Tipton v. Socony Mobil Oil Co.

Petitioner brought this action in the District Court for the Southern District of Texas against his employer under the Jones Act. 46 U. S. C. § 688. The principal issue was whether, in view of the nature of the work performed at the time of injury, the petitioner was a seaman, hence within the coverage of the Jones Act, or an offshore drilling employee. At the trial before a jury, the District Court admitted evidence, over the objection of petitioner’s counsel, that petitioner had accepted compensation bene*35fits under the Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, 33 U. S. C. § 901…