Summary
finding that a seaman who was not performing an assigned duty was outside the course of his employment
Summary of this case from In Matter of Complaint of Catamaran Holdings, LLCOpinion
No. 94-1522.
Heard September 9, 1994.
Decided September 15, 1994.
Carroll E. Ayers, Wakefield, MA, for appellant.
Gordon Arnott with whom Gregory O'Neill, Hill, Betts Nash, New York City, Charles N. Redihan, Jr., Thomas C. Plunkett and Kiernan, Plunkett Redihan, Providence, RI, were on brief for appellees Apex Marine Corp. and Westchester Marine Shipping Co., Inc.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island.
This case presents an interesting issue concerning the reach of the "scope of employment" requirement under the Jones Act, 46 U.S.C. § 688, as applied to a unique set of facts. In explaining its decision to grant the defense motion for summary judgment, Colon v. Apex Marine Corp., 832 F. Supp. 508 (D.R.I. 1993), the district court issued a decision thoroughly analyzing the precedents and the pertinent facts. Although the legal question presented is open to reasonable debate, we agree with the district court's resolution and do not think that we can improve upon the reasoning set forth in its decision. Accordingly, on the central issue we affirm on the grounds set forth in the decision of the district court.
The only remaining issue is the claim that the district court abused its discretion in refusing to allow an amendment to the complaint to assert a new cause of action based on unseaworthiness. This case relates to an incident that occurred in December 1987; the defense motion for summary judgment was filed in November 1992; and the motion to amend the complaint was filed only after the district court in September 1993 granted the motion for summary judgment. The motion gave no adequate reason to excuse this substantial delay in moving to amend. Under the circumstances, we do not think that the district court abused its discretion in denying the motion as untimely.
Affirmed.