Tarabocchia v. Zim Israel Navigation Co.
Tarabocchia v. Zim Israel Navigation Co.
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff, an employee of John W. McGrath Corp., stevedores, was injured while engaged in an unloading operation from the M/V Beersheva, a vessel owned by Zim Israel Navigation Co. The accident occurred when a loading platform on which plaintiff and a coworker were standing suddenly became dislodged causing plaintiff to fall. The Trial Court found that the platform was not an appurtenance of the vessel and that the cargo sling being used in the unloading operation did not render the vessel unseaworthy. Liability was premised upon the theory that an act of plaintiff’s co-worker caused the accident and that “a ship is rendered unseaworthy when longshoremen make negligent use of seaworthy equipment.” 297 F.Supp. 378, 382. Judgment was entered in favor of plaintiff against Zim Israel and McGrath did not dispute its indemnity obligation.
Despite the seeming incongruity of holding that a seaworthy vessel can be instantaneously transformed into an unseaworthy condition by a negligent act of a stevedore’s employee, this court felt bound by previous decisions of the Supreme Court
This resolution has now been made by the Supreme Court in Usner v. Luckenbach Overseas Corp., 400 U.S. 494, 91 S.Ct. 514, 27 L.Ed.2d 562 (1971) but not without vigorous dissent by four Justices thereof. 400 U.S. at 501-504, 91 S.Ct. 514. The majority opinion reviewed the many cases which over the years have created the problem and came to the conclusion that it would be erroneous “where no condition of unseaworthiness existed, to hold the shipowner liable for a third party’s single and wholly unforeseeable act of negligence.” 400 U.S. at 500, 91 S.Ct. at 518.
Upon Zim Israel’s petition, certiorari was granted (four Justices dissenting), the judgment vacated and the case was
. Mascuilli v. United States, 387 U.S. 237, 87 S.Ct. 1705, 18 L.Ed.2d 743 (1967); Waldron v. Moore-McCormack Lines, 386 U.S. 724, 87 S.Ct. 1410, 18 L.Ed.2d 482 (1967); Gutierrez v. Waterman SS. Corp., 373 U.S. 206, 83 S.Ct. 1185, 10 L.Ed.2d 297 (1963); Mitchell v. Trawler Racer, 362 U.S. 539, 80 S.Ct. 926, 4 L.Ed.2d 941 (1960); Crumady v. The J. II. Fisser, 35S U.S. 423, 79 S.Ct. 445, 3 L.Ed.2d 413 (1959); Seas Shipping Co. v. Sieracki, 328 U.S. 85, 66 S.Ct. 872, 90 L.Ed. 1099 (1946); Mahnich v. Southern S.S. Co., 321 U.S. 96, 64 S.Ct. 455, 88 L.Ed. 561 (1943).
. Candiano v. Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc., 382 F.2d 961, (2d Cir. 1967) rehearing denied, 386 F.2d 444, (2d Cir. 1967) 390 U.S. 1027, 88 S.Ct. 1416, 20 L.Ed.2d 284 (1968); Alexander v. Bethlehem Steel Corporation, 382 F.2d 963 (2d Cir. 1967).
. Antoine v. Lake Charles Stevedores, Inc., 376 F.2d 443, cert. den. 389 U.S. 869, 88 S.Ct. 145, 19 L.Ed.2d 146 (1967); Robichaux v. Kerr McGee Oil Industries, Inc., 376 F.2d 447 (1967).
. Tim v. American President Lines, Ltd., 409 F.2d 385 (1969) and cases cited therein.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Mario TARABOCCHIA, Plaintiff-Appellee-Appellant v. ZIM ISRAEL NAVIGATION CO., Ltd., and Third-Party Plaintiff-Appellant-Appellee v. JOHN W. McGRATH CORP., Third-Party
- Cited By
- 4 cases
- Status
- Published