Metropolitan Steve. Co. v. Dampskisaktieselskabet Int.

• Citation: 274 F.2d 875
• Decision Date: 11 January 1960
• Docket Number: No. 16399.,16399.
• Parties: METROPOLITAN STEVEDORE COMPANY, a Corporation, Appellant, v. DAMPSKISAKTIESELSKABET INTERNATIONAL, a Corporation, Appellee.
• Court: United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (9th Circuit)

274 F.2d 875 (1960)

METROPOLITAN STEVEDORE COMPANY, a Corporation, Appellant, v. DAMPSKISAKTIESELSKABET INTERNATIONAL, a Corporation, Appellee.

No. 16399.

United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit.

January 11, 1960.

Cooper, White & Cooper, George A. Helmer, Robert M. Raymer, Sheldon G. Cooper, San Francisco, Cal., for appellant.

Lillick, Geary, McHose, Roethke & Myers, Gordon K. Wright, Anthony Liebig, Los Angeles, Cal., for appellee.

Before STEPHENS, BARNES and MERRILL, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM.

We are satisfied in this matter that the exhaustive opinion of the trial judge, supported by the subsequent majority opinion in Crumady v. The Joachim Hendrik Fisser, 1959, 358 U.S. 423, 79 S.Ct. 445, 3 L.Ed.2d 413, correctly decides the issues involved herein.

We therefore refer to and adopt the recited facts and the conclusions of that court. Hugev v. Dampskisaktieselskabet International, D.C.S.D.Cal.1959, 170 F. Supp. 601.

Appellant first differs with the trial court's conclusions by urging that a more extensive duty is owed to the stevedoring company by the ship than that found due by the trial court. The cases cited to support such a theory, however, are primarily cases dealing with active versus passive negligence determined prior to the Supreme Court cases establishing the contract theory of liability, rather than one arising in tort. Crumady v. The Joachim Hendrik Fisser, supra; Weyerhaeuser S.S. Co. v. Nacirema Operating Co., 1958, 355 U.S. 563, 78 S.Ct. 438, 2 L.Ed.2d 491; Ryan Stevedoring Co. v. Pan-Atlantic S.S. Corp., 1956, 350 U.S. 124, 76 S.Ct. 232, 100 L.Ed. 133. Further, the policy considerations discussed by the court below seem valid — (a) the possibility, or even probability, of unseaworthiness after long voyages, and (b) the expertise of the stevedoring company and its employees.

Appellant's second contention is that it did not waive the shipowner's breach of seaworthiness. In view of our decision on appellant's first point, we need not consider this. We point out, however, that this factual issue depends upon the court's conclusion as to whether the stevedoring company continued to unload as it had before the temporary halt in operation. There was no change in procedures used, and no attempt to avoid the danger by the use of another method. The evidence fully supports the finding of waiver, were it necessary.

Appellant next contends that there was no finding of negligence on its part, and had there been such, the evidence would not have sustained it. There was no express finding of negligence, but the third conclusion of law (Tr. 20), reads as follows:

"3. Third-party defendant failed to perform its obligation under the stevedoring contract to

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