Legal Definitions - libel of information

In maritime law, a libel of information refers to a formal legal complaint filed by the government in an admiralty court. This type of lawsuit is typically brought against a vessel, its cargo, or other property (rather than directly against a person) to enforce a statute, recover a penalty, or seek the forfeiture of the property due to a violation of law.

Here are some examples:

• Illegal Smuggling Operation: A large container ship is intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard carrying a significant quantity of undeclared and illegal firearms hidden within its legitimate cargo. The government believes the ship was knowingly used in the smuggling operation.

  In this scenario, the U.S. government would file a libel of information in federal court. This legal action would be directed against the ship itself and the illegal firearms, seeking their forfeiture to the government because they were involved in a violation of federal law. The lawsuit targets the property rather than directly prosecuting the ship's owner or crew, though separate criminal charges might also be pursued.

• Environmental Pollution: A cruise ship operating in protected federal waters is discovered to have illegally dumped untreated sewage and waste overboard, violating clean water regulations.

  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S. government, could file a libel of information against the cruise ship. This lawsuit would aim to impose substantial fines and penalties directly against the vessel for the environmental damage and regulatory breaches, holding the ship itself accountable for the violation.

• Violation of Sanctions: A commercial freighter, owned by a foreign entity, is found to be transporting goods to a country under U.S. economic sanctions, in direct violation of federal trade laws.

  The U.S. government would initiate a libel of information against the freighter and its cargo. This legal action would seek the forfeiture of the prohibited goods and potentially the vessel itself, arguing that the property was used to circumvent U.S. sanctions and therefore should be seized by the government.