Vance W. Williams v. Tide Water Associated

Williams appeals from the district courts decision in a diversity case holding that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain in a civil suit with a trial by jury, a sailors cause of action against his employing owner of a tanker for her unseaworthiness and one for negligence of his fellow employees each seeking damages for injuries arising from the same facts. The lower court so decided though the courts of appeal of the First, Second, Third and Fifth Circuits hold such jurisdiction exists and no circuit now holds to the contrary. The First, Third and Fifth Circuits permit the trial of both issues in the same case, and the Second Circuit after two decisions to the contrary held that both contentions could be tried together. So also is the practice in the United States District Courts in California, many district courts elsewhere, and in some of the state courts which have considered the question.