# Petition for Writ of Certiorari — Craig v. United States

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## Record

- **Collection:** Supreme Court brief
- **Document type:** Petition for Writ of Certiorari
- **Published:** January 1, 1969
- **Citation:** 396 U.S. 987

## Text

PREME COURT.0& ~~ |
| Toros I/O |

Supreme Court of the United |States atiaeote

;

ELIZABETH ELAINE CRAIG, et al., he
\ “i : -} °,e
~ 3 6 Petitioner,
US. es
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, et. al.,
at, , Respondent.

Petition for a Writ of Certiorari to the United States
_____ Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

PETER J. HUGHES, ©

2550 Fifth Avenue,
Suite 515,
San Diego, Calif. 92103,

Counsel for. Petitioner.
epleey usin

Wa ter P. CHRISTENSEN,
2550 Fifth Avenue, “

_ Suite 515; ae
San Diego, Calif. 92103,
Of Counsel. eee kes:
. ‘a

Parker & Son, Inc., Law Printers, Los Angeles. Phone 685-9790

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Pertinent Portions of Rule 15(c) of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure 15 :

a
°

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES CITED..

Cases Page

California Stevedore & Ballast Co. v. Pan-Atlantic

ks Pe he EE Setcnsrcntntnoeneniinn ike
Phillips v. U.S., 127 Fed. :Supp. 912 .............. 4, 5,
-Sigurdson v. Del Guercio, 241 F.2d 480 ccccssseee
eee Vv. Ritz, 382 F. 2d a
Rules °
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 15(c) saa
inisisatiicalsepajulsiancaeia aula amineate y a a Se 7,
Statutes
‘United States Code Annotated, Title 28, Sec. 1254
OD) cictiienntadtenbemedinnibnacias
United. States Code Annotated, Title 46, ‘Mice 761-
ates a AR nea eRe INS 2 4

United States Code Acie’: ~~ 46, See, 763 ....

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-/

_ IN THE

Supreme Court of the United States
rae

. October Term, 1969
" a “aici | 7 i

; 4 .

ELIZABETH ELAINE CRAIG, et al.,.° |
| Petitioner,
US.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ét. al.,
: Respowudent.

- Petition for a Writ of Certiorari to the United States
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

-

Petitioner prays -that a ‘Writ of Certiorari issue to
review the Judgment of the United States. Court of *
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit entered on — 24, 1969. .

Opinions Below.

“The opinion of the District Court for the Southern
District of California is réported at 284 Fed. Supp. 697.
' The opinion of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit is reported PERE | Fe. prmenee

J urisdiction.

The Judgment of the Court of Appeals for, the Ninth -
Circuit was made and entered -on June 24, 1969
and a copy thereof is appended to this petition in the Ap-
pendix at pp. ........ OE cds The opinion of the District
“Court is appended to this petition in the Appendix at.pp.
Sap castes The jurisdiction of this Court is invoked un-
der 28 U.S.C.A. Section 1254 (1)...

\

oo —“‘i‘_OS—

ae oi a,' ¥
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Questions Presented.
In a suit under the Death of the High Seas Act, .

46 U.S. C.A..Sections 761-768, which was based upon - |
_ Admiralty’ law; the.amother on her behalf, and upon the

behalf of her six surviving children’ sought recovery,
for damages, for the death of her husband ‘in an air-
plane. crash aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. ‘CON-

STELLATION. The action was timely filed within

the two years required by 46 U.S.C,A. Section 763
against several named defendants and “Does I through.
X”’. When petitioner sought to serve Litton Systems,

Inc., as Doe I after the running of.the statute of lim-
itations the District Court refused to allow the, aménd-

‘ment: (1) to substitute Litton Systems, ‘Inc.,‘as Doe |

I; or (2) _to allow the amendment adding Litton Sys-
tems, Inc., to relate back to the time of filing the action,

or (3) to allow Litton Systems, Inc., to be brought in ~
-as a party after the running of the statute ‘of limitations

as a new party defendant.’ The “Court of Appeals af-
firmed.and so the questions presented are: :

‘1. Whether the us¢ of a fictitiously named defend-

‘ant in an Admiralty action where jurisdiction is not
, predicated upon diversity of citizenship is proper?

2. . Whether the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

‘Rule 15(c) ‘pre-empt an Admiralty Court from estab-

lishing rules: of procedure to see: that justice. is* done,
between the parties? |

3.. Must the Federal Rules of, Civil Procedure be
narrowly construed when a _queStion is presented that
is not covered nor contemplated bythe rules? - °

1Tt is of interest to note ‘that Litton Systems, Inc. has been a
party to companion litigation arising out of the accident brought
by a seaman named Sevits [R. pp. 40 and 54] and is also attempt-.

‘ing to be dismissed out and not defend .or the merits.

o

Statutes, Federal Rules, and Regulations Involved. _

The pertinent portions of 46 U.S. C/A. Sections 761- .

768 and Rule 15(c) of the~Federal ‘Rules’ of Civil -

Procedure are set forth i in the Appendix at PP-.. sckcaae to. 3

Statement.’ :

This action arises from the death of a pilot. in’
; crash of his aircraft aboard the U.S.S. CONSTELLA-
TION off thé'coast of Okinawa on Augiist 19, 1963
[R. pp. 4.and 5]. The:complaint namés as defendants
“the United States of America, Timken Roller. Bearing

Company, Aluminum Company ‘of. ‘America, | Bethlehem. |

Steel Corporation McKiernan-Terry Corporation, and
‘Does I through X [R. p. 2]. The thrust of the com-
plaint is for negligence on the part of the. defendants

in the manufacture of thé arresting gear: resulting” i in:
a defect proximately causing the ‘crash of the aircraft .
; [R. pp. 2 and 3- 5]. A eent exe yy

_ In the body of the complairit there is‘an: ‘pSlega tio
in Paragraph number III [R. p- 3] as.follows toe
“The true names and capacities, whether individual,

corporate, associate-or otherwise, -of respondents,
Does I through X, are unknown to libellant, who

3 therefore; sues said responddnts by such fictitious
_names. Libellant is informed and believes and ‘there-
on alleges that each ‘of the respondents, herein

designated as a Doe is responsible in some man-_

ner for the events and happenings herein referred
_to and caused. injuries and damages proximately
thereby as hereinafter alleged.’

** e

- There is in addition to the shite 5 ilegation a charg-

ing clause specifically alleging that Does I through X
did carelessly, ‘and ‘negligently construct, design, engi-
neer, fabricate, manufacture, equip, supply and main-

wy. -4

« tain the arresting gear assembly on board the U.S.S.
CONSTELLATION [R. p.. 5]. Libellant candidly al-
leged that she was in doubt as to which of the re-
spondents. was negligent and requested leave of Court

to prove which one or ones were responsible at the time
of trial [R. p. 5].

- Jurisdiction in the Federal District Court was based
upon the Death on the High Seas Act, Title 46 U.S.C.A.
Sections 761 to 768 [R. p. 2] and the complaint was
filed on August 16, 1965 within two years of the
date of death [R. p. 2]. | )

» An alias citation was issued on February 24, 1966
and Litton Systems, Inc., was served as Doe I on
February 28,7 1966 [R. ‘pp. 12 and 13]. Litton Sys-
tems, Inc., appeared specially and expected to’ the alias
citation. The District Court ‘requested: that petitioner
make a motion wnder Rule 15(c) to permit the naming
of defendants by fictitious name; to permit the amend-
ment to the libel by adding Litton Systems, Inc., as a
"ns as of the, date of service-of the alias Summons;
. _ and to permit the adding of Littofi Systems, Inc., as
_ of the date of the motion, This motion was filed on
November 16, 1966 [R. pp. 31 and 32] and was set
for hearing on November 28, 1966. “Exceptions were
filed by Litton Systems, Inc., and the District Court °
_ entered its order denying petitioner the right to amend
on May 31, 1967 which order was filed on June 2

1967 [R. pp. 91 and 93}.

The memorandum decision acknowledged that there
was scant authority for the use of fictitiously named
defendants in admiralty relying upon Phillips v. U.S.,
N.D. Cal. 1955, 127 Fed. Supp. 912 and then went on
to hold that Rule 15(c)»of the Federal Rules of Civil

’

/ an
rr

—5— .
PF tH
Procedure required a showing of netice of the institu-

tion of the action within the statutory period of a de-
fendant [R. pp--91-93]. Petitioner appealed to the

_ United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

On appeal the Court of Appeals affirmed. The Court
acknowledged that‘there was no provision in. the Fed-
eral Statutes or Ft) of Civil Procedure au-
-thorizing or prohibiting’ the use of fictitious parties and
indicated that. at least in “diversity” cases (emphasis
_added) the Court had expressed disapproval citing Tole-.
free v. Ritz, 9 Cir., 382 F.2d 566, 567 and Sigurdson
v. el Guercio, 9 Cir,, 241 F. 2d 480. So far.as admiral-
’ ty rules and procedure are concerned the Court alluded to
the traditional liberality arid indicated that Phillips v.
United States, N.D. Cal., 127 Fed. Supp. 912 permitted
such a practice. Some doubt was expressed concerning
the practfe in admiralty by citing California Stevedore
& Ballast Co. v. Pan-Atlantic S.S. Corp., 9 Cir., 291
F. 2d 252, 253. This left the Court undecided as to
whether such a practice in admiralty was or was not
permissible.

The Court then went on to say that Rule 15(c)
is the only rule that can be used in any case, whether
civil or in admiralty; and, since no provision is e
for fictitiously named defendants petitioner must
within a construction of the ‘provisions of Rule 15(c)\
to bring in any additional parties. Under the: facts as.
viewed by the Court Litton Systems, Inc., had no notice
_ of the action within the period of limitations and
therefere could not be brought into the case after the
expiration of the statutory period, pursuant to the rule

d language contained in arabic numeral one of Rule

(c).

REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT.
The’ decision below should be reviewed because it

encroaches upon the power of an Admiralty Court to _

regulate proceedings in order to administer substantial
justice between the parties. At the present time an ad-

miralty. claimant is urged ‘to forum shop ‘within the

Federal District Courts to find a Court that is favorable

to his position. Had petitioner herein filed her action in -

the Northerni District of California where the Phillips
case cited supra was decided, fictitiously named defend-
ants could be sued and rought into the case under the
running of the statute of limitations. and Litton Sys-
tems, Inc., would now be a defendant. The prior body
of admiralty law as layed down by admiralty courts
will be emasculated and it is necessary to have the ques-
tion settled as to whether or not admiralty rules are
still in addition to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,
“especially the body of judge made law that has existed
for many years ip this area.

t is admitted by the District Court and the Circuit
Court that there is no provision in the Federal Rules
of Civil Procedure that permit or exclude the use of
fictitiously named defendants. They also admit that such
a practice is permitted in admiralty by the Phillips case
cited supra. The Circuit Court erroneously takes the po-
sition that they have expressed some doubt as to this
practice in the California Stevedore case cited supra.

This opinion clearly holds that when fictitious named ~

defendants are dismissed in admiralty the action may
be re-instated after ‘the running of the statute of limi-
tations, this is contrary to the opinion in the Circuit

— below.

Perea hia 4

seo a

It should be decided once and for all whether or not
fictitiously named defendants may be sued in admiralty
matters. If they cannot then a decision so stating should
be handed down and this petition will provide a’ settle-
ment of the question. If they cam then amendments to
show the true names when ascertained should be al-
lowed.

Petitioner as the surviving widow of a deceased pilot |
who was killed aboard a first line fighting ship of “the.
U.S. Navy cannot be requited.to discover (emphasis
added) the names of all the manufacturers, and succes-
sors im interest thereto, of the vessel And ‘its parts,

within the‘statutory period of limitations. To so hold
is a complete refusal to consider the practical aspects of

litigation, especially one that could be as complicated.as
the present one. Under the decision of the ‘Court below
the statute of limitations is changed into a statute of
discovery. If a defendant is not discovered within the
limitation period he cannot be sued.

Petitioner’s hands were tied by the Court’s require- -

‘ment that Rule 15(&> be adhered to in making her mo-
‘tion when it is obvious that the situation presented is

not within the purview of the rule nor was it ever -
considered by the promulgators of the rule. The advisory
committee never considered the use of a party by way
of fictitious names avhen they set up the new require--
ments for Rule 15(c) in 1966. It is apparent that they -
were considering technical defenses in actions against
the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare in the
notice requirements due to changes in the name of the
Secretary. Rule 15(c) was. forced upon petitioner as
the only vehicle for amendment since no provision was

* made in the Rules for fictitiously named parties. Under

9 . tO pe Sat FR HY Ui SBS Bai. es Nh ECE DR Late, Ewe Soe PD Oe er A scale 55

nls

‘the construction of Rule 15(c) in order to bring in a
new party it must be shown that he knew of the
institution of the action against him. With the naming
of a defendant fictitiously such a procedure would be

ia impossible. No one could be shown to have notice of a

law suit unless he was. specifically named in it: Peti-
tioner should not be forced into using a rule that it is
impossible to comply with. The case at bench will result
in a hardship because petitioner has been deprived of
the liberality of admiralty and has been forced to ac-

cept an impossible position under a non-applicable rule.

~

Conclusion.
Q

Petitioner recognizes that this Court is reluctant to

enter into questions of procedure that they are best. left
. to the Circuit.Courts but it is submitted that the Fed-
eral Rules of Civil Procedure and the judge made: Ad-
miralty rules should be used for decisions on the merits

and not on the basis of technicalities. One should not ;

exclude the other. Rule 1 specifically provides that they
are to be construed to secure the just, speedy, and in-
expensive determination of every action. The applica-

tion of a Federal Rule of Civil Procedure to an admiralty

proposition has created a serious question to the validity
of traditional admiralty concepts.

It is respectfully requested that this petition for a
Writ of Certiorari be granted. -

PETER J. HUGHEs,

Counsel for Petitioner.

\

WALTER P. CHRISTENSEN,
Of Counsel. .

De ect Rah

{

- | APPENDIX.

Opinion of the United States Court of Appeals ©
_ for the Ninth Circuit. |

In the United. States Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit. sates?

Elizabeth Elaine Craig, Acvsiehstratrie of the Estate ”
of Robert J. Craig, Appellant, v. The United States
of America, Timken Roller Bearing Company, a corpo-
ration; Aluminum Company of America, a corporation;
Bethlehem Steel Corporation, a corporation; McKiernan-

‘Terry Corporation, a corperation; and ee I through

X, Appellees. No. 22319.

Appeal from the United States District Court for
the Southern District of California.

Before: HAMLEY and DUNIWAY, Circuit Judges,
and BYRNE, District Judge* i

HAMLEY, Circuit Judge:

Elizabeth U.aine Craig, Administratrix of the Estate -
‘of Robert J. Craig, filed-this wrongful death action on
August 16, 1965. She alleged that, on August 19, 1963,.
Robert J. Craig was killed on the high seas off Okinawa
while attempting to land his military airplane on the

‘aircraft carrier the U.S.S. CONSTELLATION. Ac-

cording to the complaint, the accident was caused by. the

_ negligence of the defendants resulting in defects in the

arresting equipment of the vessel.- District court juris-
_ , diction was based on the Death on the High Seas Act,
3 ioe US. S$ 761-768 (1964).

*The Honorable William M. Byrne, Senior United’ States
| District Judge for the Central District of California, — by

° designation.

@ » « ee Ay - J. DN OP ae eee ee PS aT we Bai My 6 oh ks Shree ip dite ar. ake}

Pan ‘eet &
The defendants named in the complaint were the
United States, Timken Roller Bearing Company, Alumi-
num Company of America, Bethlehem, Steel Corpora-

tion, McKiernan-Terry Corporation, ind “Does I
through X.” Plaintiff caused service of an alias citation

and a copy.of the complaint to be made \upon Litton
Systems, Inc. (Litton) as “Doe I,” on February 28,
1966. Litton appeared specially, ake that the alias
citation was issued prematurely and that Litton had
not properly been brought before the court.

-The ‘court ordered plaintiff to serve and file a motion
for leave to amend the complaint to place Litton before
the court) postponing argument on Litton’s exceptions
until argument was had on the motion to amend. The
motion was thereafter filed and served. Following argu-
ment on the motion and exceptions, the court denied

plaintiff’s motion to amend the complaint by naming «

Litton in substitution of “Doe I.” Plaintiff appeals. °

The limitations -period for. actions filed under the

., Death on the High Seas Act is two years from the date

of the wrongful act. 46 U.S.C. § 763. Accordingly,
the statute of limitations had run with regard to this
action by. August 19, 1965. As indicated above, the alias

citation and a copy of the complaint? were served upon

* Litton on February 23, 1966.

The district court held that the two-year statute of
limitations bars plaintiff’s claim against Litton unless,
applying the: principles stated in Rule 15(c), Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure, the proposed amendment of
the complaint, adding Litton as an additional party, re-
lates back to the date of the original complaint. The
district court further held that, applying those principles

Ns SI lh aS” ARAL Sl a PA thts kU a a

ee a —j—
to the circumstances of the case, plaintiff’s said
- amended complaint did not relate back.

Plaintiff argues that, regardless of Rule 15(c), i
‘an action is timely with respect to a sateen
defendant, it is not barred as to an actual defendant
named in lieu of the fictitious defendant im an amend-
ed complaint filed after the statute has run.

_ There is no provision in the federal statutes or Fed-
-eral Rules of Civil Procedure either authorizing or ex-
pressly prohibiting the use of fictitious parties. How-
ever, this court has at least twice expressed disapproval
of the practice. In Tolefree.y. ‘Ritz, 9 Cir., 382 F.2d
566, 567, a civil rights action, we held that it was proper
to dismiss the action as to fictitious defendants. In
_ Sigurdson v. Del Guercio, 9 Cir., 241 F.2d 480, an
action for a declaratory judgment and to enjoin certain
action by immigration officers, this court said:

“These John Doe complaints are dangerous at any

time. It is inviting disaster to. allow them to be

filed and to‘allow fictitious persons to remain de-

fendants if the complaint is still of record. Ap-- |

propriate action has been taken by the trial court .
on its own motion ‘in some such cases. Although
the “fact that the Rules. of Civil Procedure, 28
U.S.C.A,, contain no express prohibition upon. ‘the
subject, ehere is no authority of which we are
aware for the’ joining of fictitious defendants in |
an action under a federal statute. These defendants"
should have been: eliminated by motion of Del
Guercio. . . .” (241 F.2d at 482, footnote omitted)?

In diversity actions the difficulties. encountered when fic-
titious parties are named have been dealt with a number of times.

(This footnote is continued on the next page)

\

- amended rules shall govern all,

This is an action in admiralty, and one district court
has expressed approval-of the practice of naming fic-
titious defendants -in an admiralty suit, in view of the
traditional liberality as to pleadings in admiralty. Phil-
lips v. United States, N.D. Cal., 127 F.Supp. 912. On
the other hand, this court has expressed doubt concern: .
ing the practice even in admiralty suits. See C alifornia \
Stevedore & Ballast Co. v. Pan-Atlantic S.S. ‘Corp., 91
F.2d 252, 253.

The only purpose the naming of fictitious Abeta

.. could possibly serve is to make it possible to substitute

named defendants after the statute of liniitations has
run. But Rule 15(c), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,
provides the only way in which defendants, not accurate-
fy named in a pleading before the -limitation period has
run, may be accurately named afterwards. That rule,
which pertains to the relation back of the pleadings,
makes. no mention of the pleading of fictitious parties.
It is therefore wholly immaterial, insofar as the applica- '
tion of that rule is concerned,-whether fictitious de-
fendants were named prior to the oe of Bc stat-
ute.” .

See Sykes v. United States, 9 Cit, 290 at d-555, 556; Grigg v.
Southern Pacific Co., 9 Cir., 246 F.2d 613, 620; Molnar v.

N.B.C., 9 Gir., 231 F.2d 684, 687 ; Roth: v. Davis, 9 ii 231
F.2d 681, 683. - :

2While there are some kinds of civil proceedings i in which the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not apply, the rules do apply — =

“in suits in admiralty with exceptions not’ here relevant. See

Rules 1 and 81(a)(1), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as . ;
, amended in 1966.

‘This action was ‘commenced on August 16, 1965, prior to the

effective date of amended Rule 15 (c). The order of the Supreme

Court, dated February 28, 1966, promulgating the 1966 amend-_
ments of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, provides that the _
er preceedings in actions
the amended rules “. . . except

pending on the effective dat

z pen

It may be, although this is ‘not entirely clear, that
plaintiff*is also arguing that under-Rule 15(c) and
apart from the naming of fictitious defendants in. the
original complaint, ‘the amended complaint naming Lit-
ton-for the first time relates back to the date of the
original pleading. .

Under Rule 15(c), an amended complaint “changing”
the party against whom a claim is asserted relates back
to the date of the 6riginal pleading only if all three of- .
the following conditio ~~ are met: (1) the claim asserted
in the amended plea ing arose out of the conduct, trans-
, action, or occurrence’ set forth or attempted to be set
forth in the original ‘pleading; (2) within the period
provided by law for commencing the action against him,
the party to be brought in by amendment has received
such “notice of the institution of ‘the action” that he —
will not be prejudiced in maintaining his defense. on
_ the merits; and (3) within the period provided by law
for commerteing the action against him,. the party to
be brought ig knew or should have known that, but
for a mistake concerning the identity of the proper
party, the action would have been brought against
. him.®

to the extent that in the opinion of the court their application
in a particular action then pending would not be feasible ‘or
- would work injustice, in which event the former procedure ap-
plies.”. The Supreme Court order is quoted in 28 U.S.C.A., Rules
59 to End, Cum.Ann. Pocket Part, page 231, followirig Rule 86.
In our opinion, the application of the amended form of that rule
is’ feasible and would not work an injustice in this case. Neither
party here questions the applicability of Rule 15(c) as amended
in 1966, and in fact, plaintiff. relies upon ‘the amended ing the action against ther

Assuming Litton ass Inc. did: know of the oc-
_ currence, it still had a right to rely on the two year

‘statute of limitations in 46 U.S.C.A. 763. It is one '

thing to know of an occurrence which may give rise to
a lawsuit, another to know you are being sued. Libel-

lant has failed to carry its burden. of showing that =.

Litton Systems, . Inc. had n¢tice of the institution of the
action within the period provided by law for commenc-
ing the action against it. Con quently, the_motion seek-
i ing to add Litton Systems,

c. aS a respondent by

amending the complaint must be denied. |

SO ORDERED. |

Jesse W. Curtis ny. ra)
Chief United States District ‘ice :

or,
iY -
; ‘
¢ oo

a

Pertinent Portions of 46 U.S.C.A. Sections 761-768.
§ 761. Right of Action; Where and by Whom Brought.
Whenever the death of ‘a person shall be caused by

wrongful act, neglect, or default occurring on the high -

seas beyond a marine league from the shore of any

State, or the District of Columbia, or the Territories

or dependencies of the United States, the personal rep-
resentative of the decedent may maintain a suit for
damages in the district courts of the United States, in
admiralty, for the exclusive benefit of the decedent’s
wife, husband, parent, child, or dependent relative
against the vessel, person, or corporation which would
have been liable if death had not*ensued. Mar. 30, aoe,
c. 111, § 1, 41 Stat. 537.

§ 762. \ See and Apportionment of Recovery,

The recovery in such suit shall be a fair and just

compensation for the pecuniary loss sustained by the
persons for whose benefit the suit is brought and shall
be apportioned among them by the court in proportion
to the loss they may severally have suffered by reason
of thé death of the person by whose representative the

suit is brought. Mar. 30, 1920, c. 111, § 2, 41 Stat. 537.
§ 763. Limitations. Se

Suit shall be begun within’ “two years from the date
of such wrongful act, rieglect, or default, unless during °
_ that period there has noté been reasonable opportunity

for securing jurisdiction of the vessel, person, or cor-
poration sought to be charged; ‘but after the expiration
of such period of two years: the right of action hereby
given shall not be deemed to have lapsed until ninety

days after a reasonable opportunity. to secure jurisdic--

na

PEL Oe oe

LUPINE Zo ay ws

WIP wee
> ~

one Silene

tion has offered. Mar. 30, 1920, c. 111, '§ 3, 41 Stat.
537.

§ 764. Rights of Action Given by Laws of Foreign |

‘Countries. a

Wherever a right of action is granted bythe law of
any foreign State on account of death by wrongful act,

neglect, or default occurring upon the high seas, such |

‘right may ‘be maintained in an appropriate action in
admiralty in the courts of the United States without
abatement in respect to the amount for which recovery
is authorized, any statute of the United States to the
contrary notwithstanding. Mar. 30, 1920, c. 111, § 4,
41 Stat. 537.

§ 765. Death of Plaintiff Pending Action.

If a person die as the result of such wrongful act,
neglect, or default as is mentioned in section 761 of this
title during the pendency in a court of admiralty of
the United States of a suit to recover damages for per-
sonal injuries in respect of such act, neglect, or default,
the personal representative of the decedent may be sub-

- stituted as a-party ‘and the suit may proceed as a suit

under this chapter for the recovery of the_compensa-
tion provided in : section 762 of this title. Mar. 30, 1920,
c. iit, § 5, 41 Stat. 537.

§ 766. Contributory Negligence.

In suits under this chapter the fact that the decedent
has been guilty of cofitributory negligence shall not
bar recovery, but, the court shall take into consideration

the degree of negligence attributablesto the decedent °

and reduce the recovery secpancieey Mar. 30, 1920, Cc.
111, § 6, 41 Stat. 537,

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§ 767. Exceptions From Operation of Chapter.

The provisions of any State statute giving ‘or regu-
ting rights of action or remedies for death shall not
be\affected by this chapter. Nor shall this chapter apply .
to the Great Lakes or to any waters, within the ter-

ritorial limits of any State, or to any navigable waters -
in the Panama Canal Zone. Mar. 30, 1920, c. 111, —.
§ 7, 41 Stat. 538. \ 1
= Sap ox nee ; Fd :
Pertinent Portions of Rule 15(c) of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.. :

Rule 15. Amended and Supplemental Pleadings.

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(c) Relation Back of Amendments. Whenever. the
claim or defense asserted in the amended pleading arose
out of the conduct, transaction, or occurrence set forth
or attempted to be set forth in the original pleading, the
amendment relates back to the date of the’ original
pleading. An amendment changing the party against
whom a claim is asserted relates back if the foregoing
provision is satisfied and, within the period provided
a by law for commencing the action against him, the party
| to be brought in by amendment (1) has received such

notice of the institiition of the action that he will not :
: be prejudiced in maintaining his defense on the merits,
and (2) knew or should have known that, but for a ’
mistake concerning the identity of the proper party, the '
action would have been brought against him. (ae

The delivery or mailing ‘of process to the United
States’ Attorney, .or.his designee, or the Attorney Gen-
eralof thé United States or an agency or officer who |
tris would have been a proper defendant if named, satisfies

—s

., —16—

the pentiiveenend: of clauses (1). and (2) hereof with :
respect to the United States or any agency or officer
thereof to- be brought into the action as a defendant:

(d) Supplemental Pleadings. Upon motion of a party
the court may, upon reasonable -notice and upon such
‘terms as are just, permit him to ‘serve a supplemental |
pleading setting forth transactions or occurrences’ or
events which have happened since the date of the plead-
ing sought to be supplemented. Permission may be
granted even though the original pleading is defective in
its statement of a claim for relief or defense. If the —
court deems it advisable that the adverse party plead to
. the supplemental pleading, it shall so order, specifying
the time therefor. As amended Jan. 21, 1963, eff. July
1, 1963; Feb. 28, 1966, eff. July 1, 1966.

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40385604_1151%3A1. Public record. Not legal advice.
