Warn v. M/Y Maridome
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
169 F.3d 625 (1999)

- Written by Alex Ruskell, JD
Facts
Several people were injured or killed when the tender of the yacht M/Y Maridome (defendant) hit a structure in the harbor of the Port of Poros, Greece. Michael Warn (plaintiff) sued for damages under the Jones Act in federal district court, arguing that the Jones Act applied because the Maridome’s base of operations was in the United States. However, the Maridome flew a British flag, none of the injured or deceased were American citizens or domiciliaries, the shipowner was a Mexican citizen, and none of the deceased or injured sailors’ employment contracts were signed in the United States. The district court dismissed the claim, finding that foreign maritime law should apply. Warn appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (O’Scannlain, J.)
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