Halcyon Lines et al. v. Haenn Ship Ceiling & Refitting Corp. (342 U.S. 282)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided January 14, 1952 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 342 U.S. 282 · 72 S. Ct. 277
- Decided
- January 14, 1952
- Term
- October Term 1951
- Vote
- 7–2
- Majority author
- Justice Black
- Issue area
- Economic Activity
- Disposition
- Reversed and remanded
- Outcome
- Petitioning party lost
- Ideological direction
- Liberal
Opinion excerpt
Mr. Justice Black delivered the opinion of the Court. Halcyon Lines hired the Haenn Ship Ceiling and Refitting Corporation to make repair's 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 B.accile and paid by Halcyon. Despite Haenn’s protest, the district judge allowed the introduction of evidehce 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…
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