McBride Ex Rel. I.M.S. v. Estis Well Service, L.L.C.
768 F.3d 382
| 5th Cir. | 2014Background
- Consolidated cases arise from Estis Rig 23 accident on Bayou Sorrell; Sonnier died, Touchet, Suire, Bourque injured.
- Plaintiff McBride (administrator of Sonnier’s estate) sues Estis for unseaworthiness and Jones Act negligence seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
- Other crew members also sue Estis with similar causes of action; cases consolidated.
- The district court dismissed punitive damages claims as unavailable; plaintiffs sought interlocutory appeal.
- Supreme Court Miles v. Apex Marine Corp. controls, holding Jones Act/General Maritime Law damages limited to pecuniary losses; punitive damages non-pecuniary.
- Atlantic Sounding Townsend and related jurisprudence shape the post-Jones Act landscape and miles uniformity debate.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether punitive damages are recoverable for unseaworthiness/jones-act negligence | McBride argues punitive damages available under general maritime law | Estis argues Miles precludes such punitive damages | No; punitive damages not recoverable under Jones Act or general maritime law in these actions. |
| Does Miles control the remaining injured crew members’ claims | Touchet/Suire/Bourque should be able to recover punitive damages | Miles precludes punitive damages for seamen injuries | Miles uniformly limits survivors’ recovery to pecuniary losses; punitive damages barred. |
| Townsend relation to Miles/preserved remedies for unseaworthiness | Townsend preserves punitive damages for maintenance and cure not for unseaworthiness | Townsend does not overrule Miles; Miles applies | Townsend does not overrule Miles; Miles remains sound for unseaworthiness; punitive damages not available. |
Key Cases Cited
- Miles v. Apex Marine Corp., 498 U.S. 19 (1990) (Jones Act damages limited to pecuniary losses; precludes non-pecuniary damages.)
- Atlantic Sounding Co. v. Townsend, 557 U.S. 404 (2009) (Affirmed Miles; distinguished maintenance and cure; punitive damages available for maintenance and cure actions.)
- Moragne v. States Marine Lines, Inc., 398 U.S. 375 (1970) (Recognized wrongful death remedy under general maritime law.)
- The Osceola, 189 U.S. 158 (1903) (Unseaworthiness legitimate indemnity by way of compensatory damages.)
- Pacific S.S. Co. v. Peterson, 278 U.S. 130 (1928) (Indemnity for unseaworthiness is compensatory; no loss of society.)
- Vreeland, 227 U.S. 59 (1913) (FELA pecuniary loss limitation; applies to survivors for wrongful death.)
- The Harrisburg, 119 U.S. 199 (1886) (Early maritime law; wrongful death not recoverable under general maritime law.)