Reano v. The "Jennie W"

In Admiralty Practice, Service on (Updated )

This was an appeal from the dismissal of a motion to set aside a default judgement. The action was for wages and expenses. The action was commenced in May 1996. The Statement of Claim did not contain the required endorsement in Form 4. The Statement of Claim and Warrant of arrest were served on the ship on May 28, 1996. In August 1996 an Amended Statement of Claim including Form 4 was filed and served. Default judgment was obtained against the ship in October, 1996. A motion to set aside the default judgment was brought in March, 1997. The shipowner argued the default judgment should be set aside because the original Statement of Claim did not include the endorsement in Form 4. The Court of Appeal held that service of the defective Statement of Claim did not render the action a nullity or the arrest invalid since the defect had been remedied by the subsequent filing and serving of the Amended Statement of Claim. Further, the Court of Appeal held that there had been an unreasonable delay in filing the motion to set aside the default judgement. The Court of Appeal agreed with the Defendant, however, that in the particular circumstances of the case the claims for wages and expenses were claims for unliquidated damages rather than liquidated damages and the Court ordered that there be a reference to determine the amounts owing.