United States Eleventh Circuit

In wrongful death claims brought by plaintiff-estates against defendant rental car companies, grant of summary judgment for defendants is affirmed where: 1) the Graves Amendment, a federal tort reform statute which purports to shield rental car companies from certain vicarious liability suits, preempts the tort claims at issue; and 2) the statute is within the boundaries of Congress's Article I powers.

Appellate Information

• Decided 08/19/2008
• Published 08/19/2008

Judges

• KRAVITCH, Circuit Judge:, Before EDMONDSON, Chief Judge, and KRAVITCH and ALARCÓN, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Eleventh Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• John Vail, Andre Mura, Center for Constitutional Litigation, P.C., Washington, DC, for Garcia., Richard P. Schweitzer, Richard P. Schweitzer, PLLC, Washington, DC, for Amicus Curiae Truck Renting and Leasing Ass'n., Charles W. Scarborough, Mark B. Stern, U.S. Dept, of Justice, Civ. App. Staff, Washington, DC, for U.S., Intervenor.


• For Appellees:
  
• Mark Andrew Perry, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP, Washington, DC, James P. Waczewski, Luks, Santaniello, Perez, Petrillo & Gold, Tallahassee, FL, Paul S. Jones, Luks, Santaniello, Perez, Petrillo & Gold, Orlando, FL, David Clark Borucke, Steven L. Brannock, Holland & Knight, LLP, Tampa, FL, for Appellees.