TRIAL AGAINST C.R.ENGLAND CONCLUDES.

[Skullitor]

SPECIAL REPORT: Trial against C.R. England concludes



Oct. 25, 2006 – Both sides have finished presenting evidence and testimony in a federal class-action lawsuit that pitted truckers against the mega-carrier C.R. England.

Courtroom action wrapped up Wednesday, Oct. 25, in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City. Attorneys for both sides now must wait for written transcripts to be prepared before they can write and submit their post-trial briefs.

Paul Cullen Sr. of The Cullen Law Firm said Wednesday that the final post-trial briefs are due by the end of January 2007 and that the case will then be in the hands of Judge Ted Stewart. There is no jury because the truckers’ legal team opted for a bench trial after Stewart issued favorable rulings in pretrial orders Oct. 3.

About 6,000 truckers are included in the class action, which the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association filed, alleging that C.R. England violated federal truth-in-leasing regulations by failing to disclose chargebacks.

Specifically, the truckers’ case contends that the motor carrier made millions in illegal profits by failing to disclose markups and chargebacks on goods and services that it deducted from truckers’ settlement sheets.

The class action includes any owners or operators who had lease agreements with C.R. England beginning in August 1998 and continuing through the end of the trial.

According to the motor carrier’s Web site, C.R. England currently has more than 3,800 drivers and independent contractors hauling freight.

Truckers testified last week that tires and other parts were marked up 30 percent by the motor carrier. The truckers contend the carrier also failed to disclose information about fuel discounts.

“In the case of C.R. England, they profited to the tune of millions of dollars by their fuel chargeback practices in which they retained 60 percent of the discounts that were generated by owner-operator fuel purchases,” said David A. Cohen of The Cullen Law Firm.

[Roco]

How will this turnout! I' like the drivers points about CR England Inc.
YEA DRIVERS. ROCO
Maybe they will sell now

[Sheepdancer]

How will this turn out?
Lawers will get millions....drivers will all get a check for something like $1.65

[Kintama]

How will this turn out?
Lawers will get millions....drivers will all get a check for something like $1.65

Exactly!

I hope my OOIDA dues went to better attorneys than the DAC debacle.

[Malaki86]

drivers will all get a check for something like $1.65

And that's before taxes

[-FlyByNight-]

Well, if any of the horror stories I've heard/read about CR England are true, I hope the judge bankrupts the company! :evil: IMHO, they don't deserve to be in business if that's how they treat people. Of course, I know it will never happen since lawyers are involved!

[greg3564]

This will go on in the court system for years. Even if CRE looses, they will appeal the ruling and take it as far as they can go. No one will being seeing any money for along time.

[kjbprd]

I agree...I leased a truck from England for way too long of a time to even care anymore...I'm just glad I finally grew the balls to walk away. Y'know, quite frankly as a newbie looking for a company driver position, England's not the worst choice you can make, but I would certainly steer well clear of their lease program

[Skullitor]

I agree...I leased a truck from England for way too long of a time to even care anymore...I'm just glad I finally grew the balls to walk away. Y'know, quite frankly as a newbie looking for a company driver position, England's not the worst choice you can make, but I would certainly steer well clear of their lease program

Very well said! 8)