Opinion
Rule 18, 5 Cir. See Isbell Enterprises, Inc. v. Citizens Casualty Co. of New York, et al., 5 Cir. 1970, 431 F.2d 409, Part I.
March 11, 1971.
Joseph M. Matranga, Dominick J. Matranga, Mobile, Ala., for plaintiff-appellant.
George F. Wood, Pillans, Reams, Tappan, Wood Roberts, Mobile, Ala., for defendants-appellees.
Before GEWIN, GOLDBERG and DYER, Circuit Judges.
In this controversy between Tamboris, an alien seaman, and Kainis Compania Maritima, S.A., a foreign shipowner, in which damages are sought under the Jones Act and for unseaworthiness, Tamboris appeals from the dismissal of his complaint. We affirm.
The District Court considered the seven factors explicated in Lauritzen v. Larsen, 1953, 345 U.S. 571, 73 S.Ct. 921, 97 L.Ed. 1254, and correctly concluded that American law does not apply to a dispute arising out of a personal injury to a Greek seaman aboard a Liberian flag vessel owned by a Panamanian corporation which is in turn a wholly owned subsidiary of a Liberian corporation.
Unlike Hellenic Lines Ltd. v. Rhoditis, 1970, 398 U.S. 306, 90 S.Ct. 1731, 26 L. Ed.2d 252, where American law was applied in the case of a foreign owner and operator when it appeared that the holder of ninety-five percent of the stock of the corporate shipowner and the company's directing hand was a longtime resident alien of the United States, it is here undisputed that no American citizens or residents own any share of the owning corporation, directly or indirectly.fn1
It is undisputed that "C" Ventures, Inporated, was acting as agent only and had no ownership interest in the vessel. Since it was neither employer nor shipowner, the corporation was properly dismissed by the District Court.
Affirmed.