Swain v. Isthmian Lines, Inc.

KRAFT, District Judge.

In this suit in admiralty, the libellant seeks to recover, inter alia, double wages under the provisions of 46 U.S.C. § 596 for alleged improper deductions from his wages. The action is presently before us on libellant’s motion for summary judgment on that claim alone.

The material facts are undisputed. Libellant joined respondent’s vessel, the SS Steel Designer, as a utility messman, on May 11, 1963. He worked on board the vessel through August 16,1963, when he reported an abnormal physical condition to the chief officer. A physician examined libellant the following day…