Lukos v. Chesapeake & O. Ry. Co.

120 F. Supp. 296, 1954 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3554
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Michigan
DecidedApril 2, 1954
DocketCiv. A. No. 1754
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 120 F. Supp. 296 (Lukos v. Chesapeake & O. Ry. Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lukos v. Chesapeake & O. Ry. Co., 120 F. Supp. 296, 1954 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3554 (W.D. Mich. 1954).

Opinion

STARR, District Judge.

In his complaint the plaintiff alleges that on October 12, 1950, while performing his assigned duties aboard the defendant’s vessel, City of Midland, steamer No. 41, he sustained severe and permanent injuries when he was caused to fall to the deck of the vessel while carrying a large and heavy piece of the vessel’s gear, without proper assistance, aid, and supervision. He further alleges that at the time of his injury he was in the employ of the defendant in the capacity of a seaman and was a member of the crew aboard the defendant’s vessel, which was engaged in commerce and navigation on the Great [297]*297Lakes. He contends that as a seaman and member of the crew he is entitled to maintain this action under the Jones Act, 46 U.S.C.A. § 688.

In his complaint the plaintiff sets forth three causes of action. In his first cause of action he charges the defendant with negligence, in that it:

“(1) Failed to provide a safe and worthy vessel and appliances and to keep same in a safe condition;
“(2) Failed to furnish plaintiff with a safe place to work;
“(3) Failed to furnish plaintiff with seaworthy tools and appliances and to maintain same in a safe and proper condition;
“(4) Failed to furnish plaintiff with reasonably competent co-employees and officers and with a sufficient number of same;
“(5) Failed to provide plaintiff with proper and adequate supervision and assistance in the performance of his assigned duties;
“(6) Failed to promulgate and enforce proper and safe rules for conduct and performance of assigned duties and to warn plaintiff of any dangers to be encountered therein;
“(7) Ordered plaintiff to do hazardous work in foul and inclement weather and upon rough seas when such work was not necessary to the safety of the aforesaid vessel and its crew;
“(8) Failed to provide a clear and safe passageway for plaintiff and his fellow-workmen and members of the crew to move about in the course of his and their assigned duties; and,
“(9) Failed to exercise ordinary care for plaintiff’s health and safety.”

In his first cause of action plaintiff claims damages for past and future pain and suffering and loss of earnings, and for past and future hospital, medical, and surgical care and treatment. In his second and separate cause of action based upon the same allegations of negligence on the part of the defendant, he claims damages for defendant’s alleged failure to furnish him with necessary and proper medical and hospital care, and he alleges that defendant’s failure to furnish such medical and hospital care aggravated his condition and injuries and caused him increased and additional pain, suffering, disability, and loss of earnings. In his third and separate cause of action based upon the same charges of negligence, he claims damages for wages and for maintenance and cure during his disability.

The defendant has answered denying the right of the plaintiff to recover under any of the alleged causes of action, and as affirmative defenses it contends, among other things: (1) That the court does not have jurisdiction of the subject matter of this action, and (2) that the subject matter of the action is “peculiarly within the scope of Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, Title 33, U.S.C.A. § 901, et seq.”

The parties have agreed that the question as to whether the plaintiff is entitled to maintain this action under the Jones Act or whether he must seek relief under the Longshoremen’s Act shall be determined in advance of the trial of the case on the merits. The parties have filed a stipulation of facts, a copy of which is attached hereto marked “Appendix A,” and have agreed that these stipulated facts may be considered by the court in determining whether or not plaintiff’s employment status entitles him to maintain this action under the Jones Act. Counsel for the parties have filed extensive and capable briefs in support of their respective contentions. It is clear that the controlling question presented for determination is whether the plaintiff was a “seaman-member of the crew” aboard the defendant’s vessel at the time of his injury.

The Jones Act, 46 U.S.C.A. § 688, provides in part as follows:

“Any seaman who shall suffer personal injury in the course of his [298]*298employment may, at his election, maintain an action for damages at law, with the right of trial by jury, and in such action all statutes of the United States modifying or extending the common-law right or remedy in cases of personal injury to railway employees shall apply”.

The Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, 33 U.S.C.A. §§ 903, 905, provides in part as follows:

“§ 903. (a) Compensation shall be payable under this chapter in respect of disability or death of an employee, but only if the disability or death results from an injury occurring upon the navigable waters of the United States (including any dry dock) and if recovery for the disability or death through workmen’s compensation proceedings may not validly be provided by State law. No compensation shall be payable in respect of the disability or death of—
“(1) A master or member of a crew of any vessel, nor any person engaged by the master to' load or ’ unload or repair any small vessel under eighteen tons net”.
“§ 905. The liability of an employer prescribed in section 904 of this chapter shall be exclusive and in place of all other liability of such employer to the employee”.

It should be noted that the above-quoted provision of the Longshoremen’s Act excludes a “member of a crew of any vessel”. In Swanson v. Marra Bros., Inc., 328 U.S. 1, at page 7, 66 S.Ct. 869, at page 872, 90 L.Ed. 1045, the Supreme Court of the United States said: “We must take it that the effect of these provisions of the Longshoremen’s Act is to confine the benefits of the Jones Act to the members of the crew of a vessel plying in navigable waters”. Therefore, to maintain the present action under the Jones Act, the plaintiff must establish that at the time of his injury he was a “seaman” and a “member of the crew” on the defendant’s vessel.

A review of the many authorities indicates that there has been considerable difficulty and confusion in determining, under the particular facts and circumstances in each case, whether the employee was entitled to maintain an action for damages under the Jones Act, or an action for the benefits provided by the Longshoremen’s Act. In the case of Petition of Spearin, Preston & Burrows, Inc., 2 Cir., 190 F.2d 684, at page 687, the court said: “The cases dealing with the question of whether or not a given person is or is not ‘a member of a crew’ are legion. They turn on individual fact situations and nothing can be gained by reviewing them here.”

The term “seaman” is defined in Federal statutes, 24 U.S.C.A. § 1 (now repealed), 42 U.S.C.A. § 201, and 46 U. S.C.A. § 713.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
120 F. Supp. 296, 1954 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3554, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lukos-v-chesapeake-o-ry-co-miwd-1954.