The Henry B. Smith
The Henry B. Smith
Opinion of the Court
The maritime law, which the libelant invokes, cannot be altered, modified, or changed by state enactment. The right of action arising out of maritime tort, relating to the recovery of damages for personal injuries, depends upon the maritime law, which has been adopted by the laws and usages of the country. The Lottawanna, 21 Wall. 588, 22 L. Ed. 654. There is, moreover, no maritime lien by the statutes of this state to support this proceeding in rem, and I am constrained to hold that in an action for personal injuries the Employer’s Liability Act of the state has no application. Rights of action in admiralty are sui generis, and controlled by the maritime'law, save in case of death, wherein the states, by legislative enactments, have created liens and rights of action which are not incohsistent with the maritime law.
The exceptions are sustained.
Reference
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- THE HENRY B. SMITH
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- 2 cases
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- Syllabus
- Admiralty (§ 1*)—Right of Action for Personal Injuries—Suit in Rem— Effect of State Statute. A right of action for the recovery of damages for personal injuries not resulting in death, arising out of a maritime tort, depends upon the maritime law, which cannot be enlarged by a state statute to give a right of action in rein. [Ed'. Note.—For other cases, see Admiralty, Cent. Dig. §§ 1-17; Dee. Dig. § 1.* ■ Jurisdiction in admiralty of torts, see note to Campbell v. H. Hackfeld & Co., 62 C. C. A. 279.]