The Wabash

279 F. 921, 1922 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 896

• Court: District Court, D. Connecticut
• Decided: April 17, 1922
• Docket: No. 2386
• Status: Published

Opinion

THOMAS, District Judge.

The petition of the American Steamship Owners’ Mutual Protection & Indemnity Association, Inc., recites that Frank S. Martin, who had been appointed receiver of the French American Line, Inc., by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, insured a number of vessels belonging to said company, and among others the steamship Wabash; that subsequently, and on or about July 14, 1921, an order was entered in this court, in this suit, providing that the Wabash be condemned and sold, and that the proceeds of such sale be deposited in the registry of this court. The petition further alleges that this was done, and that by reason of the premises the petitioner is entitled to participate in the distribution of the proceeds of the sale of said steamship to the extent of its claim against the receiver, amounting to $4,886.97, the same being the total amount of premiums due for insurance covering the several vessels which the receiver insured, including the Wabash.

[1] The Credit Foncier d’Algerie et de Tunisie, a libelant of the Wabash, excepts to the petition on the ground that it does not show that a lien existed against the Wabash on account of the matters alleged in ihe petition.

I think that the exception should be sustained. It is well settled ihat no lien exists against a vessel on behalf of an insurer on account of unpaid insurance premiums. The Mame (D. C.) 184 Fed. 968; In re Insurance (D. C.) 22 Fed. 109, affirmed (C. C.) 24 Fed. 559.

[2] The petitioner contends, nevertheless, that its claim is entitled ro priority over that of the libelants on equitable principles, because '.he insurance premiums were an expense of the receivership, and that this court must act upon equitable principles in distributing the funds in its possession.

Even if this court, sitting in admiralty, had power to distribute the funds in its possession among general creditors, I do not believe that petitioner’s position could be sustained, because its claim is not entitled ■:o priority over that of the lien creditors on equitable principles. American Engineering Co. v. Metropolitan By-Products Co. (C. C. A.) 275 Fed. 34; The Allianca (D. C.) 65 Fed. 245.

It is not alleged that there are not sufficient general funds in the nands of the receiver to pay petitioner’s claim. The proceeds of the sale are insufficient to satisfy the claims of the lien creditors. The reseivership was not for their benefit, and, if the vessel had been operated it a profit, no benefit would have accrued to them. In this case all of :he lien creditors contracted with the vessel prior to the commencement if the receivership, but the petitioner contracted with the receiver, knowing that he represented an insolvent concern.

The exception is therefore sustained; and it is so ordered.