Edward W. Nelson, Libelant-Appellant v. Moore-Mccormack Lines, Inc., 297 F.2d 936, 2d Cir. (1962)
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Scribd Government DocsEdward W. Nelson, Libelant-Appellant v. Moore-Mccormack Lines, Inc., 297 F.2d 936, 2d Cir. (1962)
Uploaded by
Scribd Government Docs297 F.
2d 936
Edward W. NELSON, Libelant-Appellant,
v.
MOORE-McCORMACK LINES, INC., Respondent-Appellee.
No. 144.
Docket 27133.
United States Court of Appeals Second Circuit.
Argued December 12, 1961.
Decided January 2, 1962.
Murray Gartner, New York City, for libelant-appellant.
John J. Crowley, New York City (Francis I. Fallon and Burlingham,
Hupper & Kennedy, New York City, on the brief), for respondentappellee.
Before LUMBARD, Chief Judge, and MOORE and HAYS, Circuit
Judges.
PER CURIAM.
Appellant on August 23, 1955 signed on appellee's vessel as radio officer under
articles calling for a voyage from San Francisco to various points "and back to a
final port of discharge on the west coast of the United States, for a term of time
not exceeding nine months." On October 24, 1955, the vessel purported to
terminate its voyage by discharging cargo and paying off its crew in New York.
Appellant claims that it was error for the trial court to refuse him damages in
the form of wages for the rest of the maximum nine-month period, arguing that
the voyage was not terminated in New York in fact, and that in any event his
articles entitled him to wages until such time within that period as the ship
returned to the west coast. We do not find clear error in Judge Murphy's finding
of fact that the voyage was terminated in New York, and agree with his
conclusion of law that appellant was entitled to no more than the expenses of
transportation (including wages and board for the travel time) to the west coast
which appellee paid all the other members of the crew and offered to pay
appellant. We adopt Judge Murphy's reasoning in support of this conclusion in
his opinion reported at 201 F.Supp. 40 (S.D.N.Y.1961).
2
Appellant also attacks the denial of penalty wages under 46 U.S.C. 596 for
appellee's failure to make prompt payment of his accrued wages at the time of
his discharge. On this point we also affirm on the reasoning in the opinion
below. Appellee was justified in refusing to pay so long as appellant refused to
sign the customary mutual release. The record shows that the shipping
commissioner advised appellant that he could reserve his right to contest his
discharge by signing "under protest," and that appellee was willing to accept
such a release. As appellant did not choose to comply with this customary and
reasonable requirement, he cannot enforce the penalty.
Affirmed.
