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Hellenic Lines Ltd. v. Rhoditis

398 U.S. 306 · Decided June 8, 1970 · 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

Hellenic Lines Ltd. v. Rhoditis was decided on June 8, 1970 by a vote of 5–3. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice William O. Douglas wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Election of remedies” in the Economic Activity area.

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Case details

Citations
398 U.S. 306 · 90 S. Ct. 1731 · 26 L. Ed. 2d 252 · 1970 U.S. LEXIS 78
Docket number
661
Decided
June 8, 1970
Argued
April 21, 1970
Court era
Burger Court
Decision type
Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
Disposition
Affirmed
Outcome for petitioner
The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
Vote
5–3
Majority opinion
William O. Douglas
Opinion assigned by
Hugo L. Black
How the case arrived
Certiorari
Legal provision
Jones Act or Death on the High Seas Act
Type of law
Federal statute
Decision direction (SCDB)
Liberal what this means

How the Justices voted

Full case caption

Hellenic Lines Ltd. et al. v. Rhoditis

SCDB identifiers: case 1969-108, docket 1969-108-01.

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Cases on the same legal provision: Jones Act or Death on the High Seas Act

Same Term, same area (Economic Activity)

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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