Marine Drilling Company, Inc., and the Fidelity and Casualty Company of New York v. Richard J. Autin

WISDOM, Circuit Judge:

This is still another case under the Jones Act turning on an oil field worker’s status as a seaman on a marine, drilling barge. The twist in this case is. the appellant’s contention that the district judge’s charge to the jury amounted to directing a verdict for the plaintiff. We hold that that charge was not in the nature of a directed verdict. We consider, however, that the state of the law applicable to maritime oil workers has developed to the point where it is proper in the appropriate case for the district judge to direct a verdict on the status. of an offshore…