THE MARSHAL SOMETIMES GETS IT WRONG

A ship agent Member of ITIC was recently appointed by the local Admiralty Marshal to act for a ship under arrest.  Once the agent obtained the disbursement vouchers he tendered his account for reimbursement, but was told by the Marshal that he was too late.  The ship had been sold and all the sale proceeds had been distributed.  What the Marshal had failed to take account of was that his agent had priority over other creditors and should have been paid first.  Furthermore, the agent was still entitled to be paid by the Marshal, whether he had funds or not.  ITIC, with the assistance of a local lawyer, managed to persuade the Marshal to pay his agent.  The Marshal then no doubt made a claim on his professional liability insurer (not ITIC!).