Columbus-America Discovery Group v. The unidentified, wrecked and abandoned vessel believed to be the SS Central America - U.S. District Ct. (Eastern District of Virginia) - 14 August 1990

Wreck of 19th-century passenger liner discovered by plaintiff - Insurance companies claiming subrogated rights in items found by plaintiff - Whether plaintiff or insurance companies entitled to ownership of items

On 12 September 1857 the luxury passenger liner Central America sank in the Atlantic Ocean after encountering a hurricane whilst in the course of a run from Panama to New York. 452 passengers and a quantity of gold were on board the vessel when she sank. 336 passengers lost their lives. Many of the passengers were gold miners returning to the East to invest their findings, and others to collect their families and return to California. A contemporary newspaper recorded that the Central America was the richest ship, passengers and cargo considered, that had ever been engulfed in the waves of the sea, when her rich freight of gold was lost.