Dec. 12, Grain Valley, MO -- On Dec. 11, U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah W. Hayes (for the Western District of Missouri) recommended the court direct Ledar Transport, Inc. to pay damages to the owner-operators named in the class action lawsuit brought by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA).

On June 21, 1996, U.S. District Court Judge Fernando Gaitan Jr. entered a default judgment against Ledar Transport in the case, holding the carrier liable for, among other things, failure to return escrow accounts and pay interest on escrow accounts. Thereafter, the case was granted class certification and OOIDA's counsel was instructed to submit a calculation of the amounts owed to each claimant by the Kansas City carrier.

Yesterday's final report and recommendation by Judge Hayes finalizes the calculation of principal and interest to be awarded to the individual owner-operators.
Jim Johnston, president of OOIDA, said he welcomed the court's recommendation and looked forward to the final directive issued by the District Court.

"We are pleased with the court's forthright attitude toward the long list of violations by this carrier and are anxious to see these escrow accounts finally returned to the owner-operators involved," Johnston added, "This case once again reinforces OOIDA's position that class certification continues to be the most effective tool in giving individual owner-operators the strength to collectively seek relief from the illegal business practices of carriers in the court system."