In re: Salmon Bay Barge Line, Inc. in Admiralty

• Court: District Court, W.D. Washington
• Decided: February 5, 2026
• Docket: 2:25-cv-01703
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

7 The Honorable Kymberly K. Evanson

8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

9 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE 10 IN RE: SALMON BAY BARGE LINE, INC. IN ADMIRALTY 11 No. 2:25-cv-01703-KKE 12 ORDER GRANTING 13 UNOPPOSED MOTION TO STAY LIMITATION PROCEEDING AND 14 PERMIT CLAIMANT FANTAZIA 15 TO PURSUE STATE COURT CLAIM UNDER SINGLE- 16 CLAIMANT EXCEPTION

19 THIS MATTER comes before the Claimant Michael Fantazia’s Unopposed Motion to Stay 20 Limitation Proceeding and Permit Claimant Fantazia to Pursue State Court Claim Under Single 21 Claimant Exception. The Court has reviewed the Motion, the supporting declaration, the record in 22 this case, and the applicable law, and IT IS HEREBY ORDERD: 23 1. Claimant Michael Fantazia’s Unopposed Motion to Stay Limitation Proceeding and 24 Permit Claimant Fantazia to Pursue State Court Claim Under Single Claimant Exception IS 25 GRANTED. 26 ORDER GRANTING UNOPPOSED MOTION 2. Claimant Michael Fantazia is the only claimant in this action. 1 3. As the sole claimant in this action, Claimant Fantazia has the right to pursue his 2 3 claim in state court while reserving issues regarding privity of knowledge for this Court. See 4 Newton v. Shipman, 718 F.2d 959, 962-63 (9th Cir. 1983). Claimant Fantazia and Limitation 5 Plaintiff have agreed regarding the necessary stipulations to allow Claimant Fantazia to pursue his 6 claim under the single-claimant exception. 7 4. The stay placed on prosecution of any and all suits against Limitation Plaintiff 8 properly imposed on this Court on October 21, 2025, see ECF No. 12 at 2, is lifted to allow 9 Claimant Fantazia to pursue his claim in state court under the single-claimant exception. 10 5. This Court maintains exclusive jurisdiction to determine limitation of liability 11 issues. Claimant Fantazia is barred from seeking in any action in any state court any judgment or 12 13 ruling on the issue of Petitioner Salmon Bay Barge Line, Inc.’s right to limitation of liability. 14 6. The Parties shall file a joint status report with this Court within thirty days of the 15 conclusion of the state action. 16 SO ORDERED this 5th day of February, 2026. 17

19 A 20 Kymberly K. Evanson 21 United States District Judge

23 24 25 26 ORDER GRANTING UNOPPOSED MOTION