Ricky Koch v. Tote, Incorporated

JAMES L. DENNIS, Circuit Judge:

Plaintiff Ricky Koch fell and suffered personal injuries while aboard the S.S. Altair, a public vessel owned by the United States and operated by its agents. Koch, a 54 year-old foreman and employee of Economy Iron Works, was inspecting the vessel in connection with his employer’s bidding on repair work on the vessel. Koch and his wife, Susan Koch, brought this action in federal district court against the Government under the third-party liability provision of the Longshore and Harbor-workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), 33 U.S.C. § 905(b). 1 Following a bench…