Nicholas E. Vernicos Shipping Co. v. United States
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
349 F.2d 465 (1965)

- Written by Alex Ruskell, JD
Facts
Nicholas E. Vernicos Shipping Co. (Vernicos) (plaintiff) was a professional salvage company. Vernicos salvaged two United States naval vessels during a violent storm. The United States (defendant) refused to pay Vernicos, so Vernicos made a salvage claim for damages for both Vernicos and the crews involved in the salvage. The district court awarded salvage claims to both Vernicos and the crewmembers. The United States appealed, arguing that the crewmembers could not make salvage claims because a salvage claim required a voluntary act and the crews were acting under the orders of Vernicos.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Friendly, J.)
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