Trial Magazine

Truck driver Alexandre Volkov, 54, was headed westbound on an interstate highway. He collided with another tractor-trailer that had crossed over a grassy median after its operator, Dung Quoc Nguyen, woke up and attempted a U-turn, blocking all of the highway’s westbound lanes. After the crash, Volkov’s steering wheel remained compressed against his chest for 48 minutes, resulting in his death from respiratory and cardiac arrest. He also suffered multiple fractures and other injuries and was conscious during the 48 minutes before he died. Volkov is survived by his wife and two children.

Volkov’s estate sued C.H. Robinson Worldwide, a freight transportation services company, and Antioch Transport, Inc., which owned the truck operated by Nguyen, alleging that Nguyen had negligently operated his vehicle for at least 10.5 hours, falsified his logbooks, and attempted a U-turn on a dark interstate highway. Suit claimed that at all times, Nguyen had been acting as C.H. Robinson’s legal agent based on the level of control the company had exerted over him, notwithstanding his independent contractor status. The plaintiff did not claim lost income.

The jury awarded $18.6 million.

Citation: Volkov v. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, No. 16 CV 1883 (N.D. Ill. May 16, 2019).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ member Christopher M. Norem and Cole Munvez, both of Chicago.