Glazier v. Sprague S. S. Co.

103 F. Supp. 157, 1952 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4463
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedFebruary 27, 1952
DocketCiv. A. No. 10541; No. 31 of 1950
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 103 F. Supp. 157 (Glazier v. Sprague S. S. Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Glazier v. Sprague S. S. Co., 103 F. Supp. 157, 1952 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4463 (E.D. Pa. 1952).

Opinion

KALODNER, Circuit Judge.

These cases involve two separate causes of action. The civil action, seeking recovery of damages for personal injuries, was brought under the Jones Act, 46 U.S. C.A. § 688. The action in admiralty is for maintenance and cure and wages. The two cases were consolidated for trial with a waiver of jury in the civil action.

[158]*158The two causes of action arise out of incidents, hereinafter set forth in detail, which occurred on board the S. S. Julien Dubuque between the 15th and 20th of August, 1948, while the plaintiff-libellant, George W. Glazier, was a member of its crew as First Assistant Engineer.

On the basis of the pleadings, testimony and other evidence, I make the following

Findings of Fact

1. Plaintiff-libellant (hereinafter referred to as “plaintiff”) is a resident and citizen of the state of Pennsylvania. He was born on April 17, 1892.

2. Defendant-respondent (hereinafter referred to as “defendant”), Sprague Steamship Company, is a Massachusetts corporation; and at all times material hereto was the bareboat charterer in possession and control of the S. S. Julien Dubuque, a vessel owned by the United States of America.

3. On April 3, 1946, plaintiff was admitted to the U. S. Naval Hospital at Philadelphia, suffering from a coronary occlusion. He remained there until May 1, 1946. His hospital record at this time showed evidence of high blood pressure, or hypertension.

4. On January 3, 1948, plaintiff joined The Julien Dubuque in the capacity of First Assistant Engineer at a monthly wage of $402.93 plus overtime.

5. On August 15, 1948, while the vessel was at Helsingbord, Sweden, plaintiff was taken ill. A doctor, summoned aboard, diagnosed plaintiff’s condition as a heart attack, and prescribed rest and medication.

6. Plaintiff remained in bed for about two days, after which he resumed his duties in the engine room. At about the same time he returned to work, he also went ashore in his spare time.

7. On August 19, 1948, plaintiff suffered a second heart attack. A doctor was again called and treated him. Plaintiff was relieved from further duty, the Second and Third Assistant Engineers standing his watch.

8. The vessel sailed from Helsingbord on August 19, with plaintiff sick in his berth, the doctor having considered it safe for him to make the journey back to the United States.

9. En route to Narvik, Norway, plaintiff’s condition became worse. The vessel changed its course to Kristiansand, Norway, where plaintiff was taken ashore on August 20.

10. Plaintiff was hospitalized at the Kristiansands Kommunal Sykehus from August 20 to September 25, 1948, where he was treated for coronary thrombosis with myocardial infarction. Electrocardiograms taken on admission indicated the presence of an acute myocardial infarct involving the posterior wall of the left ventricle. During the course of his confinement he was treated with anticoagulants, and upon his discharge was advised to consult a physician when he returned to the United States.

11. Upon discharge from the hospital at Kristiansand, plaintiff went to Oslo, Norway. Here he suffered a relapse. On September 28, he was hospitalized in Oslo with signs of heart failure. He was discharged on October 19, 1948, and returned to the United States by vessel.

12. Upon his return to the United States in the latter part of October, plaintiff went to’ live with his daughter in Philadelphia, and put himself under the care of Dr. Albert E. Welsh, a local general practitioner. His complaints were shortness of breath, a dull ac'he in the chest and tiredness. Dr. Welsh treated him for coronary thrombosis. Examination of plaintiff by Dr. Welsh also revealed some evidence of arteriosclerosis and a blood sugar count of slighty above normal.

13. In the succeeding two months Dr. Welsh saw the plaintiff weekly, and, up to December 18, 1948, plaintiff’s progress appeared to be normal. The pain had subsided somewhat, and there was less shortness of breath. At the time Dr. Welsh was of the opinion that he would soon be able to return to some form of light work.

14. On the morning of December 18, 1948,- Dr. Welsh received an emergency call and found plaintiff in bed complaining of paralysis of the right side of the body.

[159]*15915. Plaintiff was immediately taken to the U. S. Naval Hospital in Philadelphia. A physical examination upon admission revealed “slight weakness and loss of coordination in right arm and hand. Also slight diminution in pain sense there.”

16. Plaintiff’s hospital record for December 21 shows: “Still complains of numbness in right extremities which are definitely weaker than the left; however they have gained some strength since admission.”

17. The entry for December 27, nine days after admission, indicates that at 10 P. M., “Patient was lying quietly in bed, when corpsman noticed that his mouth dropped and he was drooling. Exam revealed apparent motor aphasia, complete, but patient appeared to understand somewhat what was said. Right hemiparesis with complete paralysis of face and arm. Leg still has some motion.” On December 29 there was notation of “Slight movement in right arm, right leg completely flaccid. Motor aphasia complete.”

18. Plaintiff remained in the Naval Hospital until October 3, 1949. He was subsequently hospitalized for the following periods up to the time of trial; May 26, 1950 to November 1, 1950; December 27, 1950 to March 6, 1951; May 6, 1951 to May 15, 1951.

19. Plaintiff was examined in the Naval Hospital by Dr. Joseph B. Vander Veer on September 22, 1949. Dr. Vander Veer found evidence of diffuse arteriosclerosis, which had reached a fairly advanced stage in the arms and legs, to the extent that one pulse was missing in the right foot.

20. The hemiplegia, or paralysis, which first manifested itself on the morning of December 18, 1948, and then increased markedly nine days after admission to the hospital, was due to a cerebrovascular accident known as cerebral thrombosis, which is the formation of a blood clot in one of the arteries in the brain.

21. The cerebral thrombosis suffered by plaintiff was the result of arteriosclerosis, and was in no way caused by the damage done to his heart as the result of the heart attacks of August 15 and 20, 1948.

22. Maintenance has been stipulated at the rate of $6 per day. Defendant has voluntarily paid maintenance in the amount of $360, representing maintenance for the period from October 20, 1948 (approximate date of discharge from the hospital in Oslo) to December 18, 1948 (date hemi-plegia first became evident). Since a period of three days elapsed between plaintiff’s discharge from the hospital at Kris-tiansand (September 25, 1948) and his hospitalization in Oslo (September 28), and since the actual date of his discharge from the hospital in Oslo was October 19, 1948, rather than October 20, there is a period of four days, prior to December 18, 1948, for which maintenance was not paid.

23. There is a balance of earned wages due plaintiff in the amount of $618.95. This amount is being held as unclaimed wages by defendant. Plaintiff’s wages for the balance of the voyage, which ended on September 10, 1948, amount to $282.03. These sums total $900.98.

Discussion

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Related

Archibald Lyles v. United States
254 F.2d 725 (D.C. Circuit, 1958)

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Bluebook (online)
103 F. Supp. 157, 1952 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4463, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/glazier-v-sprague-s-s-co-paed-1952.