United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Herd & Co. v. Krawill Machinery Corp., 359 U.S. 297 (1959)

Robert C. Herd & Co. v. Krawill Machinery Corp.

No. 276

Argued February 26, 1959

Decided April 20, 1959

359 U.S. 297

Syllabus

Neither the provisions of § 4(5) of the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act nor the parallel provisions of an ocean bill of lading, limiting the liability of an ocean "carrier" to a shipper to $500 per package of cargo, apply to, or limit the liability of, a negligent stevedore employed by the carrier to load cargo on its vessel. Pp. 359 U. S. 298-308.

(a) Nothing in the provisions, legislative history, or environment of the Act, or in the limitation of liability provisions of the bill of lading, indicates any intention, of Congress by the Act, or of the contracting parties by the bill of lading, to limit the liability of negligent agents of the carrier. Pp. 359 U. S. 301-303.

(b) The doctrine of A. M. Collins & Co. v. Panama R. Co., 197 F.2d 893, is disapproved as being contrary to decisions of this Court. Pp. 359 U. S. 303-305.

(c) Elder, Dempster & Co., Ltd. v. Paterson, Zochonis & Co., Ltd., [1924] A. C. 522, distinguished. Pp. 359 U. S. 306-308.

256 F.2d 946, affirmed.

Page 359 U. S. 298