Truck and Commercial Vehicle Litigation

Truck, commercial vehicle and transportation litigation have been significant areas of practice for the firm since its inception. This practice area includes both the defense of trucking companies, and other operators of commercial motor vehicles, and product liability claims against truck and trailer part manufacturers for both compensatory and punitive damages.

The firm’s practice includes transportation related litigation, such as Illinois Commerce Commission matters including transfer of authority hearings and hazardous materials transportation claims.

The attorneys practicing in this area have long and diverse experiences with respect to the truck and commercial motor vehicle industry. The attorneys also have the flexibility to be able to defend their clients as a team and divide responsibilities as needed to present a fortified defense on many fronts. This tact has been used frequently to bring matters to a beneficial resolution for our clients.

Lyndon C. Molzahn, member, directs this practice area. As a member of the Transportation Lawyer’s Association and Trucking Industry Defense Association, he has tried more than 60 cases to jury verdict, the vast majority of those being the defense of a trucking company or commercial motor vehicle, or of a truck or trailer product manufacturer. This has been his area of specialization for more than 25 years and has included cases involving traumatic seizure disorder (Wozniak v. Conalco Carriers, Inc. ), wrongful death (Catherine Filar v. Harold Ives Trucking Company, et. al.) and paraplegia (Cortes v. Ryder Truck Rental).

Timothy J. Reed, member, has concentrated in the defense of truck and other commercial motor vehicle litigation since 1985. Mr. Reed has defended wrongful death cases arising out of truck accidents in Oklahoma, Iowa and Indiana. He has successfully addressed issues including claims of punitive damages against the individual driver and trucking company, as well as evidentiary issues on the admissibility of blood alcohol and trucking company discipline/termination of drivers. His expertise also includes accidents involving railroads, tariff undercharge litigation, and tractor-trailer overweight claims. He is also a member of the Transportation Lawyers Association.

Perry Rocco, member, has assisted the transportation litigation group with matters pending in Illinois and Indiana. Mr. Rocco has addressed issues including claims of punitive damages against the individual driver, trucking company, and parent company and successfully had the claims dismissed.