of the collision, a matter which seems to have had considerable weight with the District Judge in arriving at his decision in a case of which he might otherwise very properly have taken jurisdiction. We shall accordingly vacate the decree appealed from and remand the case to the District Court in order that the District Judge may exercise his discretion with respect to accepting jurisdiction in the light of the evidence produced in this court and of any further evidence that may be produced before him, and of the principles of law properly applicable in the premises. See The Belgenland, 114 U.S. 355, 5 S.Ct. 860, 29 L.Ed. 152; Heredia v. Davies, 4 Cir., 12 F.2d 500; and The Fletero v. Arias, 4 Cir., 206 F.2d 267.
Decree vacated and case remanded with directions.