No. 24-1238

Shawn Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, et al.

Lower Court: Seventh Circuit
Docketed: 2025-06-04
Status: Granted
Type: Paid
Amici (19)Relisted (2) Experienced Counsel
Tags: common-law motor-carrier negligent-selection preemption safety-exception transportation-law
Key Terms:
Arbitration JusticiabilityDoctri Jurisdiction
Latest Conference: 2025-09-29 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does § 14501(c) preempt a state common-law claim against a broker for negligently selecting a motor carrier or driver?

Question Presented (from Petition)

No question identified. : i Q U E S TI O N P R E S E N T E D T h e c o m m o n l a w p er mit s a c a u s e of acti o n f or n e gli g e nt s el ecti o n. F or e x a m pl e, a p er s o n i nj ur e d i n a tr uc k cr a s h h a s a c a u s e of acti o n a g ai n st s o m e o n e t h at n e gli g e ntl y s el ect e d t h e tr uc k dri v er t o tr a n s p ort pr o p e rt y . A f e d er al st at ut e e x pr e s sl y pr e e m pt s st at e l a w s “r el at e d t o a pric e, r o ut e, or s er vic e of a n y m ot or c arri er . . . or a n y m ot or pri v at e c arri er, br o k er, or fr ei g ht f or w ar d er wit h r e s p e ct t o t h e tr a n s p ort ati o n of pr o pert y. ” 4 9 U. S. C. § 1 4 5 0 1(c)( 1) . T h e st at ut e h a s a s af et y e xc e pti o n, pr o vi di n g t h at t h e st at ut e “s h all n ot r estrict t h e s af et y r e g ul at or y a ut h orit y of a St at e wit h r e s p e ct t o m ot or v e hicl e s .” I d. § 1 4 5 0 1(c)( 2)( A). T h e q u e sti o n pr e s e nt e d i s: D o e s § 1 4 5 0 1(c) pr e e m pt a st at e c o m m o n -l a w cl ai m a g ai n st a br o k er f or n e gli g e ntl y s el ecti n g a m ot or c arri er or dri v er ? ii R E L A T E D P R O C E E DI N G S U. S. Di strict C o urt f or t h e S o ut h er n Di strict of Illi n oi s: M o nt g o mer y v. C ari be Tr a ns p ort II, L L C N o. 3: 1 9 -c v-1 3 0 0 J u d g m e nt e nt er e d J a n u ar y 1 1 , 2 0 2 4 U. S. C o urt of A p p e al s f or t h e S e v e nt h Circ uit: M o nt g o mer y v. C ari be Tr a ns p ort II, L L C N o. 2 4 -1 1 9 2 J u d g m e nt e nt er e d J a n u ar y 3, 2 0 2 5 iii T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S P a g e Q u e sti o n pr e s e nt e d . i R el at e d pr oc e e di n g s . ii T a bl e of c o nt e nt s . iii T a bl e of a ut h oriti e s . i v I ntr o d ucti o n . vii O pi ni o n s b el o w . 3 J uri s dicti o n . 3 St at ut or y pr o vi si o n s i n v ol v e d . 4 St at e m e nt of t h e c a s e . 5 I. L e g al b ac k gr o u n d . 5 A. Hi st or y of § 1 4 5 0 1(c) . 5 B. T hi s C o urt’ s d eci si o n s o n § 1 4 5 0 1(c) . 7 C. T h e circ uit s plit . 8 II. F act u al a n d pr oc e d ur al b ac k gr o u n d . 1 1 Ar g u m e nt . 1 2 I. T h er e is a circ uit s plit o n a n i m p ort a nt m att er. .. 1 2 II. T his c as e is a g o o d v e hicl e to r es ol v e t h e s plit . . 1 6 III. T h e S e v e nt h a n d El e v e nt h Circ uits ar e wr o n g. 1 7 C o ncl u si o n . 2 2 A p p e n di x A: O pi ni o n of t h e U nit e d St at e s C o urt of A p p e al s f or t h e S e v e nt h Circ uit ( J a n u ar y 3, 2 0 2 5) . 1 a A p p e n di x B: Or d er of t h e U nit e d St at e s Di strict C o urt f or t h e S o ut h er n Di strict of Illi n oi s ( J a n u ar y 1 1, 2 0 2 4 ) . 1 1 a i v T A B L E O F A U T H O RI TI E S P a g e CA S E S A meric a n Tr uc ki n g Ass’ ns v. Cit y of L os A n geles , 5 6 9 U. S. 6 4 1 ( 2 0 1 3) . 8 As pe n A m. I ns. v. L a n dst ar R a n ger, I nc. , 6 5 F. 4t h 1 2 6 1 ( 1 1t h Cir. 2 0 2 3) .. 1 – 2, 9 – 1 0, 1 3, 1 7 – 1 9, 2 1 Bertr a m v. Pr o gressi ve S. I ns. , N o. 1 9 -C V -0 1 4 7 8, 2 0 2 1 W L 2 9 5 5 7 4 0 ( W. D. L a. J ul y 1 4, 2 0 2 1) . 1 2, 1 6 Brett m a n v. M & G Tr uc k Br o ker a ge, I nc. , 1 2 7 N. E. 3 d 8 8 0 (Ill. A p p. Ct. 2 0 1 9) . 2 1 B uc k v. K u y ke n d all , 2 6 7 U. S. 3 0 7 ( 1 9 2 5) . 5 Ci ot ol a v. St ar Tr a ns p. & Tr uc ki n g, L L C , 4 8 1 F. S u p p. 3 d 3 7 5 ( M. D. P a. 2 0 2 0) . 1 2, 1 5 Cit y of C ol u m b us v. O urs G ar a ge & Wrec ker Ser v., I nc. , 5 3 6 U. S. 4 2 4 ( 2 0 0 2) .

Docket Entries

2026-02-13
Reply of Shawn Montgomery submitted.
2026-01-23
Amicus brief of Tokio Marine Houston Casualty Company submitted.
2026-01-23
Record received from the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The record is electronic and is available on PACER.
2026-01-21
Brief amicus curiae of United States filed. (Distributed)
2026-01-21
Amicus brief of Amazon.com, Inc. and Wayfair LLC submitted.
2026-01-21
Amicus brief of Tokio Marine Houston Casualty Company submitted.
2026-01-21
CIRCULATED
2026-01-21
Amicus brief of Professors Keith Hylton, Michael Greve and Richard Epstein submitted.
2026-01-21
Motion of United States for leave to participate in oral argument and for divided argument submitted.
2026-01-21
Amicus brief of United States submitted.
2026-01-21
Amicus brief of OurBus, Inc. submitted.
2026-01-21
Amicus brief of Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, Business Roundtable, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, National Federation of Independent Business and National Retail Federation submitted.
2026-01-21
Amicus brief of States of Nebraska and Georgia submitted.
2026-01-21
Amicus brief of Transportation Intermediaries Association, Inc. submitted.
2026-01-21
Amicus brief of National Association of Manufacturers submitted.
2026-01-21
Amicus brief of Airlines for America submitted.
2026-01-21
Amicus brief of Washington Legal Foundation submitted.
2026-01-21
Brief amici curiae of Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2026-01-21
Brief amici curiae of Professor Keith Hylton, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2026-01-21
Brief amici curiae of Amazon.com, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)
2026-01-21
Brief amicus curiae of Transportation Intermediaries Association, Inc. filed. (Distributed)
2026-01-21
Brief amicus curiae of Tokio Marine Houston Casualty Company filed. (Distributed)
2026-01-21
Brief amicus curiae of Tokio Marine Houston Casualty Company filed. (Corrected) (Distributed)
2026-01-21
Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
2026-01-21
Brief amicus curiae of Washington Legal Foundation filed. (Distributed)
2026-01-21
Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Manufacturers filed. (Distributed)
2026-01-21
Brief amicus curiae of OurBus, Inc. filed. (Distributed)
2026-01-21
Brief amicus curiae of Airlines for America filed. (Distributed)
2026-01-21
Brief amici curiae of Nebraska, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2026-01-21
Brief amici curiae of Interested Freight Brokers filed. (Distributed)
2026-01-14
Brief amicus curiae of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. filed.
2026-01-14
Brief of respondents Caribe Transport II, LLC, et al. filed.
2026-01-14
Amicus brief of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. submitted.
2026-01-14
Brief of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., C.H. Robinson Company, C.H. Robinson Company, Inc., and C.H. Robinson International, Inc. submitted.
2026-01-08
Record requested from the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
2026-01-02
SET FOR ARGUMENT on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
2025-12-08
Brief amicus curiae of Preemption Scholars filed.
2025-12-08
Brief amicus curiae of Robert Cox filed.
2025-12-08
Amicus brief of Preemption Scholars submitted.
2025-12-08
Amicus brief of Gergana Franco submitted.
2025-12-08
Amicus brief of State of Ohio, 28 Other States, and the District of Columbia submitted.
2025-12-08
Amicus brief of Truck Safety Coalition, Parents Against Tired Truckers, and Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways submitted.
2025-12-08
Amicus brief of Robert Cox submitted.
2025-12-05
Brief amicus curiae of Gergana Franco filed.
2025-12-05
Brief amicus curiae of American Truckers United filed.
2025-12-05
Amicus brief of American Truckers United submitted.
2025-12-02
Brief amicus curiae of Institute for Safer Trucking filed.
2025-12-02
Amicus brief of Institute for Safer Trucking submitted.
2025-12-01
Joint appendix filed.
2025-12-01
Brief of petitioner Shawn Montgomery filed.
2025-12-01
Joint Appendix submitted.
2025-12-01
Brief of Shawn Montgomery submitted.
2025-11-13
Motion to extend the time to file the briefs on the merits granted. The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including December 1, 2025. The time to file respondents' brief on the merits is extended to and including January 14, 2026.
2025-11-06
Motion for an extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed.
2025-11-06
Motion of Shawn Montgomery for an extension of time submitted.
2025-10-03
Petition GRANTED.
2025-09-10
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2025.
2025-08-27
Rescheduled.
2025-08-04
Supplemental brief of respondents C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)
2025-08-04
Supplemental Brief of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., C.H. Robinson Company, C.H. Robinson Company, Inc., and C.H. Robinson International, Inc. submitted.
2025-07-23
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2025.
2025-07-22
2025-07-22
Reply of Shawn Montgomery submitted.
2025-07-07
2025-07-07
Brief of respondents C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., et al. in support filed.
2025-07-07
Amicus brief of National Association of Manufacturers submitted.
2025-07-07
Brief of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., C.H. Robinson Company, C.H. Robinson Company, Inc., and C.H. Robinson International, Inc. in support submitted.
2025-06-02
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due July 7, 2025)
2025-03-04
Application (24A846) granted by Justice Barrett extending the time to file until June 2, 2025.
2025-02-27
Application (24A846) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from April 3, 2025 to June 2, 2025, submitted to Justice Barrett.

Attorneys

Airlines for America
Shay DvoretzkySkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Amicus
Shay DvoretzkySkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Amicus
Shay DvoretzkySkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Amicus
Amazon.com, Inc. and Wayfair LLC
Roman MartinezLatham & Watkins, LLP, Amicus
Roman MartinezLatham & Watkins, LLP, Amicus
Roman MartinezLatham & Watkins, LLP, Amicus
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Chantel L. FebusDykema Gossett PLLC, Amicus
Chantel L. FebusDykema Gossett PLLC, Amicus
Chantel L. FebusDykema Gossett PLLC, Amicus
American Truckers United
Rosalind Bell BienvenuDurham, Pittard & Spalding, LLP, Amicus
Rosalind Bell BienvenuDurham, Pittard & Spalding, LLP, Amicus
Rosalind Bell BienvenuDurham, Pittard & Spalding, LLP, Amicus
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., C.H. Robinson Company, C.H. Robinson Company, Inc., and C.H. Robinson International, Inc.
Theodore J. Boutrous Jr.Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Respondent
Theodore J. Boutrous Jr.Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Respondent
Theodore J. Boutrous Jr.Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Respondent
Warren L. Dean Jr.Thompson Coburn LLP, Respondent
Warren L. Dean Jr.Thompson Coburn LLP, Respondent
Warren L. Dean Jr.Thompson Coburn LLP, Respondent
Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, et al.
Noel John FranciscoJones Day, Amicus
Noel John FranciscoJones Day, Amicus
Noel John FranciscoJones Day, Amicus
Gergana Franco
Jonathan Lawrence HiltonHilton Parker LLC, Amicus
Jonathan Lawrence HiltonHilton Parker LLC, Amicus
Jonathan Lawrence HiltonHilton Parker LLC, Amicus
Institute for Safer Trucking
Brian WolfmanGeorgetown Law Appellate Courts Immersion Clinic, Amicus
Brian WolfmanGeorgetown Law Appellate Courts Immersion Clinic, Amicus
Brian WolfmanGeorgetown Law Appellate Courts Immersion Clinic, Amicus
Interested Freight Brokers
Robert Daniel Moseley Jr.Moseley Marcinak Law Group LLP, Amicus
Robert Daniel Moseley Jr.Moseley Marcinak Law Group LLP, Amicus
Robert Daniel Moseley Jr.Moseley Marcinak Law Group LLP, Amicus
National Association of Manufacturers
Ronald Michael JacobsVenable LLP, Amicus
Ronald Michael JacobsVenable LLP, Amicus
Ronald Michael JacobsVenable LLP, Amicus
OurBus, Inc.
Patricia Lynn GatlingWindels, Marx, Lane & Mittendorf, LLP, Amicus
Patricia Lynn GatlingWindels, Marx, Lane & Mittendorf, LLP, Amicus
Patricia Lynn GatlingWindels, Marx, Lane & Mittendorf, LLP, Amicus
Preemption Scholars
Ernest A. Young — Amicus
Ernest A. Young — Amicus
Ernest A. Young — Amicus
Professors Keith Hylton, Michael Greve and Richard Epstein
Martin V. TotaroHecker Fink LLP, Amicus
Martin V. TotaroHecker Fink LLP, Amicus
Martin V. TotaroHecker Fink LLP, Amicus
Robert Cox
Adina H. RosenbaumPublic Citizen Litigation Group, Amicus
Adina H. RosenbaumPublic Citizen Litigation Group, Amicus
Adina H. RosenbaumPublic Citizen Litigation Group, Amicus
Shawn Montgomery
Bryan S. GowdyCreed & Gowdy, P.A., Petitioner
Paul D. ClementClement & Murphy, PLLC, Petitioner
Paul D. ClementClement & Murphy, PLLC, Petitioner
Paul D. ClementClement & Murphy, PLLC, Petitioner
Dimitrios Alexandros PetevesCreed & Gowdy, P.A., Petitioner
State of Ohio, 28 Other States, and the District of Columbia
Mathura Jaya SridharanOhio Attorney General's Office, Amicus
Mathura Jaya SridharanOhio Attorney General's Office, Amicus
Mathura Jaya SridharanOhio Attorney General's Office, Amicus
States of Nebraska and Georgia
Frederick Richard YargerWheeler Trigg O'Donnell LLP, Amicus
Frederick Richard YargerWheeler Trigg O'Donnell LLP, Amicus
Frederick Richard YargerWheeler Trigg O'Donnell LLP, Amicus
Tokio Marine Houston Casualty Company
Conte Carmelo CicalaWithers Bergman LLP, Amicus
Conte Carmelo CicalaWithers Bergman LLP, Amicus
Conte Carmelo CicalaWithers Bergman LLP, Amicus
Transportation Intermediaries Association, Inc.
Marc S. BlubaughBenesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP, Amicus
Marc S. BlubaughBenesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP, Amicus
Marc S. BlubaughBenesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP, Amicus
Truck Safety Coalition, Parents Against Tired Truckers, and Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways
Hyland HuntDeutsch Hunt PLLC, Amicus
Hyland HuntDeutsch Hunt PLLC, Amicus
Hyland HuntDeutsch Hunt PLLC, Amicus
United States
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Amicus
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Amicus
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Amicus
Washington Legal Foundation
Zac MorganWashington Legal Foundation, Amicus
Zac MorganWashington Legal Foundation, Amicus
Zac MorganWashington Legal Foundation, Amicus