Eighth Circuit Kills $124K OSHA Debt Collection
The Eighth Circuit ruled the government waited too long to sue I-44 Truck Center & Wrecker Service over a $124,000 OSHA fine, tossing the case as time-barred under federal debt-collection deadlines.
OSHA issued the fine after a 2017 inspection of the Missouri repair shop found violations tied to vehicle maintenance and employee safety. When the company did not pay, the agency referred the debt for collection years later. The government sued in 2024, claiming the Debt Collection Improvement Act gave it extra time once the debt became delinquent.
The appeals court disagreed. It held that the six-year limit under the Debt Collection Improvement Act starts when the fine is assessed, not after the 180-day delinquency window. Because the suit came too late, the court ordered dismissal and sent the case back to the lower court. For trucking and repair firms, the decision tightens the window federal agencies have to chase old penalties and gives operators a clear defense when stale claims surface.
Bottom Line: Old OSHA fines can expire—act fast if one resurfaces.
https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/10883416/united-states-v-i-44-truck-cntr-wrecker-svc/
What old citations or fines is your shop still carrying?