Citations
- 86 F. Supp. 145
Full opinion text
JONES, Chief Judge.
Plaintiffs allege that they were the owners of a completely equipped ocean-going yacht, the Panzola II; that on August 11, 1942, it, including equipment, furniture and fixtures, was requisitioned by the War Shipping Administration; that its reasonable and just market value on that date was $30,000; that it would require that amount to afford just compensation to plaintiffs ; that the plaintiffs submitted their claim with supporting data to the War Shipping Administration which agency determined that plaintiffs were entitled to $7,000 as just compensation for the yacht, furniture, fixtures and equipment; that the plaintiffs advised the War Shipping Administration that the sum was wholly unsatisfactory.
On or about May 25, 1944, the plaintiffs and the War Shipping Administration agreed that plaintiffs would be paid $5,250 (75 per cent of the amount determined) and the plaintiffs reserved the right to sue for the balance. The sum of $5,250 was paid to the plaintiffs on June 9, 1944. The plaintiffs sue for the difference, plus interest, between that amount and $30,000, which they allege to have been the value of the yacht at the time of the taking. Suit was filed April 4, 1949.
Defendant demurs on the ground that the statute of .limitations commenced to run on August 11, 1942, and as plaintiffs did not file their petition until April 4, 1949, this court has no jurisdiction by the terms of 28 U.S.C.A. § 262 [now § 2501], six years having elapsed after the claim first accrued and before the filing of the suit.
It is plaintiffs’ contention that the statute of limitations did not begin to run until plaintiffs had exhausted their administrative remedies. They cite portions of 46 U.S.C.A. § 1242, and assert that since both parties had elected to proceed under this statute its provisions should govern.
We agree with the position taken by the plaintiffs.
Section 1242(a), 46 U.S.C.A. reads in part as follows: “ * * * When any such property or the use thereof is so requisitioned, the owner thereof shall be paid just compensation for the property taken or for the use of such property, * *
Section 1242(d) 46 U.S.C.A. contains