Larsson

Appellant, Gunnar Larsson, a merchant seaman, filed a libel in personam, seeking damages from the respondents, United States of America and Coastwise (Pacific Far East) Line, for injuries sustained while on board the S.S. Justo Arosemena, as a member of its crew on October 5, 1947, while the vessel was moored in the harbor at Shanghai, China. Appellant asked, in one cause of libel, for general damages and special damages, and in a second cause of libel, sought maintenance and cure. At the time of the injury, the vessel was owned by the United States of America, and operated, managed, maintained, and navigated by respondent, Coastwise Line, under Bare-boat charter. Coastwise Line had, in turn, entered into a per diem charter party with the Board of Supplies, Executive Yuan, of the Republic of China, an independent contractor. Larsson was injured while he was oiling a winch which was negligently thrown into operation by a Chinese stevedore in the employ of the aforementioned Board of Supplies. The government was originally joined as a respondent, but, subsequently, dismissed at the trial. The district court dismissed appellant’s first cause of libel, awarded him an allowance for…