McCants v. Alcoa Steamship Co.

471 F.2d 1371

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: January 17, 1973
• Docket: No. 72-3247
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Plaintiff-appellant’s intestate, John C. McCants, an employee of Alabama State Docks and Terminals (Docks), received accidental fatal injuries while working on a pier owned by Docks assisting in the repair of the clam shell of a shore crane owned and then being operated by Docks in the discharge of cargo from the vessel, “S.S. SNEHOLT”, which was under time charter to Alcoa Steamship Company (Alcoa) from its owner, A/S Ivarans Rederi (Ivarans). Mrs. McCants brought suit in admiralty for damages accruing from her husband’s death against Alcoa and Ivarans, who in turn counterclaimed against Aetna Casualty and Insurance Company and Docks.¹

Upon the pleadings and affidavits on file the trial court granted summary judgment dismissing the suit with prejudice,² based upon an analysis of the undisputed facts and the conclusion that the case was indistinguishable on the facts from, and governed by Victory Carriers v. Law, 1971, 404 U.S. 202, 92 S.Ct. 418, 30 L.Ed.2d 383.

We agree with the trial judge’s findings and conclusions. The judgment appealed from is

Affirmed.

1 . The S.S. SNEHOLT also was named as a defendant in rem, but apparently never seized or served.

2 . The decision of the district court is reported as Maxine McCants, as Administratrix of the Estate of John C. McCants, deceased, Plaintiff, v. Alcoa Steamship Company, a corporation, A/S Ivarans Rederi and the “SS Sneholt”, individually and jointly, Defendants, v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Company and Alabama State Docks & Terminals, Third-Party Defendants, 1972, S.D.Ala., 353 F.Supp. 352.