Document: 358 U.S. 625 79 S.Ct. 406 3 L.Ed.2d 550 Joseph KERMAREC, Petitioner,v.COMPAGNIE GENERALE TRANSATLANTIQUE. No. 22. Argued Nov. 13, 1958. Decided Feb. 24, 1959. Mr. Edward J. Malament, New York City, for petitioner. George A. Garvey, respondent. Justice STEWART delivered the opinion of Court. 1 On November 1948, respondent's vessel, S. Oregon, was berthed at a pier in North River, City. About noon on that day Kermarec came aboard to visit Henry Yves, member ship's crew. The purpose entirely personal, pay social call upon Yves and give him package be mutual friend France. In accordance with customary practice permitting crew members entertain guests had obtained pass from executive officer authorizing come aboard.1 As he started leave ship serveral hours later, fell injured while descending stairway. 2 theory his fall been caused by defective manner which canvas runner tacked stairway, brought an action personal injuries District Court Southern York, alleging unseaworthiness vessel negligence part its Federal jurisdiction invoked reason diverse citizenship parties, jury trial demanded. district judge view substantive law applicable. Accordingly, eliminated claim case instructed 'a gratuitous licensee' who could recover only if defendant failed warn dangerous condition within actual knowledge, himself free contributory negligence.2 4 returned verdict Kermarec's favor. Subsequently court granted motion set aside dismiss complaint, ruling there complete failure proof shipowner actually known stairway or condition. A divided Appeals affirmed. does not make clear whether affirmance based agreement applicable, determination controlling legal principles would any event no different under maritime law. 245 F.2d 175. Certiorari examine both these issues. 355 902, 78 335, 259. 5 error governing this State York. navigable waters. It conduct complained occurred. rights liabilities arising were therefore full reach admiralty measurable standards See Plymouth, Wall. 20, 18 L.Ed. 125; Philadelphia, Wilmington Baltimore Railroad Co. v. Philadelphia Havre de Grace Steam Tugboat Co., 23 How. 209, 215, 16 433; Commerce, Black 574, 579, 17 107; Rock Island Bridge, 6 213, 753; Belfast, 7 624, 640, 19 266; Leathers Blessing, 105 626, 630, 26 1192; Admiral Peoples, 295 649, 651, 55 885, 886, 1633. If state court, reference have necessary determine parties. Carlisle Packing Sandanger, 259 255, 259, 42 475, 476, 66 927. Where plaintiff exercises right conferred diversity choose federal forum, result is different, even though further trial. Whatever doubt may once existed score effectively laid rest Pope & Talbot, Inc., Hawn, 346 406, 410—411, 74 202, 204, 98 143. thus becomes consider prejudice resulted court's application instructing operate as bar recovery, clearly error. should told instead considered mitigation damages. Max Morris, 137 1, 11 29, 34 586; 408—409, 204. equally clear, however, did Kermarec. By returning favor, necessarily found fact guilty 'even slightest degree.' refused submit issue unknown common Although basis inappropriate, correct eliminating case. company, nor broadened class workmen whom has latterly extended absolute seaworthy ship. Mahnich S.S. 321 96, 64 455, 88 561; Seas Shipping Sieracki, 328 85, 872, 90 1099; 202. perform work, but simply friend. 8 apparent, therefore, prejudicial occurred imposed standard care higher than duty owing licenses If, other words, owed exercising ordinary care, then record entitled judgment, having resolved factual issues favor instructions less favorable given.3 Stated broadly, decisive recognizes same distinctions between invitee licensee 9 settled principle owes reasonable towards those lawfully are 1633.4 But never determined lower demanded visitor person label 'licensee' can attached. must decided performance Court's function declaring general law, inappropriate common-law concepts. Lottawanna, 21 558, 22 654; 29.5 10 draws inherited culture deeply rooted land, traced many heritage feudalism. effort do justice industrialized urban society, complex economic individual relationships, modern courts it formulate increasingly subtle verbal refinements, create subclassifications among traditional categories, delineate fine gradations landowner each.6 Yet single jurisdiction, classifications bred produced confusion conflict.7 new spawned, older ones become obscured. Through semantic morass moved, unevenly hesitation, 'imposing owners occupiers all circumstances.'8 For late date import such conceptual foreign traditions simplicity practicality. page 575, 654. incorporation concepts appears particularly unwarranted when remembered they originated system status depended almost nature individual's estate respect real property, alien sea.9 We hold owner waters board purposes inimical legitimate interests circumstances each case.10 follows present judgment vacated remanded reinstate enter accordingly. 12 so ordered. 13 Judgment instructions. contained following language: 'The accepting pass, consideration thereof, assumes risks accidents, expressly agrees Compagnie Generale Transatlantique shall held liable their employees, otherwise, injury loss property.' attempted disclaimer effect unless made evidence showed seen pass. implicitly informed language appearing it. Since finding disputed here, we need what aware Moore American Scantic Line, Cir., 121 767. Compare 46 U.S.C. § 183c, U.S.C.A. 183c. 'With first fact, namely, alleged defendant, you bear mind subject liability bodily harm licensee, plaintiff, artificial ship, conditions present: (1) knows unsafe realizes involves unreasonable risk believe will discover realize risk; (2) invites permits remain without either reasonably safe involved therein. 'In short, order case, establish fair preponderance knew invited correcting warning connection damages, find plaintiff's proximate defendant's own negligence, degree, cannot all.' justifies defectively shipowner's agent exercise care. verdict, much more. Cf. Osceola, 189 158, 483, 47 760. impingement legislative policy. United States Atlantic Mut. Ins. 343 236, 72 666, 96 907; Halcyon Lines Haenn Ship Ceiling Refitting Corp., 342 282, 277, 318. Random selection decision serve illustrate point. E.g., Chicago G.W.R. Beecher, 150 394 (licensee express invitation; implied bare licensee). example, occupier toward thought applicable far clear. Fox Warner-Quinlan Asphalt 204 N.Y. 240, 245, 97 N.E. 497, 498, 38 L.R.A.,N.S., 395; Mendelowitz Neisner, 258 181, 184, 179 378, 379; Paquet Barker, 250 App.Div. 771, 293 N.Y.S. 983 (2d Dept.); Byrne C. H.R.R. 104 362, 539; Higgins Mason, 255 104, 109, 174 77, 79; Ehret Village Scarsdale, 269 198, 208, 199 56, 60; Mayer Temple Properties, 307 559, 563—564, 122 N.E.2d 909, 911—913; Friedman Berkowitz, 206 Misc. 889, 136 N.Y.S.2d 81. Chief Judge Clark's dissenting Appeals, 175, 180. survey here thousands judicial decisions area during last hundred years unnecessary impossible. recent critical review Harper James, Law Torts, c. XXVII, passim (1956). also, Prosser, Business Visitors Invitees, Minn.L.Rev. 573; Marsh, History Comparative Licensees Trespassers, 69 L.Q.Rev. 182, 359. This say relevant torts, meaningful categories quite different. Membership confers peculiar sea. Such now others 'doing seaman's work incurring hazards.' 99, 880, 1099. inconsistent results reached tried apply facts shipboard life licensees invitees reinforce conclusion reached. seaman crossing another pier, see Radoslovich Navigazione Libera Triestina, S.A., 367 (invitee); Aho Jacobsen, 249 309 (licensee); Anderson E. B. Ward, Jr., C.C., F. 44 Griffiths Seabord Midland Petroleum D.C.Md., 33 A.M.C. 911 also Lauchert D.C., 65 F.Supp. 703 (licensee). guest passenger, McCann Anchor 338 Zaia 'Italia' Societa, 324 Mass. 547, 87 183, A.L.R.2d 1071 Champlain, 151 270 643, 25 (invitee). Metcalfe Cunard 147 66, 701 English appear differentiated cases shipboard, inquiry. See, e.g., Smith Steele, L.R. Q.B. 125 (1875) Duncan Cammell Laird Ltd., (1943) All E.R. 621. These after thorough study (Law Reform Committee, Third Report, Cmd. 9305 (1954), statutory enactment. Occupiers' Liability Act, 1957, Eliz. 2, 31.

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