American President Lines, Ltd., a Corporation v. Marine Terminals Corp., a Corporation

This action was brought in the District Court for the Northern District of California, Southern Division, by appellant, American President Lines, Ltd., a Delaware corporation, hereinafter called American, against Marine Terminals Corp., a Nevada corporation, appellee, hereinafter called Marine, to recover indemnity in the amount of $62,500. This amount was the sum which American had paid to Robert B. Williams, a longshoreman employed by Marine, in settlement for injuries received by Williams on January 30,1952, while he was aboard the steamship President Polk, a vessel owned by American, and was performing stevedoring work thereon pursuant to a contract between American and Marine for stevedoring services on American's vessels. The case was tried to the Court without a jury and the District Court rendered judgment for Marine, the defendant there, denying the indemnity sought by American. This appeal is from that judgment. No contention is made here that American was not liable for the amount it paid to Williams or that the amount is not reasonable. The sole question presented is whether or not under the circumstances American is entitled to indemnity from Marine for the amount it…