Dann Ocean Towing, Inc. et al
Filing
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ORDER granting Petitioners' #5 Motion for Entry of an Order Approving Security, Directing Issuance of Monition, and Restraining Prosecution of Claims. The Clerk of Court is directed to issue the attached Monition. Signed by Magistrate Judge Christopher P. Tuite on 7/15/2021. (Attachments: #1 Monition) (ACL)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
TAMPA DIVISION
IN ADMIRALTY
IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPLAINT
OF THOMAS DANN, INC., as Owner, and
DANN OCEAN TOWING, INC., as Owner
Pro Hac Vice, of a 116’ Tugboat Motor Vessel
named THOMAS DANN with Official
Number 638836, for Exoneration from
or Limitation of Liability,
Case No. 8:21-cv-1350-TPB-CPT
Petitioners.
_______________________________________/
ORDER APPROVING AD INTERIM STIPULATION OF VALUE
AND DIRECTING ISSUANCE OF MONITION AND INJUNCTION
Before the Court is the Petitioners’ Motion for Entry of an Order Approving Security,
Directing Issuance of Monition, and Restraining Prosecution of Claims. (Doc. 5). For the
reasons discussed below, the Petitioners’ motion is granted as described herein.
I.
Petitioners Thomas Dann, Inc. and Dann Ocean Towing, Inc. are the owners
of a 116’ Tugboat motor vessel named Thomas Dann (the Vessel), which was involved
in a maritime incident on or about December 4, 2020, on the Cape Fear River in the
vicinity of Wilmington, North Carolina (the Incident). (Doc. 1 at 2). The Incident
allegedly injured two deckhands. Id.
On June 3, 2021, the Petitioners filed a complaint seeking to minimize, if not
eliminate altogether, their exposure to any liability arising from the Incident pursuant
to the Limitation of Liability Act, 46 U.S.C. §§ 30501–30512, Rule F of the
Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims of the Federal Rules
of Civil Procedure (Supplemental Rule F), and the Middle District of Florida
Admiralty and Maritime Practice Manual. Id.
Approximately one month after filing their complaint, the Petitioners submitted
the instant motion, along with a verified Declaration of Value and an Ad Interim
Stipulation for Value and Stipulation for Costs (Ad Interim Stipulation) as security for
any claims stemming from the Incident. (Docs. 4, 5). The Petitioners represent in
the Ad Interim Stipulation that the post-loss value of the Vessel and its pending freight
was $2,518,935. (Doc. 4). In addition, the Petitioners—joined by the American
Steamship Owners Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association, Inc. (American
Steamship), as surety—state that they will guarantee payment of any potential
obligations in this action up to $2,518,935, including costs and interest at a rate to be
determined by the Court. (Doc. 4-1). Based on these representations, the Petitioners
request in their motion that the Court (1) approve the Ad Interim Stipulation; (2) issue
a monition to all potential claimants; and (3) impose an injunction under
Supplemental Rule F precluding the further prosecution of any proceedings against
the Petitioners arising from any claims subject to limitation. (Doc. 5).
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II.
Upon due consideration of the matter, it is hereby ORDERED:
1.
The Ad Interim Stipulation for the value of the Petitioners’ interest in the
Vessel and its pending freight, in the amount of $2,518,935, including costs and interest
at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum from the date hereof, filed by the Petitioners
as principal, and American Steamship as surety, is accepted as adequate security and
is approved as to form and quantum.
2.
The Petitioners and any claimant who may properly become a party
hereto may contest the amount or value of the Petitioners’ interest in the Vessel as
fixed in the Ad Interim Stipulation; may move the Court for due appraisal of said
interest; and may apply to have the amount of said stipulation increased or decreased,
as the case may be, upon the Court’s determination of the amount or value of said
interest or to carry out the provisions of 46 U.S.C. §§ 30501–30512 for personal
injuries, property damage, or any other claims resulting from the Incident.
3.
If the amount of the Ad Interim Stipulation is not disputed by any
claimant, the Ad Interim Stipulation shall stand as a stipulation for value and an
appraisal shall not be required.
4.
The Clerk of Court shall issue the attached Monition advising and
admonishing all persons or corporations asserting claims for any and all losses,
damages, injuries, deaths, or destruction allegedly resulting from the Incident, to file
their respective claims with the Clerk of Court, United States District Court for the
Middle District of Florida, located at 801 North Florida Avenue, Tampa, Florida
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33602 on or before September 1, 2021, and to serve or mail copies thereof to the
Petitioners’ attorney, Eric C. Thiel of Banker Lopez Gassler P.A., 501 E. Kennedy
Boulevard, Suite 1700, Tampa, Florida 33602, or be defaulted.
If any claimant
desires to contest the Petitioners’ right to exoneration from or limitation of liability,
such claimant(s) shall file and serve on the Petitioners’ counsel an answer to the
complaint on or before said date, unless his/her claim has included an answer to the
complaint so designated, or be defaulted.
5.
The Notice of Monition in the form required by Supplemental Rule F
and the Admiralty and Maritime Practices Manual shall be published in a newspaper
of general circulation in the appropriate county or counties once a week for four (4)
consecutive weeks prior to the date fixed for the filing of claims in accordance with
Supplemental Rule F and the Admiralty and Maritime Practice Manual.
6.
No later than the date of the second weekly publication, the Petitioners
shall mail a copy of said notice to every person or corporation known by the Petitioners
to have a claim against them arising out of the Incident set forth in the complaint. In
addition, the Petitioners shall mail said notice to any decedent at the decedent’s last
known address and also to any person who shall be known to have made any claim
on account of such death.
7.
The commencement or further prosecution of any action or proceeding
against the Petitioners, the Vessel, or other property of the Petitioners with respect to
any claims for which the Petitioners seek exoneration from or limitation of liability
herein, including any claim arising out of or incident to or connected with any loss,
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damage, injury, death, or destruction, more fully described in the complaint, be and
the same is hereby restrained, stayed, and enjoined until the hearing and determination
of this action.
8.
Service of this Order as a restraining order in this District may be made
in the usual manner as in any other federal district by the United States Marshal’s
delivery of a certified copy of this Order on the person(s) to be restrained or to their
respective attorney(s), or—alternatively—by mailing a conformed copy of the Order
to the person(s) to be restrained or to their respective counsel.
DONE and ORDERED in Tampa, Florida, this 15th day of July 2021.
Copies to:
Counsel of record
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