Civil v. Waterman Steamship Corporation

• Decision Date: 12 November 1954
• Docket Number: No. 92,Docket 23147.,92
• Citation: 217 F.2d 94
• Parties: Elise CIVIL, as Administratrix of the goods, chattels and credits of Alphonse Syville, deceased, Libelant-Appellant, and Anne Syville, as General Guardian of Alphonse Syville, Jr., Marlene Syville, Agnes Syville, Mary Syville and Shawn Syville, Co-Libelant-Appellee, v. WATERMAN STEAMSHIP CORPORATION, Respondent-Appellant,
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Second Circuit

217 F.2d 94 (1954)

Elise CIVIL, as Administratrix of the goods, chattels and credits of Alphonse Syville, deceased, Libelant-Appellant, and Anne Syville, as General Guardian of Alphonse Syville, Jr., Marlene Syville, Agnes Syville, Mary Syville and Shawn Syville, Co-Libelant-Appellee, v. WATERMAN STEAMSHIP CORPORATION, Respondent-Appellant,

No. 92, Docket 23147.

United States Court of Appeals Second Circuit.

Argued October 6, 8, 1954.

Decided November 12, 1954.

COPYRIGHT MATERIAL OMITTED

Edward B. Eliezer, New York City, for libelant-appellant.

Herman B. Gerringer, New York City (Jesse L. Rosenberg and Jacquin Frank, New York City, on the brief), for colibelant-appellee.

Edward J. Behrens, New York City (Gay & Behrens, Charles H. Lawson, James A. Hageman, and Mack Kreindler, New York City, on the brief), for respondent-appellant.

Before CLARK, Chief Judge, and L. HAND and FRANK, Circuit Judges.

CLARK, Chief Judge.

Respondent, Waterman Steamship Corporation, appeals from an award under the Jones Act, 46 U.S.C. § 688, and the Death on the High Seas Act, 46 U.S.C. § 761, for the wrongful death of a seaman employed on one of respondent's ships. Alphonse Syville, second cook on the S. S. Kyska, was fatally stabbed on December 10, 1946, by Alfred H. Williams, the chief cook, after an altercation concerning the caliber of Syville's culinary abilities. Alphonse died soon thereafter and the present suit was commenced as a civil action under the Jones Act by Anne Syville, as his lawful widow, on the basis of letters of administration issued by the New York Surrogate's Court. Before the case could be heard, Anne's letters of administration were revoked at the instance of Elise Civil, a prior wife, who was substituted as administratrix. Thereupon notwithstanding objections by respondent, the action was transferred to the admiralty docket and still later Elise was brought in as libelant. After trial in the admiralty Judge Conger made awards of $5,000 for Elise and $14,671 for Anne as guardian of Syville's five children. On this appeal respondent attacks the procedural steps leading to the trial, the substantive theory upon which recovery was based, and the amount and apportionment of the damages. An appeal by Elise from a part of the division of the damages has now been withdrawn.

Respondent's first assignment of error is to the transfer of the case to admiralty and the addition of a second count under the Death on the High Seas Act. In seeking this amendment, Anne's counsel stated his belief that she had these two claims and did not wish to make election between them before trial and that he understood a claim was to be made that Anne was not the lawful wife and her children were not legitimate and not entitled to a recovery under the Jones Act. Respondent's opposing affidavit did so claim and objected to Anne's raising of the issue in such a "roundabout fashion" and requiring "the defendant to defend an admiralty suit under the Death on the High Seas Act without the service of process." Judge Leibell nevertheless granted the application, citing Batkiewicz v. Seas Shipping Co., D.C.S.D.N.Y., 53 F.Supp. 802, which holds that a claimant has just such an option, and The Four Sisters, D.C.Mass., 75 F.Supp. 399, which holds that recovery under one act, being for a different set of beneficiaries, does not bar recovery under the other. At the opening of the trial, respondent renewed its objections, claiming also that the court had no jurisdiction to proceed in admiralty for a death action under the Jones Act, that the original "election to proceed at law" could not be changed, and that the lawful widow was deprived of trial by jury. At this time Elise had an action pending under the Jones Act in the state court of New York, and her attorney joined in the objection — although now she expressly waives it or any claim for a jury trial. Judge Conger adhered to the earlier ruling made by Judge Leibell.

Quite obviously respondent cannot press a claim for jury trial for the benefit of the wife. The libelant under the Jones Act is the one who has the choice of forum and of jury trial, and no one else can change or remove the action elsewhere. Pate v. Standard Dredging Corp., 5 Cir., 193 F.2d 498, 500; 46 U.S.C. § 688, incorporating 45 U.S.C. § 56 and 28 U.S.C. § 1445(b); 1 Benedict on Admiralty 44, 45 (6th Ed.1940), 4 id. 199-201; Robinson on Admiralty 338-340 (1939); Willock, Commentary on Maritime Workers, 46 U.S.C.A. preceding § 688. Even if, contrary to the implication of The Four Sisters, supra, D.C.Mass., 75 F.Supp. 399, an election be required, there is nothing to force an early election upon the claimant, so at variance with the spirit of modern pleading and its liberality of amendment, Clark on Code Pleading 493, 498 (2d Ed.1947), with authorities there cited; and we have always allowed a quite free interchange between admiralty and law, indeed holding jury trial to be waived if not claimed before the interchange. See, e. g., United States ex rel. Pressprich & Son Co. v. James W. Elwell & Co., 2 Cir., 250 F. 939, certiorari denied 248 U.S. 564, 39 S.Ct. 8, 63 L.Ed. 423; James Richardson & Sons v. Conners Marine Co., 2 Cir., 141 F.2d 226, 230 note 2; United States v. The John R. Williams, 2 Cir., 144 F.2d 451, 454, certiorari denied Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. v. United States, 323 U.S. 782, 65 S.Ct. 271, 89 L.Ed. 625. Under F.R. 38(b) and (d), 28 U.S.C., the right of jury trial is personal to the litigant, who may waive it by his action or nonaction. Gulbenkian v. Gulbenkian, 2 Cir., 147 F.2d 173, 158 A.L.R. 990; Fidelity & Deposit Co. of Md. v. Krout, 2 Cir., 157 F.2d 912, 914; Alcoa S. S. Co. v. Ryan, 2 Cir., 211 F.2d 576, 578. And it is clear that recognition of any such claim as respondent makes would impinge on both this principle and the statutory options given the seaman or his representatives. Respondent vigorously asserts that it has "a fundamental right in litigation not to be placed in a position where it can only lose the lawsuit and cannot possibly prevail." The only meaning we can find in this is a protest that such an option to the widow to decline a procedural benefit when she sees she does not need it is unfair; but of course such an option is not at all unusual in the law. Thus cf. Untersinger v. United States, 2 Cir., 172 F.2d 298, and 2 Moore's Federal Practice ¶ 12.12 (2d Ed.1948) on venue or jurisdiction over the person.

The other procedural error assigned is as to the order of Judge Coxe accepted by Judge Conger requiring Elise to prosecute this claim as libelant and giving Anne the status of co-libelant as general guardian for the protection of her children. Judge Coxe took this action because of the evident antagonism between Anne and Elise and to protect the rights of the infant children. Syville v. Waterman S. S. Corp., D.C. S.D.N.Y., 84 F.Supp. 718, 719. He justified the retention of Anne as a party under Local Admiralty Rule 18 of the Southern District, now Local Admiralty Rule 15, providing for the adding of parties upon a change of interest among the parties to the suit. And he supported his ruling also naming the children under Local Admiralty Rule 15, now Rule 12, providing for the joinder as co-libelants of persons entitled to participate in the recovery.

There is considerable doubt whether this action was correct, since only the personal representative, and not the beneficiary, has the right to sue under both the acts here in issue. See American R. Co. of Porto Rico v. Birch, 224 U.S. 547, 32 S.Ct. 603, 56 L.Ed. 879. But it is difficult to see how any error in this regard could have prejudiced respondent; indeed, under the ruling of The Four Sisters, supra, D.C. Mass., 75 F.Supp. 399, it seems a positive advantage to it to have all interests clearly represented and taken care of in this one action. In any event, no matter who prosecuted the libel, the administratrix was bound as fiduciary to represent all and to prosecute the claims of all possible beneficiaries as defined under the acts. In view of the similarity of statutory language (compare 46 U.S.C. § 761 with 45 U.S.C. § 59, incorporated by reference in 46 U.S.C. § 688), the right of illegitimate children to qualify as beneficiaries extends to the Jones Act as well as to the Death on the High Seas Act. Middleton v. Luckenbach S. S. Co., 2 Cir., 70 F.2d 326, certiorari denied Luckenbach S. S. Co. v. Middleton, 293 U.S. 577, 55 S.Ct. 89, 79 L.Ed. 674.

We turn, therefore, to the substantive aspects of the case. The district court held the respondent liable for the knifing on the theory that the assailant Williams was acting as an agent within the scope of his authority. A shipowner is liable for acts of discipline carried out in the discharge of official duties and in the furtherance of the employer's business. Jamison v. Encarnacion, 281 U.S. 635, 50 S.Ct. 440, 74 L.Ed. 1082; Alpha S. S. Corp. v. Cain, 281 U.S. 642, 50 S.Ct. 443, 74 L.Ed. 1086; Nelson v. American-West African Line, 2 Cir., 86 F.2d 730, certiorari denied American-West African Line v. Nelson, 300 U.S. 665, 57 S.Ct. 509, 81 L.Ed. 873; Brailas v. Shepard S. S. Co., 2 Cir., 152 F.2d 849, certiorari denied 327 U.S. 807, 66 S.Ct. 970, 90 L.Ed. 1032; Pittsburgh S. S. Co. v. Scott, 6 Cir., 159 F.2d 373. There was ample evidence that this assault was disciplinary in nature. Williams himself testified that as Syville's superior officer he had complained only of Syville's culinary work and of his failure to attend a boat drill. He explicitly negated any personal animus between himself and Syville. Other crew members testified that shortly after the stabbing Williams said to the Chief Steward, Collins, "to get him to hell out of there and that would teach him a lesson and the rest to do what they are told." This testimony, admissible under the spontaneous exclamation or res gestae exception to the hearsay rule, American Mfg. Co. v. Bigelow, 2 Cir., 188 F. 34; 6...