Matthews v. Britton

In this case the appellant, Ernestine Matthews, claims that certain death benefits are due her as the surviving common-law wife of Henry Matthews under the Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.1 Her claim was *409heard by the Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Employees’ Compensation in the United States Department of Labor. He found that she was not and never had been the lawful wife of Henry Matthews, under common law or otherwise. Consequently, he denied her the death benefits to which she claimed to be entitled. She then asked the United States District Court for the District…