The FAIR Trucking Act would create a level playing field for litigation involving interstate trucking
Washington鈥擳oday, the 黑料不打烊 expressed strong support for the Forum Accountability and Integrity in Roadway (FAIR) Trucking Act that was introduced by Representatives Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) and Tom Barrett (R-Michigan) and cosponsored by Representative Brandon Gill (R-Texas). 听The bill would end the abusive practice of 鈥渇orum shopping鈥 by giving federal courts jurisdiction over consequential cases involving interstate trucking. 听This tactic is commonly employed by trial lawyers to move cases to favorable state jurisdictions and engineer the award of nuclear verdicts against trucking companies that go far beyond actual harm.
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鈥淲hen trial lawyers treat the judicial system like a game of 鈥榡ackpot justice,鈥 employers, consumers, and our economy pay the price,鈥 said 黑料不打烊 President & CEO Chris Spear. 听鈥淭he skyrocketing number of nuclear verdicts is driving up insurance rates to unsustainable levels and raising the cost of goods for all consumers. 听It also means trucking companies鈥攖he vast majority of which are small businesses鈥攁re one bad verdict away from being forced to permanently shut their doors. 听The FAIR Trucking Act would close the loopholes that the plaintiffs鈥 bar exploits to move cases to judicial hellholes and engineer these lopsided verdicts. 听We commend Reps. Hinson, Barrett, and Gill for leading this reform effort to protect jobs, strengthen our supply chain, and restore balance and fairness to the courts.鈥
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鈥淭rucking is essential to Iowa鈥檚 economy, supporting over 100,000 good-paying jobs in our state and delivering the items Americans need every day. 听When the plaintiffs鈥 bar twists civil litigation into a casino game and targets truckers to score a big payout, the costs are borne by everyone鈥攏ot just trucking companies, but consumers too,鈥 said Iowa Motor Truck Association President & CEO Brenda Neville. 听鈥淲e commend Rep. Hinson for leading the charge to put an end to the abusive practice of forum shopping. 听By leveling the playing field, we can protect hardworking truckers and ensure that justice and fairness drive accident litigation outcomes, not profits.鈥
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The FAIR Trucking Act grants federal courts jurisdiction over truck crash cases when:
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1. 听 听The matter involves interstate commerce.
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2. 听 听The amount being sought exceeds $5 million.
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3. 听 听At least one defendant and one plaintiff are from different states.
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Congress has acted before to stop abusive forum shopping, most notably with the bipartisan Class Action Fairness Act of 2005. 听Federal courts provide neutral forums with consistent standards, protections against manipulation and forum shopping, and fairer treatment for defendants.