Legal Document

343 U.S. 779 72 Supreme Court Reporter 1011 96 L.Ed. 1294 ISBRANDTSEN CO., Inc.,v.JOHNSON. Number 493. Argued April 23, 1952. Decided June 9, Mr. Mark D. Alspach, Philadelphia, Pa., for petitioner. William M. Alper, respondent. Justice BURTON delivered the opinion of Court. 1 The question before us arises in an admiralty proceedings by a seaman against his employer to recover wages earned on merchant vessel United States registry. is whether may set off seaman's its expenditures medical care and hospitalization another member crew necessitated injuries inflicted him seaman, without justification, during voyage which were earned. For reasons hereafter stated we hold that it not do so. 2 In 1948, respondent, Johnson, was employed petitioner, Isbrandtsen Company, Inc., as messman foreign registry, chartered On 21, while course Pacific, stabbed Brandon, crew. He injured Brandon so severely petitioner found necessary divert from order hospitalize Island Tonga. Johnson makes no claim after 21. However, when discharged May 31, claimed $439.27 due above all deductions, making allowance any made or hositalization Brandon. When refused pay anything, he filed libel complaint District balance wages, plus interest, transportation Seattle (his port signing on) double each day unlawful delay payment sum due.1 Petitioner up counterclaim $2,500, later reduced $1,691.55, expenses losses caused Johnson's attack Brandon.2 It contended also nature this defense demonstrated existence sufficient statutory cause payment. 3 disallowed petitioner's entered judgment respondent's allowance, interest costs. wages.3 91 F.Supp. 872. appealed but Appeals affirmed. 190 Federal Reporter, 2nd Series 991. We granted certiorari because decision below presents important maritime law heretofore determined 342 940, 562. 4 cites several early lower court decisions allowed set-off suit wages. These largely rendered Shipping Commissioners Act 1872 discussion subsequent legislation.4 ar convinced, however, legislation passed Congress f protection seamen, beginning 1872, has now covered field. Petitioner's prescribed, recognized permitted such legislation. So far goes, available R.S. § 4547, 30 Statutes-at-Large 756, 46 Code KF62 604, Annotated KF65 U5 604. other hand, absence authorization does preclude seeking collect otherwise. 5 purposes case, assume owed legal duty provide with provided secure at Atuilar versus Standard Oil Co., 318 724, 730, 732—736, 63 930, 933, 934—936, 87 1107. See Cortes Baltimore Insular Line, 287 367, 375, 53 173, 175, 77 368; Alpha S.S. Corporation Cain, 281 642, 50 443, 74 1086; Jamison Encarnacion, 635, 440, 1082. Also, assume, deciding, respondent obligation reimburse expense thus thrust upon unjustified fellow seaman. 6 Whenever congressional aid seamen been considered here since emphasized remedial calls liberal interpretation favor seamen. history scope reviewed Aguilar 727—735, notes, 932—936, 'Our historic national policy, both legislative judicial, points way (from burdening seamen). generally sought sageguard seamen's rights.' Garrett Moore-McCormack 317 239, 246, 251, 239. '(T)he inveterate tradition ordinary favored class. 'ward admiralty,' often ignorant helpless, need himself well others. * Discrimination be rational respect remedies wages.' Warner Goltra, 293 155, 162, 55 46, 49, 79 254; 377, 175—176, Wilder Inter-Island Steam Navigation 211 246—248, 29 58, 61—62, 164; Patterson Bark Eudora, 169, 23 821, 47 1002; Brady Daly, 175 148, 155—157, 20 62, 64—65, 144 109. 'The ancient characterization 'wards admiralty' even more accurate than formerly.' Robertson Baldwin, 165 275, 287, 17 326, 331, 41 715;5 Harden Gordon, 11 Fed.Cas.No.6,047, Mason 541, 556. 7 Statutes invade common general are read presumption favoring retention long-established familiar principles, except purpose contrary evident. No rule construction precludes giving natural meaning like obviously remedial, beneficial amendatory character. should interpreted effect purpose. Marine legislation, least 7, 262, construed make effective design change improve lot statutes derogation strictly require adherence letter would defeat obvious lessen plainly intended given measure.' 640, 442, 1082; Texas & P.R. company Abilene Cotton 204 426, 437, 27 350, 354, 355, 51 553. direction current long evident face. 8 'In country these notions reflected early, have expanded, designed comfort health aboard ship, home abroad. gives ground inferences adverse restrictive rights. Rather furnishes strongest basis regarding them broadly, issue concerning their arises, particularly relates character relief secure.' 728—729, 932, 9 specific area right promptly discharge, 61 'no accruing apprentice shall subject attachment arrestment court, *.' 276, 4536, 38 1169, 601, 601. full force became Court, 1908, 'attachment' 'arrestment' mean prohibits seizure levying execution valid judgments. see Norris, Law Seamen (1951), 347—350. 10 Congressional touches nearly every phase life. concerns itself personal safety, many ways review here. deals specifically shipping articles insures partial where loads delivers cargo. those completion shortly discharge.6 explicitly final wages.7 describes 'forfeitures' lawfully deducted 'for benefit master owner whom payable.'8 provisions return rather penal, nature. Crawford, Construction (1940), 106. keeping spirit clear rules governing computation reasonable only deductions set-offs derelictions performance duties statutes. Other claims collection must through means.9 appropriateness solution case unliquidated counterclaims. first estimated $2,500. fixed $1,691.55. factors within control knowledge alone easily could wipe out cent 12 There little substance suggestion can brought statutorily 'forfeitures.' Assuming amounted breach discipline hardly 'willful disobedience lawful command sea 4596, Foruth.10 'willfully damaging stores cargo Seventh.11 13 From this, conclude preempted relating based gone expressly listing fair inference listed made. remains courts determine what Congress, once known failed exclude. effect, excluded affirmatively.12 14 Accordingly, 15 Affirmed. 16 JACKSON dissents. Under 4529, amended, 1164, 596, 596. note infra. latter stipulated amount hospitalization, care, repatriation subsistence diversion Tonga, including pilotage, manifests, harbor dues, fuel consumed food Collie Fergusson, 52, 189, 696. Act, 262 et seq., Tit. LIII, §§ 4501—4612, U.S.C., chapter 18, 541—713, 541—713. July 20, 1790, 131, prior limited forerunner expansive followed. did attempt cover field extent comparable done recognizing employer's recoupment under law, authoritative guides today. cases 378—391. That appraisal reaffirmed 176, 368. Current testimony added following statement. my dealings class N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions come frequent contact, find they perhaps better educated dressed fellows century ago, but, general, improvident prone etremes trust suspicion forebears who ranged th e seas, withal likeable lot.' (195u), Preface. harbors applies vessels. 4530, 1165, 1006, 597, 597. Except statute, paid advance give others recovery. 55—56, 76—764, 33 308, 1168—1169, Stat . 794, 64 1081, 1239, 599, (Supp. IV), 599(b)(g), 599(b, g); 4535, 600, 600. His support wife minor children; allotments relatives restricted. Payments ports safeguarded Consuls. 4580, 4581, 4583, 54—55, 759, 1185, 682, 68o, 685, 683, 685. 'Sec. 4529. coasting voyages two days termination agreement shipped, time discharged, whichever happens; vessels voyages, Atlantic vice versa, twenty-four hours four entitled discharge account equal one-third part him. Every refuses neglects manner hereinbefore mentioned days' delayed beyond respective periods, recoverable court; section apply masters owners share profits cruise voyage.' 1164—1165, 4596. engaged service commits offenses, punished follows: 'First. desertion, forfeiture clothes effects leaves board emoluments then 'Second. neglecting refusing join proceed vessel, leave vessel's sailing port, either commencement progress voyage, reason duty, amounting defray properly incurred hiring substitute. 'Third. quitting leave, her arrival delivery she placed security, one month's pay. 'Fourth. willful sea, being, option master, irons until cease, pay, or, discretion imprisonment month. 'Fifth. continued neglect irons, bread water, rations fifth day, forfeiture, twnety-four hours' continuance neglect, twelve three months, court. 'Sixth. assaulting mate, pilot, engineer, staff officer, years. 'Seventh. willfully embezzling r cargo, loss thereby sustained, also, months. 'Eighth. act smuggling convicted whereby damage occasioned owner, liable damage, whole retained satisfaction liability, period months.' 1166, 1147, 701, 701. Special provision forfeitures incident desertion. They applied 'in instance, desertion taken place government official disposed same deceased payable. 4604, 706, 706. Certain unjustifiably forced chargeable wages: Unjustified inspections seaworthiness 4562, 659, 659; surveys 4566, 758, 663, 663; cost securing conviction offenses committed 4605, 707, 707. sections (46 683 685) look towards employer, employment, authorized statute. 'While receive 'without deduction whatever' third parties, there exceptions embodied statutes.' Shilman States, Cir., 164 649, 650—651; Chambers Moore McCormack Lines, 182 747; Eldridge D.C., 89 718. Cf. Oldfield Arthur Pacific KF135 P2 Fairfield, 176 429. 8, supra. spra. atack assault 'any officer' vessel. Sixth, Such lead offender entails 'forfeiture.' If 'forfeiture' resulting superior imply approval superior. reasons, on. proportionately welfare

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