James Graham Jenkins
How Judge Jenkins rules, drawn from 3 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Jenkins no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Jenkins decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In the reviewed collision case, the overtaking vessel remained responsible for keeping clear until it had completely passed the leading vessel.
“She retained that character until she had completely-passed the Spaulding.”
Procedural preferences
The court read restrictions in bills of lading narrowly and required a carrier seeking to limit established maritime obligations to use clear and decisive language.
“these terms of limitation and restriction must be expressed clearly and decisively, that parties may know the terms of their contract.”
Cautions
A secret rebate arrangement intended to inflate a general-average claim was denied enforcement because the certified bill furthered the parties' improper agreement.
“Such contracts will not be tolerated in courts of justice.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
After trying the admiralty collision claim, the court held the overtaking tug responsible and dismissed the claim against the other tug.
On agreed facts, the court held that the bills of lading did not exempt the vessel from general-average contribution for cargo sacrificed to save ship and cargo.
The court awarded contractual compensation for maritime pumping services while refusing to enforce a fraudulent rebate arrangement intended to inflate a general-average charge.
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No matching historical assigned-case cohort was located, so this record makes no claim about the judge's district-era caseload mix.
A historical record
Judge Jenkins no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.