Justia Rhode Island Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

Plaintiff, who was injured while working as a deckhand on a commercial vessel, sued Defendant, Huntress, Inc., for maintenance and cure, negligence under the federal Jones Act, and breach of the warranty of seaworthiness. After a trial, Plaintiff prevailed on his claim for maintenance and cure but not on his remaining claims. The trial justice subsequently denied Defendant’s motion for a new trial with respect to the claim for maintenance and cure and granted Plaintiff’s motion for a new trial with respect to the claims for negligence and breach of the warranty of seaworthiness. The Supreme Court (1) vacated the trial justice’s denial of Defendant’s motion for a new trial with respect to the claim for maintenance and cure, holding that the trial justice gave an improper instruction to the jury regarding “unearned wages,” and the error resulted in prejudice to Defendant; and (2) vacated the trial justice’s grant of Plaintiff’s motion for a new trial on the claims of negligence under the Jones Act and breach of the warranty of seaworthiness, holding that the trial justice overlooked and misconceived testimony, resulting in a decision that was clearly wrong. View "King v. Huntress, Inc." on Justia Law