Legal Document

333 U.S. 46 68 Supreme Court Reporter 391 92 L.Ed. 468 JOHNSONv.UNITED STATES. Number 138. Argued Dec. 10, 1947. Decided Feb. 9, 1948. Motion to Recall Mandate Denied April 5, See 865, 788. Messrs. Silas baron Axtell, of New York City, and David Atlantic Fall, San Pedro, Cal., for petitioner. Mr. Samuel D. Slade, Washington, D.C., respondent. Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion Court. 1 This case is here on a petition writ certiorari which we granted because seeming misapplication by court below Jesionowski versus Boston & M.R. Co., 329 452, 67 401. 2 Petitioner was seaman S.S. Mission Soledad, steam tanker owned operated United States. He main deck rounding in two blocks, an operation followed cradling boom. One block attached outer end boom wire rope. The other being held shipmate, one Dudder, who stood above petitioner meccano deck, structure beams had been erected deck. taking slack pulling free rope ran through blocks. As he pulled blocks were brought together. When that done Dudder walk forward with at rate speed controlled went smoothly. would pull rope, forward, then stop coil accumulated line. worked harmoniously, neither jerking line nor interfering other's function. There no fouling lines; taut free. 3 We have only partial account how injury occurred. not called. testimony from his version episode uncontradicted. it Dudder's duty hold (and weighed 25 or 30 pounds) permitted fall; hit head caused this libel personam (see 41 Statutes-at-Large 525, States Code Annotated KF65 U5 § 742) filed under Jones Act, 38 1185, as amended, 1007, KF62 688, 688. said, standing It certain why fell. without warning. hit, bending over coiling 4 rule res ipsa loquitur applied Maine R. supra, means 'the facts occurrence warrant inference negligence, they compel such inference.' Sweeney Erving, 228 233, 240, 33 416, 418, 57 LE d. 815. need determine what result be if shown when accident happened. For uncontradicted evidence but A man careful does ordinarily drop working him. Some external force might conceivably him do so. But where, here, injured person implicated (Jesionowski Marine supra), falling alone sufficient basis negligent. In short, remains implicated, since record either cause appears responsible. 5 Act makes applicable these suits standard liability Federal Employers' Liability 35 65, 53 1404, 45 51, 51. Thus shipowner becomes liable injuries resulting whole part negligence another employee. De Zon American President Lines, 318 660, 665, 63 814, 817, 87 1065. And there reason logic experience acts fellow servant. Lejeune General Petroleum Corporation, 128 Cal.App. 404, 18 Pacific Reporter, 2nd Series 429; Johnson Metropolitan Street 104 Mo.App. 588, 592, 593, 78 Southwestern KF135 S79 275. True, doctrine finds most frequent application cases arising instruments properties employer's exclusive control. Juan Light Transit company Requena, 224 89, 32 399, 56 680; supra; Lukon Pennsylvania Cir., 131 327; Sweeting 142 611. Inherent, however, inferred type act failure individual. While underlying accidents may reach higher into management hierarchy than involved compels us go Terminal Association Staengel, 8 122 271, 136 Law Reports 789. 6 No explicable terms order invoked. deals permissible inferences unexplained events. District found dropping all doing time Circuit Appeals reversed, 160 789, feeling out hands. reasoned although testified him, concussion lapse memory antedated actual injury. inquiry, possible causes whether showing fault fair dropped think is, human tells men customarily act. 7 presses claim maintenance cure rejected both courts below. hospitalized respondent number weeks following accident. unfit sea doctors Public Health Service recommended enter various government hospitals. refused instead live ranch parents. decide agreement between out-patient treatment rest home inferred. Cf. Rey Colonial Nav. 116 580; Moyle National Transport 150 840. ample support findings lower petitin er incurred expense care Field Waterman 849. On issue affirm Appeals. reverse it. Affirmed part; reversed part. 9 So ordered. 10 FRANKFURTER dissenting 11 What case? suit petitioner, seaman, sustained while vessel Under existing law failed its exercising reasonable safeguarding employees—the liable, up plaintiff prove negligence. 12 plaintiff's here? named together known 'rounding in' bring tackle together, somehow fell struck operating head. negligently released responsible (The 'fellow servant rule' defense authorizes suit. 688.) witnesses happening besides Johnson. sources knowledge ascertaining actually happened—whether lay nobody, determines fault—were accounts furnish could reasonably draw itself. 13 disclose? Of available testified. That accurate state, therefore, immediately preceded less true unable any bearing happening.1 His has established carelessness fall hand rather careless jerk himself release. witness fact deposition taken before trial, placed Johnson's disposal. Neither party, reasons own, called introduced deposition. 14 conclusions are drawn developed trial? business conduct trial or, even where technically open facts, sit independent judgment facts. If like allowed come all, proceedings their entirety. proceeding Admiralty tried judge jury. judge, heard best position weigh saw, died gave view testimony. By agreement, submitted district cold record. decided appealed Ninth Circuit. Three judges same dead judge. employees negligent—that Duddr carelessly let slip hands—one said yes, three no. 15 law? My brethren say circumstances speak themselves establishing should found, must now find, proves can explained carelessness—for deserves repeating, liable. N Immigration Nationality Decisions agree case, scope 815, reaffirmed last term 'decision cut mass verbiage built around loquitur.' 457, 401, 404. sentences vital case: 'Res loquitur, applies, convert defendant's general affirmative defense. in, question jury preponderance plaintiff.' page Therefore, relevant, itself sustain finding 'for (it) apply, effect shifting burden proof.' 238, 417, Since cannot tell occurred—it certainly fell—I escape conclusion proving attributable respondent's 454, 402. 16 believe here. after 'rule necessity invoked necessary absent readily available.' Cooley, Torts, 4th Ed., 480. Here petitioner's admittedly available, seem follow happened adjudicated, adjudicated. modify mandate so new adjudication based upon adequate determination. 17 room laboratory scientific pursuit truth, surely confined obviously fragmentary, happening, meagre Johnson, command exploring them fully, least more passing legal judgment. game blind man's buff; judge—particularly trier pronounce law—need blindfold failing call simply parties, tactics, choose withhold referees prizefights functionaries justice. Herron Southern Pac. 283 91, 95, 51 383, 384, 75 857; Quercia States, 289 466, 469, 698, 699, 77 1321. initiative see issues determined within pleadings, left counsel's chosen argument. Cent. 279 310, 318, 49 300, 73 706. Just aid auditor, consent examine books papers, hear testimony, clarify issues, submit report, 'render intelligent consideration jury,' Ex parte Peterson, 253 306, 40 543, 545,6 919, power tax costs 'necessary understanding sides,' Whipple Cumberland Cotton Fed.Cas.No.17,515, Story 84, 86, elicit truth. Glasser 315 60, 82, 62 470, 86 680. resorting guesswork fault. 19 supplement recreating events led party saw fit use Instead entering proof did meet it, court's witness. Judge Sibley observed knew testify: 'We interests justice served orderly easily managed * *. Williams Batson (the witnesses) know truth things dispute. will risk calling knows important witness, interest justice, allowing parties right cross-examination impeachment.' Chalmette Corporation Oil Distributing 143 826, 828, 829. 20 thirteen passed good situation ought never get all. crux difficulty industrial suffered interstate railroad seamen still archaic just system workmen's compensation. Occurrences controversy inherent employment make depend 'negligence' pursue unreality. Engliand abolished fifty years ago. long laggards making conform actualities industry, now, single exception, supplanted outmoded rational compensation laws, Congress enacted laws Columbia, federal employees, longshoremen harbor workers. 'It public pay cost producing wants pain mutilation incident production.' Holmes, J., Arizona Cases, 250 400, 433, 39 553, 561, 1058, 1537. sees solely fault, torture twist injuries. 21 unmindful radiating potencies decision beyond holding.' Hawks Hamill, 288 52, 58, 242, 610. Lower read opinions unnatural alertness catch intimations precise ratio decidendi. exerts influence, however unwittingly, well calculated lead avoid reversals deciding compassionately confident decisions likely reviewed 22 remanded further conformity opinion. 23 JACKSON BURTON join dissent. testified: 'Q. Now, you accident, thing happened, doing? Maccano Standing over? over. Then happened? remember.'

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