A significant win for our freight broker clients and the transportation industry!

A plaintiff and his wife sought substantial damages after a collision with a wheel that detached from a flatbed trailer carrying oversized equipment. Our client, a registered commercial freight broker represented by Andrew Mihalick and Aaron Speer, was sued alongside multiple affiliated entities, with claims that they were responsible for the trailer’s condition and the transport of the load.

Originally filed in Illinois state court, the case was removed to federal court for diversity and was later transferred to the Southern District of Texas, where the accident occurred. Once there, our team acted quickly—filing a motion to dismiss the claims under the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA), which limits states’ ability to regulate freight brokers.

Judge Andrew S. Hanen ruled in our favor, dismissing all negligence claims against our client with prejudice. This decision adds to the growing nationwide trend recognizing FAAAA preemption in freight broker liability cases—a major victory for our clients and the industry as a whole.

Willie Patterson, et al. v. Hunt Perfection LLC, et al., Civil Action No. 4:24-CV-830, 2025 WL 5664024 (S.D. Tex., Feb. 20, 2025).