South Chicago Coal & Dock Co. v. Bassett

John Schumann, an employee of petitioner, South Chicago Coal & Dock Company, was drowned while serving his employer on a vessel in navigable waters of the United States. His widow was awarded compensation by the deputy commissioner under the Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. The deputy commissioner found that decedent was performing services on the vessel as a laborer and fell from the vessel into the water.- The employer and its surety brought suit in the District Court to restrain the enforcement of the award, contending that decedent was employed as a member of the crew…