United States Sixth Circuit
Great Lakes Exploration Group, LLC v. Unidentified Wrecked & Abandoned Sailing Vessel, 06-2584
READ
In an in rem admiralty action brought by a private underwater exploration and salvage company seeking an arrest warrant for an ancient sailing vessel that sank in Lake Michigan in the 1600's, the circuit court rules that a district court may require a salvor to reveal the precise location of a shipwreck at the pleading stage where: 1) there is a need for the precise location because, for example, the embedded status of the shipwreck under the Abandoned Shipwreck Act (ASA) is in dispute; 2) the requested information is available and in the salvor's possession; and 3) the district court has taken sufficient steps to secure federal jurisdiction over the claim and, when warranted, to protect the information from public disclosure.
Appellate Information
- Decided 04/22/2008
- Published 04/22/2008
Judges
- Before: KEITH, CLAY, and GILMAN, Circuit Judges.
Court
- United States Sixth Circuit
Counsel
- For Appellees:
- ARGUED: Richard T. Robol, Robol Law Office, LPA, Columbus, Ohio, for Appellant. James R. Piggush, Michigan Department of the Attorney General, Lansing, Michigan, for Appellee. ON BRIEF: Richard T. Robol, Robol Law Office, LPA, Columbus, Ohio, for Appellant. James R. Piggush, Michigan Department of the Attorney General, Lansing, Michigan, for Appellee.