Document: 421 U.S. 1 95 S.Ct. 1381. 43 L.Ed.2d 682 Julian VELLA, Petitioner,v.FORD MOTOR COMPANY. No. 73—1994. Argued Feb. 18—19, 1975. Decided April 15, Syllabus A shipowner's duty to furnish an injured seaman maintenance and cure continues from the date leaves ship when a medical diagnosis is made that his injury was permanent immediately after accident therefore incurable. Pp. 3-6. 6th Cir., 495 F.2d 1374, reversed remanded. Leonard C. Jaques, Detroit, Mich., for petitioner. John A. Mundell, Jr., respondent. Mr. Justice BRENNAN delivered opinion of Court. We granted certiorari in this case limited question whether seaman's incurable.1 419 894, 171, 42 138 (1974). 2 Petitioner aboard respondent's Great Lakes vessel, S.S. Robert S. McNamara. He discharged left on June 29, 1968. Thereafter he filed suit District Court Eastern Michigan, Southern Division, based claim 4, 1968, while replacing lower engineroom deck plate, slipped fell oily floor plate causing head suffer severe blow it struck electrical box. The complaint included count, among others,2 cure. testimony at trial petitioner suffered vestibular disorder defined as damage balancing mechanism inner ear. witness, Dr. Heil, otolaryngologist, supplied only time became not susceptible curative treatment. Heil testified 27, 1972, had recently examined conceded head, such alleged by petitioner, could have caused disorder. said, however, condition can be cured treatment.3 jury awarded amount $5,848. Respondent moved judgment notwithstanding verdict ground award within permissible scope denied motion stated: 'While true available sickness declared permanent, also until incapacity permanent.' App. 20a. Appeals Sixth Circuit without published opinion, 1374 held 'once reaches 'maximum recovery,' obligation provide ceases,' 28a, since '(t)he record does permit inference other than (petitioner's) accident,' id., 29a, Court's holding impermissibly extended obligation. 3 disagree with reverse. ancient who becomes ill or service derives 'unique hazards (which) attend work seamen,' fosters 'combined object encouraging marine commerce assuring well-being seamen.' Aguilar v. Standard Oil Co., 318 724, 727, 63 930, 932, 87 L.Ed. 1107 (1943). To further object' we arises irrespective absence shipowner negligence indeed illness course employment. Calmar Corp. Taylor, 303 525, 527, 58 651, 652, 82 993 (1938). And, '(s)o broad . acts short culpable misconduct part will relieve (the shipowner) responsibility.' supra, 730—731, S.Ct., 934. Thus, breadth inclusiveness assure its easy ready administration '(i)t has few exceptions conditions stir contentions, cause delays, invite litigations.' Farrell United States, 336 511, 516, 69 707, 710, 93 850 (1949). 4 Denial injury, though fact accident, medically diagnosed long occurrence would obviously disserve frustrate might withhold vitally necessary belief, however well poorly founded, Or seaman, if paid shipowner, required reimburse payments, later determined accident. Thus uncertainty displace essential certainty protection against ravages encourages seamen undertake their hazardous calling. Moreover, seriously introduction complexities 'stir Shipowners' Liability Convention, effective States October 1939, 517, buttresses our conclusion correctly 'maintenance permanent.'4 That tracks wording Art. 1, convention which provides: 'The shall liable defray expense care sick person been cured, character.' 54 Stat. 1696. (Emphasis supplied.) aim 'was change materially American standards but equalize operating costs raising member nations level.' Warren 340 523, 71 432, 435, 503 (1951). declaratory longstanding tradition respecting cure,5 518, interpretation correct. 5 reversed, remanded proceedings consistent opinion. 6 Reversed This subsumed Question I presented petition writ certiorari: 'Is disabled contracted trauma disease vessel entitled payments during interim between period incident occurred proclaimed incurable?' sought damages under counts founded Jones Act, 41 1007, 46 U.S.C. § 688, unseaworthiness general maritime law. affirmed favor respondent entered no action either count. review respect affirmance respects II petition. When asked treatment, testified: 'No, really. Treatment primarily symptomatic condition. is, people are apt intermittent episodes dizziness which, occasion, somewhat more severe. those times patient particularly dizzy. They obtain some relief medication. Other that, there specific treatment.' On claimed continue jury, $8 per day 1970. Petitioner's appeal did not, draw into entitlement longer period. 25a. In circumstance him Court, Brief 19. See Le Tulle Scofield, 308 415, 421—422, 60 313, 316, 84 355 (1940). light continued Heil's testimony, address sustained any event obliged palliative arrest progress reduce pain, intimate view whatever upon regard. Compare Ward Union Barge Line Corp., 443 565, 572 (CA3 1971), case. 29a n. 1. Nor do express may forfeit right reporting known malady, refusing outset allow proper examination, discontinuing available. Desmond 217 948, 950 (CA2 1954): recognized incurable' (emphasis supplied); Vitco Joncich, 130 F.Supp. 945, 949 (SD Cal.1955), aff'd, 234 161 (CA9 1956): coextensive neither earliest reasonably good faith charged treatment maximum possible effected' It unnecessary conflict commentators applicable shipping. G. Gilmore & Black, Law Admiralty 323 (2d ed. 1975) ('Evidently Convention apply shipping'), E. Benedict, 296 (6th 1940) ('(T)he seem Lakes, 'inland waters' usual sense .'). States' reservation '(T)he Government understands construes words 'maritime navigation' appearing mean navigation high seas only.' 1704.

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