JACKSONVILLE – Food and beverage distributors are suing the common carrier and operator of the barge the Columbia Elizabeth over allegations that cargo fell overboard during transport from Jacksonville to Puerto Rico.
QBE Seguros; CC1 Limited Partnership, doing business as Coca Cola; Puerto Rico Bottlers; V. Suarez & Co. Inc.; Plaza Provision Co.; and Universal Insurance Co. Inc. filed a complaint on Dec. 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division against Tote Maritime Puerto Rico LLC, formerly known as Sea Star Line LLC, and Aqua Gulf Transport Inc. citing a contract of carriage.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that in 2015, they entered into a contract of ocean carriage with defendants for the benefit of CC1, Plaza Provisions and V. Suarez, in which defendants were to transport food products valued at $224,241, $131,253 and $55,534.08 respectively from Jacksonville to Puerto Rico. The suit states the defendants received all food products for shipment in good order and condition, however on Dec. 6, 2015, the crew of defendant's barge, noticed that the shipping container that contains plaintiffs' cargo had fallen overboard and disappeared, which caused plaintiffs to suffer substantial damages.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment against defendant in the amount of $224,241, $131,253 and $55,534.08 together with interest and costs of action, and further relief as the court may deem proper. They are represented by Robert A. Craven of Law Office of Robert A. Craven in St. Petersburg.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Case number 3:16-cv-01493