Document: 347 U.S. 396 74 S.Ct. 601 98 L.Ed. 798 ALASKA STEAMSHIP COMPANY, Inc., Petitioner,v.John O. PETTERSON. No. 287. Argued March 8, 9, 1954. Decided April 5, Rehearing Denied June 1, See 994, 848. Mr. Robert V. Holland, Seattle, Wash., for petitioner. John Geisness, respondent. PER CURIAM. 1 The judgment is affirmed. Seas Shipping Co. v. Sieracki, 328 85, 100, 66 872, 90 1099; Pope & Talbot Hawn, 346 406, 202. 2 Justice BURTON, with whom FRANKFURTER and JACKSON join, dissenting. 3 Sieracki1 Talbot2 cases cited as the basis Court's decision do not justify result announced. They evidence this latest broadest statement of a shipowner's liability unseaworthiness his ship its equipment, but they reach instant case. assert shipowner to stevedores carpenters who, in consequence or are injured on board navigable waters while engaged work connected loading unloading ship. Those establish that such exists although maritime workers employees third party who under contract supply stevedoring services. 4 question presented by case goes further. It asks whether liable injuries suffered stevedore, even when those from equipment does belong part ship's belongs stevedore's independent employer, employer's brought employer. There no suggestion responsibility extends beyond seaworthiness I see adequate reason judicially extending it limit. 5 As offers new precedent, important recite facts so effect may be accurately measured limited absence supporting opinion. 6 Court Appeals stated which decided follows: 7 'The vessel's owner received an employee company (an contractor) where caused breaking block company.' Petterson Alaska S.S. Co., 9 Cir., 205 F.2d 478. 8 Respondent was able bodied 73 years old, employed longshore foreman Terminal Stevedoring Company. That petitioner Steamship Company, load latter's vessel, S. Susitna. In May 1950 respondent thus became vessel docked what assumed water State Washington. Petterson's company, authorized use, operation, contractor's own gear ship, at option. fellow rigged snatch had been standing lying unused upon deck vessel. type often found aboard vessels also company's gear. treated each court below having belonging company.3 While being put proper use manner, broke, causing some fall crush respondent's leg he supervising longshoremen 10 filed libel personam United States District Western Washington against claiming $35,000 damages resulting block. After trial, dismissed without reported Ninth Circuit reversed decree remanded cause determination damages. Because alleged conflict Lopez American-Hawaiian 201 418, importance relation unseaworthiness, we granted certiorari. 914, 272. 11 doctrine settled proposition Osceola, 189 158, 175, 23 483, 487, 47 760, 12 'That vessl her are, both English American law, indemnity seamen failure keep order appliances appurtenant ship.' 13 natural outgrowth dependence crew equipment. Services must rendered whatever supplies. Such expected only fair law subject shipowners absolute them 14 Sieracki case, extended traditional obligation bring within protection This largely premise were then rendering services usually formerly performed crew. stevedores, like their predecessors, used 'For these purposes (the stevedore) is, short, seaman because doing seaman's incurring hazards.' U.S., page 99, 880.4 historical analogy disappears modern substantial far cry wards admiralty around whome threw Osceola case.5 15 expounded Mahnich Southern 321 96, 64 455, 88 561, reasonable enough applied there comparable justification applying owned others them. Thus extend would make responsible latent dangers cannot prevent. burden should best eliminate hazard—in contractor.6 16 Petitioner has emphasized fact working control contractor rather than shipowner. distinction, favor shipowner, relied supra, considered decisive other cases. However, if unseaworthy principles underlying decisions, might liability, regardless injury.7 precisely general issue before us. 17 Finally, extension include makes marked change call legislative authorization mere judicial recognition. process peculiarly adapted determine many possible solutions problem most beneficial long run.' Halcyon Lines Haenn Ship Corp., 342 282, 286, 72 277, 280, 96 318. made declined recognize contribution between joint tort feasors remedy contractor. equally appropriate here. fact, Congress already demonstrated interest here through Longshoremen's Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, 44 Stat. 1424, 33 U.S.C. § 901 et seq., U.S.C.A. seq. Act insures compensation proof negligence. specifically excludes operation members persons master load, unload repair 'any small eighteen tons net'.8 tailored, 1927, provide kind relief preferred lieu provided Court, 1926, International Haverty, 272 50, 19, 71 157. 18 For foregoing reasons, introduced left initiative. any event, restricted facts. 872. record shows trial 'There ownership said block.' that—'the question, time accident, supervision (shipowner) exclusive libelant (Petterson), employer agents. Libelant establish, introduced, involved, apparently accident injury Libelant, belonged (shipowner). 'Such finding conceded, effect, Counsel argument. 'Proceeding assumption, argued logic reasoning impose gear—in block—not stevedore can agree Supreme ruling conclusion.' said: 'It clear commonly ships firms. appeal, will * Owner ground shown argument imposed rejected 1099, did go far.' 479. discussing immediate contractor, usual likewise supplied latter (contractor) ordinarily neither right nor opportunity discover remove peril doubtful, therefore, owes employees, respect hazards, ordinary duty furnish safe place work, unless perhaps perils obvious action creates them.' 95, 878. example classification defective taken employees. implication that, circumstances, rest covered contrast longshoremen, dissent 423—426, 202, 212 213; Isbrandsten Johnson, 343 779, 782—789, 1011, 1014—1017, 1294; Norris, Seaman Ward Admiralty, 52 Mich.L.Rev. condensed review development field, Howe, Rights Maritime Workers, NACCA L.J. 146, 131. Rogers Lines, 57, pending petition certiorari; Law (1952), 251—253; Robinson Admiralty (1930) 303—307; Recent Cases, 102 U. Pa.L.Rev. 402—404. Strika Netherlands Ministry Traffic, 185 555, allowing recovery longshoreman shore, tackle. 1426, 903, 903.

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