Stephen Nemeth v. General Steamship Corporation, Ltd.

694 F.2d 609 67 A.L.R.Fed. 254 Stephen NEMETH, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. GENERAL STEAMSHIP CORPORATION, LTD., a corporation (Canadian), Westfal-Larsen Line, a corporation, and M/S Villanger, her engines, tackle, apparel, furniture and fixtures, Defendants- Appellees. No. 81-5186. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Argued and Submitted March 5, 1982. Decided Dec. 10, 1982. Stephen Nemeth, in pro. per. David E.R. Woolley, Lillick, McHose & Charles, Los Angeles, Cal., for defendants-appellees. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Before HUG, TANG and PREGERSON, Circuit Judges. HUG, Circuit Judge: 1 Stephen Nemeth brought this action in admiralty against Westfal-Larsen Line, General Steamship Corporation, Ltd., and the M/S VILLANGER to recover for losses incurred during the transport of three crates of household goods shipped from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Los Angeles, California. Nemeth sought $22,000 in damages. The district court granted partial summary judgment limiting the appellees' (defendants) liability to $1,000 pursuant to Section 4(5) of the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act ("COGSA"), 46 U.S.C. Sec. 1304 (5), which…