Panama R. v. Johnson

(after stating the facts as above). This action is brought on the common-law side of the court to recover for injuries received by a seaman upon a vessel at sea. The tort alleged occurred on navigable water—the Guanuquil river, in Ecquador, South America; and ‘ all causes arising out of transactions occurring on navigable waters are, by the general admiralty law, within the jurisdiction of the admiralty courts, whether the waters are part of the high seas, or are domestic or foreign.

The plaintiff has seen fit, however, not to sue in an admiralty court. In bringing it in a common-law court, he…