Bohle v. Matson Navigation Co.

Plaintiff, an ordinary seaman on the SS Hawaiian Planter, owned and operated by the defendant, went to the pantry of the vessel on the evening of October 15, 1961, to make ¡a pot of coffee for himself. There being no cups in sight, he sought to find one by reaching down into the sink, which was partially filled with water, and as he did so the little finger of his left hand struck a broken water glass, lacerating the finger and severing the flexor tendon. He brought this action based on unseaworthiness of the vessel to recover damages for his injury and in a jury trial was awarded a judgment…