Legal Document

512 U.S. 92114 S.Ct. 2057129 L.Ed.2d 78 Albert HOWLETT, Petitionerv.BIRKDALE SHIPPING CO., S.A. No. 93-670. Supreme Court of the United States Argued April 20, 1994. Decided June 13, Syllabus * Petitioner Howlett, a longshoreman employed by stevedore Northern Shipping Co., was injured when he slipped and fell on sheet clear plastic that had been placed under bags discharging from cargo hold ship owned operated respondent Birkdale Co. He filed suit against § 5(b) Longshore Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, which requires shipowners to exercise ordinary care maintain its equipment in condition so an expert experienced can load unload with reasonable safety. As corollary this "turnover duty," shipowner must warn latent hazards are known or should be shipowner. Here, evidence showed vessel supplied loading Guayaquil, Ecuador, it bags, even though improper. Howlett charged negligent failing employees dangerous condition. The District granted summary judgment, finding not demonstrated actual knowledge hazardous condition, open obvious. It declined infer such fact Guayaquil vessel's crew present during operation. Even if plastic's improper use apparent court added, then also obvious for could recover. Appeals affirmed. Held: 1. A turnover duty defects stow is narrow. general rule, attaches only would neither nor anticipated skilled competent performance work. Scindia Steam Navigation v. De los Santos, 451 156, 167, 101 1614, 1622, 68 1 Subjecting vessels injuries upset balance Congress careful strike amended Act 1972 shift more responsibility compensating longshoremen stevedores, who best able avoid accidents operations. In addition, absent hazard, place upon obligation inspect discover hazard's existence. Contrary Howlett's submission, however, does require supervise ongoing operations other stevedores handling before arrives port, completed stow, stow. Pp. ____. 2. erred resting judgment ground no hazard leading injury. Some members, might have held positions their attributed vessel, observed being process. court's additional theory unloading may prove faulty, premised state affairs loading, discharge. Of course, entitled since there visible unloading, demonstrate alleged to, by, at discharge port. P. 998 F.2d 1003 (CA 3 1993), vacated remanded. KENNEDY, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. Charles Sovel, Philadelphia, PA, petitioner. Carl D. Buchholz, III, respondent. Justice KENNEDY Under 33 U.S.C. 905(b), duty, hazards, as term defined maritime law, This case us define circumstances area. 2 after grant S.A., we consider facts light most favorable petitioner Howlett. Port Philadelphia while cocoa beans M/V Presidente Ibanez, Birkdale. During operation, three hooked up draft, load, stowed tween deck hold. When ship's boom lifted draft out hold, 8-square-foot area exposed. standing surrounding jumped down about feet deck, where cargo. result his fall, sustained serious disabled him returning work longshoreman. brought Act. Both parties agreed customary lay paper plywood steel protect condensation damage. They that, purposes protecting beans, plastic, tends aggravate damage rather than prevent it. Evidence adduced pretrial proceedings suggested independent engaged deck. Further along material used stowing cargo, including paper, dunnage. claimed jumping did see covered dirt debris. longshoremen-employees 4 Eastern Pennsylvania favor Relying Derr Kawasaki Kisen K.K., 835 490 (CA3 1987), cert. denied, 486 1007, 108 1733, 100 196 (1988), prevail failure-to-warn claim, After reviewing record, concluded failed sufficient sustain claim. reasoning "being supplier necessarily imply intended purpose." App. Pet. Cert. 4a. further members were top And stevedore's crew, continued, "then readily transpires condition" Ibid. affirmed without opinion, judgt. order reported 1993). 5 We certiorari, 510 ----, 114 681, 126 648 (1994), resolve conflict among Circuits regarding scope shipowners' inquiry depends large part nature defects. Compare supra (vessel need benefit later ports), Turner Japan Lines, Ltd., 651 1300 (CA9 1981) foreign operations), 459 967, 103 294, 74 278 (1982). II 6 44 Stat. 1424, amended, 901 et seq., establishes comprehensive federal workers' compensation program provides families medical, disability, survivor benefits work-related death. See generally T. Schoenbaum, Admiralty Maritime Law 6-6 (1987); M. Norris, Personal Injuries §§ 4:11, 4:22-4:29 (4th ed. 1990). longshoreman's employer—in instances, stevedore, Edmonds Compagnie Generale Transatlantique, 443 256, 263-264, 99 2753, 2757-2758, 61 521 (1979)—must pay statutory regardless fault, but shielded any liability 904, 905(a); supra, 4:7-4:10. 7 seek damages third-party negligence action owner injured, do foregoing follows certain procedures. Estate Cowart Nicklos Drilling 505 112 2589, 120 379 (1992). Section relevant part: 8 "In event injury person caused . bring third party ., employer shall liable directly indirectly agreements warranties contrary void. subsection based warranty seaworthiness breach thereof time occurred." 905(b). 9 provision, enacted extensive Amendments effected fundamental changes action. First, abolished pre-existing right sue seaworthiness, established Seas Sieracki, 328 85, 66 872, 90 L.Ed. 1099 (1946). eliminated obligation, imposed Ryan Stevedoring Pan-Atlantic S.S. Corp., 350 124, 76 232, 133 (1956), indemnify shipowner, longshoreman, express implied conduct 165, 1620-1621, (1981); G. Gilmore & C. Black, 6-57, pp. 449-455 (2d 1975). Other sections provided substantial increase receive stevedore-employers. Northeast Marine Terminal Caputo, 432 249, 261-262, 97 2348, 2356, 53 320 (1977); 6-46, p. 411; Note, 13 Tul.Mar.L.J. 163, 163-164 (1988). design these injuries: stevedore-employer. Steam, U.S., 171, S.Ct., 1624. prevented threaten enacting Amendments. 10 question whether produced turns meaning "negligence" 5(b). Because "specify acts omissions constitute negligence," contours "left resolved through 'application accepted principles tort law process litigation.' " Id., 165-166, 1620-1622. 11 starting point regard our decision outlined duties owe longshoremen. first, courts come call relates commencement stevedoring id., 1622. second applicable once begun, areas remain "active control vessel." called "duty intervene," concerns obligations principal stevedore. 167-178, 1622-1623. 12 allegations complaint, proceedings, implicate duty. brief statement Federal Terminals, Inc. Burnside 394 404, 89 1144, 22 371 (1969): "exercise circumstances" turn over appliances "in contractor, mindful dangers expect encounter, arising service otherwise, will care" carry "with safety persons property." 416-417, n. 18, 1151, 18 (internal quotation marks omitted); "of respect equipment," long "are care," "would likely encountered course operations[,] stevedore[,] reasonably work." Ibid., citing 416, 18. Although both components related various respects, confines allegation (as ordinarily case) plywood. Most cases concern itself See, e.g., Bjaranson Botelho Manila, 873 1204 1989) (no handhold coaming ladder); Griffith Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel 610 116 1979) (defective hatch covers), remanded, 965, 2038, 343, reinstated, 657 25 1981), 456 914, 102 1767, 72 173 (1982); Scalafani Moore McCormack Inc., 388 F.Supp. 897 (EDNY) handrail platform linking gangway deck), aff'd 535 1243 (CA2 warn, extend because cause longshoremen, see, Atlantic Gulf Stevedores, Ellerman 369 355, 82 780, 798 (1962); (1956); Clay Lykes Bros. 525 306 (ED La.1981); Etna, 43 303 Pa.1942), thus "hazards ship" attaches. 14 precise due concurrent scheme whole. bears repeating context confined care." Absent then, attach Kirsch Plovidba, 971 1026, 1029 1992) ("[T]he shipowner's hidden implies those dangers"). 15 relying Restatement (Second) Torts 412 (1965), maintains broad. land chattels hires contractor take steps "ascertain chattel safe contractor's completed." argues "a has hired perform aboard ship, make 'reasonable' (not continuous) inspections" conditions Brief 27. 16 decline adopt proposal. initial matter, repeat caveat Restatement's land-based principles, "while irrelevant, furnish sure guidance" 168, 14, On level, contention inspections, operations, contradicts underlying Steam. plaintiff defective winch, intervened repaired winch permitting continue. turned intervene begun. intervene, limited: "[A]bsent contract positive custom contrary," "has way supervision inspection develop within assigned stevedore." 172, 17 rule relieving rests "the justifiable expectations competence operations." Ibid.; Hugev Dampskisaktieselskabet Int'l, 170 601, 609-610 (SD Cal.1959), sub nom. Metropolitan Stevedore 274 875 (CA9), 363 803, 80 1237, 1147 (1960). These derive 41 941, employer, provide "reasonably safe" safeguards necessary injuries. 170, 1623. indemnity decided prior teach [is] position operations" [can] rely competently." 1624, Italia Societa Oregon 376 315, 84 748, 732 (1964); 175, 1626 (safety matter committed first instance"). diminished transferring them vessel. Given legal practical realities trade, imposing board undermine Congress' intent terminate "automatic, faultless defaults stevedore," foreclose "based unseaworthiness nondelegable duty." Agreeing Court, Powell duty—in stevedore-employer's reimbursement payment prevails 269-270, 2760-2762—would "decrease significantly incentives toward injuries." 181, 1629 (concurring opinion); Edmonds, 274, 2763 (BLACKMUN, dissenting). worth noting acceptance operates assignment stevedore-employer six months accepting compensation. 933(b). Were contentions run risk promoting kind collateral litigation between (albeit different guise) consumed intolerable amount costs 411. 19 taken Steam's examination bear well hence us. view inspections ensure proper detect they become hidden. beneficiaries proposed otherwise deal ports. But if, board, little sense impose same subsequent effect, adopting proposal inconsistent standards sets render much holding empty gesture. 20 mitigated somewhat works port undisturbed American call. Foreign requiring laid consideration, support broader settled practice exercises primary details Stevedoring, 322-323, 752-753, given reason believe less true ports domestic 21 That say, detached altogether. responsibility, instance, preparing stowage plan, governs each ship. Sauerbier R. Meurn, Cargo Operations 217-239 1985). expertise implementation plan. To scrutiny operation complete inject themselves into matters beyond province. Williams, Shipowner Liability Improperly Stowed Cargo: Courts Sea Standard Care Owed Off-Loading Longshoremen, 185, 198-199 (1993); contra F.2d, 1304 "can choosing reliable [and] supervising necessary"). eliminate others. 168-169, next completion There good doubt import. Any uncovered inspects would, discovered discussed above, engage assume identify cope 1624; F.Supp., 609-610. Once complete, "at least [stevedore] [shipowner]." 366, 787 (Stewart, recovery failure competence, nothing accomplished enough reject 23 For delineating separate distinct aspects ports, direct access (and over) gear, tools. responsibilities commensurate control, bearing mind, negligence, unseaworthiness, controlling standard concerned. degree operational over, limited comparison. Robertson Tokai Shosen 655 152, 154 Pa.), aff'd, 24 sum, narrow one. Furthermore, encompasses (or handle arrival port) III disposition case. issue Court's reasons granting having charging constructive advanced, correct inquire deck's found undisputed knowledge. At stage cannot conclude rest ground. record permissible inference process, some observe alternate aware faulty well, took injured. 26 All mean judgment. own witnesses stated visible, overcome submissions, assuming contention, addressed explored detail here. think better remand it, address instance points review entire made motion 27 reasons, remanded consistent opinion. 28 ordered. syllabus constitutes prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Lumber 200 321, 337, 282, 287, 50 499.

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