Allen v. Mobile Interstate Piledrivers

Plaintiff appeals from the trial court's entry of judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV) in defendant's favor in this suit for negligence under the Jones Act1 and for unseaworthiness under general maritime law.

Plaintiff was employed by defendant as a concrete finisher to work on the bridges on Interstate Highway 65 over the Tensaw and Mobile Rivers. When plaintiff reported to work each morning, he was taken by boat to Barge No. 103, which was secured in the river by spuds, metal poles driven into the river bed. The barge, which was 120 feet long by 49 feet wide, contained all of the…