Weidman v. The American Steamship Nebraskan
Weidman v. The American Steamship Nebraskan
Opinion of the Court
The libelant -brought his libel in rem for damages for injuries alleged to have been received December 6, 1906, while in the service of the libellee as a seaman. The American-Hawaiian Steamship Company, a corporation of the State of New Jersey, filed its claim as owner, and filed a motion to dismiss, and exceptions to the libel, which were overruled except as to the point that the libel contained no allegation that the libellee was a common carrier. The libelant was allowed to amend on this point and did so. The libel as amended was
As the case then stood, the remaining issue was whether the alleged injuries had been received by the libelant, as alleged, and as to the liability of the libellee for cure and maintenance of libelant during recovery therefrom, and for wages to the end of the voyage, in case such injuries were shown.
Evidence was introduced pro and eon and the court finds from its consideration that the injuries received by the libelant were slight; that he received medical attendance from the United States Marine Hospital physician; that he received from him a permit to enter the Queen’s Hospital as a patient of the service, which he did not utilize; that he sought the advice and treatment of another physician not connected with the service ; that the ship offered him relief from work for several, days or for the whole return voyage to the mainland, if that should be necessary, and that he left the ship December 8, 1906.
The libel is dismissed. The libelant filed with his libel an affidavit of inability to pay costs and the proceedings were allowed without obligation on his part for costs. Claimant therefore to pay its own costs.
Pee the case of El Paso, etc., Ry. Co. v. Gutierrez, 215 U. S. 125, where the coui t holds that the Employe!s’ Liability Act of J une 11, 1906, is constitutional in so far as the Territories are concerned.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- KARL WEIDMAN v. THE AMERICAN STEAMSHIP NEBRASKAN
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Common carrier — Liability for injury to employee: Common carrier not liable for injury to employee caused by negligence of Ms fellow servants, the act of Congress of June 11, 1906 (34 Stat. L.. chap. 3073, p. 232), to the contrary being repugnant to the Constitution. Same — Liability for costs of cure, maintenance and wages of injured seaman: Libelant having received slight injuries in the employ of libellee, and being given adequate medical treatment, an opportunity of entering a hospital as a patient of the Marine Hospital Service at the request.of libellee, and being promised relief from work on the vessel for the whole of the return voyage if necessary, failed to enter the hospital, engaged his .own physician and left the ship. Seld, that libellee was not liable for expenses of his cure and maintenance while recovering nor for further wages.