Document: 524 U.S. 116118 S.Ct. 1890141 L.Ed.2d 102 Philomena DOOLEY, personal representative of the estate Cecelio Chuapoco, et al., Petitioners,v.KOREAN AIR LINES CO., LTD. No. 97-704. Supreme Court United States Argued April 27, 1998. Decided June 8, Syllabus * The Death on High Seas Act (DOHSA) allows certain relatives a decedent to sue for their own pecuniary losses, but does not authorize recovery decedent's pre-death pain and suffering. Petitioners, representatives three passengers killed when Korean Air Lines Flight KE007 was shot down over Sea Japan, sued respondent airline (KAL) for, inter alia, damages decedents' While suit pending, this decided in Zicherman v. Co., 516 217, 116 629, 133 596-which arose out same disaster-that Warsaw Convention permits compensation only legally cognizable harm, leaves specification what constitutes such harm applicable domestic law, id., at 231, S.Ct., 636-637; that DOHSA supplies law where an airplane crashes high seas, ibid.; applies, neither state nor general maritime can permit loss-of-society damages, 230, 636. Subsequently, District case granted KAL's motion dismiss petitioners' nonpecuniary claims ground including In affirming, Appeals rejected argument provides survival action suffering holding Congress has who may cases death seas. Held: Because chosen there be no damages. Before enacted DOHSA, admiralty did recover person's death. authorized cause surviving 46 U.S.C.App. §761, limited survivors' §762. DOHSA's provision also restricts losses. §765. Mobil Oil Corp. Higginbotham, 436 618, 98 2010, 56 581, held that, survivors could under loss society, reasoning since announced Congress' considered judgment on, beneficiaries, survival, 625, 2015, had authority substitute its views those expressed by Congress, 626, 2015. Higginbotham involved scope remedies available wrongful action, it address availability other causes action. However, petitioners err contending is statute with bearing By authorizing limiting relatives' provided exclusive deaths Petitioners concede would expand class beneficiaries entitled recoverable damages; already these issues and, thus, precluded judiciary from expanding either category. confirms Act's comprehensive expressing contours simply adopt more than urged petitioners. Indeed, so year incorporated similar one seek into Jones Act, permitting seamen injuries. exercise jurisdiction, will upset balance struck which certainly familiar nonetheless declined adopt. Pp. ____-____. 117 F.3d 1477, affirmed. THOMAS, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. Juanita Madole, Irvine, CA, Andrew J. Harakas, New York City, respondent. Jeffrey P. Minear, as amicus curiae, special leave Justice THOMAS 1 §761 seq., This presents question whether nevertheless through law. We hold they not. 2 On September 1, 1983, KE007, en route Anchorage, Alaska, Seoul, South Korea, strayed airspace former Soviet Union Japan. All 269 people board were killed. 3 passengers, brought lawsuits against Ltd. (KAL), Columbia. These consolidated court, along federal actions arising crash. After trial, jury found KAL committed "willful misconduct,'' thus removing Convention's $75,000 cap subsequent verdict awarded $50 million punitive Columbia Circuit upheld finding willful misconduct, vacated award re Disaster Sept. 932 F.2d 1475, cert. denied, 502 994, 112 616, 638 (1991). 4 Judicial Panel Multidistrict Litigation thereafter remanded, trials, all individual Courts been filed. cases, moved pretrial determination (DOHSA), source provides, relevant part: 5 "Whenever person shall caused act, neglect, or default occurring seas beyond marine league shore any State, Columbia, Territories dependencies States, maintain district courts admiralty, benefit wife, husband, parent, child dependent relative . '' §761. 6 "The fair just sustained persons whose 7 argued grief, disagreed, because pursuant Convention, limit determined Article 17 "allows "damages sustained,''' meaning "actual harm'' party "experienced'' result App. 59. 8 awaiting we reached different conclusion 596 (1996), another downing KE007. Zicherman, "permit[s] leave[s] forum's choice-of-law rules,'' "an crash occurs substantive law.'' Id., 637. Accordingly, society: " [W]here see Offshore Logistics, Inc. Tallentire, 477 207, 232-233, 106 2485, 2499-2500, 91 174 (1986), 625-626, 581 (1978), provide basis damages.'' 2498. decide, however, suffering, raised issue petition certiorari. See n. 4, 636, 4. 9 decision, again motion, (not law) governed cases; law; damages-including Re 935 F.Supp. 10, 12-15 (1996). 10 appeal, although itself injuries (including suffering) suffered decedent. 1477 (C.A.D.C.1997). Assuming arguendo court unavailable seas: 11 "For what. Judge-made override congressional judgments, however ancient judgments happen be. made up change it.'' 1481. 12 certiorari, 522 ----, 118 679, 139 628 (1998), resolve split concerning Compare, e.g., Disaster, F.3d, 1481, Gray Lockheed Aeronautical Systems 125 1371, 1385 (C.A.11 1997). II 13 1920, permitted injured tortious conduct conduct. generally R. Hughes, Handbook Admiralty Law 222-223 (2d ed.1920). rule stemmed theory right victim expired died. absence act providing maintained Harrisburg, 119 199, 213, 140, 146-147, 30 L.Ed. 358 (1886); 130 201, 209, 461, 463, 32 923 (1889).1 14 passed statute, enactment DOHSA. "the seas,'' §761; must "for child, relative,'' ibid. limits "a sought.'' includes provision: situations sues his then dies prior completion suit, substituted proceed chapter section 762.'' Other sections establish limitations period, §763a, govern foreign §764, bar contributory negligence complete defense, §766, exempt Great Lakes, navigable waters Panama Canal Zone, territorial coverage, §767, preserve allow non-pecuniary 15 whether, society. not, society 622-624, 2013-2014; supra. For "announces negligence, U.S., noted while "fil[l] gap left silence,'' free "rewrit[e] rules affirmatively specifically enacted.'' Ibid. "Congress ha[d] us'' losses relatives, 623, 2014, "no our Congress.'' 16 Conceding argue recognizes have able death, And, contend, statute-giving death-it disagree. expresses should occur proposed necessarily estates (and various beneficiaries) compensation. They further issues, enlarging As order encourage creation supplements.'' 18 confirmed provision, supra, __, relatives. "considered judgment,'' reason, cannot contended actions; rather, provision. course employment injuries, here. 5, §33, 41 Stat. 1007 (incorporating Federal Employers' Liability 45 U.S.C. §59). Even 19 sum, spoken recovered, damages.2 20 Affirmed. syllabus part prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Timber & Lumber 200 321, 337, 26 282, 287, 50 499. later Moragne Marine Lines, Inc., 398 375, 408-409, 90 1772, 1791-1792, 339 (1970), overruling (1886), remedy exists Sea-Land Services, Gaudet, 414 573, 574, 94 806, 809-810, 39 (1974), awards include support services need decide ever

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