United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Boudoin v. Lykes Brothers Steamship Co., Inc., 348 U.S. 336 (1955)

Boudoin v. Lykes Brothers Steamship Co., Inc.

No. 406

Argued February 11, 1955

Decided February 28, 1955

348 U.S. 336

Syllabus

An American seaman sued a shipowner in a Federal District Court to recover for injuries inflicted upon him by a fellow seaman who while drunk attacked him aboard the ship. On the facts of the case, the District Court found that the assailant was "a person of dangerous propensities and proclivities" at the time of the assault; that he was "a person of violent character, belligerent disposition, excessive drinking habits, disposed to fighting and making threats and assaults," and that he was not "equal in disposition and seamanship to the ordinary men in the calling."

Held: the warranty of seaworthiness extends to the crew as well as to the ship and the gear, the record sustains the District Court's findings, and the findings warrant recovery for breach of the warranty of seaworthiness. Pp. 348 U. S. 336-340.

211 F.2d 618 reversed.