Atlantic Sounding Co., Inc., et al. v. Edgar L. Townsend

Decided June 25, 2009. Clarence Thomas delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 08-214 · 557 U.S. 404 (2009) · Cited 231 times

Holding

Because punitive damages have long been an accepted remedy under general maritime law, and because neither Miles v.

The Court’s statement of the holding, from the opinion’s syllabus. The syllabus is prepared by the Reporter of Decisions and is not part of the opinion of the Court — read the official opinion for authority.

How the Justices voted

Decided 5–4.

“Concurring” means agreeing with the outcome; any split shown is the Court’s judgment, not each Justice’s reasoning. Source: the Supreme Court Database (Spaeth et al.), Washington University.

Precedents cited

Supreme Court decisions this opinion relies on, ordered by how often it cites each. Cases in our collection link through; others are named.

• Miles v. Apex Marine Corp. · 498 U.S. 19 (1990)
• The Osceola · 189 U.S. 158 (1903)
• Vaughan v. Atkinson · 369 U.S. 527 (1962)
• Cortes v. Baltimore Insular Line, Inc. · 287 U.S. 367 (1932)
• Lewis v. Lewis & Clark Marine, Inc. · 531 U.S. 438 (2001)
• Day v. Woodworth · 54 U.S. 363 (1852)
• Pacific Steamship Co. v. Peterson · 278 U.S. 130 (1928)
• The Amiable Nancy · 16 U.S. 546 (1818)
• Omni Capital International, Ltd. v. Rudolf Wolff & Co. · 484 U.S. 97 (1987)
• Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker · 554 U.S. 471 (2008)
• Pacific Mutual Life Insurance v. Haslip · 499 U.S. 1 (1991)
• Michigan Central Railroad v. Vreeland · 227 U.S. 59 (1913)
• Chandris, Inc. v. Latsis · 515 U.S. 347 (1995)
• Fitzgerald v. United States Lines Co. · 374 U.S. 16 (1963)
• O'Donnell v. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. · 318 U.S. 36 (1943)
• The Arizona v. Anelich · 298 U.S. 110 (1936)
• Cannon v. University of Chicago · 441 U.S. 677 (1979)
• United States v. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co. · 200 U.S. 321 (1906)
• Moragne v. States Marine Lines, Inc. · 398 U.S. 375 (1970)
• Romero v. International Terminal Operating Co. · 358 U.S. 354 (1959)
• Dimick v. Schiedt · 293 U.S. 474 (1935)
• Mobil Oil Corp. v. Higginbotham · 436 U.S. 618 (1978)
• Edmonds v. Compagnie Generale Transatlantique · 443 U.S. 256 (1979)
• Feltner v. Columbia Pictures Television, Inc. · 523 U.S. 340 (1998)
• Stewart v. Dutra Construction Co. · 543 U.S. 481 (2005)
• American Export Lines, Inc. v. Alvez · 446 U.S. 274 (1980)

Cited by

Later Supreme Court opinions in our collection that cite this case.

• Dutra Group v. Batterton · 588 U.S. 358 (2019)

Official text

Read the official opinion (U.S. Reports, govinfo.gov)

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Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (2009). Citation count from the Free Law Project’s CourtListener bulk data. Data last verified 2026-07-03. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).