Another Victory for TQL and 3PLs in Broker Liability Case

Another brokerage company has successfully defended itself in court, with a recent ruling holding that a 3PL (third-party logistics provider) is not liable for an accident involving a carrier it hired.

In this case, Total Quality Logistics (TQL) was found not liable by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals for a fatal accident that occurred in Georgia in 2020.

Main Details:

• Court Decision: The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that TQL could not be held liable for a fatal accident involving a carrier it hired, citing protections from the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA).
• Incident Description: The accident occurred in May 2020 on a Georgia state road when a driver for Hard to Stop made a negligent U-turn, resulting in Peter Gauthier's death.
• Lawsuit Transfer: Katia Gauthier, the widow of the victim, filed suit against Hard to Stop and TQL, which was transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.
• Previous Court Rulings: The lower federal court had already ruled in TQL’s favor, and the appellate court's decision aligns with previous rulings protecting brokers under the FAAAA.

This recent court ruling reinforces the legal protections for brokerage companies under the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act, affirming that they cannot be held liable for accidents involving carriers they hire.

As legal precedents continue to favor the 3PL industry, brokers are finding strong defenses against liability claims, contributing to a more defined legal landscape in transportation and logistics.