TN Truck Thought Podcast Episode 29
posted by TrueNorth Transportation on Thursday, April 10, 2025
Listen to our latest episode now!
LAWSUIT ABUSE AND NUCLEAR VERDICTS IN TRUCKING: Past, present and future
Lawsuit abuse and the rise of nuclear verdicts are a crisis in the trucking industry driving up costs, shutting down businesses and hamstringing the industry. We've seen jury awards and settlements in hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars, often far exceeding the actual damages. These outsized verdicts are driving skyrocketing insurance premiums, forcing small and mid-sized carriers out of business, and creating an environment where frivolous lawsuits are a constant threat. However, the industry is going on the offensive.
Joined by Pamela Bracher and Peter Berg, we discuss nuclear verdicts, lawsuit abuse, what’s being done to deal with these topics and how the industry can help.
Disclaimer – nine minutes into the episode, Peter experienced technical difficulties and was not recorded by the podcast. The flow of the conversation might be a little different, but we did our best to still provide entertaining and informative conversation. Please forgive us and enjoy!
Topics Covered Include:
- The history of nuclear verdicts
- The reptile theory and the psychology behind it
- What are some common situations that can lead to these types of cases
- The media’s role in the trucking industry
- The public’s perception of lawsuits on fleets
Featured Industry Specialists:
- Host: P. Sean Garney, co-director at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting
- Co-Host: Steve Keppler, co-director at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting
-
Guest: Pamela Bracher, deputy general counsel for the American Trucking Associations
-
Guest: Peter Berg, principal and practice leader at TrueNorth Companies
About the TN Truck Thought Podcast
The TN Truck Thought podcast keeps transportation leaders of today and tomorrow in the know on the hottest industry trends. Our specialists get to the bottom of challenging, and sometimes controversial, transportation topics to offer insight and predictions.
The TN Truck Thought podcast is hosted by Sean Garney of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting and produced by TrueNorth Companies.
Become a TN Truck Thought insider! You'll be the first to hear when new episodes drop.
About Author
TrueNorth has a team of dedicated transportation staff with deep specialization to each facet in the industry. Our solutions beyond the insurance policy help transportation companies reduce risk in new, innovative ways. Learn more about the solutions we offer here or call us at (800) 798-4080.
... read more about author