Yacht Owner Sues Huntington Bank Over Alleged Unlawful Seizure and Interstate Transport of “Something About Meri”
Stanley R. Kalish has filed a pro se lawsuit against Huntington National Bank in the Southern District of Florida, alleging constitutional and maritime law violations stemming from the seizure of his 92-foot Mangusta motor yacht Something About Meri. The complaint, filed May 23, 2025, seeks emergency injunctive relief, damages, and declaratory findings concerning what Kalish calls an unauthorized and extrajudicial repossession of his federally documented vessel.
Complaint Alleges Yacht Was Seized in U.S. Virgin Islands Without Judicial Process
According to the complaint, the vessel was anchored in Jersey Bay, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands in April 2025 under the supervision of a custodian appointed by Kalish. On April 8, 2025, agents for Huntington Bank, along with a licensed recovery firm and officers from the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, allegedly boarded the yacht without a warrant or court order. The complaint alleges that the custodian was threatened with arrest, forced off the vessel, and the yacht was then transported to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for liquidation.
Kalish asserts that no foreclosure or Rule C admiralty proceeding had been filed and that he received no notice or opportunity to be heard. He alleges that the seizure violated the Ship Mortgage Act, which requires court-supervised enforcement of preferred ship mortgages on federally documented vessels.
Lawsuit Claims Constitutional Violations and Wrongful Acts by Bank and Agents
The complaint includes claims for violation of the Ship Mortgage Act, unlawful search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment, deprivation of property without due process under the Fourteenth Amendment, conversion, trespass to chattels, civil conspiracy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Kalish alleges that Huntington’s agents knowingly acted outside the bounds of federal law and engaged in a self-help repossession that is not permitted under maritime rules governing federally registered yachts.
Kalish further claims that the vessel holds both financial and personal value, serving as his residence and sanctuary, and that its ongoing retention by a Florida liquidation company threatens permanent harm to its value and his equity.
Plaintiff Seeks Return of Yacht and Emergency Injunction to Prevent Its Sale or Destruction
In addition to damages, Kalish seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction preventing the sale, relocation, or dismantling of Something About Meri. He asks the court to declare that the seizure and transportation were unlawful and to restore possession of the yacht to him pending full judicial review. The case has been filed as an admiralty action under 28 U.S.C. § 1333 and 46 U.S.C. §§ 31325–31326.
Huntington Bank Sues to Foreclose Maritime Lien on Mangusta Yacht “Something About Meri” Over $1 Million Loan Defaul
Huntington National Bank has filed a federal admiralty lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida seeking to foreclose on a preferred ship mortgage and enforce a maritime lien against the 92-foot motor yacht Something About Meri. The complaint, filed May 22, 2025, alleges over one million dollars in unpaid loan obligations by the vessel’s owner, Stanley R. Kalish. The action is pending under Case No. 0:25-cv-61018.
Mangusta Yacht Owner Accused of Missed Loan Payments, Deterioration, and Allowing Liens on Vessel
According to the complaint, Kalish financed the Mangusta yacht through Radius Bank, which later became part of Huntington Bank via mergers. Under the loan agreement, Kalish was to pay over eight thousand dollars monthly from June 2017 through May 2037. The bank alleges that Kalish missed payments as early as 2018 and failed to make any full payment after July 2024. A partial payment in October 2024 was the last received.
The bank also alleges that Kalish allowed the vessel to deteriorate significantly and permitted third-party liens to be filed, including one claim for over one million dollars. In violation of loan terms, Kalish reportedly failed to keep the yacht in working condition, leading to electrical and mechanical failures that rendered it non-operational. By January 2025, the yacht was reportedly grounded in shallow water with its stern exposed and windows left open to the elements.
Huntington Seeks Judicial Foreclosure of Yacht “Something About Meri” Based in Fort Lauderdale
Huntington is seeking foreclosure of the vessel under federal maritime law and U.S. admiralty rules. Although the bank already repossessed the yacht through self-help remedies, it now asks the court to enter a judicial order authorizing sale of the vessel and confirming its lien. The complaint also requests a judgment against Kalish personally for the full loan balance and costs incurred in storing and preserving the deteriorated vessel.
The action emphasizes the lender’s right to secure repayment through foreclosure, seizure, and eventual sale of the yacht under the Commercial Instruments and Maritime Liens Act. Huntington estimates that the vessel’s current value is far below the remaining balance on the loan, requiring recovery of the deficiency from Kalish individually.
Contact a Yacht Foreclosure and Maritime Lien Attorney Today for Legal Advice
If you are facing a dispute involving a vessel loan, mortgage foreclosure, or maritime lien enforcement, legal help is available. Our firm represents lenders, financial institutions, and vessel owners in complex maritime disputes involving high-value assets. To speak with an attorney about protecting your interests or enforcing your rights under maritime law, contact us today for a consultation.
