Professional Documents
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Eastern & Australian Steamship Co., Ltd. vs. Great American Ins. Co
Eastern & Australian Steamship Co., Ltd. vs. Great American Ins. Co
*
No. L-37604. October 23, 1981.
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* FIRST DIVISION
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** Mr. Justice de Castro was designated to sit with the First Division
under Special Order No. 225.
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During the pre-trial on May 28, 1973, the loss of the subject
shipment was admitted, and the parties submitted the case
for decision on one issue: whether petitioner’s liability is
limited to £100 Sterling or its peso equivalent of
1
P1,544.40
as stipulated in Clause 17 of the Bill of Lading or whether
petitioner’s liability should be $500 or its peso equivalent
in the sum of P3,217.50 pursuant
2
to Sec. 4 (5) of the
Carriage of Goods by Sea Act.
The Court a quo found that under Section 4 (5) of the
Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, the carrier and the shipper
may, in the absence of a declaration in the Bill of Lading of
the value of the goods shipped, fix a maximum liability of
the shipper for the cargo lost or damaged, but such
maximum shall not be less
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1 Clause 17. The carrier will not be accountable for goods of any
description beyond 100 Sterling in respect of any one package or unit
unless the value thereof shall have been stated in writing both on the
broker’s order, which must be obtained before shipment, and on the
shipping note presented on shipment, and extra freight agreed upon and
paid, and bill of lading signed with a declaration of the nature and value
of the goods appearing thereon. When the value is declared and extra
freight agreed as aforesaid, the carrier’s liability shall not exceed such
value or pro rata on that basis in the event of partial loss or damage.
Subject to the above, the carrier’s liability in case of loss or detention of or
injury to goods, for which they may be responsible, shall be calculated on
and in no case exceed the net invoice cost and disbursements.
2 Sec. 4(5) Neither the carrier nor the ship shall in any event be or
become liable for any loss or damage to or in connection with the
transportation of goods in an amount exceeding $500 per package of
lawful money of the United States, or in case of goods not shipped in
packages, per customary freight unit, or the equivalent of that sum in
other currency, unless the nature and value of such goods have been
declared by the shipper before shipment and inserted in the bill of lading.
This declaration, if embodied in the bill of lading, shall be prima facie
evidence, but shall not be conclusive on the carrier.
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II
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Decision reversed.
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The 1-year period for filing court action under the Carriage
of Goods by Sea Act commences when the damaged cargo
was delivered to the consignee. (Aetna Ins. Co. vs. Barber
Steamship Lines, Inc., 62 SCRA 11).
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