Legal Document

423 U.S. 150 96 Supreme Court Reporter 410 46 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 354 AMERICAN FOREIGN STEAMSHIP COMPANY, Petitioner,v.Lillian M. MATISE, etc. Number 74-966. Argued Oct. 14, 1975. Decided Dec. 16, Rehearing Denied March 22, 1976. See 424 979, 1488. Syllabus Respondent's decedent, a seaman, was discharged for misconduct from petitioner's ship while it docked in South Vietnam. Because of Vietnamese currency regulations and other complications precluding paying the seaman American wages due him that he had earned prior to his discharge, petitioner purchased an airline ticket $510, this ticket, together with wage voucher $118.45, representing less were given him. When arrived back received $118.45. Subsequently sued petitioner, claiming withheld $510 He contended liable added sum pursuant Code KF62 § 596, which requires master or owner vessel making foreign voyages pay within four days after and, upon refusal neglect make such payment "without sufficient cause," equal two days' every day during is delayed. Finding consented purchase purposes money therefore constituted partial wages, District held not refused neglected hence under 596. The Appeals reversed, holding 596 payments be made directly paid could regarded as wages. On remand, assessed damages dismissed appeal assessment. Held: Under circumstances, transaction resulting seaman's receipt owed there no payment, liability, Isbrandtsen company versus Johnson, 343 779, 72 1011, L.Ed. 1294, distinguished. Since "deduction from" requirement 642 ship's enter deductions logbook does apply, thus master's failure entry been bar viewing Pp. 156-160. Reversed remanded; see 9 Cir., 488 Federal Reporter, 2nd 469. Francis L. Tetreault, San Francisco, Cal., petitioner. Eric Judge Schmidt, respondent. Mr. Justice MARSHALL delivered opinion Court. 1 Granville C. Matise, brought suit alleging discharge S. Hawk, owner, Matise claimed that, Rev.Stat. 4529, amended, entitled 2 Title provides relevant part: 3 "The any (making voyages) shall . twenty-four hours cargo has discharged, whichever first happens .. Every who refuses neglects manner hereinbefore mentioned without cause each delayed beyond respective periods, recoverable claim before court." parties case differ over meaning "sufficient cause" 596; they are conflict, too, whether trial court can exercise discretion determining amount award 596.1 But we need address either these questions today. We hold simply correctly concluded petitioner-shipowner never "refuse(d) neglect(ed) payment" Matise. This being so, incurred liability 4 * hired on January 11, 1969, aboard Hawk. Between February 14 19, five occasions entered log reports absent duty position or, because intoxication, unable fulfill normal responsibilities. relatively minor penalties loss several imposed. date fifth entry, decided should discharged. With Saigon, Vietnam, took Vice Consul stationed Saigon. Consul, whose situations "inquire carefully into facts (to) satisfy himself good substantial reasons exist discharge," 22 Regulations 82.16,2 agreed Matise's justified. granted application objection notation stating "agreed remove (Matise) grounds at Master's request vessel." also advised resulted repeated instances by obligated repatriation.3 5 Petitioner did, course, have obligation discharge. form enabling secure transportation easy matter. law prohibited seamen carrying ashore, required safe containing sealed port. An States, however, only currency. Thus, put ashore left himself.4 6 In order resolve dilemma, Customs officials gave special permission break seal enough States. along $118.45 which, indicated itself, represented him, ticket.5 signed off articles, executed mutual release,6 24, 7 Almost one year later filed against Northern California.7 provided rejected claim, finding "consented approved money," concluding "(t) those circumstances equivalent monies seaman." Having found 8 Ninth Circuit reversed. 469 (1974). It read requiring ever having passed through hands Citing Court's indication 1294 (1952), setoffs derelictions specifically Congress lawfully deducted since statutory scheme provide return expenses, "withholding" here issue improper "wrongfully withheld" $29,462 penalties,8 double calculated until December 15, 1971, judgment case.9 Petitioner's assessment frivolous, thereupon certiorari. 420 971, 95 1391, 43 651 (1975). reverse. II 10 threshold question If then double-wage 596.10 Only if presented 11 supra, heavily relied, what faced payment. There respondent, stabbed shipmates sea. Over respondent's objection, shipowner amounts spent medical care hospitalization shipmate. statutes,11 even though might determined valid reimbursement 12 situation us today quite different Isbrandtsen. While explicitly money."12 Moreover, unlike Isbrandtsen, benefit expenditure obtained cash.13 regulations, procedure followed allowed air evident did refuse so clearly did;14 rather, 13 attempt treat giving plane viewed airline, observed "the applicable statutes unequivocally §§ 596-597." F.2d, 471 (emphasis original). evidently relying point following language 596: .."15 (Emphasis added.) Appeals' conclusion "payment" went necessarily follow case. easily argued "payment," albeit rather than cash, characterization transaction, unwilling say precluded general A far more explicit statement would peculiar obvious concern unlawfully withhold thereby unjustly enrich wrongfully denying benefits labor. case, neither unjust enrichment nor denial seaman. timely all expenditures obligated. And full consenting applied fashion most useful ticket. Respondent advanced alternative theory oral argument support contention bars 15 find unpersuasive. crew members become voyage, is, true, shall, various matters respect made, occur, official book." 642. As above, but itself Section 642's terms do apply acted properly doing rendering complete noted III 16 reversing decision Appeals, retreat our view aim "to protect (seamen) harsh consequences arbitrary unscrupulous action(s) their employers." Collie Fergusson, 281 52, 55, 50 189, 191, 74 696 (1930). impropriety Nor compromise "only set-offs performance duties recognized statutes." U.S., 787, S.Ct., 1017. 17 remanded proceedings consistent opinion. 18 ordered. 19 Judgment reversed remanded. Third Circuits judge penalty Swain Isthmian Lines, Inc., 360 81 (CA3 1966); Escobar Washington Trader, 503 271 (CA9 1974), cert. pending sub nom. Trading Transp. Escobar, 74-1184, First, Second, Fourth, Fifth length time applies its subject Mavromatis Greek Shipowners Corp., 179 310 (CA1 1950); Forster Oro Navigation Co., 228 319 (CA2 1955), aff'g 128 F.Supp. 113 (S.D.N.Y.1954); Southern Cross S.S. Firipis, 285 (CA4 1960), denied, 365 869, 903, 859 (1961); Caribbean Federation Lines Dahl, 315 370 (CA5 1963). 682; Foreign Affairs Manual 526.2. Two Coast Guard officers whom earlier consulted concerning present concurred Consul's advice repatriation. apparently barrier discharging cash guarantee removal country persons transported 469, 471-472. Apart expense, deductions, none them issue, reflected voucher. Such release 644. Once signed, "shall operate settlement demands between thereto, account past voyage engagement," 644, except "any jurisdiction may shown set aside take action justice require." 597. died pendency suit. Lillian respondent appointed State Maryland administer estate. Pursuant stipulation, substituted plaintiff action. interest sums, well costs both Appeals. conformity Trader. n. 1, supra. conceded much Tr. Oral Arg. 27, 31. 659, 663, 701, 707. part "compelled sign Wage Voucher receive remainder admittedly due." 473. nothing record indicate signing product compulsion. Indeed, registered dissatisfaction whatsoever some months release. fraud misrepresentation. infra. Accordingly, erroneous respected To extent ultimately expenses surrounding shipmate's injury, too said benefited shipowner's expenses. However, today, "benefit" secured directly. Any suggestion repatriation independent merit. That follows concession validly based misconduct. repatriate port depends For instance, causes own misconduct, injured. Ladzinski Sperling & 300 947, 956 (S.D.N.Y.1969); Miller 51 924 (S.D.N.Y.1943); Centennial, KF105 F3 397 (E.D.La.1881); Norris, Law Seamen 418 (1970). hand, 471, like 420. Aguilar Standard Oil 318 724, 731, 63 930, 934, 87 1107 (1943). Nothing suggests when concedes warranted, must true importance allowances seamen, deductible allowance owing 789 12, presented, deduction nature absence toward master, 153, temporary correct. consent not, indicated, 473, misinformation. reference 597 language: "Every demand belongs one-half balance where load deliver ended .." added). identical regard reject reading method utilized

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