Document: 348 U.S. 207 75 S.Ct. 242 99 L.Ed. 260 Bessie B. COX and John G. Thompson, as Administrators of the Estate Sid Cox, Deceased, et al., Petitioners,v.Arthur ROTH, Administrator James Dean, Deceased. No. 40. Argued Nov. 16, 1954. Decided Jan. 10, 1955. Mr. Douglas D. Batchelor, Miami, Fla., for petitioners. Jacob Rassner, New York City, respondent. Justice CLARK delivered opinion Court. 1 The main question presented in this case is whether an action under Jones Act survives death tortfeasor. In Nordquist v. United States Trust Co., 188 F.2d 776, Court Appeals Second Circuit answered affirmative. instant Fifth it negative, but allowed recovery on basis state law, 210 76. We granted certiorari order to resolve conflict. 347 1009, 74 864. 2 Jim Dean was employed a seaman M. V. Wingate, owned operated by Captain H. C. Farrington citizens residents Florida. Wingate sailed or about December 22, 1949, from Matanzas, Cuba, while high seas foundered lost. Farrington's body washed ashore Cuban coast, no trace found vessel. Cox died January 1951 causes bearing relation disaster. 3 October 1952, respondent, administrator estate brought against petitioners District Southern complaint, Act, 41 Stat. 1007, 46 U.S.C. § 688, U.S.C.A. alleged that member crew had lost his life through negligence its owners. Thompson are administrators Henrietta Howard distributees Farrington. estates been probated closed before filed. Respondent filed notice claim either proceeding within 8-month period required 733.16 Florida statutes, F.S.A. 4 primary difficulty stems fact Congress, passing did not specifically enumerate rights seamen, merely extended them same railway employees Federal Employers' Liability Act. While latter contained clause providing survival actions deceased tortfeasors, provide employee could be prosecuted 'the receiver receivers other persons corporations charged with duty management operation business common carrier.' 35 66, 45 57, 57. Since railroads rarely, if ever, individuals, since they subject various regulations which prevent their discontinuing business, permitting suit personal representative individual owner railroad unnecessary. See 477, 49 1(18), 1(18). Congress fully provided corporate analogues when might continue successor corporation railroad. But where seamen covered work aboard vessels literal application words F.E.L.A. would result denial This, we feel, frustrate congressional purpose benefit protection who peculiarly wards admiralty.' Arizona Anelich, 298 110, 123, 56 707, 711, 80 1075. proving should have right employee, does mean very must lifted bodily context applied mechanically specific facts maritime events. Rather, means those contingencies has ensure also met admiralty setting. Applying such rule here, conclude having recover regardless 'survival' tortfeasor railroad, intended defeat As said Markham Cabell, 326 404, 409, 66 193, 195, 90 165, 'The policy well letter law guide decision. Resort may ameliorate seeming harshness qualify apparent absolutes * *. process interpretation misses function strict reading results emasculation deletion provision less preserve.' extreme old common-law abating flies face expressed welfare seamen.' 'As legislation entitled liberal construction accomplish beneficent purposes.' Cosmopolitan Shipping Co. McAllister, 337 783, 790, 69 1317, 1321, 93 1692. decision here confined there need consider 'slender basis' general survivorship actions. Just Chambers, 312 383, 387, note 4, 61 687, 691, 85 903. Nevertheless, considering sought imposed do advancing civilization social progress 43 our include principle recovery, rather than being exceptional, now become almost every jurisdiction. discussion Roscoe Pound statutes part 13 NACCA L.J. 188—189 (May 1954). 5 Petitioners make further even interpreted allow proceed representatives fail because respondent comply statute governing distribution decedents' estates. short answer constitutional power, decreed 3-year limitations uniformly throughout Nation, Panama R. Johnson, 264 375, 392, 44 391, 396, 68 748, can diminish period. 6 Affirmed.

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