Transportation

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Williams Montgomery & John offers a team of trial lawyers dedicated to the representation of transportation industry clients.  We have represented owners and operators of trucks, trains, buses, vans, automobiles and airplanes. Our clients range from small, independent operators to Fortune 500 companies.

We currently serve as regional counsel for YRC Worldwide, Inc., one of the largest trucking companies in the United States.  We also have served as national trial counsel for TruGreen Lawncare and The Terminx International Company.  The cases involve personal injury and property damage claims arising out of claims alleging operator error, improper loading, improperly secured cargo, and equipment failures.

The firm is well known for handling catastrophic transportation cases and obtaining excellent results.  We vigorously address both the liability and the damages issues in the cases we handle.  In our view, defense counsel too often focus exclusively on liability issues, risking an excessive verdict should liability be found. 

We have also consulted with transportation companies on the application of CSA 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act, Carmack Amendment issues, and other aspects of state and federal transportation law.

The firm's transportation practice is led by partner Hanson Williams, a member of the Trucking Industry Defense Association and Truckload Carriers Association.

For more information about the firm's transportation practice, please contact Mr. Williams at 312.855.4856 or hlw@willmont.com.

  


Partners Practicing in this Area

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Representative Matters

  • Cairns v. Ty Walk Liquid Sales, Inc. and Elam v. Ty Walk Liquid Sales, Inc.
    Circuit Court of Will County, Ill.
    Won defense verdict for trucking company and tractor-trailer driver in lawsuit arising from truck-automobile accident. Plaintiffs sought $10.5 million in damages for deaths of automobile driver and passenger.
  • Estate of Phillipart v. Archer Daniels Midland

    Circuit Court of Sangamon County, Ill.
    Obtained reversal of $550,000 verdict entered against client Archer Daniels Midland in lawsuit arising from vehicular accident that resulted in the death of an 18-year-old foreign exchange student.  Verdict for plaintiff reversed by Illinois Supreme Court with judgment entered for defendant without remand. 

  • Fears v. Yellow Freight

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Obtained jury verdict for defendant trucking company and its driver in lawsuit arising from truck-automobile accident. 19-year-old plaintiff, a passenger in a vehicle that attempted to pass defendants' truck on the right at a merge point of two travel lanes, sustained a traumatic axonal brain injury, 8-month coma, multiple fractures, internal injuries, quadriparesis, severe cognitive deficits, confinement to a wheelchair, and required 24-hour care.  Plaintiff's last settlement demand was $8,000,000.  Plaintiff asked the jury for $40,000,000 in damages.

  • Kedziora v. France

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Obtained verdict for defendant truck driver in lawsuit arising from commercial vehicle accident. Plaintiff alleged serious personal injuries and sought $1.8 million in damages.

  • Marilyn Bryan v. Terminix
    District Court of Sedgwick County, Kan.
    Achieved favorable verdict in lawsuit against Terminix arising from motor vehicle accident. Plaintiff, who alleged serious personal injuries, was awarded nuisance value damages by jury.
  • Rachel Barton v. Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Authority (METRA) and Union Pacific Railroad Co.

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Represented defendants Metra and Union Pacific in a highly publicized lawsuit brought by celebrity violinist Rachel Barton.  Plaintiff sustained serious personal injuries when she was caught in door and dragged by commuter train.

  • Sanchez v. Dedicated Transport, Inc.
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Successfully resolved lawsuit against trucking company arising from truck-automobile accident. Plaintiff sought damages for emotional distress suffered by eight-year-old passenger. Jury award to plaintiff reduced to zero damages.
  • Vasilion v. Hapag-Lloyd, Three I Truck Lines

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Obtained reasonable settlement in a liability case against Three I Truck Lines involving an oversized shipping container transported without a permit which dislodged from trailer and blocked all lanes on I-55 after container struck overpass, causing severely catastrophic injuries to plaintiff.  Total verdict was $42.5 million.

  • Yoder v. Roundy's Inc.
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Defended Roundy’s in lawsuit arising from traffic accident involving 15 vehicles. Plaintiffs sought $110 million for multiple serious personal injuries and death; jury awarded $10.3 million to plaintiffs.