Gillespie v. United States Steel Corp.

379 U.S. 148 (1964)

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Gillespie v. United States Steel Corp.

United States Supreme Court
379 U.S. 148 (1964)

SC

Facts

Daniel Gillespie was killed on the job while working on a ship of the United States Steel Corp. (USSC) (defendant). Mrs. Gillespie (plaintiff), Daniel’s mother and administratrix of his estate, brought suit to recover damages under the federal Jones Act, the Ohio state wrongful death act, and for pain and suffering Daniel encountered before he died. The suit also claimed recovery for Daniel’s dependent brothers and sisters under the Jones Act. On USSC’s motion, the district court ruled that the Jones Act provided the exclusive remedy for Daniel’s death and struck the parts of the suit that were based on the Ohio wrongful death act, as well as all references to recovery on behalf of Daniel’s siblings. Mrs. Gillespie immediately appealed the ruling. USSC filed a motion to dismiss the appeal on the grounds that the district court’s ruling was not a final decision and thus was not appealable. The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held that the district court’s order was appealable. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Black, J.)

Dissent (Harlan, J.)

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