Johnson v. ADM/Growmark River Systems, Inc.

PRESIDING JUSTICE WELCH

delivered the opinion of the court:

In this case brought under the Jones Act (46 U.S.C.A. § 688 (West Supp. 1997)), we are asked to determine whether the circuit court of Pulaski County properly entered summary judgment in favor of the defendant, ADM/Growmark River Systems, Inc., and against plaintiff, Thomas E. Johnson, finding as a matter of law that plaintiff was not a “seaman” within the meaning of the Jones Act because he had no connection to a “vessel in navigation.”

The Jones Act provides a cause of action in negligence to any “seaman” who suffers personal injury…