Dresser Industries, Inc. v. Webb

Background

A ship’s captain was anchored in Seward, Alaska, and left the vessel with two crew members to pick up the ship’s provisions at a local bus station in January. Walking conditions were icy and hazardous. While checking supplies being loaded into a truck at the bus stop, the captain slipped and fell and suffered injuries. He sued, claiming that the company that operated the ship failed to provide special safety boots or shoes, which he said denied him a safe place to work and made the vessel unseaworthy. A District Court awarded him $40,000, and the Court of Appeals affirmed, sending the case back only to decide whether that award should be reduced because of the captain’s own negligence.

Reasoning

The main question was whether the failure to supply special safety footwear made the vessel unsafe and entitled the captain to damages. The Supreme Court declined to take the case, leaving the lower-court judgment in place and the remand order about possible reduction for contributory negligence unresolved. Because the Court denied review, there is no new Supreme Court ruling explaining or changing the legal rule in this opinion text.

Real world impact

The immediate effect is that the $40,000 award stands for now, subject only to whatever reduction the lower court later decides for the captain’s own fault. The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the case means the issue was not resolved at the highest level, so rules about safety boots and unseaworthiness remain defined by the lower courts in this case, not by a new national ruling. This outcome is not a final, nationwide decision and could change if the Court later hears a similar case.

Dissents or concurrances

Justice Powell, joined by the Chief Justice, dissented from the denial and would reverse, saying the doctrine of "seaworthiness" has been extended beyond all reason. Justice Blackmun said he would have granted review and scheduled oral argument.