The FAIR Trucking Act would add a new subsection to 28 U.S.C. §1332 to give federal district courts original jurisdiction over certain highway accident cases. It applies to civil actions that allege bodily harm or loss of life involving one or more commercial motor vehicles (as defined in 49 U.S.C. §31101) operating on a public road in interstate commerce, when the amount in controversy exceeds $5,000,000, exclusive of interest and costs. The case must meet specified diversity conditions (for example, a plaintiff who is a citizen of a State different from any defendant, or certain configurations involving foreign parties). The bill also says when plaintiffs’ citizenship is determined for these cases and treats unincorporated associations as citizens of the State of their principal place of business and the State under whose laws they are organized. The bill was introduced on September 10, 2025, and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
If you are part of a lawsuit about a highway crash involving an interstate commercial truck and the claim is for more than $5,000,000 and meets the listed citizen/foreign-party conditions, the case can be filed in federal district court under this rule. If the case does not meet the vehicle, interstate commerce, amount, or party-identity conditions, this new rule would not give federal court authority. The bill also explains how to decide plaintiffs’ citizenship dates and how to treat unincorporated associations.
No publicly available information on federal costs or fiscal impact. The bill sets an amount-in-controversy threshold of $5,000,000 for cases it covers.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.