Maritime Overseas Corp. v. Waiters

The sole issue in this admiralty case is whether punitive damages are recoverable under general maritime law for willful and arbitrary failure to pay maintenance and cure. Because we conclude that punitive damages are not recoverable in such claims, we modify the judgment of the court of appeals, — S.W.2d -, to delete the award of punitive damages and, as modified, we affirm.

Thomas C. Waiters, a steward’s assistant aboard the Overseas Marilyn, injured his back when he fell down some stairs on the ship. Maritime Overseas Corporation paid for Waiters’ maintenance and cure from April 1989 to…