Judge Drops Individual Defendants From Owner-Operator's Leasing Suit
Owner-operator Victor J. Kirin Jr. sued Coy Bro's Inc., Coy Truck Brokerage and six individual Coy family members in November 2023, alleging violations of Truth in Leasing Act regulations under the Federal Motor Carrier Act. Kirin, representing himself, also claimed Coy Bro's terminated his lease after he requested records he was entitled to under the law.
After discovery closed, the defendants moved for partial summary judgment, arguing the individual defendants should be dismissed because Kirin's lease was with Coy Bro's Inc. alone. Kirin did not respond before the deadline passed.
Judge Carmen E. Henderson agreed with the defendants. The lease identified "Coy Brothers Inc." as lessee and motor carrier, with Kirin as lessor. Though Robin Coy-Crawford signed the document, she did so as the company's secretary, not in her personal capacity. The court held that because the individual defendants were not parties to the lease, they have no independent obligations under the leasing regulations, which apply to the registered motor carrier. The judge granted summary judgment for all six individuals.
Kirin's claims against Coy Bro's Inc. and Coy Truck Brokerage remain pending.
What's next
- Claims against Coy Bro's Inc. and Coy Truck Brokerage proceed to trial as previously scheduled; no trial date is stated in the order.
- No indication in the record of whether Kirin will appeal the dismissal of the individual defendants.
All sources
- Opinion: Kirin v. Coy Bro's Inc. et al. — Federal court opinion (U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio), 2026-11-03
