Vodusek v. Bayliner Marine Corp.
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
71 F.3d 148 (1995)
- Written by Alex Ruskell, JD
Facts
Shirley Vodusek (plaintiff) filed suit against Bayliner Marine Corp. (Bayliner) (defendant) and Stammer’s Marine (Stammer’s) after Vodusek’s husband died in a fire caused by a potentially leaky fuel system on Vodusek’s boat. Vodusek filed her claims for damages in federal court. She sued Bayliner at law, relying on diversity jurisdiction, and Stammer’s in admiralty because the fire occurred on navigable waters. The complaint included a demand for jury trial on all claims. The jury ruled in favor of Bayliner and Stammer’s. However, because the court was unsure whether the claim should have been tried with or without a jury, it also rendered an independent decision in favor of the defendants in admiralty. Vodusek appealed, arguing that the entire case should have been tried to a jury and the admiralty bench trial was improper and unnecessary.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Niemeyer, J.)
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