Document: 380 U.S. 359 85 S.Ct. 1012 13 L.Ed.2d 895 O'KEEFFE, Deputy Commissioner,v.SMITH, HINCHMAN & GRYLLS ASSOCIATES, INC., et al. No. 307. March 29, 1965. Solicitor General Cox, Assistant Attorney Douglas and Morton Hollander, for petitioner. George W. Ericksen, respondents. PER CURIAM. 1 Robert C. Ecker drowned during a Saturday outing while boating on South Korean lake. At the time of his death he was employed at defense base in Korea by respondent, Smith, Hinchman Grylls Associates, government contractor. 2 The decedent had been hired United States under an oral contract terms which provided that to be transported employer's expense, remain there two years, then, back States. employer paid rent him with per diem expense allowance each day year, including weekends holidays, cover 'the necessary living expenditures economy.' He worked '365 year basis * subject call job site any time.' 'quite often' Saturdays Sundays other times outside normal work day. considered all its employees 'in course regular occupation from they leave until their return.' expected seek recreation away holidays. 3 Based upon above stipulated facts, Commissioner Bureau Employees' Compensation, Department Labor, petitioner herein, determined 'that accident subsequent arose out employment.' 222 F.Supp. 4, 6. therefore awarded benefits decedent's widow minor child accordance Longshoremen's Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, 44 Stat. 1424, as amended, 33 U.S.C. § 901 seq. (1958 ed.), extended Defense Base 55 622, 42 1651 ed.). insurance carrier, respondents then brought this action District Court Middle Florida set aside enjoin enforcement compensation award. affirmed award granted Commissioner's motion summary judgment. 4. A panel Appeals Fifth Circuit summarily reversed 327 F.2d 1003. But compare later decision another O'Keeffe v. Pan American World Airways, Inc., 338 319. 4 petition writ certiorari is judgment reversed. Section 2(2) 902(2) provides workmen's 'accidental injury or arising 19(a), 919(a) filing 'claim compensation' specifies deputy commissioner shall have full power authority hear determine questions respect such claim.' 20(a), 920(a) '(i)n proceeding claim chapter it presumed, absence substantial evidence contrary (t)hat comes within provisions chapter.' Finally, 21(b), 921(b) order may suspended reviewing court only '(i)f not law.' 5 In cases decided both before after passage Administrative Procedure 60 237, 1001, has held foregoing statutory limit scope judicial review determination 'particular Cardillo Liberty Mutual Ins. Co., 330 469, 477—478, 67 801, 806, 91 L.Ed. 1028; O'Leary Brown-Pacific-Maxon, 340 504, 507—508, 71 470, 95 622. 6 'It matters basic facts draws inference are undisputed rather than controverted. It likewise immaterial permit drawing diverse inferences. alone charged duty initially selecting seems most reasonable choice, if otherwise sustainable, disturbed court. Moreover, fact type here made involves application broad term phrase specific gives rise no greater review. *' supra, 478, 807. 7 rule emerged inferences drawn accepted unless irrational 'unsupported record whole.' 508, 472. 8 Brown-Pacific-Maxon case standard applied does require 'a causal relation between nature employment injured person accident. Thom Sinclair, (1917) A.C. 127, 142. Nor employee engaged activity benefit employer. All required 'obligations conditions' create 'zone special danger' arose.' Id., 507, S.Ct., And, borrowing language Matter Waters Taylor 218 N.Y. 248, 252, 112 N.E. 727, 728, L.R.A.1917A, 347, drew line where become 'so thoroughly disconnected service would entirely unreasonable say injuries suffered U.S., This accord humanitarian Act exemplified command 920(a). 9 case, Commissioner, applying concluded Court, standard, correct finding conditions deceased's created zone deceased exacting unconventional F.Supp., 9. 10 We agree correctly Commissioner. While reached same conclusion cannot said holding death, danger, without whole. Korea. His transportation over working 365-day-per-year basis, time, quite often hazardous overseas neither housing nor recreational activities employees, but them live, necessarily country perform work, dangerous expenses economy. occurred short period lake located 30 miles site. words conclude contributed higher efficiency when conducted restricted area employment, day, so speak, manner prohibited employer, incident 11 dissent, giving lip standards, reverse here, well Courts cases, several accidents involved were danger.' As clear, just statute leaves limited Indeed, determination, depending analysis many factors seem one peculiarly 12 upheld erred reversing Cf. 319 (C.A.5th Cir. 1964); Pan-American Inc. O'Hearne, 335 70 (C.A.4th Self Hanson, 305 699 (C.A.9th 1962); Hastorf-Nettles, Pillsbury, 203 641 1953). Since we believe properly since deem preserve integrity administrative process established Congress effectuate scheme, 14 Reversed. 15 Mr. Justice HARLAN, whom CLARK WHITE join, dissenting. 16 Seoul, Korea, assistant officer engineering management concern contracts Governments. duties Seoul responsible personnel stenographic clerical departments. usual week hours, accustomed travel far holidays purposes. did live site; given economy Seoul. On Memorial Day weekend went east friend (not co-employee) house. intended spend holiday visitor. Their afternoon project fill beach front house sand, none readily available. obtain three crossed small aluminum boat sandy part shore. There filled load intending transport return trip, however, put Archimedes' Principle test; middle capsized sank. Two men drowned, Ecker. 17 Act,1 Bases Act,2 18 occupational disease infection arises naturally unavoidably results accidental injury, includes caused willful act third directed against because 902(2). 19 holds, curiam, died employment. I see meaningful interpretation will support result except must (compare Rogers Missouri Pac. R. 352 500, 77 443, 493). That interpretation, although meaningful, unsupportable. 20 relied establish rule. contractor island Guam. maintained center near shoreline along ran very channel. After spending center, waiting bus, heard cries help trouble attempt rescue them. Frankfurter, writing stated coverage as: 21 'All 22 mean placed facility especially location thus danger accidents, 'reasonable attempt' could 'one risks crystal clear caveat: 'We hold attempts us excluded kind conduct engage frolics own.' Ibid. 23 state Universal Camera Corp. National Labor Relations Board, 474, 456, Board decisions. Frankfurter wrote delivered opinions Reliance shows beyond doubt establishing automatically upheld, whole purpose congressional intent courts expand opinion defined responsibility examining those parts tended Board. remains today leading guide review, prominent directive lower underestimate responsibilities regard. think untenable read purports apply embodying philosophy abdication. 24 some 'arising employment' left discretion administrator, treated fact. administrator's appropriate external effectuates judicially recognizable another. Dominion purposes firmly courts' hands, confines purposes, administrators provide intimate particularizations application.3 illustrative. particularly treacherous channel into proximity. great circumstance force swim channel, existed peculiar locality him; employee's arose. This, taken together elements connection administrator thought relevant, rendered consistent statute. Yet come way, equally supportable. Although true related proximity, ruled special, remote sufficient justify compensation. Either compensating job-connected actual and, additionally, off 'special' dangers sense supportable, choice actually 25 us, ruling purpose. take place site, arise job. can Ecker's drowning lake, more particularly, loading sand capsizing it. Nothing indicates rougher, tippier, heavier counterparts If 'exacting appear boat, nothing 'but for' relationship To stand reads 'job-connected' emphasis right statute, clearly there. Only of' compensated. covered 'naturally Injuries willfully inflicted persons 'because should itself bring about coverage. 26 Whether compensable depend degree cause location, momentary distinguish smashed hand cabinet office tripped pebble hike. first arisen whereas second traceable case. Thus, hike stepped mine conflict, different follow. 27 view makes me adopted indicated approving citation Cir., 699, 70, cert. denied 950, 1080. difficult what for. instance, Miss Williams company gentleman pick-up truck parked end breakwater Guam Island o'clock evening. wanted show her ship harbor. Apparently looking half hour driver vehicle lost control truck, causing spinal injuries. Ninth she secretary project. 28 impose absolute liability injuries, whatever nature, cause, long judge choose go vacation spots. Before setting stamp approval least argument receive briefs merits. pointed 'there thousands reported annually' Act.4 urged question definitively resolved Court. Because importance parties resolution proper these do dictates Court's result, respectfully dissent treat summarily, merits denial 1080, O'Keeffe, 951, 1083. 29 DOUGLAS, dubitante. problems rest mainly Appeals.* What 490, 466, decisions applicable here: 31 'Reviewing influenced feeling abdicate conventional function. imposed assuring keeps grounds. less real enforcing requirement viewed, whole, invested enjoying prestige Appeals. Board's findings entitled respect; nonetheless precludes being justified fair estimate worth testimony witnesses informed competence both.' 32 Applying test inclined disagreed exotic here. See generally, Jaffe, Judicial Review: Question Law, 69 Harv.L.Rev. 239 (1955). Petition 307, p. 11. These unlike Federal Employers' Liability suits federal (45 56) law, poorly received judiciary, severely eroded. Wilkerson McCarthy, 336 53, 68 seq., 413, 420, 93 497 (concurring opinion).

Category: 7