Honeycutt v. United States

Benjamin C. DAWKINS, Jr., Chief Judge.

Each of these unrelated cases have one legal point in common, which we here decide.

These are negligence actions, all arising from separate accidents which occurred during the extensive Army maneuvers, known as “Operation Sagebrush”, conducted in Louisiana during the fall and winter of 1955.

Each case is brought against the Government under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C.A. §§ 2671-2680 (jurisdiction conferred, 28 U.S.C.A. § 1346(b)).

Notwithstanding the provisions of 28 U.S.C.A. § 2402, requiring trial of such actions by the court without a jury,…