Document: 348 U.S. 19 75 S.Ct. 6 99 L.Ed. 20 Robert A. McALLISTER, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES of America. No. 23. Argued Oct. 19, 1954. Decided Nov. 8, MrJacob Rassner, New York City, for petitioner. Mr. Ralph S. Spritzer, Washington, D.C., respondent. Justice MINTON delivered the opinion Court. 1 The petitioner brought suit against United States under Suits in Admiralty Act, 46 U.S.C. § 741 et seq., U.S.C.A. to recover damages negligence creating conditions aboard ship whereby he contracted polio and treatment thereof. District Court, sitting without a jury, made findings fact stated its conclusions law thereon (Admiralty Rules, 1/2, 28 U.S.C.A.) which it found that respondent not guilty after became ill, but permitting exist on board were conducive transmission was unduly exposed thereby disease. Judgment entered respondent, appeal Court Appeals reversed ground no proximate cause shown between contraction polio. We granted certiorari. 347 932, 74 628. 2 first question presented is whether reviewing Court's applied proper standards. In judgment trial court, jury admiralty, may set aside below unless clearly erroneous. No greater scope review exercised by appellate tribunals admiralty cases than they exercise Rule 52(a) Federal Rules Civil Procedure, Boston Ins. Co. v. Dehydrating Process Co., Cir., 204 F.2d 441, 444; C. J. Dick Towing Leo, 5 202 850, 854; Union Carbide & Carbon Corp. States, 200 908, 910; Koehler 7 187 933, 936; Walter G. Hougland, Inc., Muscovalley, 184 530, 531, certiorari denied, 340 935, 71 490, 95 675; Petterson Lighterage Tow Central R. 126 992, 994—995. A finding erroneous when "although there evidence support it, court entire left with definite firm conviction mistake has been committed." Oregon State Medical Society, 343 326, 339, 72 690, 698, 96 978; Gypsum 333 364, 395, 68 525, 541, 92 746. do find departed from this standard, although we disagree result reached application standard. relation stand same position as Appeals. question, therefore, are 3 second assistant engineer Edward B. Haines Chinese waters September 13, 1945, December 3, 1945. During time master informed other contagious diseases prevalent Shanghai, bulletin posted warning crew thereof directing them while ashore care eating drinking avoid association inhabitants ashore. So concerned about condition mustered members several occasions warned effect. obeyed these warnings, record contrary. While port at November 11, does show went last 1. On 11 number stevedores came some work, also taken forty or fifty soldiers truck drivers mechanics be transported Tsingtao. These soldiers, mechanics, fresh area infested polio, permitted wide use ship, including toilet facilities only fountain, located deck. To supplement an open wooden trough laid along deck discharged over side ship. hose provided flushing trough, had go turn water flush it. There expert testimony doctors derives virus usually spread people who carriers disease healthy persons susceptible. carried human beings have organism their intestinal tract nose throat. It enters respiratory susceptible person central nervous system where produces injury. 4 reported his symptoms 24, usual period incubation causing believed two weeks, maximum one-half weeks. producing contact stevedores, According testimony, occur previous uneventful trip months before reaching Orient individuals polio; then suddenly thrown Shanghai prevalent, thereafter, within normal incubation, comes down showing facts, experts, think substantial could did negligent Chinese, run facilities, furnishing crude latrine reason whereof Of course one can say certainty communicated But upon balance probabilities seems reasonable inference make facts proved, supported best medical experts subject today, contaminated Shanghai. Certainly cannot based such Myers Reading 331 477, 485—486, 67 1334, 1339, 91 1615; Tennant Peoria P.U.R. 321 29, 64 409, 88 520. allowable reversed. Reversed. 8 REED would affirm grounds 9 FRANKFURTER. 10 petition basis writ sought case questions claimed general importance. argument bar doubt involved decision review. Neither now deciding. Both counsel viewed more ordinary action negligence, giving rise, frequently case, conflict evaluation evidence. short, read way another. If any class plainly falls outside professed considerations exercises discretionary jurisdiction, involving interpretation bearing issue causation negligence. standards type litigation well settled. significance becomes bone contention. And stir differences derive very elusiveness meaning myriad unique sets circumstances cases. One's deep sympathy aroused victim hazards situations like us. remedy obsolete uncivilized compensation loss life limb crews ships trains intermittent disregard led Congress entrust discretion jurisdiction. adequate effective workmen's compensation. present those instances full appreciation what developed should denial writ. entertain solely because right standards, opportunity afforded generally reverses (Incidentally, reviews Appeals' Court.*) 12 Again again authoritatively announced controversies Nor follow here argued, merits decided. short answer kind inevitably will encourage petitions tendering importance close examination proves wanting. Thus begin demands wisely discharge legislative relief come, feeling discrimination engendered taking ought rejecting others. 13 controlling thus put Chief Taft behalf Court: 14 'If suggested much effort given consideration alleged enabled us dispose merits, important consistent granting except principles settlement public, distinguished parties, real embarrassing authority Circuit Courts certainly neither head.' Layne Bowler Western Well Works, 261 387, 393, 43 422, 423, 712. 15 With due regard jurisdiction certiorari, Revised Supreme U.S.C.A., adjudication cases, abundant, sits, dismissed improvidently preliminary necessarily tentative petition. Rimer, 220 547, 31 596, 55 578; Furness, Withy Yang-Tsze Ass'n, 242 430, 37 141, 61 409; Tyrrell Columbia, 243 1, 361, 557; 712; Southern Power North Carolina Pub. Serv. 263 508, 44 164, 413; Keller Adams-Campbell 264 314, 356, 705; Wisconsin Electric Dumore 282 813, 51 214, 728; Sanchez Borras, 283 798, 1421; Franklin-American Trust St. Louis 286 533, 52 642, 76 1274; Moor Texas N.O.R. 297 101, 56 372, 80 509; Orleans Neill, 302 645, 58 118, 82 501; Goodman 305 578, 59 100, 83 371; Goins 306 622, 783, 1027; McCullough Kammerer Corp., 323 327, 65 297, 89 273; McCarthy Bruner, 673, 126, 547. 16 I dismiss granted. * See National Labor Relations Board Pittsburgh S.S. 498, 503, 453, 456, 479: 'This place nor reverse tilting rather other, though fair-minded judges either way.'

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