Cooper Stevedoring Co., Inc. v. Fritz Kopke, Inc., et al.

Decided May 28, 1974. Thurgood Marshall delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 73-726 · 417 U.S. 106 (1974) · Cited 263 times

Holding

The award of contribution between joint tortfeasors in a noncollision maritime case was proper under the circumstances.

The Court’s statement of the holding, from the opinion’s syllabus. The syllabus is prepared by the Reporter of Decisions and is not part of the opinion of the Court — read the official opinion for authority.

How the Justices voted

Decided 8–0.

“Concurring” means agreeing with the outcome; any split shown is the Court’s judgment, not each Justice’s reasoning. Source: the Supreme Court Database (Spaeth et al.), Washington University.

Precedents cited

Supreme Court decisions this opinion relies on, ordered by how often it cites each. Cases in our collection link through; others are named.

• Halcyon Lines v. Haenn Ship Ceiling & Refitting Corp. · 342 U.S. 282 (1952)
• The Max Morris · 137 U.S. 1 (1890)
• Ryan Stevedoring Co. v. Pan-Atlantic Steamship Corp. · 350 U.S. 124 (1956)
• Seas Shipping Co. v. Sieracki · 328 U.S. 85 (1946)
• The Osceola · 189 U.S. 158 (1903)
• Weyerhaeuser Steamship Co. v. Nacirema Operating Co. · 355 U.S. 563 (1958)
• Reed v. the Yaka · 373 U.S. 410 (1963)
• Gutierrez v. Waterman Steamship Corp. · 373 U.S. 206 (1963)
• Socony-Vacuum Oil Co. v. Smith · 305 U.S. 424 (1939)
• Jacob v. New York City · 315 U.S. 752 (1942)
• The Arizona v. Anelich · 298 U.S. 110 (1936)
• The Chattahoochee · 173 U.S. 540 (1899)
• Atlee v. Packet Co. · 88 U.S. 389 (1875)
• The\ North Star\"" · 106 U.S. 17 (1882)
• Jackson v. Lykes Bros. Steamship Co. · 386 U.S. 731 (1967)
• Pennsylvania Railroad v. O'Rourke · 344 U.S. 334 (1953)

Cited by

Later Supreme Court opinions in our collection that cite this case.

• Northwest Airlines, Inc. v. Transport Workers Union · 451 U.S. 77 (1981)
• Edmonds v. Compagnie Generale Transatlantique · 443 U.S. 256 (1979)
• Texas Industries, Inc. v. Radcliff Materials, Inc. · 451 U.S. 630 (1981)
• Lockheed Aircraft Corp. v. United States · 460 U.S. 190 (1983)
• Musick, Peeler & Garrett v. Employers Ins. of Wausau · 508 U.S. 286 (1993)
• Stencel Aero Engineering Corp. v. United States · 431 U.S. 666 (1977)

Official text

Read the official opinion (U.S. Reports, govinfo.gov)

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Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (1974). Citation count from the Free Law Project’s CourtListener bulk data. Data last verified 2026-07-03. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).