General Transportation

Represented a global freight forward transportation dispute in the New Jersey Superior Court. After filing, fully briefing, and arguing a motion to dismiss, the Court found that the plaintiff had not stated a claim for which relief may be granted. Accordingly, the judge dismissed the complaint from the bench before the end of the hearing. 

Represented a New York-based ocean and air freight intermediary in two related actions against an international steamship line. During the height of the 2021 COVID-19 pandemic, the Line improperly in-gated five shipping containers owned by our client’s customer into its terminal. Despite our client’s attempts to reclaim the shipping containers, the Line continued to use the shipping containers in its own business for several years, in derogation of our client’s superior ownership rights. Ultimately, we filed a complaint for conversion in the United States District Court -Southern District of New York, and a companion action at the Federal Maritime Commission for damages related to the Line’s alleged violations of the Shipping Act. We successfully defended against motions to dismiss in both forums and litigated both actions through numerous motions, counterclaims, third-party pleading practice, and administrative proceedings. Ultimately, the parties were able to resolve these related disputes in a favorable global settlement.

Represented Cargill, Inc., a multi-billion-dollar food products processor and manufacturer, in a motor vehicle accident case pending in Cook County, Illinois. First, we succeeded in obtaining summary judgment on all of the plaintiff’s vicarious liability claims in a court long known as plaintiff friendly. The plaintiff filed a motion to reconsider that dismissal and a motion to amend the complaint to include direct negligence claims against Cargill for the loading of the cargo. We opposed the plaintiff’s motions, and the judge agreed, drafting a thoughtful written order denying plaintiffs’ motions in their entirety. Not only was this a huge win for Cargill, but it was also a win for the nation’s third-party logistics industry and manufacturers such as Cargill across the country.

Represented C.A.T. Transport, Inc., a Canadian-based transportation provider focused on extensive and elaborate cross-border motor carrier transportation, in successfully managing the dismissal of over 20 lawsuits from a hundred-vehicle pileup in Texas.

Represented Johanson Transportation Service, a large nationwide transportation broker and logistics provider headquartered in California in a high profile, high value, multiple fatality lawsuit for Johanson in California. We obtained a complete dismissal.