Document: 344 U.S. 334 73 S.Ct. 302 97 L.Ed. 367 PENNSYLVANIA R. CO.v.O'ROURKE. No. 60. Argued Dec. 8, 1952. Decided Jan. 12, 1953. Rehearing Denied March 9, See 345 913, 638. Mr. John Vance Hewitt, New York City, for petitioner. Richard C. Machcinski, respondent. Justice REED delivered the opinion of Court. 1 This certiorari requires us to determine which federal industrial accident statute—the Federal Employers' Liability Act or Longshoremen's and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act—applies circumstances this case. The petitioning Railroad had employed O'Rourke in its Harismus Cove Yard at Jersey City since 1942 as a 'freight brakeman.' He worked part five-man crew making up trains. Their duties included work on petitioner's car floats that moved freight passenger cars from by water. occurred during night January 28, 1948. Having already removed three floats, began unload one carrying box cars. was required climb each release hand-brakes, so could be pulled off float engine. During process, he fell sustained injury is basis suit. It brought under Act, 35 Stat. 65, 45 U.S.C. § 51 et seq., U.S.C.A. seq.,1 alleging faulty brake mechanism maintained violation Safety Appliance Acts, 27 531, causative factor. District Court granted railroad's motion dismiss ground 44 1424, 33 901 applied exclusively,2 99 F.Supp. 506, but Appeals reversed covered 'railroad employees injured while engaged railroad navigable waters'. decided respondent 'not maritime employment * within meaning Act'. 194 F.2d 612, 615. We certiorari, 811, 11, because an alleged conflict with earlier decision Court, Nogueira v. York, N.H. & H.R. Co., 281 128, 50 303, 74 754. 2 need statute type scope became obvious after Southern Pacific Co. Jensen, 244 205, 37 524, 61 1086, 1917, wherein it held neither nor state compensation employee loading vessel company no relation railroading operations. Specifically, act inapplicable matter exclusively admiralty jurisdiction: 3 'The stevedore, deceased engaging, nature; his contract; injuries received were likewise maritime; rights liabilities parties connection therewith matters clearly jurisdiction.' page 217, 529. 4 resulting took form assure who not seamen prompt certain recovery, rather than employers' liability statute, such extended 1920 Jones 38 1185, 46 688, 688. A summary congressional attempts bring law into harmony modern concepts duty employer although without fault carry burden accidents, appears case, pages 135—136, 305. These efforts failed meet constitutional test uniformity essential order obviate conflicting requirements commerce. Washington Dawson 264 219, 302, 68 646. They Congress attempted place legislation accidents laws. After Court's suggestion 227, 305, adopted valid, exclusive uniform now effect longshoremen harbor workers. Crowell Benson, 285 22, 52 285, 76 598. Seamen preferred take risks Act. supra, 136, provided means indemnification all beyond reach legislation. quarter century experience has caused change plan. 'Jensen line demarcation between jurisdiction' been accepted. Davis Department Labor, 317 249, 256, 63 225, 229, 87 246. have enacted statutes granting respondent's Therefore comes coverage portion 903(a) includes those outside 5 51, note 1, gives right recovery due defects carrier negligence in, among other equipment, 'boats.' not, however, whether 'boat' should regarded substance extension. 213, 527. clear boat extension immaterial. later §§ 905 water made exclusive. 130—131, 303. 6 Whether Workers applies exclusion virtue provisions 905, depends 903 defines 'coverage': 7 '(a) shall payable chapter respect disability death employee, only if results occurring upon waters United States (including any dry dock) through workmen's proceedings may validly State law. *'3 8 Section 904 fixes 'employer,' turn defined 902(4): 9 term 'employer' whose are employment, whole part, dock.)' 10 considered these similar setting supra. That case involved located moored float. apply. As pointed out: 11 definition (§ 903(a)) manifestly broad enough embrace company, 'are States'. From standpoint obviously makes difference placed hold deck vessel, steamship. subject like vessel.' 132 134, 304. 12 But contends, support result below, cases distinguishable language does claim. emphasizes pictured operation far more popular conception longshoreman's job own, insists 'railroading.'4 13 clear, emphasis nature here misses mark. applies, own terms, when service. portions quoted category, operations there maritime, they are. float, moving loaded make difference. Both employments maritime. Besides 902(4) directed speaks doing. 903, extends employer, liable 904, injured, course Appeals, we think, error holding requires, both An worker's particular activity time determines 902(2), member exceptions 902(3) 903(a)(1). explains factor individual's Parker Motor Boat Sales, Inc., 314 244, 245—246, 62 221, 222 223, 86 184, South Chicago Coal Dock Bassett, 309 251, 60 544, 84 732.5 14 thought left open, did Second Circuit's Nogueira, 'that mere locus necessarily right.' 32 179 182. read differently. There said: 15 'There stevedores sustaining unloading unless eighteen tons net. application explicitly depend question therefor statute.' 16 Analogous lend weight our conclusion. Buren Cir., 407, indistinguishable facts.6 Parker, well, totally inconsistent 'duties test.' Armistead, there, janitor motor company. ordered ride boats trip keep lookout hidden objects. 246, 223. paid applicability regular work. number lower court vein. Those collect margin deal various types construction service workers, themselves traditional 'maritime employment,' look solely for.7 Each fall statute. pay 'any' engaged.8 If, then, occurs waters, must apply longshoreman furtherance employer's business, irrespective himself can labeled 'maritime.' Such admitted facts applies. 17 Reversed. 18 MINTON, whom CHIEF JUSTICE, BLACK, CLARK join, dissenting. 19 here, employment' injury. If was, then In trucking interstate dock onto standing likened stevedore. Here brakeman removing use ordinary switch Preparatory removal employee's let brakes. thus engaged, defective him thrown injured. waters. 20 Was get employment? doing braking land, would anything employment. Does become happened over waters? think not. thing differentiates situations. Place admittedly what land done Not where happened, equal importance certainly chore, brakeman. so, train crews trains being ferried across streams With imagination opinion, crew, crossing bridge supports stream, 21 treat real life, brakeman, commerce affirm judgment. 51: 'Every common engaging several Territories, Columbia Territories foreign nation nations, damages person suffering commerce, or, her personal representative, benefit surviving widow husband children employee; and, none, parents; next kin dependent officers, agents, carrier, reason defect insufficiency, negligence, cars, engines, appliances, machinery, track, roadbed, works, boats, wharves, equipment. 'Any commerce; shall, way directly closely substantially, affect above set forth purposes chapter, entitled benefits chapter.' 905: prescribed section legal wife, parents, dependents, kin, anyone otherwise recover account death, *.' omitted contains conditions applicability. None here. Respondent tons. unanimous decision. On same day Baizley Iron Works Span, 222, 306, 819, dissents. award Span painter repair completed ship lying cover him. Norton Warner 321 565, 64 747, 88 931; Merrit-Chapman Scott Willard, 189 791, Long Island Lowe, 145 516, category. Gussie Pennsylvania N.J.Super. 293, A.2d 244; Richardson Central N.J., 233 App.Div. 603, 253 N.Y.S. 789; Byrd N.Y. System, 568, 70 97. Zientek Reading D.C., 93 875, contrary see Desper Starved Rock Ferry 342 187, 190, 72 216, 218, Job Erie 79 698, Rist Pittsburgh Conneaut 104 29. 819 (a painter); De Bardeleben Corp. Henderson, 142 481 (member shore gang); Travelers Ins. McManigal, 139 949 (carpenter); Branham, 136 873 (foreman concrete pouring Standard Dredging 57 770 Ford 98 (watchman). list illustrative exhaustive. illustration difficulty encountered applying standard, happily present bar. avoided uncertainty areas might overlap. two marking their drawn.

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