Document: 458 U.S. 564 102 S.Ct. 3245 73 L.Ed.2d 973 Danny L. GRIFFIN, Petitionerv.OCEANIC CONTRACTORS, INC. No. 81-614. Argued April 26, 1982. Decided June 30, Syllabus Title 46 U.S.C. § 596, after obligating the master or owner of a vessel making coasting foreign voyages to pay seaman's unpaid wages within specified periods his discharge, provides that who fails make such payment "without sufficient cause shall seaman sum equal two days' for each and every day during which is delayed beyond respective periods." Petitioner, was injured while working aboard respondent's in waters, brought suit under Jones Act general maritime law Federal District Court respondent refused medical expenses furnish transportation back United States. In addition damages, petitioner sought recover penalty 596 failure $412.50 earned allegedly due upon discharge. The court found, inter alia, had been discharged from employ on injury, cause." assessing at $6,881.60, held "[t]he period runs be determined by sound discretion district depends equities case." It appropriate 34-day date discharge through when began work another company. Petitioner appealed award damages as inadequate, but Appeals affirmed. Held : courts have no limit wage assessed. Imposition mandatory withheld violation 596. Pp. 569-577. (a) words chosen Congress, given their plain meaning, leave room exercise either deciding whether exact choosing days calculated. After found balance promptly its refusal cause," nothing 596's language vested with assessment petitioner's unemployment. 569-571. (b) This not type case where literal application statute would thwart obvious purpose. Section "evident purpose" "to secure prompt seamen's . thus protect them harsh consequences arbitrary unscrupulous action employers, which, class, they are peculiarly exposed." Collie v. Fergusson, 281 52, 55, 50 189, 191, 74 L.Ed. 696. Although statute's purpose remedial, Congress has use potentially punitive sanctions designed deter negligent delays payment. legislative history confirms intended mean exactly what says. 571-574. (c) Nor this precluded asserted ground it produce an absurd unjust result could intended. Even though wages—if computed basis until actually paid satisfying Court's judgment—would over $300,000, awards made were merely compensatory. Since following without cause, since finding continuing delay unable decision error. Pacific Mail S.S. Co. Schmidt, 241 245, 36 581, 60 982. 574-577. 5th Cir., 664 F.2d 36, reversed remanded. Robert A. Chaffin, Houston, Tex., petitioner. Theodore Goller, respondent. Justice REHNQUIST delivered opinion Court. 1 concerns requires certain masters owners seamen authorizes double cause. question courts, discretion, may assessed, imposition statute. 2 * On February 18, 1976, signed employment contract New Orleans, agreeing senior pipeline welder board vessels operated North Sea. extend "until December 15, 1976 Oceanic's committal Sea fulfilled, whichever occur first." App. 41. also provided worksite, if quit job prior termination date, services terminated he charged cost Respondent reserved right withhold $137.50 first four paychecks "as cash deposit your return event you should become obligated payment." Id., 47. March 6, flew States Antwerp, Belgium, reported vessel, "Lay Barge 27," berthed Antwerp harbor repairs. 3 1, suffered injury deck readying sea. Two later underwent emergency surgery Antwerp. 5, hospital went office, spoke Jesse Williams, welding superintendent, physician's statement fit duty. Williams acknowledge workrelated denied liable expenses, maintenance, unearned wages. States, continued retain deducted three returned home next own expense. He examined there physician able resume May 3, 1976. company operating 4 1978 against Act, 20, 38 Stat. 1185, amended, 688, law, seeking cure, wages, repatriation value personal effects lost vessel. Rev.Stat. 4529, awarded totalling $23,670.40. 5 Several findings particularly relevant appeal. First, proximately caused unseaworthy condition 17, ¶ 10; 23, 6. Second, solely injury. 16; 7.1 Third, 20; 25, 11.2 Finally, exercised diligence attempting collect those 21. 6 11. reemployment, 34 days. Applying statute, $6,881.60.3 inadequate. 7 Fifth Circuit (1981). That concluded, erred limiting beginning ending 5. recognized required paid, did September 1980, satisfied judgment 40; see 30. Nevertheless, believed itself bound decisions Circuit, left calculation courts. F.2d, 40. concluded abused only unemployed. 8 We granted certiorari resolve conflict among Circuits regarding proper statute.4 454 1052, 595, 70 587 reverse issue.5 II 9 obligates any discharge.6 then provides: "Every refuses neglects manner hereinbefore mentioned periods. ." 10 straightforward terms depending satisfaction conditions. must failed specified. Once these conditions satisfied, however, unadorned dictates "shall seaman" sums "for delayed." As described many years ago, "affords definite reasonable procedure establish unreasonably withheld." McCrea 294 32, 55 291, 295, 79 735 (1935). Our task give effect will expressed reasonably terms, "that ordinarily regarded conclusive." Consumer Product Safety Comm'n GTE Sylvania, Inc., 447 102, 108, 100 2051, 2056, 64 766 (1980). 11 challenges neither findings. statutory obviously assess day" delayed, instead limited Nothing vests set limitation. B 12 urges best served construing permit some choice determining length period. view, essentially remedial compensatory, interpreted literally monetary so far excess equitable remedy punitive. 13 Respondent, support view reference "There is, course, more persuasive evidence than legislature undertook expression wishes." American Trucking Assns., 310 534, 543, 1059, 1063, 84 1345 (1940). See Caminetti 242 470, 490, 37 192, 196, 61 442 (1917). rare cases demonstrably odds intentions drafters, controlling. "some 'scope adopting restricted rather usual meaning acceptance statute.' " Commissioner Brown, 380 563, 571, 85 1162, 1166, 14 75 (1965) (quoting Helvering Hammel, 311 504, 510-511, 368, 371, 303 (1941)). This, exceptional case. 696 (1930), S.Ct., 191. accomplished "by liability exclusively prevent, coercive effect, refusals induce possible." 55-56, Thus, although sure 15 leaves little doubt understanding correct. owes origins July 1790, ch. 29, 133, passed First Congress. originally enacted gave soon voyage ended," provide recovery additional encourage compliance. Such provision added Shipping Commissioners 1872, 322, 35, 17 269, "a exceeding amount days, ten 1872 established ceiling assessed and, "not exceeding," choose period.7 16 amended again 1898. read part: one day's Dec. 21, 1898, 28, 4, 30 756. 18 amending legislation effected changes: first, removed theretofore existing might less calculated second, 10-day number accompanying Committee Reports identify "the amelioration seamen," characterize particular "designed promptest possible wages." H.R.Rep.No.1657, 55th Cong., 2d Sess., 2, (1898). S.Rep.No.832, 54th 1st (1896).8 1898 suggests do anything other Act's plainly demonstrates: strengthen deterrent removing courts' latitude penalty. 19 last time 1915 increase further severity doubling delayed. Seamen's 1915, 153, 1164. There suggestion floor debates that, doing, reinvest Resort history, therefore, III 20 argues, construction daily used computing $101.20. If applied literally, receive twice judgment.9 $300,000 simply because improperly windfalls nature regard 21 true interpretations results avoided alternative consistent available. U.S., 542-543, 1063; Haggar Helvering, 308 389, 394, 337, 339, 340 refusing nullify statutes, however hard unexpected said: 22 "Laws good intention, put test, frequently, surprise maker himself, turn out mischievous, otherwise objectionable. But lies authority, courts." Crooks Harrelson, 282 60, 51 49, 50, 156 (1930). 23 highly probable correct contention greatly exceeds actual paying previously compensatory: 24 "We think indicates payments 25 remedies authorize proportion injury; typically conduct, infrequently finds visited whose conduct deter. probably precisely envision grossness difference between equally well said trebled private antitrust actions, Reiter Sonotone Corp., 330, 344-345, 99 2326, 2333-2334, 931 (1979), Endangered Species survival relatively small three-inch fish require permanent halting virtually completed dam ha[d] expended $1 million," TVA Hill, 437 172, 98 2279, 2290, 57 117 (1978). enough we it. dissatisfaction amend statute; not. 123-124, 2063-2064; Sonotone, supra, 2333-2334. 26 note our holding S. 982 (1916). employer challenged apply occasioned employer's facts case, Contrary assertion, does reflect discretionary tailoring Instead, pending appeal before can attach. 250, 582.10 explained earlier, To extent situation considered, bear finding, once made. IV 27 nonpayment work. Under affirming accordingly reversed, remanded proceedings opinion. 28 ordered. 29 STEVENS, whom BLACKMUN joins, dissenting. final analysis, judge decide how enactment hand. usually answer question, reports full cases" reflected reading chosen.1 my 31 Qualifying supports much narrower adopts. For most recent amendment federal judges consistently construed avoid today. Their specific purposes achieved amendments authorized. 32 petitioner, welder, temporarily disabling met responsible fully recovered obtained comparable employer. filed 1978. now settled wrongfully him 33 us "sum recoverable wages" compensate 596.2 $101.20 multiplying 34—the reemployment amounted holds amounts least $302,790.40.4 pertinent part, follows: 35 [of discharge] [4-day period], claim court. ."5 (Emphasis added.) text admittedly Court—if entitled entire fourth finally susceptible interpretation. Indeed, half century latest including Court, section. fixing reasoned shipmaster, time. reasoning conflicts perfectly contemporary teaching Holmes' wrongful character initial all subsequent cause" controversy arose 1913, measured pay, amount, cause; October $30.33 loss silverware. November $151.59, representing 1913. decree proposition owner's defenses constitute requiring sue them. 39 prosecuted unsuccessful affirmed entry original disputed ordered seemed dictate. aside recovery, reaching conclusion cannot reconciled wooden, Concurrent Holmes Brethren accepted decision, pending. 40 curious reasons insufficient justify trial court's somehow became significant point primarily squared statute.6 necessarily stakeholder.7 A event—even expressly itself—may foreshorten 41 sua sponte event—coupled demand almost thereafter—was frame fits mold Mail. Both flexible "sufficient They differ respect departure text.8 42 second Ferguson, focused phrase claimed financial necessities payments; surely nevertheless implicitly containing requirement "in sense wilful, attributable impossibility adopted nonliteral significance double-wage Court." id., 54, 190. proceeding arising insolvency owner, accords priority creditors various lienors stronger claims assets. narrow protection intent even involved itself.9 43 third occasion interpret (1935), again, narrowly, taking approach. seaman, citing sections legislation, demanded shipmaster benefits. unfamiliar cited asked meet noon informed discussion demands. missed appointment country contacting master. entitlement to, Appeals, ship, immune constituted petition certiorari, sovereign immunity rejected argument formally Mail, master's justified fact pursuant rise refusal. 44 These early dispel notion means purpose," Isbrandtsen Johnson, 343 779, 783, 72 1011, 1014, 96 1294 (1952), demonstrate, always specifies. C 45 Flexibility characterized applications rendered lower decades allow judicial play part recovery.10 Whether entirely grammarian placed another,11 holdings come attention 1966 contrary Third Swain Isthmian Lines, 360 81,12 eight followed Circuit.13 I deny wisdom rule mandates close adherence text,14 course inserted itself. judiciary presumably acceptable find places reliance.15 Moreover, produces both palpably unjust, order faithful will.16 47 permitting just new approach authorized five word "shall" clear awarded, allowed setting recovery.17 judge's ways: (1) rate wage; (2) exceed 48 Subsequent remove modify limits discretion. With rate, rate—rather rate—and rate.18 payable, limit. subject different interpretations, represent unremarkable change drastic dramatic. 49 removal scope continue fixed judge, recognition reality stranded sort statute,19 comment significance. perceptively observed context, dog bark significant.20 Instead effecting modest enlargement justice cases, complete prohibition recoveries somewhat longer command unresolved dispute persists special hardship automatic regardless considerations arise shipmaster's mistake major potential authority normally commitee intended.21 ironic same seven Justices—who today transfixed 596—only few ago blithely ignored Tax Injunction reach jurisdiction entertain declaratory Secretary Labor determine violates Constitution. California Grace Church, 457 393, 2498, 93 (1982). inconsistency troublesome, consider thought am persuaded amendment, $302,790.40 due. 52 respectfully dissent. According respondent, retroactive 1. Brief found: "Defendant begin thorough investigation plaintiff's diligence. Defendant's maintenance effects, plaintiff arbitrary, unreasonable, callous, willful disregard rights." calculating accordance ($202.40) Courts Ninth mandate 81 (CA3 1966); Larkins Hudson Waterways 640 997 (CA9 1981); Thomas §§ Santa Mercedes, 572 1331 1978). Fourth interpretation Circuit. Mavromatis Greek Shipowners 179 (CA1 1950); Forster Oro Navigation Co., 228 319 (CA2 1955), aff'g 128 F.Supp. 113 (SDNY 1954); Southern Cross Firipis, 285 651 (CA4 1960), cert. denied, 365 869, 903, 859 (1961). noted Foreign Matise, 423 150, 152, n. 410, 412 354 (1975). questioned cross-petitioned here. reads full: "The agreement shipped, discharged, happens; voyages, port Atlantic Pacific, vice versa, twenty-four hours cargo account one-third him. Every periods, court; section share profits cruise voyage. fishing whaling yachts." 1790 4529 Revised Statutes, codified 1878. agreement, delivered, shall, account, one-fourth mentioned, periods; voyage." substantially identical House previous favorably Senate, vote end session. Report contained reproduction Senate dates assumes run $412.50. 17. hand, apparently expired judgment. 19. toll running unless 250-251, 582-583, (1916) (holding taken grounds, entered, supported cause). 660, 88, placing hands unlawfully "had strong believing ought apply," 582, oral contract. "It familiar rule, thing letter yet spirit, nor intention makers. often asserted, illustrating application. substitution legislator, frequently broad include act consideration whole circumstances surrounding enactment, follow giving words, makes unreasonable believe legislator act." Holy Trinity Church 143 457, 459, 511, 512, 226 (1892). quoted full, ante, 569-570, abuse (CA5 1981). figure (date discharge), 1980 judgment). 574-575, 9. omits italicized clause quotes Ante, 570 573. Because claims, unlike penalties, accorded high seems me discerning authorizing infra, 582-583. rehearing, pointing urged briefs opinions argued: "According grammatical, natural unambiguous conveyed R.S., penalties 'sufficient cause' non-payment wages—a prevent ever accrue; run, short tender suffice continuous accrual per diem penalties." Pet. Rehearing, O.T. 323, p. argues yield tendering into registry 27. "constructive 28. accept argument. n.9. Neither recognize minimal tolling gloss subsequent-event expressly, lead remand issue. arbitrariness Collie, necessary recovered—must context award. clearly erroneous unemployed; ensuing 2-year employed competitor renew demand. Mystic Stromland, 342, 344 (CA4) ("The libel filed, limitation Was objection this? not"), rehearing 607 (1927), 276 618, 213, 734 (1928); 310, 316 1950) free accord considerable margin adjusting duration case"); Prindes African Pilgrim, 266 125, 1959) accumulates 651, 658 1960) ("With doctrine developed present time, measure principles assessed"), (1961); Caribbean Federation Lines Dahl, 315 370, 374 (CA5) rests case"), 375 831, 76, 62 (1963); McConville Florida Towing 321 162, 168, 1963) wide runs"); Chester, 908, 911 (Md.1928) ("[I]n spite seeming rigidity still power penalties"); Victoria, 76 56 1947) ("In penalties"), rev'd 172 434 1949); 113, 116 1954) defendant aff'd, 1955); Samad Etivebank, 134 530, 542 (ED Va.1955) respondents Spero Steamship Argodon, 150 Va.1957) ("It Kontos Sophie C., 236 664, 674 Pa.1964) ("Although applicable, committed tailor Ventiadis C. J. Thibodeaux & 295 135, 138 (SD Tex.1968) (" 'The case' "); Swanson Torry, 835 1928); Lake Galewood, 987 (Md.1927), 1020 (CA4), 278 637, 33, 553 (1928). 655-658. ("Despite precise directive, uncovered, question—whether supposed themselves—was balancing case."). Escobar Washington Trader, 503 271, 274 1974), vacated grounds sub nom. Trading Transportation Escobar, 1070, 852, 80 (1976). See, recently, Weinberger Romero-Barcelo, 456 305, 322-335, 1798, 1808-1815, 91 (1982) (STEVENS, J., dissenting). based reached practical unanimity 56, several occasions construe statutes occurred. called logical sensible result. Any properly condemned legislation. However, glaringly absurd, long function. Where, here, preserves usefulness section, duty intendment law." Armstrong Paint Varnish Works Nu-Enamel 305 315, 332-333, 59 199-200, 83 195 (1938) (footnotes omitted). version "[E]very [five-day period]; 7, 269. [four-day substituted "two pay" "one pay." Mar. 1164-1165. Cardozo, member York statute: purpose, predominant one, was, punishment compensation seaman. Delay opportunity ship term waiting, sufferer improvident, home. 'In fairness earned' (Calvin Huntley, 178 Mass. N.E. 435)." Cox Lykes Brothers, 237 N.Y. 376, 379, 226, 227 (1924). seagoing Harrison PPG Industries, 446 578, 602, 1889, 1902, 525 (1980) (dissenting opinion); cf. Conan Doyle, Silver Blaze, Complete Sherlock 383 (1938). Report's description "increases immediately general, prompter seamen." noteworthy described, respecting trivial. And likely refers changed supra.

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