Wilbert Sprague v. The Texas Company

The plaintiff, a member of the crew of the SS Wyoming owned and operated by the defendant, was injured when hot water and steam unexpectedly escaped from a water heater in the engine room while he and others were engaged in removing the head of the heater. At the conclusion of a two-day trial before the court and a jury the plaintiff moved for the direction of a verdict, saying “It is a question of negligence and unseaworthiness, and it appears without doubt and uncontradicted by any evidence by the defendant, and therefore the verdict should be directed in favor of the plaintiff,' * * * and…