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Seas Shipping Co. v. Sieracki

United States Supreme Court
328 U.S. 85 (1946)

Written by Daniel Clark, JD

Facts

Mr. Sieracki (plaintiff) was an employee of a stevedoring company. That company contracted with Seas Shipping Company, Inc. (Seas) (defendant) to help load Seas’ ship. Sieracki was operating a winch on board when a shackle snapped, causing a 10-ton boom to fall on him. Sieracki suffered injuries and filed an unseaworthiness claim in admiralty law against Seas to recover. The district court found that Seas was not negligent as to the equipment’s failure. The court of appeals held that Sieracki should recover for the ship’s unseaworthiness, even though he was not an employee of Seas. Seas appealed to the United States Supreme Court.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Rutledge, J.)

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