Court Opinion

ID: 9463940
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 23:20:55.826871+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:38:22.584038
License: Public Domain

HALL, Circuit Judge,
dissenting:
Respectfully, I dissent. It appears that the majority opinion is based upon principles of justice, equity, and fairness, instead of the provisions of the Act. The district court was correct in entering judgment for the plaintiff against the vessel owner only for the entire sum of $90,000 because the 1972 amendments to the Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, 33 U.S.C. § 901, et seq. (especially 33 U.S.C. § 905(b) are clear and require this result. Even if the present rule is arguably a harsh one, the change should come from Congress, not the courts. See Marant v. Farrell Lines, Inc., 550 F.2d 142 151-152 (3rd Cir. 1977, Van Dusen concurring).
Under the Act, as amended, the ship is to bear the entire responsibility for both its liability and that of the stevedore-employer. I would, therefore, affirm. Dodge v. Mitsui Shintaku Ginko, 528 F.2d 669 (9th Cir. 1975), cert. denied, 425 U.S. 944, 96 S.Ct. 1685, 48 L.Ed.2d 188 (1976); Shellman v. United States Lines, Inc., 528 F.2d 675 (9th Cir. 1975), cert. denied, 425 U.S. 936, 96 S.Ct. 1668, 48 L.Ed.2d 177 (1976); Marant v. Farrell Lines, Inc., supra, (dicta-Van Dusen concurring).