Transportation - Corporate

Transportation

SmithAmundsen offers experienced, proactive counsel, skilled in a wide range of commercial transportation issues. We provide comprehensive and cost-effective consulting services for self-insured transportation companies, insurers, and insureds. We provide each client with expedient case analysis, a thorough plan, and practical identiﬁcation of a resolution path. We offer the experience and expertise necessary to tailor legal solutions to meet each client’s needs.

SmithAmundsen attorneys have developed a comprehensive understanding of the businesses in which our clients operate. We advise professionals on issues in the aviation, trucking, FELA/Railroad, and marine industries. We also provide risk avoidance counseling and handle regulatory compliance issues involving all aspects of marine, aviation, rail, commercial carriers, and trucking.

In addition, our Immediate Response Team is available to assist in the investigation of major transportation related claims. We formulate on-site defense strategies, protect privileged communications, and counsel employees. Our team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Reference, “Public video cameras play larger role for attorneys in courtroom,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, January 5, 2012.

Presenter, "Transportation: How to Investigate, Defend, and Resolve Truck Accident Claims, CLM seminar, Oakbrook Terrace, IL, November 10, 2011.

Speaker, "The Essentials Course: Transportation Law," International Warehouse Logistics Association, Memphis, TN, October 24, 2011.

Author, "Sperl v. C. H. Robinson Appeal Denied by the Illinois Supreme Court -- $23.775 million dollar Verdict Stands," Transportation Law Alert, October 10, 2011.

Speaker, "Maximizing the Value of Social Media Investigation in Litigation," 2011 Arkansas Trucking Seminar, Springdale, AR, September 15, 2011.

Co-author, "In the Wake of Sperl: Best Practices Following an Eight Figure Judgement Against a Freight Broker," IWLA, June 2011.

Speaker, "Maximizing the Value of Social Media Investigation in Litigation," 2011 Arkansas Trucking Seminar, Springdale, AR, September 15, 2011.Co-author, "In the Wake of Best Practices Following an Eight Figure Judgement Against a Freight Broker," IWLA, June 2011.

Author, "Illinois Appellate Court Strikes Down Legislation Revising Gross Weight Limits For Commercial Vehicles, But Decision Temporarily Stayed," SmithAmundsen Transportation Alert, February 2011.

Co-authors, "Federal and State Trends Toward Prohibition of Texting While Driving," SmithAmundsen Transportation Alert, January 4, 2011.

Author, "Preservation After the Immediate Response to the Catastrophic Accident - Lessons Learned," SmithAmundsen Transportation Alert, December 6, 2010.

Co-author, "Opening the Door to Broker Liability -- Speri, et al. v. C.H. Robinson, et al.," and "Indemnification and Risk Shifting in the Motor Carrier Industry," Office Moving Alliance Conference, October 2010.

Author, "FMCSA Prohibits Texting by Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers," SmithAmundsen Transportation Alert, September 27, 2010.

Author, "The FedEx Ground Independent Contractor Litigation Update," Transportation E Brief, September 13, 2010.

Author, "Risk Shifting and Indemnification, Negligent Hiring/Supervision/Entrustment, and The Carmack Amendment," 2010 USLAW Trucking Boot Camp, August 2010.

Program Designer, Co-coordinator, and Speaker -- "The Motor Carrier and Some Things You Should Know," USLAW Trucking Boot Camp III, Omaha, NE, August 2010.

Program Designer, Co-coordinator, and Speaker -- "Rapid Response – What to do when the Call Comes In," USLAW Trucking Boot Camp III, Omaha, NE, August 2010.

Speaker, “Any Which Way You Can: The Peril in Ignoring Ethics," American Trucking Association Forum for Motor Carrier General Counsel, Monterey, CA, July 2010.

Speaker, “Disclosure and Proof in Civil/Common Law Proceedings -- The United States," 2010 TELFA Seminar, London, England, June 2010.

Moderator and Panelist, “The Lesser of Two Evils? What to do with Preventability Determinations and In House Post Accident Investigation,” 2010 USLAW Seminar, Transportation Track, Miami Beach, FL, April 2010.

Co-author, “Post Accident Investigation and Preventability Determinations Best Practices” 2010 USLAW Seminar, April 2010.

Panelist, “Economy and Efficiency: Strategies and Solutions – A Little Preparation Now Can Reduce Future Risks – Not So Common Tools,” International Warehouse Logistics Association, Annual Convention and Expo, San Diego, CA, March 8, 2010.

Co-author, “Being Prepared – Some Alternative Considerations for Minimizing Risk, Protecting Your Company and Doing Business Just a Little Bit Better,” International Warehouse Logistics Association, March 2010.

Speaker, "Keeping Up with the Millennials – The Use and Ramifications of Technology," DRI Trucking Law Seminar, Las Vegas, NV, February 5, 2010.

Co-author, "Keeping Up with the Millennials -- The Use and Ramifications of Technology," DRI Trucking Law Seminar, Defense Practice Seminar Course Materials, pp.165 - 194, February 2010.

Columnist, “Legally Thinking,” The Waybill: “Additional Insured Coverage — Another Way to Protect Your Business,” (February 2010); “Killing Me Softly — The End of Indemnification in Motor Carrier Transportation Contracts (Almost),” (October 2009); “An Expansion of Broker Liability,” (August 2009).

Author, "The Department of Transportation Agrees to New Hours of Service Rulemaking," Transportation E Brief, November 16, 2009.

Speaker, "Transportation Accident Investigation — Immediate Response & Forensics," IWLA 2009 Safety & Risk Conference, Rosemont, IL, November 12, 2009.

Author, "Illinois Clarifies Insurance Coverage for Motor Carriers and Their Permissive Users," Transportation E Brief, November 3, 2009.

Co-presenter, "Your Company: Limit Unnecessary and Financial and Liability Exposures in 2010," SmithAmundsen client seminar, Oak Brook, IL, October 27, 2009.

Co-authors, "Trucking Policyholder's Duty to Preserve Coverage," DRI Trucking Law Committee, 2009.

Featured Guest, "Rapid Response: Best Practices," USLAW Radio, December 2008.

Presenter, "Responding to Catastrophic Loss: Lessons Learned from the Aviation Industry," USLAW Network Fall Seminar, Las Vegas, NV, 2008.

Co-authors, "Airport Commercial Ground Transportation Programs Survey of Law" Airport Cooperative Research Program's Legal Research Digest 3, July 2008.

Section Co-author, "ABA's Commercial Transportation Litigation Committee's Spoliation of Evidence, A State by State Summary," Wisconsin Chapter, 2008.

Co-author, "Survey of Laws and Regulations of Airport Commercial Ground Transportation," ACRP Program 11-01, "Legal Aspects of Airport Regulations." Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., July 2008.

Program Moderator, "Transportation," USLAW Client Conference, Miami, FL, March 2008.

Presenter, Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association Products Liability Committee, Chicago, February 22, 2008.

Presenter, "We Did It Right, Why Did It Go Wrong?," PRIMA 2007 Annual Conference, Boston, Massachusetts, 2007.

Co-author, "Electronic Media Discovery Applications to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26," American Trucking Association Forum for Motor Carrier General Counsels, August 2007.

Panelist and Lecturer, “Spoliation of Evidence and Electronic Discovery in the Transportation Industry,” Machinery Haulers Association, Bettendorf, Iowa, 2007.

Presenter, “Responding to the ‘Bet the Farm’ Case,” Machinery Haulers Association, Easton, MD, February 2007.

Section Co-author, "ABA's Commercial Transportation Litigation Committee's Punitive Damages Compendium," Indiana Chapter, 2007.