Skeleton Racing is not for the faint of heart. Unfortunately, our clients slide down a treacherous ice track when their cargo (or their customer’s cargo), is no longer in control. The juxtaposition of the movement of goods, and the payment for those movements, frequently causes friction in the supply chain. Often, the flow of funds does not “catch up” to the actual shipment schematic. The consequent failure to pay freight charges, or failure to locate freight, regularly results in situations where freight is improperly (or properly) “held hostage” by towing companies, storage yards, warehouses, and other entities in the transport continuum. Also, as the supply chain becomes more complex, sometimes freight is misplaced or abandoned, and legal rights need to be ascertained by the possessor.
This panel will thoroughly analyze the case law, regulations, and practicalities of hostage freight situations and abandoned freight situations, both in terms of surface transportation involving motor carriers, rail carriers, and brokers, and also maritime transportation involving NVOCCs and steamship and drayage companies.
Moderator: Stephanie S. Penninger, Senior Director, Legal Counsel, XPO Logistics, Charlotte, NC
Presenter(s): Casey M. O’Brien, Attorney, Hill Rivkins LLP, New York, NY
Sarah Routhier, Attorney, Stein Monast, s.e.n.c.r.l., Quebec City, QC, Canada
Eric Zalud, Partner, Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP, Cleveland, OH