Opinion ID: 202311
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Jones Act Claim

Text: 16 The Jones Act provides seamen with a cause of action against employers when an employer's failure to exercise reasonable care causes a subsequent injury even where the employer's negligence did not render the ship unseaworthy. Ferrara v. A. & V. Fishing, Inc., 99 F.3d 449, 453 (1st Cir.1996) (citing Toucet v. Maritime Overseas Corp., 991 F.2d 5, 10 (1st Cir.1993)). While Napier must establish all the elements of a common-law negligence claim, the burden to prove causation under the Jones Act is featherweight. Toucet, 991 F.2d at 10 (citations omitted). Napier need only demonstrate that the vessel's negligence played any part, even the slightest, in producing the injuries for which the plaintiff seeks damages. Connolly v. Farrell Lines, Inc., 268 F.2d 653, 655 (1st Cir.1959) (citing Rogers v. Missouri Pac. R.R. Co., 352 U.S. 500, 506, 77 S.Ct. 443, 1 L.Ed.2d 493 (1957)). 17 The magistrate judge granted summary judgment for this claim on the ground that Napier had presented no evidence to show a causal relationship between the fishhook accident and his ulcer. Taking all factual inferences in favor of Napier, he has shown that aspirin was available on board the vessel and that he took aspirin to treat the pain from the fishhook accident. Further, the expert testimony provided by Napier indicates that aspirin alone can cause ulcers. For purposes of avoiding summary judgment, Napier has carried his burden to establish the hooking incident as the cause of his ulcer. 18 As an additional ground for denying the Rule 59(e) motion, the magistrate judge found that even if the captain or another crew member had given aspirin to Napier, Napier had not shown that that person knew that Napier had a history of ulcers. However, the giving of aspirin was not the negligent act. Napier alleged negligence in the circumstances surrounding the fishhook accident, which the magistrate judge did not address. Napier's taking of aspirin is relevant to linking the fishhook accident to his ulcer. As we described above, we think a jury could find the requisite causation between the fishhook accident and the ulcer even if the ship's captain and crew did not know Napier's medical history.