CHURCHILL v. F/V FJORD

Cynthia Holcomb HALL, Circuit Judge

Plaintiffs-appellants Churchill and Carlough sue for wrongful death and personal injury arising from the navigation of three skiffs, two of which collided. The district court had subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1333(1) and exercised pendent jurisdiction over plaintiffs' state law claim. The court, after a bench trial, entered judgment in the liability phase of the trial in favor of defendants-appellees William McLinn and the F/V Fjord. Appellants appeal to this court, asserting numerous grounds for reversal. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.

I

A collision of two skiffs occurred outside the entrance to the channel between Near Island and Kodiak Island, Alaska at approximately 1:20 a.m. on June 30, 1979. The channel generally runs in a north-south direction. One craft, operated and occupied only by David Panamarioff (the Panamarioff skiff) was headed in a northerly direction. The other craft, operated by Russell McLinn (the McLinn skiff), was headed in a southerly direction. Russell McLinn was a crew member of the F/V Fjord and the eighteen year old son of the Fjord's owner and master, William McLinn. Several days prior to the collision, William McLinn and the rest of the Fjord's crew flew to Seward on the mainland. Russell stayed behind, and on the night of June 30th he used the skiff to attend a beach party on another island. Five others were riding in the McLinn skiff on its return from the party when the collision occurred. The McLinn skiff struck the Panamarioff skiff, resulting in the death of Patrick Churchill and injury to plaintiff Dale Carlough, both of whom were riding in the McLinn skiff. Russell McLinn was found to be intoxicated with alcohol and probably marijuana at the time of the accident.

At the time of the collision, Michael Chichenoff was navigating a similar seine skiff (the Chichenoff skiff) in approximately the same direction and at approximately the same speed as the Panamarioff skiff. Three passengers occupied the Chichenoff skiff: Lori Chichenoff, Walter Haakanson and Dan Woods. The Chichenoff skiff was to the right of the Panamarioff skiff at a distance variously estimated to be from eight yards to as much as 100 yards.

Panamarioff had been experiencing engine difficulties and was headed home to the nearby village of Ouzinkie on Spruce Island when the accident occurred. Chichenoff had agreed to accompany his friend Panamarioff through the channel to insure that Panamarioff would not be stranded should his engine malfunction. There was no contact between the Chichenoff skiff and either of the other skiffs. None of the skiffs had night running lights and all were allegedly traveling at high speeds in violation of local ordinances.

Chichenoff operated a seine skiff of the salmon fishing vessel F/V Supersonic. The McLinn skiff was used for a similar purpose in conjunction with the F/V Fjord, a purse seiner. The fishing vessels were moored in Kodiak during the temporary closure of the salmon fishery. Plaintiff's suit against the F/V Supersonic and her owners was settled prior to trial.

Plaintiff's suit against defendant-appellee David Panamarioff was settled while this appeal was pending.

The district court entered an order granting summary judgment to Churchill and Carlough against Panamarioff and Russell McLinn jointly and severally, with the application of a specified comparative negligence formula and with the damages to be determined in a subsequent trial. The court ordered dismissal of the plaintiffs' claim for punitive damages and dismissal of the claims against William McLinn and the F/V Fjord. The court directed the entry of final judgment under Fed.R.Civ.P. 54(b).

II

A district court's findings of fact are reviewed under the clearly erroneous standard. Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(a); LaDuke v. Nelson, 762 F.2d 1318, 1321 (9th Cir. 1985). Under the clearly erroneous standard of review an appellate court must accept the lower court's findings of fact unless upon review the appellate court is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed. United States v. United States Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. 364, 395, 68 S.Ct. 525, 541, 92 L.Ed. 746 (1948); Dollar Rent A Car of Washington, Inc. v. Travelers Indemnity Co., 774 F.2d 1371, 1374 (9th Cir. 1985). Questions of law are reviewed de novo. United States v. McConney, 728 F.2d 1195, 1201 (9th Cir.) (en banc), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 824, 105 S.Ct. 101, 83 L.Ed.2d 46 (1984).

III

Appellants assert that the F/V Fjord is liable in rem for the torts of Russell McLinn in his operation of the Fjord's skiff. To establish the F/V Fjord's in rem liability, appellants must show that the skiff is part of the F/V Fjord's "equipage" and that Russell McLinn was "in lawful possession" of the skiff. See The Barnstable, 181 U.S. 464, 467, 21 S.Ct. 684, 685, 45 L.Ed. 954 (1901) ("the law in this country is entirely well settled that the ship itself is to be treated in some sense as a principal, and as personally liable for the negligence of anyone who is lawfully in possession of her, whether as owner or charterer"); Complaint of McLinn, 744 F.2d 677, 680 (9th Cir. 1984); G. Gilmore C. Black, The Law of Admiralty, § 9-18 at 615 (2d ed. 1975) ("Gilmore Black").

The district court dismissed appellants' in rem claim against the Fjord, finding that no credible evidence adequately supported plaintiffs' allegations. In order to conclude that the Fjord was not liable in rem, the district court must have found either that the skiff is not part of the Fjord's equipage or that Russell McLinn was not in lawful possession, or both. Thus, we may affirm the district court's conclusion of no in rem liability if either possible implicit finding is not clearly erroneous.

Because appellants must show both that the skiff is part of the equipage of the F/V Fjord and that Russell McLinn was in lawful possession of the skiff to establish in rem liability, we need not reach the equipage question in order to affirm the district court's ruling that there is no in rem liability. We affirm the district court solely on the basis that the evidence in the record supports an implicit finding that Russell McLinn was not in lawful possession of the Fjord's skiff. See Beezley v. Fremont Indemnity Co., 804 F.2d 530, 530 n. 1 (9th Cir. 1986), cert. denied, 480 U.S. 949, 107 S.Ct. 1610, 94 L.Ed.2d 796 (1987) ("we may affirm the district court on any basis fairly supported by the record").

The district court did not specifically decide whether the McLinn skiff was part of the equipage of the F/V Fjord, although it did hold that the Chichenoff skiff was part of the equipage of the F/V Supersonic. Although there is no indication in the record that the district court did not consider the McLinn skiff to be part of the equipage of the Fjord, the parties are in dispute on this issue and we need not resolve it.

Under the doctrine of in rem liability, charterers, pilots and stevedores are considered to be in lawful possession, whereas pirates, mutineers and "like" people are not. Gilmore Black, § 9-10 at 601. As discussed by Gilmore Black, the Barnstable rule of lawful possession should be viewed as creating liability where the owner of the vessel has entrusted control to a third party. Gilmore Black, § 9-18 at 621; see Complaint of McLinn, 744 F.2d at 685 (implying that vessel owner's consent to the use of the vessel's skiff in activities not involving the employee's duties is relevant to a finding of lawful possession); Cavcar Co. v. M/Z Suzdal, 723 F.2d 1096, 1101 (3d Cir. 1983). Thus, the rule requires that the vessel's owner give some degree of consent or authorization to the third party.

Despite Russell McLinn's status as a member of the Fjord's crew, the record supports the district court's implicit finding that he was not in lawful possession of the skiff. His use of the skiff was much more like that of a mutineer, pirate, or thief than a charterer, pilot, or stevedore. It is clear from the record that Russell did not have any authority from his father, William, to use the skiff. Use of the skiff was highly regulated and Russell required his father's permission to use the skiff. No one other than William McLinn possessed the authority to allow Russell to use the skiff.

When leaving the Fjord for his flight to Seward, both William McLinn and Joe Borg, the skiffman on the Fjord, told Russell to stay out of the skiff and not to touch the skiff. William admonished his son that he saw no reason for Russell to use the skiff while he was gone. In addition, Russell's personal, recreational use of the skiff at night while under the influence of alcohol and probably marijuana, contrary to all expectations for the skiff's use, supports the district court's implicit conclusion that Russell was not in lawful possession of the skiff.

Although the district court did not make an express finding on the issue of lawful possession in rejecting appellants' in rem claim, the evidence in the record supports an implicit finding that Russell was not in lawful possession of the McLinn. Therefore, the Fjord is not liable in rem for Russell McLinn's negligence in operating the skiff.

After the district court entered its findings of fact and conclusions of law, appellants twice moved the court to amend its findings and judgment on the issue of lawful possession. The district court again was presented with both the appellants' and the appellees' evidence on the issue. Appellees' evidence at trial consisted primarily of the testimony of William McLinn and Joe Borg, but also included testimony by Russell McLinn.
By refusing to amend its findings, it is clear that the district court again rejected appellants' claim that Russell was in lawful possession of the skiff. Consequently, we conclude that the district court necessarily accorded greater weight to appellees' evidence. We will not second-guess that assessment of credibility. United States v. Gomez, 846 F.2d 557, 560-61 (9th Cir. 1988) ("We cannot second-guess trial court findings that depend on explicit or implicit credibility assessments unless the findings are unsupported by the record.").

IV

The dismissal of appellants' claim against William McLinn under the Alaska Owner Responsibility Statute, AS § 05.25.040, is reviewed de novo. In re McLinn, 739 F.2d 1395, 1397 (9th Cir. 1984) (en banc). The district court dismissed this pendent state law claim on the basis of federal preemption. We affirm the district court, but do so on a different ground which is fairly supported by the record. See Beezley, 804 F.2d at 530 n. 1.

A

Section 05.25.040 provides that:

the owner of a watercraft is liable for injury or damage caused by the negligent operation of his watercraft. . . . The owner is not liable, however, unless his watercraft is used with his express or implied consent. It is presumed that his watercraft is being operated with the knowledge and consent of the owner, if at the time of the injury or damage, it is under the control of his . . . son.

"Watercraft" is defined by AS § 05.25.100(4) to mean "every description of vessel . . . used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water and devoted to recreational pursuits."

In light of this court's holding in Complaint of McLinn, it is apparent that the McLinn skiff falls within the coverage of section 05.25.040. See 744 F.2d at 683 (non-documented vessels temporarily devoted to recreational pursuits are "watercraft" within meaning of Alaska Owner Responsibility Statute). William McLinn cannot be held liable for the injury caused by his son's negligent operation of the skiff, however, unless his watercraft was used with his express or implied consent. AS § 05.25.040.

Although consent may be presumed if the watercraft was under the control of the owner's son at the time of the injury, id., there is ample record evidence to support a conclusion that the presumption was rebutted in this case. As noted above, William McLinn expressly directed his son to stay off the skiff while he was in Seward, and told Russell that he saw no reason to use the skiff in his absence. William McLinn could hardly have done more to dispel an inference that he either expressly or impliedly gave Russell his permission to use the skiff to travel to and from a drinking party on a nearby beach. When asked in deposition whether he was authorized to use the skiff, moreover, Russell McLinn replied: "Not that — no. I don't think so." Because we conclude that William McLinn neither expressly nor impliedly consented to Russell's use of the skiff for his "recreational pursuits," appellants' claim under the Alaska Owner Responsibility Statute must fail.

B

Because we have rejected appellants' pendent state law claim under the Alaska Owner Responsibility Statute on its merits, we must also decide whether the district court erred by striking appellants' jury trial demand from the complaint. Entitlement to a jury trial in federal court is a question of law freely reviewable. Standard Oil Co. of California v. Arizona, 738 F.2d 1021, 1022-23 (9th Cir. 1984), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 1132, 105 S.Ct. 815, 83 L.Ed.2d 807 (1985).

Appellants assert that the pendent state law claim under AS § 05.25.040 entitles them to a trial by jury. The district court rejected this argument, citing the Fifth Circuit's opinion in Tallentire v. Offshore Logistics, Inc., 754 F.2d 1274, 1287 (5th Cir. 1985), rev'd on other grounds, 477 U.S. 207, 106 S.Ct. 2485, 91 L.Ed.2d 174 (1986), on remand, 800 F.2d 1390 (1988). In Tallentire, the court held that where a state law claim is in federal court solely by virtue of admiralty jurisdiction, plaintiffs are not entitled to a jury trial. Id. Although at first blush such a rule seems harsh, to hold otherwise would contravene the manifest purpose of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 38(e) by allowing jury trials in admiralty cases in which plaintiffs allege a pendent state law claim. See also Ashland Oil v. Third Nat. Bank of Ashland, Ky., 557 F. Supp. 862, 872 (E.D.Ky. 1983) (no right to jury trial on common law crossclaim in action in which admiralty is sole basis of jurisdiction).

Appellants argue, however, that the general rule of no jury trials in admiralty cases should be disregarded when a plaintiff is forced into federal court by defendant's limitation action under 46 U.S.C. § 181-89. Appellants further assert that our decision in Complaint of Paradise Holdings Inc., 795 F.2d 756, 763 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 1008, 107 S.Ct. 649, 93 L.Ed.2d 705 (1986) (district court has discretion to stay related state court proceedings while hearing action brought under Limitation Act), precludes plaintiffs from proceeding in state court in the face of a limitation action in federal court.

Appellants' arguments might have force if, having chosen a forum or pled claims on which a jury trial was available, they were forced into a court of admiralty by appellees. This was not such a case. The appellants here selected the federal forum in the first instance, and repeatedly designated their complaint as arising in admiralty. In these circumstances, we agree with the district court, and with the Fifth Circuit, that appellants were not entitled to a jury trial on their pendent claim under the Alaska Owner Responsibility Statute.

V

It was undisputed in the court below that the McLinn skiff did not have proper operating lights, in violation of, inter alia, 46 C.F.R. § 25.05-1 (1982). This violation establishes statutory fault on the part of the skiff, and serves as a basis for in rem liability of the F/V Fjord. See Complaint of McLinn, 744 F.2d at 680. Once statutory fault is established, the rule of The Pennsylvania, 86 U.S. (19 Wall.) 125, 22 L.Ed. 148 (1873), places the burden of exoneration on appellees to show "not merely that her fault might not have been one of the causes, or that it probably was not, but that it could not have been." Id. 86 U.S. at 136.

The district court held as a matter of law that the lack of lights was not a cause of the accident. This court reviews a finding of proximate cause, or lack thereof, for clear error. Armstrong v. United States, 756 F.2d 1407, 1409 (9th Cir. 1985); see Trinidad Corp. v. S.S. Keiyoh Maru, 845 F.2d 818, 827 (9th Cir. 1988) ("We review the district court's application of facts to The Pennsylvania rule under the clearly erroneous standard."). Testimony at trial was that the natural lighting was "dusk-like," although the qualities inherent in this term were disputed by the parties. Although the McLinn skiff was leaving an area of greater darkness relative to the illumination surrounding the Panamarioff skiff, Chichenoff testified the McLinn skiff was "pretty clear" to him approximately thirty seconds prior to the collision. Haakanson, a passenger in the Chichenoff skiff, discussed with Chichenoff the approaching McLinn skiff thirty to forty seconds prior to the collision.

Although the district judge termed Russell McLinn's testimony incredible in many major areas, Russell testified he saw the Chichenoff skiff approximately a minute before impact. Panamarioff, who was intoxicated, was distracted by his balky outboard motor. Witnesses testified Panamarioff was looking back at his engine just before the collision. Russell McLinn also testified to this. Panamarioff himself admitted that he looked up immediately prior to the collision to see the oncoming McLinn skiff. Although the facts are disputed with respect to whether Panamarioff was viewing forward so that lights could have warned him of the closing McLinn skiff, the district court did not clearly error in refusing to so find.

In construing the rule of The Pennsylvania, this court has held that the vessel statutorily at fault has the burden of establishing the violation "could not reasonably be held to have been a proximate cause of the collision." Pacific Tow Boat Co. v. States Marine Corp., 276 F.2d 745, 749 (9th Cir. 1960). More recently, we held that "the burden imposed under The Pennsylvania rule is discharged by a clear and convincing showing of no proximate cause, rather than the stricter test of beyond a reasonable doubt." Trinidad Corp., 845 F.2d at 825. Applying this standard, the evidence supports the district court's finding that the absence of lights was not a proximate cause of the accident.

We note that our decision in Trinidad Corp. reexamined States S.S. Co. v. Permanente S.S. Corp., 231 F.2d 82 (9th Cir. 1956). In Permanente S.S. Corp., we held that the rule of The Pennsylvania requires the vessel statutorily at fault to "prove beyond reasonable doubt that the collision would [nonetheless] have occurred." Id. at 87 (emphasis added) (quoting Oriental Trading Transp. Co. v. Gulf Oil Corp., 173 F.2d 108, 109 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 337 U.S. 919, 69 S.Ct. 1162, 93 L.Ed. 1729 (1949)). We are bound by our decision in Trinidad Corp., which reexamined our earlier decisions in light of subsequent Supreme Court precedent. 845 F.2d at 825 n. 5. See, e.g., Heath v. Cleary, 708 F.2d 1376, 1378 n. 2 (9th Cir. 1983) ("Where . . . a Supreme Court decision has effectively undermined prior Ninth Circuit precedent, a [three-judge panel is] free to reexamine those earlier cases to determine their continuing validity.")

We note that this court in a prior appeal also agreed with the district court on this issue with respect to Chichenoff's negligence. Complaint of McLinn, 744 F.2d at 684 n. 3.

VI

Although the district court did not expressly address the question whether Russell McLinn was required to blast a sound signal, the fact findings of the court below dispose of the issue.

Appellants assert that the collision actually took place within the channel between Near Island and Kodiak Island and that the vision between the approaching vessels was obscured by an intervening obstruction, a large bluff at the entrance to the Near Island channel. Because of the obstruction, appellants argue, a sound signal was required by law. 72 COLREGS (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea) 9(a)(f), or 34(e).

There is ample evidence in the record to support not only the district court's finding that the collision took place outside the channel entrance, but also that the advancing skiffs were visually aware of each other. Therefore, no intervening obstruction obscured the skiffs from their operators' field of vision and no sound signal was required.

VII

The district court held that William McLinn was not liable to plaintiffs under the doctrine of negligent entrustment. The doctrine of negligent entrustment is embodied in Restatement (Second) of Torts § 390 (1965), and both parties agree that § 390 should apply to suits in admiralty. See Pan-Alaska Fisheries, Inc. v. Marine Construction Design, 565 F.2d 1129, 1133-34 (9th Cir. 1977). Section 390 provides that one who supplies a chattel for another's use whom the supplier "knows or has reason to know" is likely to use the chattel in a manner "involving unreasonable risk of physical harm to himself and others" is subject to liability for the physical harm resulting to them. Restatement (Second) of Torts § 390. To prevail on this theory, appellants must show that William McLinn supplied the skiff directly to his son, and must have known or should have known that Russell would be likely to use the skiff in a dangerous manner. This court reviews for clear error whether a duty of care has been breached. Eichelberger v. NLRB, 765 F.2d 851, 856 (9th Cir. 1985); Armstrong, 756 F.2d at 1409.

First, there is ample evidence to support the conclusion that William McLinn did not "supply" the skiff to his son for his use. As noted above, Russell McLinn did not have permission to use the skiff, and, according to his father, Russell did not use the skiff in the past without his father's permission. Second, there is enough evidence in the record for the district court to find that William McLinn did not know or have reason to know that his son would operate the skiff in a harmful manner. Russell McLinn had not previously disobeyed his father on any serious matter or given his father any reason to believe he would disobey instructions not to use the skiff. Further, William McLinn had observed his son using the skiff and believed he was a competent operator. Prior to the collision, William McLinn had never seen his son drunk or under the influence of alcohol or marijuana, although the evidence at trial on this point was conflicting. In addition, William McLinn testified he was unaware of Russell's legal problems with marijuana, driving while intoxicated charges, or juvenile problems in Hawaii. The district court did not clearly err.

VIII

The district court found no creditable evidence adequately supported appellants' allegations that William McLinn was liable under the doctrine of family purpose. The evidence supports the district court's conclusion that liability could not be predicated on the family purpose doctrine. Although, as appellants assert, the bases of the court's finding may be ambiguous, there is evidence indicating that the F/V Fjord was not simply a family activity, but was part of a commercial enterprise. Further, as the facts described above show, Russell McLinn's use of the skiff on June 30, 1979 is not consistent with any conceivable family purpose.

IX

Appellants assert that the district court erred in sustaining objections to appellants' attempts to introduce evidence concerning Russell McLinn's reputation for delinquency. Appellants argue such evidence is relevant to the issue whether William McLinn knew or should have known his son would use skiff in a dangerous manner. Therefore, appellants contend that the district court's rejection of the negligent entrustment claim must be reversed as a result of the error. This court reviews evidentiary rulings for an abuse of discretion. Coursen v. A.H. Robins Co., Inc., 764 F.2d 1329, 1333 (9th Cir. 1985).

We hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion in excluding the evidence. It was clearly in the district court's discretion to decide whether the evidence appellants sought to admit was relevant under Federal Rule of Evidence 401, or outweighed by its potential prejudice and its potential for wasting the court's time. Fed.R.Evid. 403. See id. at 1333-35, 1339-40. Further, appellants did not suffer any prejudice as a result of the alleged error. Appellants questioned William McLinn extensively about his son's behavior, and similar evidence to that excluded was admitted.

X

Appellants contend that the district court erred in refusing to award punitive damages against Russell McLinn. Punitive damages are available under the general maritime law and may be imposed for "conduct which manifests `reckless or callous disregard' for the rights of others or for conduct which shows `gross negligence or actual malice or criminal indifference.'" Protectus Alpha Navigation Co. v. North Pacific Grain Growers, Inc., 767 F.2d 1379, 1385 (9th Cir. 1985) (citations omitted).

The district court found that, although Russell McLinn did not exercise reasonable care, there was no creditable evidence that he acted wailfully, recklessly, maliciously, or with gross negligence. This finding is reviewable for clear error. Bergen v. F/V St. Patrick, 816 F.2d 1345, 1347 (9th Cir. 1987). Upon a careful review of the record, we hold that the district court did not clearly err. The district court could properly find that, notwithstanding Russell's intoxication, he did not act with a "reckless or callous disregard for the rights of others" or with "gross negligence or actual malice or criminal indifference." Protectus Alpha Navigation Co., 767 F.2d at 1385.

XI

The district court erred with respect to its comparative fault allocations. The court below incorrectly compared each plaintiff's comparative negligence with the other. The district court held that the percentage of comparative negligence "of each of the two plaintiffs and each of the three defendants is apportioned as follows: Patrick Churchill — 20%; Dale Carlough — 20%; Russell McLinn — 35%; David Panamarioff — 25%; William McLinn and the F/V Fjord — 0%." The district court, however, should have compared each plaintiff's negligence separately with the defendants. We reverse and remand on this issue for proceedings consistent with this opinion.

AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART AND REMANDED. Each party shall bear its own costs on appeal.