The 7.9 Jones Act Negligence or Unseaworthiness-Plaintiff's Negligence-Reduction of Damages refers to a legal doctrine in which a plaintiff's own negligence can be used to reduce the damages that they are owed under the Jones Act. The Jones Act is a federal law that provides injured seamen with the right to sue their employers for damages caused by the employer's negligence. Under the 7.9 doctrine, a plaintiff's own negligence can be used to reduce the damages owed to them by the employer if the court finds that the plaintiff was contributory negligent in causing their own injury. There are two types of contributory negligence that can be used to reduce damages: comparative negligence and contributory fault. Comparative negligence is when the court determines that the plaintiff's own negligence was a contributing factor in their injury, and reduces the damages accordingly. Contributory fault is when the court determines that the plaintiff's own negligence was the sole cause of their injury, and reduces the damages accordingly.