Exxon Corporation v. Central Gulf Lines and others (The Green Harbour) - US Supreme Court - 3 June 1991

Federal admiralty jurisdiction - Supreme Court changes rule relating to claims under shipping agency contracts

This case raised the question whether admiralty jurisdiction extended to claims arising from agency contracts. In Minturn v. Maynard 17 (H.o.w.) 477 (1855) it was held that an agent who had advanced funds for repairs and supplies necessary for a vessel could not bring a claim in admiralty against the vessel’s owners. Minturn had been interpreted by some lower courts as establishing a per se rule excluding agency contracts from admiralty. The question was whether Minturn should be overruled.