Section Newsletters

Articles on Transportation Law

Targeted: The Transportation Industry and Illinois’ Wrongful Death Act By Mallory Sanzeri Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, September 2023 On August 11, 2023, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law HB 219 to allow punitive damages to be recoverable in wrongful death and survival actions.
Getting Railroads Back on Track: Bi-Partisan Legislation Aims to Impose Rail Safety Measures After Slew of Hazmat Derailments By Stephanie A. Black Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, April 2023 A string of derailments occurring across the country since the February 2023 East Palestine, Ohio, derailment have ignited calls for greater oversight and restrictions for rail carriers.
Illinois Appellate Court reverses summary judgment to carrier on a broker back solicitation claim where broker’s customer had first solicited carrier By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, December 2017 A discussion of Quality Transportation Services, Inc. v. Mark Thompson Trucking, Inc.
Fifth Circuit finds state law cargo damage claims related to tank washing services preempted by Carmack Amendment By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, May 2017 This decision in Heniff Transportation Services, LLC v. Trimac Transportation Services, Inc. will add further support to the well established authority supporting Carmack Amendment preemption of state law claims against motor carriers relating to cargo loss and damage on interstate shipments.
Illinois appellate court affirms judgment for hostaged load victim By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, April 2017 Bullet Express, Inc. v. New Way Logistics, Inc. promises to be a useful precedent on which victims in future hostage load situations will be able to rely upon in pursuit of any wrongdoing entity(ies) if forced to pursue litigation.
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Semi truck driver found to be an independent contractor of transportation company By Courtney M. Quilter Workers’ Compensation Law, April 2016 The case of Esquinca v. IWCC presented the issue of whether claimant, a semi truck driver, was an employee of Respondent, a transportation company.
Independent truck driver vs. employee By Kenneth F. Werts Workers’ Compensation Law, September 2015 An examination of Steel & Machinery Transport, Inc. v. Workers’ Compensation Commission.
Chicago District Court finds fraudulent inducement claim against broker preempted by 49 U.S.C § 14501(c) By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, June 2015 A summary of the recent decision in Midwest Trading Group, Inc. v. GlobalTranz Enterprises, Inc.
Illinois appellate court sustains summary judgment for broker C.H. Robinson on plaintiff negligence claims By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, January 2015 A discussion of the recent case of Hayward v. C. H. Robinson Company, Inc., et al.
District court finds truck drivers to be contractors not employees, and grants summary judgment to motor carrier in discrimination case By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, November 2014 A summary of the recent case of Silic v. BBS Trucking, Inc.
Chicago district court grants summary judgment to shipper on negligent entrustment claim By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, April 2014 On February 26, 2014, U. S. District Court Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer issued an opinion granting summary judgment to shipper Central Steel & Wire Company, Inc. on a negligent entrustment/selection claim in McComb v. Bugarin, et al.
Chicago district court grants summary judgment to shipper & broker in injury litigation By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, March 2014 A discussion of Scheinman v. Martin’s Bulk Milk Service, Inc.
Interstate trucking litigation—Deposing the Safety Director By Dennis M. Lynch Tort Law, February 2014 A highlight of some interesting topics of questioning for safety director depositions, with examples from recent cases.
Chicago district court rejects claimed FAAAA preemption regarding intrastate regulation of for-hire trucking By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, December 2013 A summary of the recent case of Nationwide Freight Systems, Inc., et al. v. Thomas Baudino.
Peoria, Illinois trial court rejects Sperl-based claim that a motor carrier & driver were the “agents” of broker C.H. Robinson on a Robinson-brokered load By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, April 2013 This trial court decision is a well-reasoned decision that stands out as a case where plaintiff efforts to impose liability on a broker or shipper for carrier negligence/ misconduct were not successful.
Six tips for assisting the commercial driver with a traffic ticket By Jeremy J. Richey Traffic Laws and Courts, March 2013 Some helpful advice for the practitioner to consider when accepting the commercial driver as a client.
New Jersey District Court dismisses owner operators’ FLSA class action claiming employment status By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, October 2012 A summary of the recent case of Vaudral Luxama v. Ironbound Express, Inc.
Seventh Circuit reverses & remands a summary judgment which enforced a motor carrier’s cargo damage limitation in Carmack litigation By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, August 2012 In this the era of pervasive “third party” entity presence in the transportation marketplace, it is not surprising that courts sometimes have difficulty applying the otherwise clear two party (shipper/carrier) principles of transportation law to Carmack litigation involving third and fourth parties. 
IDOT long-range state transportation plan By Jeffrey A. Mollet Agricultural Law, May 2012 On April 30, 2012, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced plans to update its Long-Range State Transportation Plan (Plan), all as required by the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration.
First District rejects agency/negligent entrustment theories of shipper liability in truck/rail collision By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, April 2012 A summary of the recent case of Dowe v. Birmingham Steel Corp.
9th Circuit rejects L.A. port’s owner operator prohibition By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, November 2011 A summary of the recent case of American Trucking Associations, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles.
District court refuses to reconsider Carmack preemption of cargo claim By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, November 2011   In Personal Communications Devices v. Platinum Cargo Logistics, Inc., the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California denied plaintiff’s Motion for Reconsideration of a partial grant of summary judgment in cargo claim litigation.
Court awards summary judgment for cargo damage and attorney fees in cargo litigation By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, October 2011 A summary of the recent case of Contessa Premium Foods, Inc. v. CST Lines, Inc.
Seventh Circuit vacates FMCSA EOBR rule By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, October 2011 With this court ruling, it is anticipated FMCSA may need to restart the entire mandatory EOBR rulemaking process and rewrite the rule or issue some supplemental ruling that addressed the harassment issue and other issues that have been raised in evaluating the new rule.
New Jersey District Court rejects material deviation claim By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, September 2011 The court noted that PMT needed to show UPS’ intentional destruction or theft of the cargo for the liability limit to be ignored and no such evidence had been presented.
Owner operator not separately liable for cargo damage under state law By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, September 2011 The court found the owner operator lease between Elmore and L&O did not create any separate Elmore duty in tort to Merchants. The action against Elmore.
Res ipsa and wandering cows By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, September 2011 Under the res ipsa theory, the facts at issue must be so egregious that the only way the crash in issue could have occurred would be if someone had been negligent. 
3rd District Appellate Court affirms $23 million personal injury jury verdict against broker C.H. Robinson By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, June 2011 The Sperl v. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. decision is significant to the extent it holds broker Robinson responsible for the tort of a driver for one of its contracting carriers.
District court sustains freight forwarder/motor contract carrier’s limited liability defense By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, June 2011 A summary of the recent OneBeacon Insurance v. Haas Industries, Inc. case.
Motor carrier defeats HIV-positive driver’s ADA and related claims By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, June 2011 The case of EEOC v. C.R. England, Inc. will be helpful to motor carriers and others as it answers some fundamental questions that arise from the ADA statute which have not been previously addressed in detail by the courts.

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