| Subject: |
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Spain and Odyssey Playing Cat & Mouse |
| Name: |
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Pat Clyne |
| Date Posted: |
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Feb 22, 08 - 10:57 AM |
| Website: |
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http://www.miamiherald.com/775/story/428035.html |
| Message: |
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In this new world of Salvage Roulette where you risk everything if you identify finding anything Spanish from under the sea, it seems Odyssey Marine has broken from the pack and is now snubbing its nose at Spain. Even though their new wreck is supposedly out of state and federal waters, claiming that Spanish coins were recovered would have been enough to bring down Spain’s Galleon chasing lawyers all over them like jackals on carrion. So, why are they taking that chance by claiming Spanish coins were recovered?
In light of their recent brouhaha in Gibraltar where Spain not only insisted that they disclose the location of where their latest wreck was in International waters, they sea-jacked their vessel and brought it back to Spain where it was held indefinitely until Spain had its way with them. So again, why is Odyssey tempting fate on what might be another self-proclaimed Spanish repository?
The answer to that is only known to Odyssey. But it might have something to do with a pre-existing Admiralty claim held by BDJ Discovery Group. If this had been in State waters off of N.C. it would have immediately been “game over.” North Carolina is in the Fourth Circuit. The same district court where it was decided to force another private Salvor, who had a legitimate State sanctioned permit, to give up those rights to Spain on two shipwrecks that he located off of Virginia.
Since then, Spain has been exercising its falsely held belief that it is on a new, New World Conquest by claiming that everything under the sea that was carrying anything resembling Spanish goods belong to them. This obsession is fueled by their Washington D. C. based law firm of Covington & Burling and spearheaded by James Goold, the same attorney who stripped a fellow American of his rights to a shipwreck that he legally possessed. In doing so he further denied the American people their right to their own Cultural Heritage.
So where is Mr. Goold now? I’m sure he’s not too far away. If this turns into another Spain induced ‘tantrum’ over greed perhaps Odyssey will take it back to the courts and once and for all overturn the injustice created in the Fourth Circuit over who owns OUR history, Spain or Us ? |
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