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Freight Claims in Plain English (3d ed.). There are also
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Introduction
1. About
The Third Edition of “Freight Claims In Plain
English”
2. The
Paralegal Aspects of Freight Claims Management
3. How
to Use This Text
4. How
to Identify and Evaluate Legal Decisions
A. The
Importance of Legal Precedent
B. Jurisdictional
Considerations
C. Date
of The Decision vs. Date of Movement
D. The
Weight of Authority
E. Citations
- Court Decisions
F. Where
to Find Court Decisions
5. How
to Identify and Evaluate Federal Statutes and Regulations
A. Federal
Statutes
B. Legislative
History
C. Federal
Regulations
D. Regulatory
Agency Cases
6.
Recodification of The Interstate Commerce Act
1.0 Surface
Carrier Liability
1.1 Interstate and Foreign
Commerce
1.1.1 The
Carmack Amendment
1.2 Intrastate Commerce (vs.
Interstate Commerce)
1.3 “Exempt”
Transportation
1.3.1 The
Agricultural and Fishery Exemption
1.3.2 The
Agricultural Cooperative Exemption
1.3.3 Commercial
Zone Exemptions
1.3.4 Miscellaneous
Exemptions
1.3.5 Mixed
Exempt and Regulated Commodities
1.3.6 Private
Carriage
1.3.7 Domestic
Freight Forwarders
1.3.8 Exempt
Rail Transportation
2.0 Common Carrier
Liability
2.1 Common Carrier
vs. Contract Carrier
2.1.1 Statutory
Provisions
2.1.2 Common
Law Tests
2.2 Liability of a
Common Carrier
2.3 Liability of a
Contract Carrier
2.3.1 Applicability
of Carmack to Contract Carriers
3.0 Beginning
and Ending of Carrier Liability
3.1 When Liability
Begins
3.2 When Liability
Ends
4.0 Bills
of Lading
4.1 Purpose and
Proper Use
4.2 Terms and
Conditions
4.3 Short Form Bill of
Lading
4.4 Through vs.
Multiple Bills of Lading
4.5 Failure to Issue
Bill of Lading
4.6 Unilateral
Amendments
4.7 The “Apparent
Good Order” Clause
4.8 Notations On Bills
of Lading
4.8.1 Protect
From Heat or Cold–Truck Shipments
4.8.2 Protect
From Heat or Cold–Rail Shipments
4.8.3 “Shippers
Load and Count” Notations
4.8.4 Misdescription
of Goods
4.8.5 “Hazardous
Material” Notations
4.8.6 Special
Instructions
5.0 Burdens
of Proof
5.1 The
“Presumption of Negligence”
5.1.1 Loss
or Shortage of Goods
5.2 Proof of a Prima
Facie Case
5.2.1 Condition
At Origin
5.2.2 Shipper's
Load & Count
5.2.3 Sealed
Trailers or Containers
5.2.4 Condition
At Destination
5.2.5 Damages
5.3 Contributory and
Comparative Negligence
6.0 Carrier
Defenses to Liability
6.1 Common Law
Defenses
6.2 Bill of Lading
Exceptions
6.3 Act of God
6.4 Public Enemy
6.5 Act or Default of
Shipper
6.5.1 Specific
Acts of Shippers
6.5.2 Used
Containers
6.5.3 A.A.R.
Loading Rules
6.6 Authority of Law
6.7 Inherent Vice
6.8 Strikes and Riots
7.0 Damages
7.1 In General
7.1.1 Proximate
Cause
7.1.2 Speculative,
Remote and Uncertain
7.1.3 Limitations
of Liability
7.1.4 Duty
to Mitigate Loss
7.2 General Damages
7.2.1 Destination
Market Value
7.2.2 Other
Values
7.2.3 Invoice
Value
7.2.4 Miscellaneous
Expenses
7.2.5 Manufacturer's
Cost
7.2.6 Retail
Prices
7.2.7 Stock
Transfers (Warehouse-to-Warehouse, Etc.)
7.3 Special Damages
7.3.1 “General”
vs. “Special”
7.3.2 “Special
Damages” - Not Recoverable
7.3.3 General
Damages, Not “Special”
7.3.4 “Special
Damages” - Recoverable
7.3.5 Time
of Contracting vs. Notice At Later Date
7.3.6 Right
of Refusal to Transport
7.4 Specific Problems
7.4.1 Loss
of Sale
7.4.2 Repair
Costs (Including Profit, Overhead, General and
Administrative Costs)
7.4.3 Rental
Income
7.4.4 Special
Design Equipment
7.4.5 Exhibits
and Displays
7.4.6 Replacement
With Mismatched Colors, Etc.
7.4.7 Partial
Losses - Pairs or Sets
7.4.8 Discounts
- Trade vs. Cash
7.4.9 Freight
Charges
7.4.10 Tolerances
7.4.11 Commissions
7.4.12 Market
Decline
7.5 Interest
7.6 Punitive
(Exemplary) Damages
7.7 Attorney Fees
7.7.1 Federal
Statutes
7.7.2 State
Statutes
7.7.2.1 Attorney's
Fees Awarded-No Federal Preemption Found
7.7.2.2 Attorney's
Fees Denied
7.7.3 Tariff
or Contractual Provisions
7.8 Benefit
of Insurance Clauses
8.0 Limitations
of Liability
8.1 Background and
History
8.1.1 The
Common Law
8.1.2 Statutory
Provisions
8.1.3 Released,
Agreed, Actual, and Declared Values
8.2 Surface Carriers
(Truck and Rail)
8.2.1 Common
Carriers
8.2.1.1 Interstate
Commerce Act
8.2.1.2 I.C.C.
Criteria for Released Rates
8.2.1.3 Requirements
for Valid Limitation of Liability
8.2.1.3.1 Actual
or Constructive Notice
8.2.1.3.2 Choice
of Full vs. Limited Liability
8.2.1.3.3 Written
Agreement
8.2.1.3.4 Agreement
Prior to Shipment
8.2.1.3.5 Reasonable
Relationship Between Rates
8.2.2 “Deregulation”
Changes
8.2.2.1 Motor
Carrier Act of 1980
8.2.2.1.1 No
Requirement for Prior I.C.C. Approval
8.2.2.1.2 Collectively-Made
Released Rates
8.2.2.1.3 Choice
of Rates
8.2.2.2 Trucking
Industry Regulatory Reform Act of 1994
8.2.2.3 Federal
Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994
8.2.2.4 Staggers
Rail Act of 1980
8.2.2.4.1 Limited
Value Rates
8.2.2.4.2 Deductibles
8.2.3 Intrastate
Regulation
8.2.3.1 Uniform
Commercial Code
8.2.4 Contract
Carriers
8.2.4.1 Common
vs. Contract Carriage
8.2.4.2 Motor
Carriers
8.2.4.3 Rail
Carriers
8.2.5 Exempt
Movements
8.2.5.1 Motor
Carriers
8.2.5.2 Rail
Carriers
8.2.6 Household
Goods Carriers
8.2.7 Express
& Package Carriers
8.2.8 Bus
Carriers
8.2.9 Freight
Forwarders
8.3 Ocean Carriers
8.4 Air Carriers
8.5 Air Freight
Forwarders
8.5.1 “Air”
vs. “Surface” Movements
8.5.2 International
Movements
8.6 Warehousemen
8.7 Intermodal
Movements
8.8 Specific Problems
8.8.1 Notice
– Actual or Constructive
8.8.2 “Sophisticated
Shipper”
8.8.3 Partial
Losses
8.8.4 Form
of Bill of Lading
8.8.5 Tariff
Not On File
8.8.6 Tariff
Not Applicable
8.8.6.1 Tariff
Rate Not Charged (Negotiated Rate)
8.8.6.2 Minimum
Charge
8.8.6.3 Class
vs. Exception Ratings
8.8.7 Tariff
Not “Posted”
8.8.8 Ambiguous
Notations
8.8.9 Misdelivery
8.8.10 Deviation
8.8.11 Fundamental
Breach
8.8.12 Wilful
Misconduct
8.8.13 “Automatic”
Releases & “Inadvertence” Rules
8.8.14 “High
Value” Shipments
8.8.15 Government
Shipments
8.8.16 Drugs
& Toilet Preparations
8.8.17 Misrepresentation
or Fraud
8.8.18 Conversion
8.8.19 Shipper's
Signature
8.8.20 Insurance
vs. Valuation Charges
9.0 Time Limits (Surface
Modes)
9.1 Regulated
Common Carriage – Interstate
9.1.1 Claim
Filing Time Limits
9.1.1.1 Starting
The Time Limit
9.1.1.2 Estoppel
9.1.1.3 Actual
Notice – The “Hopper Paper” Case
9.1.1.4 Computation
of Time Limits
9.1.2 Suit-Filing
Time Limits
9.1.2.1 Starting
The Time Limits
9.1.2.2 “Disallowances”
Defined
9.1.2.3 Insurers'
Disallowances
9.1.2.4 Mailing
vs. Receipt of Disallowances
9.1.2.5 Improper
Disallowances
9.1.2.6 Estoppel
– Suit Filing Time Limits
9.2 Contract Carriage
9.2.1 Common
vs. Contract Carrier Status
9.3 Exempt
Transportation
9.3.1 Exempt
Bills of Lading & Contracts
9.3.2 Ucc
Provisions
9.3.3 Common
Law
9.3.3.1 Filing
of Claims
9.3.3.2 Commencement
of Suit
9.3.4 Freight
Forwarders
9.4 Interline Suits
10.0 Claims Procedures &
Administration
10.1 Notice of
Claim - Requirement of a Claim In Writing
10.1.1 Statutes
and Regulations
10.1.2 Bill
of Lading Provisions
10.1.3 Tariffs
and Contracts
10.2 What Constitutes
a Claim
10.2.1 The
I.C.C.'S Claim Regulations
10.2.2 Sufficiency
of Notice of Claim
10.2.3 No
Formal Claim Filed
10.2.4 Claim
Filed, But Sufficiency Disputed
10.2.4.1 Applicability
of I.C.C. Regulations
10.2.4.2 Facts
Sufficient to Identify Shipment
10.2.4.3 Asserting
Carrier Liability
10.2.4.4 Demand
for Payment
10.2.4.5 Specified
or Determinable Amount
10.2.4.6 “Notice
of Intent”
10.3 What Is Not a
Claim
10.4 Amendments
10.5 Who May File a
Claim or Suit
10.5.1 Risk
of Loss
10.5.2 Filing
Claims
10.5.3 Bringing
Suits
10.6 Proper Carrier
for Claims and Suits
10.6.1 Joint
and Several Liability
10.6.2 Non-Carriers
and Intermediaries
10.6.3 Bankrupt
Carriers
10.7 What Constitutes
Filing
10.8 Claim
Documentation
10.8.1 Necessary
Documents
10.8.2 Bonds
of Indemnity
10.8.3 Proof
or Verification of Loss
10.9 Rejection vs.
Acceptance of Damaged Shipments
10.9.1 The
“Practically Worthless“ Test
10.9.2 Wrongful
Rejections
10.9.3 Inspections
10.10 Salvage
Procedures
10.10.1 Salvage Rules
and Regulations
10.10.2 Salvage Value
10.10.3 Carriers'
Right to Salvage
10.10.4 Notice of
Refused Freight
10.10.5 Time Limit -
Salvage Proceeds
10.10.6 Product
Liability Considerations
10.10.7 Trade Mark and
Brand Name Considerations
10.10.8 Salvage On
Released Value Shipments
10.11 Acceptance or
Deposit of Claim Checks (Accord and Satisfaction)
11.0 Specific Claim Problems
11.1 Concealed
Damage
11.2 Delay Claims
(Reasonable Dispatch)
11.2.1 Perishables
11.2.2 Non-Perishables
11.2.3 Published
Schedules
11.2.4 “Guaranteed”
Delivery
11.2.5 Mechanical
Breakdowns
11.3 Non-Deliveries
11.3.1 Shortages
and Pilferage
11.3.2 Robberies,
Thefts, Hijackings and Impostor Thefts
11.3.3 Undeliverable
Freight and Misdeliveries
11.4 Piggyback Service
(TOFC/COFC)
11.5 Contaminated
Shipments
11.6 C.O.D. (Collect
On Delivery) Shipments
12.0 Aids to Claim Recovery
12.1 Governmental
Agencies
12.1.1 Cargo
Insurance Regulations
12.1.1.1 The
BMC 32 Endorsement
12.1.1.2 Self-Insurance
12.1.2 Adjudication
of Claims
12.1.3 Claim
Processing Rules (Ex Parte 263)
12.2 Arbitration
12.3 Court Actions
12.3.1 Where
to Bring An Action (Venue)
12.3.2 Jurisdictional
Limits In Federal Courts
12.3.3 Who
to Serve (Service Agents)
12.3.4 Form
of Complaint
12.3.5 Preemption
of Common-Law Remedies
12.3.6 Counterclaims
and Setoffs
12.3.6.1 Bankrupt
Motor Carriers
12.3.6.2 Bankrupt
Rail Carriers
12.3.7 Small
Claims Courts
12.3.8 Actions
Against Insurers
12.3.8.1 Direct
Action Against Insurers
12.3.8.2 Actions
Based On The BMC 32 Endorsement
12.3.8.3 Other
Actions Against Insurers and Brokers
13.0 Liability of Freight
Forwarders and Intermediaries
13.1 Freight
Forwarders
13.2 Brokers
13.3 Shippers' Agents
13.4 Shippers'
Associations
14.0 Warehouseman's
Liability
14.1 Public
Warehouseman - Governing Law and Definition
14.2 Forms of
Warehouse Receipt
14.3 Liability of a
Warehouseman
14.3.1 Duty
of Care
14.3.2 Burden
of Proof
14.4 Limitations of
Liability
14.5 Time Limits
14.6 Carrier As
Warehouseman
14.7 Change From
Carrier's to Warehouseman's Liability
14.7.1 Tender
to Consignee
14.7.1.1 Rail
Shipments
14.7.1.2 Truck
Shipments
15.0 The Impact of
Deregulation
15.1 Introduction
15.2 The Motor Carrier
Act of 1980
15.2.1 Broadening
Exemptions
15.2.2 Food
Transportation
15.2.3 Air
Freight Surface Movements
15.2.4 Limitations
On Liability (Released Rates)
15.2.5 Collectively-Made
Released Rates
15.2.6 Carmack
Amendment Changes
15.2.6.1 “Disallowance”
Defined
15.2.6.2 Insurer's
Disallowances
15.2.7 Claim
and Cargo Insurance Regulations
15.3 I.C.C.'S
Implementation of The Motor Carrier Act of 1980
15.4 The Staggers Rail
Act of 1980
15.4.1 Limitations
On Liability
15.4.1.1 Full
Value vs. Limited Liability
15.4.1.2 Deductibles
15.4.1.3 Exemption
Powers of The I.C.C.
15.4.2 Carmack
Amendment Changes
15.4.2.1 Venue
15.4.2.2 Other
Changes Made In The Motor Carrier Act Affecting Railroads
15.4.3 The
I.C.C./Attorney General Study of Railroad Liability - Ex
Parte No. 403
15.5 I.C.C.'S
Implementation of The Staggers Act
15.5.1 Exemption
of TOFC/COFC Traffic - Ex Parte No. 230
15.5.2 Rail
Rates Based On Limited Liability - Ex Parte No. 390
15.5.3 Rail
Carrier Cargo Liability Study - Report to Congress - Ex
Parte No. 403
15.6 The Household
Goods Transportation Act of 1980 - Dispute Settlement
Program
15.7 The Negotiated
Rates Act of 1993
15.8 The Trucking
Industry Regulatory Reform Act of 1994
15.9 Intrastate
Deregulation of Motor Carriers - The Federal Aviation
Administration Authorization Act of 1994
16.0 Air Carrier Liability
16.1 Differences
Between Surface and Air Carrier Liability
16.2 Domestic Air
Carriers
16.2.1 Basic
Liability Standards
16.2.2 Status
of Air Carrier Tariffs
16.2.3 Liability
Limitations
16.2.3.1 Passenger
Baggage
16.2.3.2 Air
Freight
16.2.3.3 Federal
Express
16.2.3.4 Material
Deviation
16.2.4 Time
Limits - Filing Loss and Damage Claims
16.2.5 Time
Limits - Filing Suit
16.2.6 Time
Limits - Overcharge Claims
16.2.7 Notice
of Concealed Loss or Damage
16.2.8 Special
Damages
16.2.9 Protective
Service
16.2.10 The
“Average Declared Value” Rule
16.2.11 Elimination
of The Duty to Serve
16.2.12 Post-Deregulation
Service Rules
16.2.13 Lawfulness
Issues
16.3 Domestic
Airfreight Forwarders
16.4 International Air
Carriers and Airfreight Forwarders
16.4.1 The
D.O.T.'S Powers
16.4.2 The
Warsaw Convention
16.4.3 When
The Warsaw Convention Governs
16.4.3.1 Loss
or Damage During “Transportation by Air”
16.4.4 Liability
Limitations
16.4.5 Willful
Misconduct or Default
16.4.6 Time
Limits - Filing Loss and Damage Claims
16.4.7 Time
Limits - Filing Suit
16.4.8 Time
Limits - Overcharges
16.4.9 Gold
vs. U.S. Dollars As The Limitation of Liability
16.4.10 Venue
16.5 Air Waybills -
Domestic and International
16.5.1 Declaration
of Value
16.5.2 Valuation
Charges
16.6 Surface/Air
Traffic
17.0 Water Carrier Liability
17.1 Domestic
Water Movements -The Harter Act
17.1.1 Scope
and Purpose
17.1.2 Exculpatory
Clauses
17.1.3 Seaworthiness,
Stowage and Delivery
17.1.4 Negligent
Navigation or Management
17.1.5 Tariffs
and Bills of Lading
17.1.6 Time
Limits
17.2 Foreign Water
Movements — The Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (Cogsa)
17.2.1 Applicability
17.2.2 Responsibilities
and Liabilities of Carrier
17.2.2.1 Seaworthiness
17.2.2.2 Stowage
and Delivery
17.2.2.3 Bill
of Lading
17.2.2.4 Time
Limits for Claims and Suits
17.2.2.5 Limitation
of Liability for Negligence
17.2.3 Burden
of Proof (Prima Facie Case)
17.2.4 Carrier
Defenses to Liability
17.2.4.1 Unseaworthiness
17.2.4.2 “Uncontrollable
Causes of Loss” (Defenses)
17.2.4.3 Negligent
Navigation or Management of The Ship
17.2.4.4 Act
of God
17.2.4.5 Other
Defenses
17.2.5 Limitation
of Liability
17.2.5.1 Notice
of Limitation
17.2.5.2 Goods
Shipped In “Packages”
17.2.5.3 Containerized
Shipments
17.2.5.4 Deviation
17.2.5.5 Fundamental
Breach
17.2.6 Inflammable,
Explosive or Dangerous Cargo
17.2.7 Increase
of Liabilities
17.2.8 Charter
Party
17.2.9 General
Average
17.2.10 Liability
Prior to Loading or After Discharge
17.2.10.1 Stevedores'
Liability
17.2.10.2 Terminal
Operators and Warehousemen
17.2.10.3 Connecting
Carriers
17.2.11 Ocean
Freight Forwarders
17.2.12 Non-Vessel
Operating Common Carriers (Nvocc's)
17.2.13 Tariffs
and Bills of Lading - Foreign Commerce
17.2.14 Forum
Selection Clauses
17.2.15 Punitive
Damages
17.3 Marine Insurance
17.4 Jurisdiction to
Implead Non-Maritime Parties to Maritime Action
18.0 Intermodal and
Multimodal Liability
18.1 Domestic
Movements (“TOFC/COFC”)
18.1.1 Substituted
Service
18.1.2 Through
vs. Multiple Bills of Lading
18.2 International
Movements
18.2.1 Ocean/Surface
Movements
18.2.1.1 Combined
Transport and Multimodal Bills of Lading
18.2.1.2 Export
Shipments - “Nonadjacent” Foreign Country
18.2.1.3 Export
Shipments - U.S. Territories, Possessions, Etc.
18.2.1.4 Import
Shipments
18.2.2 Air/Surface
18.2.3 Canada
and Mexico
18.2.3.1 Export
Shipments - Canada & Mexico
18.2.3.2 Import
Shipments - Canada & Mexico
19.0 Canadian Annotations
19.1 Surface
Carrier Liability
19.1.1 Inter-Provincial
and International
19.1.1.1 Intra-Provincial
19.1.1.2 Municipal
19.1.1.3 "Exempt"
Transportation
19.1.1.4 Private
Carriage
19.2 Bills of Lading
19.2.1 Generally
19.2.2 "Implied
Bill of Lading"
19.2.3 Unilateral
Amendments
19.2.4 "Hazardous
Materials" Notations
19.2.5 Special
Instructions
19.2.6 Burdens
of Proof
19.2.7 Contributory
Negligence
19.3 Bill of Lading
Exceptions
19.3.1 Act
or Default of Shipper, Owner or Consignee
19.3.2 Shipper
Liability for Damage Due to Defective Containers
19.3.3 Acts
of God
19.3.4 Inherent
Vice
19.3.5 Public
Enemy
19.4 Measure of
Damages
19.4.1 General
Damages
19.4.2 Special
Damages
19.4.3 Punitive
(Exemplary) Damages
19.5 Change From
Carrier to Warehouseman's Liability
19.6 Time Limits
19.6.1 Truck
and Rail
19.6.2 Ocean
Carriers
19.6.3 Air
Carriers
19.6.4 Interline
Suits
19.7 Specific Claim
Problems
19.7.1 Concealed
Damage
19.7.2 Delay
Claims
19.8 Aids to Claim
Recovery
19.8.1 Court
Actions
19.9 Attorney's Fees
19.10 Air Carrier
Liability
19.10.1 Domestic
19.10.2 Air
Freight Forwarders - Domestic
19.10.3 International
Air Freight
19.11 Water Carrier
Liability
19.12 Alternative
Dispute Resolution (ADR)
19.12.1 ADR
Options
19.12.2 Freight
Claims and ADR
19.12.2.1 The
Ontario Experiment
19.12.2.2 The
Saskatchewan Model
19.12.2.3 What
The Future Holds
20.0 Liability of Mexican
Motor Carriers
20.1 Cargo
Insurance On Mexican Motor Carrier Traffic
20.2 When Mexican Law
Governs a Cross Border Shipment
20.2.1 Traffic
From The U.S. to Mexico
20.2.2 Traffic
Moving From Mexico to The U.S.
20.3 Negotiation of a
Uniform Cross Border Liability Regime
Volume II
OUTLINE of TABLE of CONTENTS
(See Detailed Table of Contents In Vol. II)
101 Carrier Declinations and What to Do About Them
Section A: When Liability Is Denied
I. Statutory Defenses
II. Bill of Lading Exceptions
III. Bill of Lading Conditions
IV. Tariff Defenses
V. Evidentiary Defenses
Section B: When Liability Is Admitted, But Claim Is Disallowed As Filed
I. Measure of Damages
II. Other Reasons