Donovan v. Penn Shipping Co., Inc.
429 U.S. 648 · Decided February 22, 1977 · Supreme Court of the United States
Record summary. This page is generated from the Supreme Court Database’s coded data about the case. It describes who decided what, not the Court’s reasoning. Read the opinion itself before relying on it. Not legal advice.
At a glance
Donovan v. Penn Shipping Co., Inc. was decided on February 22, 1977 by a vote of 7–2. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. The decision was issued per curiam (an unsigned opinion of the Court). SCDB classifies its main issue as “Federal rules of civil procedure” in the Judicial Power area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 429 U.S. 648 · 97 S. Ct. 835 · 51 L. Ed. 2d 112 · 1977 U.S. LEXIS 12
- Docket number
- 76-613
- Decided
- February 22, 1977
- Court era
- Burger Court
- Decision type
- Per curiam (no oral argument)
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 7–2
- Opinion assigned by
- William J. Brennan Jr.
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Federal rules of civil procedure
- Issue area
- Judicial Power
- Legal provision
- Jones Act or Death on the High Seas Act
- Type of law
- Federal statute
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Majority | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Majority | |
| Chief Justice Warren E. Burger | Jurisdictional dissent | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Jurisdictional dissent | |
| Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Majority |
Full case caption
Donovan v. Penn Shipping Co., Inc., et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 1976-051, docket 1976-051-01.
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Cases on the same legal provision: Jones Act or Death on the High Seas Act
- Griffin v. Oceanic Contractors, Inc.
- Hellenic Lines Ltd. v. Rhoditis
- Hopson v. Texaco, Inc.
- Tipton v. Socony Mobil Oil Co., Inc.
- Mercedel W. Miles v. Apex Marine Corporation
- Fitzgerald v. United States Lines Co.
Same Term, same area (Judicial Power)
- Standard Oil Co. of California v. United StatesAltered precedent
- Scott v. Kentucky Parole Board
- Massachusetts v. Feeney
- Tully v. Griffin, Inc.
- Belcher v. Stengel
- Cook v. Hudson
Source: Supreme Court Database, 2026 Release 01 (data file dated September 8, 2026). Imported into CaseTrail November 5, 2026. Coverage: decisions from the 1946 through 2025 Terms. Methodology · Report an error