No. 18-266October Term 2018Decided Jun 24, 2019
Dutra Group v. Batterton
A deckhand injured his hand when a hatch blew open on a vessel owned by Dutra Group, and he sought punitive damages on top of his maritime injury claims.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jun 24, 2019
- What it's about
A deckhand injured his hand when a hatch blew open on a vessel owned by Dutra Group, and he sought punitive damages on top of his maritime injury claims. The case asked whether a Jones Act seaman can recover punitive damages for a personal injury claim based on the shipowner’s duty to provide a seaworthy vessel.
Question presented
Whether punitive damages may be awarded to a Jones Act seaman in a personal injury suit alleging a breach of the general maritime duty to provide a seaworthy vessel.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit / Decision released Jun 24, 2019
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided June 24, 2019
The Court released its decision on June 24, 2019 without hearing oral argument.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jun 1, 2026
- Method
- Methodology