WASHINGTON, DC, June 10, 2026– The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) is leading a coalition of 14 national and state business and industry associations in filing an amicus curiae brief with the Indiana Supreme Court, urging the Court to recognize the doctrine of associational standing in Indiana.
The case, Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana v. Duke Energy Indiana, LLC, arises from a utility regulatory dispute in which the Court has invited amicus briefing on whether Indiana should adopt the federal associational standing framework established in Hunt v. Washington State Apple Advertising Commission (1977). NAW and its co-amici filed a brief in support of neither party, arguing that the Court should recognize the doctrine for three reasons: it benefits courts and stakeholders alike by consolidating litigation and sharpening the adversarial process; it respects the separation of powers by imposing the same concrete injury requirements as individual standing; and its built-in safeguards are more than sufficient to prevent an influx of interest-group litigation.
From Eric Hoplin, President and CEO:
“Trade associations exist to fight for their members, and associational standing is what makes that possible in court. It lets organizations like NAW bring cases on behalf of the businesses we represent, without requiring every individual company to file on its own. It focuses legal arguments, reduces duplicative litigation, and shields members from the risk of retaliation.
Indiana businesses deserve the same access to justice available in U.S. federal court and in many other states. This coalition includes homebuilders, auto care, transportation, restaurants, retailers, and small businesses. The distribution industry alone represents $8.7 trillion in economic activity. Our members who transport products through Indiana every day must be able to defend themselves from harmful litigation when it matters.”
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About NAW
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) is one of America’s leading trade associations, representing the $8.7 trillion wholesale distribution industry. Founded in 1946, NAW includes national, regional, and state employers of all sizes, as well as industry trade associations and stakeholders across every distribution sector. The industry employs over six million workers nationwide and accounts for nearly one-third of U.S. GDP.
Media Contact: Matt Clarke, [email protected]
