C.H. Robinson and Unilever Sued Over Catastrophic Crash

Remember last week when we wrote about how brokers C.H. Robinson and Total Quality Logistics (TQL) were facing a lawsuit? Before brokers were given a pass in these accidents, but the legal landscape has been changing. Besides the lawsuit that six Texas trucking companies filed against them, a second recent lawsuit has been filed against C.H. Robinson.

The lawsuit alleges that there was no verification of the carrier used before the accident that happened on a California highway. C.H. Robinson allegedly never verified the driver who showed up to take the load, and the accident that followed led to permanent injuries.

What Happened?

Michael Krause drove his Toyota Corolla with his 5-year-old stepdaughter Delilah Coleman in the backseat. They were stopped at a California road construction zone when a semi-truck ploughed into the back of them.

The driver behind the semi-truck, Partap Singh, failed to stop, causing a six-car pileup. Delilah Coleman was treated at the hospital for fractured skull and severe head trauma that led to multiple surgeries. Michael Krause suffered severe injuries as well.

Partap Singh, a California trucker, had been issued a CDL, despite having previously been detained by ICE.

Delilah’s Law (H.R. 5688)

This accident was so bad that even President Donald Trump took notice of it. He encouraged Congress to pass a law that would stop future accidents like this from happening. Trump would also call on Congress to stop letting states issue CDLs to undocumented immigrants.

The law would also further update the English proficiency requirements and driver training requirements. Even two years after the accident, Delilah still has had to have skull surgery, with her most recent one being on August 3, 2026.

Why are They Being Sued Sued?

The reason Conopco d.b.a. Unilever and C.H. Robinson are being sued is that one carrier was assigned, but another name was on the truck, showing that there was allegedly no verification of the truck driver who caused the accident. C.H. Robinson was the motor carrier, and they would broker it to VVS Trans.

This is not explicitly a chameleon carrier, but it was double brokering that allegedly took place. The two companies are facing a lawsuit is they didn’t maintain reasonable gatekeeping or safety standards according to the lawsuit. They both had a contractual obligation to ensure that the driver who took the load was reputable and that there was no unauthorized reassignment.

Good Chance of Success

The lawsuit filed may have a good chance of success because of the Montgomery v. Transport II Supreme Court decision that forces brokers to bring greater scrutiny to the carriers they choose. Under that decision, lawsuits may proceed against brokers that failed to properly verify drivers who caused semi-truck accidents.

Conopco d.b.a. Unilever faces a lawsuit because the suit claims that they had a responsibility to ensure that the freight was given to a professional and quality driver. They believe that this accident could’ve been stopped at the pickup if someone had properly verified the driver.

This shows how even shippers can find themselves being drawn into a crash-related lawsuit.

What are Your Thoughts on This Story?

At Trucker Social, we would love to hear what you think about the C.H. Robinson and Unilever lawsuit. Do you think it’s right for brokers and shippers to be held accountable for accidents caused by drivers in cases like this?

Let us know in the comments, and if you enjoyed this article, sign up for a FREE profile from Trucker Social and get the latest trucking news stories in the industry.