Rule F– Limitation of Liability

(1) Time for Filing Complaint; Security. Not later than six months after receipt of a claim in writing, any vessel owner may file a complaint in the appropriate district court, as provided in subdivision (9) of this rule, for limitation of liability pursuant to statute. The owner (a) shall deposit with the court, for the benefit of claimants, a sum equal to the amount or value of the owner’s interest in the vessel and pending freight, or approved security therefor, and in addition such sums, or approved security therefor, as the court may from time to time fix as necessary to carry out the provisions of the statutes as amended; or (b) at the owner’s option shall transfer to a trustee to be appointed by the court, for the benefit of claimants, the owner’s interest in the vessel and pending freight, together with such sums, or approved security therefor, as the court may from time to time fix as necessary to carry out the provisions of the statutes as amended. The plaintiff shall also give security for costs and, if the plaintiff elects to give security, for interest at the rate of 6 percent per annum from the date of the security.

(2) Complaint. The complaint shall set forth the facts on the basis of which the right to limit liability is asserted and all facts necessary to enable the court to determine the amount to which the owner’s liability shall be limited. The complaint may demand exoneration from as well as limitation of liability. It shall state the voyage if any, on which the demands sought to be limited arose, with the date and place of its termination; the amount of all demands including all unsatisfied liens or claims of lien, in contract or in tort or otherwise, arising on that voyage, so far as known to the plaintiff, and what actions and proceedings, if any, are pending thereon; whether the vessel was damaged, lost, or abandoned, and, if so, when and where; the value of the vessel at the close of the voyage or, in case of wreck, the value of her wreckage, strippings, or proceeds, if any, and where and in whose possession they are; and the amount of any pending freight recovered or recoverable. If the plaintiff elects to transfer the plaintiff’s interest in the vessel to a trustee, the complaint must further show any prior paramount liens thereon, and what voyages or trips, if any, she has made since the voyage or trip on which the claims sought to be limited arose, and any existing liens arising upon any such subsequent voyage or trip, with the amounts and causes thereof, and the names and addresses of the lienors, so far as known; and whether the vessel sustained any injury upon or by reason of such subsequent voyage or trip.

(3) Claims Against Owner; Injunction. Upon compliance by the owner with the requirements of subdivision (1) of this rule all claims and proceedings against the owner or the owner’s property with respect to the matter in question shall cease. On application of the plaintiff the court shall enjoin the further prosecution of any action or proceeding against the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s property with respect to any claim subject to limitation in the action.

(4) Notice to Claimants. Upon the owner’s compliance with subdivision (1) of this rule the court shall issue a notice to all persons asserting claims with respect to which the complaint seeks limitation, admonishing them to file their respective claims with the clerk of the court and to serve on the attorneys for the plaintiff a copy thereof on or before a date to be named in the notice. The date so fixed shall not be less than 30 days after issuance of the notice. For cause shown, the court may enlarge the time within which claims may be filed. The notice shall be published in such newspaper or newspapers as the court may direct once a week for four successive weeks prior to the date fixed for the filing of claims. The plaintiff not later than the day of second publication shall also mail a copy of the notice to every person known to have made any claim against the vessel or the plaintiff arising out of the voyage or trip on which the claims sought to be limited arose. In cases involving death a copy of such notice shall be mailed to the decedent at the decedent’s last known address, and also to any person who shall be known to have made any claim on account of such death.

(5) Claims and Answer. Claims shall be filed and served on or before the date specified in the notice provided for in subdivision (4) of this rule. Each claim shall specify the facts upon which the claimant relies in support of the claim, the items thereof, and the dates on which the same accrued. If a claimant desires to contest either the right to exoneration from or the right to limitation of liability the claimant shall file and serve an answer to the complaint unless the claim has included an answer.

(6) Information To Be Given Claimants. Within 30 days after the date specified in the notice for filing claims, or within such time as the court thereafter may allow, the plaintiff shall mail to the attorney for each claimant (or if the claimant has no attorney to the claimant) a list setting forth (a) the name of each claimant, (b) the name and address of the claimant’s attorney (if the claimant is known to have one), (c) the nature of the claim, i.e., whether property loss, property damage, death, personal injury etc., and (d) the amount thereof.

(7) Insufficiency of Fund or Security. Any claimant may by motion demand that the funds deposited in court or the security given by the plaintiff be increased on the ground that they are less than the value of the plaintiff’s interest in the vessel and pending freight. Thereupon the court shall cause due appraisement to be made of the value of the plaintiff’s interest in the vessel and pending freight; and if the court finds that the deposit or security is either insufficient or excessive it shall order its increase or reduction. In like manner any claimant may demand that the deposit or security be increased on the ground that it is insufficient to carry out the provisions of the statutes relating to claims in respect of loss of life or bodily injury; and, after notice and hearing, the court may similarly order that the deposit or security be increased or reduced.

(8) Objections to Claims: Distribution of Fund. Any interested party may question or controvert any claim without filing an objection thereto. Upon determination of liability the fund deposited or secured, or the proceeds of the vessel and pending freight, shall be divided pro rata, subject to all relevant provisions of law, among the several claimants in proportion to the amounts of their respective claims, duly proved, saving, however, to all parties any priority to which they may be legally entitled.

(9) Venue; Transfer. The complaint shall be filed in any district in which the vessel has been attached or arrested to answer for any claim with respect to which the plaintiff seeks to limit liability; or, if the vessel has not been attached or arrested, then in any district in which the owner has been sued with respect to any such claim. When the vessel has not been attached or arrested to answer the matters aforesaid, and suit has not been commenced against the owner, the proceedings may be had in the district in which the vessel may be, but if the vessel is not within any district and no suit has been commenced in any district, then the complaint may be filed in any district. For the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice, the court may transfer the action to any district; if venue is wrongly laid the court shall dismiss or, if it be in the interest of justice, transfer the action to any district in which it could have been brought. If the vessel shall have been sold, the proceeds shall represent the vessel for the purposes of these rules.

Disclaimer and Terms of Service

Last updated: August 8, 2017

     Read these Terms of Use (“Terms”, “Terms of Use”) carefully before using the https://reunitethestates.org website (the “Service”) operated by Wild Willpower (“us”, “we”, or “our”).

     Your access to and use of the Service is conditioned on your acceptance of and compliance with these Terms. These Terms apply to all visitors, users and others who access or use the Service.

     By accessing or using the Service you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part of the terms then you may not access the Service.

Service

      This webpage constitutes a grassroots attempt to make the justice system more accessible for the average civilian. Information throughout this page does not constitute legal advice, nor should it be construed a replacement thereof. The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only.  Some information may be incorrect or out of date.  The author assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. The information contained in this site is provided on an “as is” basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness. We make no representation or warranty with respect to the information on this site. This webpage is being broadcast for First Amendment purposes, and represents a good-faith attempt to assist fellow civilians in finding justice for when they cannot find help from an attorney or from government agencies.  Our use of all content is being used explicitly for noncommercial purposes, and is protected in accord with Fair Use laws. To help us improve the website, or to point out somewhere it may need fixed or amended, email [email protected].  By continuing to read this website, you are thereby using our Service, within the scope and understanding as defined here.

Changes

     We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms at any time.  What constitutes a material change will be determined at our sole discretion.

     By continuing to access or use our Service after those revisions become effective, you agree to be bound by the revised terms. If you do not agree to the new terms, yet continue to use our Service, you agree that Wild Willpower PAC nor its officers may be held liable for any actions taken or misunderstandings on your part; do not use this website as your sole source of law-related information.

Accounts

     When you create an account with us, you must provide us information that is accurate, complete, and current at all times. Failure to do so constitutes a breach of the Terms, which may result in immediate termination of your account on our Service.

     You are responsible for safeguarding the password that you use to access the Service and for any activities or actions under your password, whether your password is with our Service or a third-party service.

     You agree not to disclose your password to any third party. You must notify us immediately upon becoming aware of any breach of security or unauthorized use of your account.

Intellectual Property

     The  Service and its original content, features and functionality (the layout and manner in which information is arranged) are and will remain the exclusive property of Wild Willpower and its licensors, and may be sold or transferred at any time.

Limitation of Liability

     Wild Willpower PAC is committed to providing high-quality products and services to our users. However, we understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, and we want to ensure that our users are aware of the limitations of our liability.

    In no event shall Wild Willpower PAC or its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, or suppliers be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising out of or in any way connected with the use of our products or services, including but not limited to damages for loss of profits, use, data, or other intangible losses.

     Our liability is limited to the extent permitted by law, and in no event shall it exceed the amount paid by the user for the product or service in question. This limitation of liability applies regardless of the legal theory upon which the claim is based, whether in contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

    By using our products or services, you acknowledge and agree to this limitation of liability. If you do not agree with this limitation, your only remedy is to discontinue the use of our products and services.

Limitation of Damages

    Wild Willpower PAC values its users and strives to provide the best possible products and services. However, in the event of unforeseen circumstances, we want to make sure our users are aware of the limitations of our liability.

    In no event shall Wild Willpower PAC or its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, or suppliers be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or exemplary damages arising out of or in any way connected with the use of our products or services, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

     Our liability is limited to the extent permitted by law and shall not exceed the total amount paid by the users for the product or service in question. This limitation of damages applies whether the claim is based on breach of contract, breach of warranty, tort (including negligence), or any other legal theory.

    In no event shall Wild Willpower PAC be liable for any damages arising from the use of third-party products or services, including but not limited to those provided by our partners or affiliates.

    By using our products or services, you acknowledge and agree to this limitation of damages. If you do not agree with this limitation, your only remedy is to discontinue the use of our products and services.

    This limitation of damages statement is intended to be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and if any portion of this limitation is deemed invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the limitation shall remain in full force and effect.

Forum

     This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Iowa and the United States of America. Any legal action or proceeding arising out of or related to this agreement shall be brought exclusively in federal or state courts located in Iowa, and each party irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of any such action or proceeding.

Links To Other Web Sites

     Our Service may contain links to third-party web sites or services that are not owned or controlled by Wild Willpower.

     Wild Willpower has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third party web sites or services. You further acknowledge and agree that Wild Willpower shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on any such content, goods or services available on or through any such web sites or services.

     We strongly advise you to read the terms and conditions and privacy policies of any third-party web sites or services that you visit.

Termination

     We may terminate or suspend your account immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation if you breach the Terms.

     Upon termination, your right to use the Service will immediately cease. If you wish to terminate your account, you may simply discontinue using the Service.

     All provisions of the Terms which by their nature should survive termination shall survive termination, including, without limitation, ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity and limitations of liability.

Disclaimer

     Your use of the Service is at your sole risk. The Service is provided on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis. The Service is provided without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement or course of performance.

Governing Law

     These Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of United States and the State of Iowa.

     Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of those rights.  These Terms constitute the entire agreement between us regarding our Service, and supersede and replace any prior agreements we might have between us regarding the Service.

Severability

   If any portion of this Disclaimer and/or Terms of Use are deemed unenforceable, that shall not affect any other part of this Agreement. The unenforceable or illegal portion will be deemed deleted, and the Terms remaining shall remain valid and enforceable.

Contact Us

    If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us: [email protected].