Plaintiffs challenge federal agency over constitutional rights violations

R&L Carriers, Inc. and R&L Carriers Shared Services, LLC have filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of administrative proceedings initiated by the United States Department of Labor (DOL). The complaint was filed on December 3, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio against the DOL, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and Administrative Law Judge Stephen R. Henley.

The case stems from a whistleblower complaint filed by former employee Jason McAlister against R&L Carriers under the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA). McAlister alleged retaliation after being terminated as a local driver on June 14, 2024. Following his termination, McAlister filed a complaint with OSHA on June 17, 2024, claiming that R&L retaliated against him for refusing to transport oversized loads and other related issues. Despite OSHA dismissing these claims in September 2025 due to lack of evidence of protected activity or unlawful retaliation by R&L, McAlister appealed to the Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ).

R&L’s lawsuit argues that these administrative proceedings violate their Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial. They contend that McAlister’s claims are legal in nature and should be adjudicated in an Article III court with a jury present rather than through an administrative process lacking such constitutional protections. Additionally, they argue that DOL ALJs are unconstitutionally insulated from removal by the President due to multiple layers of protection, thus violating Article II’s vesting of executive power solely in the President.

R&L seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to halt these administrative proceedings and ensure their right to a jury trial is preserved. They request that any statutes or regulations insulating DOL ALJs from removal be declared unconstitutional. Furthermore, they seek reimbursement for legal costs incurred during this action.

The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys Anthony C. White and Matthew R. Kissling from Thompson Hine LLP. The case is presided over by Judge Michael W. Mosman under Case ID: 1:25-cv-00886-MWM.