Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States

Halcyon Lines v. Haenn Ship Ceiling & Refitting Corp.

342 U.S. 282

Type
Opinion
Court
Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction
Federal
Date
1952-01-14
Topic
general

How later courts describe this case

  • declining to fashion a rule of contribution among joint tort feasors in the heavily regulated area of maritime personal injuries
  • refusing to create right to maritime contribution and concluding that “the solution of this problem should await congressional action”
  • declining to fashion a rule of contribution among joint tortfeasors in the heavily regulated area of maritime personal injuries
  • ordering remand where defendant sought removal 23
  • of unlawful detainer action based on the statute of frauds and 18 U.S.C. § 1001
  • relying on Halcyon Lines to deny contribution under federal anti-trust laws
  • Court refuses to fashion right to maritime contribution in noncollision cases, concluding that "the solution of this problem should await congressional action"
  • shipowner responsible for 25% of negligence required to pay 100% of damages, and contribution unavailable from negligent shoreside contractor, an employer under the Act

Citator

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Cited by
414 opinions
HALCYON LINESv. HAENN SHIP CORP.,342 U.S. 282(1952)
72 S.Ct. 277
HALCYON LINES ET AL.v. HAENN SHIP CEILING REFITTING CORP.
CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT.fn*
No. 62.
Argued November 27, 1951.
Decided January 14, 1952.
An employee of a shoreside contractor engaged by a shipowner to repair a ship moored in navigable waters was injured aboard the ship while engaged in making repairs. His injuries did not result from a collision. Alleging that they were caused by the shipowner's negligence and the unseaworthiness of the ship, he sued the shipowner for damages. Claiming that the contractor's negligence had contributed to the injuries, the shipowner brought in the contractor as a third-party defendant and urged that it be required to make contribution.Held:The contribution proceedings against the contractor should be dismissed. Pp. 283-287.
(a) There is no established right to contribution between joint tortfeasors in such non-collision, maritime, injury cases. P. 284.
(b) Since Congress has enacted much legislation in the field of maritime injuries and has not approved such a rule of contribution between joint tortfeasors, it would be inappropriate for this Court to do so. Pp. 285-287.
187 F.2d 403, reversed and remanded.
The case is stated in the opinion.Reversed and remanded,
p. 287.
Joseph W. Hendersonargued the cause for the Halcyon Lines et al. With him on the briefs wereThomas F.MountandGeorge M. Brodhead.Thomas E. Byrne, Jr. argued the cause for the Haenn Ship Ceiling Refitting Corporation. With him on the briefs wasJohn B. Shaw.Page 283
MR. JUSTICE BLACK delivered the opinion of the Court.
Halcyon Lines1hired the Haenn Ship Ceiling and Refitting Corporation2to make repairs on Halcyon's ship which was moored in navigable waters. Salvador Baccile, an employee of Haenn, was injured aboard ship while engaged in making these repairs. Alleging that his injuries were caused by Halcyon's negligence and the unseaworthiness of its vessel, he brought this action for damages against Halcyon in the United States District Court. On the ground that Haenn's negligence had contributed to the injuries, Halcyon brought Haenn in as a third-party defendant. By agreement of all parties, a $65,000 judgment was rendered for Baccile and paid by Halcyon. Despite Haenn's protest, the district judge allowed the introduction of evidence tending to show the relative degree of fault of the two parties. On this evidence the jury returned a special verdict finding Haenn 75% and Halcyon 25% responsible. The district judge refused to follow this jury determination and entered judgment in accordance with his conclusion that there was a general rule governing maritime torts such as this under which each joint tortfeasor must pay half the damages.89 F. Supp. 765. The Court of Appeals agreed that a right of contribution existed in this case but held that it could not exceed the amount Haenn would have been compelled to pay Baccile had he elected to claim compensation under the Longshoremen's and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act,44 Stat. 1424,33 U.S.C. § 901et seq.187 F.2d 403. We granted certiorari because of the conflicting views taken by the circuits as toPage 284the existence of and the extent to which contribution can be obtained in cases such as this.3342 U.S. 809.

Where two vessels collide due to the fault of both, it is established admiralty doctrine that the mutual wrongdoers shall share equally the damages sustained by each, as well as personal injury and property damage inflicted on innocent third parties. This maritime rule is of ancient origin and has been applied in many cases,4but this Court has never expressly applied it to non-collision cases.5Halcyon now urges us to extend it to non-collision cases and to allow a contribution here based upon the relative degree of fault of Halcyon and Haenn as found by the jury. Haenn urges us to hold that there is no right of contribution, or in the alternative, that the right be based upon an equal division of all damages. Both parties claim that the decision below limiting an employer's liability for contribution to those uncertain amounts recoverable under the Harbor Workers' Act is impractical and undesirable.Page 285

In the absence of legislation, courts exercising a common-law jurisdiction have generally held that they cannot on their own initiative create an enforceable right of contribution as between joint tortfeasors.6This judicial attitude has provoked protest on the ground that it is inequitable to compel one tortfeasor to bear the entire burden of a loss which has been caused in part by the negligence of someone else.7Others have defended the policy of common-law courts in refusing to fashion rules of contribution.8To some extent courts exercising jurisdiction in maritime affairs have felt freer than common-law courts in fashioning rules,9and we would feel free to do so here if wholly convinced that it would best serve the ends of justice.

We have concluded that it would be unwise to attempt to fashion new judicial rules of contribution and that the solution of this problem should await congressional action. Congress has already enacted much legislation in the area of maritime personal injuries.10For example, under the Harbor Workers' Act Congress has made fault unimportant in determining the employer's responsibility to his employee; Congress has made further inroads onPage 286traditional court law by abolition of the defenses of contributory negligence and assumption of risk and by the creation of a statutory schedule of compensation. The Harbor Workers' Act in turn must be integrated with other acts such as the Jones Act (41 Stat. 1007, 46 U.S.C. § 688), the Public Vessels Act (43 Stat. 1112, 46 U.S.C. § 781-790), the Limited Liability Act (R. S. § 4281, as amended, 46 U.S.C. § 181et seq.) and the Harter Act (27 Stat. 445, 46 U.S.C. § 190-195). Many groups of persons with varying interests are vitally concerned with the proper functioning and administration of all these Acts as an integrated whole. We think that legislative consideration and action can best bring about a fair accommodation of the diverse but related interests of these groups. The legislative process is peculiarly adapted to determine which of the many possible solutions to this problem would be most beneficial in the long run. A legislative inquiry might show that neither carriers, shippers, employees, nor casualty insurance companies desire such a change to be made. The record before us is silent as to the wishes of employees, carriers, and shippers; it only shows that the Halcyon Line is in favor of such a change in order to relieve itself of a part of its burden in this particular lawsuit. Apparently insurance companies are opposed to such a change.11Should a legislative inquiry convince Congress that a right to contribution among joint tortfeasors is desirable, there would still be much doubt as to whether application of the rule or the amount of contribution should be limited by the Harbor Workers' Act,12or should be based on an equal divisionPage 287of damages, or should be relatively apportioned in accordance with the degree of fault of the parties.

In view of the foregoing, and because Congress while acting in the field has stopped short of approving the rule of contribution here urged, we think it would be inappropriate for us to do so. The judgments of the Court of Appeals are reversed and the cause is remanded to the District Court with instructions to dismiss the contribution proceedings against Haenn.It is so ordered.

MR. JUSTICE REED and MR. JUSTICE BURTON would reverse with directions to the District Court to allow contributions equal to fifty per cent of the judgment recovered by Baccile against Halcyon.Page 288
  1. Page 282 Together with No. 197,Haenn Ship Ceiling Refitting Corp. v.Halcyon Lines et al.,also on certiorari to the same court. ↩
  2. Page 283 Halcyon Lines refers to Halcyon Lines and Vinke Co., two corporate joint owners and operators of the ship here involved. Halcyon is petitioner in No. 62 and the respondent in No. 197. ↩
  3. Page 283 Haenn is the petitioner in No. 197 and the respondent in No. 62. ↩
  4. Page 284American Mutual Insurance Co. v.Matthews,182 F.2d 322;United Statesv.Rothschild International Stevedoring Co.,183 F.2d 181. See alsoSlatteryv.Marra Bros., Inc.,186 F.2d 134;Spauldingv.Parry Navigation Co.,187 F.2d 257;Hitafferv.Argonne Co., 87 U.S.App.D.C. 57,183 F.2d 811. ↩
  5. Page 284The North Star,106 U.S. 17,21, traces the doctrine back to the Rules of Oleron and the laws of Wisbuy. See also,The Washington, 9 Wall. 513;The Alabama,92 U.S. 695;The Atlas,93 U.S. 302;The Chattahoochee,173 U.S. 540,551-555. ↩
  6. Page 284American Stevedores, Inc. v.Porello,330 U.S. 446, recognized that some lower federal courts had applied the equal-division rule of contribution in non-collision cases. The opinion in that case implied that on remand and under certain contingencies the district court would "be free to adjudge the responsibility of the parties" in accordance with the contribution rule announced by the lower federal courts. That statement was only incidental as compared to the important questions there decided and cannot be taken as foreclosing a full consideration and determination of the issue which is now directly presented and crucial to our decision. ↩
  7. Page 285Union Stock Yards Co. v.Chicago, B. Q. R. Co.,196 U.S. 217,224. And see cases collected in 3 A. L. R. Digest, pp. 864-866, and in Prosser on Torts (1941), p. 1113. ↩
  8. Page 285 Seee. g., Gregory, Contribution Among Joint Tortfeasors: A Defense, 54 Harv. L. Rev. 1170. ↩
  9. Page 285George's Radio, Inc. v.Capital Transit Co., 75 U.S.App.D.C. 187, 191,126 F.2d 219,223, dissenting opinion. See also James, Contribution Among Joint Tortfeasors: A Pragmatic Criticism, 54 Harv. L. Rev. 1156. ↩
  10. Page 285Swift Co. v.Compania Colombiana del Caribe,339 U.S. 684,690,691. CompareThe Lottawanna, 21 Wall. 558. ↩
  11. Page 285 Seee. g., The Jones Act (41 Stat. 1007, 46 U.S.C. § 688), the Public Vessels Act (43 Stat. 1112, 46 U.S.C. § 781-790), and the Longshoremen's and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (44 Stat. 1424,33 U.S.C. § 901et seq.). ↩
  12. Page 286 Gregory,supra, n. 7, p. 1177. James,supra, n. 8, pp. 1179-1180. ↩
  13. Page 286 Section 5 of the Act provides that "The liability of an employer prescribed in section 4 shall be exclusive and in place of all other liability of such employer to the employee, his legal representative, husband or wife, parents, dependents, next of kin, and anyone otherwise entitled to recover damages from such employer at law or in Page 287 admiralty on account of such injury or death, . . . ." Haenn argues that this section provides the employer's exclusive liability thereby preventing a third party from having any right of contribution against an employer under the Act in cases where the joint negligence of a third party and the employer injure an employee covered by the Act. We find it unnecessary to decide this question which is treated by the cases cited in n. 3,supra. ↩