United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

McAllister v. United States, 348 U.S. 19 (1954)

McAllister v. United States

No. 23

Argued October 19, 1954

Decided November 8, 1954

348 U.S. 19

Syllabus

1. In reviewing a judgment of a Federal District Court, sitting without a jury in admiralty, an appellate court exercises no greater scope of review than it exercises under Rule 52(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. A reviewing court may not set aside the judgment below unless it is "clearly erroneous." Pp. 348 U. S. 20-21.

2. On the record in this case under the Suits in Admiralty Act, the evidence was sufficient to sustain the finding of the District Court that petitioner contracted polio as a result of the negligence of the master of his ship in taking aboard, transporting, and exposing the crew to contacts with, Chinese soldiers, truck drivers, and mechanics from Shanghai, where the master knew polio to be prevalent, and the District Court's judgment for petitioner was not "clearly erroneous." Pp. 348 U. S. 21-23.

207 F.2d 952 reversed.