Document: 340 U.S. 135 71 S.Ct. 153 95 L.Ed. 152 FERESv.UNITED STATES. JEFFERSON v. UNITED STATES GRIGGS. Nos. 9, 29, 31. Argued Oct. 12, 13, 1950. Decided Dec. 4, Mr. David H. Moses, Suffern, N.Y., for petitioner Feres. Morris Rosenberg, Baltimore, Md., Jefferson. Newell A. Clapp, Washington, D.C., the United States. Frederick P. Cranston, Denver, Colo., respondent Griggs. Justice JACKSON, delivered opinion of Court. 1 A common issue arising under Tort Claims Act, as to which Courts Appeals are in conflict, makes it appropriate consider three cases one opinion. 2 The Feres case: District Court dismissed an action by executrix against States recover death caused negligence. Decedent perished fire barracks at Pine Camp, New York, while on active duty service Negligence was alleged quartering him known or should have been be unsafe because a defective heating plant, and failing maintain adequate watch. Appeals, Second Circuit, affirmed.1 3 Jefferson Plaintiff, Army, required undergo abdominal operation. About eight months later, course another operation after plaintiff discharged, towel 30 inches long 18 wide, marked 'Medical Department Army,' discovered removed from his stomach. complaint that negligently left there army surgeon. Court, being doubtful law, refused without prejudice Government's pretrial motion dismiss complaint.2 After trial, finding negligence fact, Judge Chesnut carefully reexamined law concluded Act does not charge with liability this type case.3 Fourth affirmed.4 4 Griggs Griggs' executrix, he met negligent unskillful medical treatment surgeons. Tenth reversed and, judge dissenting, held stated cause Act.5 5 fact underlying is each claimant, furlough, sustained injury due others armed forces. only raised whether extends its remedy sustaining 'incident service' what other circumstances would actionable wrong. This 'wholly different case' reserved our decision Brooks States, 337 49, 52, 69 918, 920, 93 1200. 6 There few guiding materials task statutory construction. No committee reports floor debates disclose effect statute designed problem before us, even mind. Under these circumstances, no conclusion can above challenge, but if we misinterpret least Congress possesses ready remedy. 7 We do overlook considerations persuasive cases. confer district court jurisdiction generally over claims money damages founded 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b), U.S.C.A. 1346(b). It contemplate Government will sometimes respond military personnel, defines 'employee Government' include 'members naval forces States,' provides "acting within scope office employment' case member means acting line duty.' 2671, 2671. Its exceptions might also imply inclusion such here. 2680(j), 2680(j) excepts 'any claim out combatant activities forces, Coast Guard, during time war' (emphasis supplied), said infer allowance non-combat peace. Section 2680(k) excludes foreign country.' Significance has attributed cases, case, supra, page 51, 919, eighteen tort bills were introduced between 1925 1935 all two expressly denied recovery members forces; bill enacted present introduction made exception. reminded spite reservation service-connected injuries, interprets cover incidental service, argued much reasoning apt impose favor man leave. These considerations, said, persuade us cast upon Congress, author confusion, qualifying clarifying language here asserted prove so depleting public treasury fears. 8 however, construed fit, far comport words, into entire system remedies make workable, consistent equitable whole. isolated spontaneous flash congressional generosity. marks culmination effort mitigate unjust consequences sovereign immunity suit. While political theory King could wrong repudiated America, legal doctrine derived Crown immune any suit consented6 invoked behalf Republic applied courts vigorously had Crown.7 As Federal expanded activities, agents multiplying number remediless wrongs—wrongs inflicted individual corporation solely their perpetrator officer employee Government. Relief often sought granted through private steadily increased activity increased. volume bills, inadequacy machinery determination facts, importunities claimants subjected capricious results, led strong demand wrongs submitted adjudication. already waived answerable breaches contracts certain types claims.8 At last, connection Reorganization transferred burden examining courts. primary purpose extend those who without; incidentally benefited well provided for, appears unintentional. suffering plague comprehensive relief authorized them dependents statute. 9 Looking detail true provides, broadly, 'shall exclusive civil actions * *.'9 confers render judgment claims. But say must allowed. Jurisdiction necessary deny merits matter adjudge exists. interpret mean says, more. defendant now exists where before; remains courts, exercise jurisdiction, determine recognizable law. 10 For purpose, goes prescribe test allowable claims, is, 'The shall liable same manner extent like *,' material 2674, 2674. seen creation new causes acceptance bring existence. This, think, embodies idea English equivalent 1947 (Crown Proceedings 1947; 11 Geo. VI, c. 44, p. 863) expressed, 'Where person commencement passed, enforced, subject grant *' consent sued, may enforced specific consent. One obvious shortcoming plaintiffs point 'private individual' remotely analogous they asserting know American ever permitted soldier negligence, either superior officers serving.10 Nor 'under circumstances,' power conscript mobilize authorities persons vests echelons command. nearest parallel, treat including state, relationship states militia. indulge benefit comparison, cite none, militia injuries suffered state contrary case.11 relevant part ignore status both wronged wrongdoer find liability. In usual civilian doctor patient relationship, malpractice. And landlord undoubtedly occurred tenant result maintained plant. assumed created 'all create. parallel before, think by, Act. waive recognized visit novel unprecedented liabilities. significance apply '* place act omission occurred' govern consequent provision recognizes assimilates federal rules substantive several states, among divergencies notorious. perhaps fair enough when claimant free choose own habitat thereby limit possible injury. That governed location elected just individual. choice serve or, modern conditions, places quick succession forty-eight Canal Zone, Alaska, Hawaii, territory geography select sense. cannot most abolished common-law employer superseded workman's compensation statutes provide, instances, sole basis Absent this, inapplicable, differing provisions limitations doctrines assumption risk, fellowservant contributory comparative hardly rational plan providing disabled leave dependent geographic control laws fluctuate existence value. 12 'distinctively character', Standard Oil Co., 332 301, 67 1604, 91 2067, wherein unsuccessfully losses incurred virtue soldier. lead greater force To whatever relations soldiers outside nonfederal governmental agencies, scope, nature, incidents consequence relation fundamentally sources authority. See Tarble's Case, 13 Wall. 397, 20 597; Kurtz Moffitt, 115 487, 148, 29 458. pages 305 306, 1607. seek. Military Personnel 31 223b, 2672, some specifically excluded personnel service.' 14 deciding incident escape attributing bearing enactments provide systems simple, certain, uniform services.12 (a) enjoy recovery, (b) elect pursue, waiving other, (c) pursue both, crediting larger proceeds smaller, (d) pension authority af conclusions. If contemplated kind, difficult see why omitted adjust other. absence adjustment awareness interpreted permit service. 15 peculiar disadvantage litigation.13 Lack money, difficulty impossibility procuring witnesses, factors working disadvantage. charging neglect misconduct brought since typical, suits widows surviving dependents, discharged.14 system, normally requires litigation, negligible niggardly, demonstrate. recoveries compare extremely favorably statutes. considered actual prospective payments Veterans' Administration diminution verdict. Plaintiff received $3,645.50 date court's computation estimated life expectancy existing legislation prospectively receive $31,947 addition. widow, two-year period her husband's death, excess $2,100. addition, she $2,695, representing six months' gratuity December 17, 1919, amended, 41 Stat. 367, 57 599, 903, 903. total future aggregate $18,000. Thus widow amount $22,000 gratuities, whereas seek $15,000, maximum Illinois death. 16 contended similar holding support ignoring vital distinction stated. did arise duty. driving along highway, compulsion orders mission. owned operated vehicle collided him. Brooks' father, riding car, recovered further contest sons, Army. rejected contention, primarily injured performing duties orders. 17 conclude servicemen Without exception, exclusively drafting local impute radical departure established express Accordingly, judgments affirmed reversed. Judgments affirmed; 19 DOUGLAS concurs result. 177 F.2d 535. 74 F.Supp. 209. 77 706. 178 518. 1. recently itself suit, 141, 157. McLemore, How. 286, 977; Reeside Walker, 272, 290, 693; Ickes Fox, 300 82, 96, 412, 417, 81 525. 1491, 1491. found Title 28, §§ 1291, 1346, 1402, 1504, 2110, 2401, 2402, 2411, 2412, 2671—2680. recodifying Code, changes made. originally enacted, 60 843, 410 hear, determine, *.' (Emphasis supplied.) attribute change Cf. Dinsman Wilkes, 390, 1036 Weaver Ward, Hobart (1616), 80 Eng.Rep. 284 intentional torts. Goldstein State, 281 N.Y. 396, 24 N.E.2d 97, 129 A.L.R. 905. 48 (1933), 38 701 (1946), 701; 718 718; 55 608 (1941), 725 725; 558 (1943), 731 731; 62 1219, 1220 (1948), (Supp. III) 740, 741 (1950), 741. Soldiers' Sailors' Civil 1940, 54 1178, 50 U.S.C.App. 501 et seq., U.S.C.A.Appendix, seq. supra (discharged suit); Santana Cir., 175 320, 321 (suit heirs); Ostrander 923 widow); Samson D.C.S.D.N.Y., 79 406 administrator); Alansky Northwest Airlines, D.C.D.Mont., 556 son).

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