Lockwood Bros. v. McAllister Bros.

437 F.2d 960

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Decided: February 9, 1971
• Docket: Nos. 15114, 15115
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

While moored on the side of its pier on the James River near Newport News, Virginia, about midday January 24,1969, a Horne Bros. Inc.’s barge and a crane thereon belonging to Lockwood Brothers, Inc., were substantially damaged by the wake of McAllister Bros., Inc.’s tug. While passing this point it created a bow swell that violently dislocated and disrupted the then engagement of the barge and crane in lifting a 28-ton door into place upon a United States LST. The tug was found at fault in Horne’s and Lockwood’s suits againt McAllister; on McAllister’s third-party claim against them for contribution, Lockwood and Horne were declared innocent.

Without questioning its own delinquency, McAllister appeals from the acquittal of Lockwood and Horne. The District Judge’s written opinion, 322 F.Supp. 304 (E.D.Va. July 13, 1970), embodies warrantable fact findings and sound conclusions of law, and we affirm upon it.

Affirmed.