Plaintiffs claim that parked cars blocked intersection view and created a dangerous condition. Scientist, age 59, died while riding a motorcycle.
Facts and Background Thomas Guilmette (59-year-old father and husband) was killed in a car accident with Ramon Nevarez, a motorist. The defendant driver struck Decedent while he was riding his motorcycle. At the time of his death, Decedent was a rocket scientist who was working on the Webb telescope. Mr. Nevarez was the defendant driver and was trying to turn left from Cabrillo Avenue onto Summerland, San Pedro, California. His view was blocked by parked cars. No signs or other markings were posted prohibiting parking. The jury found the defendant driver not liable. The City acknowledged that it doesn’t determine whether roads or intersections are unsafe unless there is a complaint about them. The City’s expert answered questions about the existing plans that showed 35-31 feet of red curb. He said he hadn’t seen them. (After Mr. Guilmette’s passing, the city put a stop sign on the curb and placed restricted parking. This had blocked drivers from seeing the intersection.
Case Details
- Case No: Lani Guilmette and Grayson Guilmette by and through his guardian, Lani Guilmette.
- Court and case number: Los Angeles Superior Court/BC523080
- Judgment or Verdict Date: Monday May 02, 2016
- Date Action Filed: Monday September 30, 2013,
- Types of Action: Dangerous Conditions of Highways and Public Roads , Vehicles-Intersection , vehicles – Motorcycle
- Judge/Arbitrator(s), Hon. Roy Paul
- Plaintiffs: Lani Guilmette (53), wife of the decedent Grayson Guilmette is 7 years old, son of the decedent
- Type: Jury Verdict
Verdict and Settlement
- Award or Gross Verdict:$23665,931
- Contributory/Comparative Negligence: 95% City of Los Angeles, 5% decedent.
- Economic Damages$3,665,931
- Non-Economic Damages:$20,000,000
- Arbitration or Trial Time:11 Days.
- Jury Deliberation Duration:11/2 Days.
- Jury polls:12-0
Personal Injury Lawyers
- Attorney for the Plaintiff Liddy Law Firm, Pasadena by Donald G. Liddy & Paula Jovell Johnston & Hutchinson LLP, Los Angeles by Thomas Johnston.
- Advocate for the Defendant Dikran Sassounian from Los Angeles, Office of the Los Angeles City Lawyer. (For City.)Veatch Carlson, Los Angeles by James Siepler (For Ramon Nevarez.)
Expert Witnesses
- The Technical Experts of Plaintiff: Jon Landerville, accident reconstruction, Torrance. Wes Pringle traffic and transportation engineering Laguna Niguel Peter Wrobel, economics, Los Angeles.
- Technical Expert(s), Defendant: David Royer P.E. traffic and highway engineering. Wesly Nutten, economics, Los Angeles. Daniel Voss is an accident reconstruction specialist, Long Beach.
Lawyers’ Closing Arguments
Plaintiff’s Contentions: The City was aware of the danger before Mr. Guilmette was murdered. This dangerous intersection cost Mr. Guilmette his life. He was a Northrop Grumman scientist who worked on satellites and the Webb telescope when he died. The suit was filed by Mr. Guilmette’s survivors, Lani Guilmette, his widow, and Grayson Guilmette, their young son.
Defendant’s Contentions: Defense argued that all responsibility belonged to the motorists who were involved in the accident, and denied that there was a plan to make the intersection safer before the accident.
Personal Injuries and Damages
- Wrongful Death – Loss of love, companionship and support.
Demands and offers
- Final Demand of the Plaintiff before Trial:$15,000,000
- Final Offer to Defendant Before Trial:$0
