Recently, a jury in Gilmer, Texas awarded a plaintiff a $101 million verdict following a personal injury trial in what is being considered the largest verdict ever awarded for an accident involving a tractor-trailer. The massive verdict, of which roughly $75 million was for punitive damages, was assessed against FTS International (“FTS”), an oil services company that carries sand and other fracking materials. The primary causes of action in which the plaintiff was awarded the verdict was FTS’s negligent hiring…
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As he enters his third year as chief executive of the American Trucking Associations (“ATA”), Chris Spear is focused on the top issues facing the trucking industry. Spear pinpoints five main issues that face the trucking industry: driver shortage, productivity, infrastructure, safety technology, and tariffs. To address driver shortage, Spear proposes changing federal regulations to allow interstate truck driving by those aged 18 years or older. Spear says he was influenced by a trip to the aircraft carrier, the U.S.S.…
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Setliff Law is pleased to announce that Tom Moran has been appointed chair of the firm’s construction law group. Mr. Moran has 10 years’ experience in the construction law field, and since joining Setliff Law in 2015, his leadership qualities and client focused approach have created a foundation upon which others at the firm can build. With Mr. Moran heading up this practice group, clients are assured he and the other members of the group will continue to provide exceptional…
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In this case the plaintiff filed a complaint against a trucking company and its driver for recovery for alleged personal injuries and loss of consortium (damages suffered by the spouse or family member of a person who has been injured or killed as a result of the defendant's negligent or intentional, or otherwise wrongful acts) arising from an accident in Allegany County, Maryland on April 3, 2015. In addition to a claim for respondeat superior (when a party is responsible…
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We are frequently asked whether or not an individual is considered an “employee” for workers’ compensation purposes, and, in fact, were specifically asked to address this in an article. Unfortunately, the answer is generally neither simple nor short, and almost always fact specific. Though Workers’ Compensation statutes vary slightly from state to state, Virginia’s body of law is indicative. Va. Code § 65.2-101 defines “employee” expansively, including more than 20 subparts, ranging from Americorps members and certain food stamp recipients…
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Setliff Law is pleased to announce that Mike Donner has been appointed chair of the firm’s labor and employment law group. Mr. Donner has 15 years’ experience in the labor and employment law field, and since joining Setliff Law in 2016, his leadership qualities and client focused approach have created a foundation upon which others at the firm can build. With Mr. Donner heading up this practice group, clients are assured he and the other members of the group will…
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