Fergin v. Magnum LTL, Inc., No. 18-3502 (8th Cir. 2020)
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Plaintiff filed suit against Westrock in state court after a stack of cardboard boxes fell out of a truck and caused him to fall to the ground, injuring his shoulder. After removal to federal court, plaintiff brought a negligence claim against defendants for damages related to his bodily injury. Magnum moved for summary judgment, alleging that the Carmack Amendment preempted plaintiff's state law claim.
The Eighth Circuit held that the Carmack Amendment, which requires a carrier under the jurisdiction of the Transportation Act to issue a bill of lading for property it receives for transport and makes the carrier liable for damages resulting from its transportation or service, did not preempt plaintiff's state law claim for personal injury, because he was not a party to the bill of lading between his employer and the common carrier. Accordingly, the court reversed the district court's holding to the contrary.
Court Description: [Smith, Author, with Loken and Grasz, Circuit Judges] Civil case - Carmack Amendment. The Carmack Amendment, 49 U.S.C. Sec. 14706(a)(1) did not preempt plaintiff's state-law claim for personal injury as he was not a party to the bill of lading between his employer and the common carrier
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