Sidmar N.V. v. Fednav International Ltd.

This matter concerned the interpretation of various agreements to extend suit time in a carriage of goods case. The cargo was carried by sea from Belgium to Detroit and Chicago under bills of lading which provided that suit should be brought in Canada. The carrier granted suit time extensions which were conditional on any subsequent actions being filed in Detroit. The Shipper, however, commenced the actions in the Federal Court of Canada pursuant to the jurisdiction clauses in the bills of lading. The Federal Court of Appeal held that the provision in the suit time extension agreement requiring suit to be filed in Detroit was invalid as contrary to the Hague-Visby Rules.