Document: 531 U.S. 438121 S.Ct. 993148 L.Ed.2d 931 NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in the preliminary print of United States Reports. Readers are requested notify Reporter Decisions, Supreme Court States, Washington, D. C. 20543, any typographical or other errors, order that corrections may be made goes press.JAMES F. LEWIS, PETITIONERv.LEWIS & CLARK MARINE, INC. No. 99-1331. SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES Argued November 29, 2000 Decided February 21, 2001 Syllabus Petitioner sued respondent an Illinois County for personal injuries he suffered while working on respondent's ship. He did not request a jury trial. In anticipation his suit, had filed complaint exoneration from, limitation of, liability Federal District pursuant Limitation Liability Act (Limitation Act). Following procedure actions set forth Supplemental Admiralty and Maritime Claims Rule F, court approved surety bond representing interest vessel, ordered claim related incident with within specified period, enjoined filing prosecution suits incident. Petitioner, inter alia, moved dissolve restraining order, stating was only claimant, waiving res judicata concerning limited from state judgment, stipulating could relitigate issues Court, claim's value less than fund. The recognized federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction determine whether vessel owner entitled liability, but also statute conferring over admiralty maritime saves suitors "all remedies which they wise entitled." 28 U.S.C. 1333(1). found two exceptions under claimant litigate court-where fund's exceeds total all claims asserted against owner, where there single claimant. dissolved injunction because petitioner met first and, probably, second exceptions, retained action protect owner's right should proceedings necessitate further proceedings. holding abused its discretion dissolving injunction, Eighth Circuit seek mere court; trial, sought saved remedy no conflict between saving clause here, basis injunction. Held: Because adjudicate like petitioner's owners so long as protected, erred reversing Court's decision Pp. 5-17. (a) Section 1333(1)'s preserves common law concurrent some claims. Red Cross Line v. Atlantic Fruit Co., 264 109, 123-124. allows limit damage injury, occasioned without privity knowledge, vessel. Potential tension exists one gives choice court. Claimants generally been permitted proceed their see Langnes Green, 282 531, do exceed fund, Lake Tankers Corp. Henn, 354 147. 5-13. (b) properly exercised here. Guided by this cases, it attempted reconcile Act. It after concluding would adequately protected stipulations court's stay pending misapprehended decisions dissolved. grants obtain at issue. By own terms protects owners' vessel's value. Here, concluded court, out abundance caution, stayed Nothing more required rights. Having satisfied itself well discretion. finding failure demand trial meant there. remedies, obvious, exclusive, example. sum, case makes clear courts, protected. 13-17. 196 F.3d 900, reversed remanded. CERTIORARI TO APPEALS FOR EIGHTH CIRCUIT O'Connor, J., delivered unanimous Court. Opinion Justice O'Connor 1 concerns seaman's ability sue sustained aboard claims, jurisdictional "sav[es] cases otherwise Another vessels. 46 App. 181 et seq. case, conducting preserve prevented seaman litigating injury Appeals reversed, contest question presented 2 * James Lewis, worked deckhand M/V Karen Michelle, owned respondent, Lewis Clark Marine, Inc. March 17, 1998, injured Michelle when tripped wire hurt back. 12. April Madison County, Illinois. claimed negligence Jones Act, 688, unseaworthiness, maintenance cure. A personam who suffers course employment due employer, crew members. Ibid.; Plamals S. "Pinar Del Rio," 277 151, 155-156 (1928). Unseaworthiness general based duty ensure reasonably fit sea. See Mitchell Trawler Racer, Inc., 362 539, 550 (1960). cure obligation provide food, lodging, medical services serving Calmar Taylor, 303 525, 527-528 (1938). 3 Eastern Missouri Act), followed provided entered approving $450,000, person events file period. then 1998. 30-33. 4 answer complaint, damages motion order. averred sole waived judgment; stipulated relating Id., 72. later id., 102, recanting earlier allegation exceeded 5 proceeding cause re Complaint 31 Supp. 2d 1164 (ED Mo. 1998). liability. noted, however, confers contains reasoned "a vested savings clause." 2d, 1168. 6 allowed fund owner. brings seeking excess exception probably well. 1169, n. 3. decided retain event necessitated 7 held 900 (1999). Appeals, potential perceived those provisions instant case. explained must consider has remain another forum. merely jury, determined substantive difference afforded For these reasons, 8 We granted certiorari, 530 1202 (2000), resolve Circuit's Courts Appeals. Compare (CA8 1999), Kreta Shipping A. Preussag International Steel Corp., 192 41 (CA2 Beiswenger Enterprises Carletta, 86 1032 (CA11 1996), Linton Great Lakes Dredge Dock 964 F.2d 1480 (CA5 1992). II 9 Article III, 2, Constitution vests jurisdiction. Judiciary 1789 codified grant original jurisdiction, "sav[ed] suitors, remedy, competent give it." Ch. 20, 9, Stat. 77. intervening years, Congress revised language clause, substance remained largely unchanged. 41(3) 371 Third (1940 ed.) ("saving common-law it"); 1333(1) (1946 ed., II) libellant every entitled"); May 24, 1949, ch. 139, 79, 63 101 entitled"). now states "[t]he district shall ... civil (emphasis added). 10 What drafters intended creating entirely debate. See, e.g., J. Goebel, Antecedents Beginnings 1801, History 474 (1971). Casto, Origins Jurisdiction Age Privateers, Smugglers, Pirates, 37 Am. Legal Hist. 117, 139-149 (1993), Gutoff, Original Understandings Private Law Jurisdiction, Reply Professor 30 Mar. L. Com. 361, 387-390 theorized "inserted, abundant lest power conferred might deemed taken away existed. leaves stood law." New Jersey Steam Nav. Co. Merchants' Bank Boston, How. 344, 390 (1848). 11 early we defined limits clause. instance, rem were outside scope instead law. Hine Trevor, Wall. 555, 571-572 (1867); Moses 411, 431 (1867). distinguished concept rights remedies. Chelentis Luckenbach 247 372, 383-384 (1918). Chelentis, governs recovery distinction fundamental. founded acknowledged claim; means employed enforce redress injury." 384. 12 subsequent courts. 123 (1924). enforceable arbitration agreement steamship company chartered agreements arbitrate valid law, State York confer authority compel parties submit arbitration. court: 13 "The 'right remedy,' does include changes involved. includes pais, judicial statute, existing law; equity, 14 Thus, Madruga Superior Cal., San Diego, 346 556, 560-561 (1954); Steamboat Chase, 16 522, 533-534 (1873). B 15 host special rights, duties, rules, procedures. 721 (wrecks salvage); 741 (suits vessels cargoes States); 10101 (merchant seamen protection relief). Among central provision provides: American foreign, embezzlement, loss, destruction property, goods, merchandise shipped put board such damage, collision, act, matter, thing, forfeiture, done, occasioned, incurred, knowledge owners, not, except subsection section, amount her freight pending." 183(a). 183(b) (requiring supplemental death claimants). 17 passed 1851 "to encourage ship-building induce capitalists invest money branch industry." Norwich Wright, 104, 121 (1872). British Transport Comm'n 129, 133-135 (1957); Just Chambers, 312 383, 385 (1941). purpose "putting shipping upon equality nations" acts. Main Williams, 152 122, 128 (1894). supra, 116-119 (discussing history acts England, France, led passage 18 model clarity. T. Schoenbaum, 299 (2d ed. 1994) ("Th[e] badly drafted even standards time, continues effect today"). created procedures determining entitlement. opportunity review detail until 20 years enactment. supra. Deeming "incapable execution" instructions 123, designed govern action, promulgated them same Term, Supplementary Rules Practice Admiralty, xii-xiv. scheme "was sketched outline" "the regulation details form modes left prescribed authority." Providence Hill Mfg. 109 578, 590 (1883). 19 1872 rules "intended facilitate claiming secured statute." "Benefactor," 103 239, 244 (1880). Under petition. appraisal payment guarantee deposited claimants appear. 54, xii-xiii. process fact 56, Wall., xiii. relieved "very onerous" English rule, confess benefit limitation. 243 ("[T]his preparing proper allow party whatever"). If succeeded effort exonerated, responsible distributing among claimants. 55, Much predecessor provisions, F sets secures interest, marshals enjoins respect proceedings, sitting adjudicates determines liable validity if limited, distributes C 21 Some One confronted (1931). employee $25,000 petition issued notice worth $5,000. 22 dissolution argued claim, possible therefore pleading denied proceeded decide merits, liable. issue 23 On review, both failing recognize hear employee's our view, destroy parties. latter just. "one case," remanded 544. 24 After decision, pursue Ex parte 286 437 (1932). notwithstanding recognition enjoin agreed withdraw submission 440. 25 considered several 147 (1957). pleasure yacht, Blackstone, capsized collision tug push-towing barge, injuring persons killing one. barge actions. approximately $119,000 $165,000. collision. Thereafter, demands damages; bonds. All relinquished They affirmed. 26 affirmed Appeals' decision. examining history, "crystal operation directed misfortunes sea losses incurred freight." 151. Where necessity 152. stipulations, addition restrictions ensured "beyond doubt [the owner's] fully protected." Ibid. expand prevent 27 "would transform protective instrument offensive weapon shipowner deprive known adequate satisfy it. shipowner's boundless. immunity read privilege into above granting him fact, primary apportioning inadequate pay full, reserved remedies." 152-153. Since decisions, Langnes, Tankers. 1996); 1999) (foreign forum). III believe pursuing guided prior Respondent's stipulation waiver defense 29 "finding actual statutory 'saving suitors' bar." F.3d, 906. here That reasoning misapprehends decisions. Respondent action. Both selected legitimate forums therein lies conflict. Had institute lacked reach rem. Similarly, wages employees covered. 189. East River Towing 266 355, 367 appears obstacle each forum choice, competing deciding relied flawed premises: issue, reserves receive 32 terms, circumstances giving rise occurred knowledge. investment unlimited exposure clear, proportional protecting Tankers, U.S., 153. reason revisit conclusion decline invitation 33 construing ago "power regulate proceedings." 244; xiii; F(2). agree need practice, create freestanding bearing Then, "abundance caution," act jeopardized 1170-1171. nothing 34 arising dismiss suitor concludes will protected-where example group cannot appropriate uncertainty adequacy number claims-the 152; Port Arthur John W. Towing, 42 312, 314 1995). But where, satisfies 35 apparently treated dispositive Tracing development since 1789, available e.g, 555 extends involved." Line, 124. Trial suitors. 153; 123-125. 36 control heard. 909. prospect remove claimant's litigants' choices limited. previously refused hold fall concern removed undermine Romero Terminal Operating 358 354, 371-372 (1959). define "destructive oversimplification highly intricate interplay National Government commerce." 373. Moreover, raised removal diversity 1445(a) (incorporated reference 688(a)). arguments enumerate fail view consistent adjudicating petitioner's. seeks invert making run mill involving matter happens reject proposal 38 judgment opinion. 39 ordered.

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