Opinion
No. 257.
March 7, 1932.
Appeal from the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.
Suit by Ira S. Bushey against the Huron Stevedoring Company. From a decree holding it liable for injury to the deck of a scow while in the process of loading, respondent appeals.
Affirmed.
Kirlin, Campbell, Hickox, Keating Mcgrann, of New York City (L. De Grove Potter, of New York City, of counsel), for appellant.
Foley Martin, of New York City (James A. Martin, of New York City, of counsel), for appellee.
Before L. HAND, SWAN, and CHASE, Circuit Judges.
The appeal presents no question but of the credibility of witnesses, as to which we have often declared ourselves. The libelant's case depended, it is true, upon the testimony of a single bargee, but he made fresh complaint, and, though he was contradicted by several others, we cannot decide cases by counting heads. Indeed, when analyzed, the actual contradiction comes from fewer witnesses than the appellant believes. That the draught of copper may not have fallen four feet we can well believe, but that the winch got somewhat out of hand the judge has found, and we cannot gainsay him. How far the imperfect design of the scow may have contributed to the injury is not before us; when the damages are computed, the question may arise whether the injury was greater for that reason and whether the recovery must be limited to what a seaworthy scow would have suffered. Neither point do we now decide; the evidence does not justify the conclusion that a seaworthy scow would not have been injured at all.
The decree must be affirmed, but in view of the extravagant delay in prosecuting the cause, the libelant must bear a deduction of four years from the period during which interest is allowed.
Decree affirmed.