Shields v. United States

KIRKPATRICK, District Judge.

The libellant joined the steamship “Hannibal Hamlin” as a member of the crew on September 18, 1944. At the time-, longshoremen were engaged in loading cargo into the holds and the libellant was assigned to the duty of oiling the deck winches. On the morning of the third day of his employment, while he was oiling the port winch at No. 2 hatch, the machinery was prematurely started by the winch operator, an employee of the stevedore, and the libellant suffered injuries which resulted in the amputation of his left hand and a degree of permanent impairment of the right.