C.H. Robinson to Appeal $604M Verdict in Fatal Mississippi Crash Case

Freight brokerage giant C.H. Robinson is appealing a $604 million jury verdict handed down in a case that found it liable for a 2021 fatal crash in Mississippi. The crash, which occurred when a Lupus Superior truck crashed into stopped traffic, killed three people and injured two others. C.H. Robinson asserts that it should not be held liable and did not act negligently, pointing out that the carrier had a satisfactory rating from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration at the time of the accident. The company’s chief legal officer, Dorothy Capers, stated that safety is core to how C.H. Robinson operates and that the company goes beyond federal requirements to ensure safety. Capers also noted that the verdict reinforces the need for the federal government to establish clear accountabilities across the transportation industry to enhance highway safety. The plaintiffs in the case were represented by law firm Arnold & Itkin, who claimed that C.H. Robinson refused to accept responsibility for hiring a motor carrier with a history of safety alerts. This case comes less than three months after a landmark Supreme Court ruling that affirmed negligent hiring claims against freight brokers can proceed under state law. C.H. Robinson had previously expressed optimism that the ruling would lead to needed legal clarity. The company ranks No. 2 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest logistics companies in North America.