Cliffs Drilling Co. v. Burrows

OPINION ON MOTION FOR REHEARING

TAFT, Justice.

We deny appellant’s motion for rehearing, but withdraw our opinion of May 9,1996, and issue this opinion in its stead.

This case requires application of the United States Supreme Court’s recently formulated Jones Act 1 seaman status test. Appel-lee, Jimmy D. Burrows, worked as a welder aboard a jack-up drilling rig owned by appellant, Cliffs Drilling Company (Cliffs). Burrows claimed to be a Jones Act seaman when he slipped and fell; he sued Cliffs for negligence. The jury found in favor of Burrows and awarded him $506,000 in damages.

Background

On…