Justia Federal District Court Opinions

Brought under the Federal Tort Claims Act, Sec. 1346(b) Title 28 U.S.C., the suit was for cargo damage from the wetting of the cargo of the Barge AS-16, while in tow of the tug 'Navajo', as a result of the grounding of the tug on Chandeleur Island on or about October 1, 1951, 'due solely to the failure of the light on the island.'

The claim was that the failure of the light was due to the negligence of Chief Petty Officer Stone and other officers and members of the Coast Guard in charge of 'aids to navigation' in failing to properly check the light to see whether it was operating properly between September 7th and October 1st, and that the grounding of the tug was due to the negligence of the Coast Guard in maintaining and servicing the light and in not notifying vessels that iw was not functioning.

The United States filing a motion to dismiss, the motion was sustained on the authority of Dalehite v. U.S. 346 U.S. 15, 73 S.Ct. 956, 97 L.Ed. 1427.

Appealing from the order, appellants are here insisting that the facts alleged as ground for recovery here do not bring the case within the facts of, or the reasons for, the decision in the Delehite case while appellee as vigorously insists that that decision and the decision in the Feres case¹ are controlling here.

We are of the clear opinion that this is so, and that under the principles, governing the liability of the United States under the invoked act, laid down in those cases, the judgment must be affirmed.

Affirmed.