In the case of Verret et al. v. Oil Transport Co., Inc., et al, 1960, the U.S Supreme Court was tasked with determining liability for damages caused by a collision between two vessels in Louisiana's navigable waters. The plaintiffs were crew members on one of the ships involved in the accident and they sought compensation from both ship owners under maritime law and state negligence laws. However, it was found that only one vessel had been negligent and therefore solely responsible for causing the collision. Consequently, only that vessel's owner was held liable to pay damages to injured parties including loss of wages and medical expenses incurred as a result of injuries sustained during this incident.

In the dissenting opinion for Verret et al. v. Oil Transport Co., Inc., et al, Justice Brennan disagreed with the majority's ruling that a seaman injured while off duty and ashore could not recover damages under the Jones Act. He argued that such an interpretation of the law was too narrow and inconsistent with its purpose to protect seamen from hazards associated with their employment. According to him, it is irrelevant whether a sailor is on or off duty when he gets injured; what matters is if his injuries are related to his job duties or conditions of employment in any way. In this case, since Verret’s injury occurred during a fight which started due to arguments about work-related issues at a bar where sailors usually gathered after work hours, Justice Brennan believed it should be considered as arising out of his employment.