James Shewan Sons v. United States/Opinion of the Court

by William Howard Taft

United States Supreme Court

267 U.S. 86

James Shewan Sons  v.  United States

 Argued: March 2, 1925. ---

On November 17, 1924, this court reversed the decree of the District Court for the Southern District of New York, dismissing a libel in admiralty against the United States, brought to recover the value of repairs made on the steamship Biran, owned by the United States. The suit was brought under an act authorizing suits against the United States in admiralty, etc., approved March 9, 1920, 41 Stat. 525, c. 95 (Comp. St. Ann. Supp. 1923, §§ 1251 1/4-1251 1/4 l). Nothing was said in the opinion about costs. The ordinary rule is that costs are not allowed against the United States. Pine River Co. v. United States, 186 U.S. 279, 296, 22 S.C.t. 920, 46 L. Ed. 1164; Stanley v. Schwalby, 162 U.S. 255, 272, 16 S.C.t. 754, 40 L. Ed. 960; United States v. Ringgold, 8 Pet. 150, 163, 8 L. Ed. 899; The Antelope, 12 Wheat. 546, 550, 6 L. Ed. 723. The mandate issued by the clerk accordingly did not award any costs against the United States. The appellant now applies for a withdrawal of the mandate, in order to award them. He relies on section 3 of the act (section 1251 1/4 b) under which the suit was brought. That provides that such suits shall proceed and shall be heard and determined according to the principles of law and to the rules of practice obtaining in like cases between private parties. A decree against the United States may include costs of suit, and when the decree is for money judgment, interest also at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum until satisfied, or at any higher rate which shall be stipulated in any contract upon which such decree shall be based. Interest is to run as ordered by the court. In accordance with this provision we must assess the costs of this appeal against theUnited States, and direct the District Court to assess also the costs of suit in that court and interest as that court shall order it in accordance with the statute.

It is so ordered.

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