Document: 460 U.S. 190 103 S.Ct. 1033 74 L.Ed.2d 911 LOCKHEED AIRCRAFT CORPORATION, Petitionerv.UNITED STATES et al. No. 81-1181. Argued Nov. 30, 1982. Decided Feb. 23, 1983. Syllabus A civilian employee of the United States Navy died in crash an aircraft operated by Air Force and manufactured petitioner. The paid death benefits to employee's survivors under Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). Thereafter, administrator filed suit against petitioner District Court, seeking damages for wrongful injuries suffered prior her death. Petitioner, asserting a right indemnification Tort Claims Act, impleaded as third-party defendant. Petitioner settled administrator's claim moved summary judgment action. Government dismiss on ground that it was barred FECA's exclusive-liability provision, 5 U.S.C. § 8116(c), which prohibits actions "an employee, his legal representative, spouse, dependents, next kin, [or] any other person otherwise entitled recover from . because [employee's] injury or death." concluding 8116(c) did not bar indemnity claim, granted Court Appeals reversed. Held: Section does petitioner's action States. intended govern only rights employees, their relatives, people claiming through behalf them. Weyerhaeuser S.S. Co. v. States, 372 597, 83 926, 10 1. These are categories parties who benefit "quid pro quo" compromise FECA commonly found workers' compensation legislation whereby employees guaranteed immediate, fixed benefits, regardless fault without need litigation, but return lose sue Government. Pp. 193-199. 215 U.S.App.D.C. 27, 665 F.2d 1330, reversed remanded. Warner W. Gardner, Washington, D.C., Carolyn F. Corwin, respondent. Justice POWELL delivered opinion Court. 1 Under federal may bring tort basis work-related injury, seek recovery third party. issue here is whether such party its liability employee. 2 * On April 4, 1975, C-5A Lockheed Aircraft Corporation crashed near Saigon, South Vietnam.1 Almost 150 crash, including Ann Nash Bottorff, Navy. Bottorff's (FECA), 8101 seq. 3 Thereafter Lockheed, manufacturer "defective product," Columbia. He sought she 28 §§ 1346(b), 2671 seq., defendant.2 4 dispute primarily responsible fatal nor challenge terms settlement. Rather exclusive provision: "The [FECA] with respect instead all ." 6 Lockheed. 7 appeal, Columbia Circuit Thomas Corp., 1330 (1981). It concluded Lockheed's In reaching this conclusion, relied several decisions courts appeals. See, e.g., Kudelka American Hoist & Derrick Co., 541 651, 658-660 (CA7 1976); Galimi Jetco, Inc., 514 949 (CA2 1975). court recognized, however, holding contrary reached Wallenius Bremen G.m.b.H. 409 994 (CA4 1969), cert. denied, 398 958, 90 2164, 26 542 (1970).3 8 We certiorari resolve conflict. --- ----, 102 1766, 72 172 (1982). now reverse. II 9 specific detailed. "employee, within specified categories. If applies, therefore, can be "other States." argues language broad enough include must decide if Congress result. A. provision enacted substantially present form 1949. Amendments 1949, sec. 201, 63 Stat. 861 (enacting 7(b)) (currently codified at 8116(c)). designed protect suits statutes, had been waive Government's sovereign immunity. enacting adopted principal compromise—the legislation: receive they See H.R.Rep. 729, 81st Cong., 1st Sess., 14-15 (1949); S.Rep. 836, 23 (1949), U.S.Code Cong.Serv. p. 2125. This essentially same found, example, Longshoremen's Harbor Workers' (LHWCA).4 33 905(a). 11 (1963), considered carefully reviewed legislative history. That case arose out collision between Army dredge vessel owned Weyerhaeuser. injured recovered brought Public Vessels 43 1112 (1925), 46 781 could have another private shipowner. Included admiralty divided rule, share recovery. 12 challenged inclusion part protected claims. particular, argued—much case—that plainly were included general phrase "anyone damages." Brief Weyerhaeuser, pp. 5, 8-11. U.S., 600, S.Ct., 928. rejected argument. first pointed statute ambiguous. "[T]he upon relies follows explicit enumeration categories: representatives, dependents. traditional rule statutory construction counsels giving words meaning totally unrelated more statute, we think far 'plain.' " 600-601, then history relationship "between one hand representatives dependents other." Id., 601, 929. summarized review follows: "There no evidence whatever concerned parties, much less purpose disturb doctrines law affecting mutual liabilities shipowners cases." Ibid. (footnote omitted).5 13 reinforced conclusion discussion "nearly identical" LHWCA provision. 602, observed Ryan Stevedoring Pan-Atlantic Steamship 350 124, 76 232, 100 L.Ed. 133 (1956), shipowner obtain longshoreman's employer based employer's negligence. Although existence contractual employer, result series later cases where "the considerably attenuated." 603, 930. there relationship, well-established "governed least equal clarity correlative duties" case. B 14 Court's reasoning applies force case.6 advances arguments before us unsuccessfully advanced To paraphrase "[t]here [tort] [parties] [indemnity] them.7 adopts. Bremen, F.2d, 995. 15 seeks distinguish situation nearly identical. Here, has forced pay covered FECA, portion payment. Here rather than difference irrelevant. apply both Acts distinction. (1949). substantive law,8 while irrelevant permits "in manner extent" would lie "a individual like circumstances." 2674; see Stencel Aero Engineering Corp. 431 666, 669-670, 97 2054, 2056-2057, 52 (1977) (citing Yellow Cab 340 543, 71 399, 95 523 (1951)). terms. extent underlying cause make difference, theories C 16 most relevant changes since 1972, 88 1251. While these illuminating, do help position. amended LHWCA, longer liable 905(b). thus overruled Ryan, supra, abolished shipowner's But so doing, also seaworthiness remedy shipowner—a strict-liability recognized Seas Shipping Sieracki, 328 85, 66 872, 1099 (1946). words, conjunction parties. amendment abolish nevertheless invites amendment. requested even though provided thought appropriate context. decline invitation. III 17 held governing law, question. Accordingly, consider it. adhere decision hold directly reverse remand further consideration consistent opinion. 18 ordered. 19 REHNQUIST, whom THE CHIEF JUSTICE joins, dissenting. 20 opinion, especially unquestioning application show why presents evenly balanced controversy law." Ante, 193, n. 3. Because I believe balance tips opposite direction, respectfully dissent. 21 Weyerhauser, plaintiff's outweighed limitation statute. surprising, ancient1 damages. basic relationships vessels sea. Weyerhauser direct sustained collision. Thus item damage, Weyerhauser's government. stated long "held full scope prevail over limited element incurred Chattahoochee, 173 540 [19 491, 801]." Congress, "any 929 omitted). 22 true states bear parties." view controlling. finding primacy shows adequate overcome comments congressional intent dictum. holds important therefore latter yield. involving 'nearly identical,' ante, 195, quoting 929, aspects scheme outweigh party's recover. Halcyon Lines Haenn Ship 342 282, 277, 96 318 (1952), Atlantic Coast Line R. Erie Lackawanna 406 340, 92 1550, 32 110 (1972) (per curiam ), refused allow tortfeasors contribution employers provisions Longshoreman 901-950. each competing principle strong aspect statute.2 24 There doubt limit amount government account employees. Sess. 30 (1949) (Section will lead "savings expense handling lawsuits."). As Bradford Electric Light Clapper, 286 145, 159, 571, 575, 1026 (1932), exists provide "for determinate." drawn, then, doctrine gives 8116(c). know important. 25 presented pursuant particularly 2674. states, explanation, "as rule." 198. However well established be,3 kind approved Ryan. Those turned special created ancient maritime voluntary agreement. comes government's breach duty care owed Bottorff. respect, claims Atlantic; indirect sharing responsibility among wrongdoers similar (1977). caused when ejection seat jet fighter malfunctioned during midair emergency, National Guard pilot permanently injured. sued Stencel, system, cross-claimed indemnity. Its case, passively negligent, active negligence injuries. Both Act. pilot, payments, Veterans' Benefits 27 affirmed dismissal Stencel's cross applied Feres 135, 153, 152 (1950), precluded claim. different theory liability, stand proposition sufficient States.4 today permit new and, my view, inappropriate defeat principle. greatly expands subjected require joint liability. An indemnitor, required indemnitee.5 Prosser, Torts 51 310 (1971). increased weighs side refusing 29 For reasons, am convinced should retain our earlier require. Where fits into category allowed past, indemnity, Congress's clear prevail. affirm Appeals. occurred mission evacuate 250 orphans Vietnam shortly fall Saigon. incident discussed greater detail Schneider 212 87, 90-91, 658 835, 838-839 (1981) 455 994, 1622, 855 asserted currently Lines, Inc. Wiener, 335 379, 402-404 (CA9), dism'd. sub nom. 379 951, 85 452, 549 (1964), held, Since toward indemnification. note problem common systems. Prof. Larson described "[p]erhaps evenly-balanced Larson, Third-Party Action Over Against Employer, 1982 Duke L.J. 483, 484. modeled analogous New York Workmen's Law. By 1949 already construed employer. Westchester Lighting County Small Estates 278 N.Y. 175, N.E.2d 567 (1938); Gorham Arons, N.Y.S.2d 850 (Sup.Ct.N.Y.Co.1947); Clements Rockefeller, 189 Misc. 885, 70 146 (Sup.Ct.N.Y.Co.1947). Contrary suggestions dissent, post, 199, 200, indication rule. contrary, relates simply intent. Whatever might done, intend override parties—including reject suggestion wrongly decided. 22. years decided, modified significant 1966 codification amendments Pub.L. 89-554, 1, 80 (1966). counsel suggested oral argument, guardian ad litem minor dependent person" Tr. Oral Arg. 7-8. validity us. ruled that, matter available find necessary issue. us, dissent relies, 200-202, entirely Ceiling Refitting decided four merely exist circumstances explicitly left open contribution, exist, subject LHWCA's 12, 280 12. nothing three-sentence reaffirmation Halcyon. (1977), finds "similar," 202, offers support position point. again relating waiver immunity serviceman. Relying military nature action, regard waived here. "In North Star, 106 17, 41, 91 (1882), Mr. Bradley traced back Laws Oleron date 12th century, roots go deeper." Cooper Kopke, 417 106, 110, 94 2174, 2176, 40 694 (1974). reaffirmed Atlantic. permitted defendant, plaintiff him directly. upheld "relied [third party] employer." 196. contract provides sufficiently compelling status enacted. What existed, permitting mistaken "without provision." 197, 8. factor servicemen 671, 2057. characterized establishing veterans' "provides upper service-connected injuries," id., 673, 2059, recover, 672-673, 2058, just question faced scheme. agreed settlement App. 105-106; 4. agreement proportion seal determined state law. reason future claimants agreements, way oblige them so.

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