96 - Contested claims.

§  96.  Contested claims. The master, owner, agent or consignee of the  vessel, or any person having an interest in the  proceeds  before  final  distribution  thereof,  may contest any claim made against the vessel or  its proceeds, by filing with such justice a written answer, verified  as  a  pleading  in  a court of record, designating the claims contested and  controverting any material allegation of the notice of lien, application  for a warrant or statement of lien, and setting up any other  matter  in  defense  thereto. A copy of such answer shall be served within five days  from such filing, upon the person  whose  claim  is  contested,  or  his  attorney.    If  the answer does not contain any matter of defense to the claim, it  may be stricken out on motion of any person who has filed  a  notice  of  lien against the vessel.