Vincent Sylvis v. Rouge Steel Company, a Subsidiary of Ford Motor Company

RALPH B. GUY, Jr., Circuit Judge.

Plaintiff, Vincent Sylvis, appeals from the district court’s grant of summary judgment for defendant Rouge Steel Company in this admiralty action for penalty damages. The action stems from the Rouge Steel Company’s alleged violation of 46 U.S.C. § 574 and its successor, 46 U.S.C. § 10502, which require the execution of a written agreement between shipmasters and seamen prior to embarking on a voyage. Although we depart from its analysis, we affirm the district court’s ruling.

The Rouge Steel Company (Company) is a shipping company whose vessels sail exclusively…