Hartford Insurance v. Henderson & Son, Inc.

Gregory, Justice.

This court granted certiorari to consider whether 49 USCA § 10927 (a) (3) and 49 CFR § 1043.1 (b) authorize a direct action against a liability insurance carrier.

The lawsuit arose from a sale in 1983 of a used printing press by Henderson & Son, Inc. to The In-Store Media Corporation. Henderson contracted with Lee Way Motor Freight, Inc. to transport the press from Maryland to In-Store’s plant in Georgia. Lee Way leased from Piedmont, Inc. a truck that overturned en route and damaged the equipment.

The litigation began when Henderson filed a complaint against In-Store, seeking…