Guy v. Donald
United States Supreme Court
203 U.S. 399, 27 S.Ct. 63, 51 L.Ed. 245 (1906)
- Written by Carolyn Strutton, JD
Facts
Donald (plaintiff) owned a steamship that was involved in a collision with another vessel while Donald’s ship was being piloted by Frank Guy (defendant). Guy was a member of the Virginia Pilot Association (defendant), which was a voluntary, unincorporated association of area maritime pilots. The members of the association would take turns piloting vessels as required by law in that waterway. The members’ piloting fees were paid into a common fund held by the association, which then divided and distributed the fees to each member based on the number of days he had been active in the association during that period. After the collision, Donald paid damages to the owner of the other vessel. Donald sued Guy and the Virginia Pilot Association, seeking to hold the members of the association jointly liable for Guy’s negligence. The case came before the United States Supreme Court on a certificate from a circuit court of appeals to determine whether the members of the association could be held jointly liable for Guy’s negligence.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Holmes, J.)
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