Joseph Denaro, Libelant-Appellant v. United States v. American Stevedores, Inc., Respondent-Impleaded-Appellee

Denaro, together with other marine carpenters, went aboard the U.S.N.S. Lieutenant Robert Craig to chock, lash and otherwise secure the deck cargo. It started to rain and the men took cover. The rain stopped at about 7 P.M. and they commenced their work. At about 8 P.M. Denaro mounted a conex wooden box for the purpose of nailing chocks or capping at the edges of the box to protect it against the lashing that would secure the cargo. Once on top of the box, he slipped or lost his footing and fell to the deck.

Denaro sought recovery for his injuries from the United States, the shipowner, under…