In Re Cleveland Tankers Inc. (The Jupiter) - U.S. District Ct. (Eastern District of Michigan) (Duggan D.J.) - 10 December 1992

Evidence - Whether opinions and legal conclusions contained in official accident reports are admissible in evidence in relevant civil proceedings

The issue before the Court was whether the conclusions contained in the National Transportation Safety Board Reports and those contained in the U.S. Coast Guard report were admissible. Total Petroleum and Cleveland Tankers agreed that the factual portions of those reports were admissible; however they contended that the opinions and legal conclusions contained therein were inadmissible. The claimants and American Steamship contended that the reports were admissible in their entirety.