# Rule B Attachment

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**Rule B attachments** are issued under Rule B of the *Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims* of the *[Federal Rules of Civil Procedure](/source/Federal_Rules_of_Civil_Procedure)*.[1] Under that provision, the court is allowed to attach a defendant's property up to the value of the suit. Although these claims are filed during *[in personam](/source/In_personam)* actions, they are *[in rem](/source/In_rem)* in nature, as the Court is attaching property to the suit. This has been described as a "remedy *[quasi in rem](/source/Quasi_in_rem_jurisdiction)*."[2]

The Rule B procedure is in addition to the *in rem* procedure for arresting vessels that is available under Rule C.[3]

## History

Attachment under Rule B is similar to the procedure of *saisie conservatoire* available under [French law](/source/French_law).[4] It has its origins in the former British procedure of admiralty attachment,[5] which was still in existence at the time of the [American Revolution](/source/American_Revolution) but fell into disuse in the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom) at the end of the 18th Century.[6] Maritime attachments were formally recognized by the [Supreme Court of the United States](/source/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States) in 1825 in *Manro v. Almeida*,[7] in which [Justice Johnson](/source/William_Johnson_(judge)) stated:

Upon the whole, we are of opinion, that for a maritime trespass, even though it savours of piracy, the person injured may have his action *in personam*, and compel appearance by the process of attachment on the goods of the trespasser, according to the forms of the civil law, as ingrafted upon the admiralty practice. And we think it indispensable to the purposes of justice, and the due exercise of the admiralty jurisdiction, that the remedy should be applied, even in cases where the same goods may have been attachable under the process of foreign attachment issuing from the common law Courts. For it will necessarily follow, in all such cases, that a question peculiarly of admiralty cognisance, will be brought to be examined before a tribunal not competent to exercise original admiralty jurisdiction; and that, as a primary, not an incidental question; since the whole proceeding will have for its object to determine whether a maritime trespass has been committed, and then to apply the remedy.

The Supreme Court issued the *Rules of Practice in Causes of Admiralty and Maritime Jurisdiction* in 1844[8] to govern such proceedings,[9] which substantially remained in force until 1966 when the current *Supplemental Rules* were adopted.[9]

## Nature of the procedure

Attachment is not dependent, as is arrest *in rem*, on the existence of a [maritime lien](/source/Maritime_lien) or preferred mortgage lien, but necessitates merely an *in personam* claim against the defendant which falls within U.S. admiralty jurisdiction.[4] It does not require the applicant to show that the attachment is necessary to satisfy a potential judgment.[10] Unlike *in rem* proceedings, the property that can be attached is not restricted to maritime property,[4] and it may be either tangible or intangible.[11]

The US courts have taken an expansive view as to what constitutes a claim that may fall under maritime jurisdiction, which can include:[12]

- - [non-compete](/source/Non-compete_clause) and [non-disclosure agreements](/source/Non-disclosure_agreement) that relate to maritime commerce, - [forward freight agreements](/source/Forward_freight_agreement), - [joint venture](/source/Joint_venture) agreements involving aspects of maritime commerce, and - [settlement agreements](/source/Settlement_agreement) arising from maritime disputes.

To secure a writ of maritime attachment pursuant to Rule B, the plaintiff must show that:[13][14]

1. he has an *in personam* claim against the defendant which is cognizable in admiralty;
1. the defendant "cannot be found within the district" in which the action is commenced;
1. property belonging to the defendant is present or will soon be present in the district; and
1. there is no statutory or general maritime law proscription to the attachment.

The procedure's advantages can be described through the following scenario:[15]

1. A shipyard provides repair services in the Caribbean under a contract which calls for the application of English law. The shipyard allows the vessel to sail prior to full payment, and the debt goes unpaid.
1. The ship sails into a US port where the shipowner has no presence.
1. Under English law, no maritime lien, as defined by the US courts, exists on the vessel, so the ship is not subject to a Rule C arrest.
1. Under Rule B, however, the shipyard may attach the debtor vessel, a sister vessel, or any other assets of the debtor found in the jurisdiction even if they are in the hands of a third party.

Attachment may extend to a co-defendant or a third party, and can include [guarantors](/source/Guarantor) and [alter egos](/source/Piercing_the_corporate_veil) of the original vessel owner.[16][17] Where the underlying claim is subject to foreign law and will be litigated or arbitrated in a foreign proceeding, federal maritime law governs whether Rule B attachment will be applicable.[18]

In the event of a [counterclaim](/source/Counterclaim), counter-security may be posted under FRCP Rule .[19] The courts have been prepared to enforce this through staying foreign arbitration in London pending such posting,[20] as well as issuing [gag orders](/source/Gag_order) in special circumstances in order to assist in attaining such security.[19]

The procedure may not prove to be effective in several circumstances:[21]

- - the attachment could be "futile" where a superior claim exists in the property[22][23] - there is a risk that the shipowner may become bankrupt[23] - the vessel may prove to be a [white elephant](/source/White_elephant) (ie, it has no market, even if it is in good condition)

Parties that have entered into foreign insolvency proceedings may be able to obtain protection from Rule B attachments by applying for a [stay of proceedings](/source/Stay_of_proceedings) under [Chapter 15](/source/Chapter_15,_Title_11,_United_States_Code) of the [United States Bankruptcy Code](/source/Title_11_of_the_United_States_Code).[24][25]

## Controversy over electronic fund transfers

In the 2002 case *Winter Storm Shipping v. TPI*, the [United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit](/source/United_States_Court_of_Appeals_for_the_Second_Circuit) held that an [electronic fund transfer](/source/Electronic_fund_transfer) (EFT) which passes through intermediary banks in the [Southern District of New York](/source/Southern_District_of_New_York) was subject to Rule B.[26] Specifically the Court found that due process was served even though the defendant was unaware of which bank would be targeted, these transfers constituted intangible property under the meaning of Rule B, and that federal law preempted New York state law prohibiting attachment of EFTs.

The effect of this ruling was far reaching. Considering that the Southern District contains New York City, and more importantly the numerous large financial institutions therein, this allowed the federal courts to attach billions of dollars in EFTs because pieces of electronic information representing those dollars had passed fleetingly through the Southern District.

### Narrowing *Winter Storm*

As the number of Rule B attachment claims increased, the Second Circuit narrowed the rule in several ways, such as holding that the Court has discretion to vacate the order of attachment if there is another convenient, available forum where the plaintiff may find the defendant[22] or that a foreign corporation may be "found" within the Southern District simply by registering with the State of New York.[27]

### Overruled by *Jaldhi*

In October 2009 the Second Circuit overruled the *Winter Storm* decision in the case of *Shipping Corporation of India v. Jaldhi.*[2] In the *Jaldhi* case, the Court held that EFTs were not in fact property as contemplated by Rule B and furthermore, that the practical effect of the decision on banks was unforeseen and far too detrimental. The Court took notice of a recent decision where the presiding judge noted:

This Court was recently informed that, currently, leading New York banks receive numerous new attachment orders and over 700 supplemental services of existing orders each day. This is confirmed by the striking surge in maritime attachment requests in this district, which now comprise approximately one third of all cases filed in the [Southern District of New York](/source/Southern_District_of_New_York). As a consequence, New York banks have hired additional staff, and suffer considerable expenses, to process the attachments. The sheer volume ... leads to many false "hits" of funds subject to attachment, which has allegedly introduced significant uncertainty into the international funds transfer process.[28]

Overruling a case as recent as *Winter Storm* is generally not seen, and furthermore overruling of a Circuit decision requires a panel of the entire Circuit, but the Court's recognition of their error prompted them to circulate the opinion in a mini-*en banc* filing. None of the Second Circuit justices protested the result and *Winter Storm* was overruled. The Supreme Court declined to hear the *Jaldhi* appeal.[29][30]

While the Southern District may no longer be such an attractive venue for pursuing pre-judgment attachments in maritime cases (as it was estimated that the volume of civil cases filed there declined by 30% as a result of *Jaldhi*),[31] other developments in New York State law may compensate by making it desirable for pursuing the rights of maritime and non-maritime judgment creditors[32] (but that jurisprudence is still evolving).[33]

## References

1. FRCP Rule . *In Personam* Actions: Attachment and Garnishment

1. ["caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1498495.html"](https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1498495.html). October 16, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2013.

1. FRCP Rule . *In Rem* Actions: Special Provisions

1. Tetley 1999, p. 1934.

1. Tetley 1999, p. 1928.

1. Tetley 1999, pp. 1904–1905.

1. *Manro v. Almeida*,

1. Benedict, Erastus Cornelius (1850). [*The American Admiralty, Its Jurisdiction and Practice: With Practical Forms and Directions*](https://archive.org/stream/americanadmiral04benegoog#page/n354/mode/2up). New York: Banks, Gould & Co. pp. 339–348. [OCLC 04554270](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/04554270)

1. Force, Yiannopoulos & Davies 2008, p. 183.

1. Mandaraka-Sheppard & Van Praag 2013, p. 81.

1. Tetley 1999, p. 1935.

1. Mandaraka-Sheppard & Van Praag 2013, p. 82.

1. White 2007, p. 6.

1. ["www.casetext.com/case/western-bulk-carriers-v-ps-intern#.U_HW9WMfIso"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140819083145/https://www.casetext.com/case/western-bulk-carriers-v-ps-intern#.U_HW9WMfIso). 1991. Archived from [the original](https://www.casetext.com/case/western-bulk-carriers-v-ps-intern#.U_HW9WMfIso) on August 19, 2014.

1. ["Rule B maritime attachment and garnishment under US law"](http://www.maritimeadvocate.com/law_cases/rule_b_maritime_attachment_and_garnishment_under_us_law.htm). The Maritime Advocate.

1. ["New York 'Rule B' attachments: Testing the limits of 'maritime claims'"](http://www.reedsmith.com/files/Publication/e0542677-77fb-45d8-99e0-2a117d55e0cd/Presentation/PublicationAttachment/0d699bc1-8589-4247-9797-3a9a57cfcd51/ETC_-_NEW_YORK_RULE_B_ATTACHMENTS.pdf). [Reed Smith LLP](/source/Reed_Smith_LLP). August 2008.

1. Aura Gantz & Charles Moure (July 26, 2013). ["Alter Ego Liability In Supplemental Rule B Admiralty Actions: The Winds are Favorable"](http://jurist.org/sidebar/2013/07/charles-moure-ruleb-actions.php). Jurist ([University of Pittsburgh Law School](/source/University_of_Pittsburgh_Law_School))

1. Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. (March 2014). ["Pre-Judgment Attachments in New York, Maritime and Otherwise"](http://www.blankrome.com/siteFiles/Mainbrace-Mar14.pdf). *Mainbrace*. [Blank Rome LLP](/source/Blank_Rome_LLP), discussing ["caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1638823.html"](https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1638823.html). 2013.

1. ["U.S. - Developments in Rule B Attachment"](http://www.steamshipmutual.com/Publications/Articles/RuleB1205.asp). Steamship Mutual P&I. January 2006.

1. ["casetext.com/case/daeshin-shipping-co-ltd-v-meridian-bulk-carriers#.U_EGlGMfIso"](https://archive.today/20140817200532/https://casetext.com/case/daeshin-shipping-co-ltd-v-meridian-bulk-carriers%23.U_EGlGMfIso). 2005. Archived from [the original](https://casetext.com/case/daeshin-shipping-co-ltd-v-meridian-bulk-carriers#.U_EGlGMfIso) on August 17, 2014.

1. William R. Bennett III (June 2013). ["When Rule B Attachment Will Not Help"](http://www.blankrome.com/siteFiles/Mainbrace-June13.pdf). *Mainbrace*. [Blank Rome](/source/Blank_Rome). Retrieved November 27, 2013.

1. ["caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1133722.html"](https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1133722.html). July 31, 2006. Retrieved February 6, 2013.

1. ["Shipping Industry Problems"](http://www.bankruptcylawblog.com/shipping-industry-problems.html). Sheppard Mullin. February 9, 2009.

1. ["Armada (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. Seeks Chapter 15 Recognition"](http://www.southbaylawfirm.com/blog/?p=85). South Bay Law Firm. January 16, 2009.

1. ["caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1113904.html"](https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1113904.html). November 6, 2002. Retrieved February 6, 2013.

1. ["caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1132654.html"](https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1132654.html). March 19, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2013.

1. February 4, 2009.

1. [Order list of 2010-03-22, case 09-849](https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/032210zor.pdf)

1. ["White paper on US Maritime Attachments"](http://www.swift.com/resources/documents/PMPG_Maritime_Attachments_Whitepaper_v1_0.pdf). April 2010. Retrieved 2012-02-06.[dead link]

1. Lawrence W. Newman & David Zaslowsky (February 2010). ["The Rise and Fall of Rule B Attachments"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130819052443/http://www.bakermckenzie.com/RRGlobalMarketsTheRiseandFallFeb10/). [Baker & McKenzie](/source/Baker_%26_McKenzie). Archived from [the original](http://www.bakermckenzie.com/RRGlobalMarketsTheRiseandFallFeb10/) on August 19, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2013.

1. Lizabeth L. Burrell (Fourth Quarter 2009). ["*Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. v. Jaldhi Overseas PTE Ltd.*: The Second Circuit Cuts Down on Salt"](http://www.curtis.com/siteFiles/Publications/56F128729782E2BF67D68252354F638C.pdf). Benedict's Maritime Bulletin. Retrieved 2012-02-06., discussing *Jaldhi* and ["www.law.cornell.edu/nyctap/I09_0085.htm"](https://www.law.cornell.edu/nyctap/I09_0085.htm). 2009.

1. Lee A. Armstrong; William J. Hine; Sevan Ogulluk (June 2013). ["New York taps the brakes on foreign judgment collection"](http://www.jonesday.com/files/Publication/257ee1cb-6565-48a0-a1ef-49d495edb11c/Presentation/PublicationAttachment/e07b8a9c-f535-45aa-b2ce-b8d268618f7c/New%20York%20Taps%20the%20Brakes.pdf). [Jones Day](/source/Jones_Day)

## Further reading

- William Tetley (1999). ["Arrest, Attachment and Related Maritime Law Procedures"](https://www.mcgill.ca/maritimelaw/sites/mcgill.ca.maritimelaw/files/arrest.pdf). *[Tulane Law Review](/source/Tulane_Law_Review)*. **73**: 1895–1985. [Tulane University Law School](/source/Tulane_University_Law_School). Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- J. Ralph White (November 2007). ["A Synopsis of Supplemental Rules B, C and D for Admiralty or Maritime Claims"](http://masgc.org/assets/uploads/publications/320/07-003-03.pdf). *Water Log*. **27** (3): 5–10. Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- Force, Robert; Yiannopoulos, A.N.; Davies, Martin (2008). [*Admiralty and Maritime Law*](https://books.google.com/books?id=MHdiAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA80). Vol. 2. Washington, DC: Beard Books. ISBN 978-1-58798-285-9.
- Jon W. Zinke & Elizabeth Berry (Winter 2009). ["Rule B Attachments in the United States"](http://seatransport.org/seaview_doc/SV_88/Rule%20B%20Attachments%20in%20the%20United%20States.pdf). *Seaview*. '***(88). Hong Kong: Institute of Sea Transport. Retrieved November 29, 2013.***
- Mandaraka-Sheppard, Aleka (2013). ["3(II): Rule B(1) Attachment – Security for maritime claims in US"](https://books.google.com/books?id=MHdiAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA80). *Modern Maritime Law: Volume 1: Jurisdiction and Risks*. 3rd ed. Informa Law from Routledge. pp. 80–96. ISBN 978-0-415-83516-9.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rule B Attachment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_B_Attachment) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_B_Attachment?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.