Case Name: Robert RIGDON and Betty Rigdon, Appellants, v. BELCHER TOWING COMPANY, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1983-08-02
Citations: 435 So. 2d 939
Docket Number: No. 82-2490
Parties: Robert RIGDON and Betty Rigdon, Appellants, v. BELCHER TOWING COMPANY, Appellee.
Judges: Before HENDRY, NESBITT and BAS-KIN, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 435
Pages: 939–939

Head Matter:
Robert RIGDON and Betty Rigdon, Appellants, v. BELCHER TOWING COMPANY, Appellee.
No. 82-2490.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
Aug. 2, 1983.
Hayden & Milliken and John D. Kallen, Miami, for appellants.
Fowler, White, Burnett, Hurley, Banick & Strickroot and William C. Norwood, Miami, for appellee.
Before HENDRY, NESBITT and BAS-KIN, JJ.

Opinion:
BASKIN, Judge.
We affirm the trial court's dismissal of Rigdon's claim alleging common law negligence occurring during the course of Rigdon's employment on one of Belcher's tugs. It is well settled that under general maritime law, a seaman has no common law right of recovery for the negligence of vessel owners or crew members. The Osceola, 189 U.S. 158, 47 L.Ed. 760, 23 S.Ct. 483, 47 L.Ed. 760 (1903). The Jones Act, 46 U.S.C., section 688 (1981), created by Congress to cure this gap in the law, provides the sole remedy available to Rigdon for the alleged negligence of his employer; however, the claim is barred by the statute of limitations.
Affirmed.