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A monumental Supreme Court opinion released Thursday sided with a trucking crash victim’s case, aiding states’ abilities to regulate the brokerage industry in safety matters.
The Supreme Court opinion brings clarity to the judicial system, determining a safety provision empowering states means brokers are not immune from negligent hiring claims. Federal courts have handled the issue differently, and the opinion brings new oversight and less protection to brokers.
“Brokers can now be sued in state court for negligently selecting unsafe carriers,” law firm Husch Blackwell Partner Julie Maurer said in a statement to Trucking Dive. “The decision does not, however, mean automatic liability. Brokers who conduct reasonable due diligence in carrier selection should be well-positioned to defend against such claims.”
