Levinson v. United States

Levinson v. United States, 258 U.S. 198 (1922), was a United States Supreme Court governing the sale by the United States Navy of the yacht USS Wadena (SP-158). The yacht, previously having been used by the Navy in World War I, was auctioned off after the war ended. Levinson and Johnson both submitted bids. Johnson's was the higher bid, but his bid was lost, inadvertently assigned to a different vessel. The Navy subsequently sold and delivered title to the yacht to Levinson. Johnson sued, and the Navy joined in the suit as a stakeholder, supporting Johnson's claim.

Levinson v. United States
Supreme Court of the United States
Argued March 3, 1922 Decided March 13, 1922
Full case name	Levinson v. United States
Citations	258 U.S. 198 (more) 42 S. Ct. 275; 66 L. Ed. 563
Court membership
Chief Justice William H. Taft Associate Justices Joseph McKenna · Oliver W. Holmes Jr. William R. Day · Willis Van Devanter Mahlon Pitney · James C. McReynolds Louis Brandeis · John H. Clarke
Case opinions
Majority	Holmes, joined by Day, Van Devanter, Pitney, McReynolds, Brandeis
Dissent	McKenna

The U.S. District Court initially ruled in favor of Levinson. However, on appeal Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed, removing the government from the suit, on the ground that it was not a party to the controversy, and awarded the yacht to Johnson. The Supreme Court reversed the court of appeals, holding that the district court had been correct on both issues: it was appropriate for the Navy to participate in the suit, and that Levinson should be awarded the boat.