Dutra Group v. Batterton

A deckhand injured his hand when a hatch blew open on a Dutra Group vessel and sought punitive damages in addition to his maritime injury claims. The Supreme Court said a plaintiff may not recover punitive damages on a personal injury claim based on unseaworthiness (a shipowner's duty to provide a safe vessel).

The Court decided that punitive damages are not available on an unseaworthiness claim. The prompt does not provide the vote count or opinion lineup.

The decision limits the money damages available to Jones Act seamen suing over personal injuries tied to an allegedly unsafe vessel. For example, an injured crew member can still pursue other maritime remedies, but not punitive damages on an unseaworthiness claim.

The Supreme Court has finished this case. The decision governs this dispute and guides lower courts handling similar maritime injury suits.

The case asked whether an injured Jones Act seaman could get punitive damages for a personal injury claim based on unseaworthiness. The Court said no.

Seamen, vessel owners, and maritime insurers are directly affected. Injured workers may still sue, but this ruling removes one category of extra damages from these claims.

The Court's docket action is over. Lower courts and the parties must apply the Supreme Court's decision in this case and in similar disputes.