October Term 2018 · Docket 18-266
Can seamen recover punitive damages for unseaworthiness?
The dispute centers on whether maritime law allows punitive damages for unseaworthiness claims.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Waxman argued Congress took responsibility for seamen remedies.
Mr. Frederick argued punitive damages are available under maritime law.
argument_summary
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-20 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-28 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-20 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-28 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 30-11 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 30-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 6-20 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 6-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-10
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of remedies for injured seamen.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 30-11 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 30-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-25
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 25, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-15
What each side wants
Dutra Group seeks to bar punitive damages for unseaworthiness claims.
Batterton seeks to allow punitive damages for unseaworthiness claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 30-11 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 30-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-25
What each side says
Dutra Group argues Congress replaced common law remedies with the Jones Act.
Batterton argues punitive damages remain available under general maritime law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 30-11 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 30-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-25
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if unseaworthiness differs from ordinary negligence.
Justice Kagan asked how unseaworthiness actions evolved since the Jones Act.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-20 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-28 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-20 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-28 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 6-20 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 6-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-10
Why it matters
The outcome defines the financial risk for vessel owners. It sets the compensation ceiling for injured seamen. It clarifies the boundary between statutory and common law remedies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 30-11 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 30-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-25
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-20 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-28 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-20 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-28 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 6-20 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 6-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-10
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 30-11 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 30-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 30-11 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 30-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-25
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.