The Court is unpersuaded that transferring this case to the Northern District of Oklahoma would serve to extinguish Huddleston's California state law claims. In the event any portion of the Individual Settlement Amounts paid to Plaintiff and Class Participants is ultimately construed by the IRS or any other taxing authority to be taxable income from which taxes should have been withheld, Plaintiff and Class Participants shall pay any and all such taxes, interest, and penalties on the amount they receive. John Christner Trucking JCT Never lease with this company as long as BA and JM are there. Rhode Island is appealing a court ruling that ended the states truck-only tolls. (citing Holliday, 2010 WL 3910143, at *4). Because California's long-arm statute allows the exercise of personal jurisdiction to the full extent permissible under the U.S. Constitution, the question here is whether assertion of personal jurisdiction over JCT comports with the limits imposed by federal due process. John Christner Trucking Class Action Certified | Robert S. Boulter Our . On average, employees at John Christner Trucking stay with the company for 2.3 years. Huddleston does not argue that the Court could exercise general jurisdiction over JCT but contends that the Court does have specific jurisdiction over JCT. Report this profile . John Christner Trucking, LLC Company Profile - Datanyze 3d at 1207 n.6. The Court disagrees. John Christner Trucking LLC is an active DOT registered motor carrier operating under USDOT Number 273897 and MC Number 192518. You should direct any questions you may have about this notice or the settlement to the notice administrator and/or to class counsel. "For a party to escape a forum selection clause on the grounds of fraud, it must show that 'the inclusion of that clause in the contract was the product of fraud or coercion.'" "Courts in the Ninth Circuit have generally agreed that the choice-of-law analysis is irrelevant to determining if the enforcement of a forum selection clause contravenes a strong public policy." Hirschbach, based in Dubuque, Iowa, is a privately owned carrier . Sign up for our weekly newsletter today! (Text Only - No Attachment) [21-5025] [Entered: 03/25/2021 04:25 PM], Docket[10817929] Acknowledgment of transcript order filed by Thomas Huddleston. Iskanian v. CLS Transp. Once the plaintiff carries this burden, the defendant must come forward with a "compelling case" that the exercise of jurisdiction would not be reasonable. 2012 WL 393614, at *1 (emphasis supplied). DATE RECEIVED: 03/11/2021. 1391 (d). CIVF 07-1321 AWI SMS, 2007 WL 3341389, at *7 (E.D. [21-5023, 21-5025] [Entered: 04/27/2021 08:35 AM], Docket[10825412] Filed notice record is complete. ***TIDBIT TUESDAY*** QualComm Message Reinder: Every Friday around 10:00 am you receive a message from the driver settlement department on your qual comm. Inc. v. La Ligue Contre Le Racisme Et L'Antisemitisme, 433 F.3d 1199 (9th Cir. Id. The California Supreme Court has likened PAGA actions to qui tam actions in that a representative plaintiff brings an action "as the proxy or agent of the state's labor enforcement agencies, representing the same legal right and interest as those agencies and seeking statutory civil penalties that otherwise would be sought by those agencies." Though only a quarter of the loads with pick-ups or drop-offs in California occurred within the Eastern District, that is enough to satisfy the requirement that a "substantial" portion of the events giving rise to the suit arise in the District, "even if a greater part of the events occurred elsewhere." Marine Const. Where a forum-selection clause uses the phrases "arising under," "arising out of," or similar language, the clause is construed narrowly to cover only disputes "relating to the interpretation and performance of the contract itself." [21-5025] [Entered: 04/20/2021 09:24 AM], [10823553] Attorney Ms. Carolyn H. Cottrell for Thomas Huddleston admitted to the bar of this court. As such, the Class Participants understand and agree that they are providing the Released Parties with a full and complete release with respect to the Released Claims. In other words, while the "in connection with" language is broad enough to encompass Huddleston's misclassification claims and bring them under the umbrella of the forum-selection clause, the ICOA provides that Oklahoma law applies only to interpretation of the ICOA itself. Instead, the federal circuit courts appear to agree that venue may be proper in multiple districts if a "substantial part" of the underlying events took place in each of those districts. at 8. Therein, he states that he is a resident of California and that much of his work activity took place in California. In EEOC v. Waffle House, Inc., 534 U.S. 279 (2002), the Supreme Court held that a governmental agency was not bound by an employee's arbitration agreement such that it was barred from pursuing judicial relief in an enforcement action. Full-Time. Schwarzenegger v. Fred Martin Motor Co., 374 F.3d 797, 802 (9th Cir. The Court begins its analysis with JCT's challenge to personal jurisdiction. The case status is Pending - Other Pending. Mousavi v. John Christner Trucking, LLC - Casetext This factor does not weigh against transfer. . However, "[w]hether another reasonable forum exists becomes an issue only when the forum state is shown to be unreasonable." at 1125. 1998). In determining whether jurisdiction is reasonable, courts consider seven factors: (1) the extent of a defendant's purposeful interjection into the forum; (2) the burden on the defendant in defending in the forum; (3) the extent of conflict with the sovereignty of the defendant's state; (4) the forum state's interest in adjudicating the dispute; (5) the most efficient judicial resolution of the dispute; (6) the importance of the forum to the plaintiff's interest in convenient and effective relief; and (7) the existence of an alternative forum. Why one international organization is joining the fight. This constitutes some purposeful injection into California and supports the reasonableness of the exercise of personal jurisdiction over JCT. For-Hire Companies | Transport Topics Opp. Second, litigating in California would impose some burden on JCT, but because "modern advances in communications and transportation have significantly reduced the burden of litigating in another [jurisdiction]," Sinatra v. Nat'l Enquirer, Inc., 854 F.2d 1191, 1199 (9th Cir. [21-5025] [Entered: 04/14/2021 04:43 PM], [10822463] Attorney Mr. David C. Leimbach for Thomas Huddleston admitted to the bar of this court. Manner of Service: email. When venue is challenged, the court must determine whether the case falls within one of the three categories set out in the general venue statute, 28 U.S.C. OF INTERESTED PARTIES: n. Served on 03/12/2021. Long hours and little pay: Lawsuit claims local trucking company CERT. Huddleston has presented no case law to support the idea that PAGA cases are exempt from application of forum-selection clauses and has offered no explanation why the Northern District of Oklahoma could not fairly adjudicate these claims. CV 05-4928-NM EX, 2006 WL 8074721, at *3 (C.D. The Court cannot find on this record that honoring the forum-selection clause would mean that Huddleston "will for all practical purposes be deprived of his day in court." Ripoff Report | John Christner Truc Review - Internet, Internet "Although a FLSA claim for relief ostensibly arises from an employment contract, courts have likened FLSA claims to tort claims and have applied the purposeful direction standard." The forum-selection clause here provides that "any claim or dispute arising from or in connection with" the ICOA "shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts serving Creek County, Oklahoma." Holland Am. JCT does not target any advertising specifically to California and, since at least 2013, only 10- 12% of its total nationwide miles have been logged in California. The lawsuit also claimed that it wasnt uncommon for drivers to receive negative paychecks. Danny Christner - Chief Executive Officer - John Christner Trucking John Christner Trucking Just Sold To Hirschbach Trucking 5 Min Ago Grab some Mutha Trucker Gear@ https://theasianmaishow.com/ For information . 2010) ("Whether the Drivers are entitled to [California Labor Code] benefits depends on whether they are employees of [the defendant], which in turn depends on the definition that the otherwise governing lawnot the partiesgives to the term 'employee.' ECF No. THOMAS HUDDLESTON, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiff, v. JOHN CHRISTNER TRUCKING, LLC, Defendant. Served on: 03/25/2021. 2004). Unless you present convincing evidence proving you worked more workweeks than shown by Defendants records, your Individual Settlement Amount will be determined based on Defendants records. Id. You may have received a Notice of Settlement (Notice) because you (1) previously completed a valid Opt-In Consent Form to join this case; or (2) the records of John Christner Trucking, LLC (Defendant) show you qualify as a member of the California Class and/or the Oklahoma Class as defined in Section 3. Mot. Huddleston urges that the Court "apply its decision in Ronlake and conclude that JCT's forum-selection clause is unenforceable." M/S Bremen v. Zapata Off-Shore Co., 407 U.S. 1, 10 (1972). Classes approved in lawsuit against John Christner Trucking "[U]ncontroverted allegations must be taken as true, and conflicts between parties over statements contained in affidavits must be resolved in the plaintiff's favor." 48% of employees would recommend working at John Christner Trucking to a friend and 33% have a positive outlook for the business. Manner of Service: email. John Christner Trucking delivers merchandise from the processors to distribution centers, which then deliver the items to grocery stores. Apr. Huddleston v. John Christner Trucking is a putative class action pending in the Northern District of Oklahoma (Case No. Defendant contends that it properly classified Class Members as independent contractors, and that the policies challenged by Plaintiff, including those regarding payment for time worked, meal breaks, rest breaks, and expense reimbursements, are lawful and have been lawful throughout the relevant time period. Phone: 8003241900. B. ICOA 23. This lawsuit also alleges Defendant misled Class Members into joining its lease operator program. [21-5025]--[Edited 03/12/2021 by JM PDF removed filed by the court on 3/12/21.] Second, the forum-selection clause in Ronlake applied only to claims "arising out of" the agreement, narrow language that did not apply to misclassification claims that did not rely on contract interpretation for resolution. For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS IN PART Defendant's Motion To Dismiss Or, In The Alternative, To Transfer Venue, and ORDERS this case TRANSFERRED to the Northern District of Oklahoma for all further proceedings. 14-CV-05530-WHO, 2015 WL 899294, at *3-4 (N.D. Cal. One (1) settlement share for each FLSA Workweek. Objections shall only be considered if the Class Member has not opted out of the Settlement. Huddleston v. John Christner Trucking, LLC While the contracts will likely be used as evidence to prove or disprove the statutory claims, the claims do not arise out of the contract, involve the interpretation of any contract terms, or otherwise require there to be a contract."). Because the parties' private interests should not be considered, the district court may consider only arguments about public-interest factors. Netherland v. John Christner Trucking, L.L.C. (2:14-cv-00183 Because California is a state with multiple judicial districts, a district-specific jurisdictional analysis is required here. 2011). John Christner Trucking asked the court to deny certification because Huddleston has failed to demonstrate that Californias wage and hour laws apply to him or any other putative class member.. it must be reasonable." John christner trucking settlement mg, sb, af, pf & yp hq bn wg ue bi ks JCT Media Center. B. Venue, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(3) authorizes motions to dismiss for improper venue. IT IS SO ORDERED. LaCross v. Knight Transportation, Inc., 95 F. Supp. 74] of the defendant, John Christner Trucking, LLC ("JCT"). Apply today. Because document collection is now mostly an exercise in electronic discovery, the presence of corporate documents in Oklahoma does not weigh heavily in favor of finding that jurisdiction in California would be unreasonable. NEW! Casetext, Inc. and Casetext are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. JCT Media Center. The opinion in Waffle House was fairly narrow and distinguishable from the facts here. Mot. 1. 2006)). When the parties' contract contains a forum selection clause, however, the "calculus changes" and district courts must adjust their usual Section 1404(a) analysis in three ways: (1) the plaintiff's choice of forum merits no weight; (2) arguments about the parties' private interests should not be considered; and (3) a 1404(a) transfer of venue "will not carry with it the original venue's choice-of-law rules." Working At John Christner Trucking: Employee Reviews and Culture - Zippia The most common ethnicity at John Christner Trucking is White (66%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (11%) and Black or African American (10%). Manner of Service: email. Temperature-controlled carrier Hirschbach acquires John Christner Trucking The Supreme Court has commanded that "[i]n the light of present-day commercial realities and expanding international trade[,] . --------. It is thus not Huddleston's personal choice to live in California which drives the jurisdictional analysis, but JCT's choice to dispatch deliveries to and from California which does." P. 4(k)(1)(A). The ICOA states that the ICOA itself "shall be interpreted in accordance with, and governed by, the laws of the United States and, of the State of Oklahoma," without applying a choice-of law analysis. 5:20-CV-00915 | 2020-09-11, U.S. Courts Of Appeals | Civil Right | at 8. If you have money saved in your account or money they owe you for loads you have delivered they will pay . Id. Personal Jurisdiction. JOHN CHRISTNER TRUCKING Jobs (Now Hiring) Near Me No. Huddleston argues that his claims brought pursuant to the Private Attorney General Act ("PAGA") are of such a strong local nature that they should be litigated in California. It is your responsibility to keep a current address on file with the settlement administrator to ensure receipt of your monetary Individual Settlement Amount. Los Angeles, LLC, 59 Cal. We can transport your goods at temperatures ranging anywhere from minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit to plus 90 degrees Fahrenheit and hold them at the temperature you specify. Hirshbach buys John Christner Trucking, boosts its reefer carrier ranking In that role, he was responsible for operating a commercial vehicle and transporting customer cargo to assigned destinations. He testifies that JCT said it would make every effort to make his first and last stop of any given trip in California so his work would be completed close to home, and that his first and last stops were indeed in California. Ranza v. Nike, Inc., 793 F.3d 1059, 1068 (9th Cir. Lease and other payments you end up with about $1000 on 3000 mile wk. Atl. 1995). Am., Inc., 485 F.3d 450, 457 (9th Cir. 3d 1199, 1207 (C.D. 2015). The purposeful-direction requirement is satisfied. John Christner Trucking is Seeking Lease Purchase Drivers and Owner Operators Solos Start at to $1.20 per Mile Teams Start at $1.25 per Mile John Christner Trucking Benefits: Solos Starts at to $1.20 per Mile Teams Start at $1.25 per Mile Fuel Surcharge paid on all miles - loaded and empty Danny had originally joined JCT to take care of some odds and ends, but is now COO of John Christner Trucking. They say lease purchase but you have to lease for 5 yrs before u can own it. Id. Gulf Oil Corp. v. Gilbert, 330 U.S. 501, 508 (1947) (superseded on other grounds). [21-5025] [Entered: 03/15/2021 12:22 PM], [10815141] Admissions letter sent. See id. We are all in this together. ECF No. Marine, 134 S. Ct. at 583. 2000). In sum, the Court finds that the public-interest factors do not "overwhelmingly disfavor" enforcing the forum-selection clause. at 294. . "We are proud to partner with WorkAdvance and provide Tulsans with employment opportunities," said Angie Buchanan, vice president of Melton Truck Lines. Cal. Co., 417 F.3d at 357. [Please open the Notice for important information.] Iowa company purchases John Christner Trucking in Sapulpa Rather, "for venue to be proper, significant events or omissions material to the plaintiff's claim must have occurred in the district in question, even if other material events occurred elsewhere." Huddleston has submitted no evidence of court congestion particular to Oklahoma as opposed to California. Submit. Thus, Huddleston need not show that the Eastern District of California has the most substantial relationship to the dispute, Kirkpatrick v. Rays Group, 71 F. Supp. The combined revenue of both companies will surpass $1 billion and propel . John Christner Trucking Employee Reviews for Driver - Indeed Served on 03/12/2021. The original complaint alleged that truck drivers for the Sapulpa, Okla.-based company often worked 70-100 hours per week while being paid less than $500. Driver Settlement at John Christner Trucking, LLC Sapulpa, Oklahoma, United States 20 connections. 71st St., Suite 200Tulsa, OK 74136Telephone: (918) 970-2000Facsimile: (918) 970-2002. Do yourself a favor and keep looking. JCT restricts all routes accross I-90 but if driver does not say anything about added miles to avoid JCT WILL NOT Pay them same as using I-70 west of Denver in winter. Forum-selection clauses are also scrutinized for "fundamental fairness," and may be deemed unfair if inclusion of the clause was motivated by bad faith, or if the party had no notice of the forum provision. at 297. Training and Employment Center Opens in Tulsa When you end the contract they leave you stuck in Oklahoma and take you to a run down hotel. JCT responds that only three of the twenty-five loads that Huddleston performed had pick-ups or deliveries that took place within this district and that in any case, the classification decisions giving rise to this suit took place at JCT's corporate headquarters in Oklahoma and not in California at all. 12, which he asserts is substantial enough that he "may not be able to maintain his claim if forced to do so in Oklahoma," Opp. Third, JCT does not contest that the exercise of jurisdiction would conflict with the sovereignty of Oklahoma, its state of domicile, though the Court notes that the bulk of Huddleston's claims are brought under California state law, and the FLSA analysis will be the same in either California or Oklahoma. See, e.g., Brandi v. Belger Cartage Serv., Inc., 842 F. Supp. COO John Christner Trucking, LLC . Huddleston contends that because thirteen of the nineteen causes of action are based on California law, a California federal court will be better equipped to apply California state law than an Oklahoma court would be.