Delores Mae Olsen, as Administratrix of the Estate of George Olsen, Deceased v. States Line, a Foreign Corporation

Appellant, Delores Mae Olsen, is the widow and administratrix of the estate of her deceased husband, George. She brought this negligence action under the Jones Act, 46 U.S.C. § 688 , against States Line seeking damages for the wrongful death of her husband who was injured in an accident occurring on one of its ships, the SS OREGON. The jury returned a verdict against her; this appeal followed.

On the morning of April 7, 1964, the SS OREGON was being docked in Kobe, Japan. As part of the docking procedure George Olsen, a seaman, was charged with the task of taking up the slack in the mooring line after it had been passed around the drum of the capstan. While Olsen was thus engaged the line suddenly spun off the capstan throwing him into the air and against the deck with such great force that he was severely injured and died shortly after-wards.

Appellant contended that the accident was wholly caused by States’ negligence. She alleged negligence generally and also specifically alleged that States failed to properly supervise the hauling in of the forward landing line; ordered Olsen to haul in the line when it was unsafe to do so; and failed to detect or take steps to remedy the…