Peter Stechcon, Jr. v. United States

In his complaint in the district court, appellant sought to recover damages for personal injuries alleged to have been sustained by him while employed as a seaman on appellee’s vessel, the S. S. Exhibitor, resulting from a physical assault made upon him by William D. Harris, also a member of the crew aboard the vessel.

Appellant based his claim to recover damages on the unseaworthiness of the vessel and the negligence of appellee.

The district court granted appellee’s motion for a summary judgment in favor of appellee as a matter of law, on the ground that there existed in the record no genuine…