Document: 358 U.S. 613 79 S.Ct. 517 3 L.Ed.2d 541 UNITED NEW YORK AND JERSEY SANDY HOOK PILOTS ASSOCIATION, a Corporation, Petitioners,v.Anna HALECKI, Administratrix Ad Prosequendum of the Estate Walter Joseph Halecki, Deceased. No. 56. Argued Oct. 23, 1958. Decided Feb. 24, 1959. Mr. Lawrence J. Mahoney, New York City, for petitioners. Nathan Baker, respondent. Justice STEWART delivered opinion Court. 1 The administratrix estate Halecki brought this action against owners pilot boat Jersey to recover damages Halecki's death, allegedly caused by inhalation carbon tetrachloride fumes while working aboard that vessel. action, based upon Wrongful Death Act, N.J.S.A. 2A:31—1, was in federal court reason diversity citizenship. Under instructions either unseaworthiness vessel or negligence would render defendants liable and contributory on part decedent serve only mitigate damages, jury returned verdict administratrix, which judgment entered. Court Appeals affirmed, holding Act incorporates liability unseaworthiness, as developed law, adopts admiralty rule comparative when death occurs result tortious conduct navigable waters State. 251 F.2d 708. 2 For reasons stated M/V Tungus v. Skovgaard, 588, 503, we hold correct viewing its basic task one interpreting law Jersey. also Tungus, accept case Appeals' determination effect accord decedent's negligence. But even if be interpreted importing maritime error circumstances were such impose under doctrine. essential facts are not dispute. In September 1951 Jersey, annual overhaul at shipyard Rodermond Industries, Inc. One jobs done dismantling ship's generators, requiring, among other things, they sprayed with tetrachloride. Since Industries equipped do electrical work, job subcontracted K. & S. Electrical Company, employer. 4 generators engine room, both his foreman, Donald Doidge, aware necessity taking special precautions undertaking spraying them tetrachloride, toxic compound.1 They arranged work Saturday, day chosen because, Doidge testified, '(W)e know it has there is nobody else board ship.' 5 came appointed day, gas masks. found watchman, whom gave permit anyone enter room. Before starting rigged an air hose underneath blow away from man spraying. A high-compression blower placed so exhaust foul through two open doorways. These pieces equipment belonged had been previous day. Together room's regular ventilating system, hoses operated power supplied dock. did most spraying, 10- 15-minute periods intervening rests equal length. operation, wore mask during entire period he worked. He became sick next died weeks later poisoning. 6 eventful development doctrine familiar history. Although dubious ancestry,2 born Osceola3 emerged full-blown 40 years Mahnich Southern S.S. Co.4 absolute nondelegable duty owner owes members crew who her. justification rigid standard clearly Court's Mahnich: 7 'He (the seaman) subject rigorous discipline sea, all conditions service constrain him accept, without critical examination protest, appliances commanded superior officers.' 321 96, page 103, 64 455, 459. 8 With nature thus defined, remained decisions amplify scope. Seas Shipping Co. Sieracki Pope Talbot, Inc., Hawn5 made clear shipowner could escape delegating others traditionally crew. Whether their calling labeled 'stevedore,' 'carpenter,' something else, those 'type work' seamen, related ship same way seamen 'who about go voyage,' entitled seaworthy ship. See 346 413, 74 207. 9 Neither these nor policy underlies can justify extension present case. no 'the type It performed ready but 'dead' dismantled. Moreover, specialist, requiring skill equipment—portable blowers, hoses, masks, tanks purpose, none connected seagoing operations.6 Indeed, specialized repair yard engaged itself perform it, enlist services subcontractor. measure how foreign ordinarily time off 10 avails nothing say 'electrican,' many modern ships carry electricians Hawn explicitly teaches labels domain meaningless. scarcely more helpful indulge euphemism 'cleaning' ship, traditional keep clean. fact is, apt words Judge Lumbard's dissenting Appeals, 'was doing what any member ever anywhere world far informed.' 708, 715. To extend here distort Mahnich, beyond recognition. We therefore instruct held should find exercised reasonable care.7 11 As claim negligence, gives right action,8 agree evidence created issue decided verdict.' owed exercising care safety decedent. charged knowledge used confined spaces triers determine whether responsibly negligent permitting authorizing method manner use. 12 follows said new trial will required, invalid sole basis verdict. 13 Vacated remanded. 14 concurring FRANKFURTER see 523. 15 BRENNAN, CHIEF JUSTICE, BLACK, DOUGLAS join, dissenting. 16 On 29, 1951, standing pier City marine firm overhaul. scheduled take three weeks, 29th Saturday after first week work. Crew participated maintenance period, five-day-work-week basis. Cleaning vessel's 29th, since cleaning known have properties, minimize number persons respondent's decedent, employee subcontractor general contractor; another spent men masks rest above decks observed. At end complained odd taste mouth, thereafter admitted hospital where 17 His widow commenced Federal District York, predicating jurisdiction complaint alleged harmful concentrations allowed stand unremoved ordinary ventilation system auxiliary workmen purpose. further failure use furnishing business invitee, safe place pleaded plaintiff support claims. went grounds, plaintiff; thereon affirmed Appeals. 18 today reverses, verdict, must course supportable each aspect left jury, cannot supported grounds unseaworthiness. Court, following decision holds source case, wrongful My separate sets forth I think erroneous. holds, apparently matter owe seaworthiness Paradox may characterization governing state well confusion precise role play actions holding.1 event, view question does here, shall set briefly erred light Sieracki, 328 85, 66 872, 90 L.Ed. 1099; Hawn, 406, 202, 98 143, Alaska Petterson, 347 396, 601, 798, purports overrule. 19 maintaining extended employed directly shipowner. concluded 'not immediate hire owner, extends consent arrangement.' 95, 877. declared 'liability arises incident, merely seaman's contract, performing owner's consent.' Id., 97, 878. quoted specific approval language below case: 'when function fortuitous employment stevedoring contractor rights.' Ibid. stressed division labor due increased specialization operate diminish scope shipowner, said, 'is liberty securing advantages divisions labor. discard responsibilities.' 100, 880. 20 reaffirmed applied situation, pointed out protection shipboard worker title position occupied 'on relationship historic seaworthiness.' 21 Today workers 'ship's service' warranty. essays distinctions functioning accident, voyage.2 stresses vessel, sort now habitually contracted out. takes casual reference principles reminded contract exempting duty's 'humanitarian policy,' 877; rather very bases bottomed. refers extensive required bring aboard, Petterson was, over dissent, rejected distinction 400, 603. Nor being posed dangers degree desirable militated existence duty. than precisely avoid consequence responsibilities contracting dangerous 22 declines entitle warranty because rejects categorical analogies between historically members, observation different modern, complicated equipment, treatment efficiently it. Thus whole point turned around, today's escapes outfitted pattern become established. 23 inversion principle. fear workable guide lower courts actively litigated field law. impression some tasks injured disqualifies shipowner's duty, that, uncertain extent cases cloud.3 And breed litigation already heavily area 24 adhere affirm Carbon somewhat volatile compound five times heavier air, humans atmosphere 100 parts 1,000,000. chemical provide adequate ventilation, density high concentration portions enclosed area. Gilmore Black, Law Admiralty, p. 316. 189 158, 175, 483, 487, 47 760. 88 561. 1099, 143. Rogers United States Lines, 984, 849, 1120. established own entirely intended room operation. reach question, discussed amicus curiae brief States, 'to shore performs voyage navigation docked private repair.' 2A:31—1; supra. Further paradox acceptance, independent examination, Second Circuit defenses available applicable here. unavailable defense. usual given deferring Courts questions circuit embracing State question. affirms Third (which includes Jersey), 252 14, leaving identical appear clear, disposition answer filed urges imports voyage, engage accident. This theory, like Court's, unwarranted restriction doctrine, particularly denied doctrine's Government's theory. argument primarily Desper Starved Rock Ferry Co., 342 187, 72 216, 96 205, vessels hauled up land winter. 1120, regard completed shown embark voyage. Cases holdings extending contractors' employees substantially similarly circumstanced include Torres Kastor, Cir., 227 664 (cleaning pitch make suitable future voyages); Read 201 758 (reconversion Liberty Ship into troop carrier; converting deep tanks); Crawford 206 784 (boiler company's accumulated rust dirt tank); Pinion Mississippi D.C.E.D.La., 156 F.Supp. 652 (plumbing contractor's helper carying home port repairs). Pioneer Hill, 262, 263 (vessel winter lay-up; officers aboard; substantial repairs effected; dictum shipfitter's probably within broadened class extended'); Imperial Oil, Ltd., Drlik, 234 4, (shipbuilding company repairing drydocked materially damaged explosion; dictium 'would fall Lester 625 (electrician vessel; assumed).

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