Linday v. American President Lines, Ltd.

Plaintiff, a seaman, brought this action against his employer, American President Lines, Ltd., to recover for injuries sustained when he was assaulted by a fellow crewmember, one Herbert Suvaco. The complaint set forth two alternate theories of liability: (1) that defendant was negligent in signing and retaining the assailant with knowledge of his dangerous disposition; and (2) that the ves sel on which plaintiff was employed was rendered unseaworthy by defendant shipowner’s failure to furnish crew-members equal in disposition to ordinary men of their calling.

Defendant answered, and, on the…