Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States
Wilson v. Pacific Mail Steamship Co.
Wilson v. Pac. Mail S.S. Co., 276 U.S. 454 (1928)
- Type
- Opinion
- Court
- Supreme Court of the United States
- Jurisdiction
- Federal
- Date
- 1928-04-09
- Topic
- general
*459 Mr. Justice McReynolds delivered the opinion of the Court. Twelve miles off the shore of California, 9:53 A. M., November 29, 1922, sky clear, sea smooth and uninterrupted, the Newport, an iron passenger steamer 337 feet long — 2,643 tons — drove her prow amidships into the port side of the Svea, a wooden lumber steam schooner of 618 tons and 170 feet long. Both vessels were seriously injured.
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WILSONv. PACIFIC S.S. CO.,276 U.S. 454(1928)
48 S.Ct. 369
WILSON ET AL.v. PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY ET AL.
PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY ET AL.v. WILSON ET AL.
CERTIORARI TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT.
Nos. 146 and 173.
Argued January 6, 1928.
Decided April 9, 1928.
CERTIORARI,273 U.S. 686,690, to a decree of the Circuit
Court of Appeals which reversed one by the District Court in
libel proceedings growing out of a collision at sea. The District
Court held the Newport and her master liable and exonerated the
Svea. The Circuit Court of Appeals held both ships at fault and
the master of the Newport also liable.
Both vessels have distinct legal obligations; neither the one nor the other is privileged in any proper sense. That this view is the correct one appears from the language of the rule itself: "shall keep her course and speed." This is as imperative a duty as the duty of the other vessel, that it "shall keep out of the way."The Delaware,161 U.S. 459;The Orduna, 14 Asp. 574;The Haida, 191 F. 623.Page 456
Any distinct indication that theNewportwas about to fail in her duty to avoid theSveabeing absent, theSveawas not in fault under theDelaware casefor maintaining her course and speed until the vessels werein extremis.
Under the settled law, theNewport, being admittedly at fault, assumed the burden of showing beyond any doubt that some fault of the Svea contributed to the collision.The City of NewYork,147 U.S. 72;The Victory The Plymothian,168 U.S. 410.
The record fails to show that the master was free from negligence. It contains affirmative evidence of his negligence. It fails to identify the admitted fault of the ship with any negligence of the subordinate.
The courts below have made no finding that the evidence. absolves the master from personal negligence.
Cross-petitioners' petition having been presented on a moot question, the writ of certiorari was improvidently granted, and should be dismissed.Furness Co. v.Insurance Ass'n,242 U.S. 430;Southern Power Co. v.Public Service Co.,263 U.S. 508.
The master of a ship is legally liable for the negligence of a subordinate to whom he delegates the function of navigating the ship on the high seas. The reason for the rule is stronger under modern conditions.Mr. Farnham P. Griffiths, with whomMessrs. Edward J.McCutchenandWarren Olney, Jr., were on the brief, for respondents in No. 146 and cross-petitioners in No. 173.
The rule requiring the privileged vessel on crossing courses to hold course and speed (Article 21) is not unqualified, but is subject to the provisions of the note to Article 21, the general prudential rule (Article 27) and the rule of good seamanship (Article 29), under which, in special circumstances, the privileged vessel must depart from her primary duty in order to avoid immediate danger of collision.Page 457
These rules, by their very terms, qualify all the other rules, thus recognizing and enforcing the doctrine of this Court that "every navigator ought to know that rules of navigation are ordained, not to promote collisions, but to save life and property by preventing such disasters."The Sunnyside,91 U.S. 208;The New York,175 U.S. 187;The America,92 U.S. 432.
The lower federal courts have repeatedly called attention to the qualification under special circumstances of the primary rules.La Lorraine,12 F.2d 436;The Admiral Watson, 266 F. 122;The George S. Tice, 287 F. 127;The Senator Rice, 223 F. 524;The Devonian, 110 F. 588;The Southern, 224 F. 210;The Jason, 288 F. 57;The Non Pareille, 33 F. 524;The Aurania and The Republic, 29 F. 98.
A case of special circumstances arises and the privileged vessel must depart from her primary duty and take affirmative action to avert collision if she receive distinct indication that the giving way vessel is about to fail in her duty.TheDelaware,161 U.S. 459;The New York,175 U.S. 182;TheSunnyside,91 U.S. 208.
In a collision, occurring as this did, on the open ocean with perfect visibility and nothing to obstruct navigation, there is a presumption of mutual fault, and the vessel (Svea) seeking to be excused, must exonerate herself by the clearest evidence.TheCity of New York,147 U.S. 72;The Victory and The Plymothian,168 U.S. 410;The Binghamton, 271 F. 69;The Tasmania, 6 Asp. 517.
The courts have repeatedly stated that collisions of this character seem impossible without the concurring negligence of both sets of navigators; that it is hardly possible that the stupidity or obstinacy of a single master can produce them; and that both vessels will be deemedprima facienegligent and neither exonerated unless "upon the closest scrutiny of the navigation of each vessel it can be discovered that one of them was free from all culpablePage 458blame."The Tenadores, 298 F. 740;The Senator Rice, 223 F. 524;The Coamo, 280 F. 282;Insurance Ass'nv.Furness Co., 215 F. 859;The Comus,19 F.2d 774;TheWest Hartland,2 F.2d 834;The Tasmania, supra. See also David Wright Smith, in The Law Relating to the Rules of the Road at Sea.
Apart from presumption, theSveareceived distinct indication that theNewportwas not going to give way. The combination of an apparently deserted bridge, three successively unacknowledged whistle signals, two of them danger blasts, and an unchanging course of a vessel whose unquestionable duty it was to give way, seem to us as powerful a grouping of indications that the burdened vessel was failing in her duty as one could put together.The Senator Rice, 223 F. 524;The Tenadores, 298 F. 740;The New York,175 U.S. 187;The Sunnyside,91 U.S. 208;Nautikv.Oostvoorne, 6 Lloyds List 110;The Coamo, 280 F. 282;The Jason, 288 F. 57;The George S. Tice, 287 F. 127;The Devonian, 110 F. 588.
Having received distinct indication, theSveawas at fault for not acting.City of Corinthv.Tasmania, 15 A.C. 223;The Zampa, 113 F. 541;The Charles A. Campbell, 142 F. 996;The Queen Elizabeth, 122 F. 406;The Shawmut, 261 F. 616;The Montauk, 180 F. 697.
The time for action by theSveawas when there was room for her to act effectively so as to avert the threatened collision by her action alone.The Delaware,161 U.S. 459;The Lepanto, 21 F. 651;The Aurania, 29 F. 98;The Normandie, 43 F. 151.
The ruling that the master of a vessel, although not personally negligent, is legally liable for the torts of his subordinates, is in conflict with the established doctrine ofrespondeat superior. Stonev.Cartwright, 6 Term. Rep. (Durn East 411);Brown Sons Lumber Co. v.Page 459Sessler,128 Tenn. 665; American Annotated Cases, 1915, c. 103; Mechem's Agency, 2d Ed. § 1643.
The authorities relative to the liability of a shipmaster for the torts of subordinates are in conflict. Those holding him liable, although free from personal fault, are based either upon fallacious reasoning or upon a misconception of previous authorities.
Even if there once were a possible basis for holding a shipmaster liable for the negligent acts of his subordinates, the reason for such harsh doctrine has ceased to exist and the rule should no longer be applied.
The trial court concluded that the collision resulted solely from the gross negligence and plain fault of theNewport, and granted a decree against her and the master — McKinnon — for all established damages. The Circuit Court of Appeals held there was mutual fault, divided the damages, and definitely declared that under the approved rule the master was responsible for the negligencePage 460of subordinates without regard to his personal fault.
Counsel for cross-petitioner McKinnon earnestly maintain that, considering present conditions of navigation, the master, when free from fault, ought not to be held liable for the action of others. But it is unnecessary now to discuss that question.
Here the record fails to disclose that the master met the exacting duties voluntarily assumed. An amazing casualty occurred while he commanded and presumably, at least, he participated in the admitted fault of his ship. Certainly, nothing short of very clear evidence of intelligent care could possibly absolve him.
The day was fine; the horizon ten miles away. TheNewportwas proceeding eastward at nine knots with theSveaoff her starboard side steaming northward at eight knots. They were approaching each other upon crossing courses and in full view for more than half an hour. Twenty minutes before the collision Captain McKinnon quit the bridge of theNewport, leaving the third officer in charge. Of this subordinate he testified: "This young man was just keeping his first watch on ship; he just shipped the day before, and was making his first voyage." When upon the witness stand, the Captain failed to show what, if any, directions he gave, or that he took reasonable precaution to insure proper navigation in circumstances of obvious danger. He gave no excuse, nor did he indicate any necessity for leaving the bridge. It is impossible for us to say that he acted prudently.
The International Rules for Navigation at Sea (Act 1890, ch. 802,26 Stat. 327, Act 1894, ch. 83,28 Stat. 82; U.S.C. Title 33, §§ 104, 106, 112, 121, p. 1055) direct —
"Art. 19. When two steam vessels are crossing, so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other onPage 461her own starboard side shall keep out of the way of the other.
"Art. 21. Where, by any of these rules, one of two vessels is to keep out of the way the other shall keep her course and speed.
"Note. — When, in consequence of thick weather or other causes, such vessel finds herself so close that collision can not be avoided by the action of the giving-away vessel alone, she also shall take such action as will best aid to avert collision.
"Art. 27. In obeying and construing these rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision, and to any special circumstances which may render a departure from the above rules necessary in order to avoid immediate danger.
"Art. 29. Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner or master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to carry lights or signals, or of any neglect to keep a proper lookout, or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case."
TheNewportkept her course and speed up to the moment of collision and it is admitted that in so doing she was at fault. But her counsel claim that theSveaalso was at fault in holding her course and speed and that by acting differently she should have avoided the accident. The evidence does not support that view. Consideration must be given to the circumstances as they appeared at the time; not as they are now known. TheSveaadhered to the fundamental rule. If in the difficult circumstances forced upon him her navigator, whose qualifications are not questioned, exercised his best judgment in not departing therefrom, the burdened vessel must accept the consequences. Having driven him into a perplexingPage 462situation, theNewportcannot complain because he failed to make the most judicious choice between the hazards presented.
Without stopping to set out the evidence, it is enough to say that we think there is no clear proof that theSveafailed in her duty. She tried in vain by repeated blasts to ascertain theNewport'sintention. Her master could not possibly know the result of departing from the prescribed rule, and we cannot say that he acted indiscreetly in following it.
Big vessels may not insolently disregard smaller ones; super size gives no right to domineer. TheNewportwas a handy vessel. By porting her helm or reversing her engines two minutes or less before the collision occurred she could have avoided it easily. There was nothing to show that she would not do one of these things until too late for theSvea'smaster to maneuver his vessel into safety.
The applicable doctrine is plainly announced inTheDelaware,161 U.S. 459,469—
"The cases ofThe Britannia,153 U.S. 130, andTheNorthfield,154 U.S. 629, must be regarded, however, as settling the law that the preferred steamer will not be held in fault for maintaining her course and speed, so long as it is possible for the other to avoid her by porting, at least in the absence of somedistinct indicationthat she is about to fail in her duty. If the master of the preferred steamer were at liberty to speculate upon the possibility, or even of the probability, of the approaching steamer failing to do her duty and keep out of his way; the certainty that the former will hold his course, upon which the latter has a right to rely, and which it is the very object of the rule to insure, would give place to doubts on the part of the master of the obligated steamer as to whether he would do so or not, and produce a timidity and feebleness ofPage 463action on the part of both, which would bring about more collisions than it would prevent.Beldenv.Chase,150 U.S. 674;The Highgate, 62 L.T.R. 841; S.C. 6 Asp. Mar. Law Cases, 512."
The decree of the Circuit Court of Appeals in 146 is reversed and that of the District Court is affirmed. In 173 the decree of the Circuit Court of Appeals is affirmed.No. 146, reversed.No. 173, affirmed.