Standard Dredging Corp. v. Henderson

150 F.2d 78, 1945 U.S. App. LEXIS 3422, 1945 A.M.C. 881
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
DecidedJune 19, 1945
DocketNo. 11299
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 150 F.2d 78 (Standard Dredging Corp. v. Henderson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Standard Dredging Corp. v. Henderson, 150 F.2d 78, 1945 U.S. App. LEXIS 3422, 1945 A.M.C. 881 (5th Cir. 1945).

Opinion

SIBLEY, Circuit Judge.

The deputy commissioner awarded death benefits to the father and to the mother of Nathan Johnson amounting to $487.50 per year to each, without a limit of time stated. Standard Dredging Company sued in the district court to enjoin the award. From the decree denying an injunction and adjudging costs against the Company it appealed, and moved for a supersedeas, tendering bond. On this motion the court ordered, “Let the appeal be allowed to operate as a supersedeas upon the Standard Dredging Company filing bond in the sum of $5000 with sufficient sureties, to be conditioned as required by law”. A bond was filed conditioned that appellant “shall prosecute said appeal to effect and answer all damages and costs if it fail to make said plea good”. From this order of supersedeas the father and mother also took an appeal.

1. On the father and mother’s appeal the error contended for is that section 21(b) of the Longshoremen’s Act, 33 U.S.C.A. § 921(b), prohibits the stay of the amounts payable under an award pending final decision “unless upon application for an interlocutory injunction the court * * * allows a stay of such payments, in whole or in part, where irreparable damage would otherwise ensue to the employer. The order of the court allowing any such stay shall contain a specific finding * • * * that such irreparable damage would result to the employer, and specifying the nature of the damage.” But the order appealed from is not a stay order either under the quoted [80]*80provision of the Act, or under Rule of Civil Procedure 62(c), 28 U.S.C.A. fpllowing section 723c, touching appeals from a judgment refusing an injunction. A supersedeas only was prayed, and that alone was granted. There was nothing to supersede except the judgment for costs. A supersedeas on appeal from a judgment denying an injunction does not operate as a pendente lite injunction. See Cumberland Tel. Co. v. Public Service Commission, 260 U.S. 212, 215, 43 S.Ct. 75, 67 L.Ed. 217. There was no error in granting a supersedeas under Rule of Civil Procedure 62(d), but it did not stay the enforcement of the award. The judgment on this appeal is affirmed.

2. Touching the Company’s appeal, it is contended the award is illegal on its face because requiring perpetual payments. It would be better in all cases for an award to. indicate when its requirements are to end. The Act however declares, “The total compensation' payable under this chapter for injury or death shall in no event exceed the sum of $7,500.” 33 U.S.C.A. § 914(m). An award requiring weekly payments without an expressed limit is not necessarily illegal, for the quoted provision of the Act fixes a stopping point for the payments. When $7,500 has been paid, payment is complete and the deputy commissioner can be so notified under Sect. 914(g). But as appears below, awards of death benefits to dependent parents have another limitation which we think must be taken note of and dealt with in the award, to-wit, that payments are to be due only “during dependency”,

3. The question most discussed by the deputy commissioner in his findings, and by the district judge, is whether the Longshoremen’s Act is applicable to the employment of the deceased. The Company was at the time using the dredge Tampa to enlarge and deepen the channel of the Intracoastal Canal in Oyster Bay off the south coast of Alabama, in navigable waters. The dredged material was carried to the shore through a pipe line supported by pontoons, which there connected with other pipes through which it was distributed to make a fill later used by the county for approaches for a bridge to cross the canal. The operation was done under a single contract with the federal government. The deceased Johnson worked mostly on the shore managing the shore pipes, but he reached his place of work by being carried with others from the nearby town to the dredge and then walking along the pontoon line to his work place, returning the same way at the end of his work shift. While so returning he slipped from the pontoon line in deep water and was drowned. His injury and death occurred on navigable waters. His work though mostly on land was in direct connection with and assistance of the dredge which was engaged in improving a navigable waterway. The placing of the dirt on shore was only incidental to the main enterprise, which was maritime. We make no further effort 'to explain the limiting words touching the Act’s coverage, “and if recovery for the disability or death through workmen’s compensation proceedings may not validly be provided by State law”, 33 U.S.C.A. § 903(a), but hold this case covered on the authority of Parker v. Motor Boat Sale Co., 314 U.S. 244, 62 S.Ct. 221, 86 L.Ed. 184; Radcliff Gravel Co. v. Henderson, 5 Cir., 138 F.2d 549; DeBardeleben Coal Corporation v. Henderson 5 Cir., 138 F.2d 481.

4. Our greatest trouble is with the question of the dependency of the father and mother. The deputy commissioner did not discuss it in his findings, but found generally that they were dependent. The district judge said simply that he thought partial dependence was shown. The deputy commissioner’s brief here merely says that there was testimony which if believed showed the deceased sent, money home to his parents and contributed to their support. But more than this is necessary to make a case of dependence. Regular contributions 'voluntarily made tend to show a need for them, but in this case Johnson was a minor of 18 years, hired out by his father, and his earnings above his necessary support belonged to his parents irrespective of their condition of health oi finances. That he sent them money proves nothing as to their need.

The word “dependent” is used perhaps a score of times in the Act. It occurs in the definitions in Section 2(14), (15), (16), and (17), but is nowhere itself defined. It must be given its common meaning, “Not self sustaining”, “Relying on for support”. Webster’s Int. Dictionary; 26 C.J.S., Dependent, p. 719. Many interpretations of the word in workmen’s compensation laws are to be found cited in 71 C.J., Workmen’s Compensation, [81]*81Sect. 272 and following. The summary of them there made is: “The test of dependency as laid down ■ by the decided cases is reliance by the dependent on the employee’s contributions for the means of living for himself or family, having regard to the dependent’s class and position in life, and actual application of the contributions for that purpose”. This is what the expressions amount to- in the few federal cases touching on the point under the Longshoremen’s Act. They all say, and that was the burden of the decisions, that a partial dependence is sufficient. Pocahontas Fuel Co. v. Monahan, 1 Cir., 41 F.2d 48; Texas Employers Ins. Ass’n v. Sheppeard, 5 Cir., 62 F.2d 122; Harris v. Hoage, 62 App.D.C. 275, 66 F.2d 801; London Guarantee & Acc. Co. v. Hoage, 64 App.D.C. 105, 75 F.2d 236; Wende v. McManigal, 2 Cir., 135 F.2d 151.

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150 F.2d 78, 1945 U.S. App. LEXIS 3422, 1945 A.M.C. 881, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/standard-dredging-corp-v-henderson-ca5-1945.