Norfolk Shipbuilding & Drydock Corp. v. Garris
United States Supreme Court
532 U.S. 811 (2001)
Relevant factsFree
Christopher Garris died from injuries sustained working on a ship for Norfolk Shipbuilding (defendant) in U.S. navigable waters, and his mother (plaintiff) sued for negligence under general maritime law. The district court dismissed, finding no maritime wrongful-death cause of action existed for a non-seaman's death from negligence, but the Fourth Circuit reversed, and the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari.
IssueFree
Whether, where a law imposes a duty and provides a remedy for injuries caused by violating that duty, a plaintiff may be barred from bringing a wrongful-death action for a death caused by violating that same duty.