Legal Document

436 U.S. 618 98 Supreme Court Reporter 2010 56 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 581 MOBIL OIL CORPORATION, Petitioner,v.Frances Nell HIGGINBOTHAM, Administratrix of the Estate Marshall K. Higginbotham, et al. Number 76-1726. Argued Jan. 10, 11, 1978. Decided June 5, Rehearing Denied Oct. 2, See 439 884, 99 232. Syllabus In an action for wrongful death on high seas, measure damages is governed by Death High Seas Act, 46 Code KF62 § 762, which limits a decedent's survivors' recovery to their "pecuniary loss," and hence survivors are not entitled recover additional under general maritime law "loss society." Pp. 620-626. 545 Federal Reporter, 2nd 422, reversed remanded. Carl Judge Schumacher, Jr., New Orleans, La., petitioner. Jack C. Benjamin, respondents. Mr. Justice STEVENS delivered opinion Court. 1 This case involves seas. The question whether, in addition authorized federal statute, may also law. Appeals Fifth Circuit, dis greeing with First held that society," as well pecuniary loss.1 We reverse. 2 Petitioner used helicopter connection its oil drilling operations Gulf Mexico about 100 miles from Louisiana shore. On August 15, 1967, crashed outside Louisiana's territorial waters, killing pilot three passengers. suit brought passengers' widows, representative capacities, District accepted admiralty jurisdiction2 found deaths were caused petitioner's negligence. court awarded equal losses suffered families two passengers.3 Although valued families' loss society at $100,000 $155,000, it did authorize this loss.4 reversed, holding plaintiffs claim society. granted certiorari limited issue. 434 816, 54, 54 72. 3 * 1877, steamer Harrisburg collided schooner Massachusetts coastal waters. sank, first officer drowned. Some five years later, his widow wrongful-death against Harrisburg. afforded no remedy absence applicable state or statute. Harrisburg, 119 199, 7 140, 30 L.Ed. 358. Thereafter, suits arising out fatalities founded necessity statutes. See, e. g., Hamilton, 207 398, 28 133, 52 264. 4 1920, Congress repudiated rule occurring beyond waters any State. It passed Act (hereinafter sometimes DOHSA),5 creating more than class beneficiaries "wife, husband, parent, child, dependent relative,"6 establishes two-year period limitations,7 allows filed victim continue actions if dies injuries while pending,8 provides contributory negligence will bar recovery.9 With respect damages, statute declares: "The . shall be fair just compensation sustained persons whose benefit ."10 5 half century between 1920 1970, seas gave rise DOHSA, those largely statutes.11 DOHSA uniformity predictability but where made only source remedy, continuing impact decision produced uncertainty12 incongruity.13 reasoning was dubious best 1886,14 became less satisfactory passed. 6 therefore, overruled Moragne versus Marine Lines, Inc., 398 375, 90 1772, 26 339, does exist concerned Florida's defendant argued Congress, limiting had evidenced intent preclude judicial remedies concluded, however, reason confined prevent abrogating, own force, then available Id., 400, S.Ct., 1787. left various subsidiary questions concerning nonstatutory remedy—such schedule limitations period—for "further sifting through lower courts future litigation." 408, 1792. A few Sea-Land Services, Incorporated Gaudet, 414 573, 94 806, 39 9, confronted some these questions. Among issues addressed Gaudet damages.15 awards could include support services, funeral expenses, society, mental anguish grief. 583-591, 814-818. recognized compensates losses, allow But accident like Moragne, took place apply. chose adopt DOHSA's pecuniary-loss standard; instead followed "clear majority States" "the humanitarian policy law," both favored U.S., 587-588, 816. sum, determination differed choice when enacted Act. II 8 broadly written. occurred influence analysis. read, has been, replace entirely Act.16 Its holding, applies therefore must now decide apply seas—the chosen Gaudet. 9 As divergence views among discloses, there valid arguments allowing Courts denying cite reasons: (1) "not capable measurement material standard," (2) award "would obviously elements passion, sympathy similar matters improper character." S. Speiser, Recovery Wrongful Death, 3:49 (2d ed. 1975).17 counter: real, however intangible be, problems should justify all relief. generally supra, 588-590, 816-817. 10 case, we need pause evaluate opposing arguments. struck balance us. losses. Respondents argue have last word issue—that traditionally undertaken supplement statutes such step necessary preserve Neither argument decisive. 11 recognize today, value uniformity, ruling governs recoveries poses minor threat law.18 Damages aside, none explicit been settled contrary e ther Nor other disparities likely develop. itself implied,19 courts' primary guide they refine because interest Congress' considered judgment great force right. true differ even difference proves significant,20 desire cannot override 12 realize that, never comprehensive code, often called upon announces beneficiaries, period, negligence, survival, damages. nn. 6-10, supra. address every issue law, see n. speak directly question, free "supplement" answer so thoroughly becomes meaningless. 13 supplements statutory remedies. depended our conclusion withheld order encourage supplemental 397-398, 1785-1786. limit creation nonpecuniary supplements. Barbe Drummond, 507 794, 801 (CA1 1974); Wilson Transocean Airlines, 121 F.Supp. 85 (ND Cal.1954). There basic filling gap silence rewriting rules affirmatively specifically enacted. area covered would appropriate prescribe different limitations, di ferent beneficiaries. Perhaps wisdom possess today enable us do better job repudiating true, authority substitute expressed duly 14 Accordingly, remanded further proceedings consistent opinion. 15 ordered. 16 BRENNAN part consideration case. 17 MARSHALL, whom BLACKMUN joins, dissenting. 18 Just ago, (1974), "under [a] dependents LOSS OF SOCIETY ." id., 584, s.CT., 814. thE fact injury within shore, State, bearing time rendered, recognizes, ante, 622-623. emphasis situs upheld matter "general 409, 1792, 339 (1970). Today takes narrow unwarranted view cases, them facts making availability turn solely ship's distance shore causing death. 19 unanimous concluded ship fortuity unrelated reasons seaman's family 395-396, 405, 1784-1785, 1790. These rooted traditions always shown "a special solicitude welfare men who undert[ake] venture hazardous unpredictable sea voyages." 387, 1780. 588, 816 ("humanitarian law"). light "special solicitude," Harlan examined number "anomalies," resulted earlier 358 (1886), cause existence remedy. 20 "anomaly" most relevant present purposes "identical breaches duty provide seaworthy ship, resulting death, produce[d] liability three-mile limit—since unseaworthiness .—but State local exclude[d] claims." 395, 1785. "much force" (appearing amicus curiae ) treatment based location supported "rational policy," especially since underlying furnish vessel one. 1784-1785. anomaly others, declined adhere longer unjustified reason, produces results situations differentiated policy." 21 pre-Moragne rule, "produces When arises State's able "humanitarian" once crosses imaginary line, identical loss, occasioned breach duty. Instead, allowed (DOHSA), 762. 22 irony implicit Court's result readily apparent. pre- situation, benefits again vary depending whether occurs Now, generous thus come full circle designed eliminate reliance artificial line basis disparate similarly situated seamen. undoubtedly certain symmetry return anomalies, patently unfair flatly inconsistent spirit 23 dictates fairness words beside point, course, said disallow except regard DOHSA. writing background recovery. many without viewed disgrace civilized people." By enacting sought "bring into laws enlightened nations confer right sea." S.Rep.No.216, 66th Cong., 1st Sess., (1919); H.R.Rep.No.674, (1920), quoted 397, 24 uses ameliorative, remedial foundation purports find, section "fair sustained," "considered judgment" 625. Nothing section, states limited; certainly principally concerned, recovery, ensuring suing least loss. Representative Montague stated House debate, meant "in cases remedy." 59 Cong.Rec. 4486 (1920). 2-5; 2-4; 4482-4486 393, 1783 (DOHSA "to denied courts"). 25 recognizing response 620, otherwise ignores legislative history fundamental premise opinion—that "[limit] losses," 623—is simply assumed. Today's stands sharp contrast carefully surveyed "no intention appears effect foreclosing might effectuate policies law." Because congressional directive foreclose remedies, & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions believe principles requ re uphold here. approach mandates over ago Chief Chase, sitting circuit, passage Gaudet: 27 "[C]ertainly humane liberal character give withhold required established inflexible rules." Sea Gull, KF105 F3 as. 909, 910 (No. 12,578) (CC Md.1865), 1781; 583, 29 instant "established rule"; expression minimum seaman read arose—rather written after —it apparent mean exclude possibility remaining "appropriate resolved stated, qualifications, merely effectuate" "compelled" them. follow thereby avoid new type intended eliminate. 31 dissent. Compare 800-802 1974), Higginbotham Mobil Corp., 422 (CA5 1977). members panel agreement Barbe, foreclosed Circuit Law Drilling 510 242, rehearing, 523 793 1975). another provided needed. 798. 16, infra. 357 1164, 1167 (WD La.1973). bottomed jurisdiction finding functional equivalent crewboat. challenged Cf. Executive Jet Aviation, Cleveland, 409 249, 271-272, 93 493, 505-506, 34 454. 360 1140 One received $362,297, $163,400. third passenger's Longshoremen's Harbor Workers' Compensation 33 901 seq. ruling. F.2d, 431-433. former figure included $50,000 one her daughter. latter $25,000 second each children, $20,000 four older children. F.Supp., 1144-1148. 41 Statutes-at-Large 537, 761 761. 763. 765. 766. addition, preserved applicability Great Lakes, Panama Canal Zone, States' 767. Rights foreign preserved. 764. exception rule. Jones gives killed course employment employer's wrong place. 688. Tungus Skovgaard, 79 503, 524, example, definitively determine Jersey proof Three anomalies identified 339. shipowners liable Furthermore, due went unremedied inside limit. Finally "true" seamen longshoremen doing seamen's work assert claims arrived rejecting nothing "good reason," "natural equity," experience France Scotland. 212-213, 146. bring though decedent himself sued recovered before dying. offered guidance 583 814 10. providing answer, contention duplicate decedent's. outlined maritime-death noted several distinct himself. Brown put 1975): "It dead hand —whether elbow draftsmen DOHSA—follow rest hulk honorable briney deep. No navigable waters—any waters—and can enforced court." contemplated difficult compute, jury calculate lost love affection awarding grief anguish, probably tangible emotional 585-586 17, 814-815 17. G. Gilmore Black, Admiralty 372 proclaimed far compelling context. decided, fatal accidents adequate same nearer yield awards, all, nearest disparity concerns applying national slightly narrower farther land. devise alternative solutions problems. Only figured prominently discussion issues. 405-408, 1790-1791. remains seen loss-of-society practical significance. competing 623, reconciled primarily symbolic, rather substantial portion asked propriety large sums 4, Similarly, expenses. paid, pay, funeral, evidently theory accumulated estate enough pay funeral. 591, 818. theory, cost

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