Document: 493 U.S. 38 110 S.Ct. 398 107 L.Ed.2d 277 MICHIGAN CITIZENS FOR AN INDEPENDENT PRESS, et al., Petitioner,v. Dick THORNBURGH, Attorney General of the United States, al. No. 88-1640. Supreme Court States November 13, 1989 On writ certiorari to Appeals for District Columbia Circuit. [39] PER CURIAM. The judgment Circuit is affirmed by an equally divided Court. Justice WHITE took no part in consideration or decision this case. Chesapeake and Ohio Ry. Co. v. Schwalb [110SCt381,493US40,107LEd2d278] 381 40 278 CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO RAILWAY COMPANY, Petitioner, Nancy J. SCHWALB William McGlone. NORFOLK & WESTERN Robert T. GOODE, Jr. Nos. 87-1979, 88-127. Argued Oct. 3, 1989. Decided Nov. 28, Syllabus Respondents, employees petitioner railroads, were injured while working at petitioners' Virginia terminals, where coal was being loaded from railway cars ships on navigable waters. injuries respondents who laborers doing housekeeping janitorial services, occurred they undertaking one their duties: cleaning spilled loading equipment prevent fouling. injury respondent 88-127, a pier machinist, when he engaged his primary duty repairing equipment. Each brought suit state court under Federal Employers' Liability Act. Petitioners challenged jurisdiction Longshore Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA Act), which, inter alia, provides exclusive remedy employee relevant situs "engaged maritime employment, including any longshoreman other person longshoring operations, harbor-worker ship repairman, shipbuilder, ship-breaker." 33 U.S.C. § 902(3). trial courts dismissed suits, concluding that each covered LHWCA. consolidated appeals 87-1979 reversed dismissal cases, stating key question whether employee's activities had realistically significant relationship cargo ships, ruling performing purely maintenance tasks did not. basis decision, then repairman Held: Respondents employment within meaning Pp. 45-48. (a) Since 902(3) includes not only specified occupations physically handle cargo, but also land-based activity occurring if it integral essential unloading vessel, Northeast Marine Terminal Caputo, 432 249, 97 2348, 53 320; P.C. Pfeiffer Ford, 444 69, 100 328, 62 225; Herb's Welding, Inc. Gray, 470 414, 105 1421, 84 406, are maintaining process Someone repairs maintains such just as vital to, of, operator equipment, since, machinery breaks down becomes clogged because lack cleaning, stops until difficulty cured. It irrelevant contribution continuous, has duties integrally connected with process, repair always needed. conclusion covers buttressed fact every have addressed issue reached result, Department Labor, agency charged administering (b) makes difference particular kinds done 88-127 might be considered traditional railroad work wherever unloaded, since determinative could continue unless worked operating properly was, fact, stopped made repairs. overall light testimony that, which spills onto periodically removed, may become inoperable. Equipment necessary keep machines operative form different degree work. P. 48. 235 Va. 27, 365 S.E.2d 742, reversed. WHITE, J., delivered opinion Court, REHNQUIST, C.J., BRENNAN, MARSHALL, BLACKMUN, O'CONNOR, SCALIA, KENNEDY, JJ., joined. filed concurring opinion, MARSHALL joined, post, p. 49. STEVENS, judgment, 50 Prince, Norfolk, Va., petitioners. Christine A. Desan-Husson, Brookline, Mass., amicus curiae supporting petitioners, special leave Bruce Wilcox respondents. 1 McGlone, Railway Company (C O), petitioner's terminal Newport News, Virginia, Goode, Norfolk Western (N W) its Virginia. If respondents' 44 Stat. 1424, amended, §§ 901-950 (1982 ed. Supp. V), provided resort (FELA), 35 65, 45 51-60 negligence cause action employees. held both cases LHWCA applicable proceed FELA. We reverse. 2 * At C O facility, mechanical conveyor-belt system transports hopper colliers berthed piers. begins car rolled incline dumper activated trunnion rollers dumps through conveyor belts. belts carry tower poured into hold ship. located end dumper. Typically, some out falls below during process. This must removed frequently fouling McGlone O's services. One clean underneath Both performed ordinary services site. McGlone's right arm severely clearing away beneath belt. suffered serious head she fell walking along catwalk area. time, her way rollers. 3 N W's terminal, moved locked place device called "retarder." turns upside down. via loader. Respondent Goode machinist terminal. His job maintain dumpers hand retarder dumpers. Loading several hours 4 three commenced separate actions responded case challenging ground sole remedy. See 905(a) ed., V). All evidentiary hearings concluded suits appealed. dismissals. 742 (1988). 5 Relying earlier decisions, White R. Co., 217 823, 232 807 (1977), stated ships. 31, S.E.2d, 744. Pointing expressions our 320 landward coverage limited " 'essential elements' unloading, "the standard more nearly akin 'significant relationship' we adopted than broader construction argued O. 33, 745. Applying standard, ruled should treated differently those clerical covered. later dealt unpublished order, relying reversing court's 870252 (Apr. 22, 1988), App. Pet. Cert. 17A. 6 Because Virginia's holding these contrary position Courts Appeals, see, e.g., Harmon Baltimore 239 U.S.App.D.C. 239, 244-245, 741 F.2d 1398, 1403-1404 (1984); Sea-Land Services, Director, Office Programs, 685 1121, 1123 (CA9 1982) (per curiam ); Hullinghorst Industries, Carroll, 650 750, 755-756 (CA5 1981); Garvey Grain 639 366, 370 (CA7 1981) Prolerized New England Benefits Review Board, 637 30, 37 (CA1 1980), granted resolve conflict. 489 1009-1010, 109 1116, 103 180 (1989). II 7 For apply, course 902(2) ed.); employer employed 902(4); occur "upon waters (including adjoining pier, wharf, dry dock, building way, marine railway, area customarily used loading, repairing, dismantling, vessel)," 903(a) V); "person ship-breaker, term does include—" certain enumerated categories employees, undisputed first requirements satisfied cases. 8 expressly obviously callings. 423, n. 9, 1427, 406 (1985); 77-78, 7, 334, 225 (1979). additional reach section been left sitting review decisions In considerable litigation, clearly decided aside occupations, 903 will deemed vessel. sensible read together 903(a), particularly purpose 1972 amendments produced sections. 9 Prior 1972, applied Longshoremen gangplank shoreward, even though same functions off Congress acted obviate anomaly: extended adjacent normally restricted employment. Pub.L. 92-576, 86 1251. There specific exclusions 903; expanded 1984. 98-426, 2(a), 98 1639. 10 supra, liberally construed LHWCA, all involved elements Id., U.S., 267, 268, 271, S.Ct., 2359, 2361. But 2359. consistent view. workers entitled compensation 82, 337. reiterated requirement named occupational test focusing unloading. Those do benefit id., 424, 1427-1428. 11 before us, injured. claim nevertheless 272-274, 2361-2363. Only 12 Although previously so held, quite sure Such processes. That requires. Coverage denominated "longshoremen" cargo. Nor functions. piece When fouled continuous Employees surely task 13 Our arrived result. cited 44-45. As evidenced brief Secretary Labor agrees 902(3), Board consistently taken view, Wuellet Scappoose Sand Gravel 18 BRBS 108, 110-111 (1986); De Robertis Oceanic Container Serv- ice, Inc., 14 284, 286-287 (1981); Cabezas Service, 279, 283-288 (1979), therein. III expressed conclude view error. kind unloaded. properly. notable actually supervisors apparently desire hurry up continue. 15 record 57, 92. true Ibid. Testimony indicated buildup eventually foul conveyors them shut IV 16 reasons given above, judgments 17 ordered. whom O'CONNOR join, concurring. I join write separately emphasize understand repudiating "amphibious workers" doctrine articulated 2361-2363, (1977). today Schwalb, however, tasks. They if, moment injury, 19 explained Congress, amending intended solve problem pre-1972 would walk workday, over water ashore. wanted 20 "to provide throughout amphibious who, without Amendments, activity. seems clear, therefore, said cover 'longshoremen,' mind persons whose spend least time indisputably operations activity." 273, 2362. 21 Later, "crucial factor" determining "is nature worker assigned." 337 (emphasis added). injuries, noted: "Our observation Ford Bryant undermine . spends operations. ." 83, 18, 337, 18. 22 To suggest like (even general up, loading), former work, bring "walking coverage" back vengeance. exclude [a worker] Act's morning include him afternoon revitalize shifting fortuitous eliminate." 274, 2362-2363. 23 Court's understanding casts shadow continuing validity 24 judgment. 25 Had arisen 1977, subscribed interpretation 807, cert. denied, 434 860, 186, 54 133 believe text "merely people longshoremen harbor directly moving freight building, destroying ships," history clouds text's plain import. OWCP Perini North River Associates, 459 297, 342, 634, 652-653, 660, 74 465 (1983) (STEVENS, dissenting). reaches similar conclusion. White, 833, 813 (employing "direct involvement" test). 26 Yet, majority correctly observes, ante, 44-45, interpreted status encompass workers. uniform established reasonably clear rule law feel bound respect. Cf. Commissioner Fink, 483 89, 102-103, 2729, 2736-2737, (1987) therefore concur

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