NEW ORLEANS – A Florida resident and owner of a sailing vessel claims a Bourg man wrongfully seized the boat.
William Nelson and GEICO Marine Insurance Co. filed a complaint on Dec. 8 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against S/V South Bound and Robert Perez alleging tort of conversion.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff hired a caption to sail the S/V South Bound from Texas to Florida but because of an injury on Oct. 24, the boat was left anchored near Timbalier Island. The plaintiff alleges he contacted BoatU.S. to bring the boat to a marina in Cocodrie, but this was not done due to inclement weather. The suit states the ship was found adrift by Fieldwood Energy on Oct. 27, and that Perez extricated the S/V South Bound. The plaintiffs hold Perez responsible because the defendant allegedly wrongfully seized and maintained possession over S/V South Bound.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek an order declaring this complaint be deemed good and sufficient and that Perez has no maritime lien on the subject vessel, a warrant for the arrest of the S/V South Bound, award for damages and attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements of this action and such other equitable relief. They are represented by Jedd S. Malish of Baldwin, Haspel, Burke & Mayer LLC in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-16984