Doullut Williams Company v. United States/Opinion of the Court

by James Clark McReynolds

United States Supreme Court

268 U.S. 33

Doullut Williams Company  v.  United States

 Argued: and Submitted March 20, 1925. --- Decided: April 13, 1925

The pleadings and proof in these causes are substantially identical, except as to names of vessels, dates of accidents, and damages claimed. Relying upon the Act of Congress approved March 9, 1920, c. 95, 41 Stat. 525 (Comp. St. §§ 1251 1/4-1251 1/4 l), the appellant instituted proceedings in admiralty to recover damages from the United States for injuries inflicted by their merchant vessels, the City of Elwood and the Galveston, upon clusters of piling standing in the Mississippi river at New Orleans, 150 feet from low-water mark. The court below dismissed the libels for want of jurisdiction, and that action is now challenged.

We copy from the libels and accept the following description of the injured structures:

'Said piling cluster consists of five wooden piles or timbers, each of approximately 60 feet in length, firmly driven in and attached to the bottom of the river, fastened and held together as a unit having a diameter of not more than 4 feet, the depth of the water surrounding them being at all times not less than 16 feet, said pile cluster extending perpendicularly about 25 feet out of and above the water. * * * That at no time has said pile cluster any connections, either actual or anticipated, nor has it any connections for any purpose whatever, with the shore of said river, or with anything on said shores, either of a temporary, prospective, or permanent character, and either actual or anticipated, with any commerce on land, or anything connected with land, or with the shores of said river. That libelant had and has authority from the proper governmental authorities to erect, maintain, and use said pile cluster for such marine purposes as said cluster may be adapted and used. * * * That at times of the swift current of the Mississippi river and during bad weather said pile cluster is used by vessels to tie up to, so as to avoid anchor dragging and likewise to lessen the dangers of collision with other vessels whilst navigating in said river. * * * At no time do any vessels use said pile cluster to load or unload cargo or passengers, said pile cluster being incapable of so being used, and incapable of being used for any commerce on land, and incapable of being used for any purpose, except in the operation, maintenance, and navigation of vessels in navigable water, and in aid of their navigation or in aid of commerce on water, and having no relation or connection with land or land commerce.'

The damaged piles constituted no part or extension of the shore, as wharves, bridges, and piers do. Although driven into the bottom of the river, and attached in that way only to the land, they were completely surrounded by navigable water, and were used exclusively as aids to navigation. We think injuries to them by a ship come fairly within the principle approved by The Blackheath, 195 U.S. 361, 25 S.C.t. 46, 49 L. Ed. 236, and The Raithmoor, 241 U.S. 166, 36 S.C.t. 514, 60 L. Ed. 937. See Hughes on Admiralty (2d Ed.) § 100.

The District Court erred in denying jurisdiction, and its decree must be reversed.

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