McMahan v. STATES STEAMSHIP COMPANY

This is an action under the Jones Act by a merchant seaman for personal injuries sustained when he “caught” a shipmate who fell into his arms upon the collapse of a wooden ladder.

The principal injury complained of by plaintiff (aside from some temporary soreness in plaintiff’s back, side, shoulder, and elbow and small lumps on his left forearm and side), consisted of a small hemorrhoid, which at the time of trial continued to be uncomfortable and to occasionally bleed. Plaintiff’s doctor testified that this could be repaired by minor surgery, but that he (the doctor) had a hemorrhoid himself…