{"ID":50725,"name":"Chevron Oil Company v. Huson","href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/cases\/1971\/70-11","view_count":0,"docket_number":"70-11","additional_docket_numbers":null,"manner_of_jurisdiction":"Writ of \u003Ci\u003Ecertiorari\u003C\/i\u003E","first_party":"Chevron Oil Company","second_party":"Huson","timeline":[{"event":"Argued","dates":[56782800],"href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/case_timeline\/case_timeline\/30828"},{"event":"Decided","dates":[60847200],"href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/case_timeline\/case_timeline\/30829"}],"lower_court":{"ID":10,"name":"United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit","href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/taxonomy\/term\/10"},"facts_of_the_case":"\u003Cp\u003EGaines Ted Huson suffered a back injury while working on a fixed oil rig, owned by Chevron Oil Company, off the coast of Louisiana. More than two years after the injury, Huson sued Chevron for damages in United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, New Orleans Division. Huson alleged that it took several months for him to realize the severity of his injury. The District Court relied on \u003Cem\u003ERodrigue v Aetna Casualty \u0026amp; Surety Co.\u003C\/em\u003E, 395 U.S. 352 (1969), holding that Louisiana\u0027s one-year statute of limitations applied instead of the admiralty laches doctrine so Huson\u0027s claim was barred. \u003Cem\u003ERodrigue\u003C\/em\u003E held that state law, not admiralty law, applied in these situations under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. On appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Huson argued that because he filed this case before the \u003Cem\u003ERodrigue\u003C\/em\u003E decision, applying its ruling would have an unfair retrospective effect. The Court of Appeals reversed, holding that the Louisiana statute of limitations was inconsistent with the admiralty laches doctrine and, therefore, was not applicable.\u003C\/p\u003E\n","question":"\u003Cp\u003EIs Louisiana statute of limitations inconsistent with the admiralty laches doctrine? Should \u003Cem\u003ERogrique\u003C\/em\u003E be retroactively applied?\u003C\/p\u003E\n","conclusion":"\u003Cp\u003ENo, No. In a 7-0 decision, Justice Potter Stewart, writing for a majority unanimous court, affirmed the Appeals Court\u0027s decision, but rejected their analysis. The Supreme Court held that Louisiana\u0027s statute of limitations was applicable under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act because the Lands Act specifically adopted relevant state laws as federal laws. There was no federal statute of limitations specified in the Lands Act so, state law was not inconsistent. Although applying Louisiana\u0027s one-year statute of limitations was proper as a general rule, the Court held that applying it in this case would unfairly deprive Huson of a remedy on the basis of an unforeseeable change in legal doctrine.\u003C\/p\u003E\n","advocates":[{"advocate":{"ID":41362,"name":"Samuel C. 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