Document: 343 U.S. 427 72 S.Ct. 849 96 L.Ed. 1051 JOHANSENv.UNITED STATES. MANDEL v. UNITED Nos. 401, 414. Argued March 4, 5, 1952. Decided May 26, Rehearing Denied Oct. 13, See 73 5. Mr. Louis R. Harolds, New York City, for petitioner Johansen. Abraham E. Freedman, Philadelphia, Pa., Mandel. Leavenworth Colby, Washington, D.C., respondents. Justice REED delivered the opinion of Court. 1 These cases present question whether Congress, in enacting Public Vessels Act 1925, 43 Stat. 1112, 46 U.S.C. § 781 et seq., U.S.C.A. has consented that United States be sued 'damages' by or on behalf members civil service component crew military transport vessels. We hold benefits available to such seamen under Federal Employees' Compensation 1916, 39 742, 5 751 are a nature as preclude suit damages Act. 2 Petitioner Johansen, No. and Mandel's decedent, 414, were at time their injuries employed civilian crews Army Transport vessels, owned operated States. For purposes this review it is clear these vessels being used 'public vessels,' not 'merchant vessels,'1 therefore petitioners have no remedy way Suits Admiralty 1920, 41 525, 742. Both injured performance duties; concededly eligible Employees 1916. allege resulted from negligence respondent, Johansen further relies upon alleged unseaworthiness his vessel. The relief sought 'damages, wages, maintenance cure'; Mandel wrongful death. 3 was carpenter Kingsport Victory. On August 1949, he sustained lacerated leg course duties aboard vessel, which lying pier Bethlehem Shipyard, Brooklyn, York. He treated Marine Hospital until October 24, beneficiary Bureau Compensation. filed claim compensation Act, collected total $358.20. February 6, 1950, libel admiralty District Court, relying dismissed, and, with one judge dissenting, Second Circuit affirmed, 191 F.2d 162, ground afforded exclusive remedy. Court recognized its decision conflicted point Fourth Circuit, Johnson States, 186 120. 4 decedent an assistant engineer tug controlled assigned Mediterranean Theater Operations during World War II. 15, 1944, destroyed mine, attempting enter port Cagliari, Sardinia. In disaster, met death presence enemy. Decedent's widow procured appointment administrator who brought $150,000. overruled Government's motion dismiss, based partly accident. During pretrial, when Government refused produce certain documentary evidence called for, court entered interlocutory decree default against respondent. appeal, pursuant 28 1292(3), Third reversed. 164. It limited consideration defense Recognizing conflict Marine, Cir., 155 456, well supra, nevertheless agreed held precluded recovery To resolve apparent between decisions, granted certiorari. 342 901, 292; 293. Section 1925 provides 'That personam may * caused public vessel *.' already grants consent personal suffered individual negligent operation American Stevedores, Inc. Porello, 330 446, 67 847, 91 1011, cf. Canadian Aviator, Ltd. 324 215, 65 639, 89 901. If congressional purpose allow federal employees while duty, literal language would actions those before us. 6 This general language, however, must read light central derived legislative history surrounding circumstances enactment. been set forth some detail Porello Aviator cited above. sufficient here recall number statutes attest 'to growing feeling Congress should put aside sovereign armor where tortiously injury property damage.' U.S., page 453, 851. enactments usually directed toward had armor, granting other forms. With history, hesitates reach conclusion meaning adoption possible interpretation through application words. Nor helpful. any member contemplated might thought confer additional rights claimants entitled Surely lack helpful petitioners' case; most can said did specifically exclude coverage 7 Under circumstances, duty attempt fit intelligently fairly possible, 'into entire statutory system remedies make workable, consistent equitable whole.' Feres 340 135, 139, 71 153, 156, 95 152. important, then, examine briefly part injuries. 8 1916 passed both Shipping 728, 801 former subjected solely merchant all laws, regulations liabilities governing private if they purchased, chartered, leased Board. Thus given ships interest, but seamen. Cf. G. A. Flagg, 256 F. 852. 9 latter undertook provide comprehensive sustain duty. payment compensation, subject provisions mandatory, provides: shall pay hereinafter specified disability employee resulting long receipt receive salary, pay, remuneration whatsoever except return services actually performed, pensions Navy States.' 8, provision employee's right paid sick annual leave, required elect leave. made election time. Later amended Health Service 1944 generally payments reason because 58 712. amendment thus consolidated various Civil Retirement 714, 714 special retirement pension legislation. E.g., 797, 797; 10 1711, 1711; 14 §§ 311—312, 386, 311, 312, 386; 34 855c, 857e, 857e; 50 Appendix, 1552, 1552. A 1949 will discussed below. Aside these, there never remedies. quite understandable declare At tis enactment, sole avenue recover tortious received employment. Actually only, exclusive, 120, 123. gave broad extend An extension proposed, defeated. 220—221, 642—643, 11 Next series rely. So far pertinent here, simply provided No statutes. There indication problem arise. 12 1943 Clarification 57 45, U.S.C.Appendix, 1291, U.S.C.A.Appendix, extended privately 'as Administration'. Claims arising enforced even though seaman vessel' within provided, otherwise similar acts. effect treat Administration seamen,' seamen.' Cosmopolitan Co. McAllister, 337 783, 792, 69 1317, 1322, 93 1692, quoting H.R.Rep. 107, 78th Cong., 1st Sess. purport change status publicvessel Administration. 13 situation prior amendments Merchant seamen, than Administration, doubtful. Comptroller General's Decision A—31684, Sept. 10, 1930; Op.Atty.Gen. 363; Board Emergency Fleet Corporation, 280 320, 118, 74 451. Seamen serving As public-vessel covered presumably same Public-vessel issue case last group Government-employed schemes recovery. argued 63 854, show understood been, time, remedies, still does added new subsection2 clearly liability account injury. amendment, alter way.3 Petitioners argue seeking, first establish deliberately omitted limitation. background shows, impression erroneous. Prior divergence view courts exclusiveness vel non compensation.4 uncertainty suits seeking Act.5 act place legal instrumentalities S.Rep.No. 836, 81st Sess., p. 23. clarifying reported out Senate Committee Labor Welfare, lacked proviso protecting rights, any, However, seamen's groups having participated hearings bill, Senator Morse proposed floor himself more preserve addition compensation. statement indicating choice litigation admiralty. Cong.Rec. 13608, 13609. Douglas, charge accepted heard committee Congress. stated: 15 'Mr. President, I like state my agreeing offered Oregon (Mr. Morse). primary accepting Senator's preserving maritime fact held, arguments heard, discussion aspect pending bill. reason, namely, we matter, legislate affirmatively claims denials existing yet adjudicated Supreme although have, effect, federally election. 16 'In short, matter fully considered seek merely sure lose rights.' 17 recommended, bill Senate, 13609, week later House without debate. 14060. makes amendments, changing law respecting do reflect belief exclusive. nothing affect passage now. 18 indicated above, differed Dahn Davis, 258 421, 42 66 969, railway mail clerk, wreck railroad, Control 1918, 40 451, barred prosecuting Director General previously elected accept judgment Appeals Eighth Hines Dahn, 267 105, affirmed two each wrong, could pursue then 'a second satisfaction wrong'. 429, 321. holding doctrine action damages, noted depended permitting carriers now law', Order directing proceeding 'but control carrier company, (the) otherwise'.6 legislation directly substituting litigation. carriers' business conducted little controlled. Here operates own conformity operator established method redress employees. systems redress.7 also allowing allowed opinions below considering take opposite think, better view. 19 enacted duties. covers Enacted form, breach wall immunity damage socially desirable rule society share costs accidents incurred Its expanded over years. (Supp. III) seq. Such plan waiver immunity, absence specific exceptions, naturally regarded Shaw, 309 495, 60 659, 84 888. position run counter progressive liberalization sue agencies wrongs.8 principle character plans Seeking so apply Tort soldiers active whole', weight 'systems simple, certain, uniform armed services.' 144, 158. Much reasoning leads us our 20 Had intended give beyond think advantage provided.9 explained, obligations much same. Each deny U.S.C.Appendix contribute neither uniformity nor fairness. 21 All convinced created award injuries, exceptions effect. affirmed. 22 Affirmed. 23 BLACK, whom CHIEF JUSTICE, DOUGLAS MINTON concur, dissenting. 24 414 Act1 Willie Dillehay, Jr., killed worked struck mine. 401 working another must, concedes 'literal language'2 adhered to. decides denied accorded premised theory conflicts hopelessly achieve. Not able itself, moves back pages Code arrives Act.3 Again find barring However bar, reasons thusly: adequate (probably smaller) cases; shocking judicial concepts symmetry persons besides 'There redress'; mean what nine years 25 Court's unique behind it. Time again thirty pick—receive benefits, Act.4 Moreover, gives precisely after debate, 1949. representatives asked 'exclusive, yielded request. Report favoring stated 'provision making apparently deemed necessary.'5 needed acts 'in terms' authorize bringing Government. grant request prevailed states that: 'Nothing contained construed master vessel.'6 modification Bill, House, Douglas offering modification, said: 'Under law, assert *. feel deprived enjoyed many opportunity carefully appropriate committees 13608. stating 'The bill.' 26 deprive them away. parties throughout proceedings was, allegations libel, vessel,' vessel.' doubtful about point, decide it, reversing, (1) petitioner's action, (2) different questions, need decided record. Accordingly, remanded permit petitioner, desires, introduce affirms mandate. Since specify error, only first, assume 854: 'Sec. 201. (5 U.S.C., 1946 adition, sec. 757, 757)), inserting designation '(a)' immediately sentence thereof adding section subsection reading follows: "(b) respect place, instrumentality employee, representative, spouse, dependents, next kin, anyone instrumentality, death, direct admiralty, proceedings, administrative judicial, workmen's tort statute: Provided, That vessel." section, quoted note 305(b) Act: Posey Tennessee Valley Authority, 726; Parr 172 462; Thomason Works Project 47 F.Supp. 51, 138 342; White Val. 776; see Lewis U.S.App.D.C. 21, 190 O'Neal 869, 871; Lopez 59 831; Loyola, 161 126. Bradey 151 743 (dictum). Missouri Pac. Ault, 554, 562, 593, 596, 1087. suggested Brady Roosevelt S.S. Co., 317 575, 425, 87 471, bearing issue. not. assumption injury, operators, 577, 426. 789, 1321, 1692. 842; 525; 1112. Keifer & Reconstruction Finance Corp., 306 381, 516, 83 784. Dobson 27 807. amended, IV) e.g., Gibbs 94 586, 588—589, Judge Goodman 'From categorically decision, 1937, 726, ever FECA affords contrary, bar Panama Railroad, Act.' (Footnotes citations omitted.) 729, 14. 868, 305(b). 201(b), 'shall States', contains exception: 'Provided, 861, 862.

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