Sacramento jury awards record $24.3 million to girl run over by dad's truck

[thundley4]

An Oregon girl whose truck-driver father accidentally ran her over with his big rig has won $24.3 million in damages from the Portland company that a Sacramento judge found legally responsible for her injuries.

The personal-injury award handed down by a Superior Court jury last Friday to Diana Yuleidy Loza-Jimenez is the largest in Sacramento County history, according to the local bar association.
In a court-trial decision returned Dec. 14, Judge David W. Abbott said the firm that hired Simon Loza Mejia, Freeway Transport Inc., was liable for the girl's injuries.

"Defendant was listed on the shipper's bill of lading as the carrier," Abbott wrote. "Defendant insured the load. Defendant guaranteed delivery of the load."

Six years ago, Loza-Jimenez, now 14, joined her father, mother and other family members on a Thanksgiving long-haul trip from their home in Hermiston, Ore., to Bakersfield, where they visited relatives and picked up a load of produce to take back to Oregon.

*snip*

Before the damages phase of the trial, the judge ruled from the bench to exclude the jury from knowing it was the girl's father who accidentally drove over her. The plaintiff's lawyers argued it would have unduly prejudiced the panel.

Sacramento Bee

I can't believe the company isn't going to appeal this. Surely they have a policy against passengers riding on their contracted trips.

[Airwolf]

WTF Dad runs the kid over and its the companies fault because Dad is too stupid to follow company rules or to lazy to follow basic safety precautions? This is why tort reform needs to be done.

[rich_t]

As long as the bulk of congress members are lawyers, no meaningful tort reform will take place.

But we sure need it.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

As long as the bulk of congress members are lawyers, no meaningful tort reform will take place.

But we sure need it.

Hard to reform crap like this:

Before the damages phase of the trial, the judge ruled from the bench to exclude the jury from knowing it was the girl's father who accidentally drove over her. The plaintiff's lawyers argued it would have unduly prejudiced the panel.

[thundley4]

Hard to reform crap like this:

Before the damages phase of the trial, the judge ruled from the bench to exclude the jury from knowing it was the girl's father who accidentally drove over her. The plaintiff's lawyers argued it would have unduly prejudiced the panel.

That is why I was surprised the company wasn't going to appeal.