Sun Harbor Marina Partnership v. M/Y The Bella Dog, U.S.C.G. Official No. 1028404

Opinion

SUN HARBOR MARINA PARTNERSHIP, Case No.: 3:25-cv-00051-JES-KSC A CALIFORNIA GENERAL PARTNERSHIP, dba SUN HARBOR ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR MARINA, INTERLOCUTORY VESSEL SALE Plaintiff, AND AUTHORIZATION TO CREDIT BID v. M/Y THE BELLA DOG, U.S.C.G. [ECF NO. 15] OFFICIAL NO. 1028404, a 1985 GOLDEN APPROXIMATELY 38-FEET IN LENGTH AND 12-FEET IN BEAM, AND ALL OF EQUIPMENT, FURNISHINGS AND APPURTENANCES, in rem, Defendant. Pending before the Court is Plaintiff Sun Harbor Marina Partnership's ("Plaintiff') Motion for Interlocutory Vessel Sale and Authorization to Credit Bid ("Motion for Vessel Sale"). For the reasons stated below, the Court GRANTS the unopposed Motion for Vessel Sale. / / / / / / A. Factual Background On July 3, 2019, Kelsi Smith (“Smith”), who U.S. Coast Guard records reflect is the owner of Defendant M/Y BELLA DOG (the “Defendant Vessel”), executed a Maritime Contract for Private Wharfage (the "Wharfage Contract"), a true and correct copy of which is attached as Exhibit A to the Verified Complaint ("VC"). VC at ¶ 5. Paragraph 9 of the Wharfage Contract provides in relevant part: "Assuming Owner has not breached any term of the Agreement (in which event the Marina may immediately terminate this Agreement) and the Agreement is for a monthly period, it can only be terminated by either party by giving thirty (30) days written notice of termination to the other. In terminating the Agreement pursuant to 30 days advance notice, the party terminating the Agreement is not required to specify any cause for the termination." VC at ¶ 10. Paragraph 9 of the Wharfage Contract provides in relevant part that: "If after termination of this Agreement by the Marina the Owner fails to remove his or her Vessel, such Vessel shall be regarded as a trespasser and wharfage fees will, without waiving objections to the Vessel's trespass, be charged based on the then current transient rate." [Emphasis in original]. VC at ¶ 11. On September 5, 2024, Plaintiff’s counsel sent Smith a letter in which he informed her of Plaintiff’s election to terminate the Wharfage Contract, effective October 9, 2024, and advising that if the Defendant Vessel was not removed from the marina by the termination date wharfage fees would accrue at the marina’s transient vessel rate of $2.00 per foot of vessel length per day. Counsel’s letter also informed Ms. Smith that if the Defendant Vessel was not removed from the marina by the termination date she would be regarded as a trespasser and that in such event she would be subject to arrest pursuant to the Commercial Instruments and Maritime Liens Act. VC at ¶ 12. In an attempt to resolve this matter informally and avoid the expense and delay necessarily associated with arresting the Defendant Vessel, on November 18, 2024, Plaintiff’s counsel sent Smith a letter advising that if she simply removed the Defendant Vessel from the marina within seven days, Plaintiff would waive and not pursue recovery of accrued wharfage fees. VC at ¶ 13. The Defendant Vessel was not removed from Plaintiff’s marina despite repeated demands to do so. VC at ¶ 14. Plaintiff also avers that it has fully satisfied all obligations required of it as a maritime services provider. VC at ¶ 15. B. Procedural Background On January 9, 2025, Plaintiff filed its Verified Complaint against the Defendant Vessel and all of her engines, tackle, accessories, equipment, furnishings and appurtenances, in rem for vessel arrest, interlocutory sale, and money damages for breach of maritime contract, trespass, and quantum meruit. See generally, Verified Complaint. This Court issued Orders on January 14, 2025, authorizing the arrest of the Defendant Vessel and appointing Plaintiff as Substitute Custodian. ECF Nos. 6, 7. The default of Defendant Vessel was entered on March 25, 2025. ECF No. 14. Plaintiff filed the instant Motion for Interlocutory Vessel Sale and Authorization to Credit Bid on May 4, 2025. A. Interlocutory Sale "The interlocutory sale of a vessel is not a deprivation of property but rather a necessary substitution of the proceeds of the sale, with all of the constitutional safeguards necessitated by the in rem process." Ferrous Fin. Servs. Co. v. O/S Arctic Producer, 567 F. Supp. 400, 401 (W.D. Wash. 1983). The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims provide that upon application of a party having custody of the subject property, the Court may order the property sold if the property is "liable to deterioration" while in custody pending the action, "there is an unreasonable delay in securing the release of the property," or if "the expense of keeping the property is excessive or disproportionate" Fed. R. Civ. P. Supp. R. E(9)(a).1. The applicant is required to satisfy one of the three listed criteria to justify an interlocutory sale. Cal. Yacht Marina- Chula Vista, LLC v. S/V OPILY, No. 14-CV-01215-BAS (BGS), 2015 WL 1197540, at *2 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 16, 2015) (citing Merchants Nat'l Bank of Mobile v. Dredge Gen. G. L. Gillespie, 663 F.2d 1338, 1341 (5th Cir. Unit A 1981)); Sun Harbor Marina Partnership v. M/Y NEFARIOUS, Case No. 23-cv-00664-JES-DDL [ECF 16] at p. 4 (same). Plaintiff moves for interlocutory sale on all three grounds. See Motion for Vessel Sale at 8-14. Plaintiff first argues that as the Defendant Vessel 's machinery, equipment and general condition deteriorate while in custody, her value is commensurately decreasing. Motion for Vessel Sale at 8. To support this contention, Plaintiff submits a Declaration from Ray Jones ("Jones Decl."), a licensed yacht broker of 42 years who has sold thousands of vessels and offered expert opinion in dozens of cases involving arrested vessels. Jones Decl. ¶¶ 1-2. Jones stated that “vessels inevitably deteriorate in condition and value over time,” that [s]uch deterioration is substantially exacerbated when vessels (as in this case) sit for extended periods while under arrest in a salt water environment, that [w]hile an arrested vessel sits idle, her engines, generators and other equipment are not operated under load (if at all), and such disuse can detrimentally impact the condition and value of the vessel,” and that the “Defendant Vessel can therefore be expected to further deteriorate in condition and value while she is under arrest and sits idle.” Jones Decl. ¶¶ 3-4. Based upon Jones' testimony, the Court finds that the Defendant Vessel is liable to deterioration within the meaning of Rule E(9)(a) while in custody. See Bartell Hotels v. S/L Talus, 445 F. Supp. 3d 983, 987-88 (S.D. Cal. 2020) (relying on Jones's testimony to conclude that a vessel sitting idle in salt water is liable to deterioration); California Yacht Marina-Chula Vista, LLC, 2015 WL 1197540, at *3 (same); and Shelter Cove Marina, Ltd. v. M/Y lsabella, Case No. 17-cv-1578-GPC-BLM, 2017 WL 5906673, at *2 (S.D. Cal. Nov. 30, 2017) (same); and Sun Harbor Marina Partnership, supra at p. 9 (same). Next, Plaintiff argues that since the Defendant Vessel 's arrest there has been no effort to secure its release which has resulted in an unreasonable delay. Motion for Vessel Sale at 2. "Courts generally allow at least four months for the provision of a bond to secure the release of a vessel before granting an interlocutory sale on grounds of unreasonable delay." GB Cap. Holdings, LLC v. S/V Glori B, No. 18cv312-WQH-AGS, 2019 WL 277387, at *4 (S.D. Cal. Jan. 22, 2019) (citing Vineyard Bank v. M/Y Elizabeth I, U.S.C.G. Off. No. 1130283, No. 08CV2044 BTM WMC, 2009 WL 799304, at *2 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 23, 2009)), aff’d sub nom; GB Cap. Holdings, LLC v. Heston, 802 F. App'x 304 (9th Cir. 2020); and Sun Harbor Marina Partnership, supra at p. 5 (so recognizing). The Defendant Vessel was arrested on February 3, 2025. ECF No. 9, 10. Thus, calculated through the hearing date on the instant Motion (June 11, 2025), the Defendant Vessel has been under arrest for 128 days, which is 4.2 months. The record does not show any attempt to secure the Defendant Vessel 's release since. Thus, the Court finds that there has been an unreasonable delay within the meaning of Rule E(9)(a), See Bartell Hotels, 445 F. Supp. 3d at 988 (noting general rule allowing at least four months to post security and finding a delay of almost six months unreasonable); Ferrous Fin. Servs. Co., 567 F. Supp. at 401 (finding no attempt to secure vessel's release within four months of arrest was unreasonable delay); and Sun Harbor Marina Partnership, supra at p. 5 (noting general rule allowing at least four months to post security unreasonable delay found where no attempt made in 5.5 months to secure vessel’s release from custody). Finally, Plaintiff argues that the cost of keeping the Defendant Vessel in custody is excessive and disproportionate. Motion for Vessel Sale at 10. Plaintiff presents evidence that while the Defendant Vessel is in custody Substitute Custodian fees will continue to accrue in an amount not less than $114.00 for general custodial services, plus $50.00 per week for interior vessel inspections, and that the Substitute Custodian fees, calculated through the date of the hearing on the instant Motion, total at least $15,492.00. Id. at 11. Plaintiff also presents evidence that the fair market value of the Defendant Vessel is, at most, $10,000.00. Id. at 11. Thus, monthly Substitute Custodian fees now exceed the fair market value of the Defendant Vessel. "Maintenance expenses of several thousand dollars per month, particularly where [nor attempt has been made] to answer Plaintiff’s Complaint or secure the Vessel's release, are excessive and disproportionate" Vineyard Bank, 2009 WL 799304, at *2. Accordingly, the Court finds that the cost of keeping the Defendant Vessel in custody is excessive and disproportionate under Rule E(9)(a). See GB Cap. Holdings, LLC, 2019 WL 277387, at *4 (holding accrued costs of $2,430.00 per month excessive and disproportionate to vessel's $6,000.00 fair market value); and Sun Harbor Marina Partnership, supra at p. 5 (holding Substitute Custodian fees of at least $28,6719.00 excessive and disproportionate to vessel’s fair market value of at most $15,000.00). In the light of the Defendant Vessel 's likelihood of deterioration, the unreasonable delay in securing its release, and the excessive and disproportionate cost of keeping it in custody, the Court finds interlocutory sale warranted under Rule E(9)(a) and GRANTS Plaintiff’s Motion in this regard. B. Authorization to Credit Bid Plaintiff asks the Court to authorize Plaintiff to credit bid at the Defendant Vessel 's auction in an amount up to the lien amount in the Verified Complaint ($6,228.55) to be established by affidavit, plus its actual and demonstrable costs of suit, including U.S. Marshal, substitute custodian, and other custodia legis expenses to be calculated through the date of sale. Motion for Vessel Sale at 14. Plaintiff asserts that as the only maritime lien claimant, it is by definition senior to all other claims in this action. Id. Under the Civil Local Rules, when the court determines on the merits that a plaintiff or plaintiff in intervention has a valid claim senior in priority to all other parties, that plaintiff in intervention foreclosing a properly recorded and endorsed preferred mortgage on, or other valid security interest in the vessel may bid, without payment of cash, certified check or cashier's check, up to the total amount of the secured indebtedness as established by affidavit filed and served on all other parties no later than seven (7) days prior to the date of sale. Civ. L.R. E. l(e)(2). There is nothing in the record to indicate that a party aside from Plaintiff has asserted any maritime lien claim against the Defendant Vessel. It follows that Plaintiff has a valid claim senior in priority to all other parties and thus the Court finds it appropriate to grant Plaintiff’s request to credit bid at the Defendant Vessel 's auction. / / / / / / Based on the foregoing, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s Motion for Interlocutory Sale and credit authorization as follows. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that, consistent with Rule E(9)(b) and Civil Local Rule B.1(e) the United States Marshal is hereby directed and empowered to sell said Defendant Vessel and her engines, tackle, accessories, equipment, furnishings and appurtenances, as is, where is, at public sale at the first available time and date, after having first caused notice of said sale to be published daily in a newspaper of general circulation within the City of San Diego, California for at least seven days immediately before the date of sale; and IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that such public notice specify the date, time and location for the sale of the Defendant Vessel; and IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, consistent with Civil Local Rule E.1(e)(2), such public notice specify that the last and highest bidder at the sale will be required to deposit with the U.S. Marshal a certified check or a cashier's check in the amount of the full purchase price not to exceed $500, and otherwise $500 or ten percent (10%) of the bid, whichever is greater, and that the balance, if any, of the purchase price shall be paid by certified check or cashier's check before confirmation of the sale or within three days of dismissal of any opposition which may have been filed, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays; and IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that any proceeds of said sale shall be held by the United States Marshal or deposited by the United States Marshal in the Registry of this Court, pending further order of this Court; and IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff, having a secured maritime lien interest in the Defendant Vessel pursuant to the Commercial Instruments and Federal Maritime Lien Act (46 U.S.C. §§ 31301-31343) and being the only claimant in this action asserting a maritime claim against her, is authorized pursuant to Civil Local Rule E.l(e)(2) to credit bid at the auction of the Defendant Vessel, without payment of cash, a sum equal to its }secured interest in the Defendant Vessel, consisting of the lien amount specified in Plaintiff's Verified Complaint ($6,228.55), plus its actual costs of suit through the date of sale, including U.S. Marshal and other custodia legis expenses, with such costs and expenses to be calculated at the rates specified and authorized in the Order Appointing Substitute Custodian and Authorizing Movement of Defendant Vessel. However, as Plaintiff's maritime necessaries lien interest in the Defendant Vessel does not, as a matter of law, include attorneys’ fees, such fees are not to be included in any credit bid Plaintiff makes; and IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that should Plaintiff elect to credit bid, it shall file serve any appearing parties with its Notice of Intent to Credit Bid no later than seven days prior to the date of the sale of the Defendant Vessel, as required by Civil Local E.l(e)(2); and IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Civil Local Rule E.1(e)(2), that 1f within three days of the auction date, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, no written objection is filed, the sale shall stand confirmed as of course, without the necessity of any affirmative action thereon by a judge, except that no sale shall stand confirmed until buyer has complied fully with the terms of the purchase. The hearing set for June 11, 2025 is VACATED. 51 Dated: May 16, 2025 A □□ ae 4) Honorable James E. Sunmons Jr. United States District Judge

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