April 2023 – The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois ordered summary judgment in favor of our client, a trucking company.  After a fatality accident, the plaintiff alleged negligence against the motor carrier involved in the accident and the carrier that brokered the load to it.  After discovery, the plaintiff amended to add our client as a defendant and alleged negligence and negligent hiring and retention.  Our client’s carrier double brokered the load without the permission or even knowledge of our client.  The court granted our motion for summary judgment, finding that no principal-agent relationship existed between our client and the driver involved in the accident and that our client owed no duty to the plaintiff.  Brian Keller and Gerald Kennedy handled the case for the firm.