The Legal Showdown
NYC’s aggressive stance initially prompted Roadrunner to suspend its migrant transportation services in March 2024 while the lawsuit played out. However, a New York Supreme Court ruling in July dealt a blow to the city’s case.
Justice Mary V. Rosado rejected NYC’s request for a preliminary injunction, citing a 1941 U.S. Supreme Court precedent that struck down a nearly identical state law. By November 2024, the case was dismissed entirely—a major victory for the bus companies.
Roadrunner’s Next Move
Following the dismissal, Roadrunner now seeks compensation for its financial losses. Attorney Robert Hantman of Hantman & Associates, representing Roadrunner, told Law360 on Thursday that the lawsuit was a symbolic gesture rather than a legitimate legal claim.
“Because they were sued and threatened, they stopped busing people and therefore lost money. So, when the dust settles, we expect them to be reimbursed for the money they lost because of a frivolous lawsuit,” Hantman said, emphasizing that NYC “must have known at the inception” that its claims were unconstitutional.
New York City has yet to comment on the case’s dismissal.
