Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC

Federal 7th Circuit Court
Civil Court
Vicarious Liability
Citation
Case Number: 
No. 24-1192
Decision Date: 
January 3, 2025
Federal District: 
S.D. Ill.
Holding: 
Affirmed.
Judge: 
KIRSCH

Plaintiff filed a personal injury lawsuit after he was injured in a collision with a tractor-trailer on a state highway. He sued the driver of the truck as well as the carrier and freight broker that arranged delivery of the shipment, claiming that it was vicariously liable for negligent hiring. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the freight broker, finding that it was not vicariously liable for the negligence of the driver. The Seventh Circuit affirmed, explaining that the driver and carrier were independent contractors of the freight broker and, as such, federal law barred the plaintiff’s negligent hiring claims against the freight broker defendant. (SCUDDER and ST. EVE, concurring)