Gruver

FOR PUBLICATION

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

JEFF GRUVER, 

Plaintiff-Appellant, No. 05-35916 v. LESMAN FISHERIES INC.; BOB  D.C. No.

CV-04-05428-RJB

LESMAN; F/V SUNSET CHARGE,

OPINION

Official Number 534685, in rem, Defendants-Appellees.  Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington Robert J. Bryan, District Judge, Presiding

Argued and Submitted March 7, 2007—Seattle, Washington

Filed June 6, 2007

Before: Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain and Marsha S. Berzon, Circuit Judges, and Sam E. Haddon,* District Judge.

Opinion by Judge Berzon

*The Honorable Sam E. Haddon, United States District Judge for the District of Montana, sitting by designation.

6829 6832 GRUVER v. LESMAN FISHERIES INC.

COUNSEL

John W. Merriam, The Law Office of John Merriam, Seattle, Washington, for the plaintiff-appellant.

Philip W. Sanford, Holmes Weddle & Barcott, Seattle, Wash- ington, for the defendants-appellees.

OPINION

BERZON, Circuit Judge:

This case raises the question whether a fight aboard a ship between a seaman and his former maritime employer over unpaid wages can…