The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that a party may have a maritime lien under the Federal Maritime Lien Act without having a maritime contract. In the instant case, plaintiff fish processor contracted with various fishing vessel owners to land and process their squid catch. Plaintiff brought suit against the vessels in rem when the vessel owners did not fully pay the contracted amounts. The trial court granted the owners' motion to dismiss the complaint, finding that plaintiff did not have a maritime lien against the vessels because the contract was not maritime in nature. The appellate court reversed, ruling that…