Note 16 - Litigation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

16.    Litigation

The Company is a party to routine litigation incidental to its business, primarily involving claims for personal injury and property damage incurred in the transportation of freight.  Though the Company believes these claims to be routine and immaterial to its long-term financial position, adverse results of one or more of these claims could have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flow.

On July 2, 2010, a former driver team member, filed a lawsuit against us titled Hermes Cerdenia v. USA Truck, Inc. in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of San Bernardino, alleging various violations of the California Labor Code and seeking certification of the suit as a class action to include “all individuals currently and formerly employed in California as drivers, or other similarly titled positions.”  We successfully removed the case to the United States District Court, Central District of California and filed an answer denying the plaintiff’s allegations.  The lawsuit sought monetary damages for the alleged violations.  In February 2011, we negotiated settlement of the lawsuit through mediation subject to the District Court’s review and approval.  Such approval of the $250,000 settlement was received in October 2011.  We had fully accrued the agreed upon settlement amount during the second quarter of 2011 and the amount was paid during November 2011.

On July 28, 2008, a former commission sales agent, Mr. William Blankenship (“Blankenship”), filed an action in the United States District Court, Western District of Arkansas entitled William Blankenship, Jr. v. USA Truck, Inc., asking the court to set aside a previously consummated settlement agreement between the parties.  The matter was dismissed by the District Court based upon our Motion to Dismiss, but was later reinstated by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals and set for trial in the United States District Court in Fort Smith, Arkansas.  In October 2011, the trial was held in the United States District Court and the jury returned a favorable verdict for the Company on all counts and determined that the Company had no additional liability in this matter.  On December 13, 2011, the Court entered an order awarding the Company its costs and attorney’s fees incurred in defending the case totaling approximately $0.2 million.   Blankenship has now filed a notice that he intends to appeal the matter.