COLUMBUS-AMERICA DISCOVERY GROUP v. ATLANTIC MUT. INS. CO.

Nos. 90-2730 to 90-2732.

974 F.2d 450 (1992)

COLUMBUS-AMERICA DISCOVERY GROUP, Plaintiff-Appellee, and Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York; Harry G. John; Jack F. Grimm, Plaintiffs, v. ATLANTIC MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY; Insurance Company of North America; Salvage Association; London Assurance; Alliance Assurance Company, Ltd.; Royal Exchange Assurance; Indemnity Marine Assurance Company, Ltd.; Marine Insurance Company, Ltd.; Superintendent of Insurance of the State of New York, Claimants-Appellants, and The Unidentified Wrecked and Abandoned Sailing Vessel, its engines, tackle, apparel, appurtenances, cargo, etc., located within a box defined by the following coordinates: Northern Boundary — 31 degrees 37 minutes North Latitude; Southern Boundary — 31 degrees 33 minutes North Latitude; Western Boundary — 77 degrees 2 minutes West Longitude; Eastern Boundary — 76 degrees 57 minutes West Longitude, (believed to be the S.S. Central America), in rem, Defendant, CIGNA Group, Commercial Union Assurance Company, Ltd.; Commercial Union Insurance Company; William H. McGee & Company, Incorporated; Royal Insurance; Royal Insurance Company, Ltd.; Royal Insurance Company of America; Chubb & Son, Incorporated; Sun Alliance Group; Underwriters at Lloyd's; GRE of America Corporation; Guardian Royal Exchange; Indemnity Mutual Marine Assurance Company; Sun Insurance Company of New York; Sun Insurance Office, Ltd.; Great Western Insurance Company; Sun Mutual Insurance Company; Union Mutual Insurance Company; Oriental Mutual Insurance Company; Commercial Mutual Insurance Company; Mercantile Mutual Insurance Company; New York Mutual Insurance Company; Pacific Mutual Insurance Company; Indemnity Marine; London Associated Corporation; Royal Associated Corporation; Royal Marine; Indemnity Mutual; Royal Exchange & London Offices; Union Bank of London; Commonwealth Fire Insurance Company; Dennis Standefer; the R/V Liberty Star, her master, officers, crew and all persons aboard; Board of Trustees of Columbia University; Lamont-Doherty Geological Institute; S.S. George Law Partnership; Boston Salvage Consultants, Inc., Claimants. American Institute of Marine Underwriters; the Board of Underwriters of New York, Amici Curiae. Harry G. JOHN; Jack F. Grimm, Plaintiff-Appellants, Columbus-America Discovery Group, Plaintiff-Appellee, and Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, Plaintiff, v. ATLANTIC MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY; Insurance Company of North America; Salvage Association; London Assurance; Alliance Assurance Company, Ltd.; Royal Exchange Assurance; Indemnity Marine Assurance Company, Ltd.; Marine Insurance Company, Ltd.; Superintendent of Insurance of the State of New York, CIGNA Group, Commercial Union Assurance Company, Ltd.; Commercial Union Insurance Company; William H. McGee & Company, Incorporated; Royal Insurance; Royal Insurance Company, Ltd.; Royal Insurance Company of America; Chubb & Son, Incorporated; Sun Alliance Group; Underwriters at Lloyd's; GRE of America Corporation; Guardian Royal Exchange; Indemnity Mutual Marine Assurance Company; Sun Insurance Company of New York; Sun Insurance Office, Ltd.; Great Western Insurance Company; Sun Mutual Insurance Company; Union Mutual Insurance Company; Oriental Mutual Insurance Company; Commercial Mutual Insurance Company; Mercantile Mutual Insurance Company; New York Mutual Insurance Company; Pacific Mutual Insurance Company; Indemnity Marine; London Associated Corporation; Royal Associated Corporation; Royal Marine; Indemnity Mutual; Royal Exchange & London Offices; Union Bank of London; Commonwealth Fire Insurance Company; Dennis Standefer; the R/V Liberty Star, her master, officers, crew and all persons aboard; Board of Trustees of Columbia University; Lamont-Doherty Geological Institute; S.S. George Law Partnership; Boston Salvage Consultants, Inc., Claimants, v. The UNIDENTIFIED WRECKED AND ABANDONED SAILING VESSEL, its engines, tackle, apparel, appurtenances, cargo, etc., located within a box defined by the following coordinates: Northern Boundary — 31 degrees 37 minutes North Latitude; Southern Boundary — 31 degrees 33 minutes North Latitude; Western Boundary — 77 degrees 2 minutes West Longitude; Eastern Boundary — 76 degrees 57 minutes West Longitude, (believed to be the S.S. Central America), in rem, Defendant. American Institute of Marine Underwriters; the Board of Underwriters of New York, Amici Curiae. TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, Plaintiff-Appellant, Columbus-America Discovery Group, Plaintiff-Appellee, and Harry G. John; Jack F. Grimm, Plaintiffs, Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company; Insurance Company of North America; Salvage Association; London Assurance; Alliance Assurance Company, Ltd.; Royal Exchange Assurance; Indemnity Marine Assurance Company, Ltd.; Marine Insurance Company, Ltd.; Superintendent of Insurance of the State of New York; CIGNA Group, Commercial Union Assurance Company, Ltd.; Commercial Union Insurance Company; William H. McGee & Company, Incorporated; Royal Insurance; Royal Insurance Company, Ltd.; Royal Insurance Company of America; Chubb & Son, Incorporated; Sun Alliance Group; Underwriters at Lloyd's; GRE of America Corporation; Guardian Royal Exchange; Indemnity Mutual Marine Assurance Company; Sun Insurance Company of New York; Sun Insurance Office, Ltd.; Great Western Insurance Company; Sun Mutual Insurance Company; Union Mutual Insurance Company; Oriental Mutual Insurance Company; Commercial Mutual Insurance Company; Mercantile Mutual Insurance Company; New York Mutual Insurance Company; Pacific Mutual Insurance Company; Indemnity Marine; London Associated Corporation; Royal Associated Corporation; Royal Marine; Indemnity Mutual; Royal Exchange & London Offices; Union Bank of London; Commonwealth Fire Insurance Company; Dennis Standefer; the R/V Liberty Star, her master, officers, crew and all persons aboard; Board of Trustees of Columbia University; Lamont-Doherty Geological Institute; S.S. George Law Partnership; Boston Salvage Consultants, Inc., Claimants, v. The UNIDENTIFIED WRECKED AND ABANDONED SAILING VESSEL, its engines, tackle, apparel, appurtenances, cargo, etc., located within a box defined by the following coordinates: Northern Boundary—31 degrees 37 minutes North Latitude; Southern Boundary— 31 degrees 33 minutes North Latitude; Western Boundary—77 degrees 2 minutes West Longitude; Eastern Boundary — 76 degrees 57 minutes West Longitude, (believed to be the S.S. Central America), in rem, Defendant. American Institute of Marine Underwriters; the Board of Underwriters of New York, Amici Curiae.

United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.

Decided August 26, 1992.

As Amended November 12, 1992.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Douglas A. Jacobsen, Bigham, Englar, Jones & Houston, John H. Reilly, Jr., Dickerson & Reilly, Edward A. Friedman, Friedman & Kaplan, New York City, Guilford D. Ware, Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, Norfolk, Va., argued (Marilyn L. Lytle, George R. Daly, Bigham, Englar, Jones & Houston, Robert D. Kaplan, Friedman & Kaplan, New York City, James L. Chapman, IV, Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, Norfolk, Va., Daniel R. Warman, John Y. Richardson, Jr., Williams, Worrell, Kelly, Greer & Frank, Norfolk, Va., on brief), for appellants.

Richard T. Robol, Hunton & Williams, Norfolk, Va., Robert W. Trafford, Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, Columbus, Ohio, argued (Kevin J. Cosgrove, Robert M. Tata, Stephen W. Haynie, Hunton & Williams, Norfolk, Va., Curtis A. Loveland, William J. Kelly, Jr., Daniel F. Gourash, Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, Columbus, Ohio, on brief), for appellee.

Allan S. Reynolds, Reynolds, Smith & Winters, Norfolk, Va., for amici curiae.

Before RUSSELL, WIDENER, and HALL, Circuit Judges.


OPINION

DONALD RUSSELL, Circuit Judge:

"When Erasmus mused that `[a] common shipwreck is a source of consolation to all', Adagia, IV.iii.9 (1508), he quite likely did not foresee inconcinnate free-for-alls among self-styled salvors." Martha's Vineyard Scuba HQ, Inc. v. The Unidentified, Wrecked and Abandoned Steam Vessel, 833 F.2d 1059, 1061 (1st Cir.1987). Without doubt the Dutch scholar also could not imagine...

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