In the 1953 case Avondale Marine Ways, Inc. v. Henderson, Deputy Commissioner et al., the U.S Supreme Court ruled in favor of an injured employee who sought compensation under the Longshoremen's and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA). The petitioner was a shipbuilding company that argued it should not be liable for compensation because its employee was injured while working on a vessel located in navigable waters but still attached to land by cables and gangplanks. However, the court held that such circumstances did not exempt them from liability under LHWCA as long as their operations affected maritime commerce. This decision expanded protections for workers involved in maritime activities by clarifying that employers could be held responsible for injuries occurring on vessels even if they were connected to land at the time of injury.

In the dissenting opinion for Avondale Marine Ways, Inc. v. Henderson, Deputy Commissioner et al., Justice Jackson disagreed with the majority's interpretation of the Longshoremen's and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. He argued that it was not Congress' intent to provide compensation for injuries sustained while traveling to or from work as these are common risks shared by all workers regardless of their occupation or industry. According to him, this broad interpretation would lead to an expansion of liability beyond what was intended by lawmakers when they drafted the legislation. Furthermore, he expressed concern about potential abuse if employees could claim benefits for accidents occurring off-site and outside working hours under circumstances where employers have no control over safety conditions.