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Ferguson v. Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc.

352 U.S. 521 (1957)

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Ferguson v. Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc.

United States Supreme Court
352 U.S. 521 (1957)

AR

Facts

Ferguson (plaintiff) was injured while working as a baker on a vessel owned by Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc. (Moore-McCormack) (defendant). Specifically, Ferguson cut off two fingers while trying to answer a waiter’s request by scooping frozen ice cream with a butcher knife. The ice cream was frozen particularly hard because it had been kept in deep freeze. Ferguson had been told to give waiters prompt service, so he had grabbed the only possible tool at hand. Ferguson sued Moore-McCormack, claiming Moore-McCormack was negligent under the Jones Act for failing to provide Ferguson with the proper tool to remove the frozen ice cream. The court ruled in Ferguson’s favor, and Moore-McCormack appealed. The court of appeals reversed, holding that it was not within the realm of reasonable foreseeability for Ferguson to try to scoop frozen ice cream with a butcher knife. Ferguson appealed to the United States Supreme Court, arguing that Ferguson had provided enough evidence for a jury to decide whether Moore-McCormack was negligent. The Supreme Court granted certiorari.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Douglas, J.)

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