Is it a house or a boat? Does a coffee mug float? The Supreme Court struggled with all types of questions Monday as it tried to figure out what kind of floating structures fall under maritime law, a question that could have a profound impact on popular businesses like floating casinos, hotels and restaurants.
The question under discussion on the court’s first day of arguments was about Fane Lozman’s floating home — a gray, two-story vessel approximately 57 feet in length that he towed to the marina in Riviera Beach, one of South Florida’s poorest coastal cities. Lozman then started fighting with the city over a planned private redevelopment project for the marina.
The city in 2009 told Lozman, a former Chicago financial trader, his right to stay at the marina would be revoked unless he got the structure registered as a vessel and proved it could be moved when a hurricane or tropical storm threatened. The city also demanded payment of more than $3,000 in dockage fees.
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ReplyDeletePoor rich people problems.
Actually most of these floating homes are owned by lower middle class citizens. Rich people have floating things with engines.
ReplyDelete