ATLANTA (AP) -- A federal judge has ruled against a deep-sea exploration company in a dispute with Spain over 17 tons of silver coins recovered from a sunken 19th century Spanish galleon.
Florida-based Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. found the treasure off the Portuguese coast in 2007.
Last year, a federal court in Atlanta ruled the Florida explorers must give the treasure back to the Spanish government.
Odyssey then requested a stay of court proceedings as it continued its legal fight to keep the treasure.
In court documents, the exploration firm said a stay of the court proceedings is necessary to protect its interests and prevent Spain from keeping the treasure as the claims were considered by courts.
In an order Tuesday, a U.S. circuit court judge denied the company's motion for a stay.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)