Montego Bay Imports, Ltd. v. United States

10 Cl. Ct. 806, 1986 U.S. Claims LEXIS 789
CourtUnited States Court of Claims
DecidedSeptember 29, 1986
DocketNo. 414-85C
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 10 Cl. Ct. 806 (Montego Bay Imports, Ltd. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Montego Bay Imports, Ltd. v. United States, 10 Cl. Ct. 806, 1986 U.S. Claims LEXIS 789 (cc 1986).

Opinion

OPINION

MARGOLIS, Judge.

Plaintiff Montego Bay Imports, Ltd. seeks compensation for the sinking of its fishing vessel, CHANTAL S, by the U.S. Coast Guard after the vessel was seized pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881 because marijuana was found on board. Plaintiff claims that the unlawful destruction of the CHANTAL S resulted in the United States’ failure to institute formal forfeiture pro[808]*808ceedings as required by law, the taking of its property without just compensation or due process, and the illegal exaction of a fine or penalty. The defendant has moved for summary judgment alleging that this court lacks jurisdiction over the plaintiff’s claims. Plaintiff moved that the court treat defendant’s motion as one to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction over the subject matter of thé claims; defendant did not oppose this motion which the court granted. Plaintiff originally filed an action both in this court and in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and at oral argument requested a transfer of the case to that court if no jurisdiction was found here. Because this court does not have jurisdiction to hear plaintiff’s claims, defendant’s motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction is granted, and plaintiff’s request to transfer the case is granted.

FACTS

On April 13, 1985, the CHANTAL S, a United States-documented fishing vessel belonging to the plaintiff, departed Jamaica bound for Miami, Florida. On April 16, 1985, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter COURAGEOUS, on routine patrol approximately thirteen nautical miles northeast of Cayo Romano, Cuba, encountered the CHANTAL S. Personnel of the COURAGEOUS boarded the CHAN-TAL S for the purpose of a safety and document check. After receiving permission from the master of the CHANTAL S, a “sweep” was conducted of the vessel. As a result of that “sweep,” the USCG boarding party discovered marijuana on the CHANTAL S. The master and crew of the CHANTAL S were placed under arrest for importation of a controlled substance pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 955a, and the vessel was seized pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881. The USCG then assumed responsibility for the operation and safe condition of the CHANTAL S.

On April 17,1985, the USCG changed the escort vessel from the COURAGEOUS to the BEAR. Sometime after the change in escort vessel, a seawater intake hose on the starboard engine of the CHANTAL S burst, resulting in water entering the engine room and the shutting down of the engine by the USCG crew in charge. Additional personnel from the BEAR boarded the CHANTAL S to assist in an assessment of the damage. Although the results of this assessment are in dispute, it is undisputed that the Commanding Officer of the BEAR decided to scuttle the CHANTAL S, and that the scuttling was accomplished.

DISCUSSION

I. Failure to Institute Forfeiture Proceedings

Plaintiff claims it has been unlawfully and unconstitutionally deprived of the value and earning capacity of the CHAN-TAL S because of the defendant’s unlawful failure to conduct forfeiture proceedings under the customs laws of the United States. At the heart of plaintiff’s claims, however, is the alleged unlawful destruction of the CHANTAL S by the USCG. If the CHANTAL S had not been destroyed after seizure and no forfeiture proceedings had been conducted, it is clear that plaintiff would have no claim within the jurisdiction of the Claims Court. In that situation, the plaintiff would be limited to administrative review and, ultimately, suit in the United States District Court. 28 U.S.C. § 1355; 19 U.S.C. § 1608. A claim for “unlawful destruction” of property and, therefore, for the impropriety of the acts of government officials, sounds in tort. Shanbaum v. United States, 1 Cl.Ct. 177, 179 n. 3 (1982), aff'd mem., 723 F.2d 69 (Fed.Cir.1983). The Claims Court has no jurisdiction over claims sounding in tort. 28 U.S.C. § 1491; Shaw v. United States, 8 Cl.Ct. 796, 799 (1985); Eastport Steamship Corp. v. United States, 178 Ct.Cl. 599, 609, 372 F.2d 1002, 1010 (1967). It would be ironic if by the existence of an allegedly tortious destructive act of the government, jurisdiction could be found in this court where it would not exist absent the tort.

[809]*809The addition of allegedly tortious conduct by the government to its failure to conduct forfeiture proceedings does not vest jurisdiction in this court to hear a case where it is lacking under either situation alone.

II. Taking without Compensation or Due Process

Plaintiff also claims that the defendant is liable because the destruction of the CHANTAL S resulted in a “taking” of its property without due process or just compensation as required by the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Defendant asserts that the CHANTAL S was a hazard to navigation and its destruction was within the USCG’s “police power” as well as its statutory authority to “destroy ... sunken or floating dangers to navigation,” 14 U.S.C. § 88(a)(4).

A. Due Process

The “police power” of the government covers actions taken in the public interest and as such is an exception to the requirement that just compensation be paid to individuals for property taken. See Morton Thiokol, Inc. v. United States, 4 Cl.Ct. 625, 629-31 (1984) (describing and discussing the limits of “police power”). The court makes no determination whether the destruction of the CHANTAL S was appropriate as an exercise of police power. However, it is clear that no “process” is due prior to the seizure and, if necessary, prior to the destruction of property pursuant to the government’s police power. Calero-Toledo v. Pearson Yacht Leasing Co., 416 U.S. 663, 679-80, 94 S.Ct. 2080, 2089-90, 40 L.Ed.2d 452 (1974) (seizure of pleasure yacht used for unlawful purposes); North American Cold Storage v. Chicago, 211 U.S. 306, 315, 29 S.Ct. 101, 104, 53 L.Ed. 195 (1908) (destruction of unwholesome chickens); Loftin v. United States, 6 Cl.Ct. 596, 611-12 (1984) (destruction of diseased cattle). Even if process were due in such a circumstance, this court could provide no remedy; claims for solely due process violations are not within this court’s jurisdiction. Cabrera v. United States, 10 Cl.Ct. 219, 222 (1986); Shaw, 8 Cl.Ct. at 800; Alabama Hospital Association v. United States, 228 Ct.Cl. 176, 180-81, 656 F.2d 606, 609 (1981), cert. denied,

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Bluebook (online)
10 Cl. Ct. 806, 1986 U.S. Claims LEXIS 789, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/montego-bay-imports-ltd-v-united-states-cc-1986.