Submersible Systems, Inc. v. Perforadora Central, S.A. de C.V.

249 F.3d 413, 2001 AMC 1873 (2001)

From our private database of 46,300+ case briefs, written and edited by humans—never with AI.

Submersible Systems, Inc. v. Perforadora Central, S.A. de C.V.

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
249 F.3d 413, 2001 AMC 1873 (2001)

Facts

Submersible Systems, Inc. (SSI) (plaintiff) operated submersible vehicles for underwater construction and inspections. SSI contracted with Quantum Ingenieros, S.A. de C.V. (Quantum), to provide submersibles for Quantum’s work on oil pipelines in Mexican waters. Quantum chartered with Perforadora Central, S.A. de C.V. (Central) (defendant) to transport equipment and personnel, including SSI’s submersibles and employees, to the pipeline location. When Quantum failed to pay its contractors on time, Central terminated that charter and brought its vessel into port in Mexico. Central’s employees on the vessel reported SSI’s employees to the Mexican authorities for immigration violations and confiscated SSI’s equipment. Central refused to release the equipment back to SSI and filed legal proceedings in Mexico alleging that the equipment belonged not to SSI but to Quantum. Central eventually released the equipment back to SSI, but due to prolonged exposure to the elements, the equipment was ruined. SSI filed suit in federal district court in Mississippi against Central for the conversion of its equipment. Central moved to dismiss the suit for lack of personal jurisdiction. Central at the time of the suit was building a marine drilling rig in Mississippi and had an office with three employees monitoring that construction, but otherwise it did not have contacts in the state. The district court ruled that Central’s contacts with Mississippi were sufficient for Central to be subject to the suit. The court found that Central had converted SSI’s equipment and awarded SSI compensatory and punitive damages. Central appealed.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Davis, J.)

What to do next…

  1. Unlock this case brief with a free (no-commitment) trial membership of Quimbee.

    You’ll be in good company: Quimbee is one of the most widely used and trusted sites for law students, serving more than 816,000 law students since 2011. Some law schools even subscribe directly to Quimbee for all their law students.

  2. Learn more about Quimbee’s unique (and proven) approach to achieving great grades at law school.

    Quimbee is a company hell-bent on one thing: helping you get an “A” in every course you take in law school, so you can graduate at the top of your class and get a high-paying law job. We’re not just a study aid for law students; we’re the study aid for law students.

Here's why 816,000 law students have relied on our case briefs:

  • Written by law professors and practitioners, not other law students. 46,300 briefs, keyed to 988 casebooks. Top-notch customer support.
  • The right amount of information, includes the facts, issues, rule of law, holding and reasoning, and any concurrences and dissents.
  • Access in your classes, works on your mobile and tablet. Massive library of related video lessons and high quality multiple-choice questions.
  • Easy to use, uniform format for every case brief. Written in plain English, not in legalese. Our briefs summarize and simplify; they don’t just repeat the court’s language.

Access this case brief for FREE

With a 7-day free trial membership
Here's why 816,000 law students have relied on our case briefs:
  • Reliable - written by law professors and practitioners, not other law students
  • The right length and amount of information - includes the facts, issue, rule of law, holding and reasoning, and any concurrences and dissents
  • Access in your class - works on your mobile and tablet
  • 46,300 briefs - keyed to 988 casebooks
  • Uniform format for every case brief
  • Written in plain English - not in legalese and not just repeating the court's language
  • Massive library of related video lessons - and practice questions
  • Top-notch customer support

Access this case brief for FREE

With a 7-day free trial membership