The Eagle
United States Supreme Court
75 U.S. (8 Wall.) 15, 19 L.Ed. 365 (1869)

- Written by Carolyn Strutton, JD
Facts
The Eagle (defendant) was a tug that was towing a brig and a barge (defendant). The tug was towing the brig from Lake Huron to Lake Erie wholly within the state of Michigan, a segment that was only a portion of the brig’s voyage from Michigan to its final destination in Buffalo, New York. The Eagle accidentally grounded the brig on a shoal in the Detroit River, and the barge collided with the brig. The owner of the brig (plaintiff) sued both the Eagle and the barge in federal district court under admiralty jurisdiction. The district court held the Eagle to be liable and exonerated the barge. The circuit court affirmed. The Eagle appealed to the United States Supreme Court, alleging that there was no jurisdiction to hear the case because it did not fall within the provisions of the Great Lakes Act of 1845 granting admiralty jurisdiction to certain claims on those waterways.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Nelson, J.)
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