MAREX TITANIC, INC., a Tennessee Corporation, Plaintiff-Appellant, TITANIC VENTURES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. THE WRECKED AND ABANDONED VESSEL, its engines, tackle, apparel, appurtenances, cargo, etc., located within one (1) nautical mile of a point located at 41 43 32 north latitude and 49 56 49 west longitude, believed to be the RMS Titanic, in rem, Defendant., 2 F.3d 544

Summary

Plaintiff salvage company (SC) obtained a warrant of arrest from the district court, enabling it conduct salvage operations on a sunken ship, the Titanic and become the sole and exclusive owner of any objects recovered from the ship. Plaintiff competing salvage company (CSC) entered a special appearance to vacate the district court's warrant and to obtain a preliminary injunction to enjoin SC from salvaging the ship. During hearing on the preliminary injunction, SC voluntarily dismissed its action pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1)(i). CSC subsequently obtained permission from the district court to intervene in the action, and requested that it be declared the Titanic's exclusive salvor. The district court vacated its earlier warrant, and ruled in CSC's favor. SC sought review. The court reversed the decision of the district court. The court held that the district court erred in permitting CSC to intervene and awarding it the relief it requested, because when SC filed its notice of ...