Wilbur Smith v. Seaport Marine, Inc.

This consolidated appeal arises out of a claim for wages brought under the general maritime law by four seamen — Nickolas Jurich, Jesse Gann, Charles Wood, and Wilbur Smith. The seamen asserted their claims against two maritime employment agencies — Compass Marine, Inc., and Seaport Marine, Inc. — that they retained to help them find jobs. Smith also asserted the same claim against Odyssea Marine, Inc., a maritime transport company that hired him based on a referral from Seaport Marine.

When the seamen retained the employment agencies’ services, they signed a series of agreements assigning to…